2 Samuel 20

1 There happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was Sheva, the son of Bikhri, a Binyamini: and he blew the shofar, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Yishai: every man to his tents, Yisra'el.

2 So all the men of Yisra'el went up from following David, and followed Sheva the son of Bikhri; but the men of Yehudah joined with their king, from the Yarden even to Yerushalayim.

3 David came to his house at Yerushalayim; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody, and provided them with sustenance, but didn't go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 Then said the king to `Amasa, Call me the men of Yehudah together within three days, and be here present.

5 So `Amasa went to call [the men of] Yehudah together; but he stayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6 David said to Avishai, Now will Sheva the son of Bikhri do us more harm than did Avshalom: take your lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.

7 There went out after him Yo'av's men, and the Kereti and the Peleti, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Yerushalayim, to pursue after Sheva the son of Bikhri.

8 When they were at the great stone which is in Giv`on, `Amasa came to meet them. Yo'av was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a sash with a sword fastened on his loins in the sheath of it; and as he went forth it fell out.

9 Yo'av said to `Amasa, Is it well with you, my brother? Yo'av took `Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10 But `Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Yo'av's hand: so he struck him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again; and he died. Yo'av and Avishai his brother pursued after Sheva the son of Bikhri.

11 There stood by him one of Yo'av's young men, and said, He who favors Yo'av, and he who is for David, let him follow Yo'av.

12 `Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried `Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Yo'av, to pursue after Sheva the son of Bikhri.

14 He went through all the tribes of Yisra'el to Hevel, and to Beit-Ma`akha, and all the Beri`i: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15 They came and besieged him in Hevel of Beit-Ma`akha, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Yo'av battered the wall, to throw it down.

16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, "Hear, hear! Please say to Yo'av, 'Come near here, that I may speak with you.'"

17 He came near to her; and the woman said, Are you Yo'av? He answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. He answered, I do hear.

18 Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Hevel: and so they ended [the matter].

19 I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Yisra'el: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Yisra'el: why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

20 Yo'av answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

21 The matter is not so: but a man of the hill-country of Efrayim, Sheva the son of Bikhri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. The woman said to Yo'av, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.

22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheva the son of Bikhri, and threw it out to Yo'av. He blew the shofar, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Yo'av returned to Yerushalayim to the king.

23 Now Yo'av was over all the host of Yisra'el; and Benayah the son of Yehoiada was over the Kereti and over the Peleti;

24 and Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor; and Yehoshafat the son of Achilud was the recorder;

25 and Sheva was Sofer; and Tzadok and Avyatar were Kohanim;

26 and also `Ira the Ya'irite was chief minister to David.

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.

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.