Joab Greets Amasa

8When they were by the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in his military garment, and over it was a belt with a sword fastened to his waist in its sheath; and as he went out, it fell.

9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10But Amasa was not on guard against the sword that was in Joab’s hand, and he struck him with it in the belly, and his entrails spilled out to the ground; he did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

11And one of Joab’s young men stood over him and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”

12Amasa was wallowing in blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people were stopping, he moved Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him, because he saw that everyone who came upon him stopped.

13As soon as he had been removed from the highway, every man passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

14He passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth-maacah, and all the Berites assembled and also followed after him.

15They came and besieged him in Abel-beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were destroying it to bring down the wall.