2 Samuel 20

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 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.

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.

4¶ Then 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.

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.

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.

23¶ Now 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Following Absalom's defeat, a Benjamite named Sheba incites a new rebellion, drawing away most of Israel from David. King David dispatches Amasa to gather Judah's forces, but Amasa's delay leads David to send Joab and Abishai in pursuit of Sheba. Joab, encountering Amasa, treacherously murders him and then continues the chase.

Medium Summary

After Absalom's rebellion, Sheba, a man of Belial, blows a trumpet, declaring Israel's separation from David, causing many to follow him. David returns to Jerusalem and places his concubines, whom he had left behind, in perpetual ward. He then commands Amasa to assemble Judah's men within three days, but Amasa tarries. Fearing Sheba's growing threat, David sends Abishai with his elite forces, including Joab's men, to pursue Sheba. At Gibeon, Joab meets Amasa and, under the guise of a greeting, fatally stabs him. Joab then assumes command, rallying the people to pursue Sheba to Abel of Bethmaachah. There, a wise woman negotiates with Joab, offering Sheba's head to save the city, which the inhabitants do, ending the rebellion. The chapter concludes by listing David's chief officers.

Long Summary

Upon David's return to Jerusalem after Absalom's defeat, a Benjamite named Sheba, the son of Bichri, stirs up a new rebellion by proclaiming Israel's disinheritance from David, leading many tribes to follow him, though Judah remains loyal. David addresses the issue of his ten concubines, whom he had left in Jerusalem, by placing them in ward, effectively isolating them for the remainder of their lives. To quell Sheba's revolt, David commissions Amasa to gather the men of Judah within three days, but Amasa fails to meet the deadline. Perceiving the urgency, David instructs Abishai to take his personal guard, including Joab's men, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, to pursue Sheba, fearing he might fortify cities. At the great stone in Gibeon, Joab encounters Amasa and, feigning a brotherly greeting, seizes him by the beard and fatally stabs him in the fifth rib, spilling his bowels. A man of Joab's stood by, directing those loyal to Joab and David to follow. Amasa's body, lying in the highway, caused people to halt, so it was moved and covered. Joab and Abishai then continued their pursuit of Sheba, who had gathered followers and fortified himself in Abel of Bethmaachah. Joab's forces besieged the city, casting up a bank and battering the wall. A wise woman from the city called out to Joab, appealing for peace and reminding him of Abel's reputation for counsel. She argued against the destruction of a peaceful city, prompting Joab to state his sole objective was Sheba. The woman then convinced the city's inhabitants to decapitate Sheba and cast his head over the wall to Joab, ending the siege. Joab blew a trumpet, and his forces dispersed, returning to their homes, while Joab himself returned to David in Jerusalem. The chapter concludes by reiterating Joab's position as commander of Israel's host and listing other key officials in David's administration.

Core Concepts

  • Sheba's RebellionA swift and significant uprising led by Sheba, a Benjamite, who exploited lingering tribal divisions after Absalom's defeat, drawing away most of Israel from David's rule.
  • Amasa's AssassinationJoab's ruthless and treacherous murder of Amasa, David's newly appointed captain, at Gibeon. This act eliminated a rival and reasserted Joab's undisputed military authority.
  • David's ConcubinesDavid's decision to confine his ten concubines, whom Absalom had publicly defiled, to a life of widowhood. This action addressed the defilement but also isolated them permanently.
  • The Wise Woman of AbelAn unnamed woman whose wisdom and diplomatic skill saved her city, Abel of Bethmaachah, from destruction. She negotiated directly with Joab, offering Sheba's head to prevent the siege.
  • Joab's Authority and RuthlessnessThe chapter highlights Joab's continued, albeit often brutal, effectiveness as David's military commander. He decisively ends both Amasa's life and Sheba's rebellion, demonstrating his unwavering control over the army.
  • Resolution of RebellionThe swift and decisive end to Sheba's rebellion, achieved through military pursuit and, ultimately, a strategic negotiation. The rebellion is quelled by the execution of its leader, restoring peace to David's kingdom.