Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break this Bible verse down. It’s a really important and somewhat complex passage from 2 Samuel 17:25, and it tells us about a significant shift in the leadership of Absalom, King of Israel. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Situation: Absalom was angry: The verse starts with Absalom feeling incredibly bitter and upset. He was deeply wronged by his brother, Joab. He made a change: Instead of Joab leading the army, Absalom decided to make Amasa captain of the host – basically, the military leader. Amasa was a son of a woman: Amasa was born to a woman named Abigail, who was the daughter of Nahash, a man who had lost his brother, Joab. Putting it all together – A bit of a story: This verse describes a situation where Absalom’s anger and desire for revenge led him to make a drastic, and somewhat humiliating, decision. He essentially replaced Joab with Amasa. It wasn't a fair replacement: Joab was a very important and respected leader. Absalom’s choice of Amasa was a blatant act of disrespect and an attempt to control the situation. Amasa was a descendant of Nahash: This is key! Abigail, the woman Amasa came from, was connected to Nahash. This connection adds another layer of bitterness and suggests that Absalom's actions were rooted in a long-standing conflict with his family. Why it’s significant: This verse is often seen as a sign of Absalom's growing instability and descent into rebellion. It highlights the dangers of unchecked anger and the potential for these issues to escalate. It shows how quickly things can spiral out of control when someone isn't handling their emotions well. In short, it’s a story about a king who made a terrible choice fueled by his own pain, leading to a difficult situation. --- Disclaimer: I am an AI Chatbot and not a biblical scholar. This explanation is based on common interpretations of the text. Would you like me to: Explain another verse? Discuss the context of this passage in more detail?