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Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:3

(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. This act was highly proper, on account of Absalom's incestuous conduct. Alas! what evils have sprung out of the corrupt lusts of our poor, fallen nature! read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:3

Widowhood, or celibacy, (Menochius) like nuns. (Grotius; Salien) --- David could not with propriety approach to them, (Estius) as they resembled his daughters-in-law; (Leviticus xviii. 15.; Menochius) and no other person could marry them, while he was still their husband. (Haydock) --- The punishment of seclusion was very small in the East, where women seldom go out. The Jews assert, that the widows of the Hebrew kings could not marry again. (Selden, Uxor. i. 10.) --- The like custom formerly... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:1-3

1-3 One trial arises after another for our good, till we reach the place where sin and sorrow are for ever done away. Angry disputers misunderstand or misconstrue one another's words; proud men will have every thing their own way, or wholly refuse their assistance. The favour of the many is not to be depended upon; and what have others to expect, when Hosanna to the Son of David was soon changed to Crucify him, crucify him? read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 2 Samuel 20:1-13

The Murder of Amasa v. 1. And there happened to be there a man of Belial, a vain and worthless scoundrel, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite, evidently one of the rabid party of Saul; and he blew a trumpet, as a call to all those who thought as he did on account of the strained relations between Judah and Israel, and said, we have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse, the northern tribes had nothing in common with him, nothing to do with him; ... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

For the Chapter 20 passage and footnotes, see 1 Samuel 19:1 ff.2 Samuel 20:1-22. Sheba’s insurrection, Israel’s defection, both quelled by Joab.2 Samuel 20:1. There was1 there, namely, in Gilgal at the assembly of the tribes; the word “there” indicates directly the place, indirectly the time of the following history, so that the causal connection between it and the preceding scene is obvious. On the person of Sheba, Luther remarks (probably correctly) in his marginal notes: “he was one of the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-13

Pursuing Another Rebel 2 Samuel 20:1-13 Like Shimei, Sheba belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. The old Saul-faction was always breaking out in rebellion, and Nathan’s prediction that the sword would never cease from David’s house was literally fulfilled. We must always watch against the return of our old sins. Amasa’s appointment was a mistake. He had already proved his incompetence under Absalom, and now his delay threatened disaster. David had chosen him only because he wished, at any cost,... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

The occasion invariably finds the man for evil as well as for good. Sheba seized the strife between Judah and Israel as an opportunity to attempt to divide the kingdom. David's hosts went forth against Israel. Once more Joab appears on the scene, and the same relentless ferocity was manifested in his murder of Amasa, coupled with continued loyalty to David, as he proceeded to quell the insurrection. This was accomplished through the wisdom of a woman by the death of Sheba. Thus David was... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

On His Arrival In Jerusalem From Gilgal David Deals With The Problem Of The Concubine Wives With Whom Absalom Had Sexual Relations (2 Samuel 20:3 ). Meanwhile, while much of this was going on, David had moved on to Jerusalem, and once there he had to decide what to do about the concubine wives with whom Absalom had publicly had sexual relations. It was in fact a tricky problem because technically the concubines were now Absalom’s former wives. Thus for David to have had further relations with... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

1 Samuel 20. The Revolt of Sheba (J). 2 Samuel 20:1 f. The result of this altercation was a fresh rebellion under a Benjamite, Sheba ben Bichri. 2 Samuel 20:3 . The members of the king’ s harem whom he had left in Jerusalem are condemned to pass the rest of their days in seclusion ( cf. 2 Samuel 16:21). 2 Samuel 20:4-2 Kings : . David bade his new commander-in-chief, Amasa, assemble the general levy of Judah by a given day; the day came, but Amasa and the army did not appear. A few days... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 20:3

Put them in ward; partly, because they had not vigorously opposed Absalom’s lustful desire, as they should have done, even with the hazard of their lives; and partly, lest the sight of them should renew the memory of Absalom’s filthiness, and of their own and David’s reproach, which it was fit to bury in-perpetual oblivion; and partly, because it might appear incestuous to have to do with those who had been defiled by his own son; and partly, because as David would not, so it was not now... read more

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