The Second Book of Samuel, otherwise called the Second Book of the Kings
2 Samuel 20
Chapter XX · Vol. II, pp. 705–706
1 By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba maketh a party in Israel. 3 David's ten concubines are shut up in perpetual prison. 4 Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab. 14 Joab pursueth Sheba unto Abel. 16 A wise woman saveth the city by Sheba's head. 23 David's great officers.
1 And there ahappened to be there a bman of Belial,1 whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he cblew a trumpet, and said, dWe have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
a ch.12.10; 19.41. Ps.34.19.
b De.13.13. Ju.19.22. 1 Sa.2.12. ch.16.7.
1 Whenever the passions of men are in a ferment, it requires little to guide them. Here the counsel of one vain bad man produces the death of many, and goes near to dismember, and thereby weaken and barbarize the Jewish kingdom, which David had rescued from slavery, and advanced in religion, civilization, and power.—C.
d 1 Ki.12.16. Ac.8.21. Mat.22.5,6. Lu.19.14.
2 So eevery man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but fthe men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.2
e ch.19.41. 1 Ki.12.16. Pr.17.14. Jn.6.66. Phi.2.21.
A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021.
2 That is, they conducted him from the place where he crossed the Jordan till he arrived in Jerusalem. This was all the more necessary as the road ran along the border of the warlike tribe of Benjamin, and an attack might easily have been made upon the monarch amid the wild defiles of the wilderness.—P.
3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the gten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in hward, and fed them, but iwent not in unto them: so they were shut3 up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.4
4 Then said the king to kAmasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he ltarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.5
6 And David said to mAbishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy nlord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.6
7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the oCherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
o ver.23; ch.8.18; 15.18; 23.8-39. 1 Ki.1.38,44.
8 When they were at pthe great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them: and Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.7
p Jos.10.27.
7 Most probably such a short sword as is still found in Carthaginian and other ancient relics, and which might readily fall by what is called accident, or, as is more likely, be of purpose thrown out by Joab. C.——Or, 'he let it fall out,' for it was not by mere accident; but it was part of Joab's murderous design, that he might have it in his hand when saluting Amasa; and, the farther to lull suspicion, it was in his left hand.—I.
9 And Joab said to Amasa, qArt thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.8
q ch.3.27; 17.25. Ps.12.2; 55.21. Mat.26.48,49. Jn.7.3. Mi.7.2,6. Je.9.4,5.
8 He held the sword in the left hand, which would prevent Amasa from attending to the circumstance. C.——Or rather 'it,' i.e. the beard, for it would be reckoned an affront to lay hold on it unless for that purpose. Among the Arabs, to kiss the beard is a mark of respect to an equal or superior.—I.
10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he rsmote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and sstruck him not again, and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, tHe that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.9
12 And Amasa uwallowed in blood in the midst of the highway: and when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 And xhe went through all the tribes of Israel unto yAbel, and to Beth-maachah,1 and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
x Sheba, ver.4.
y 2 Ki.15.29. 2 Ch.16.4. 1 Ki.15.20. Jos.18.25. ver.15.
1 Sheba fled northward and took refuge in the city of Abel, which stood on a conical hill between the plains of Ijon and Dan. It is about five miles west of Dan, and consequently on the extreme northern border of Palestine. It was a strong city. There is still a village on the site bearing the ancient name. In going from Jerusalem to Abel it is truly said that Joab went 'through all the tribes of Israel.'—P.
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they zcast up a bank against the city, and 1it stood in the 2trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.3
A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021.
z 2 Ki.19.32. Je.32.24; 33.4.
1 Or, it stood against the utmost wall.
2 They cast a bank against the city, which stood opposite the outward wall. So Boothroyd translates the passage, which renders it much more intelligible.—C.
3 Heb. marred to throw down.
16 Then cried a awise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
a Ec.9.14-18. 1 Co.1.27.
17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
18 Then she spake, saying, bThey were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel:4 and so they ended the matter.
b Or, They plainly spake in the beginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end, De.20.11. Jos.9.14.
4 Proverbial expressions founded upon local circumstances or peculiarities must necessarily be more or less obscure. But does not the obscurity of the text arise principally from the insertion of the word 'counsel?' instead of the word 'questions?' Is not the object of the wise woman to excuse her questions by pleading the inquisitive character of her town? Her first question, ver. 17, is very artful, 'Art thou Joab?' As much as to insinuate—'The hero of whom we have heard so much?' Her second, ver. 19, 'Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?' is an irresistible appeal to mercy, generosity, patriotism, and piety, and had Joab been a worse man than he was, we could not be surprised at its success.—C.
19 I cam one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel:5 thou seekest to destroy a city and da mother in Israel: why wilt thou eswallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
5 She was probably the governess of the city, or the daughter or widow of a chief.—C.
d i.e. a chief city, Nu.21.25. Eze.16.46,49.
e Nu.16.32. Ps.124.3. Ex.15.17. 1 Sa.26.19.
20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21 The matter is not so: but fa man of mount Ephraim, (Sheba the son of Bichri by name,) hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, gBehold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
f ver.1,14.
g 2 Ki.10.7.
22 Then the woman went unto all the people hin her wisdom: and they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab: and he iblew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
h Ec.9.14-18.
23 Now kJoab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites, and over the Pelethites:6
k ch.8.16,18. 1 Ch.18.15,17.
6 See note on ch.8.18.—C.
25 And Sheva was scribe:9 and mZadok and Abiathar were the priests:
9 See note on ch.8.17.—C.
m ch.8.17. Nu.3.32. 1 Ch.18.16.
Notes
[Ver. 7. Though there is no express statement of the fact, yet it is evident from what follows that Joab was either appointed by the king commander-in-chief, with Abishai as his lieutenant, or he took the command himself as a matter of course. Amasa in the meantime had assembled his men, came up with Joab at Gibeon, and then 'went before them;' i.e. took the command, but whether in the room of Joab or of Abishai does not appear. P.]
Ver. 10. [Joab had doubtless prearranged the whole. The short sword was so fastened in his girdle that as he stooped with oriental courtesy to salute Amasa, it fell out; he stooped and lifted it as a matter of course, and without stopping to put it up rushed forward to embrace Amasa. Amasa was thus taken by surprise. He suspected nothing until Joab's ready sword was in his vitals. It was an act of cruel treachery. P.]
Reflections.—We must not expect to enjoy long peace on earth. Foolish and even trifling quarrels have often dangerous consequences; and all of a sudden our most zealous friends may become our bitterest enemies. Objects of unlawful pleasure are often turned into standing memorials of our grief and shame: and an obscure retirement is fittest for those who have made themselves publicly scandalous. Kings seldom find that rash changes of the commanders in their army turn out to their satisfaction. Hardened murderers cannot be restrained by law. Impunity in one act encourages them to another. But let them outbrave their sovereign, or cover their bloodshed, yet God will punish them at last. One daring sinner often involves many in his punishment. But what a mercy, amidst the ravages of war, is a fit mediator! The terms of peace may often be very easy, would the parties but once confer together and understand one another.