sword fell out

In the Hebrew text Joab drops his dagger (or: sword) in verse 8 and then uses it to stab Amasa in verse 10 without any mention that he picked it up again. In languages like Kaqchikel it is “necessary to mention that at some point he picked it up. This does seem to affect the element of surprise, but still in languages like Kaqchikel Joab cannot stab Amasa until he picks up his dagger.”

complete verse (2 Samuel 20:10)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Samuel 20:10:

  • Kupsabiny: “Amasa had not seen the sword which Joab had in his hand. then immediately/suddenly Joab stabbed him in the stomach so the intestines came out and (he) died! Then, Joab continued ahead with his brother Abishai to look for Sheba.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Amasa was not aware that Joab had a dagger in his hand. Joab pierced his stomach with the dagger and [his] intestines came out and dropped to the ground. He did not need to pierce again for he was already dead. Then Joab and his younger brother Abishai went to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But Amasa did- not -notice the sword on the left hand of Joab. Joab stabbed him in the stomach and his intestines spilled-out on the ground. He died right-away, so he was- not -stabbed again by Joab. Then Joab and his sibling Abishai continued to pursue Sheba.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But Amasa did not see that Joab was holding another dagger in his other hand. And Joab stabbed it into Amasa’s belly, and his insides spilled out onto the ground. Amasa died immediately; Joab did not need to stab him again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued to pursue Sheba.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Samuel 20:10

But: the conjunction may be rendered in this way because what happens is contrary to what the reader might expect. But it may be unnecessary in many languages to translate it here.

Did not observe: this translates a Hebrew verb whose basic meaning is “to watch” or “to guard.” Good News Translation probably expresses the intended meaning better here than Revised Standard Version does. It is not simply that Amasa didn’t see the sword; rather, he was not being careful as he should have been. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Revised English Bible similarly provide a good model, with “Amasa was not on his guard against the sword….”

The sword which was in Joab’s hand: there is some discussion among scholars as to whether Joab had picked up the sword or dagger that fell out of its sheath (verse 8). New Jerusalem Bible adds the words “which Joab had now picked up.” Some propose that this was a second sword, which he had concealed up to this point. The other was dropped as a kind of decoy so that Amasa suspected nothing. A third interpretation is that this is the same sword that fell, but it fell into the folds of Joab’s tunic where he could secretly reach it, so he did not bend over and pick it up from the ground. Translators need to be consistent here with the way they have translated the end of verse 8.

Contemporary English Version and Good News Translation both clarify that the instrument was in Joab’s “other hand” because his right hand was holding the beard. Some languages will use a specific term for the left hand in this context. Revised Standard Version says that Amasa was struck in the body, but Good News Translation more correctly translates this Hebrew noun as “the belly” (so also Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). New American Bible has a similarly specific meaning with the more refined-sounding word “abdomen.”

Shed his bowels to the ground: this graphic description of the result of Joab’s blow indicates that the internal organs of Amasa fell out onto the ground. Some languages may have a general term for “intestines” that includes other inner parts as well. Others will say simply “what was inside him” or something similar.

The words without striking a second blow may have to be translated as a separate sentence in many languages. New Century Version provides a good model, “Joab did not have to stab Amasa again.”

He died: while most versions translate the verb here as a simple past tense, Contemporary English Version has “but Amasa was dying.” The immediate context, however, seems to lend itself to a past tense translation, and this is what most versions do.

This is the last mention of Abishai in this chapter. And even the wording here suggests that Joab was once again in charge of the army.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .