Amasa

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Joab murders Amasa , etching by Casper Luyken (1672–1708)

Amasa is the name of two people in the Old Testament . On the one hand, this is a follower and officer of Absalom and later an army field marshal under David , on the other hand, an Ephraimite .

etymology

The origin and meaning of the Hebrew personal name עֲמָשָׂא ˓ămāśā˒ , German 'Amasa' (e.g. 2 Sam 17.25  BHS ) are unclear. He may get down to the root עמסderive. Accordingly, an orthographic variant of " JHWH hat [protective] worn" would be available here in short form . The Septuagint gives the name with Αμεσσα Amessa (e.g. 1 Kings 2,32  LXX ) or Αμασιας Amasias (e.g. 2 Chr 28,12  LXX ), the Vulgate as Amasa (e.g. 2 Sam 17, 25  VUL ).

Mentions in the Bible

In the Old Testament two people are named with this name: a follower and officer of Absalom and later military field marshal under David , and an Ephraimite .

Amasa, the general

According to 2 Sam 17.25  EU , Amasa was the son of Jitra, the Israelite , (according to 1 Chr 2.17  EU Jeters, the Ishmaelite ) and Abigal , the daughter of Nahash. Many exegetes assume a text error in 2 Sam 17.25  EU and believe that Nahash should be replaced by Isai . Accordingly, Amasa would be the nephew of King David and the cousin of Absalom, Abishai and Joab . This relationship is confirmed by 2 Sam 19,14a  EU when David says: "And you should say to Amasa: Are you not my bones and my flesh?" Most German Bible translations also write Jeter instead of Jitra in 2 Sam 17.25  EU . He led Absalom's revolt against David, but was defeated in the forest of Ephraim. Absalom had set Amasa, in place of his brother Joab, over the army. This resulted in a rivalry between Amasa and Joab that determined the story. After the rebellion was put down, Amasa was pardoned by David and appointed as his new commander for life. In this way David stabilized the political situation and at the same time gave Joab, the previous military leader, to recognize his displeasure. He had murdered Abner and Absalom against David's orders. When an uprising of the northern tribes under Sheba , son of Bichris, broke out, Amasa did not show the necessary energy. At Gibeon he was finally treacherously murdered by Joab with the sword. This murder was avenged years later by Solomon . Maybe Amasa is with


עֲמָשַׂי ˓ămāśay , German 'Amasai' from 1 Chr 12,19  BHS identical, the head of the thirty heroes of David.

Amasa, an Ephraimite

In 2 Chr 28.12  EU Amasa is named as the son of Hadlais. He was one of four leaders of the tribe of Ephraim who supported the prophet Oded and opposed orders to bring prisoners from Judah to Samaria . Instead, they took care of the prisoners and sent them back home.

The parable of the good Samaritan in Lk 10.25–37  EU reflects this story.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 2 Sam 17.25  EU , 19.14 EU , 20.4f.8f.10.12 EU , 1 Kings 2.5.32  EU , 1 Chr 2.17  EU .
  2. ↑ 2 Chr 28.12  EU .
  3. ↑ Gesenius , 18th ed. 2013, p. 986.
  4. ↑ a b Joachim Vette:  Amasa. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (Eds.): The Scientific Biblical Lexicon on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff.
  5. ↑ 2 Sam 18 : 6f. EU .
  6. ↑ 2 Sam 17.25  EU .
  7. ↑ 2 Sam 19.14  EU .
  8. ↑ 2 Sam 3.27  EU .
  9. ↑ 2 Sam 18.14  EU .
  10. ↑ 2 Sam 20.4ff. EU .
  11. ↑ 2 Sam 20.9ff. EU .
  12. ↑ 1 Kings 2:31 ff. EU .