2 Samuel 20:11 kjv
And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
2 Samuel 20:11 nkjv
Meanwhile one of Joab's men stood near Amasa, and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David?follow Joab!"
2 Samuel 20:11 niv
One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!"
2 Samuel 20:11 esv
And one of Joab's young men took his stand by Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab."
2 Samuel 20:11 nlt
One of Joab's young men shouted to Amasa's troops, "If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab."
2 Samuel 20 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jos 24:15 | But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. | Choosing allegiance to a leader/God. |
| Jdg 6:34 | But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; and he blew the trumpet, and Abiezer was gathered after him. | Rallying cry for military action. |
| 1 Ki 18:21 | How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him. | Demand for clear choice of allegiance. |
| 2 Ki 9:32 | "Who is on my side? Who?" So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. | Jehu's direct call for allies against a foe. |
| Ps 2:1-3 | Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?... "Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us." | Rebellion against the anointed king. |
| Ps 7:15 | He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the pit which he made. | The consequences of manipulative acts. |
| Pro 24:21-22 | My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not associate with those given to change... sudden destruction may rise from them both. | Loyalty to king; warning against rebellion. |
| Isa 1:20 | But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword. | Consequences of rebellion and disobedience. |
| Jer 9:3 | They bend their tongue like their bow for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth... they have proceeded from evil to evil. | Deceptive practices in power struggles. |
| Mat 10:37 | He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. | Christ's call for ultimate allegiance. |
| Mat 12:30 | He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. | No neutrality in following Christ. |
| Lk 9:23 | "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." | Call to follow with commitment. |
| Jn 6:67-69 | Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." | Choosing to remain loyal. |
| Jn 10:27 | My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. | The nature of following Christ. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities... Whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God. | Submission to governing authorities. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you. | Plea for unity and singular loyalty. |
| Eph 6:6 | not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. | Serving masters with genuine intent. |
| Col 3:23-24 | And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. | Work as if for God, not men. |
| 2 Tim 2:3-4 | You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life... | Loyalty of a soldier to his commander. |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. | Submission to spiritual leaders. |
2 Samuel 20 verses
2 Samuel 20 11 Meaning
This verse details the crucial command given by one of Joab's young men immediately after Joab assassinated Amasa. It functions as an urgent public declaration, strategically linking personal allegiance to Joab with loyalty to King David, thereby demanding immediate commitment and resumption of the pursuit against Sheba ben Bichri's rebellion. It was designed to dispel confusion and rally the stalled troops, forcing them to choose a side: with Joab and David, or against them.
2 Samuel 20 11 Context
The context of 2 Samuel 20:11 is deeply rooted in the tumultuous latter part of King David's reign. Immediately following Absalom's defeat, a new rebellion arises led by Sheba ben Bichri, threatening the newly restored unity of Israel. David, perhaps aiming to pacify the tribes and distance himself from Joab's previous insubordination (e.g., Absalom's death), had appointed Amasa (who was Absalom's former commander) as his chief commander, replacing Joab (2 Sam 19:13). Joab, despite this demotion, accompanies Amasa on the campaign to quell Sheba's revolt. The events leading to this verse include Joab's cunning assassination of Amasa (2 Sam 20:8-10) by feigning a greeting and plunging a sword into him. This horrific act halts the army's progress, as soldiers are stunned by the spectacle of Amasa's dying body on the road. The declaration in 20:11, delivered by one of Joab's aides, is Joab's immediate, strategic response to restore order and maintain command, transforming a moment of chaos and potential mutiny into a decisive rally for continued military action against the true enemy of the king.
Word Analysis
- "And by him stood one of Joab's young men":
- "stood" (עָמַד,
'amad): More than mere standing; implies taking a position of authority or readiness. Here, it denotes immediate availability and loyal support, suggesting the aide was prepared for this exact moment or scenario. - "one of Joab's young men" (מִנַּעֲרֵי יוֹאָב,
min-na'arei Yo'av): The termna'ar(young man) often refers to a servant, attendant, or military aide. This indicates that Joab had a loyal personal retinue or staff who executed his orders. The immediate action suggests forethought and a close, unquestioning loyalty from this aide. It implies Joab had a loyal inner circle that would immediately back his plays.
- "stood" (עָמַד,
- "and said":
- This is a formal proclamation, not a casual remark. It's an official call or command given to the assembled troops who were witnessing Amasa's murder and subsequent death throes. The voice of a designated speaker lends a measure of detachment or 'official' protocol to Joab's controversial actions.
- "Who favors Joab":
- "favors" (הַחֹפֵץ,
ha-chofetz): From the verbחָפֵץ(chaphets), meaning "to delight in," "to desire," "to take pleasure in," or "to consent to." It denotes a deeper level of allegiance than just obeying orders; it implies a willing approval, personal affinity, or conviction in Joab's leadership. It seeks internal commitment, not just outward compliance, thereby distinguishing genuine loyalists from potential dissenters.
- "favors" (הַחֹפֵץ,
- "and who is for David":
- "for David" (וּמִי לְדָוִד,
u-mi l'david): This phrase strategically links loyalty to Joab with loyalty to the king. By intertwining his name with David's, Joab brilliantly legitimizes his re-assumption of command and his controversial action against Amasa, framing it as an act in David's service and for the stability of the kingdom against rebellion. This was a critical psychological maneuver to win back the hesitant army.
- "for David" (וּמִי לְדָוִד,
- "let him follow Joab!":
- "follow" (יֵלֵךְ אַחֲרֵי יוֹאָב,
yelekh 'acharei Yo'av): Literally "let him go behind Joab." This is a direct command for immediate resumption of the march and continued military pursuit. It's an ultimatum, leaving no room for indecision. It cuts through the shock and disunity, pushing the army forward under Joab's leadership to address the urgent threat of Sheba. The command effectively tells the army: the choice is clear; fall in line behind me and we resume the king's mission.
- "follow" (יֵלֵךְ אַחֲרֵי יוֹאָב,
2 Samuel 20 11 Bonus section
- The placement of this declaration immediately after Amasa's body blocked the road highlights Joab's acute awareness of military practicalities and psychological factors. He understood that the macabre scene needed to be resolved not just by removing the body, but by re-establishing a clear line of command and purpose.
- This verse underscores the concept of a military call-to-arms in ancient Israel. The call to "follow" indicated joining the fighting force in an immediate capacity, confirming loyalty to the chosen commander and the royal cause.
- Joab's method of delegating the public pronouncement to a subordinate may have also served to reinforce his formal position, despite the irregularity of his actions. It suggested a continued adherence to established military protocols even as he acted outside of them in murdering his rival.
2 Samuel 20 11 Commentary
This verse is a sharp demonstration of Joab's ruthless efficiency and profound strategic cunning, particularly in moments of crisis. After assassinating Amasa, a morally shocking act that could have shattered army morale and discipline, Joab immediately employs a psychological tactic through his aide. Instead of explaining or excusing his actions, which would be difficult given Amasa was appointed by David, he bypasses justification and goes straight to reaffirming his indispensable leadership. By having his aide, rather than himself, declare the command, Joab perhaps maintains a layer of command authority, or simply avoids directly speaking while still having blood on his hands. The genius lies in fusing personal loyalty to Joab with unshakeable loyalty to King David. He forces a stark choice, positioning himself not as a murderer asserting power, but as David's loyal instrument continuing the king's business against a common enemy. This swift, decisive action reasserts Joab's command, refocuses the stunned army on the external threat (Sheba), and ensures the immediate resumption of the military campaign. It's a pragmatic, albeit cold, move that saved the pursuit from complete disarray.