Amasa (Heb. ʿĀmāšāʾ «Bundle»; Septuagint: ʿAṭṭāṣa)

AMASA (Hebr. ʿāmāšāʾ “burden”; Septuagint: ʿAṭṭāṣa). — Military commander, son of Abigail, sister of David, and of Jether (or Jetra), an Ishmaelite (I Par. 2:17), or Jezreelite (II Sam. 17:25). He took the SALOMÈ (v.), who appointed him commander of his forces. Defeated by Joab (v.), he was treated kindly by David, who attached A. to himself by assigning him the high office of commander of the army, previously held by Joab, A.’s cousin (II Sam. 19:14). When a new revolt broke out under the leadership of the Benjaminite Sheba, A. was charged by the king with suppressing it, but he failed to recruit the men of Judah within the three days allotted to him (II Sam. 20:4 ff.). Abishai (v.) and Joab therefore preceded him on the expedition. The latter waited for the hated rival to arrive and treacherously killed him, pretending to embrace him, near Gabson (ibid. 8–13). David was deeply grieved by the murder of his nephew, and, as he lay dying, charged Solomon with avenging him (I Reg. 2:5, 32–34). Angelo Penna