2 Samuel 20:7-13

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7 So Joab’s men pursued him, ^aalong with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 They were at the large stone which is in ^aGibeon, and Amasa came ¹to meet them. Now Joab was ²dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his ³waist; and as he came out, it fell out. 9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And ^aJoab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Joab Strikes Amasa

10 But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so ^ahe struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever delights in Joab and whoever is for David, ^alet him follow Joab.” 12 But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And the man saw that all the people stood still. So he ¹removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

The Beheading of Sheba

13 As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.