2 Samuel 20:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then she said, "They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.

NIV: She continued, "Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it.

NASB: Then she spoke, saying, 'In the past they used to say, ‘They will undoubtedly ask advice at Abel,’ and that is how they ended a dispute.

CSB: She said, "In the past they used to say, ‘Seek counsel in Abel,’ and that’s how they settled disputes.

NLT: Then she continued, 'There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’

KJV: 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.

NKJV: So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,’ and so they would end disputes.

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).

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).

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.

Accessed 5/13/2026 8:32:41 AM