2 Samuel 20: Sheba's revolt, and Joab kills Amasa
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What happens?
Sheba the son of Bichri blows the trumpet and calls Israel away from David, and the men of Israel follow him, while the men of Judah stay with their king. David shuts up the ten concubines in Jerusalem for the rest of their lives, and tells Amasa to call out the men of Judah in three days, but Amasa is late. At the great stone in Gibeon Joab greets Amasa as if to kiss him and kills him with his sword. Joab chases Sheba to Abel of Beth Maacah and besieges the town, until a wise woman speaks with him from the town and the people throw Sheba's head over the wall. The chapter ends with a list of David's officials.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Sheba speaks in verse 1, and David gives orders to Amasa in verse 4 and to Abishai in verse 6. Joab speaks to Amasa in verse 9, and one of Joab's young men calls to the people in verse 11. A wise woman of Abel and Joab speak together in verses 16 to 21. The woman's words in verse 19 that name Yahweh are her own. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”
In plain English: A worthless man (or: a wicked fellow) happened to be there. His name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a man of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and said, "We have no share (this Bible: portion) in David, and no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!"
The Hebrew word: "Wicked fellow" is literally "a man of beliyya'al", which the dictionary gives as "without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness". Shimei called David a "wicked fellow" with the same word in .
Good to know: Sheba's call comes right after the quarrel between the men of Israel and the men of Judah over who had the bigger share in the king (). The same kind of words are shouted later, when Israel turns away from King Rehoboam: "What portion have we in David? We don't have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel!" ().
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2So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
In plain English: So all the men of Israel left David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah held on to (this Bible: joined with) their king, from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem.
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3David 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 custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
In plain English: David came to his house in Jerusalem. The king took the ten women, his concubines, whom he had left to look after the house. He put them in a guarded house and provided for them, but he did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day they died, living as widows (literally: in widowhood of life).
Good to know: David had left these ten concubines to keep the house when he fled (), and Absalom went in to them "in the sight of all Israel" (). The text tells what David did with them here, and does not explain why.
The Hebrew words: "Living in widowhood" is word for word "widowhood of life": almanut, which the dictionary gives as "a widow" and "widowhood", with chayyut, "life".
What changes: Read one way, they lived as widows for the rest of their lives. Read the other way, they lived as widows while their husband was still alive. Either way, the text says they were shut up until the day they died.
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4Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”
In plain English: Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah together for me within three days, and be here yourself."
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5So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.
In plain English: So Amasa went to call Judah together, but he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
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6David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”
In plain English: David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and chase him, or he will find walled (this Bible: fortified) towns for himself and get away from us (literally: snatch away our eye)."
The Hebrew words: "Escape out of our sight" is word for word "snatch away our eye". The word is natsal, which the dictionary gives as "to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense", with ayin, "an eye". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "so will he blind our eyes".
What changes: Read the way this Bible has it, David fears Sheba will get away out of their sight. Read as "snatch away our eye", the words are harder, and the text does not explain them. Either way, David wants Sheba chased at once.
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7Joab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
In plain English: Joab's men went out after him, with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. They went out from Jerusalem to chase Sheba the son of Bichri.
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8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.
In plain English: When they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his soldier's clothing, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath, fastened at his waist. As he stepped forward, it fell out.
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9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
In plain English: Joab said to Amasa, "Are you well (literally: is it peace with you), my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
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10But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
In plain English: But Amasa did not watch out for the sword in Joab's hand. Joab struck him with it in the belly, and his insides poured out onto the ground. He did not strike him a second time, and Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai chased Sheba the son of Bichri.
Good to know: "In the body" is chomesh, which the dictionary gives as "the abdomen". It is in only 4 verses, all in 2 Samuel: Abner strikes Asahel there (), Joab strikes Abner there (), Ishbosheth is struck there (), and here Joab strikes Amasa. David had promised Amasa the command of the army in place of Joab (). The text tells what Joab did and does not comment on it here.
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11One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”
In plain English: One of Joab's young men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever is for Joab, and whoever is for David, follow Joab!"
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12Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
In plain English: Amasa lay rolling in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the people stopped, he moved Amasa off the road into the field and threw a cloth (this Bible: garment) over him, because he saw that everyone who came by him stopped.
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13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
In plain English: Once Amasa was moved off the road, all the people went on after Joab to chase Sheba the son of Bichri.
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14He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.
In plain English: He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They gathered together and also went after him.
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15They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
In plain English: They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah. They piled up a ramp (this Bible: mound) against the town, and it stood against the outer wall (this Bible: rampart). All the people with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down.
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16Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”
In plain English: Then a wise woman called out from the town, "Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab, 'Come here, so that I can speak with you.'"
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17He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”
In plain English: He came near to her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." He answered, "I am listening."
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18Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.
In plain English: Then she said, "Long ago people used to say, 'They will surely ask for advice at Abel,' and that is how they settled a matter (literally: and so they finished).
The Hebrew words: Word for word the woman says, "They surely spoke at first, saying, 'They will surely ask at Abel,' and so they finished." "Finished" is from tamam, which the dictionary gives as "to complete, in a good or a bad sense". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has a longer line: "Surely one was asked in Abel, and Dan, whether the faithful in Israel failed in what they purposed".
What changes: Read the way this Bible has it, people went to Abel for advice, and that settled their matters. Read with "finished", it can mean that is how disputes were brought to an end. Either way, the woman says Abel was a town known for wise counsel.
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19I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up Yahweh’s inheritance?”
In plain English: I am one of the peaceful and faithful people in Israel. You are trying to destroy a town that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up Yahweh's inheritance?"
Good to know: "A mother in Israel" is what Deborah calls herself in , "Until I arose a mother in Israel". The dictionary gives em, "mother", as "a mother (as the bond of the family)". Here the woman uses it of her town. David also speaks of "Yahweh's inheritance" in .
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20Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
In plain English: Joab answered, "Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!
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21The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
In plain English: That is not how it is. A man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Sheba the son of Bichri, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Just hand him over, him alone, and I will go away from the town." The woman said to Joab, "Look, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."
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22Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
In plain English: Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice (this Bible: in her wisdom). They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they scattered from the town, every man to his tent. Then Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
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23Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
In plain English: Joab was over the whole army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
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24Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
In plain English: Adoram was over the forced labor. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder.
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25Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
In plain English: Sheva was the scribe (or: secretary). Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
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26and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
In plain English: And Ira the Jairite was David's chief minister (literally: a priest of David).
The Hebrew word: "Chief minister" is kohen, the usual word for "priest", which the dictionary gives as "literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)". In 2 Samuel it is in 8 verses: this Bible says "priest" or "priests" in 6, and "chief minister" or "chief ministers" in 2, here and in , where "David's sons were chief ministers".
What changes: Read as "chief minister", Ira was a high officer of David. Read as "priest", Ira served David as a priest, beside Zadok and Abiathar in verse 25. The text does not say more about what Ira did.
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