History · Chapter 20 of 24

2 Samuel 20

Sheba, a Benjamite, exploits the Judah and Israel quarrel and calls Israel to abandon David. David sends forces after him; on the way Joab treacherously murders Amasa, his replacement, and takes command. Joab pursues Sheba to the city of Abel and besieges it. A wise woman of the city negotiates with Joab, and to spare her town the people cut off Sheba's head and throw it over the wall, ending the revolt.

What happens in 2 Samuel 20

A worthless man named Sheba, a Benjamite, blows a trumpet and cries that Israel has no share in David, and the men of Israel desert the king to follow him, though Judah stays loyal. Back in Jerusalem, David shuts away the ten concubines Absalom had defiled, keeping them in seclusion. He orders Amasa to muster Judah, but when Amasa delays, David sends Abishai and Joab's men after Sheba. Meeting Amasa, Joab feigns a greeting, takes him by the beard as if to kiss him, and stabs him dead, then presses the pursuit.

Joab corners Sheba in Abel of Beth-maachah and batters the wall. A wise woman calls out, rebuking Joab for destroying a peaceable mother-city in Israel. He answers that he seeks only Sheba. She persuades the townspeople, who cut off Sheba's head and throw it over the wall. Joab blows the trumpet, the siege lifts, and he returns to Jerusalem and to command.

2 Samuel 20 in context

Sheba's revolt is the immediate aftershock of the Judah and Israel jealousy that ended chapter 19; the northern discontent that fueled Absalom has not died. Joab's murder of Amasa mirrors his earlier killing of Abner, removing a rival to reclaim the command David had taken from him.

The wise woman of Abel stands in a small tradition of Israelite women whose counsel saves a city, echoing the wise woman of Tekoa. The chapter closes with a list of David's restored officials.

Main themes of 2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20 (KJV)

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.

Verses to carry from 2 Samuel 20

“And 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.”2 Samuel 20:1

“But 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.”2 Samuel 20:10

“Then 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.”2 Samuel 20:22

Reflection

A city was spared because one man was given up to death. Let that turn your eyes to the far greater exchange, where the innocent King gave himself so the guilty could live. And weigh Joab's kiss: ambition can wear the face of friendship. Ask whether your warmth toward others is ever a mask for self-interest.

A prayer from 2 Samuel 20