2 Samuel 20:14-18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14-22

We have here the conclusion of Sheba's attempt. I. The rebel, when he had rambled over all the tribes of Israel, and found them not so willing, upon second thoughts, to follow him, as they had been upon a sudden provocation to desert David (having only picked up a few like himself, that sided with him), at length entered Abel-Beth-maacah, a strong city in the north, in the lot of Naphtali, where we find it placed, 2 Kgs. 15:29. Here he took shelter, whether by force or with consent does not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14

And he went through all the tribes of Israel ,.... That is, Sheba the son of Bichri, last mentioned, 2 Samuel 20:13 , who passed through all the tribes of Israel to get as many to be of his party as he could, and to be proclaimed their king; or finding himself pursued, he passed on as fast as he could from place to place, through all the tribes, until at length he fixed for safety in a place later named; though Josephus F23 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7.) understands this... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:14

Unto Abel - This is supposed to have been the capital of the district called Abilene in St. Luke's Gospel, Luke 3:1 . Beth-maachah - Is supposed to have been in the northern part of the Holy Land, on the confines of Syria, and probably in the tribe of Naphtali. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:15

They cast up a bank against the city - The word סללה solelah , which we render bank, means, most probably, a battering engine of some kind, or a tower overlooking the walls, on which archers and slingers could stand and annoy the inhabitants, while others of the besiegers could proceed to sap the walls. That it cannot be a bank that stood in the trench, is evident from the circumstance thus expressed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:16

A wise woman - She was probably governess. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:18

They shall surely ask counsel at Abel - This is a proverb, but from what it originated we know not; nor can we exactly say what it means: much must be supplied to bring it to speak sense. Abel was probably famed for the wisdom of its inhabitants; and parties who had disputes appealed to their judgment, which appears to have been in such high reputation as to be final by consent of all parties. To this the wise woman refers, and intimates to Joab that he should have proceeded in... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:18

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