2 Samuel 20

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

2 Samuel Chapter 20

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Nathan, Zabud, & Gad

Date Penned: (930 BC)

Overview: A Record of David's Reign (c 1-24)

Theme: David's Struggles (c 11-24)

Message: Sheba Rebels Against David (v 1-26)

2 Samuel 20 Commentary

(20:1) Tribal Jealousy is Repeated - Although Israel was a united kingdom, it was still made up of 12 separate tribes. These tribes often had difficulty agreeing on the goals of the nation as a whole. Tribal jealousies had originally kept Israel from completely conquering the Promised Land (see the book of Joshua), and now tribal jealousies were threatening the stability of David's reign by giving Sheba an opportunity to rebel (20:1-26).

(20:7-10) A Judgement One Day - Once again Joab's murderous act went unpunished, just as it had after he killed Abner (3:26-27). Eventually, however, justice caught up with him (1 Kings 2:28-35). Sin and treachery may seem to go unpunished, but God's justice is not limited to this life's rewards. Even if Joab had died of old age, he would have had to face the Day of Judgment. We, too, must stay true to God day by day, for we also will face judgment someday.

(20:16-22) Words Instead of Weapons - Joab's men were attacking the city, and it looked as if it would be destroyed. But then a woman courageously spoke out and stopped Joab's attack, not with weapons, but with wise words, negotiation, and a plan of action. Often the courage to speak a few sensible words can prevent a great disaster.

(20:23) The Thirty - Benaiah was the captain of David's bodyguard and a famous member of that special group of mighty warriors called "the thirty' (23:20-23). He remained loyal to David during Absalom's rebellion. Later he helped establish Solomon as king (1 Kings 1:32-40; 2:28-34) and eventually replaced Job as commander of Israel's army (1 Kings 2:35).

Dave Burnette's Life Application
One Nation Under God

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Today we continue in the book of 2nd Samuel with Chapter 20. In our text, we see Sheba rebelling against David and dividing a nation. In applying today's text, we see the need for one nation under God. A divided nation has weaknesses and is more vulnerable to attack. Today we have a divided country, with half following Godly Principles and the other half following a self-willed ungodly path. To continue to be strong, we must come together and remember that God birthed this nation, and we need to follow Godly Principles. We will lose God's blessing and protection if we deviate from His Plan in the pages of the Bible. How about you? Do you see the U.S.A as a nation under God? Let us learn from our text today and the example of the nation of Israel and again become one Nation under God.

2 Samuel 20

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2 Samuel 20

¹And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

²So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

³And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

⁴Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

⁵So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

⁶And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

⁷And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

⁸When they were at the 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.

⁹And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

¹⁰But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

¹¹And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

¹²And Amasa wallowed 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.

¹³When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

¹⁴And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

¹⁵And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

¹⁶Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

¹⁷And 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.

¹⁸Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

¹⁹I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

²⁰And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

²¹The matter is not so: but a 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, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

²²Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

²³Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

²⁴And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

²⁵And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

²⁶And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.