2 Samuel 19 13

2 Samuel 19:13 kjv

And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

2 Samuel 19:13 nkjv

And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.' "

2 Samuel 19:13 niv

And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.'?"

2 Samuel 19:13 esv

And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.'"

2 Samuel 19:13 nlt

And David told them to tell Amasa, "Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place."

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 13 Meaning

David addresses Amasa, asserting a deep familial bond by calling him "my bone and my flesh." This phrase establishes a strong kinship tie. He then swears a solemn oath before God that Amasa will permanently replace Joab as the commander of David's army. This powerful declaration is a strategic move by David to re-establish loyalty within the tribe of Judah, integrate Absalom's former commander, and assert his authority over the influential but increasingly insubordinate Joab.

2 Samuel 19 13 Context

2 Samuel chapter 19 describes King David's return to Jerusalem following the defeat and death of Absalom, his rebellious son. David is grieving Absalom, much to the chagrin of his loyal commander, Joab, who rebukes the king for alienating his supporters. As David moves to re-establish his kingship and heal the fractured nation, a significant challenge arises regarding the allegiance of Judah, David's own tribe, who had heavily supported Absalom. David realizes he needs to reconcile with Judah and ensure their full support for his return to power. In this sensitive political climate, David dispatches Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to speak with the elders of Judah. The verse (2 Sam 19:13) contains the specific message David sends to Amasa, Absalom's commander, who is a kinsman to David through Abigail (1 Chr 2:16-17) and Joab (2 Sam 17:25). By offering Amasa Joab's prestigious position, David aims to win over Judah, secure their loyalty, and simultaneously remove the increasingly overreaching Joab from his military command, demonstrating a profound blend of political pragmatism and personal authority.

2 Samuel 19 13 Word analysis

• And say to Amasa: This indicates David's direct instruction, communicated via the priests, targeting a key figure in Absalom's rebellion. Amasa was the military leader who represented the rebellion's strength in Judah.
• 'Are you not: An interrogative used rhetorically to emphasize an undeniable fact or to gently persuade by prompting acknowledgment. David is asserting a relationship that should preclude hostility.
• my bone and my flesh?: Hebrew: ʿaṣmī ūḇəśārī (עַצְמִי וּבְשָׂרִי). This is a profound biblical idiom signifying a very close familial relationship, kinship, shared essence, and unbreakable bond. It implies shared heritage and identity. It harkens back to Adam's recognition of Eve as "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" (Gen 2:23), indicating ultimate unity. In this context, David appeals to their blood ties, a powerful concept in ancient Israelite society, to mend the fractured loyalty of Judah.
• God do so to me, and more also,: Hebrew: kōh yaʿaśeh-llī ʾĕlōhîm wəkhōh yōsēf (כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּי אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יֹסִף). This is a solemn, self-imprecatory oath, commonly used in the Old Testament to affirm the absolute certainty and seriousness of a promise or threat. It essentially means, "May God afflict me thus, and even more so, if I do not fulfill this promise." It invokes divine judgment upon David himself if he fails to uphold his word. This reinforces the unbreakable nature of the vow made to Amasa.
• if you are not: Continues the oath's conditional clause, emphasizing the promise's certainty.
• commander of the army: Hebrew: śar haṣṣābāʾ (שַׂר־הַצָּבָא). This is the highest military rank, directly responsible for leading the entire armed forces. It represents immense power and influence. Granting this position was a substantial offer.
• before me continually: Hebrew: kāl hayyāmîm (כָּל־הַיָּמִים), literally "all the days." This signifies permanence and an enduring appointment. It assures Amasa that this is not a temporary reconciliation but a lasting leadership role, reinforcing David's long-term commitment.
• instead of Joab.’: This clearly defines the target of Amasa's new position. It highlights Joab's demotion and confirms David's intention to curb Joab's power. Joab, despite his loyalty, had often overstepped his bounds and directly disobeyed David (e.g., killing Absalom and Abner), posing a challenge to the king's authority. This phrase articulates David's political objective directly.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh?": David uses this powerful rhetorical question to initiate reconciliation and exploit their kinship. This directly addresses the deep tribal loyalty in Israel and aims to shift Amasa's allegiance from Absalom's cause back to David based on family ties, circumventing the need for punishment for his rebellion. It’s a masterful political appeal.
• "God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually instead of Joab.’": This forms the binding part of David's proposition. By invoking God in a self-imprecatory oath, David ensures Amasa understands the absolute seriousness and divine backing of his promise. The promise itself – command of the entire army – is designed to be irresistible, while the removal of Joab signifies David's determined effort to control his often-insubordinate general and solidify his own royal authority. It's a calculated move to disarm a potential enemy by promoting him and concurrently managing a loyal but difficult subordinate.

2 Samuel 19 13 Bonus section

The appointment of Amasa over Joab also highlights a theological dimension concerning divinely appointed kingship versus human manipulation of power. Joab, while often acting with zeal for David, frequently overstepped, blurring the lines of authority given by God to the king. David's move, though politically motivated, can be seen as an assertion of his God-given authority to command his own military, not allowing it to be dictated by the pragmatic but often ruthless actions of his general. This dynamic between David and Joab resurfaces until David's deathbed charge to Solomon concerning Joab (1 Ki 2:5-6), showing that this verse in 2 Sam 19 is a key moment in David's ongoing struggle for undisputed rule and proper authority in his kingdom, which was divinely ordained.

2 Samuel 19 13 Commentary

2 Samuel 19:13 encapsulates David's shrewd statesmanship and his personal anguish in the wake of Absalom's rebellion. The verse showcases David's immediate priority to heal the national divide, especially with the tribe of Judah, his primary support base, which had aligned with Absalom. By appealing to Amasa, Absalom's former commander, through the deeply resonant "bone and flesh" idiom, David seeks to re-establish tribal solidarity and mend familial wounds. This appeal is coupled with a profound, irrevocable oath, invoking divine judgment to ensure the credibility of his promise. David offers Amasa the highly coveted and powerful position of army commander, directly displacing Joab. This decision served multiple purposes: it reconciled Judah by empowering their chosen leader, removed the increasingly difficult Joab from his absolute authority (who had murdered Absalom against David's explicit orders, and earlier, Abner), and ultimately asserted David's undisputed control over the military, a vital pillar of his kingship. The promise was indeed a significant political gamble, reflecting David's strategic foresight to stabilize his kingdom.