2 Samuel 20

The Rebellion of Sheba

1 Now there happened to be there ¹a worthless man, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. And he blew the trumpet and said, ²"We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; ³every man to his tents, O Israel!"

2 So all the men of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took ⁴the ten concubines whom he had left to care for the house and put them in a house under guard and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood.

4 Then the king said to ⁵Amasa, "Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and be here yourself."

5 So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the set time that had been appointed him.

6 And David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take ⁶your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he get himself to fortified cities and escape from us."^[a]

7 And there went out after him Joab's men and the ⁷Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. They went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing a soldier's garment, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened on his thigh, and as he went forward it fell out.

9 And Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand ⁸to kiss him.

10 But Amasa did not observe the sword that was in Joab's hand. ⁹So Joab struck him with it ¹⁰in the stomach and spilled his entrails to the ground without striking a second blow, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's young men took his stand by Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab."

12 And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the highway. And anyone who came by, seeing him, stopped. And when the man saw that all the people stopped, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field and threw a garment over him.

13 When he was taken out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to ¹¹Abel of ¹²Beth-maacah,^[b] and all ¹³the Bichrites^[c] assembled and followed him in.

15 And all the men who were with Joab came and besieged him in ¹⁴Abel of Beth-maacah. ¹⁵They cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart, and they were battering the wall to throw it down.

16 Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.'"

17 And he came near her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." And he answered, "I am listening."

18 Then she said, "They used to say in former times, 'Let them but ask counsel at ¹⁶Abel,' and so they settled a matter.

19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you ¹⁷swallow up ¹⁸the heritage of the LORD?"

20 Joab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should ¹⁹swallow up or destroy!

21 That is not true. But a man of ²⁰the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall."

22 Then the woman went to all the people ²¹in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, ²²every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

23 ²³Now Joab was in command of all the army of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

24 and ²⁴Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

25 and Sheva was secretary; and ²⁵Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

26 and ²⁶Ira the Jairite was also David's priest.

2 Samuel 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

Sheba's rebellion. (1-3) Amasa slain by Joab. (4-13) Sheba takes refuge in Abel. (14-22) David's officers. (23-26)

Verses 1-3 One trial arises after another for our good, till we reach the place where sin and sorrow are for ever done away. Angry disputers misunderstand or misconstrue one another's words; proud men will have every thing their own way, or wholly refuse their assistance. The favour of the many is not to be depended upon; and what have others to expect, when Hosanna to the Son of David was soon changed to Crucify him, crucify him?

Verses 4-13 Joab barbarously murdered Amasa. The more plot there is in a sin, the worse it is. Joab contentedly sacrificed the interest both of the king and the kingdom to his personal revenge. But one would wonder with what face a murderer could pursue a traitor; and how, under such a load of guilt, he had courage to enter upon danger: his conscience was seared.

Verses 14-22 Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman, by her prudent management, satisfied Joab, and yet saved the city. Wisdom is not confined to rank or sex; it consists not in deep knowledge; but in understanding how to act as matters arise, that troubles may be turned away and benefits secured. A great deal of mischief would be prevented, if contending parties would understand one another. Let both sides be undeceived. The single condition of peace is, the surrender of the traitor. It is so in God's dealing with the soul, when besieged by conviction and distress; sin is the traitor; the beloved lust is the rebel: part with that, cast away the transgression, and all shall be well. There is no peace on any other terms.

Verses 23-26 Here is the state of David's court, after his restoration. It is well when able men are appointed to discharge public duties; let all seek to perform those duties, as faithful servants to the Son of David.

Cross References

• 1. See Deuteronomy 13:13
• 2. [2 Samuel 19:43]
• 3. ver. 22; 1 Kings 12:16; 2 Chronicles 10:16
• 4. 2 Samuel 15:16; 2 Samuel 16:21, 22
• 5. 2 Samuel 17:25; 2 Samuel 19:13
• 6. 2 Samuel 11:11; 1 Kings 1:33
• 7. ver. 23; See 2 Samuel 8:18
• 8. [Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45; Luke 22:47]
• 9. 1 Kings 2:5
• 10. See 2 Samuel 2:23
• 11. [2 Kings 15:29]
• 12. [2 Kings 15:29]
• 13. Numbers 21:16
• 14. [See ver. 14 above]
• 15. 2 Kings 19:32; Isaiah 37:33; Jeremiah 6:6; Ezekiel 4:2; Ezekiel 26:8
• 16. [See ver. 14 above]
• 17. 2 Samuel 17:16
• 18. See 1 Samuel 26:19
• 19. [See ver. 19 above]
• 20. See Joshua 24:33
• 21. ver. 16; [Ecclesiastes 9:14, 15]
• 22. See 1 Samuel 4:10
• 23. For ver. 23-26, see 2 Samuel 8:16-18; 1 Kings 4:3-6
• 24. [1 Kings 12:18]
• 25. 2 Samuel 15:24; 2 Samuel 19:11
• 26. [2 Samuel 23:38]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew and snatch away our eyes
• [b]. Compare 20:15; Hebrew and Beth-maacah
• [c]. Hebrew Berites

Chapter Summary

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.