2 Samuel 20:13-26

Revolt Put Down

13 As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him.

15 They came and besieged * him in ¹Abel Beth-maacah, and ²they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall.

16 Then ³a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here * that I may speak with you.' "

17 So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening."

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. ⁴You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up ⁵the 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 ⁶the hill country of Ephraim, ⁷Sheba 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 ⁸wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So ⁹he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

23 ¹⁰Now 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 ¹¹Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

25 and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and ¹²Abiathar were priests;

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

2 Samuel 20:13-26 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. 1 Kings 15:20; 2 Kings 15:29
• 2. 2 Kings 19:32; Ezekiel 4:2
• 3. 2 Samuel 14:2
• 4. Deuteronomy 20:10
• 5. 1 Samuel 26:19; 2 Samuel 14:16; 2 Samuel 21:3
• 6. Joshua 24:33
• 7. 2 Samuel 20:2
• 8. 2 Samuel 20:16; Ecclesiastes 9:13-16
• 9. 2 Samuel 20:1
• 10. 2 Samuel 8:16-18; 1 Kings 4:3-6
• 11. 1 Kings 4:3
• 12. 1 Kings 4:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "poured out"