2 Samuel 20:5-10

International Standard Version

⁵ But when Amasa went out to muster the army of^[a] Judah, he delayed to act within the time allotted to him. ⁶ So David told Abishai, “Now Bichri’s son Sheba is about to do more damage than did Absalom. So take my personal guards and go after them. Otherwise, he’ll run to one of the fortified cities and escape from us.” ⁷ So Joab’s men, the special forces^[b] and mercenaries,^[c] and all of David’s elite forces left Jerusalem in pursuit of Bichri’s son Sheba.

Joab Murders Amasa

⁸ When they arrived at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet them. Joab was dressed in a soldier’s uniform, over which was a belt that fastened a sword sheath to his thigh. As he walked forward, the sword was exposed. ⁹ Joab asked Amasa, “Is everything going well with you, my brother?” As Joab took Amasa by his beard to greet him, ¹⁰ Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, spilling his intestines to the ground in a single stroke and killing him. After this, Joab and his brother pursued Bichri’s son Sheba.