SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:8
Y estando ellos junto a la grande peña que está en Gabaón, les salió Amasa al encuentro. Y Joab estaba ceñido sobre su ropa que tenía puesto, sobre la cual tenía ceñido un cuchillo pegado a sus lomos en su vaina, el cual salió y cayó.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:8
Verse 8. Joab's garment] It appears that this was not a military garment; and that Joab had no arms but a short sword, which he had concealed in his girdle; and this sword, or knife, was so loose in its sheath that it could be easily drawn out. It is thought farther, that Joab, in passing to Amasa, stumbled, (for so some of the versions, and able critics, understand the words it fell out.) and that the sword fell down when he stumbled; that he took it up with his left hand as if he had no bad intention; and then, taking Amasa by the beard with his right hand, pretending to kiss him, he, with his sword in his left hand, ripped up his bowels. This seems to be the meaning of this very obscure verse. It is worthy of remark that in the Eastern country it is the beard, not the man, which is usually kissed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon , etc.] Which, according to Josephus f336 , was forty furlongs, or five miles from Jerusalem: what this great stone was, whether an obelisk, or what, is not certain; one of the greatest stones we read of was that which Semiramis cut out of the mountains of Armenia, which was an hundred thirty feet long, and twenty five broad and thick f337 . This place was appointed for the rendezvous of David’s forces, and hither Amasa came with what he had assembled together, and joined them, and took the command of them: for it follows, Amasa went before them ; as the general of them: and Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him ; who went along with his brother Abishai at the head of his own men, to which he was obliged by virtue of his commission; or went of himself to serve the common cause, and perhaps chiefly with a design to murder Amasa, whom he envied, because he was put into his post as general, and therefore accoutred himself for it; he put on, not a coat of mail, but a common garment which he girt about him, that it might be no incumbrance to him or hinderance of him, in doing what he intended, but that he might more expeditiously execute it: and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof ; the sword in the belt was not on his thigh, but on his loins, on the outside of his clothes, and was put into a sheath too large, and placed in such a position, that with the least motion, when he pleased, it would easily drop out of it, without drawing it, and so give no suspicion of his design: and as he went forth ; to meet Amasa, just as he came to him: it fell out ; the sword fell out of the sheath to the ground.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-13 - Joab barbarously murdered Amasa. The more plot there is in a sin, the worse it is. Joab contentedly sacrificed the interest both of the kin and the kingdom to his personal revenge. But one would wonder with what face a murderer could pursue a traitor; and how, under such a load of guilt, he had courage to enter upon danger: his conscience was seared.
Original Hebrew
הם 1992 עם 5973 האבן 68 הגדולה 1419 אשׁר 834 בגבעון 1391 ועמשׂא 6021 בא 935 לפניהם 6440 ויואב 3097 חגור 2296 מדו 4055 לבשׁו 3830 ועלו 5921 חגור 2290 חרב 2719 מצמדת 6775 על 5921 מתניו 4975 בתערה 8593 והוא 1931 יצא 3318 ותפל׃ 5307
