²⁴ David had already come to Mahanaim by the time Absalom and all the men of Israel with him crossed the Jordan River. ²⁵ Absalom appointed Amasa to take Joab’s place as commander of the army. (Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, a descendant of Ishmael.^[a] His mother was Abigail,^[b] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Joab’s mother Zeruiah.) ²⁶ The Israelites and Absalom camped in the region of Gilead.