To Amasa, it seems, was intrusted the honor and the task of defending David and the tribe of Judah, to which he belonged,the king being alienated from Joab for the slaying of Absalom, although it had ended that undutiful son's rebellion.

After this it happed that Abner, prince of the host of Ishbosheth, with certain men, went out of the castles, and Joab with certain men of David went also out and ran by the piscine

He secretly disliked Joab from this time, and waited for God himself to repay the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

Against whom Joab with the host of David pursued, and drove him unto a city which he besieged, and by the means of a woman of the same city Sheba's head was smitten off and delivered to Joab over the wall, and so the city was saved, and Joab pleased.