Amasa
“Burden or people of Jesse”
Summary
David's nephew who commanded Absalom's rebel army and was later treacherously murdered by Joab after being appointed commander of David's forces.
☩Family and Early Career
Amasa was the son of Abigail, David's sister, by Jether (or Ithra) an Ishmaelite. His foreign paternity through an Ishmaelite father may have caused him to be overlooked in favor of Zeruiah's sons (Joab, Abishai, and Asahel). When Absalom's rebellion broke out, Amasa joined it and was made commander of the rebel forces.
☩Appointment as David's Commander
Despite commanding the rebel army that was defeated in the wood of Ephraim, David pardoned Amasa and offered him the command of his army in place of Joab, whose overbearing conduct had become intolerable. This was perhaps David's way of atoning for past neglect. When Sheba's revolt broke out, Amasa was sent to gather Judah's forces but proved slow in his movements, possibly because the troops were reluctant to follow him.
☩Death by Treachery
David dispatched Abishai with the household troops to pursue Sheba, and Joab joined as a volunteer. When Amasa overtook them at the great stone of Gibeon, Joab seized the opportunity to eliminate his rival. Pretending to greet Amasa with a kiss, he took Amasa's beard with his right hand while with his unnoticed left hand he stabbed him dead with his sword. David was unable to punish Joab for this treacherous murder due to Joab's popularity with the army, leaving it to Solomon to avenge the deed.
Related Verses12 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Amasa," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Amasa," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Amasa," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).