2 Samuel 20:8

_WHEN 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._ Amasa went before them. Having collected some forces, he by a rapid march overtook the expedition at Gibson, and assumed the place of commander, in which capacity he was saluted, among others, by Joab. JOAB'S GARMENT ... WAS GIRDED - in the fashion of travelers and soldiers. A GIRDLE WITH A SWORD FASTENED UPON HIS LOINS, х_ MAATªNAAYW_ (H4975) = his side (cf. Ezekiel 9:2)]. This statement receives ample illustration from the Assyrian sculptures, on which warriors are depicted, their swords not on their thigh, but on the loin or side. A sword

4-13 Joab barbarously murdered Amasa. The more plot there is in a sin, the worse it is. Joab contentedly sacrificed the interest both of the king and the kingdom to his personal revenge. But one would wonder with what face a murderer could pursue a traitor; and how, under such a load of guilt, he had courage to enter upon danger: his conscience was seared....

Verse 2 Samuel 20:8. _JOAB'S GARMENT_] It appears that this was not a military garment; and that Joab had no arms but a short sword, which he had concealed in his girdle; and this _sword_, or _knife_, was so loose in its sheath that it could be easily drawn out. It is thought farther, that Joab, in passing to Amasa, stumbled, (for so some of the versions, and able critics, understand the words _it fell out_.) and that the sword fell down when he stumbled; that he took it up with his left hand as if he had no bad intention; and then, taking Amasa by the beard with his right hand, pretending to kiss him, he, with his sword in his left hand, ripped up his bowels. This seems to be the meaning of this very obscure verse. It is worthy of remark that in the Eastern country it is the _beard_, not the _man_, which is usually kissed....

AMASA WENT BEFORE THEM - Rather, “advanced to meet them.” Amasa was no doubt returning to Jerusalem, according to his orders 2 Samuel 20:4, and was probably much surprised to meet the army in march. Joab’s resolution was quickly taken. AND JOAB’S GARMENT ... - Render, “And Joab was girded with his military garment, as his clothing, and upon it” - i. e., the military garment - (or “him”), “the girdle of a sword fastened on his loins in its sheath, and as he went forth” (to meet Amasa) “it fell” out of the sheath. What appears to have happened is that, by accident or design, Joab’s sword fell out of the scabbard on the ground as he was going to meet Amasa, and that he picked it up with his left hand so as to have his right hand free for the customary salutation...

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 20:1 THERE HAPPENED TO BE THERE A MAN OF BELIAL. The fierce words of the men of Judah led to evil results. It was a time when all wise and thoughtful persons would have laboured for peace, and tried to soothe and appease the angry passions fomented by the late war. Instead of this, the men of Judah irritated the Israelites with insult and contumely, and the day, intended as one of rejoicing and of the restoration of David to his throne by common consent, saw the rebellion break forth afresh. Among those who had taken part in the discussion with Judah was Sheba, a man of Belial, that is, a worthless fellow, but possibly possessed of rank and influence; for, according to many commentators, _ben-Bichri _does not mean THE SON OF BICHRI, but "a descendant of Becher," the second son of Benjamin ...

WHEN THEY [WERE] AT THE GREAT STONE WHICH [IS] IN GIBEON,.... Which, according to Josephus r, was forty furlongs, or five miles from Jerusalem: what this great stone was, whether an obelisk, or what, is not certain; one of the greatest stones we read of was that which Semiramis cut out of the mountains of Armenia, which was an hundred thirty feet long, and twenty five broad and thick s. This place was appointed for the rendezvous of David's forces, and hither Amasa came with what he had assembled together, and joined them, and took the command of them: for it follows, AMASA WENT BEFORE THEM; as the general of them: AND JOAB'S GARMENT THAT HE HAD PUT ON WAS GIRDED UNTO HIM; who went along with his brother Abishai at the head of his own men, to which he was obliged by virtue of his commission; or went of himself to serve the common cause, and perhaps chiefly with a design to murder Amasa...

10. THE REVOLT OF SHEBA CHAPTER 20 _ 1. Sheba's revolt (2 Samuel 20:1)_ 2. The ten concubines shut up (2 Samuel 20:3) 3. Amasa's failure (2 Samuel 20:4) 4. Joab and the death of Amasa (2 Samuel 20:7) 5. Joab, the wise woman and the death of Sheba (2 Samuel 20:14) 6. David's officials (2 Samuel 20:23) The final revolt in David's reign was headed by a wicked man, whose name was Sheba. Israe

1 SAMUEL 20. THE REVOLT OF SHEBA (J). 2 SAMUEL 20:1 F. The result of this altercation was a fresh rebellion under a Benjamite, Sheba ben Bichri. 2 SAMUEL 20:3. The members of the king's harem whom he had left in Jerusalem are condemned to pass the rest of their days in seclusion (_cf._ 2 Samuel 16:21). 2 SAMUEL 20:4. David bade his new commander-in-chief, Amasa, assemble the general levy of Judah by a given day; the day came, but Amasa and the army did not appear. A few days before Amasa had been in command of an army fighting against Judah, and the men of Judah might be slow to tru

AS HE WENT FORTH IT FELL OUT. and it (the sword) dropped out, and fell....

The pursuit of Sheba. Amasa murdered by Joab 4. _to Amasa_ The commission was given to Amasa in fulfilment of the promise privately made to him (ch. 2 Samuel 19:13). _Assemble me the men of Judah_ Clearly then "the men of Judah" in 2 Samuel 20:2 were only a small body of representatives....