2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20:1

Jjl.ND there happened to be there. When this contention fell out between the men of Israel and Judah. A man of Belial, whosenamewas Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite.] Who perhaps was of kin to Saul, as Shimei was, (xvi. 5.) and one of the commanders in Absalom’s army, next to Amasa. For so Victorinus Strigelius understands the Hebrew words, isch Bichri, to signify unus ex proceribns, a nobleman, of great power and authority among the people: like Catiline at Rome. And he bleiv a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse.] As’much as to say, Let the men of Judah have him to themselves. He cares not for us, and we care not for him. Every man to his tents, O Israel.] He wishes all the men of Israel, since David expressed no more regard to them, to go to their homes, and. trouble themselves no further in bringing him back.

2 Samuel 20:2

So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. Instead of going home, they followed their seditious incendiary: taking it in snuff (as we speak) that the king did not expect till they, who Were the majority, came to conduct him: but relied solely on the men of Judah, as if they were able, without the rest of Israel, to re-establish him in his throne. But the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem*] Not a man of them stirred from him, but conducted him from Jordan to Jerusalem. And we must not think that all the men of Israel forsook him: bnt a very great number of them. For Shimei, in all likelihood, and his thousand men, stuck to him, though of the same.tribe with Sheba; otherwise David would have punished him, when this rebellion was quelled.

2 Samuel 20:3

And David came to his house at Jerus’al&n, and the king took the women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward. Shut them up close under a guard, and fed them. Nobody came to them, but only to bring them daily provision for their sustenance. But went not in unto them.] Never lay with them; but looked upon them as become impure to him, having been defiled by his son. So they viere shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.] They were not fit for any body else, being royal wives; and therefore he did not give them a bill of divorce, but shut them up close, that no man might enjoy them. And indeed it was not prudent to let them be so much as seen abroad; which would have renewed the remembrance of Absalom’s filthiness.

2 Samuel 20:4

Then said the king unto Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah. He makes good his promise to Amasa, which was a great encouragement to others in the tribe of Judah, to stick fast to their king. And by this means also the seditious Israelites might be the sooner brought to reason, when they saw their old general in the field against them. Within three days.] Because the business required speedy dispatch. And be thou here present.] To receive his orders.

2 Samuel 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 was not treacherous unto David (as the Jewish doctors in the Sanhedrin say Joab represented him, and made it the reason of his killing him), bnt he found difficulty in the business; because the people had a high opinion of Joab, and would not easily be brought to serve under a new general. This Amasa, it is likely, was loath to report to the king, because it M r ould diminish his authority, and represent him as incapable to serve the king in the office wherein he had placed him. Ver. (i. And David said toAbishai.] He persisted in his resolution to depress Joab; but employed his brother, who was the next great commander in the army. Whom he doth not create captain of the host; but for fear this delay should prove prejudicial, bids him take such forces as he found ready in Jerusalem, and pursue Sheba. Now shall Sheba the S07i of Bichri do ns more harm than did Absalom.] If he had time to gather an army: the people being highly incensed by the provocation the men of Judah had given them. Take thou, therefore thy lord’s servatits.] The guards CHAP. XX.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. that attended David, and the standing forces, which were always kept on foot. And pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.] So that they must he put to the trouble of laying a long siege to the place where he was..’:.*.

2 Samuel 20:7

And there went out after Mm JoaVsmen. A body of men whom he particularly commanded.* And the CJierethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men.] See upon viii. 18. Arid they went out of Jerusalem topursne after Sheba the son of Bichri.] For David thought himself safe enough in the love of the city of Jerusalem, and the rest of the people thereabout.

2 Samuel 20:8

And when they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon. The place of rendezvous (as we now speak), appointed by Amasa for the men of Judah. Which was, as Josephus saith, a hundred furlongs from Jerusalem. Amasa ivent before them.’) As their commander-in-chief. And Jodtfs. garment that he had put on.’] As soon as Amasa arrived at the army, Joab. also came there as a volunteer, of his own accord: or rather, was there before with Abishai." Yea, Josephus takes it, as if David had spoken those words ver. 6.- unto Joab, telling him it was not safe to delay, and therefore bids him.take such forces as they had ready,’ and go with his brother Abishai.‘IwjSoe ot ovk in fitXXtiv ikpivtv, aXXa rov t* aScA^ov kol rove l£a*co<rfovc TraplXajSc, 8cc. He resolvednot tostay to gather more forces: but with his brother, and six hundred men, and all the force they had in Jerusalem, marched out to pursue Sheba: ^ Was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened to his loins in the sheath thereof) He had no armour on, but such a garment as soldiers wore, closely girt to him: and upon it a belt, in which a sword hung by his side. Yet Josephus saith he had a breast-plate, Swpaica IvSa- Svplvoe, as well as fi&xaipav 7repi&ixra/«voc, begirt with asword. And as he went forth.] To meet Amasa, iroXXf^v Svvafiiv avayovrog, who led numerous forces to that place, as the same author speaks. It fell out, ] He had hung it so, that it might drop put of the sheath when he pleased. And it fell out just as he went to salute and embrace Amasa: who seeing him stoop to take it up, imagined it was only to put it into the sheath again.

2 Samuel 20:9

And Joab said unto Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother?. He inquired in a friendly manner of his welfare. And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.] This is the custom still among the eastern people, the Indians: who take one another by the chin, or, the beard, when they would give a hearty salute; and say bobba, i. e. father; or bii, i. e. brother, as the author of the voyage to tho East Indies relates, at the end of Peter de Valle’s Travels, p/ 410.

2 Samuel 20:10

And Amasa took no heed to the sword that teas in Jodb’s hand. Which he thought lie’had put into his sheath, and did not observe that he held it in his left hand, which it seems he could manage a? well as the right. So he smote him therewith in the fifth rib.] See iii. 17. And shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again, and he died.] He gave him puch a wound, that his very bowels gushed out; and there was poneefl to give him a second stroke. vol. n., And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.] Hereupon Joab immediately, without any order, resumed his command, and Abishai durst not oppose him, but yielded it up to him. For /his authority was so great iamong the soldiery, that none of Amasa’s men durst stir to avenge his death; the Cherethites, and Pelethites, and all David’s guards submitting to him: and besides, all Amasa’s men were not yet come up, but followed by degrees, as appears by the rest of the story.

2 Samuel 20:11

And one of Joab’s men stood by him. By the command of his* master; who knew this would make some disorder among Amasa’s soldiers. And said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David.] He cunningly joins these two together, as if their interest was inseparable. Let him follow after Joab.] He was grown so insolent, because David durst not punish him; that, as it made him venture upon this ))loody fact, so he presumed, that though the sight of Amasa’s dead body might stop the march of those that came by it; yet, upon the declaration his officer made, that now he was become general of the army, their love to him was such, that they would make no scruple to follow him.: *

2 Samuel 20:12

And Amasa wallowed in blood in’ the midst of the highway. He seems not to have been quite dead, though senseless: but had so much life, that he Tolled to and fro in his own blood, which was a doleful sight. And when the man saw that all the people stood still.’] Joab was deceived in his, measures, for the people hated this fact as much as they loved him. And therefore as many, as saw it would move no further till the body was removed out of the way: so that they who were behind went without any stop after Joab. • He removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that everyone that came by him stood stillJ] This was a prudent officer; who expected no orders, but of his own accord removed that put of sight which hindered their pursuit of Sheba.

2 Samuel 20:13

-And when he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue qf(er Sheba the son of Bichri. They that were behind, it is likely, did not know that Amasa was killed, and so marched on without any scruple.

2 Samuel 20:14

And he went through all the tribes of Israel.’) That is, Sheba rambled about the country, from one city to another, to excite the people to take up arms against David. But Josephus refers this to Joab, that he followed Sheba from place to place, till he came where he was. Unto Abel, and to Beth-Maacah.] Or rather unto Abel Beth-Maacah: for they were one apd the same place, as appears by the next verse. And so Josephus, who saith it was a strong city, well fortified, in the tribe of Naphtali, in the northern parts of Judea, upon the borders of that part of Syria where Maacah was, (x. 8.) In this city Sheba at last settled himself, and resolved to defend it: being unable, I suppose, to raise such an army as to keep the field. And all the Beerites.] Among whom he had been before he canie hither, and got some considerable forces among them, For they were of the city Beeroth (it is probable) and the parts adjacent: which was in the tribe of Benjamin, of which he was a member, and perhaps dwelt in this city, (Josh, xviii.25.) Microsoft ® 3GG A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XX. And they were gathered together, and went also after! him.’] Unto Abel Bcth-Maacah.

2 Samuel 20:15

And they came. That is, Joab and his mea pursued him thither. And besieged him in Abel of Beth-Maacah, and they cast tip a bank against the city.] Raised fortifications round about it; from whence to batter it. And it stood in the trench.] That is, Joab’s army had advanced so far that they had filled up the trench: and there stdod af the very foot of the wall. And all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.] Some battered it with engines from the forts: “while those at the bottom of the wall undermined to throw it down. So Josephus. Ver. 1G. Then cried a ivise ivoman of the city.] A woman of great understanding, who also could speak well. Many such there were in Israel, it appears by her of Tekoali, and Abigail, and the mother of king Lemuel. Hear, hear; say, 1 pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.] She prays those that were at the bottom of the wall to stop their proceedings awhile: and desires Joab to come, and hear what propositions she had to make to him.

2 Samuel 20:17

And tvhen he was come near nnto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he ansivered, I am he. She was unwilling to treat with any one, but him who had power to agree to what she propounded. * Tlien she said unto him, Hear the ivords of thine handmaid. And he ansivered, I do hear.] He did not despise her because she was a woman; but, as became a wise man, gave her a favourable audience, and attended to what she said.

2 Samuel 20:18

Tlien she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old lime, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they aided the matter. According to this translation of the words, she praises the city of Abel as famous, time out of mind, for wisdom and giving sound ailvicc: and now, she would have him believe, was not without persons of great prudence and fidelity also (as it follows in the next* verse), who would not willingly offend their king. But there is another translation in the margin of our Bibles, which I take to be more literal, by referring the word barishbnah not to old time, but to the beginning Qf the siege. As if she had said, When the people saw thee lay siege to the city, they said, Surely they will ask us if we will have peace, and then we shall soon come to an agreement arid make an end. Whereby she secretly remembers Joab of a rule in the law, Dcut. xx. 10. which commands them to offer peace to the cities of other nations when they came to besiege them; and therefore much more to a city of theirown, as Abel was. To this purpose R. Solomon Jarchi; and it agrees well with what follows, that they were a peaceable people and faithfulto their prince: and therefore would not have refused to yield, upon summons, to him. R. Levi ben Gersom gives another sense of them; That Sheba and his company, when they first came into the city, asked if they would follow him, and said no more: to whom the men of the city answered, Wc arc peaceable and faithful; that is, wc cannot join with thee and rebel against king David. But there is a late WTiter, who thinks the words will bear this sense: This was a common saying in old time, If any one asked whether Abel w; as a place of justice and judgi-//y/i#zt7Ci uy men t, f or a den of thieves; the answer was, They arc an upright people. And therefore she asks Joab, why he went about to destroy a city so famous for virtue. Thus Maycrus in his Annotations on Seder Olam Rabba, cap. 14.

2 Samuel 20:19

lam one of them that are peaceable and faithfid in Israel. She speaks in the name of the whole city: which was of a. peaceable temper; and had been faithful to David in the time of the late revolt. Thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel.] A great city, which had many towns depending on it; and therefore called a mother. Why wilt thou swallow’up the inheritance of the Lord?] Do an injury to the public; by depopulating a part of the country, which is God’s peculiar,

2 Samuel 20:20

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it, that I should swallow or destroy. Do you the least hurt, if Ican avoid it. He disclaims any ill intentions twice, saitli R! Solomon; as if he had said, Far be it from me, far be it from ihe king, to design any such thing.

2 Samuel 20:21

The matter is not so. You are not rightly informed. • V - w’Ij Bat a man of Mount Ephraim,] He is said before (ver. 1.) to be of the tribe of Benjamin: but he lived, I suppose, in Mount Ephraim. (Sheba, the son ofBichri by name), hath lifted up his hand against tlie king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.] And leave all Sheba’s party at liberty to go home, without any punishment.- And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.] She had reason to be confident that both the citizens and soldiers would be glad to save themselves, by giving up him, who had brought them into imminent danger.

2 Samuel 20:22

Then the woman went unto all the people in her tvisdom. Desired they would all meet in the common hall; where she told them what terms she had made for them with Joab: urito which they. immediately consented. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son ofBichYi, and cast it out to Joab.] It *seems his party was not strong in the city; or, seeing it likely to be taken, they were glad to accept of the conditions the woman had made for them. And he blew the trumpet, and retired from the city, every man to his tent.] Raised the siege, and went home.. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.] To give him an account of his good succcss t *

2 Samuel 20:23

Now Joab was over all the host of Israel. Now that David was restored to his kingdom, and established in it, he settled all the great officers who were to govern under him: and continued Joab in the chief command of the army, which was so much at his devotion, that he found it dangerous to displace him. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ivas over the Cherethites, and over the Pelethites.] As he was also before, (viii. idt.) being a very valiant man, (xxiii. 20.) whom Solomon made commander-in-chief of the whole army (as now he was captain of the king’s guards) after the death of Joab.

2 Samuel 20:24

And Adoram was over the tribute. Treasurer, or receiver of the king’s revenue. Which office was not settled before; because, in the beginning of his reign, it is likely David had no great revenue. And Jehoshaphat the son of Ahihut teas recorder.] See upon viii. 1G. Microsoft ® CHAP XXI.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.

2 Samuel 20:25

AndSheva was scribe; and Zadok andAbiathar were priests. It is uncertain whether Shevabe the same with Seraiah mentioned viii. 17. or, Seraiah being dead, or displaced, this man came in his room. Concerning these priests, see viii. 17.

2 Samuel 20:26

And Ira also the Jamie.* He had his original in the country of Jair the Gileadite on the other side Jordan; (Nnmb. xxxii. 41.) who is not mentioned before, but now was made a great officer. Was a chief rider about David.] The Hebrew word cohen (as hath been often observed) signifies any minister^ either sacred or civil: a priest or a prince. Instances of the last, are many, and the Targum thus expounds it here, Rab le David, a prince, or great man about David. And so the priest.ofOn, Gen. xli. 50. and the priest ofMidiaiij Exod. ii. 26. signify the priest or ruler of On and of Midian. As, in Job xii. 19. we, following theChaldee, translate it, God leadetli princes away spoiled.