Bible Strands
2 Samuel 17:25
Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — During Absalom’s rebellion, immediately after crossing the Jordan with Israel’s forces, the rebel leader consolidates military command by replacing Joab. This occurs while David has fled to Mahanaim and both armies prepare to engage in the land of Gilead.
The words — The text states that Absalom שָׂם (sam) עֲמָשָׂא ('a.ma.Sa') תַּחַת יוֹאָב (ta.chat yo.'Av), literally recording he appointed Amasa in place of Joab over the army. It then supplies Amasa’s genealogy: son of Ithra the Ishmaelite, who married Abigail, sister of Zeruiah.
The thread — This command shift reappears when David later offers Amasa leadership in 2 Samuel 19:13, and when Joab later approaches him in 2 Samuel 20:9 before the fatal encounter. The lineage data traces Abigail to Nahash and identifies Zeruiah as Joab’s mother.
Why it lands — The verse records a direct military succession and supplies a specific maternal line to establish the new commander’s credentials. It asks the reader to observe how political appointments and family ties intersect during the civil conflict.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 19:13 And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”
- 1 Chronicles 2:13 Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,
- 2 Samuel 20:9 “Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
- 2 Samuel 20:4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”
- 1 Kings 2:5 Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
- 1 Kings 2:32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
- 1 Chronicles 2:16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.