Amasa

Unlike the first civil war, this one would be about tribal identity against Judah and would be lethal to the nation.

He called upon his nephew and new army commander Amasa to master fighters and attack Sheba.

But Joab was not replaceable and Amasa delayed.

Joab killed his cousin Amasa to retain his position as army commander.

He had become synonymous with David's reign, but like Sheba, he too was a worthless man.

The two men Sheba and Joab were two of a kind, the type of whom peace is monotonous and trouble is desirable.

I'm gonna s- maybe overstep my bounds just a little bit, but, but I don't think he was the man for the job.

Here's his first major task as the newly appointed commander of the forces, right? And, and he blows it first try.

And I know I lightly commended David last week for this choice, and I'm not talking out of both sides of my mouth here.

He put Amasa as an olive branch in this position, right? His intentions were good, but that doesn't mean the decision was right.

You'll see why in a second.

Again, you know who Joab is by this point, right? This is a major moment that the story has been building toward, a dark moment, a heavy one.

Joab is David's other nephew from another sister, former commander of the forces of Israel, the one that David just demoted, that he replaced with his other nephew, Amasa, because Joab murdered Absalom against the king's exclusive orders, right? Joab is the man we have watched do terrible things while always, always making it look like loyalty, make it look like it was done for king and country, when more times than not, it is about what's best for Joab.

You mean to tell me that political figures make decisions based off of what's good for them and their family and not others? Yeah, a lot, a lot.

Be strong and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.

Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet.

Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table.

Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

The king replied to him, Do as he has said, strike him down, and bury him, and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause.

the Lord will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.

So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever.

Doeg is destroying the city of Nov, massacring the city of Nov horribly.

Remember, first Shul told his men, perhaps Avner and Amasa, that they should do it.

They refused.

Shul turned to Doeg, as we discussed.