2 Samuel 20:7

7 So Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors marched out under Abishai's command;^[a] they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:7

And there went out after him Joab's men
Who though he was removed from his post as general, yet might still have the command of a regiment:

and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites;
over whom Benaiah was, ( 2 Samuel 20:23 ) ; these attended David in his flight, and had now returned with him, ( 2 Samuel 15:18 ) ;

and all the mighty men;
the military men that were at Jerusalem as many as could be spared:

and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri;
with Abishai at the head of them; Josephus ^F17 says there were six hundred, besides the soldiers at Jerusalem that went on this pursuit.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7.

2 Samuel 20:7 In-Context

5 Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

6 So David said to Abishai, "Sheba son of Bichri will do more harm to us than Absalom. Take your lord's soldiers and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us."

7 So Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors marched out under Abishai's command; they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

8 They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa joined them. Joab was wearing his uniform and over it was a belt around his waist with a sword in its sheath. As he approached, [the sword] fell out.

9 Joab asked Amasa, "Are you well, my brother?" Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit out following him