Joabsaidto Amasa,"Is it wellwith you, my brother?"And JoabtookAmasaby the beardwith his righthandto kisshim.
And when a mancamenearto prostratehimself before him, he would putout his handand takeholdof him and kisshim.
AbsalomsetAmasaoverthe armyin placeof Joab.Now Amasawas the sonof a manwhose namewas Ithrathe Israelite,whowentin to Abigailthe daughterof Nahash,sisterof Zeruiah,Joab'smother.
The kingsaid,"Is it wellwith the youngmanAbsalom?"And Ahimaazanswered,"When Joabsentthe king'sservant,and your servant,I sawa greattumult,but I did not knowwhat[it was]."
So when Abnerreturnedto Hebron,Joabtookhim asideinto the middleof the gateto speakwith him privately,and therehe struckhim in the bellyso that he diedon account of the bloodof Asahelhis brother.
"The LORDwill returnhis bloodon his own head,becausehe fellupon twomenmorerighteousand betterthanhe and killedthem with the sword,while my fatherDaviddid not know[it]: Abnerthe sonof Ner,commanderof the armyof Israel,and Amasathe sonof Jether,commanderof the armyof Judah.
His speechwas smootherthanbutter,But his heartwas war;His wordswere softerthanoil,Yet they were drawnswords.
[Like] an earthenvesseloverlaidwith silverdrossAre burninglipsand a wickedheart.
Faithfulare the woundsof a friend,But deceitfulare the kissesof an enemy.
Ishmaelthe sonof Nethaniahand the tenmenwhowere with him aroseand struckdownGedaliahthe sonof Ahikam,the sonof Shaphan,with the swordand putto deaththe one whomthe kingof Babylonhad appointedover the land.
The godlypersonhas perishedfrom the land,And thereis noupright[person] among men.Allof them liein waitfor bloodshed;Eachof them huntsthe otherwith a net.
But when the sonsof Israelcriedto the LORD,the LORDraisedup a delivererfor them, Ehudthe sonof Gera,the Benjamite,a left-handedman.And the sonsof Israelsenttributeby him to Eglonthe kingof Moab.
