And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

2 SAMUEL 20:12KJV
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2 Samuel 20:12 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 20:12 mean?

2 Samuel 20:12 describes how Amasa, after being killed, was left lying in the middle of the road, bleeding. When people passing by stopped and stared at the scene, a man moved Amasa’s body off the road into a field and covered it with a cloth, so travelers would stop gathering around.

This verse is set during a time of political turmoil in Israel, when Joab killed Amasa, who had just been appointed commander by King David. The verse shows the practical problem caused by Amasa’s body blocking the main road, with people pausing in shock or curiosity. The act of moving and covering the body was done to restore order and allow people to continue on their way.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 20:12

  • "wallowed" (גָּלַל, galal): This word often means "to roll" or "to wallow." Here, it gives a vivid picture of Amasa’s body moving or twitching in his own blood, making the scene more graphic and distressing.
  • "highway" (מְסִלָּה, mesillah): This term refers to a main road or thoroughfare, highlighting that Amasa’s body was in a public, well-traveled place, which explains why so many people saw him and stopped.
  • "cast" (שָׁלַךְ, shalak): This word means "to throw" or "to cast." The man did not just gently lay a cloth over Amasa but actively threw it over him, suggesting urgency or a desire to quickly cover the disturbing sight.

Why 2 Samuel 20:12 matters

  • This verse helps explain why the crowd stopped: it was not just the death itself, but the shocking sight of Amasa’s body in the open, which disrupted travel and drew attention.
  • The detail about moving and covering the body shows a practical response to a public crisis, not just a narrative about violence.
  • This moment connects to the larger story of Joab’s actions and the instability in David’s kingdom, showing the immediate impact of violence on ordinary people.

Where else these words appear

“Amasa” Hebrew H6021 · used in 12 verses

  • 2 Samuel 17:25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
  • 2 Samuel 20:5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
  • 1 Kings 2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

“wallowed” Hebrew H1556 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 29:3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
  • Joshua 10:18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
  • Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

“highway” Hebrew H4546 · used in 26 verses

  • Numbers 20:19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
  • 2 Kings 18:17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.
  • Isaiah 19:23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

“cast” Hebrew H7993 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
  • 2 Kings 2:21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
  • Isaiah 19:8 The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.