2 Samuel 20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:15

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah ,.... That is, Joab and Abishai, with the forces under them, who pursued him hither: and they cast up a bank against the city ; which some understand of a warlike machine or engine, with which stones were cast; but it rather seems to be a bank of earth thrown up, for the better working of such engines to more advantage against the city, by throwing from thence darts into the city, or stones against the walls of it, to batter it down;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:16

Then cried a wise woman out of the city ,.... And such an one as the woman of Tekoah, supposed by some to be the governess of the city; but whoever she was, she well deserved the character of a wise woman; her conduct in this affair shows it: she cried with a loud voice, upon the wall of the city, to Joab's men, who were underneath battering it: hear, hear ; which she repeated to make them hear: say, I pray you, unto Joab, come near hither, that I may speak with thee ; tell your... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:17

And when he was come near unto her ,.... As he did, upon the information of his men, that a woman on the wall had something to say to him: the woman said, art thou Joab ? she was willing to be satisfied that he was really the general, before she would impart her mind to him: and he answered, I am he ; the very person you ask after: and she said unto him, hear the words of thine handmaid ; though a woman, vouchsafe to hear what I have to say: and he answered, I do hear :... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:18

Then she spake, saying, they were wont to speak in old time ,.... It was a common saying, a proverbial expression among the ancient sages: saying, they shall surely ask counsel at Abel, and so they ended the matter . Abel, it seems, had been a city so famous for wise and prudent men, that it was common for the inhabitants of other cities, in the several parts of the kingdom, when any controversy arose among them, to say to one another, since we cannot agree this matter among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:19

I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel ,.... Her meaning is, that she was of a city which consisted of peaceable and faithful men, that were peaceable among themselves, and faithful to their king, who never were concerned in any insurrection or rebellion, not in the late one under Absalom: thou seekest to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel ; a metropolitan city, which had several towns and villages under its jurisdiction, which were as daughters to it. Some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:20

And Joab answered and said, far be it from me, far be it from me ,.... He repeats these words, to show how detestable it was to him to do what she suggested: that I should swallow up or destroy ; any in a violent and unrighteous manner, and especially a city of which she had given such a character for its greatness and worth, and for the peaceableness and fidelity of its inhabitants. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:21

The matter is not so ,.... I am not come with the army against this city with any ill will to it, and with an intention to destroy it: the case is this: but a man of Mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name ; for though he was by birth a Benjaminite, his dwelling was in Mount Ephraim in that tribe; unless there was a place of this name in the tribe of Benjamin, so called from any memorable event there, as the wood of Ephraim, 2 Samuel 18:6 . This same man, says Joab: hath... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:22

Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom ,.... Went from the wall of the city into it, and convened the principal inhabitants together, and made so wise a speech to them, and represented things in such a light, and so prudently conducted, that they unanimously agreed to her motion: and they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab ; whose face Joab knew full well, and was satisfied it was his head that was thrown over: and he blew a trumpet ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:23

Now Joab was over all the host of Israel ,.... Established in the post in which he formerly was; either having been never displaced, which though David thought to do, he was not able to effect it, because of his power and influence with the people; or if he had displaced him, which by some things in this chapter seemed to be the case, yet Amasa being dead, and the rebellion crushed by Joab, which still made him more haughty, and increased his popularity, David saw it most advisable to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:24

And Adoram was over the tribute ,.... Or over those that collected and brought it, as the Targum; this was a new office, and which respected both the revenue he received from his own people, and the tribute brought him from the nations conquered by him: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder ; who was in this office before, and now continued and established in it, 2 Samuel 8:16 . read more

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