2 Samuel 20:13-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:4-13

We have here Amasa's fall just as he began to rise. He was nephew to David (2 Sam. 17:25), had been Absalom's general and commander-in-chief of his rebellious army, but, that being routed, he came over into David's interest, upon a promise that he should be general of his forces instead of Joab. Sheba's rebellion gives David an occasion to fulfil his promise sooner than he could wish, but Joab's envy and emulation rendered its fulfillment of ill consequence both to him and David. I. Amasa has... read more

Matthew Henry

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 20:13

When he was removed out of the highway ,.... Into the field, and covered over with a cloth, that he could not be seen: all the people went on after Joab ; made no stop at all, knowing nothing of the matter, or what had happened: to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri ; these were the troops that Amasa had been assembling, which followed one another after him; for Joab and Abishai, with their men, were at Gibeon first. 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

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

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