²⁴ Then David came to Mahanaim, while Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.^{(A) 25} Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army in the place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite,^[a] who had married Abigal daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.^{(B) 26} The Israelites and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.