Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 20:8

8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them ; and Joabs garment that he had put on, was girded unto him , and upon it a girdle with a sword fastned upon his loins in the sheath thereof, and as he went forth it fell out .

Having gathered some Forces, and given due Orders for the rest to follow him, he returned to Ierusalem, and by the Kings Command went after those mentioned ver. 7. and being come up to them at the place where they waited for him, he put himself into the Head of Ioab's men, and the Cher[illegible: 1+ letters]thites and the Pelethites, and such as he had brought along with him, and Marched before them as their Chief and General.

After the manner of Travellers and Soldiers.

To meet and Salute Amasa, who was coming towards him to do him Honor.

Things having (it is likely) been so contrived by Ioab, that upon the least Motion of his Body, his Sword should drop out, and he might take it up without raising Amasa's Suspition.

Marginal references: Heb Girdle; or, belt of a Sword.