2 Samuel 20

Wicked Seba, by occasion of this strife, stirreth up Israel to sedition and revolt from David, vers.1, etc. How David dealt with the Concubines, that were abused by Absalom, 3. David dealt with the Concubines, that were abused by Absalom, 3. David sendeth forth Amasa, to assemble Juda against Seba, 4. But while thisman lingred a while, he dispatcheth forth Abisai with forces etc men, 6. Amasa meeteth them by the way, and is treacherously thrust thorough by Joab, 8. Joab and Abisai pursueth after Seba, and besiege him in Abel Beth-Maacha, 13. Where the Citizens by the advice of wise woman, cut. Off Seba’s head, and cast it over the wall unto Joab, whereby this sedition and war is ended, 16. A Catalogue or lift of the chiefest Officers, and Commanders in David’s Kingdom, 23.

1. Then was there by chance a man of Belial, [See Deut.13.on vers.13.] whose name was Seba, [Heb. Schobi] a son of Bichri, a man of Jemini: [see above chap.16.on vers.11.] he blew with the trumpet, and said; We have no part in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Isai; every man to his tents, [Understand withal, depart, get him] O Israel. [He speaketh to those of Israel, that were at strife with Juda, and complained, that they were wronged. See chap.19.41, 43.]

2. Then all (or, every) man of Israel went up from after David, after Seba, the son of Bichri: [i.e. they left David, and followed after Seba] But the men of Juda clave unto their King, from Jordan to Jerusalem. [i.e. They left him, not as the other tribes had done, but continued with him, conducting him on to Jerusalem]

3. Now when David came into his house at Jerusalem, the King took the ten women, (his) concubines, whom he had left to keep the house [See above chap.15.16.] and put them in an house of custody, [the cause hereof see above chap.16.22.] and maintained them, and went not in unto them: [see Gen.6.on v.4.] and they were shut up [Heb.bound, that is so shut up, as if they had been imprisoned and bound: it may be they had consented to Absaloms fact] unto the day of their death, living as widows, [(in) a widow-estate, that is, living as widows, or being as widows all their life long, or widows whose husband were yet alive.]

4. Moreover, the King said unto Amasa; call me the men of Judah together, against the third day: [Or, within three days. Heb. the third of the days] and thou, set thy self (then) here; [that is, come in then, and keep by me, to receive charge from me; for David had made him Captain General in Joabs room, above chap 19.13.]

5. And Amasa went his way to call Juda together: But he stayed behind the set time, [Others he caused (them) namely, those of Juda, to carry, that is, he gave them longer time] that he [David] had appointed him.

6. Then said David unto Abisai; [Joabs brother, being also a commander. See above chap.18.2. whom David herein useth, that he might give no occasion to Joab (who otherwise should have been the next) to intrude himself into the place of Amasa, with the offence of Amasa, with the offence of Amasa, to whom the king had promised and confirmed by oath the Generals place] Now shall Seba, the son of Bichri, do us more harm then Absalom: Take thou thy Lords servants, [that is, my officers and souldiers. Some understand here Amasa, who at this present, as General, is called Abisai’s Lord] and pursue after him, left peradventure he find fenced cities before him and withdraw himself from our eyes.

7. Then (there) went out after him Joabs men, [That is, joabs souldiers, as alos Joabs himself] and the Crethi and the Plethi [see 1 Kings.1.on vers.38.] and all the champions: These marched forth from Jerusalem to pursue after Seba, the son of Bichri.

8. Now when they were by the great stone, which is by Gibeon, [See Jos.10.] then came Amasa before their face; [i.e. he came directly to meet them, returning from the journey whereon the King had sent him; or he came before or beside them, or along the way, where ir may be they baited] and Joab was girt about upon his garment [or, souldiers coat, cassock, souldiers cloak; a garment (as some conceive) much used in war, and well known in those times] which he had on [Heb. of his cloathing] and upon it was a girdle, where the sword was fastned upon his loines in its shealth; and when he [to wit , Joab] went on, [stepping aside from his rank, or the place where they baited to salute Amasa] then it fell out . [to the sword: so that Amasa having seen the sword fall, suspect not that Joab had taken it with his left hand, as some do gather from the next verse.]

9. And Joab said unto Amasa; is it well thee [Heb. (art) thou peace, as 1 Sam.25.6. and above ch.17.3.] my brother? [that is, cousin, kinsman; they were two sister children, 1 Chron.2.16, 17. See also above chap.17.25.] and Joab took hold of the beard of Amasa with (the) right hand [Heb. Joabs right hand took hold of the heard of Amasa] To kiss him. [as was usual in saluting, Gen.29.on v.11.]

10. And Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joabs hand, therefore he smote [That is, stabbed] him therewith in the fifth rib [see above ch.2.on v.23.] and he shed out his bowels to the ground, and he smote him not the second time, [Heb. he doubled, or repeated not on him, to wit, the blow, i.e. he stabbed him not the second time, because he died presently of the first stab as followeth. Com.1 Sam.26 8. Job 29:22.] and he died: then Joab and his brother Amasa pursued after Seba the son of Birchri.

11. But a man of Joabs lads [That is servants] stayed by him: and he said; who is there that hath a mind to Joab; and who is there that is for David; Let him follow Joab. [Heb. (let him be) after Joab: as above often, and in the sequel. The meaning is, let all those that side with Joab and David follow Joab. Compare Deut.20.5. Thus Joabs by means of the souldiery thrusteth himself straightway into the office or place of General in Amasa’s room, whom for that very intent and purpose he had murdered.]

12. Now Amasa lay wallowing in blood, in the midst of the street, when that man [Mentioned in the former verse] saw that all the people [that passed by that way, as in the end of this verse is declared] stood still, then he removed Amasa out of the street into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, because he saw, that all (or very one) that came by him, stood still.

13. Now when he was removed out of the street, all (or every) man marched on after Joab, to pursue after Seba, the son of Bichri:

14. And he [viz. Joab] marched on thorough all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, [He persued Seba fleeing thorough Ephraim, Issaachar, Zebulon and Naphtali, unto Abel, where he now was] to wit, Beth-maacha, [by this sir-name was this city of Abel called, to distinguish it from another city of the same name, this city lay in the tribe of Naphtali, on the North-end of Canaan, over against Syria, where was a part of Syria called Maacha. See also 2 Kings 15:29. and here the following verse] and all Berim: [a country lying by Abel] and they [viz. the Israelites] gathered themselves together and went also after him. [of the fore-mentioned places followed Joab likewise.]

15. And they came and besiege him [viz. Seba the rebel] in Abel Beth-Maacha, and they cast up [Heb. they poured out] a wall [an earthen bank raised up high: that is, a bulwark or wall. So 2 Kings 19, 32. Jerem.32.24. and 33.4.] against the city, (so) that it stood on the outward wall: and all the people that were with Joab, spoiled the wall, to throw it down. [Heb. were spoiling, to throw the wall down, i.e. hewing, pushing, breaking, battering perhaps also undermining; for from the Hebrew word here used, is derived another, which also signifieth a ditch.]

16. Then there cryed a wise woman out of the city: [from the wall of the city] here, here, say, I pray unto Joab; come near hither, that I may speak to thee.

17. Now when he came neer unto her, the woman said; art thou Joab? And he said, I am: and she said unto him; hear the words of thine hand-maid, and he said, I hear.

18. Then she spake, saying; they spake commonly [Heb. speaking they spake] in former time, saying; they shall undoubtedly enquire [Heb. enquiring they shall enquire, or asking counsel they shall ask counsel] at Abel, and so they accomplished it. [i.e. when the counsel of this city was followed, things went well. Or so they ended the difference, or controversy. Oth. so they shall accomplish, or, end the matter. It seemeth to have been an old proverb, used to the honour of the inhabitants of this city, because wise and understanding people were found there, as appeareth here by the example of this woman.]

19. I am one of the peaceable of the faithful (ones) in Israel [She speaketh in the name of the city of Abel] and thou sleekest to slay a city, which is mother in Israel; [heb. a city and a mother, etc. i.e. a metropolis or chief city, having under it other small towns and villages. Or understand by the mother, the inhabitants of a city, which is as it were a mother of others, which she is wont to go before good and wise counsel, as a mother doth her children] why shouldest thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? [i.e. his people, whom he loveth as a man doth his inheritance.]

20. Then Joab answered, and said; far be it far be it from me, that I should swallow up, and that I should destroy! [Hebr. If I shall swallow up, etc. Understand withal, the let God do this and that to me: as is used in swearing.]

21. The matter is not so; but a man of the mount of Ephraim, whose name is Seba the son Birchi; [As if he should say, I am not come for that intent, but to have Seba] hath lift up his hand [hath risen up, and raised rebellion] against the King, against David; deliver him only, then I will depart from this city; Then said the woman unto Joab; behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

22. And the woman came into all the people with her wisdom, [Moving the inhabitants withy wise and solid found arguments, to perform that which she had promised Joab] and they cut off the head of Seba the son of Bichri, and threw it unto Joab: Then he blew with the trumpet, and they [viz. the besiegers] scattered themselves from the city, every one to his tents, Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the King.

23. Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; [After Amasa’s death he was restored to his former place. See above on v.4.] and Benaja the son of Jojada, over the Crethi and over the Plethi. [see above v.7.]

24. And Adoram was over the tribute: [Oth. leavy. See 1 Kings 4.on vers.6.] and Josaphat the son of Ahilud was Chancellour. [see 1 Kings 4.on v.3.]

25. And Seja [Heb. Scheja: called above chap.8.17. (according to the opinion of some) Seraja] was Scribe: and Zadok and Abjathar were Priests. [see Num.3.on v.32. and 2 Kings 23.on v.4.]

26. And also Ira the Jairite, was David’s chief officer. [Heb. Cohen. See above chap.8.on ver.18. These Officers are here the second time, because David was now as it were a new restored to his Kingdom, above chap.19.22. and because there seemeth to have happened some alteration, and likewise some addition. Compare above chap.8.17, 18.]