And Joab said to Amasa Art thou in health my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
Took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. This act, common with two friends on meeting, when one of them was come from a journey ('kissing of the beard' is always a token of warm greeting), indicates respect as well as kindliness; and the performance of it evinced the deep hypocrisy of Joab, who thereby put Amasa off his guard. No wonder, then, that while this act of friendly words of congratulation, after long absence, occupied Amasa's attention, he did not perceive the sword that was in Joab's left hand. The action of Joab was indeed a high compliment, but neither suspicious nor unusual; and to this compliment, Amasa paying attention, and no doubt returning it with suitable politeness, he could little expect the fatal event that Joab's perfidy produced.