Bible Dictionary

Amasa

People & Groups • Old Testament

Amasa was the son of Abigail and nephew of David who commanded Absalom’s army and was later appointed over David’s army. Joab murdered him while pretending to greet him; another Amasa was a leader of Ephraim.

Definition

Amasa was the son of Abigail and Ithra or Jether, making him David’s nephew and Absalom’s cousin. Absalom appointed him commander of the rebellious army. After the revolt, David promised him Joab’s position as commander. When Sheba rebelled, Amasa was charged with assembling Judah’s forces, but Joab murdered him at Gibeon while pretending to greet him. Another Amasa, son of Hadlai, was a chief of Ephraim during Ahaz’s reign.

Biblical Usage

Amasa appears in the accounts of Absalom’s revolt and Sheba’s rebellion. David’s appointment of him over the army was intended to conciliate him after the rebellion. His murder by Joab fulfilled the danger created by their rivalry. The other Amasa obeyed the prophet Oded by refusing to treat captured Judeans as slaves.

Historical Background

The name is traditionally connected with “burden,” though the supplied material notes that this derivation is mistaken. Amasa’s parentage is given in differing forms: 2 Samuel names Ithra, while 1 Chronicles calls his father Jether the Ishmaelite.

Scripture References

1 Chronicles 2:17 2 Samuel 17:25 2 Samuel 19:13 2 Samuel 20:4-12 2 Chronicles 28:12 2 Samuel 18:6 2 Samuel 20:10

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Burden. (1.) The son of Abigail, a sister of king David (1 Chr. 2:17; 2 Sam. 17:25). He was appointed by David to command the army in room of his cousin Joab (2 Sam. 19:13), who afterwards treacherously put him to death as a dangerous rival (2 Sam. 20:4-12). (2.) A son of Hadlai, and chief of Ephraim (2 Chr. 28:12) in the reign of Ahaz.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(a burden).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

a-ma'-sa (`amasa', or read `ammishai, i.e. `am yishai, "people of Jesse"): The form `amasa', is based upon a mistaken etymology (from = `amac "to burden").(1) According to 2Sa 17:25, Amasa is the son of Abigail, the sister of Zeruiah and David, and Ithra, an Israelite; but another source, 1Ch 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 (2Sa 19:13 ff). When a new revolt broke out under Sheba, the son of Bichri (2Sa 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 (2Sa 20:8-10; 1Ki 2:5).(2) Son of Hadlai, of the Bene 'Ephrayim ("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 (2Ch 28:12).H. J. Wolf

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