2 Samuel 20:18-26

18 She said, "In the past they used to say, 'Seek counsel in Abel,' and that's how they settled [disputes].
19 I am a peaceful person, one of the faithful in Israel, but you're trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the Lord's inheritance?"
20 Joab protested: "Never! I do not want to destroy!
21 That is not [my] intention. There is a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, who has rebelled against King David. Deliver this one man, and I will withdraw from the city." The woman replied to Joab, "All right. His head will be thrown over the wall to you."
22 The woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram's horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his own tent. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
23 Joab commanded the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
24 Adoram[a] was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
25 Sheva was court secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
26 and in addition, Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

2 Samuel 20:18-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 20

This chapter gives an account of a new rebellion raised by Sheba, 2Sa 20:1,2; of David's shutting up his concubines unto the day of their death, whom Absalom had lain with, 2Sa 20:3; of Amasa being ordered to assemble the men of Judah to crush the rebellion, but being dilatory, Abishai is sent out with David's servants, and was followed by Joab with the men under him, 2Sa 20:4-7; and of the murder of Amasa by Joab, 2Sa 20:8-13; and of Sheba being shut up in the city Abel, 2Sa 20:14,15; whose head, by the means of a wise woman, was delivered to Joab, and so an end was put to the rebellion, 2Sa 20:16-22; and, lastly, of the chief officers in David's camp and court, 2Sa 20:23-26.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr read Adoniram; 1 Kg 4:6; 5:14
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