Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Amasa 2 Samuel 19:11-18; 2 Samuel 20:7-10

     I Chronicles 2:9-17 gives the family lineage of Amasa – He was the son of Abigail and Jether the Ishmaelite. Abigail was the daughter of Jesse. Jesse was also the father of David who became king. Thus Amasa was David’s nephew.
     Amasa was also cousin to Joab, who became the commander of David’s army. Joab was the son of Zeruiah, another sister of David.
     When David was in the wilderness, before he became king, and object of pursuit by King Saul of Israel, he was approached by some Benjaminites and Judahites (members of the tribes of Benjamin & Judah). A man named Amasai, “Chief of the Thirty” proclaimed a moving loyalty to David. Many scholars believe that Amasai and Amasa were the same man.
     One of David’s particular weaknesses was in his intemperance toward’s women, and his consequent inability to deal with difficult family affairs. He had a large number of children with various wives and concubines. One son, Amnon (possibly copying the intemperance of his father), forced himself on his half-sister, Tamar, who was the full sister of Absalom. David couldn’t bear to punish Amnon as he deserved because he loved Amnon. This raised the wrath of Absalom, who subsequently arranged the murder of Amnon. Though Absalom was later forgiven by David, Absalom’s relationship with him had clearly taken a wrong turn. He sought to turn the people against David and began conspiring against him to get the throne. The rebellion was almost successful, but in the end Absalom was defeated. David, in love for his son, had given orders that his son’s life was to be spared, but Joab killed him anyway. David wept bitterly, wishing that he could have died in place of his son.
     Among those who had supported Absalom was David’s cousin Amasa, who was placed in command of the rebel forces (II Samuel 17:25). At the encounter in the forest of Ephraim, Amasa’s army was defeated. But, as scholar E.R. Dalglish comments, history took a strange turn. Word came to David that the northern tribes were anxious to recognize him again as their sovereign. He sent this information to the Judeans and encouraged them to help him return to Jerusalem, adding that Amasa, the defeated leader of the rebel forces, was to take command of the army. (Joab was apparently displaced because of his conduct in the death of Absalom). Amasa seems to have been moved by this, and spoke with feeling about David, swaying the hearts of all the people of Judah to invite David’s return.
     David’s interaction with Judah seemed a slight to the northern tribes who had been first to reaffirm their loyalty to David. The anger over this resulted in yet another rebellion, of Sheba, a Benjaminite.
     David directed Amasa to muster the Judaean forces in the space of three days. For reasons not explained (it was an incredibly short time to do the job in a time without modern communication or rapid forms of transportation), Amasa was delayed in his return. David sent Abishai at the head of the royal guards, giving him the task of quelling the rebellion before Sheba’s forces could occupy certain cities. At Gibeon, Amasa joined his command. But Joab, under the guise of friendship (remember that they were also cousins) murdered Amasa.
     One thing distinguishes Amasa. He made a choice, to support Absalom. But when the choice turned out badly and he was offered an opportunity to change directions, he took it. He returned his loyalty to the king and set out to support him wholeheartedly.
     In a cynical world, Amasa's ability to trust Joab may seem unwise, even foolish, but isn't it a far more admirable quality to be Amasa, than to be Joab, whose duplicity and viciousness caused so much grief?

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