2Sa 20:1 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.
The son of Bichri - Rather, “a Bichrite,” so called from Becher, the son of Benjamin Gen_46:21 And the sons of Benjamin: Belah and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.
Benjamite - Saul was also of this family. It is evident that the transfer of the royalty from their tribe to that of Judah still rankled in the hearts of many Benjamites. As this man was a Benjamite, he probably belonged to the family of Saul; and he seems to have had considerable influence in Israel to raise such an insurrection.
We have no part in David - We of Israel, we of the ten tribes, are under no obligation to the house of David. Leave him, and let every man fall into the ranks under his own leader. So he interpreted what the men of Judah said, because they claimed kindred to David, the rest of the Israelites had no interest in him; thus they, who just before said they had ten parts in him, now had none at all:
there happened to be a man of Belial - A wicked man, a lawless, yokeless man, that had cast off the yoke of the law, and was without it, as Belial is by some interpreted; or one unprofitable and useless, noxious and pernicious. This man, was ordered by the providence of God that he should be present at this time for the further fulfillment of the threatening to David, that the sword should not depart from his house:
neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse - so he calls David by way of contempt, as if he was no king, but a private person, and a descendant from a mean family:
every man to his tents — This proverbial expression may have had its foundation in the fact, that many of the Israelite peasantry adhered to the custom of the patriarchs who tilled land, and yet lived in tents. This was the usual watchword of national insurrection, and from the actual temper of the people, it was followed by effects beyond what he probably anticipated.
2Sa 20:2 So 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.
From Jordan even to Jerusalem - The men of Israel only escorted David from Jordan to Gilgal, and there left him; but the men of Judah in a body went with him all the way to Jerusalem. The quarrel had broken out shortly after the crossing of the Jordan, between Judah and the other tribes, who withdrew; so that Judah was left nearly alone to conduct the king to Jerusalem.
every man of Israel went up from after David - Those that met him on the road departed from him, and went no further with him:
2Sa 20:3 And 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.
The ten women his concubines - whom he had left to keep the house; when he fled from Jerusalem because of Absalom, 2Sa_15:16. He could not well divorce them; he could not punish them, as they were not in transgression; he could no more be familiar with them, because they had been defiled by his son; and to have married them to other men might have been dangerous to the state: therefore he shut them up and fed them - made them quite comfortable, and they continued as widows to their death. Jewish writers say that the widowed queens of Hebrew monarchs were not allowed to marry again but were obliged to pass the rest of their lives in strict seclusion.
the ten women his concubines —David treated his concubines in the same manner after the outrage committed on them by Absalom. They were not divorced, for they were guiltless; but they were no longer publicly recognized as his wives; nor was their confinement to a sequestered life a very heavy doom, in a region where women have never been accustomed to go much abroad.
living in widowhood – in Hebrew, in widowhood of life, a state where one lives as a widow without being one.
2Sa 20:4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
Then said the king to Amasa - Amasa is now installed in the command which David had promised him and sends him to collect the men of Judah, and to come back to receive his orders in relation to Sheba, in three days. The appointment of Amasa was a blunder, and the king soon perceived his error. The specified time passed, but Amasa could not muster the men. It appears that Amasa found more difficulty in collecting his country-men than was at first supposed; and this detaining him beyond the three days. Dreading the loss of time, the king gave the commission to Abishai, and not to Joab - a new affront, which, no doubt, wounded the pride of the stern and haughty old general.
assemble me the men of Judah within three days - which was done by the sound of the trumpet, or by the proclamation of a herald; it seems that the men of Judah, who attended David to Jerusalem, were gone to their respective cities and places of abode, or there would have been no occasion for such a summons.
2Sa 20:5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
He tarried longer than the set time - The cause of Amasa’s delay is not stated. Perhaps it was because the people being wearied out by the late war, were not forward to engage in another: or because the soldiers had more affection to Joab, than to their new general. It may have been the unwillingness of the men of Judah to place themselves under his orders, or it may have been caused by a wavering or hesitation in loyalty. This last is evidently insinuated in 2Sa_20:11, and no doubt this was the pretext, whether grounded in fact or not, by which Joab justified the murder of Amasa before David.
2Sa 20:6 And 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.
David said to Abishai - For it seems he would have nothing to say to Joab, being displeased with him for slaying Absalom, and having removed him from his posts; and therefore speaks to the next officer in his army, Abishai.
now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom - gain a greater party, and give more trouble to subdue him, unless suppressed in time:
pursue after him - without waiting for Amasa, and the troops he was assembling; delays in such a case as an insurrection being dangerous.
escape us - "escape our eyes” or “deliver himself from our eyes”; we shall lose sight of him, and not know which way he is gone, if he is not pursued quickly.
2Sa 20:7 And 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.
there went out after him Joab's men - Who though he was removed from his post as general, yet might still have the command of a regiment: The remainders of Joab's army who were there present.
2Sa 20:8 When 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.
Amasa went before them - Rather, “advanced to meet them.” Amasa was perhaps returning to Jerusalem, according to his orders 2Sa_20:4, and was probably much surprised to meet the army in march. Joab’s resolution was quickly taken.
Amasa went before them — Having collected some forces, he by a rapid march overtook the expedition at Gibeon, and assumed the place of commander; in which capacity, he was saluted, among others, by Joab.
As he went forth it fell out - What appears to have happened is that, by accident or design, Joab’s sword fell out of the scabbard on the ground as he was going to meet Amasa, and that he picked it up with his left hand so as to have his right hand free for the customary salutation 2Sa_20:9. This awakened no suspicion in Amasa’s mind. Compare the case of Ehud, Jdg_3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. According to Josephus, he let it drop on purpose as he was accosting Amasa, that stooping, as it were accidentally, to pick it up, he might salute the new general with the naked sword in his hand, without arousing any suspicion.
Joab’s garment - It appears that this was not a military garment; and that Joab had no arms but a short sword, which he had concealed in his girdle; and this sword, or knife, was so loose in its sheath that it could be easily drawn out. It is thought farther, that Joab, in passing to Amasa, stumbled, (for so some of the versions, and able critics, understand the words it fell out). and that the sword fell down when he stumbled; that he took it up with his left hand as if he had no bad intention; and then, taking Amasa by the beard with his right hand, pretending to kiss him, he, with his sword in his left hand, ripped up his bowels. This seems to be the meaning of this very obscure verse. It is worthy of remark that in the Eastern country it is the beard, not the man, which is usually kissed.
2Sa 20:9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
art thou in health, my brother - this looked like a friendly salutation to ask of his health, and wish him it, and a loving appellation to call him brother. Joab barbarously murdered Amasa. Joab contentedly sacrificed the interest both of the king and the kingdom to his personal revenge.
Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him - as was usual for the eastern people to do when they addressed and saluted one another in an affectionate way. This act, common with two friends on meeting when one of them returns from a journey, indicates respect as well as kindliness, and the performance of it evinced the deep hypocrisy of Joab, who thereby put Amasa off his guard.
2Sa 20:10 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.
In the fifth rib - any part of the abdominal region. That it means some part of the abdominal region, is evident from what follows. It appears from this that, in plain English, he ripped up his belly. This is in the same place where Abner smote Asahel, and Joab Abner.
struck him not again - he gave him such a thrust, there was no need to repeat it, he dispatched him at once.
2Sa 20:11 And 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.
He that favoreth Joab - This speech, addressed to Amasa’s followers as well as Joab’s, shows very distinctly that the rivalry between Joab and Amasa, and David’s purpose to make Amasa captain in Joab’s room, were well known; and shows also the real reason why Joab killed Amasa. What is added, “and he that is for David,” was intended to identify Joab’s cause with David’s, and also to insinuate that Amasa had not been loyal to David. The conjunction of these two names is very significant. It shows that the one could not afford to do without the other - neither Joab to rebel against David, nor David to get rid of Joab, though hating him.
He that favoreth Joab - It is a striking proof of Joab’s unrivalled influence over the army, that with this villainous murder perpetrated before their eyes they unanimously followed him as their leader in pursuit of Sheba.
And one of Joab's men stood by him - By the body of Amasa; perhaps by the order of Joab, to satisfy the people as they came up, and reconcile them to this fact, and to exhort them not to stop, but to follow after Joab; for though Amasa their general was dead, Joab had taken the command of the army, and the pursuit was carried on with as much rigor as ever:
2Sa 20:12 And 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.
Amasa wallowed in blood - By which it seems, that though the wound was mortal, and of which he died, that Amasa did not immediately die. He apparently through the pain he was in, and the pangs of death on him, rolled himself about in his own blood in the high road.
all the people stood still - gazing at the shocking sight, and could not be prevailed upon to go on.
2Sa 20:13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
2Sa 20:14 And 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.
Abel - More commonly called 2Sa_20:15 “Abel-Beth-maachah” to distinguish it from other places of the name of “Abel” (a grassy plain).
all the Berites - the inhabitants of Beeroth, in the tribe of Benjamin Jos_18:25, of which tribe Sheba was.
he went through all the tribes of Israel - Sheba the son of Bichri who passed through all the tribes of Israel.
2Sa 20:15 And 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.
Cast up a bank - The throwing up of mounds against the walls of besieged places by the besiegers is well illustrated in ancient sculptures. From whence they might either batter the wall, or shoot at those who defended it.
The trench - The fortified space outside the outmost wall.
2Sa 20:16 Then 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.
2Sa 20:17 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.
And when he was come near unto her - As he did, upon the information of his men, that a woman on the wall had something to say to him:
2Sa 20:18 Then 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.
They shall surely ask counsel at Abel - This was an old proverb. Abel, like Teman, and some other places, was once famous for the wisdom of its inhabitants. Parties who had disputes appealed to their judgment, which appears to have been in such high reputation as to be final by consent of all parties. To this the wise woman refers, and intimates to Joab that he should have proceeded in this way before he began to storm the city, and destroy the peaceable inhabitants. The wise woman was herself a remnant of this traditional wisdom.
They were wont to speak in old time — When the people saw him lay siege to Abel, they said, Surely he will ask if we will have peace, for the law (Deu_20:10-12) prescribes that he should offer peace to strangers, much more then to Israelite cities; and if he do this, things will be brought to an amicable agreement, for they were a peaceable people. Deut 20:1-12 When you come near a city to fight against it, then shout peace to it. And it shall be, if it makes the answer of peace and opens to you, then all the people found in it shall be forced laborers to you, and they shall serve you. But if it will make no peace with you, but will make war against you, then you shall besiege it.
2Sa 20:19 I 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?
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel - The woman speaks in the name of the whole city, which she means to say was peaceable and loyal and never were concerned in any insurrection or rebellion, not in the late one under Absalom. The woman gave Joab to understand, in the first place, that he ought to have asked the inhabitants of Abela whether they intended to fight for Sheba before commencing the siege and destruction of the town, according to the law laid down in Deu_20:10. with reference to the siege of foreign towns; and secondly, that he ought to have taken into consideration the peacefulness and fidelity of the citizens of Abela, and not to destroy the peace-loving citizens and members of the nation of God.
A mother in Israel - That is, a chief city of a district. Great cities are commonly called mothers; as lesser towns or villages subject to them, and depending upon them, are called their daughters.
the inheritance of the Lord - a city which is a part of the land, that is the Lord's inheritance.
2Sa 20:20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Joab answered and said, far be it from me, far be it from me - He repeats these words, to show how detestable it was to him to do what she suggested: The woman's words made an impression upon Joab. He felt the truthfulness of her reproaches.
2Sa 20:21 The 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.
His head shall be thrown to thee - Thus it appears she had great sway in the counsels of the city perhaps even being a governor of the city as some scholars believe. .
The matter is not so – Joab did not come with the army against this city with any ill will to it or with an intention to destroy it but to seek out Sheba the rebel.
deliver him only - he did not desire any of his followers to be delivered up, only Sheba, knowing the rebellion would cease upon the delivery of him; and being unwilling that the blood of any Israelite should be shed, whom he knew would return to their own cities upon the death of Sheba.
2Sa 20:22 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.
Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom - Went from the wall of the city into it, and convened the principal inhabitants together, and made so wise a speech to them, and represented to them the certainty and nearness of their ruin, if they did not speedily comply with her desires, and certain deliverance if they did so that they unanimously agreed to her motion:
he blew a trumpet - as a sign of retreat:
every man to his tent - the army under Joab broke up the siege, and departed, every man to his own city.
Joab returned unto Jerusalem unto the king - to give him an account of his success, and how the rebellion was crushed; and this gave him courage and boldness to appear before the king, despite killing his general in cold blood, and without the consent of the king had reassumed his post as general of the army. He was a bold daring man, a man of blood, and hardened in sin, and had power in the army, and David could not do what he would with him, but was obliged to be silent, and overlook things, and even to reestablish him in his office.
2Sa 20:23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
Joab was over all the host - Joab had been dismissed to make room for Amasa, and was now, as the result of his successful expedition against Sheba, and the death of Amasa, reinstated in his command. Moreover, this was a fresh beginning of David’s reign, and therefore a statement of his chief officers is as proper as in 2Sa_8:16, when he had just established himself on the throne of Israel.
Joab was over all the host - He had murdered Amasa, and seized on the supreme command: and such was his power at present, and the service which he had rendered to the state by quelling the rebellion of Sheba, that David was obliged to continue him; and dared not to call him to account for his murders without endangering the safety of the state by a civil war.
Benaiah was over the Cherethites - Benaiah was over the archers and slingers. He continued in his post 2Sa_8:18. The enumeration of David’s cabinet is here given to show that the government was reestablished in its course.
David's Ministers of State - The second section of the history of David's reign closes, like the first (2Sa_8:16.), with a list of the leading ministers of state. In addition to the office-bearers mentioned in 2 Samuel 8, we find here Adoram over the tribute, and Ira the Kairite a confidential counselor, in the place of the sons of David noticed in 2Sa_8:18.
2Sa 20:24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
Adoram was over the tribute - Not mentioned before by name or office. Apparently, therefore, the office was not instituted until the latter part of David’s reign, and its duties probably were the collection of the tribute imposed upon vanquished nations, or the command of the forced levies employed in public works. Adoram was stoned to death in the beginning of the reign of Rehoboam 1Ki_12:18 And King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute. And all Israel stoned him with stones so that he died. And King Rehoboam made haste to go up to get into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem. Adoram is the same person as Adoniram, who is mentioned in 1Ki_4:6 and 1Ki_5:14 as overseer over the tributary service in the time of Solomon; as is seen later as Adoram in 1Ki_12:18, and Hadoram in 2Ch_10:18.
2Sa 20:25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
Shevah was scribe - The king’s secretary. Either the same with Seraiah, or he was dead or removed, and Sheva was put in his place 2Sa_8:17
2Sa 20:26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
Ira the Jairite - perhaps the same as “Ira an Ithrite”, an inhabitant of Jattir in the hill country of Judah Jos_15:48; 1Sa_30:27.
Ira also the Jairite - Which some take to be the same with Ira the Ithrite, 2Sa_23:38; a son of Jether or Ithra the Israelite, 2Sa_17:25; though others suppose he was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 2Sa_23:26.
A chief ruler - a prime minister, an intimate friend, the chief of his privy council. In the early part of David’s reign his own sons were chief rulers. The deaths of Amnon and Absalom, and the dissensions in the family, had probably caused the change of policy in this respect.
