2 Samuel 20:4-13 Meaning: A Leader’s Risky Choice
4Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”
5So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.
6David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”
7Joab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.
9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
11One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”
12Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
4Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
7And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
12And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
4Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be thou here present.
5So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.
7And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with thee, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11And there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow Joab.
12And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
4And the king saith unto Amasa, `Call for me the men of Judah in three days, and thou, stand here,'
5and Amasa goeth to call Judah, and tarrieth beyond the appointed time that he had appointed him;
6and David saith unto Abishai, `Now doth Sheba son of Bichri do evil to us more than Absalom; thou, take the servants of thy lord, and pursue after him, lest he have found for himself fenced cities, and delivered himself from our eye.'
7And the men of Joab go out after him, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and all the mighty men, and they go out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri;
8they are near the great stone that is in Gibeon, and Amasa hath gone before them, and Joab is girded; his long robe he hath put on him, and upon it a girdle--a sword is fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and he hath gone out, and it falleth.
9And Joab saith to Amasa, `Art thou in peace, my brother?' and the right hand of Joab layeth hold on the beard of Amasa to give a kiss to him;
10and Amasa hath not been watchful of the sword that is in the hand of Joab, and he smiteth him with it unto the fifth rib , and sheddeth out his bowels to the earth, and he hath not repeated it to him, and he dieth; and Joab and Abishai his brother have pursued after Sheba son of Bichri.
11And a man hath stood by him, of the young men of Joab, and saith, `He who hath delight in Joab, and he who is for David--after Joab!'
12And Amasa is rolling himself in blood, in the midst of the highway, and the man seeth that all the people have stood still, and he bringeth round Amasa out of the highway to the field, and casteth over him a garment, when he hath seen that every one who hath come by him--hath stood still.
13When he hath been removed out of the highway, every man hath passed on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri.
4And the king said to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and do thou attend here.
5So Amasa went to call together [the men of] Judah; but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom. Take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities and escape our sight.
7And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. And Joab was girded with his coat, his dress, and upon it was the girdle of the sword which was fastened on his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.
9And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10And Amasa had taken no notice of the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him with it in the belly and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11And one of Joab's young men stood by [Amasa] and said, He that favours Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow Joab.
12Now Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by stood still.
13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri,
Meaning in one sentence
David appoints Amasa to unite Judah after rebellion. Amasa delays, Joab murders him. What this means for trust and violence in God’s kingdom.
Context
This passage sits right after the end of Absalom’s rebellion. David has just returned to Jerusalem, but peace is fragile. A Benjamite named Sheba stirs the northern tribes to revolt. David moves quickly to stop him. He appoints Amasa, the man who commanded Absalom’s army, to gather the men of Judah. This is a risky choice: Amasa was David’s nephew, but he had fought for the enemy. David hopes this show of trust will reunite the kingdom. But Amasa fails to meet the three-day deadline. David then sends Abishai and Joab’s forces. At Gibeon, Joab meets Amasa with a friendly greeting, and stabs him to death with a sword he had hidden. The body lies in the road until someone drags it away. Then the army follows Joab to pursue Sheba. The story exposes how quickly political peace can turn bloody, and how ambition can undo a king’s best intentions.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words anchor this passage. The first is nishmar, from shamar (H8104), meaning “to keep, guard, or pay attention.” The text says Amasa “took no heed” of the sword in Joab’s hand. The same verb is used for a watchman who stays alert. Amasa was not on guard, and it cost him his life. Vigilance matters, even when someone speaks warmly.
The second is cherev (H2719), meaning “sword” or “knife.” Joab had it fastened to his belt under his clothes. It fell out as he walked, and he picked it up in his left hand while reaching out with his right to greet Amasa. The sword was a tool of war, but here it becomes a tool of betrayal.
The third is shalom (H7965), the word for “peace, wholeness, welfare.” Joab asks, “Is it well with you, my brother?” He uses the most sacred greeting in Hebrew to cover a murder. The word itself is not hollow, but Joab’s heart is. This shows how easily we can speak peace while planning harm, and it calls us to match our words with truth.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this passage with different emphases. Matthew Henry (Reformed) focuses on the tragedy of David’s situation: his effort to heal the nation through Amasa is undone by Joab’s violence, showing how sin complicates even good leadership. Adam Clarke (Methodist) details the mechanics of the murder, noting the concealed sword and the use of a friendly greeting, to condemn treachery. The Geneva Bible (Reformed) highlights the political calculation: Joab’s young man calls out, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab,” merging loyalty to the commander with loyalty to the king. Across traditions, readers agree that this story reveals the messy reality of fallen human institutions. Yet all can see God’s sovereign hand moving through the chaos, preserving David’s kingdom despite violent men. The shared hope is that God’s justice will set right what human ambition spoils.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that Joab killed Amasa in a sudden fit of rage or self-defense. In fact, the details show premeditation: Joab wore a military garment but arranged a hidden sword so it would fall out. He used a greeting of peace and grabbed Amasa’s beard to kiss him, a standard sign of welcome. The attack was calculated, not impulsive. The story warns us that violence often hides behind politeness.
Living This Out
This week, you may face someone who seems friendly but carries hidden resentment. The passage asks you to be wise without becoming cynical. Amasa’s failure to guard himself is a reminder to be alert, especially when trust has been broken before. But Joab’s coldness is also a mirror: are you nursing a grudge while smiling? Ask God to show you any hidden sword in your own hand. And when others harm you, remember that David did not avenge Amasa immediately. He waited. Sometimes trusting God with justice is the hardest and most faithful thing you can do.
Main takeaway: Political alliances can crumble in a moment, but God’s sovereignty holds even the bloodiest mess.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Joab pretended to be Amasa’s friend, but he hurt him. We should always say kind things that are true. Jesus wants us to be honest and loving.
For ages 9, 12
In this story, Joab tricked Amasa by acting friendly while hiding a sword. It shows that not everyone who says nice things has good intentions. God wants us to be wise and discerning, but also to be people whose words match their hearts. When we face betrayal, we can trust God to see the truth and bring justice.
Questions People Ask
Why did David choose Amasa as commander instead of keeping Joab?
David had promised Amasa the position to win back the men of Judah who had followed Absalom (2 Samuel 19:13). Amasa was David's nephew and had led Absalom's army. Appointing him was a political move to heal the nation by honoring a former enemy. David also was angry with Joab for killing Absalom against his orders, so he wanted to replace him.
Why did Amasa delay in gathering the men of Judah?
The text does not give a reason. Some commentators suggest the men of Judah were reluctant to join another campaign so soon after Absalom's war, or that they distrusted Amasa because of his former role with Absalom. Others speculate that Amasa himself was hesitant or slow. The delay forced David to send a separate force under Abishai and Joab.
Was Joab justified in killing Amasa?
No. Joab acted out of personal ambition and revenge. Amasa had replaced him as commander, and Joab saw him as a rival. His actions were murder, not justice. David later condemned Joab's violence (1 Kings 2:5-6). Across Christian traditions, this killing is seen as a sinful act of treachery, not a legitimate military execution.
Why did the troops follow Joab after he murdered Amasa?
Joab was a longstanding, powerful commander with a loyal following. His young man announced, "He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab," linking loyalty to Joab with loyalty to the king. The soldiers may have feared Joab or been accustomed to his leadership. Once the body was removed, the army proceeded.
What is the significance of the 'great stone in Gibeon'?
Gibeon was a well-known landmark about five miles from Jerusalem. It was also where Joab and Abishai had killed Abner years earlier (2 Samuel 3:30). The stone may have been a place of public gathering. By murdering Amasa there, Joab repeated his earlier pattern of treacherous violence at the same location.
For pastors & researchers
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