2 Samuel 17:25

_AND ABSALOM MADE AMASA CAPTAIN OF THE HOST INSTEAD OF JOAB: WHICH AMASA WAS A MAN'S SON, WHOSE NAME WAS ITHRA AN ISRAELITE, THAT WENT IN TO ABIGAIL THE DAUGHTER OF NAHASH, SISTER TO ZERUIAH JOAB'S MOTHER._ Amasa. By the genealogy it appears that this captain stood in the same relation to David as Joab, both being his nephews. He seems to have been an illegitimate son, his father, Ithra, being an Israelite, and his mother an Ammonitess (see the notes at 1 Chronicles 2:16), and of course Amasa was Absalom's cousin....

22-29 Ahithophel hanged himself for vexation that his counsel was not followed. That will break a proud man's heart which will not break a humble man's sleep. He thought himself in danger, concluding, that, because his counsel was not followed, Absalom's cause would fail; and to prevent a possible public execution, he does justice upon himself. Thus the breath is stopped, and the head laid low, from which nothing could be expected but mischief. Absalom chased his father. But observe how God sometimes makes up to his people that comfort from strangers, which they are disappointed of in their own families. Our King needs not our help; but he assures us, that what we do for the least of his brethren, who are sick, poor, and destitute, shall be accepted and recompensed as if done to himself...

Verse 2 Samuel 17:25. _AMASA CAPTAIN OF THE HOST_] From the account in this verse, it appears that Joab and Amasa were sisters' children, and both nephews to David....

ITHRA AN ISRAELITE - Or “Jether the Ishmeelite” 1 Chronicles 2:17. “Ithra” and “Jether” are practically the same names. “Israelite” in the text is wrong. It should be either “Ishmaelite” or “Jezreelite” 2 Samuel 3:2. ABIGAIL THE DAUGHTER OF NAHASH - If Zeruiah and Abigail were Jesse’s daughters, the only probable way of reconciling our text with 1 Chronicles 2:16, is to suppose that Nahash was Jesse’s wife. If Zeruiah and Abigail were only sisters of David by the mother, then Nahash might be the name of her first husband....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 17:1 LET ME NOW CHOOSE OUT TWELVE THOUSAND MEN. The advice of Ahithophel was such as would have made success almost certain. The rebellion had taken David by surprise, and he was quite unprepared to resist the large forces which Absalom had gathered round him. But the better part of the nation disapproved of the enterprise, especially when they perceived that David's life was in danger; and consequently his followers, in course of time, would increase. Moreover, the day had been one of extreme moral and mental trial to David. Upon the sudden news of Absalom's approach, he had to arrange for the flight of his wives and children; to provide supplies for their wants, and for those of their attendants on the march; to give orders to his officers, and take means to prevent their flight degenerating into a panic. Then, wi

AND ABSALOM MADE AMASA CAPTAIN OF THE HOST INSTEAD OF JOAB,.... Who was along with David: WHICH AMASA [WAS] A MAN'S SON WHOSE NAME [WAS] ITHRA, AN ISRAELITE; he is called Jether the Ishmaelite, 1 Chronicles 2:17; either because he was an Ishmaelite by birth, and being proselyted to the Jewish religion, was called an Israelite; or rather he was an Israelite by birth, and having sojourned in the land of Ishmael some time, was called an Ishmaelite, as Uriah the Hittite, and others; and when Amasa is called a "man's son", it means a great man, as Kimchi observes: THAT WENT IN TO ABIGAIL, THE DAUGHTER OF NAHASH, SISTER TO ZERUIAH, JOAB'S MOTHER: so that Joab and Amasa, the generals of David and Absalom, were own cousins, sisters' children, and David uncle to them both; for Abigail and Zeruiah were David's sisters,...

7. ABSALOM, AHITOPHEL, AND HUSHAI CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The counsel of Ahitophel and Hushai (2 Samuel 17:1)_ 2. The counsel made known to David (2 Samuel 17:15) 3. Ahitophel commits suicide (2 Samuel 17:23) 4. Absalom pitched in Gilead (2 Samuel 17:24) 5. The kindness of Shobi, Machir and Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:27) Ahitophel's counsel was aimed at the person of David only. He wanted to have him killed and thus by the death of the one man bring all Israel back. But Ahitophel had not

DAVID COMES TO MAHANAIM (J). 2 Samuel 17:15. Meanwhile David was in constant communication with his agents in Jerusalem through Jonathan and Ahimaaz. But one day, apparently when the news of Ahithophel's advice was being conveyed to David, they were seen and pursued, but escaped by being hidden in a well (_cf._ Joshua 2:6), and got away and brought the news to the king. 2 SAMUEL 17:17. EN-ROGEL: 1 Kings 1:9 *. 2 Samuel 17:20. brook: _michal,_ a word of unknown meaning, occurring only here....

MADE. set, or appointed. CAPTAIN OF. captain over. ITHRA AN ISRAELITE. Jether an Ishmeelite. See 1 Chronicles 2:17. WENT IN TO. Probably meaning seduced. If so, it would be during David's stay in Moab (1 Samuel 22:3; 1 Samuel 22:4 Abigail. David was probably half-brother to Abigail, and Zeruiah, having the same mother; he having Jess for his father, they having Nahash. SISTER TO ZERUIAH. Implying that she was not sister to David....

Progress of the Rebellion 24. _to Mahanaim_ See note on ch. 2 Samuel 2:8. It was chosen for David's head-quarters as the most important and strongest city in the trans-Jordanic country, which was evidently the least disaffected. _And Absalom passed over Jordan_ Before this a considerable interval must have elapsed, during which Absalom was formally anointed (ch. 2 Samuel 19:10), and a general levy of the nation raised according to Hushai's counsel, while David had time to organize his forces and establish himself at Mahanaim....