2 Samuel 20:15 NIV

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

BRINGING BACK THE KING AN OVERZEALOUS SE RV ANT (2 Samuel 19:1-8 ) Joab was to David what Bismarck was to King William. He had the same iron in his blood, but sometimes, like the latter, he overdid things. The kaiser was glad to be rid of Bismarck, and Joab’s conduct towards David is preparing the way for his successor. Those were too strong words he used in 2 Samuel 19:7 , and show the power he assumed over the army. A BACKWARD PEOPLE (2 Samuel 19:9-15 ) Judah, the king’s tribe,... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

2 Samuel 20:0 FROM the conclusion of the nineteenth chapter we learn that the tribe of Judah, being deeply moved by the course which David had pursued, and full of affection towards the king, had united generally in completing his restoration. The other tribes who had proposed to return to their allegiance probably had not had time to take part in the present action, or may indeed have been almost wholly ignorant of it, which gave Shimei, with his one thousand Benjamites and some others, an... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14-15

(14) ¶ And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. (15) And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. As this city belonged to the tribe of Napthali, it is to be wondered at, that Joab did not according to the law, first propose... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:15

Works. Hebrew, a bank, or terrace against the city, and it stood in the trench; (Haydock) so that the town ditch was filled up, (Grotius) or terraces were raised, from which archers assailed the besieged. Joab made a ditch to defend his men from foreign assailants; and he had already taken the outward wall, so that the town could not hold out for any length of time. --- The walls. St. Jerome thinks with battering rams: but they were not yet invented. (Calmet) --- They undermined the walls,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:14-22

14-22 Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman, by her prudent management, satisfied Joab, and yet saved the city. Wisdom is not confined to rank or sex; it consists not in deep knowledge; but in understanding how to act as matters arise, that troubles may be turned away and benefits secured. A great deal of mischief would be prevented, if... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 2 Samuel 20:14-26

The Death of Sheba v. 14. And he, Joab, went through all the tribes of Israel, moving ever northward through the country of the ten tribes, unto Abel and to Beth-maachah, in the territory of Naphtali, and all the Barites; and they were gathered together and went also after him, his army was continually increased by the addition of chosen young men who flocked to his standards. v. 15. And they came and besieged him, Sheba, in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank, threw up a high... 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 20:14-26

One Head Saves Many 2 Samuel 20:14-26 This wise woman, by her intervention, saved many lives, and reminds us of the value of presence of mind in a great crisis. She gave Joab to understand, first, that he ought to have given the inhabitants of Abel the opportunity of saying whether or not they intended to fight for Sheba, Deuteronomy 20:10 , etc .; and, secondly, that he ought to have taken into account the peaceableness and fidelity of the citizens of that city. A great deal of... 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 20:10-25

The Pursuit And Death of Sheba And Establishment Of The Kingdom (2 Samuel 20:10-25 ). The pursuit of Sheba now went on relentlessly as David’s elite troops, ably led by Joab and Abishai, came up to Abel where Sheba and his men had taken refuge, having no doubt learned of the approaching forces. Sheba was aware that he had not yet had time to gather sufficient forces to meet them head on. For the men of Israel may angrily have returned home in response to his call, but it was clear that on the... read more