Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:4-13

We have here Amasa's fall just as he began to rise. He was nephew to David (2 Sam. 17:25), had been Absalom's general and commander-in-chief of his rebellious army, but, that being routed, he came over into David's interest, upon a promise that he should be general of his forces instead of Joab. Sheba's rebellion gives David an occasion to fulfil his promise sooner than he could wish, but Joab's envy and emulation rendered its fulfillment of ill consequence both to him and David. I. Amasa has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:11

And one of Joab's men stood by him ,.... By the body of Amasa; no doubt by the order of Joab, to satisfy the people as they came up, and reconcile them to this fact, and to exhort them not to stop, but to follow after Joab; for though Amasa their general was dead, Joab had taken the command of the army, and the pursuit was carried on with as much rigour as ever: and said, he that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab : he that likes Joab should be general,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:12

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway ,.... By which it seems, that though the wound was mortal, and of which he died, that as yet there was life in him, and through the pain he was in, and the pangs of death on him, he rolled himself about in his own blood in the high road, where the fact was committed: and when the man saw that all the people stood still ; gazing at the shocking sight, and could not be prevailed upon to go on: he removed Amasa out of the highway... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:13

When he was removed out of the highway ,.... Into the field, and covered over with a cloth, that he could not be seen: all the people went on after Joab ; made no stop at all, knowing nothing of the matter, or what had happened: to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri ; these were the troops that Amasa had been assembling, which followed one another after him; for Joab and Abishai, with their men, were at Gibeon first. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:11

He that favoureth Joab - As if he had said, There is now no other commander besides Joab; and Joab is steadily attached to David: let those therefore who are loyal follow Joab. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:12

Amasa wallowed in blood - It is very likely that Amasa did not immediately die; I have known instances of persons living several hours after their bowels had been shed out. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-13

The facts are: 1 . Among the men who discuss the question of priority with Judah is a worthless man named Sheba, and he raises the cry of revolt against David, and the men of Israel follow him, while those of Judah cleave to the king. 2 . David enters his house and makes arrangement for the sustenance of his concubines, who henceforth live in virtual widowhood. 3 . David, observing that Amasa was tardy in executing his orders to gather the men of Judah, directs Abishai to go out... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:4-13

( GIBEON .) The murder of Amasa. "And Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand" ( 2 Samuel 20:10 ). Amasa (son of Abigail, David's sister, and Jether an Ishmaelite, and first cousin of Joab, 2 Samuel 17:25 ) joined Absalom in his rebellion; and must have been a man of great ability, courage, and influence, from the fact that he was appointed by him "captain of the host instead of Joab," and afterwards promised by David the same post ( 2 Samuel 19:13 ). This promise... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:11

One of Joab's men. Joab left one of his personal followers to prevent any halt of the people round Amasa's body, and to suggest that he was a traitor. For he was to say to them as they came up, not only that "whosoever had pleasure in Joab," but also that "all who were for David, were to go after Joab." All loyal men were to regard him as captain of the host, and to disobey him would be rebellion. Naturally they would conclude from this that Amasa had not really been true to David, and that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:12

He removed Amasa. The admonition to move on failed; for the sight was terrible and tragic, and all as they came along stopped to see what had happened, and inquire the cause. The man, therefore, had the corpse carried out of the way, and threw over it a cloth, really a coat—the loose upper mantle worn over the tunic (see note on beged, 1 Samuel 19:13 ). Whereupon the people renewed their march, most of them not knowing what had occurred, and the rest urged to it by the warning voice of... read more

Group of Brands