2 Samuel 20:7

7 Then the men of Joab, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty warriors went out after him; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bicri.

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 So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he tarried more than the appointed time which he had set for him.

6 Then David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom. You take the servants of your lord and pursue after him, lest he find fortified cities for himself and escape from us."

7 Then the men of Joab, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty warriors went out after him; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bicri.

8 They [were] near the big rock that [is] in Gibeon, and Amasa came before them. Joab {was dressed in his military clothing}, [with] a utility belt on him and a sword strapped to his waist in its scabbard. Now he went out, and it fell out.

9 Then Joab said to Amasa, "Is it peace, O you my brother?" Then the right hand of Joab took hold of the beard of Amasa [as if] to kiss him.