2 Samuel 20 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 20 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Absalom's attempt to wrest the nation from his father has failed (2 Samuel 18), but division remains (2 Samuel 19). David tries to reconcile with the nation by forgiving everyone: except for his military commander, Joab, who killed Absalom against David's command (2 Samuel 18:5, 14). David replaces him with another nephew, Absalom's commander Amasa (2 Samuel 19:13). After some encouragement (2 Samuel 19:11), Judah and the ten northern tribes meet David at the Jordan and argue over who loves him more (2 Samuel 19:41–43).

Judah wins the debate. A Benjaminite, Sheba, calls out that David only cares about Judah. The representatives of the ten tribes go home, but the men from Judah escort David back to Jerusalem. Sadly, he must sequester the concubines whom Absalom slept with (2 Samuel 16:20–22), treating them like widows (2 Samuel 20:1–3).

David's first task for Amasa is to hunt down a new revolutionary, Sheba. David considers this man more dangerous than his son. Amasa takes the army and leaves. When he doesn't get the job done quickly enough, David sends Joab's brother Abishai to go after Amasa. David's Philistine guards and Joab's elite force accompany this second force. When they catch up with Amasa, Joab is disguised as a common soldier. He pretends to greet Amasa, then disembowels him with a single slice to the gut (2 Samuel 20:4–10).

While Joab and Abishai continue after Sheba, one of Joab's soldiers stands by what remains of Amasa and challenges the army. He says they should return to Joab's command. But soldiers keep stopping to stare at the mangled corpse. So, the soldier drags Amasa's body off the road and throws a cloth over it. With the spectacle gone, the soldiers agree to follow Joab (2 Samuel 20:10–13).

Sheba and his followers seal themselves in the fortified city Abel of Beth-maacah. When Joab arrives, he sets up a siege around the city and tries to break down the wall. A wise woman shames him for attacking such a prestigious city. When Joab explains he only wants Sheba, the woman convinces the people to cut off Sheba's head and throw it over the wall. Joab receives the offering and returns to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 20:14–22).

The chapter ends with a list of the highest-ranking officials in David's government at the time Sheba's rebellion was over. Joab is commander of the army once more. Benaiah leads the Cherethites and Pelethites, David's Philistine guards. Adoram oversees those in forced labor. The recorder and secretary are Jehoshaphat and Sheva. Zadok and Abiathar are David's faithful priests over the ark and the worship of the Lord, and Ira the Jairite is the king's personal priest (2 Samuel 20:23–26).

When David fled Jerusalem, a Benjaminite named Shimei cursed him and threw stones at him as if David deserved death for taking Saul's crown (2 Samuel 16:5–8). Here, another Benjamite leads a rebellion. In 2 Samuel 21, David will have to offend the Benjaminites again. A famine grips the country for three years. When David asks, God says it's because Saul and his house killed some Gibeonites without cause. David asks what can set things right, and the Gibeonites ask for seven of Saul's sons. David gives them two of Saul's sons and five of his grandsons. When the Gibeonites kill them, God lifts the famine (2 Samuel 21:1–14).

Second Samuel 20:1–3 records another split among the Hebrew tribes. Absalom's rebellion against his father, David, is over. The prince is dead, and David is trying to reconcile with the people who fought against him. The men from Judah remain faithful to David. The ten northern tribes join another rebellion led by the Benjaminite Sheba. The concubines whom Absalom slept with (2 Samuel 16:20–23) are kept separate from Davis as if they were widows. The new rebellion will quickly fail (2 Samuel 20:14–22), and the nation will remain whole until split under Solomon's foolish son Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10).

Second Samuel 20:4–13 describes the graphic way in which Joab reclaims his position as general. Joab killed Absalom against David's orders (2 Samuel 18:5, 14), so David gave Joab's command of the army to Absalom's general, Amasa (2 Samuel 19:13). David sends Amasa after a new rebel leader. When he's delayed, David sends Joab's brother Abishai with the mighty men and bodyguards. Joab is hiding in their ranks and when they catch up with Amasa, Joab assassinates the new general with a single, body-emptying slice. He resumes command and will chases Sheba to a walled city where a wise woman will offer Sheba's head in exchange for the safety of the people (2 Samuel 20:14–22).

Second Samuel 20:14–22 explains another rebellion against David, which ends much more quickly than Absalom's coup (2 Samuel 18). Joab has killed Absalom and stopped his rebellion against David (2 Samuel 18:14). While David is trying to reconcile the broken nation, a Benjaminite, Sheba, starts a new, ill-fated rebellion (2 Samuel 20:1–2). Joab and the army chase him to a fortified city and threaten to break down its walls. A wise woman offers Sheba's head, instead, successfully bargaining to preserve the historic city. This is the last account of a rebellion in David's time, but the nation does split shortly after his grandson Rehoboam becomes king (2 Chronicles 10).

Second Samuel 20:23–26 provides one of several lists of David's servants. This list gives military and bodyguard commanders, court officials, and priests. This list is repeated in 1 Chronicles 18:14–17. Second Samuel 23:8–39 and 1 Chronicles 27:1–15 gives more names and stories of David's military units. Second Samuel 8:12 lists David's earlier officials. First Chronicles 27:16–24 gives the tribal leaders. First Chronicles 27:25–30 list his property managers. First Chronicles 27:32–34 names David's counselors prior to the rebellion.

Chapter Summary:

David's men strike down one last rebellion. Absalom is dead (2 Samuel 18), and David is trying to reunite the nation (2 Samuel 19). After bickering with Judah over who loves David more (2 Samuel 19:41–43), the ten northern tribes give up and follow a new rebel leader, Sheba. David sends his new general, Amasa, after Sheba. But along the way, Joab murders Amasa and resumes command of the army. Sheba hides in a city. The army of Judah tries to tear down the walls. A wise woman offers Sheba's head, instead. The tribes will not rebel against David again, but they will break from his grandson Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10).

Chapter Context:

In 2 Samuel 20, David tries to hold everything together. During David's flight from his son's invasion of Jerusalem, a Benjaminite cursed him, claiming he stole Saul's throne (2 Samuel 15:1–14; 16:5–8). The rebellion is over, but the ten northern tribes quickly follow another Benjaminite. Sheba claims that David only cares about Judah and rallies people to follow him, instead. Joab takes care of Sheba, and the rebellion ends. Sadly, David's involuntary offenses against Benjamin aren't finished. He must give seven of Saul's sons and grandsons to the Gibeonites as recompense for something Saul did (2 Samuel 21:1–14). We're never told what, but the struggles between David and Benjamin seem to end.

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

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