2 Samuel 20:12

12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood on the highway, and the man saw that all the people were stopping. Since he saw that all who came by him were stopping, he carried Amasa from the highway into a field, and threw a garment over him.

2 Samuel 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:12

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway
By which it seems, that though the wound was mortal, and of which he died, that as yet there was life in him, and through the pain he was in, and the pangs of death on him, he rolled himself about in his own blood in the high road, where the fact was committed:

and when the man saw that all the people stood still;
gazing at the shocking sight, and could not be prevailed upon to go on:

he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field;
which was adjoining to it:

and cast a cloth upon him;
that the body might not be seen:

when he saw that everyone that came by him stood still;
and so retarded the people in their march, to prevent which he took the above method, and it was a very prudent one.

2 Samuel 20:12 In-Context

10 But Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab's hand; Joab struck him in the belly so that his entrails poured out on the ground, and he died. He did not strike a second blow. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men took his stand by Amasa, and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab."

12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood on the highway, and the man saw that all the people were stopping. Since he saw that all who came by him were stopping, he carried Amasa from the highway into a field, and threw a garment over him.

13 Once he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah; and all the Bichrites assembled, and followed him inside.