2 Samuel 20:10

JOAB TAKES CHARGE OF THE PURSUIT OF SHEBA

"Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. And one of Joab's men took his stand by Amasa, and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab." And Amasa lay wallowing in his own blood in the highway. And anyone who came by, seeing him, stopped; and when the man saw that all the people stopped, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and threw a garment over him. When he was taken out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri."

"Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba" (2 Samuel 20:10b). Note that Joab is mentioned first, having taken complete control of David's army.

"One of Joab's men took his stand by Amasa" (2 Samuel 20:11). The business of dispatching Amasa, having been completed, Joab, the experienced general, proceeded to get on with the business of quelling the rebellion. This man stationed by Amasa's body was for the purpose of urging the troops to follow Joab and was undoubtedly doing so under the specific orders of Joab.

"Any one who came by, seeing him, stopped" (2 Samuel 20:12). No wonder they stopped. There lay the notorious Amasa wallowing in his own blood. Joab's man, noting the delay, promptly removed the body to a nearby field and covered it.