Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

In the fifth rib - I believe חמש chomesh, which we render here and elsewhere the fifth rib, means any part of the abdominal region. The Septuagint translate it την ψοαν, the groin; the Targum, the right side of the thigh, i.e., (the phrase of the Targumist being interpreted), the privy parts. That it means some part of the abdominal region, is evident from what follows, And shed out his bowels to the ground. It appears from this that, in plain English, he ripped up his belly.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

JOAB TAKES CHARGE OF THE PURSUIT OF SHEBA

"Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. And one of Joab's men took his stand by Amasa, and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab." And Amasa lay wallowing in his own 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. When he was taken out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri."

"Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba" (2 Samuel 20:10b). Note that Joab is mentioned first, having taken complete control of David's army.

"One of Joab's men took his stand by Amasa" (2 Samuel 20:11). The business of dispatching Amasa, having been completed, Joab, the experienced general, proceeded to get on with the business of quelling the rebellion. This man stationed by Amasa's body was for the purpose of urging the troops to follow Joab and was undoubtedly doing so under the specific orders of Joab.

"Any one who came by, seeing him, stopped" (2 Samuel 20:12). No wonder they stopped. There lay the notorious Amasa wallowing in his own blood. Joab's man, noting the delay, promptly removed the body to a nearby field and covered it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand,.... In his left hand, for with his right hand he took him by the beard; he might see the sword drop out of the scabbard, and Joab take it up, which he supposed he did in order to put it into its sheath again, having no suspicion of his wicked design, and therefore not at all upon his guard to prevent it:

so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib; in the same place where Abner smote Asahel, and Joab Abner; See Gill on 2 Samuel 2:23 and See Gill on 2 Samuel 3:27, he must strike him, as some observe, on the left side, because he was embracing him; and the stroke must be deadly, because he struck him in the pericardium, which surrounds the heart round with water, to refrigerate it; for the lower part of the heart reaches to the fifth rib; see John 19:34 ^F21Weemse's Portrait of Man, p. 25. :

and shed out his bowels to the ground; which fell out through the incision made by the sword:

and struck him not again: he gave him such a home thrust, there was no need to repeat it, he dispatched him at once:

and he died; and thus, though he was pardoned by David, and promoted to honour by him, yet the providence of God would not suffer him to go unpunished for joining with Absalom in an unnatural rebellion against his uncle:

so Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri: for Amasa being slain, Joab without any ceremony reassumed his post as general, and, with his brother Abishai under him, made all the haste they could in pursuit of the rebel.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

2 Samuel 20:10-13. Amasa is slain.

smote him  …  in the fifth rib — the seat of the liver and bowels, where wounds are mortal.

struck him not again — that is, dispatched him at the first blow.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

The sword — Which falling out, as it seemed, casually, he supposed that Joab intended only to put it into its scabbard, and therefore took no care to defend himself against the stroke.

So Joab — Who now boldly resumed his former place, and marched in the head of the army. It is not strange, that Amasa's soldiers did not fight to revenge his death; partly, because not many of them were yet come up, as the following verses shew; and partly, because Joab's interest and authority with the military-men was very great; especially, with David's guards, who were here present, and who had no kindness for Amasa, as having been the general of the rebellious army; and, as they might think, not fit to be put into a place of so great trust.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 20:10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that [was] in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth [rib], and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

Ver. 10. So he smote him therewith in the fifth rib.] Was not David in some sort guilty of this murder of Amasa, by not having all this while punished Joab for the like butchery acted upon Abner? Hemingius telleth of a felon who was found guilty of murdering seven men: and while the judge was considering what punishment heavy enough to inflict upon him, a certain advocate stepped forth, and offered to prove that the judge himself was guilty of the six last of those murders, because he had not punished ths felon for the first.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The sword that was in Joab’s hand; which falling out, as it seemed, casually, he supposed that Joab intended only to put it into its scabbard, and therefore took no care to defend himself against the stroke.

In the fifth rib: See Poole on "2 Samuel 2:23". Struck him not again; he despatched him at one stroke, or gave him his death’s wound at the first blow, and needed not to smite him again.

Joab now boldly resumed his former place, and marched in the head of the army. It is not strange that Amasa’s soldiers did not fight to revenge his death; partly because not many of them were yet come up, but came by degrees, as the following verses show; and partly because Joab’s interest and authority with the military men was very great, especially with David’s guards, who were here present, and who had no kindness for Amasa, as having been the general of the rebellious army; and, as they might think, was not fit to be put into a place of so great power and trust.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10.Took no heed to the sword — He probably saw him pick up his sword as it fell from his girdle, and, though still in his hand, he suspected no foul intention.

In the fifth rib — Rather, in the abdomen. See note on 2 Samuel 2:23.

Joab and Abishai’ pursued — They felt themselves now responsible for the success of the army.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Samuel 20:10. Amasa took no heed to the sword — Which, falling out, as it seemed, casually, he supposed that Joab intended only to put into its scabbard, and therefore took no care to defend himself against the stroke. So Joab and Abishai pursued after Sheba — He boldly and immediately resumed his former place, and marched at the head of the army. It may appear strange that Amasa’s soldiers did not attempt to revenge his death; but it must be observed that not many of them were yet come up, as the following verses show, and Joab’s interest and authority with the military men were very great, especially with David’s guards, who were here present, and who had neither confidence in nor affection for Amasa, as having been the general of the rebellious army; and, as they probably thought, not fit to be put into a place of such great trust.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Struck him with his left hand. (Haydock) --- Side. The same word is, elsewhere, translated groin; Septuagint, "loin." Moderns commonly render "in the fifth rib," chap. ii. 23., and iii. 27., and iv. 6. (Calmet) --- Josephus, "the belly."

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

Smote him ... in the fifth rib. The seat of the liver and bowels, where wounds are mortal.

Struck him not again - i:e., despatched him at the first blow.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) In the fifth rib= Abdomen. (See Note on 2 Samuel 2:23.)

So Joab and Abishai.—Joab here comes forward as the commander of the pursuit without previous mention. He may have accompanied Abishai from Jerusalem, or he may have joined him on the route; but, now, having murdered Amasa, he assumes his old place as commander-in-chief, doubtless with the connivance of his brother.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

in Joab's

9; Judges 3:21; 1 Chronicles 12:2

he smote

2:23; 3:27; Genesis 4:8; 1 Kings 2:5,6,31-34

and shed

Acts 1:18,19

struck him not again

Heb. doubled not his stroke.

1 Samuel 26:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:14 - slay;  Numbers 35:20 - if he thrust;  Deuteronomy 27:24 - General;  2 Samuel 4:6 - under;  2 Samuel 11:16 - he assigned;  2 Samuel 20:20 - that 1should;  2 Samuel 23:18 - Abishai;  1 Kings 2:32 - two men;  1 Chronicles 21:6 - Joab;  Psalm 55:23 - bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;  Proverbs 10:18 - that hideth;  Proverbs 26:23 - General;  Proverbs 27:6 - the kisses;  Jeremiah 9:8 - one;  Jeremiah 41:1 - they did;  Hosea 11:9 - return;  Nahum 1:9 - he;  Matthew 26:48 - Whomsoever;  Mark 14:44 - Whomsoever;  Luke 6:41 - but;  Luke 22:48 - betrayest;  Romans 12:9 - love