One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.”
Parallel translations
- WEB One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”
- KJV And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
- BSB One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!”
- NKJV Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—follow Joab!”
- NASB Now one of Joab’s young men stood by him and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
One of Joab's men called for those loyal to Joab and David to follow him. It matters because Joab swiftly rallied the troops to his command despite the murder.
Overview
A young soldier urged the men to follow Joab, joining loyalty to Joab with loyalty to David as if they were one. The appeal shows how Joab consolidated power even over a fresh killing. The verse illustrates how forcefully Joab reasserted his leadership of the army.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Sam 20:13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
- 2 Sam 20:6–7David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”
- 2 Kgs 9:32He lifted up his face to the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
- 2 Sam 20:4Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”
- 2 Sam 20:21The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 20:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.