Son of Ithra (Jether) and David’s sister Abigail (2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:17). He was, therefore, David’s nephew. Amasa was a captain who supported Absalom in his rebellion against his father, David. After David's general Joab killed Absalom, David pardoned Amasa and replaced Joab with him (2 Samuel 19:13). This greatly offended Joab. He awaited his revenge. When given the opportunity, he killed his unsuspecting rival (2 Samuel 20:4–13). David could not punish Joab but instructed his son Solomon to see that Joab was executed for murdering Amasa and another of David’s generals (1 Kings 2:5–6, 28–34).
→ View encyclopedia entryHadlai’s son from Ephraim’s tribe. Amasa supported the prophet Oded. Oded opposed making slaves of women and children captured from the southern kingdom of Judah in the time of King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:8–13).
Amasa
This term has multiple meanings in the Bible:
From Tyndale Bible Dictionary, adapted by Mission Mutual. CC BY-SA 4.0.