2 samuel 20:4 - Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”

Generated Verse: 2 samuel 20:4

What does "2 samuel 20:4" mean?


This verse from 2 Samuel 20:4 is part of the aftermath of the rebellion of Sheba, a Benjamite. Let's break down its meaning:

"Then the king said to Amasa...": "The king" refers to David, who is still king of Israel. Amasa was a military commander who had previously led Absalom's rebellion against David (2 Samuel 17:25). After Absalom's defeat, David pardoned Amasa and appointed him as the commander of the army in place of Joab (2 Samuel 19:13).

"...Call me the men of Judah together within three days...": David is instructing Amasa to mobilize the fighting men of the tribe of Judah. Judah was David's own tribe, and often his most loyal supporters. By calling them together, David is seeking to quickly assemble a fighting force to deal with Sheba's rebellion. "Within three days" indicates the urgency of the situation. David wants this force assembled quickly, likely because he fears Sheba's rebellion will spread and gain momentum.

"...and be here present.": David wants Amasa to personally oversee the mobilization and lead the men of Judah to him. This highlights the importance of Amasa's role in this mission. David needs Amasa to be responsible and accountable for the success of the recruitment and deployment of the Judahite soldiers.

In summary, the verse means that King David, facing a new rebellion led by Sheba, orders Amasa to quickly assemble the fighting men of the tribe of Judah within three days and to personally lead them to David. This shows David's urgency to put down the rebellion and his reliance on Amasa, despite Amasa's previous association with Absalom's revolt. However, the following verses reveal a tension with Joab, and ultimately Amasa is murdered, suggesting that David's leadership and choices continue to be fraught with complications.

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