Difference between revisions of "Amasa"

<p> '''1.''' Son (seemingly illegitimate) of [[Jether]] or Ithra, an Ishmaelite, by Abigail, David's sister (&nbsp;2 Samuel 17:25; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 2:15-17). (See [[Absalom]] .) [[Joined]] his rebellion, probably because neglected by David (as appears from his not being mentioned previously) on account of his [[Ishmaelite]] parentage (Zeruiah occurs always without mention of her husband; but [[Abigail]] always with her husband Jether, as though in disparagement). Defeated in the wood of [[Ephraim]] by [[Joab]] (2 Samuel 18). </p> <p> David, to atone for past neglect, pardoned, and even promoted him to command the army in the room of the overbearing Joab. Amasa's slowness in crushing Sheba's rebellion, perhaps owing to the disinclination of the troops to be under his command, obliged David to dispatch [[Abishai]] with the household guards, and Joab accompanied them. [[Amasa]] and his force overtook them at "the great stone of Gibeon." There Joab, while taking with his right hand Amasa's beard to kiss him, with his left stabbed him with his sword (&nbsp;2 Samuel 20:10). </p> <p> '''2.''' AMASAI, leader of a body of men of Judah and Benjamin, to join David in the hold at Ziklag; David's apprehension of treachery on the part of his own tribe was dispelled by Amasa's words under the spirit which "clothed" him: "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse; peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers, for thy God helpeth thee." (Margin &nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:16-18.) &nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:3. A prince of Ephraim, son of Hadlai, who, at the prophet Oded's command from God, opposed the detention of the [[Jews]] taken captive by [[Pekah]] of [[Israel]] from [[Ahaz]] of Judah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:12). </p>

<li> A son of Hadlai, and chief of Ephraim (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:12 ) in the reign of Ahaz. <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Amasa'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/a/amasa.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> '''Amasa''' (''Ăm'A-Sah'' ), ''Burden.'' 1. A kinsman of David, and chief captain in Absalom's rebel army. David pardoned Amasa, but he was assassinated by Joab. &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:25; &nbsp;2 Samuel 19:13; &nbsp;2 Samuel 20:9-10; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 2:17. 2. A descendant of Ephraim. &nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:1-27 : </p>

<p> (Hebrew Amasa', עֲמָשָׂא '', Burden),'' the name of two men. </p> <p> '''1.''' (Sept. Ἀμεσσά; but v. r. Ἀμεσσαϊ v '','' and in &nbsp;1 Chronicles 2:17, even Ἀμεσσάβ .) The son of Abigail, a sister of King David, by Jether or Ithra (q.v.), an Ishmaelite (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 2:17; &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:25; &nbsp;1 Kings 2:5; &nbsp;1 Kings 2:32); a foreign paternity that appears to have caused his neglect in comparison with the more honored sons of David's other sister Zeruiah; until on the occurrence of Absalom's rebellion, whose party he naturally joined, and of which he was made general, his good conduct probably of the battle, although defeated, led David to offer him not only pardon, but the command of the army in the room of his cousin Joab (&nbsp;2 Samuel 19:13), whose overbearing conduct had become intolerable to him, and to whom he could not entirely forgive the death of Absalom (q.v.). B.C. cir. 1023. But on the breaking out of Sheba's insurrection, Amasa was so tardy in his movements (probably from the reluctance of the troops to follow him) that David despatched Abishai with the household troops in pursuit of Sheba, and Joab joined his brother as a volunteer. When they reached "the great stone of Gibeon," they were overtaken by Amasa with the force he had been able to collect. Joab thought this a favorable opportunity of getting rid of so dangerous a rival, and immediately executed the treacherous purpose he had formed. (See [[Abner]]). He saluted Amasa, asked him of his health, and took his beard in his right hand to kiss him, while with the unheeded left hand he smote him dead with his sword. Joab then put himself at the head of the troops, and continued the pursuit of Sheba; and such was his popularity with the army that David was unable to remove him from the command, or call him to account for this bloody deed (&nbsp;2 Samuel 20:4-12). B.C. cir. 1022. (See Joab). Whether Amasa be identical with the [[Amasai]] who is mentioned among David's commanders (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:18) is uncertain (Bertheau, ''Erklar. — P.'' 140). (See [[David]]). </p> <p> '''2.''' (Sept. Ἀμασίας ''.'' ) A son of [[Hadlai]] and chief of Ephraim, who, with others, vehemently and successfully resisted the retention as prisoners of the persons whom Pekah, king of Israel, had taken captive in a successful campaign against Ahaz, king of Judah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:12). B.C. cir. 738. </p>

<p> Amasa, 1 </p> <p> Ama´sa (burden), son of Abigail, a sister of King David. As his name does not occur prior to Absalom's rebellion (&nbsp;2 Samuel 17:25), he must have been neglected by David in comparison with Joab and Abishai, the sons of his other sister Zeruiah, who had before then been raised to great power and influence. This apparent estrangement may perhaps be connected with the fact that Abigail had married an Ishmaelite called Jether, who was the father of Amasa. This is the more likely, as the fact is pointedly mentioned (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 2:17), or covertly indicated (&nbsp;2 Samuel 17:25) whenever the name of Abigail occurs, whereas we are quite ignorant who was the husband of the other sister, Zeruiah, and father of her distinguished sons. We may thus form a conjecture of the grounds on which Amasa joined Absalom, and obtained the command of the rebel army. He was defeated by his cousin Joab, who commanded the army of David. This transaction appears to have made David sensible of the neglect with which Amasa had been treated; and he eventually offered him not only pardon, but the command of the army in the room of Joab (&nbsp;2 Samuel 19:13), whose overbearing conduct had become intolerable to him, and to whom he could not entirely forgive the death of Absalom. David, however, was too good a soldier himself to have made this offer, had not Amasa, notwithstanding his defeat, displayed high military qualities during his command of Absalom's army. But on the breaking out of Sheba's rebellion, Amasa was so tardy in his movements (probably from the reluctance of the troops to follow him), that David dispatched Abishai with the household troops in pursuit of Sheba, and Joab joined his brother as a volunteer. When they reached 'the great stone of Gibeon,' they were overtaken by Amasa with the force he had been able to collect. Joab thought this a favorable opportunity of getting rid of so dangerous a rival, and immediately executed the treacherous purpose he had formed. He saluted Amasa, asked him of his health, and took his beard in his right hand to kiss him, while with the unheeded left hand he smote him dead with his sword. Joab then put himself at the head of the troops, and continued the pursuit of Sheba; and such was his popularity with the army, that David was unable to remove him from the command, or to call him to account for this bloody deed: B.C. 1022 [ABNER; ABSALOM; JOAB]. </p> <p> Amasa, 2 </p> <p> Amasa, a chief of Ephraim, who, with others, vehemently resisted the retention as prisoners of the persons whom Pekah, king of Israel, had taken captive in a successful campaign against Ahaz, king of Judah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:12). </p>

<p> '''''a''''' -'''''mā´sa''''' ( עמשא , <i> '''''‛ămāsā''''' </i> ), or read עמּשׁי , <i> '''''‛ammishai''''' </i> , i.e. עם ישׁי , <i> '''''‛am yishai''''' </i> , "people of Jesse"): The form עמשא , is based upon a mistaken etymology (from = עמס , <i> '''''‛āmaṣ''''' </i> "to burden"). </p> <p> (1) According to &nbsp;2 Samuel 17:25 , Amasa is the son of Abigail, the sister of [[Zeruiah]] and David, and Ithra, an Israelite; but another source, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 2:17 , calls his father Jether the Ishmaelite. He was a nephew of David and a cousin of Absalom, who made him commander of the army of rebellion. When the uprising had been quelled, David, in order to conciliate Amasa, promised him the position held by Joab; the latter had fallen from favor (&nbsp;2 Samuel 19:13 ). When a new revolt broke out under Sheba, the son of [[Bichri]] (2 Sam 20), Amasa was entrusted with the task of assembling the men of Judah. But Joab was eager for revenge upon the man who had obtained the office of command that he coveted. When Amasa met Joab at Gibeon, the latter murdered him while pretending to salute (&nbsp;2 Samuel 20:8-10; &nbsp;1 Kings 2:5 ). </p> <p> (2) Son of Hadlai, of the <i> '''''Benē 'Ephrayim''''' </i> ("Children of Ephraim"), who, obeying the words of the prophet Oded, refused to consider as captives the Judeans who had been taken from Ahaz, king of Judah, by the victorious [[Israelites]] under the leadership of Pekah (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 28:12 ). </p>