2 Samuel 20:17-26

17 He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered. She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” “I’m listening,” he said.

18 She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it.

19 We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

20 “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!

21 That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”

22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

David’s Officials

23 Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;

24 Adoniram^[a] was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

25 Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

26 and Ira the Jairite^[b] was David’s priest.

2 Samuel 20:17-26 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Deuteronomy 2:26
• 2. S 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 21:3
• 3. S 2 Samuel 4:8
• 4. Ecclesiastes 9:13
• 5. S 2 Samuel 2:28; 2 Samuel 8:16-18; 2 Samuel 24:2
• 6. 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:14; 1 Kings 12:18; 2 Chronicles 10:18
• 7. S 2 Samuel 8:16; 1 Kings 4:3
• 8. S 1 Samuel 2:35; S 2 Samuel 8:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Kings 4:6 and 5:14); Hebrew "Adoram"
• [b]. Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 23:38) "Ithrite"