2 Samuel 20:6-10

6 And David said to ¹Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; ²take your lord's servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight."

7 So Joab's men went out after him, ³along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 When they were at the large stone which is in ⁴Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed * in his military attire *, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out.

9 Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And ⁵Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Amasa Murdered

10 But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab's hand so ⁶he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

Read Chapter Compare

2 Samuel 20:6-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 20

This chapter gives an account of a new rebellion raised by Sheba, 2Sa 20:1,2; of David's shutting up his concubines unto the day of their death, whom Absalom had lain with, 2Sa 20:3; of Amasa being ordered to assemble the men of Judah to crush the rebellion, but being dilatory, Abishai is sent out with David's servants, and was followed by Joab with the men under him, 2Sa 20:4-7; and of the murder of Amasa by Joab, 2Sa 20:8-13; and of Sheba being shut up in the city Abel, 2Sa 20:14,15; whose head, by the means of a wise woman, was delivered to Joab, and so an end was put to the rebellion, 2Sa 20:16-22; and, lastly, of the chief officers in David's camp and court, 2Sa 20:23-26.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

1. 2 Samuel 21:17
2. 2 Samuel 11:11; 1 Kings 1:33
3. 2 Samuel 8:18; 1 Kings 1:38
4. 2 Samuel 2:13; 2 Samuel 3:30
5. Matthew 26:49
6. 2 Samuel 2:23; 2 Samuel 3:27; 1 Kings 2:5

Footnotes 2

[a]. Lit "before"
[b]. Lit "girded with military garment as clothing"