2 Samuel

2 Samuel 20:4–10

4Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

5So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

6And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.a”

7So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri. 8And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them.

Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.b 9“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

10Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

Footnotes

  • a 20:6 Or and snatch away our eyes or and do us serious harm
  • b 20:8 Literally Now Joab was dressed in military attire, and over it was a belt around his waist with a dagger in its sheath. And as he stepped forward, it fell out.

Read all of 2 Samuel 20

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 20:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֔א‘ă·mā·śāNoun - proper - masculine singularH6021 Amasa
Summonהַזְעֶק־haz·‘eq-Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularH2199 cry, cry out, call
the menאִישׁ־’îš-Noun - masculine singular constructH376 man
of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הyə·hū·ḏāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
to come to meלִ֥יlîPreposition; first person common singular
within threeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתšə·lō·šeṯNumber - masculine singular constructH7969 a three, triad
daysיָמִ֑יםyā·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH3117 day
and be hereפֹּ֥הpōhAdverbH6311 here, hither
yourselfוְאַתָּ֖הwə·’at·tāhConjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou

2 Samuel 20:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֖א‘ă·mā·śāNoun - proper - masculine singularH6021 Amasa
wentוַיֵּ֥לֶךְway·yê·leḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
to summonלְהַזְעִ֣יקlə·haz·‘îqPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH2199 cry, cry out, call
Judahיְהוּדָ֑הyə·hū·ḏāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3063 Judah
but he took longerוַיֵּיחַרway·yē·ḥarConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH309 to remain behind, delay, tarry
thanמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the timeהַמּוֹעֵ֖דham·mō·w·‘êḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4150 appointed time, place, meeting
allotted himיְעָדֽוֹ׃סyə·‘ā·ḏōwVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH3259 appoint

2 Samuel 20:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Davidדָּוִד֙dā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֔י’ă·ḇî·šayNoun - proper - masculine singularH52 Abishai
Nowעַתָּ֗ה‘at·tāhAdverbH6258 now
Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעše·ḇa‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH7652 Sheba
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Bichriבִּכְרִ֖יbiḵ·rîNoun - proper - masculine singularH1075 Bikri
will do us more harmיֵ֧רַֽעyê·ra‘Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3415 quiver
thanמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
Absalomאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם’aḇ·šā·lō·wmNoun - proper - masculine singularH53 Abshalom
Takeקַ֞חqaḥVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH3947 take
your lord’sאֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙’ă·ḏō·ne·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH113 lord
servantsעַבְדֵ֤י‘aḇ·ḏêNoun - masculine plural constructH5650 slave, servant
and pursue himוּרְדֹ֣ףū·rə·ḏōp̄Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH7291 pursue, chase, persecute
orפֶּן־pen-ConjunctionH6435 lest
he will findמָ֥צָאmā·ṣāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4672 attain to, find
fortifiedבְּצֻר֖וֹתbə·ṣu·rō·wṯAdjective - feminine pluralH1219 cut off, make inaccessible
citiesעָרִ֥ים‘ā·rîmNoun - feminine pluralH5892 excitement
and eludeוְהִצִּ֥ילwə·hiṣ·ṣîlConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH5337 strip, plunder
usעֵינֵֽנוּ׃‘ê·nê·nūNoun - common singular construct; first person common pluralH5869 eye

2 Samuel 20:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Joab’sיוֹאָ֔בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
menאַנְשֵׁ֣י’an·šêNoun - masculine plural constructH582 man, mankind
along with the Cherethitesוְהַכְּרֵתִ֥יwə·hak·kə·rê·ṯîConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3774 Kerethites
the Pelethitesוְהַפְּלֵתִ֖יwə·hap·pə·lê·ṯîConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6432 courier, official messenger
and allוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the mighty menהַגִּבֹּרִ֑יםhag·gib·bō·rîmArticle; Adjective - masculine pluralH1368 strong, mighty
marched out ofוַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙way·yê·ṣə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3318 go or come out
Jerusalemמִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םmî·rū·šā·limPreposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem
in pursuitלִרְדֹּ֕ףlir·dōp̄Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7291 pursue, chase, persecute
of Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעše·ḇa‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH7652 Sheba
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Bichriבִּכְרִֽי׃biḵ·rîNoun - proper - masculine singularH1075 Bikri

2 Samuel 20:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
theyהֵ֗םhêmPronoun - third person masculine pluralH1992 they, them
were atעִם־‘im-PrepositionH5973 with
the greatהַגְּדוֹלָה֙hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH1419 great
stoneהָאֶ֤בֶןhā·’e·ḇenArticle; Noun - feminine singularH68 stone
in Gibeonבְּגִבְע֔וֹןbə·ḡiḇ·‘ō·wnPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH1391 Gibon
Amasaוַעֲמָשָׂ֖אwa·‘ă·mā·śāConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6021 Amasa
joinedבָּ֣אbāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
themלִפְנֵיהֶ֑םlip̄·nê·hemPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH6440 face, before
Now Joabוְיוֹאָ֞בwə·yō·w·’āḇConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
was dressedחָג֣וּר׀ḥā·ḡūrVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH2296 gird, gird on, gird oneself
in military attireמִדּ֣וֹmid·dōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH4055 measure
with a daggerחֶ֙רֶב֙ḥe·reḇNoun - feminine singularH2719 sword
strappedמְצֻמֶּ֤דֶתmə·ṣum·me·ḏeṯVerb - Pual - Participle - feminine singularH6775 bind, join
to his beltחֲג֥וֹרḥă·ḡō·wrNoun - masculine singular constructH2290 belt, gridle
And as heוְה֥וּאwə·hūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
stepped forwardיָצָ֖אyā·ṣāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3318 go or come out
he slipped the daggerוַתִּפֹּֽל׃סwat·tip·pōlConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH5307 fall, lie
from its sheathבְּתַעְרָ֔הּbə·ṯa‘·rāhPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH8593 razor, sheath

2 Samuel 20:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Are youאַתָּ֖ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
wellהֲשָׁל֥וֹםhă·šā·lō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
my brotherאָחִ֑י’ā·ḥîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH251 brother
Joabיוֹאָב֙yō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Amasaלַעֲמָשָׂ֔אla·‘ă·mā·śāPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6021 Amasa
And with his rightיְמִ֥יןyə·mînNoun - feminine singular constructH3225 right hand
handיַד־yaḏ-Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
Joabיוֹאָ֛בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
grabbedוַתֹּ֜חֶזwat·tō·ḥezConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH270 grasp, take hold, take possession
Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֖א‘ă·mā·śāNoun - proper - masculine singularH6021 Amasa
by the beardבִּזְקַ֥ןbiz·qanPreposition-b; Noun - common singular constructH2206 chin, beard
to kissלִנְשָׁק־lin·šāq-Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5401 kiss
himלֽוֹ׃lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

2 Samuel 20:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Amasaוַעֲמָשָׂ֨אwa·‘ă·mā·śāConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6021 Amasa
was notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
on guardנִשְׁמַ֜רniš·marVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH8104 keep, watch, preserve
against the daggerבַּחֶ֣רֶב׀ba·ḥe·reḇPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH2719 sword
in Joab’sיוֹאָ֗בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
handבְּיַד־bə·yaḏ-Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
and Joab stabbedוַיַּכֵּהוּ֩way·yak·kê·hūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH5221 smite
himבָ֨הּḇāhPreposition; third person feminine singular
inאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the stomachהַחֹ֜מֶשׁha·ḥō·mešArticle; Noun - masculine singularH2570 belly
and spilled out his intestinesמֵעָ֥יוmê·‘āwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH4578 internal organs, inward parts (intestines, bowels), belly
on the groundאַ֛רְצָה’ar·ṣāhNoun - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH776 earth, land
And Joab did not needוְלֹא־wə·lō-Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to strike him againשָׁ֥נָהšā·nāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH8138 change
for Amasa was deadוַיָּמֹ֑תסway·yå̄·mō·ṯsConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4191 die
Then Joabוְיוֹאָב֙wə·yō·w·’āḇConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
and his brotherאָחִ֔יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Abishaiוַאֲבִישַׁ֣יwa·’ă·ḇî·šayConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH52 Abishai
pursuedרָדַ֕ףrā·ḏap̄Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7291 pursue, chase, persecute
Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעše·ḇa‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH7652 Sheba
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Bichriבִּכְרִֽי׃biḵ·rîNoun - proper - masculine singularH1075 Bikri

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Samuel 20:4 2 Samuel 17:25 · 2 Samuel 19:13

2 Samuel 20:6 2 Samuel 11:11 · 1 Kings 1:33 · 2 Samuel 21:17

2 Samuel 20:7 2 Samuel 8:18 · 1 Kings 1:38 · 2 Samuel 15:18 · 2 Samuel 20:23

2 Samuel 20:8 2 Samuel 3:30

2 Samuel 20:9 Matthew 26:48–49 · Luke 22:47–48

2 Samuel 20:10 2 Samuel 2:23 · 2 Samuel 3:27 · Judges 3:21

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.