2 Samuel 20 8

2 Samuel 20:8 kjv

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

2 Samuel 20:8 nkjv

When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out.

2 Samuel 20:8 niv

While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.

2 Samuel 20:8 esv

When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing a soldier's garment, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened on his thigh, and as he went forward it fell out.

2 Samuel 20:8 nlt

As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 8 Meaning

2 Samuel 20:8 describes a crucial moment leading to the treacherous assassination of Amasa by Joab. The verse details Joab's military attire, particularly how his sword, initially fastened in its sheath upon his loins, deceptively "fell out" as he approached Amasa. This apparent accident strategically placed the sword readily in Joab's hand, creating the immediate opportunity for the fatal blow that follows in the subsequent verses, revealing Joab's premeditated and cunning intent to eliminate a rival.

2 Samuel 20 8 Context

The events of 2 Samuel 20:8 unfold during a turbulent period in David's reign, immediately following the suppression of Absalom's rebellion. Chapter 20 opens with Sheba ben Bichri initiating another rebellion against King David (2 Sam 20:1). David, aiming to reunite his kingdom and possibly diminish Joab's excessive power after Absalom's defeat, appoints Amasa—formerly Absalom's general, now reconciled with David—as the commander of the army to put down Sheba's revolt (2 Sam 19:13, 20:4). Amasa, however, is delayed (2 Sam 20:5). Impatient, David orders Abishai, Joab's brother, to pursue Sheba, implying Joab's involvement (2 Sam 20:6). This directly positions Joab to regain control and confront Amasa. The verse takes place at "the great stone in Gibeon," a notable landmark, where Joab and his forces, now pursuing Sheba, encounter Amasa. For Joab, Amasa's new appointment represents a direct threat to his established authority as David's loyal and fearsome, albeit often unscrupulous, general. This encounter is therefore critical for Joab to reassert his dominance through elimination of the new threat.

2 Samuel 20 8 Word analysis

• "When they were by the great stone which is in Gibeon":

  • "Gibeon" (Hebrew: גִּבְעוֹן, Gib'on): A significant Canaanite city in Benjamin's territory, known for its strategic location, history (Joshua 9-10), and the pool of Gibeon (2 Sam 2:13). The mention of a "great stone" suggests a well-known, possibly monolithic landmark in the area, providing a precise setting for the encounter. This specific location detail roots the narrative in geographical reality.

• "Amasa came to meet them.":

  • "Amasa" (Hebrew: עֲמָשָׂא, Amasah): David's nephew (2 Sam 17:25), formerly commander of Absalom's army, whom David had promised to make commander of his own army (2 Sam 19:13) in an attempt to stabilize the kingdom and possibly curb Joab's power. His approach is in his capacity as the newly appointed, albeit delayed, commander.

• "And Joab was girded with his soldier's attire,":

  • "Joab" (Hebrew: יוֹאָב, Yo'av): David's long-serving, highly effective, but often ruthless military commander.
  • "girded" (Hebrew: חָגוּר, chagur): From the root חָגַר (chagar), meaning to bind or gird on, particularly indicating being fully dressed or equipped, usually with a belt. This implies being fully ready for battle or official duties.
  • "soldier's attire" (Hebrew: מִדּוֹ, middō): Referring to his uniform or official military tunic/cloak. This emphasizes his status and current context as a commander in the field.

• "and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins, in its sheath;":

  • "girdle" (Hebrew: חֲגוֹרָה, chagorah): A belt worn over the tunic, essential for a soldier to carry weapons and cinch clothing.
  • "sword" (Hebrew: חֶרֶב, cherev): The primary close-combat weapon.
  • "fastened upon his loins" (Hebrew: צָבוּר֙ עַל־מָתְנָיו֙, tzavur al-matnav): The verb root צָבַר (tzabar) means to pile up, collect, or, in this context, firmly bind or secure. This detail highlights that the sword was securely attached to his belt around his waist.
  • "in its sheath" (Hebrew: בְּתַעְלָתָהּ, b'ta'alatah): The sheath (תַּעְלָה, ta'alah) is the scabbard for holding the sword. This is a critical detail, establishing that the sword was properly contained, making its subsequent "fall" noteworthy.

• "and as he went forth, it fell out.":

  • "as he went forth" (Hebrew: וְהוּא יָצָא, vehu yatza): This implies his movement towards Amasa, suggesting a greeting or engagement.
  • "it fell out" (Hebrew: וַיִּפֹּל, vayippol): From the verb נָפַל (naphal), meaning "to fall." This is the pivotal action. Given that the sword was described as "fastened," its "falling out" immediately before the greeting of Amasa is highly suggestive of a deliberate action disguised as an accident. It sets the scene for the unhindered access and swift strike against Amasa, making the subsequent murder (in 2 Sam 20:9-10) seem almost incidental to an immediate opportunity.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Joab was girded with his soldier's attire, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins, in its sheath; and as he went forth, it fell out.": The elaborate description of Joab's readiness and the precise placement of his sword—securely sheathed—followed by the simple, seemingly accidental "it fell out," strongly implies intentionality. The narrative crafts a deceptive stage where Joab manipulates the situation, turning a common military setup into a fatal opportunity for treachery. The contrast between the initial security of the sword and its sudden "falling out" is designed to portray cunning rather than carelessness. This sets up the critical move to follow, where Joab would hold the unsheathed sword.

2 Samuel 20 8 Bonus section

• Joab's Modus Operandi: Joab's assassinations of both Abner (2 Sam 3) and Amasa follow a disturbingly similar pattern: a feigned embrace or greeting (as shown in the verse by him 'going forth' to Amasa) followed by a swift, fatal stab while the victim is unprepared or disarmed by the apparent friendliness. This consistent method underscores his deceptive nature and highlights his cold-blooded efficiency in eliminating political or military rivals without direct confrontation, which further strengthens the case for the intentionality of the sword's "fall."
• The Power Vacuum: This event occurs in the immediate aftermath of Absalom's rebellion, a period of instability where power dynamics within David's court are shifting. Amasa's appointment was David's attempt to restore order and perhaps control Joab, who had acted independently, even against David's will (e.g., Absalom's killing). Joab saw Amasa as an existential threat to his authority, prompting this ruthless response to protect his command.
• Literary Foreshadowing: The detailed description in this verse, while concise, heavily foreshadows the violence that is about to ensue. The focus on the sword's position and its "falling out" builds tension and immediately cues the reader into Joab's sinister intentions before the act itself is described, characteristic of skilled narrative in the Hebrew Bible.

2 Samuel 20 8 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:8 provides the stage for Joab's most calculated and chilling act of personal power consolidation. The meticulous description of his military gear and the placement of his sword serves not merely as visual detail but as a vital part of the deception. The phrase "it fell out" is deliberately ambiguous. Given Joab's cunning character and his past actions (like the murder of Abner in 2 Sam 3), it is widely understood by scholars to be a feigned accident. Joab manipulates his attire so that as he advances to greet Amasa, the sword appears to slip, putting it conveniently in his hand for a quick, lethal thrust, thereby catching Amasa off guard both physically and mentally. This moment showcases Joab's strategic genius and utter ruthlessness; he eliminates a direct rival appointed by David himself, solidifying his indispensable, albeit dangerous, position at the top of David's military hierarchy. This incident stands as a powerful biblical illustration of how treachery can mask itself under the guise of an innocuous event, emphasizing the importance of discerning between appearances and reality.