2 Samuel 20:18-26

18 Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute.

19 "I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. ¹You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up ²the inheritance of the LORD?"

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

21 "Such is not the case. But a man from ³the hill country of Ephraim, ⁴Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."

22 Then the woman ⁵wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So ⁶he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

23 ⁷Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

24 and Adoram was over the forced labor, and ⁸Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

25 and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and ⁹Abiathar were priests;

26 and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.

2 Samuel 20:18-26 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. Deuteronomy 20:10
• 2. 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 21:3
• 3. Joshua 24:33
• 4. 2 Samuel 20:2
• 5. 2 Samuel 20:16; Ecclesiastes 9:13-16
• 6. 2 Samuel 20:1
• 7. 2 Samuel 8:16-18; 1 Kings 4:3-6
• 8. 1 Kings 4:3
• 9. 1 Kings 4:4