1)
What are "veha'Kreisi veha'Pleisi"?
1.
Refer to 8:18:1:1-5 and the notes there.
2)
Why does it say that they left Yerushalayim to pursue?
1.
Malbim: They did not intend to encounter Amasa and his troops and to go with him, rather, to pursue immediately with the troops they had. By chance, they encountered Amasa.
