2 Samuel 20 Study Notes: Sheba's Revolt and the Wise Woman of Abel
Sheba, a Benjamite, leads the northern tribes away from David while Judah stays loyal. Joab murders Amasa, his rival for command, and besieges Sheba at Abel, where a wise woman persuades the city to put the rebel to death and spare itself. Joab again commands the army.
General
True or False: After the wise woman counseled the people of Abel, they handed over Sheba’s head, and Joab’s army left the city and went home.
Answer: True
This is true. The woman persuaded the people of Abel, and they put Sheba to death and threw his head over the wall to Joab. Joab then sounded the ram’s horn, his men left the city and went to their homes, and Joab went back to David in Jerusalem (20:22). The revolt ended with one death instead of the destruction of a whole city. Scripture elsewhere honors wisdom that saves a city (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15), and Abigail is another wise woman whose words kept David from shedding blood (1 Samuel 25:32-33).
- 2 Samuel 20:22 (BSB)“Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.”The woman persuades the people of Abel, Sheba is executed, and Joab’s army goes home.
- Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 (BSB)“There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.”Like Abel, a city under siege is saved by the wisdom of one person.
- 1 Samuel 25:32-33 (BSB)“Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.”Abigail is another wise woman whose counsel prevented needless bloodshed.
Theological
True or False: Following the wise woman’s counsel, the people of Abel delivered Sheba’s head to Joab, and the army withdrew and dispersed.
Answer: True
This is true. Acting on the woman’s counsel, the city executed Sheba and threw his head to Joab, who sounded the ram’s horn, dismissed the army to their homes, and went back to David (20:22). Wisdom ended the revolt at the cost of one rebel rather than a city, a theme Scripture commends elsewhere (Ecclesiastes 9:14-15), and one seen earlier in Abigail’s restraining counsel (1 Samuel 25:32-33).
- 2 Samuel 20:22 (BSB)“Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.”The woman persuades the people of Abel, Sheba is executed, and Joab’s army goes home.
- Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 (BSB)“There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.”Like Abel, a city under siege is saved by the wisdom of one person.
- 1 Samuel 25:32-33 (BSB)“Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day! Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.”Abigail is another wise woman whose counsel prevented needless bloodshed.
General
True or False: Amasa gathered Judah’s troops within the three days David gave him.
Answer: False
This is false. David had promised Amasa, who had led Absalom’s army, that he would replace Joab as commander (17:25; 19:13). Now David told him to call up Judah’s fighting men and report back in three days. Amasa went, but he was late, missing the deadline (20:4-5). The text does not explain the delay. Because of it, David turned to Abishai to start the pursuit of Sheba.
- 2 Samuel 20:4-5 (BSB)“Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.”David orders Amasa to gather Judah within three days, but Amasa is late.
- 2 Samuel 19:13 (BSB)“And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’””David had promised to make Amasa commander of his army in place of Joab.
- 2 Samuel 17:25 (BSB)“Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.”Amasa had earlier commanded Absalom’s army, and he was Joab’s cousin.
Theological
True or False: Amasa completed the muster of Judah within the three-day deadline David set.
Answer: False
This is false. Amasa, formerly Absalom’s commander and now promised Joab’s post (17:25; 19:13), was ordered to summon Judah within three days, but he overran the time appointed him (20:4-5). The narrator gives no reason for the delay. It led David to send Abishai after Sheba instead, which brought Amasa and Joab together in the field.
- 2 Samuel 20:4-5 (BSB)“Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.”David orders Amasa to gather Judah within three days, but Amasa is late.
- 2 Samuel 19:13 (BSB)“And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’””David had promised to make Amasa commander of his army in place of Joab.
- 2 Samuel 17:25 (BSB)“Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.”Amasa had earlier commanded Absalom’s army, and he was Joab’s cousin.
General
What terms did Joab offer the people of Abel (2 Samuel 20:20-21)?
Answer: Give up Sheba alone and the army would withdraw
Joab strongly denied that he wanted to ruin or destroy the city. His quarrel was with one man: Sheba, a man from Ephraim’s hill country, who had rebelled against King David. If the city handed over Sheba alone, Joab promised to leave (20:20-21). The woman’s appeal and Joab’s answer turned a siege into a negotiation, and Joab kept his word once Sheba was dealt with (20:22).
- 2 Samuel 20:20-21 (BSB)““Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.””Joab says he has no wish to destroy the city and asks only that Sheba be handed over.
- 2 Samuel 20:2 (BSB)“So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”Sheba was the leader of the revolt that drew Israel away from David.
- 2 Samuel 20:22 (BSB)“Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.”Once Sheba was dealt with, Joab kept his word and withdrew his army from the city.
Theological
On what condition did Joab promise to lift the siege of Abel (2 Samuel 20:20-21)?
Answer: Give up Sheba alone and the army would withdraw
Joab disavowed any intent to destroy Abel and limited his demand to the surrender of Sheba, the Ephraimite hill-country man who had raised his hand against King David; once Sheba was handed over, the army would leave (20:20-21). The exchange turned a siege into negotiated terms, and Joab kept them, withdrawing once Sheba was dealt with (20:22).
- 2 Samuel 20:20-21 (BSB)““Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.””Joab says he has no wish to destroy the city and asks only that Sheba be handed over.
- 2 Samuel 20:2 (BSB)“So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”Sheba was the leader of the revolt that drew Israel away from David.
- 2 Samuel 20:22 (BSB)“Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.”Once Sheba was dealt with, Joab kept his word and withdrew his army from the city.
General
After Sheba’s revolt ended, who commanded all of Israel’s army (2 Samuel 20:23)?
Answer: Joab, the man who had killed Amasa
David had planned to replace Joab with Amasa (19:13), but after murdering Amasa and ending Sheba’s revolt, Joab was again commander of all Israel’s troops (20:23). Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, led the royal guard. The text does not say David approved Joab’s deed; earlier, after Abner’s murder, David had confessed that Zeruiah’s sons were too fierce for him (3:39). Near the end of his life he named Joab’s killing of Abner and Amasa as a wrong to be dealt with (1 Kings 2:5).
- 2 Samuel 20:23 (BSB)“Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;”The chapter ends with Joab once again commanding the whole army of Israel.
- 2 Samuel 19:13 (BSB)“And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’””David had meant Amasa to replace Joab as commander.
- 2 Samuel 3:39 (BSB)“And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!””After Abner’s murder David admitted that Zeruiah’s sons were too fierce for him.
- 1 Kings 2:5 (BSB)“Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.”David did not forget what Joab had done to Abner and Amasa, and he raised it before his death.
Theological
Who commanded all of Israel’s forces at the close of the chapter (2 Samuel 20:23)?
Answer: Joab, the man who had killed Amasa
Despite David’s intention to install Amasa (19:13), Joab, Amasa’s murderer, ends the chapter as commander of all Israel’s forces (20:23), while Benaiah, Jehoiada’s son, commands the royal guard. The narrator does not present this as approval: David had already lamented that Zeruiah’s sons were too fierce for him (3:39), and he later urged Solomon to deal with Joab for shedding the blood of Abner and Amasa in peacetime (1 Kings 2:5).
- 2 Samuel 20:23 (BSB)“Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;”The chapter ends with Joab once again commanding the whole army of Israel.
- 2 Samuel 19:13 (BSB)“And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’””David had meant Amasa to replace Joab as commander.
- 2 Samuel 3:39 (BSB)“And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!””After Abner’s murder David admitted that Zeruiah’s sons were too fierce for him.
- 1 Kings 2:5 (BSB)“Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.”David did not forget what Joab had done to Abner and Amasa, and he raised it before his death.
General
When Amasa met Joab’s troops by the large stone at Gibeon, what did Joab do (2 Samuel 20:8-10)?
Answer: He greeted him warmly and then struck him with a dagger
Joab had been replaced as commander by Amasa (19:13). When the two met at Gibeon, Joab asked after Amasa’s health, called him brother, and took his beard as if to kiss him, while holding a dagger Amasa did not notice. Joab stabbed him once, and Amasa died (20:9-10). It was the same kind of treachery Joab had used against Abner (3:27). The text reports it as murder, not as a model: David later said Joab had killed Abner and Amasa in a time of peace to avenge blood shed in war (1 Kings 2:5). Proverbs warns that an enemy’s kisses are deceitful (Proverbs 27:6).
- 2 Samuel 20:9 (BSB)““Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.”Joab greets Amasa as a brother and takes hold of his beard as if to kiss him.
- 2 Samuel 3:27 (BSB)“When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.”Joab had killed Abner in the same treacherous way, pretending to speak privately with him.
- 1 Kings 2:5 (BSB)“Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.”David later names Joab’s killing of Abner and Amasa as a grave wrong done in peacetime.
- Proverbs 27:6 (BSB)“The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”Proverbs warns that the kisses of an enemy are deceitful, which fits Joab’s false greeting.
Theological
How did Joab deal with Amasa, his replacement as commander, at Gibeon (2 Samuel 20:8-10)?
Answer: He greeted him warmly and then struck him with a dagger
Joab met Amasa with a friendly greeting and a kiss of brotherhood while concealing a dagger, then killed him with a single blow (20:9-10), repeating the treachery he had used on Abner (3:27). The narrative records it without approval; David later charged Joab with shedding wartime blood in peacetime against both men (1 Kings 2:5), and Solomon acted on that charge. Proverbs 27:6 names the pattern: an enemy’s kisses are deceitful.
- 2 Samuel 20:9 (BSB)““Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.”Joab greets Amasa as a brother and takes hold of his beard as if to kiss him.
- 2 Samuel 3:27 (BSB)“When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.”Joab had killed Abner in the same treacherous way, pretending to speak privately with him.
- 1 Kings 2:5 (BSB)“Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.”David later names Joab’s killing of Abner and Amasa as a grave wrong done in peacetime.
- Proverbs 27:6 (BSB)“The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”Proverbs warns that the kisses of an enemy are deceitful, which fits Joab’s false greeting.
General
After the quarrel between Israel and Judah, what did Sheba do (2 Samuel 20:1-2)?
Answer: He called Israel to abandon David and go home
Chapter 19 ended with the northern tribes and Judah arguing over who had the better claim to the king, with Judah answering more harshly (19:41-43). Into that bitterness stepped Sheba, a man of Benjamin whom the narrator calls worthless. He blew a ram’s horn and declared that Israel had no part in David, telling every man to go home. The northern tribes abandoned David for Sheba, while Judah remained loyal and escorted David back to his capital (20:2). A very similar cry would be raised again when the kingdom divided after Solomon’s death (1 Kings 12:16).
- 2 Samuel 20:1-2 (BSB)“Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!” So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”Sheba son of Bichri sounds the ram’s horn and calls the northern tribes away from David, while Judah stays with the king.
- 2 Samuel 19:41-43 (BSB)“Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.”The quarrel between Israel and Judah over who had the greater claim to the king sets the scene for Sheba’s revolt.
- 1 Kings 12:16 (BSB)“When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,”The same kind of cry later splits the kingdom under Rehoboam, showing how deep the rift between north and south ran.
Theological
What was Sheba’s response to the dispute between Israel and Judah over the king (2 Samuel 20:1-2)?
Answer: He called Israel to abandon David and go home
The tribal quarrel of 19:41-43, in which Judah answered Israel more fiercely, left a rift that Sheba, a man of Benjamin the narrator calls worthless, was ready to exploit. Sounding the ram’s horn, he renounced any share in David and dismissed Israel to their homes. The northern tribes followed him, while Judah kept faith with David on his way back to the capital (20:2). The same rallying cry reappears at the division of the kingdom under Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:16), showing how lasting the north-south fault line was.
- 2 Samuel 20:1-2 (BSB)“Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!” So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”Sheba son of Bichri sounds the ram’s horn and calls the northern tribes away from David, while Judah stays with the king.
- 2 Samuel 19:41-43 (BSB)“Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.”The quarrel between Israel and Judah over who had the greater claim to the king sets the scene for Sheba’s revolt.
- 1 Kings 12:16 (BSB)“When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,”The same kind of cry later splits the kingdom under Rehoboam, showing how deep the rift between north and south ran.
General
Why did David tell Abishai to chase Sheba at once (2 Samuel 20:6)?
Answer: Sheba might prove worse than Absalom if he reached walled cities
With Amasa late, David turned to Abishai. He warned that Sheba could end up hurting them worse than Absalom had, and told Abishai to take his men and pursue him before he could reach fortified cities and slip away (20:6). David’s concern was that a revolt, if left alone, might grow. The northern tribes had already gone over to Sheba (20:2), and the bitter dispute with Judah (19:41-43) showed how easily the kingdom could split.
- 2 Samuel 20:6 (BSB)“And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.””David warns Abishai that Sheba could do more damage than Absalom if he is not caught quickly.
- 2 Samuel 19:41-43 (BSB)“Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.”The angry dispute between Israel and Judah shows how fragile the restored kingdom was.
- 2 Samuel 20:2 (BSB)“So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”The men of Israel had already gone after Sheba, so the danger was real.
Theological
What reason did David give Abishai for the urgent pursuit of Sheba (2 Samuel 20:6)?
Answer: Sheba might prove worse than Absalom if he reached walled cities
David judged Sheba’s revolt potentially more dangerous than Absalom’s and ordered Abishai to pursue at once, lest Sheba reach walled towns and escape them (20:6). With the northern tribes already following Sheba (20:2) and tribal resentment still raw (19:41-43), a delay could let the rebellion take root.
- 2 Samuel 20:6 (BSB)“And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.””David warns Abishai that Sheba could do more damage than Absalom if he is not caught quickly.
- 2 Samuel 19:41-43 (BSB)“Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” “We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah spoke more fiercely than the men of Israel.”The angry dispute between Israel and Judah shows how fragile the restored kingdom was.
- 2 Samuel 20:2 (BSB)“So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.”The men of Israel had already gone after Sheba, so the danger was real.
General
Once David was back in Jerusalem, what did he do with the ten concubines who had kept his palace (2 Samuel 20:3)?
Answer: He kept them under guard and provided for them
When David fled from Absalom he had left ten concubines (secondary wives) to look after the palace (15:16), and Absalom, following Ahithophel’s advice, had slept with them in public view (16:21-22). This fulfilled Nathan’s word that, as a consequence of David’s sin with Bathsheba, another man would take his wives in broad daylight (12:11). On his return David put the ten women in a guarded house. He supported them but never again slept with them, and they lived shut away like widows until they died (20:3).
- 2 Samuel 20:3 (BSB)“When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.”On his return to Jerusalem, David places the ten concubines he had left behind in a guarded house.
- 2 Samuel 15:16 (BSB)“Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.”David had left these ten concubines to look after the palace when he fled from Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 16:21-22 (BSB)“Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.”On Ahithophel’s advice, Absalom had slept with them publicly to show his break with his father.
- 2 Samuel 12:11 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.”Nathan had announced that David’s wives would be taken by another in broad daylight, a consequence of David’s sin.
Theological
How did David treat the ten concubines after his return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 20:3)?
Answer: He kept them under guard and provided for them
These were the ten concubines David had left to keep the palace (15:16), whom Absalom took publicly on Ahithophel’s counsel (16:21-22), fulfilling Nathan’s word of judgment that David’s wives would be taken in broad daylight (12:11). David now shut them in a guarded house, provided for them, and had no further relations with them; they remained confined, living as widows until death (20:3). It was a lingering consequence of David’s sin.
- 2 Samuel 20:3 (BSB)“When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.”On his return to Jerusalem, David places the ten concubines he had left behind in a guarded house.
- 2 Samuel 15:16 (BSB)“Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.”David had left these ten concubines to look after the palace when he fled from Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 16:21-22 (BSB)“Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.”On Ahithophel’s advice, Absalom had slept with them publicly to show his break with his father.
- 2 Samuel 12:11 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.”Nathan had announced that David’s wives would be taken by another in broad daylight, a consequence of David’s sin.
General
While Joab’s troops were attacking the wall of Abel-beth-maacah, what did the wise woman say to him (2 Samuel 20:16-19)?
Answer: That Abel was a faithful city he should not destroy
Sheba took refuge in the city of Abel-beth-maacah. Joab’s army heaped up an earth ramp and began to break down its wall. From inside, a wise woman shouted for Joab. She reminded him that Abel had long been known as a place to go for wise counsel to settle disputes. She counted herself among Israel’s loyal, peace-loving people and asked why he would ruin a mother city of Israel, part of the LORD’s inheritance (20:18-19). Her appeal opened a way to end the siege without destroying the city, an example of the value of wise guidance in war (Proverbs 24:6; compare Ecclesiastes 9:14-15).
- 2 Samuel 20:18-19 (BSB)“Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?””The wise woman reminds Joab of Abel’s reputation for wise counsel and asks why he would destroy a faithful city in Israel.
- Proverbs 24:6 (BSB)“Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.”Proverbs values sound guidance in war, which is what the woman offers Joab.
- Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 (BSB)“There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.”Ecclesiastes describes a besieged city saved by the wisdom of one person, a picture much like Abel’s rescue.
Theological
What was the substance of the wise woman’s appeal to Joab from the wall of Abel-beth-maacah (2 Samuel 20:16-19)?
Answer: That Abel was a faithful city he should not destroy
As Joab’s forces battered Abel’s wall, a wise woman summoned him and appealed to the city’s ancient reputation for counsel that settled disputes. Counting herself among Israel’s loyal, peace-loving people, she protested that he was destroying a mother city of Israel and devouring what belonged to the LORD (20:18-19). Her plea opened the way to a settlement and illustrates the value of wise counsel in war (Proverbs 24:6; compare Ecclesiastes 9:14-15).
- 2 Samuel 20:18-19 (BSB)“Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?””The wise woman reminds Joab of Abel’s reputation for wise counsel and asks why he would destroy a faithful city in Israel.
- Proverbs 24:6 (BSB)“Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.”Proverbs values sound guidance in war, which is what the woman offers Joab.
- Ecclesiastes 9:14-15 (BSB)“There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it. Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.”Ecclesiastes describes a besieged city saved by the wisdom of one person, a picture much like Abel’s rescue.