2 Samuel 20:12
New International Version
Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him.

New Living Translation
But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.

English Standard Version
And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the highway. And anyone who came by, seeing him, stopped. And when the man saw that all the people stopped, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field and threw a garment over him.

Berean Standard Bible
But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it.

King James Bible
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

New King James Version
But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted.

New American Standard Bible
But Amasa was wallowing in his own blood in the middle of the road. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the road to the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

NASB 1995
But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

NASB 1977
But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And the man saw that all the people stood still. So he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

Amplified Bible
But Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people who came by stopped [to look], he moved Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by Amasa stopped.

Christian Standard Bible
Now Amasa had been writhing in his blood in the middle of the highway, and the man had seen that all the troops stopped. So he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him because he realized that all those who encountered Amasa were stopping.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Amasa was writhing in his blood in the middle of the highway, and the man had seen that all the people stopped. So he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him because he realized that all those who encountered Amasa were stopping.

American Standard Version
And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

Contemporary English Version
Amasa was still rolling in his own blood in the middle of the road. The soldier who had shouted noticed that everyone who passed by would stop, so he dragged Amasa off the road and covered him with a blanket.

English Revised Version
And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the troops stopped as they came to the body, he carried Amasa from the road to the field and threw a sheet over him.

Good News Translation
Amasa's body, covered with blood, was lying in the middle of the road. Joab's man saw that everybody was stopping, so he dragged the body from the road out into the field and threw a blanket over it.

International Standard Version
While Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway, everybody who passed by was stopping to stare at him, so when the soldier saw that all of the army was stopping, he carried Amasa off the highway into a nearby field and covered him with a garment.

Majority Standard Bible
But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it.

NET Bible
Amasa was squirming in his own blood in the middle of the path, and this man had noticed that all the soldiers stopped. Having noticed that everyone who came across Amasa stopped, the man pulled him away from the path and into the field and threw a garment over him.

New Heart English Bible
But Amasa lay covered with his blood in the midst of the road, and anyone who came by, seeing him, stopped. So when the man saw that all the people stopped, he dragged Amasa from the road into a field and threw a garment over him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

World English Bible
Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Amasa is rolling himself in blood, in the midst of the highway, and the man sees that all the people have stood still, and he brings around Amasa out of the highway to the field, and casts a garment over him when he has seen that everyone who has come by him has stood still.

Young's Literal Translation
And Amasa is rolling himself in blood, in the midst of the highway, and the man seeth that all the people have stood still, and he bringeth round Amasa out of the highway to the field, and casteth over him a garment, when he hath seen that every one who hath come by him -- hath stood still.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Amasa rolling in blood in the midst of the highway. And the man will see that all the people stood, and he will turn Amasa from the highway to the field, and he will cast upon him a garment when he saw all coming by him and standing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Amasa imbrued with blood, lay in the midst of the way. A certain man saw this that all the people stood still to look upon him, so he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and covered him with a garment, that they who passed might not stop on his account.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now Amasa was covered with blood, and was lying in the middle of the road. A certain man saw this, with all the people standing nearby to look at him, and he removed Amasa from the road into a field. And he covered him with a garment, so that those passing by would not stop because of him.

New American Bible
Amasa lay covered with blood in the middle of the highroad, and the man noticed that all the soldiers were stopping. So he rolled Amasa away from the road to the field and spread a garment over him, because he saw how all who came upon him were stopping.

New Revised Standard Version
Amasa lay wallowing in his blood on the highway, and the man saw that all the people were stopping. Since he saw that all who came by him were stopping, he carried Amasa from the highway into a field, and threw a garment over him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Amasa wallowed in his blood, lying in the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stopped to look at him, he dragged Amasa out of the highway and threw him into a field and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one who came by him stopped.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Amasa was covered with his blood and was cast into the street, and when the man that stood with him saw all the people looking, he dragged Amasa from the street and laid him in a field and laid a cloak on him, when he saw that everyone who passed by him stood by him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Amessai was weltering in blood in the midst of the way. And a man saw that all the people stood still; and he removed Amessai out of the path into a field, and he cast a garment upon him, because he saw every one that came to him standing still.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sheba's Rebellion
11One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it. 13As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 2:23
But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

2 Samuel 3:27
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

2 Samuel 3:30
(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

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.

2 Samuel 18:14-15
But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. / And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

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 11:6
Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief.

1 Chronicles 2:16
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.

1 Chronicles 27:7
The fourth, for the fourth month, was Joab’s brother Asahel, and his son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division.

Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

Acts 1:18-19
(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out. / This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Acts 7:58
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 22:20
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.


Treasury of Scripture

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth on him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

2 Samuel 17:25
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.

Psalm 9:16
The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

Psalm 55:23
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

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Amasa Blood Carried Cast Cloth Field Garment Highway Lay Midst Removed Stood Stopped Threw Wallowed Wallowing
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Amasa Blood Carried Cast Cloth Field Garment Highway Lay Midst Removed Stood Stopped Threw Wallowed Wallowing
2 Samuel 20
1. By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba rebels in Israel
3. David's ten concubines are put in confinement for life
4. Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab
14. Joab pursues Sheba to Abel
16. A wise woman saves the city by Sheba's head
23. David's officers














But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road
Amasa, appointed by Absalom and later by David as commander of the army, was killed by Joab. This act of violence highlights the brutal and often treacherous nature of political and military leadership in ancient Israel. The imagery of Amasa wallowing in his blood underscores the severity of his wound and the chaos of the situation. This scene reflects the harsh realities of leadership struggles and the consequences of betrayal and ambition, reminiscent of the violence that often accompanied the transfer of power in the ancient Near East.

and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there
The troops stopping indicates the impact of Amasa's death on the soldiers, causing confusion and halting their progress. This moment of hesitation reflects the importance of leadership and the effect of a leader's fall on their followers. The soldiers' reaction also suggests the respect or fear they had for Amasa, as his death was significant enough to disrupt their mission. This pause in movement can be seen as a metaphor for the disruption of order and the need for decisive action in times of crisis.

he dragged the body off the road into a field
The act of dragging Amasa's body off the road signifies a practical response to restore order and continue the mission. In ancient times, leaving a body in the road would have been seen as disrespectful and a hindrance to movement. This action reflects the necessity of maintaining focus on the larger objective, despite personal or immediate tragedies. It also illustrates the harsh realities of war, where the dead are often moved aside to allow the living to continue their duties.

and threw a garment over it
Covering Amasa's body with a garment was an act of respect and decency, even in the midst of violence. This gesture indicates an acknowledgment of Amasa's former position and the need to preserve his dignity in death. In biblical times, covering a body was a sign of respect and a way to protect it from the elements and scavengers. This act can be seen as a reflection of the biblical principle of honoring the dead, as seen in other scriptures where burial and respect for the deceased are emphasized.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Amasa
Amasa was appointed by Absalom as the commander of the army in place of Joab. After Absalom's death, David replaced Joab with Amasa as the commander of his army. Amasa's death at the hands of Joab is a pivotal event in this chapter.

2. Joab
Joab was the commander of David's army and a key military leader throughout David's reign. He killed Amasa in a bid to regain his position as commander.

3. The Road
The road where Amasa lay is significant as it was a main thoroughfare, causing the troops to stop and gather, which could have disrupted the mission.

4. The Field
The field where Amasa's body was moved represents a place of concealment, allowing the troops to continue their mission without distraction.

5. The Garment
The garment used to cover Amasa's body symbolizes an attempt to restore order and dignity amidst the chaos and violence.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Ambition and Violence
Joab's ambition led him to commit murder to regain his position. This serves as a warning against allowing ambition to lead to sinful actions.

The Importance of Order and Focus
The removal of Amasa's body from the road illustrates the need to remove distractions that hinder our mission and focus on God's work.

The Value of Human Dignity
Covering Amasa's body with a garment shows a basic respect for human dignity, even in death. We are called to honor and respect all individuals as image-bearers of God.

Leadership and Accountability
Leaders are accountable for their actions. Joab's actions eventually led to his downfall, reminding us that leadership comes with responsibility and accountability before God.(12) The people stood still.--These were probably the very people whom Amasa had just been gathering from Judah and Benjamin. Whoever they may have been, they were naturally overcome and paralysed for the moment at the sight of the great leader whom the king had just promoted wallowing in his blood. Joab's warrior, seeing the effect of their consternation, removed and concealed the body, and the pursuit then went on.

Verse 12. - He removed Amasa. The admonition to move on failed; for the sight was terrible and tragic, and all as they came along stopped to see what had happened, and inquire the cause (comp. 2 Samuel 2:23). The man, therefore, had the corpse carried out of the way, and threw over it a cloth, really a coat - the loose upper mantle worn over the tunic (see note on beged, 1 Samuel 19:13). Whereupon the people renewed their march, most of them not knowing what had occurred, and the rest urged to it by the warning voice of Joab's servitor.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Amasa
וַעֲמָשָׂ֛א (wa·‘ă·mā·śā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6021: Amasa -- two Israelites

wallowed
מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל (miṯ·gō·lêl)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1556: To roll, roll away

in his blood
בַּדָּ֖ם (bad·dām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

in the middle
בְּת֣וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

of the road,
הַֽמְסִּלָּ֑ה (ham·mə·sil·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4546: A thoroughfare, a viaduct, a staircase

and when the man
הָאִ֜ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

saw
וַיַּ֨רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

that all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the troops
הָעָ֗ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

were stopping there,
עָמַ֣ד (‘ā·maḏ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

he dragged
וַיַּסֵּב֩ (way·yas·sêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

[the body]
עֲמָשָׂ֨א (‘ă·mā·śā)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6021: Amasa -- two Israelites

off
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the road
הַֽמְסִלָּ֤ה (ham·sil·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4546: A thoroughfare, a viaduct, a staircase

into a field
הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

and threw
וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ (way·yaš·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

a garment
בֶּ֔גֶד (be·ḡeḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage

over it.
עָלָיו֙ (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT History: 2 Samuel 20:12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 20:11
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