Lexical Summary Amasa: Amasa Original Word: עֲמָשָׂא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Amasa From amac; burden; Amasa, the name of two Israelites -- Amasa. see HEBREW amac NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition two Isr. NASB Translation Amasa (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲמָשָׂא proper name, masculine (compare עמס, ענשׂ ? or read עַמִּשַׂי (II. עַם + יִשַׂי), WeIsrael u. Jüd. Geschichte. 24, compare GrayProp. N. 44, 323); — 1 Absalom's General 2 Samuel 17:25 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 19:14 8t. 2 Samuel 20; 1 Kings 2:5,32; 1 Chronicles 2:17 (twice in verse), ᵐ5 Αμεσς(α)ει, ᵐ5L Αμεσσα. 2 Ephraimite2Chronicles 28:12. Topical Lexicon Persons Bearing the Name1. Amasa, son of Jether (Ithra) and Abigail, nephew of King David and cousin to Joab (2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:17). Genealogical and Family Setting Amasa’s mother Abigail was the sister of Zeruiah, making Amasa first cousin to the military chiefs Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. David’s decision to elevate Amasa above Joab (2 Samuel 19:13) reveals both the closeness of the extended royal family and the political weight David attached to blood ties after Absalom’s rebellion. Military Leadership under Absalom Absalom “appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab” (2 Samuel 17:25). The appointment was calculated: Amasa’s kinship to David could entice undecided Judahites, while his non-Israelite paternity (Ithra the Ishmaelite) might broaden support among peripheral groups. The brief civil war ended at the forest of Ephraim, and although Absalom fell, Amasa’s standing remained high enough for David to eye him as a counterweight to Joab. Commander-in-Chief of David’s Army David promised Amasa lifelong command: “May God deal with me, and ever so severely, if from this time on you are not commander of my army in place of Joab!” (2 Samuel 19:13). The king’s pledge served three aims: • Reuniting Judah under a trusted kinsman. Yet the appointment quickly collided with reality. Sent to muster Judah within three days (2 Samuel 20:4), Amasa “delayed longer than the time allotted” (20:5). Whether hindered by lingering loyalties, logistical obstacles, or personal indecision, the delay permitted Sheba son of Bichri to rally discontented Israelites and march north—another crisis birthed by factionalism. Assassination by Joab Meeting at the great stone in Gibeon, Joab greeted Amasa with a warrior’s kiss but struck him with a concealed dagger: “Amasa fell wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road” (2 Samuel 20:12). Joab’s deed exposed the brutal calculus of power: • Joab perceived any rival commander as a threat to national stability—and his own status. Posthumous Vindication David charged Solomon: “Do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace” (1 Kings 2:6). Solomon executed Joab, and the verdict explicitly cited “the blood of war he poured out on his waistband and on his sandals…Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether” (1 Kings 2:32). Thus divine justice, delayed, was not denied. Character and Spiritual Lessons from Amasa son of Jether • Kinship alone neither guarantees loyalty nor competence; Amasa’s lineage opened doors, but character and prompt obedience were required to keep them. Amasa son of Hadlai: A Voice for Mercy During the reign of Pekah of Israel and Ahaz of Judah, northern troops captured thousands of Judeans. Four Ephraimite princes—among them “Amasa son of Hadlai” (2 Chronicles 28:12)—opposed enslaving their kin. Guided by prophetic rebuke (28:9-11), they clothed, fed, anointed, and escorted the captives home. Their intervention highlights: • Obedience to prophetic truth over national triumphalism. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Justice and Mercy Balanced. The two men named Amasa illustrate God’s concern for righteous governance. One suffers injustice, yet justice prevails in God’s time; the other dispenses mercy, prefiguring Christlike compassion. 2. Danger of Unchecked Ambition. Joab’s murder of Amasa warns that gifted service without submission to divine authority breeds violence and schism within God’s people. 3. Restoration after Rebellion. David’s overture to Amasa demonstrates that covenant community pursues reconciliation, echoing the gospel call for former rebels to become trusted servants. 4. Leadership Accountability. Solomon’s execution of Joab closes the narrative loop, emphasizing that no deed escapes divine scrutiny—a sobering truth for contemporary ministry oversight. Key References 2 Samuel 17:25; 19:13; 20:4-12 Forms and Transliterations וְלַֽעֲמָשָׂא֙ וְלַעֲמָשָׂ֤א וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א וַעֲמָשָׂ֛א וַעֲמָשָׂ֣א וַעֲמָשָׂ֨א ולעמשא ועמשא לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א לעמשא עֲמָשָׂ֑א עֲמָשָׂ֔א עֲמָשָׂ֖א עֲמָשָׂ֗א עֲמָשָׂ֥א עֲמָשָׂ֨א עמשא ‘ă·mā·śā ‘ămāśā amaSa la‘ămāśā la·‘ă·mā·śā laamaSa vaamaSa velaamaSa wa‘ămāśā wa·‘ă·mā·śā wə·la·‘ă·mā·śā wəla‘ămāśāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 17:25 HEB: וְאֶת־ עֲמָשָׂ֗א שָׂ֧ם אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ם NAS: Absalom set Amasa over the army KJV: made Amasa captain of the host INT: Amasa set Absalom 2 Samuel 17:25 2 Samuel 19:13 2 Samuel 20:4 2 Samuel 20:5 2 Samuel 20:8 2 Samuel 20:9 2 Samuel 20:9 2 Samuel 20:10 2 Samuel 20:12 2 Samuel 20:12 1 Kings 2:5 1 Kings 2:32 1 Chronicles 2:17 1 Chronicles 2:17 2 Chronicles 28:12 16 Occurrences |
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