2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 20:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

David, filled with righteous anger, gathered his troops and led them into battle against their foes. However, Joab, despite securing victory, chose to overshadow the triumph with sorrow. In a moment of unwarranted jealousy, he took the life of Abner, a commander equal in stature who had unified the nation under David’s leadership; this act of violence profoundly disturbed and angered the king. So potent was this betrayal that even in his dying moments, David entrusted his son with the mission to avenge the unjust death of Abner (2 Samuel 3:32). It was particularly painful for David in his troubled state that he felt unable to articulate the reasons for his sorrow, burdened as he was by a series of overwhelming afflictions.

This illustrates the wickedness of humanity, as their malice is not spoken openly but hidden beneath their words. Their speech may appear gentle, yet their hearts conceive of treachery. Thus, Joab gripped Amessai's beard with one hand while stealthily drawing his sword with the other, resulting in Amessai's entrails spilling onto the ground. The gesture of holding the chin with his right hand suggests kindness and tenderness. However, with his left, he takes up the sword and treacherously strikes down Amessai.

(Note: The quotation from Job 20:12-13 has been preserved as is.)