About
Amasa was the son of Abigail, David’s sister, and Jether, an Ishmaelite (1 Chronicles 2:17). This made him David’s nephew. Amasa’s name means “a burden.”
Backstory
Amasa joined in Absalom’s rebellion against David as the captain of Absalom’s army (2 Samuel 17:25). After their defeat, David forgave him and gave him Joab’s position (2 Samuel 19:13). David had a falling out with Joab over Absalom’s death.
David sent Amasa on his first assignment to crush the rebellion of Sheba (2 Samuel 20:4). The mission was critical to preserving the unity of the kingdom, since Sheba had led the people of Israel to desert David, leaving only the tribe of Judah to follow him.
But Amasa took too long (2 Samuel 20:5). David had given him three days to assemble the men of Judah and gather before him, but he didn’t make it happen. David ordered Abishai, with Joab’s troops under his command, to pursue Sheba, since he presented a significant risk to the kingdom (2 Samuel 20:6-7).
Joab went along with Abishai and the men. When they caught up with Amasa at Gibeon, Joab greeted him, calling him “brother” and grabbing him by the beard. Joab was wearing his military tunic and a sheathed dagger. 2 Samuel 20:8-9 describes how the dagger dropped out of his sheath as he stepped forward to greet Abishai. While Abishai was off-guard, Joab stabbed him and his intestines spilled out and he died.
One of Joab’s men tried to rally the troops while standing next to Amasa’s body, laying in a pool of blood. But the men stopped in their tracks. So the man dragged Amasa off the road and threw a garment over him. Then the troops went on to pursue Sheba.
David reminded Solomon of how Joab killed Abner and Amasa in peacetime and urged Solomon to deal with him (1 Kings 2:5-6). Later, after Joab sided with Adonijah against Solomon, the new king recalled how Joab killed Amasa and ordered Benaiah to kill him (1 Kings 2:28-32). Solomon said this was to clear the family of the guilt of the innocent blood Joab had shed.