2 Samuel 20 12

2 Samuel 20:12 kjv

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

2 Samuel 20:12 nkjv

But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted.

2 Samuel 20:12 niv

Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him.

2 Samuel 20:12 esv

And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the highway. And anyone who came by, seeing him, stopped. And when the man saw that all the people stopped, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field and threw a garment over him.

2 Samuel 20:12 nlt

But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab's man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 12 Meaning

The verse graphically portrays the immediate aftermath of Amasa's murder by Joab, depicting his body wallowing in blood on a public highway. The horrific sight caused everyone passing by to stop, disrupting the army's movement and hindering their pursuit of Sheba. Consequently, a pragmatic individual, recognizing this impediment, moved Amasa's body off the road into a nearby field and covered it with a cloth, enabling the troops to resume their march. This act highlighted the ruthless efficiency demanded by military objectives, prioritizing the mission's continuation over immediate respect or proper handling of the deceased.

2 Samuel 20 12 Context

2 Samuel chapter 20 describes the beginning of Sheba's rebellion, immediately following Absalom's defeat and David's tumultuous return to Jerusalem. David, seeking to reunite the nation, had controversially appointed Amasa as commander over his army (replacing Joab, who had killed Absalom). David tasked Amasa with gathering the men of Judah, but Amasa delayed. Impatient, David ordered Abishai (and by extension Joab, as Joab always took initiative) to pursue Sheba. Joab intercepted Amasa at Gibeon, greeting him with deceptive affection while grasping his beard, then fatally stabbing him in the belly, spilling Amasa's entrails. The shocking sight of Amasa's dying body on the busy "highway," which was the main route for the army, brought the pursuing forces to a standstill, posing a significant logistical and psychological impediment to the mission.

2 Samuel 20 12 Word analysis

• And Amasa: Amasa (עֲמָשָׂא, Amashah), David's nephew (son of Abigail, David's sister), had been made commander by David. His identity as a key military figure and relative to David makes his death particularly significant.
• wallowed: (מִתְגּוֹלֵל, mitgôlēl) From the root galal, "to roll." The Hithpael participle form suggests a reflexive, intensive, and continuous action – "rolling himself," "tossing about," or "lying prostrate." This vivid, disturbing verb paints a picture of a gory, writhing, or splayed body, not merely dead, but an active, disturbing spectacle in its demise. It underscores the brutality of his end and its profound impact on observers.
• in blood: (בַּדָּם, baddām) Literally "in the blood." Emphasizes the raw, visceral reality of the murder. The presence of blood on the "highway" makes the scene overtly gruesome and unforgettable, marking a site of violence.
• in the midst of the highway: (בְּתוֹךְ הַמְסִלָּה, betôḵ hammĕsillâ) "The highway" (mesillâ) refers to a raised or paved road, a main thoroughfare. Being in "the midst of" it signifies a prominent, inescapable obstacle in a public and essential path. This setting amplifies the impact: the murder is not hidden but openly displayed, causing maximum disruption to vital military movement.
• And when the man saw: "The man" is not named but is likely one of Joab's men (who had already declared loyalty in v. 11), acting on behalf of the ongoing military campaign, or Joab himself who recognized the disruption caused. This highlights a pragmatic, unsentimental assessment of the situation.
• that all the people stood still: (עָמַד, ʿāmāḏ, "stood still, stopped"). The verb is repeated later in the verse. This denotes a complete halt to the army's progress. It speaks to the shock, horror, or morbid fascination that held the soldiers in place, literally preventing them from fulfilling their orders. The bloody corpse became a powerful psychological and physical deterrent.
• he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field: A deliberate, decisive action to clear the road. The "field" is the opposite of the "highway," a place away from public thoroughfare and critical operations. This reflects the military's pragmatic necessity: the objective (pursuing Sheba) outweighs any reverence or immediate attention to the dead.
• and cast a cloth upon him: (וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ עָלָיו הַבֶּגֶד, wayyašlēḵ ʿālāyw habbeḡeḏ) "Cast" (shalakh) suggests a quick, unceremonious act. The "cloth" (beged) is an ordinary garment, not necessarily a burial shroud, but a simple covering. The purpose was to hide the gruesome spectacle, not out of respect for Amasa's dignity, but to eliminate the visual catalyst that was halting the army.
• when he saw that every one that came by him stood still: Reiteration of the reason for the action. The obstruction of movement was the overriding concern. The efficiency of Joab's forces in prosecuting the war against Sheba took precedence over all other considerations. This is a vivid picture of brutal military pragmatism.

2 Samuel 20 12 Bonus section

This incident highlights Joab's unwavering and often brutal loyalty to David's kingdom, despite his own ambitions and transgressions. By eliminating anyone perceived as a threat or impediment—whether Abner, Absalom, or Amasa—Joab consistently prioritized David's reign and military efficiency, even at the cost of personal relationships or moral principles. The specific concern with the body stopping the army demonstrates that the military "way" (the pursuit of Sheba) was seen as paramount, emphasizing speed and unimpeded progress over reverence for the fallen. The highway here becomes a literal representation of the mission's pathway, with the murdered body becoming a concrete "stumbling block" that needed to be literally removed for the greater objective to continue. This scene reinforces the concept that sometimes the "facts on the ground"—the immediate reality of a problem—force actions that might otherwise be seen as callous or disrespectful.

2 Samuel 20 12 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:12 provides a chilling glimpse into the practical ruthlessness of ancient warfare and the cold efficiency of Joab, David's commander. Amasa's body, publicly displayed in its gruesome state on a major thoroughfare, acted as a powerful visual deterrent, halting the forward momentum of David's army. The narrative reveals that the immediate concern was not moral outrage over the murder or lamentation for the deceased, but the severe practical disruption the corpse caused to military operations. The swift act of moving and covering the body underscores a hard, unsentimental pragmatism where the successful completion of a mission outweighed considerations of respect for the dead. It serves as a stark reminder of how obstacles, whether physical or moral, must sometimes be forcibly removed for a desired path to be cleared and continued.