Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 20:11
And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after Joab.
11. one of Joab’s men ] One of Joab’s young men, perhaps one of his armour-bearers (ch. 2Sa 18:15), remained by the corpse at Joab’s command in order to invite Amasa’s followers to join Joab. Time was too precious for Joab himself to lose a moment.
He that favoureth Joab, &c.] Lit. He that delighteth (ch. 2Sa 15:26) in Joab. He appeals to their personal attachment to himself as general, and to their loyalty to David; insinuating that Amasa was not faithful to the king, and had met his death justly for his treachery. Joab’s real motive in murdering Amasa, as before in the case of Abner, was jealousy.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He that favoreth Joab … – This speech, addressed to Amasas followers as well as Joabs, shows very distinctly that the rivalry between Joab and Amasa, and Davids purpose to make Amasa captain in Joabs room, were well known; and shows also the real reason why Joab killed Amasa. What is added, and he that is for David, was intended to identify Joabs cause with Davids, and also to insinuate that Amasa had not been loyal to David (2Sa 20:5 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
One of Joabs men, left there on purpose to deliver the following message.
He that favoureth Joab; he that would have Joab to be general, rather than such a perfidious rebel and traitor as Amasa.
He that is for David; he that wisheth David good success against Sheba, and against all rebels; whereby he implies that though this fact of his was done against the kings command, yet it was for his interest and defence.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11-13. He that favoureth Joab, andhe that is for David, let him go after JoabIt is a strikingproof of Joab’s unrivalled influence over the army, that with thisvillainous murder perpetrated before their eyes they unanimouslyfollowed him as their leader in pursuit of Sheba. A soldier conjoinedhis name with David’s, and such a magic spell was in the word “Joab,”that all the people “went on”Amasa’s men as well as therest. The conjunction of these two names is very significant. Itshows that the one could not afford to do without the otherneitherJoab to rebel against David, nor David to get rid of Joab, thoughhating him.
2Sa 20:14;2Sa 20:15. JOABPURSUES SHEBAUNTO ABEL.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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, and is in the interest of David, let him make no stay here, but follow after Joab; Joab and David are put together, as if their interests were the same; though there seems to be an indecency in placing Joab first.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) One of Joabs man.Com. 2Sa. 20:7. Time was too precious for Joab himself to wait. He must put down the rebellion of Sheba by rapid action, and thereby render himself impregnable in the high office which had been his, and which he had now again usurped. He left one of his trusty men, however, by the body of Amasa, with a battle cry which should suggest that he had rightly been put to death for his doubtful loyalty, and that all who were attached to Joab and loyal to David should follow Joab. Joabs real motive for murdering Amasa, as for murdering Abner (2Sa. 3:27), was personal jealousy and ambition.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. One of Joab’s men stood Doubtless he was instructed to do so by Joab himself.
By him By the bloody corpse of Amasa.
He that favoureth Joab after Joab There is no other commander now, and his heart is still loyal to David. Thus Joab’s bold and fearless action defeats the purposes of his king.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(11) And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. (12) And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that everyone that came by him stood still. (13) When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
We hear nothing of David’s resentment on this occasion. Probably, the commission he had himself sent to Joab some years before, concerning Uriah, prevented him. 2Sa 11:14-17 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 20:11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after Joab.
Ver. 11. And one of Joab’s men stood by him.] This soldier was left there by Joab to justify the fact, and to advise them to march on, notwithstanding it. One interpreter saith that these words are a bitter jeer of a certain servant insulting over dead Amasa, and extolling the wicked act of his master Joab.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
He that: 2Sa 20:6, 2Sa 20:7, 2Sa 20:13, 2Sa 20:21
for David: 2Sa 20:4, 2Ki 9:32
Reciprocal: Exo 32:26 – Who is on
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 20:11-13. One of Joabs men stood by him By the command of his master, who knew that this would occasion disorder among Amasas soldiers, and therefore left a man there on purpose to deliver the following message: He that favoureth Joab He that would have Joab to be general, rather than such a perfidious rebel as Amasa. And he that is for David He that wisheth David good success against Sheba, and against all rebels. He cunningly joins David and Joab together, as if their interests were inseparable. When the man saw that all the people stood still Wondering at the spectacle, and inquiring into the occasion of it. He removed Amasa out of the highway Perceiving that it both incensed them against Joab, and hindered the kings service. And cast a cloth upon him But the covering of blood with a cloth cannot stop its cry to God for vengeance. All the people went on after Joab They that were behind did not know that Amasa was killed, and so marched on without any scruple.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:11 And one of Joab’s men {h} stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after Joab.
(h) He stood by Amasa at Joab’s appointment.