The Book of second 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.
[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.
[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.

1) Rebellious Actions (Vs 1-3)

Sheba is a Benjamite, probably related to Saul

Sheba takes advantage of David’s seemingly weakened position

David’s own son, Absalom, has rebelled against his father but failed in his attempt

There is conflict between Judah and the 10 other tribes of Israel (2 S 19:43b)

Sheba uses three principles to lead a rebellion

He denied the kings sovereignty – that King David had no right to rule in his affairs

He devalued the kings identity- that King David was only the son of a peasant farmer

He decided follow his own way (self) (Prov 14:12, Prov 16:25)

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but there end therof are the ways of death

10 tribes follow in this rebellion, BUT Judah remains loyal

We must be loyal to Jesus despite the multitude (world) and the rebellion of our flesh

(Vs 3) David sets aside his 10 concubines that were raped by Absalom during his rebellion

[4] Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
[5] So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[13] When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

2) Ruthless Actions (Vs 4-13)

David orders his new general, Amasa, to gather an army within 3 days to deal with the rebellion

But Amasa delays in this order. Evidently he is not up to the task he is assigned

Tired of waiting, King David orders Abishai, leader of David’s guard to stop the rebellion

Abishai and the royal guard leave as well as some of Joab’s men (Joab has been demoted)

Amasa, who had delayed, now joins the troops at Gibeon

Joab deceptively drops his sword on the ground and picks it up

Joab takes Amasa by the beard, a friendly welcoming gesture and strikes Amasa w/ the sword

Joab did this out of rivalry (jealousy) as Aamsa had replaced Jaob when Joab was demoted

Joab also had great concern that Amasa was not genuinely supportive of David

One of Joab’s men takes Amasa, who is bleeding to death,throws him into a field and covers him

Then all of the army followed Joab

[14] And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
[15] And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, 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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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?
[20] And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
[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.
[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.

3) Reckoning Actions (Vs 14-22)

Sheba is now on the run and takes refuge in the city of Abel

Joab has taken siege of the city. It is surrounded and cut off

A wise woman asks Joab why he has cut off the city of Abel. What quarrel does he have with it’s citizens

Joab is not against the city itself, but he is seeking Sheba who has defied King David

Sheba thought he was safe within the fortified walls of that city

But no one is safe outside of Jesus, outside of Gods will

There is not a wall high enough or strong enough to hide you from God

The woman goes back within the walls and shares this information

Quickly the people of Abel kill Sheba and threw his head over the walls to Joab

Refuge has failed Sheba

Joab blew a trumpet and the army retired from the siege and went back to Jerusalem

My breast is a city enclosed, the sin of my heart is a rebel inside those walls

God comes and surrounds the city and says the wages of sin is death

God is not against me the sinner, but against my sin

But a wise person says but Jesus has already died in your place suffering for your sin

You can repent and believe on the Lord Jesus, your sins will be washed away and forgiven

OR you can love your sin more than your soul and deny the Lord.

Sheba would not repent but continued in rebellion and his life was required and now he is in hell

[23] Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
[24] And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
[25] And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
[26] And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

4) Recorded Actions (Vs 23-25)

These verses record the men who made David their king and were loyal officers to the king

You can be sure that if you submit to the Lord Jesus Christ that your name is recorded in the Lambs

Book of Life.