Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 20:8
When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
8. the great stone which is in Gibeon ] Some isolated rock, well known as a landmark.
went before them ] Lit. came before them, i.e. met them, apparently as he was returning to Jerusalem, after raising an army in Benjamin as well as in Judah.
And Joab’s garment, &c.] This description of Joab’s dress is intended to explain how he contrived to stab Amasa without his design being suspected. In the girdle which he wore over his military dress was stuck a dagger. As he met Amasa he contrived to let this fall out of its sheath on the ground. He picked it up in his left hand, and the movement being apparently purely accidental, excited no alarm in Amasa’s mind.
as he went forth it fell out ] As he went out to meet Amasa. But it does not appear whence Joab went out, and the words may also be rendered, and it (the sheath) came out (from the girdle), and it (the sword) fell down. The Sept. has a simpler reading, involving a slight change in the Heb. text: and the sword came out and fell down.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Amasa went before them – Rather, advanced to meet them. Amasa was no doubt returning to Jerusalem, according to his orders 2Sa 20:4, and was probably much surprised to meet the army in march. Joabs resolution was quickly taken.
And Joabs garment … – Render, And Joab was girded with his military garment, as his clothing, and upon it – i. e., the military garment – (or him), the girdle of a sword fastened on his loins in its sheath, and as he went forth (to meet Amasa) it fell out of the sheath. What appears to have happened is that, by accident or design, Joabs sword fell out of the scabbard on the ground as he was going to meet Amasa, and that he picked it up with his left hand so as to have his right hand free for the customary salutation 2Sa 20:9. This awakened no suspicion in Amasas mind. Compare the case of Ehud, Jdg 3:21.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Joab’s garment] It appears that this was not a military garment; and that Joab had no arms but a short sword, which he had concealed in his girdle; and this sword, or knife, was so loose in its sheath that it could be easily drawn out. It is thought farther, that Joab, in passing to Amasa, stumbled, (for so some of the versions, and able critics, understand the words it fell out.) and that the sword fell down when he stumbled; that he took it up with his left hand as if he had no bad intention; and then, taking Amasa by the beard with his right hand, pretending to kiss him, he, with his sword in his left hand, ripped up his bowels. This seems to be the meaning of this very obscure verse. It is worthy of remark that in the Eastern country it is the beard, not the man, which is usually kissed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Amasa went before them; having gathered some forces, and given due orders for the rest to follow him, he returned to Jerusalem, and by the kings command went after those mentioned 2Sa 20:7; and being come up to them at the place where they waited for him, he put himself into the head of Joabs men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and such as he had brought along with him, and marched before them as their chief and general.
Girded unto him, after the manner of travellers and soldiers.
As he went forth to meet and salute Amasa, who was coming towards him to do him honour.
It fell out; things having (it is likely) been so contrived by Joab, that upon the least motion of his body his sword should drop out, and he might take it up without raising Amasas suspicion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Amasa went before themHavingcollected some forces, he by a rapid march overtook the expedition atGibeon, and assumed the place of commander; in which capacity, he wassaluted, among others, by Joab.
Joab’s garment, that he hadput on was girded unto himin the fashion of travellers andsoldiers.
a sword . . . and as he wentforth it fell outthat is, out of the scabbard. According toJOSEPHUS, he let it dropon purpose as he was accosting Amasa, that stooping, as it wereaccidentally, to pick it up, he might salute the new general with thenaked sword in his hand, without exciting any suspicion of hisdesign.
He went forthin aceremonious manner to meet Amasa, now commander-in-chief, in order toseem to render to that officer, whom he considered as usurping hispost, a conspicuous honor and homage.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon,…. Which, according to Josephus r, 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 s. This place was appointed for the rendezvous of David’s forces, and hither Amasa came with what he had assembled together, and joined them, and took the command of them: for it follows,
Amasa went before them; as the general of them:
and Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him; who went along with his brother Abishai at the head of his own men, to which he was obliged by virtue of his commission; or went of himself to serve the common cause, and perhaps chiefly with a design to murder Amasa, whom he envied, because he was put into his post as general, and therefore accoutred himself for it; he put on, not a coat of mail, but a common garment which he girt about him, that it might be no incumbrance to him or hinderance of him, in doing what he intended, but that he might more expeditiously execute it:
and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; the sword in the belt was not on his thigh, but on his loins, on the outside of his clothes, and was put into a sheath too large, and placed in such a position, that with the least motion, when he pleased, it would easily drop out of it, without drawing it, and so give no suspicion of his design:
and as he went forth; to meet Amasa, just as he came to him:
it fell out; the sword fell out of the sheath to the ground.
r Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7. s Diodor. Sic. l. 2. p. 100. Vid. ib. p. 53. Herodot. Euterpe, c. 111.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Amasa Murdered, vs. 8-13
The meeting of Abishai and Joab with Amasa at the stone of Gibeon brought the cousins face to face and to a point where someone had to give to the other. It is not clear how they met, the Scriptures saying that Amasa went before them. It may mean that he met them in his rounds gathering his forces, or perhaps he was leading his army out ahead of them. Anyway they were finally coming together.
From the sequel it is obvious that Joab had planned for the meeting. He carried a sword on a girdle around his garment, which surely was not unusual for a professional soldier like Joab. However, it appears that Joab had so fixed his sword that it would fall out of the sheath at the proper time. So as Joab and Amasa came to meet each other Joab’s sword fell out of his sheath. However, he had retrieved slightly it and was carrying it in his hand as they came together.
It is also obvious that Amasa did not suspect Joab of trickery. It looked as though he had merely retrieved his fallen sword and had not thrust it back into the empty sheath before he reached out to take Amass by the beard and kiss him, as was the custom with relatives. But Joab carried the sword in his hand for a deadly purpose. As he kissed his cousin he struck him with the sword under the fifth rib, that vital area of the heart Joab knew so well. Joab’s hatred for Amasa was so great that he not only stabbed him in the heart, but also-proceeded to disem-bowel him, spilling his bowels on the ground. Joab and Abishai left Amasa dying in the road and .continued pursuing Sheba. One of Joab’s loyal men stood by the dying man and challenged all who would follow Joab as their leader. But the men coming upon the bloody scene and seeing Amasa wallowing in death throes stood still, astounded at what they saw. Joab’s man saw this was defeating his purpose, so took Amasa’s body from the road and placed it in a field. Spreading a garment over him so the soldiers could not see what had happened. After this the men continued after Joab and Abishai.
Joab’s murder of Amasa was another of his dastardly deeds, for which David never forgave him and eventually sentenced him to death. Yet Joab remained extremely popular with his men, and David risked the loss of his able men by replacing him with Amasa. In fact, it may be thought that David did not exercise a great deal of foresight in attempting to replace Joab with Amasa. Amasa had been among the rebels, even their captain. Although he must have been acclaimed highly by many, it seems he had difficulty raising an army to subdue Sheba. Altogether it was a case of leaving God’s will out of consideration, and this always results in bad decisions (Pro 28:26).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(8) Went before.Translate, met. (Comp. Note on 2Sa. 19:6.)
As he went forth it fell out.The object of this verse is to explain how Joab, in consequence of the arrangement of his dress, was able to stab Amasa without his purpose being suspected. He had a girdle bound round his military coat, and in this he had stuck a dagger so arranged that it might fall out as he advanced. He then picked this up naturally in his left hand, and stretching out his right hand to greet Amasa, his movements gave rise to no suspicion.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. The great stone Some old landmark well known at the time of the writer, but now not recognised or identified by travellers, perhaps because long since removed.
Gibeon Where occurred the sore battle between Abner and Joab. 2Sa 2:12-17.
Amasa went before them At this place he had probably ordered the men of Judah, whom he had been summoning, to rendezvous; and now, arriving at the place himself, and finding David’s servants there under command of Abishai, he went before them all; that is, assumed command of the entire host. This was more than Joab’s jealousy could endure, and he felt that now was the opportune moment for revenge.
And Joab’s garment that he had on A better translation is, And Joab was girt about with his military coat as his upper garment, and upon it a sword-girdle fastened on his loins, in its sheath, and he went forth and it fell; that is, the sword fell out.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(8) When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. (9) And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. (10) But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Joab, evidently was a man of blood, a man of uncontrolled passion, and full of vindictive resentment; yet certainly he was a very successful instrument for good to David.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 20:8 When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
Ver. 8. And as he went forth, it fell out. ] He had taught it, as it were, at a certain motion or posture of his body, to fall out of the scabbard, that taking it up in his hand again, he might inter salutandum smite Amasa, suspecting no harm.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as he went forth it fell out = and it (the sword) dropped out, and fell.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
in Gibeon: 2Sa 2:13, 2Sa 3:30
Amasa: 2Sa 20:4, 2Sa 20:5
Reciprocal: Hos 6:8 – polluted with blood
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 20:8. Amasa went before them As their commander-in-chief. Having gathered some forces, and given due orders for the rest to follow him, he returned to Jerusalem, and by the kings command went after those mentioned 2Sa 20:7, and being come up to them at the place where they waited for him, he put himself at the head of Joabs men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and such as he had brought along with him, and marched before them as their general. Joabs garment was girded unto him After the manner of travellers and soldiers: for he had now no armour on, but only such a garment as soldiers wore, closely girt to him. Upon it a girdle with a sword A belt, in which a sword hung by his side. As he went forth To meet and salute Amasa, who was coming toward him to do him honour; it fell out Having, probably, been designedly so hung by Joab, that upon some particular motion of his body, it might drop out of the sheath, and he might take it up without awaking Amasas suspicion.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:8 When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s {g} garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
(g) Which was his coat, that he used to wear in the wars.