But Amasa tooke no heed to the sword that was in Ioabs hand: so hee smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and strake him not againe, and he died: so Ioab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the sonne of Bichri. 2 Samuel 20:10 (KJV)
In this verse we encounter a dramatic encounter between Amasa, Joab, and Sheba the son of Bichri. The narrative of 2 Samuel 20 takes place after David’s return to Jerusalem following Absalom’s rebellion. Sheba, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, incited a revolt that attracted many Israelites and threatened David’s reign.
At this juncture David had recently appointed Amasa as commander of his army, yet Amasa had not succeeded in mustering the troops needed to crush the rebellion. In response David sent Abishai, Joab, and the elite Cherethites and Pelethites to pursue Sheba. When Amasa arrived with his forces, Joab met him with his sword drawn. As the verse records, Amasa “took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand” and was struck in the fifth rib; his bowels spilled onto the ground and he died. Joab and his brother Abishai then continued the chase after Sheba.
Joab’s motivation can be understood in light of his position. The text suggests that Joab may have perceived Amasa’s new appointment as a direct threat to his own command of the army, prompting him to eliminate Amasa in order to preserve his authority.
The passage also contributes to the portrait of Joab throughout 2 Samuel: a shrewd and fiercely loyal military leader who is nevertheless willing to employ extreme violence, even against fellow Israelites, to achieve his objectives.
Although the verse does not explicitly mention divine involvement, the outcome serves David’s mission to suppress the rebellion, illustrating the biblical theme that God often works through imperfect and violent individuals to bring about His purposes.
The consequences of Joab’s violent act are later recorded in 1 Kings 2:9‑10, where David instructs Solomon to deal with Joab for the blood he shed in times of peace, leading to Joab’s execution. This underscores the long‑term ramifications of his actions.
In conclusion, 2 Samuel 20:10 captures a pivotal moment in David’s reign, revealing Joab’s character and motives, demonstrating how God can use flawed people to fulfill divine plans, and setting the stage for the eventual judgment against Joab. Careful attention to the broader narrative context enriches our understanding of the theological themes embedded in the text.
