Amasa Slain

David had promised Amasa he would take the place of Joab as commander of the army (2 Samuel 19:13). Now that a crisis had come up, Amasa was put to the test.

As a new commander, he had his hands full with trying to come to grips with his new command. David ordered him to gather the troops and prepare to march in three days. It took him longer than the three days allotted to complete the muster.

It is safe to assume Joab, the former commander, did not do much to help Amasa meet the deadline. At this point, David turned to Joab’s brother Abishai and ordered him to take the field before Sheba had time to consolidate his forces within fortified cities.

Speed was essential if the revolt was to be crushed.

Giving Sheba time to organize meant his rebellion might become established and would be harder to stamp out. In reaching out to Abishai, David strategically bypassed Joab, who had become too powerful and had disagreed with David’s actions on too many recent occasions.

His disobedience, coupled with the loyalty of the army, was a matter to be taken seriously. David’s own bodyguard of Cherethites and Pelethites were called upon to undertake this hurried mission. This threat was serious enough for David to strip himself of personal protection in order to rapidly destroy Sheba’s forces. David’s men were handpicked for their bravery and loyalty. In the town of Gibeon, nearly six miles northwest of Jerusalem, Amasa caught up with the vanguard under Abishai. As Amasa approached at the head of his troops, Joab came forward to greet him. He had a dagger thrust into his belt. The blade fell out as he came near Amasa. Some believe he stooped to pick it up with his left hand. Others believe he had secreted a second knife on his person. In any event, it appeared he was unarmed. Grasping Amasa’s beard with his right hand, he kissed his cousin. As he did so, he plunged the blade into Amasa’s stomach.

It happened so fast that Amasa had no time to suspect deceit or defend himself against such treachery. With Amasa removed, Joab simply resumed his previous position as commander in chief of the army and continued the pursuit of Sheba.

“Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil” (Proverbs 12:20).