2 Samuel 20:8

Contextual Overview

⁴Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." ⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." ⁴Then the king said to Amasa, "Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and you yourself stand here." ⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, "Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself." ⁴ Then saide the king to Amasa: Call me the men of Iuda together within three dayes, and be thou here also. ⁴ The king told Amasa, "Tell the people of Judah to meet with me in three days. You must be here, too." ⁴ And the king said to Amasa, Call for me the men of Judah within three days; and you stand here. ⁴ Then the king said to Ama'sa, "Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and be here yourself." ⁴ Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present. ⁴ Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Iudah within three dayes, and be thou here present.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in Gibeon: 2 Samuel 2:13, 2 Samuel 3:30

Amasa: 2 Samuel 20:4, 2 Samuel 20:5

Reciprocal: Hosea 6:8 - polluted with blood

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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, whom he envied, because he was put into his post as general, and therefore accoutred himself for it; he put on, not a coat of mail, but a common garment which he girt about him, that it might be no incumbrance to him or hinderance of him, in doing what he intended, but that he might more expeditiously execute it:

and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; the sword in the belt was not on his thigh, but on his loins, on the outside of his clothes, and was put into a sheath too large, and placed in such a position, that with the least motion, when he pleased, it would easily drop out of it, without drawing it, and so give no suspicion of his design:

and as he went forth; to meet Amasa, just as he came to him:

it fell out; the sword fell out of the sheath to the ground.

r Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7. s Diodor. Sic. l. 2. p. 100. Vid. ib. p. 53. Herodot. Euterpe, c. 111.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 2 Samuel 20:9. This awakened no suspicion in Amasa’s mind. Compare the case of Ehud, Judges 3:21.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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.