2 Samuel 20
2 Samuel 20 shows that even after David overcame Absalom’s rebellion, division and tension still remained within the Israelite community. The focus of this chapter is the incident involving Sheba (a.k.a. Sheba’s rebellion), Joab’s actions, and, at the end, the reorganization of the administrative structure of David’s kingship.
1verseThere happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”
2verseSo all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3verseDavid 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 custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4verseThen the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”
5verseSo Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.
6verseDavid said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”
7verseJoab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
8verseWhen they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.
9verseJoab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10verseBut Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
11verseOne of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”
12verseAmasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
13verseWhen he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
14verseHe went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.
15verseThey came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
16verseThen a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”
17verseHe came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”
18verseThen she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.
19verseI am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”
20verseJoab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21verseThe matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22verseThen the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23verseNow Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
24verseAdoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
25verseSheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
26verseand Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
Chapter Flow and Structure
- Sheba’s rebellion (vv. 1–2): Sheba of the tribe of Benjamin gathers the group that follows him and confronts David. Conflict between Israel and Judah is exposed openly, symbolizing division within the community.
- David’s response (vv. 3–7): After returning to Jerusalem, David has his concubines stay in separate houses, and he orders Amasa to muster the troops.
- Joab’s leadership and the pursuit of Sheba (vv. 8–22): Amasa is killed by Joab, and Joab leads the army in pursuit of Sheba. In the end, Sheba is killed in the town of Abel, and the rebellion is put down.
- The administrative system of David’s kingdom (vv. 23–26): The kingdom’s various officials and offices are organized, and the order of the monarchy is re-established.
The Overall Meaning of 2 Samuel 20
Even though this chapter comes right after David has put down Absalom’s rebellion, it shows that tension within Israel had not disappeared. Sheba’s rebellion is a series of events that reveals the difficulty of maintaining unity within the community, the instability of the power structure, and conflicts among leaders (especially the relationship between Joab and Amasa). However, in the end, amid division and chaos, David is shown regaining his ability to rule as king and stabilizing the administrative system, indicating that the chapter is aiming at overall peace and stability.
Points for Reflection
- Let’s think about the possibility that even within our own communities or society—though things may look calm on the surface—there may be seeds of conflict and division that are not visible.
- Reflect on the importance of a leader’s response and choices in times of conflict and crisis.
- Even amid difficulties, by recognizing God’s providence in the way order is restored and one’s true calling is fulfilled, we can discover God’s will at work.
Putting It into Practice for Me
- When unexpected conflict or crisis arises in the community given to me (home, faith community, society, etc.), I look again at the role and responsibilities I have been assigned.
- I commit myself to choosing unity over division and order over chaos, and to making every effort to develop an attitude that helps me discern God’s will correctly.
