2 Samuel 20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:5

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah ,.... To gather, them together out of their several tribes, and bring them to Jerusalem: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him : than the three days; whether this was owing to the remissness of Amasa, or the unwillingness of the people to serve under him, who had been Absalom's general in the late rebellion, or not having time sufficient allowed him, is not certain. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:6

And David said to Abishai ,.... For it seems he would have nothing to say to Joab, being displeased with him for slaying Absalom, and having removed him from his posts; and therefore speaks to the next officer in his army, Abishai; though Josephus F16 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 6. says, he addressed himself to Joab, contrary to the express words of the text: now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom ; gain a greater party, and give more trouble to subdue... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:7

And there went out after him Joab's men ,.... Who though he was removed from his post as general, yet might still have the command of a regiment: and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites ; over whom Benaiah was, 2 Samuel 20:23 ; these attended David in his flight, and had now returned with him, 2 Samuel 15:18 , and all the mighty men ; the military men that were at Jerusalem as many as could be spared: and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:8

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon ,.... Which, according to Josephus F18 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7. , 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 F19 Diodor. Sic. l. 2. p. 100. Vid. ib. p. 53. Herodot. Euterpe,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:9

And Joab said to Amasa ,.... In a friendly manner, with all the air of pleasantry and good humour: art thou in health, my brother ? this looked like a friendly salutation to ask of his health, and wish him it, and a loving appellation to call him brother; though they were near of kin, sisters' children, and so own cousins; thus he addressed him, to cover his design: and Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him : as was usual for the eastern people to do when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:10

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand ,.... In his left hand, for with his right hand he took him by the beard; he might see the sword drop out of the scabbard, and Joab take it up, which he supposed he did in order to put it into its sheath again, having no suspicion of his wicked design, and therefore not at all upon his guard to prevent it: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib ; in the same place where Abner smote Asahel, and Joab Abner; See Gill on 2... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14

And he went through all the tribes of Israel ,.... That is, Sheba the son of Bichri, last mentioned, 2 Samuel 20:13 , who passed through all the tribes of Israel to get as many to be of his party as he could, and to be proclaimed their king; or finding himself pursued, he passed on as fast as he could from place to place, through all the tribes, until at length he fixed for safety in a place later named; though Josephus F23 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7.) understands this... read more

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