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Living by the Sword
Read 2 Samuel 20. What role do we find Joab in again? How was Joab’s treachery justified?
Amasa and Joab were cousins (2 Sam. 17:25). Amasa was commander of Absalom’s forces. After Joab disobeys David’s orders in the case of Absalom (2 Sam. 18:5, 14), David wishes to rid himself of Joab and promises Amasa the high command of his army (2 Sam. 19:13). After all, it was Joab’s scheming and planning that set the stage for the rebellion. Obviously, David’s design is not motivated only by anger toward Joab (who had consciously disobeyed the king’s order and killed his son). Amasa’s appointment was also a political move that would signal reconciliation to the rest of the pro-Absalom forces.
What does 2 Samuel 20:1, 2 tell us about the political situation in Israel?
David ignores Joab, for he has promised the command to Amasa, and now he sends Amasa to round up the troops in order to deal with new revolt. Amasa is not able to do this in time. David then sends for Abishai, the brother of Joab, and turns to him rather than to Joab in this time of crisis. Joab and Amasa finally meet and, borrowing a leaf from Abner’s assassination, Joab murders Amasa. The biblical writer emphasizes the total unexpectedness of the attack (2 Sam. 20:8–10). Joab cooly murders his cousin, simply because he has been passed over and is no longer number one.
One of Joab’s men tries to legitimize Joab’s actions by linking Joab to King David. The people are being led to believe that loyalty to David means loyalty to Joab (even though the king has explicitly distanced himself from Joab), and being loyal to Joab means that Joab’s right to be judge, jury, and executioner in the case of Amasa cannot be questioned.
Look at Joab’s duplicity in how he betrayed Amasa. How careful we need to be that we don’t betray someone who trusts us, using that trust to do them dirty. How easily Matthew 7:12 should apply here.
| WEDNESDAY | November 17 |
Read 2 Samuel 20. What role do we find Joab in again? How was Joab’s treachery justified?
Amasa and Joab were cousins (2 Sam. 17:25). Amasa was commander of Absalom’s forces. After Joab disobeys David’s orders in the case of Absalom (2 Sam. 18:5, 14), David wishes to rid himself of Joab and promises Amasa the high command of his army (2 Sam. 19:13). After all, it was Joab’s scheming and planning that set the stage for the rebellion. Obviously, David’s design is not motivated only by anger toward Joab (who had consciously disobeyed the king’s order and killed his son). Amasa’s appointment was also a political move that would signal reconciliation to the rest of the pro-Absalom forces.
What does 2 Samuel 20:1, 2 tell us about the political situation in Israel?
David ignores Joab, for he has promised the command to Amasa, and now he sends Amasa to round up the troops in order to deal with new revolt. Amasa is not able to do this in time. David then sends for Abishai, the brother of Joab, and turns to him rather than to Joab in this time of crisis. Joab and Amasa finally meet and, borrowing a leaf from Abner’s assassination, Joab murders Amasa. The biblical writer emphasizes the total unexpectedness of the attack (2 Sam. 20:8–10). Joab cooly murders his cousin, simply because he has been passed over and is no longer number one.
One of Joab’s men tries to legitimize Joab’s actions by linking Joab to King David. The people are being led to believe that loyalty to David means loyalty to Joab (even though the king has explicitly distanced himself from Joab), and being loyal to Joab means that Joab’s right to be judge, jury, and executioner in the case of Amasa cannot be questioned.
Look at Joab’s duplicity in how he betrayed Amasa. How careful we need to be that we don’t betray someone who trusts us, using that trust to do them dirty. How easily Matthew 7:12 should apply here.
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