2 Samuel 20:26 ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:23-26

Here is an account of the state of David's court after his restoration. Joab retained the office of general, being too great to be displaced. Benaiah, as before, was captain of the guards. Here is one new office erected, which we had not (2 Sam. 8:16-18), that of treasurer, or one over the tribute, for it was not till towards the latter end of his time that David began to raise taxes. Adoram was long in this office, but it cost him his life at last, 1 Kgs. 12:18. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:26

And Ira also the Jairite ,.... Which some take to be the same with Ira the Ithrite, 2 Samuel 23:38 ; a son of Jether or Ithra the Israelite, 2 Samuel 17:25 ; though others suppose he was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 2 Samuel 23:26 ; and so the Targum here calls him Ira the Jairite, which was of Tekoah; and Tekoah being the chief place in Israel for oil olive F4 Misn. Menachot, c. 8. sect. 3. , with which the lamps were lighted, Jarchi thinks he had the name of Jairite from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:26

Ira - was a chief ruler about David - The Hebrew is לדויד כהן cohen ledavid , a priest to David; and so the Vulgate, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. The Chaldee has רב rab , a prince, or chief. He was probably a sort of domestic chaplain to the king. We know that the kings of Judah had their seers, which is nearly the same: Gad was David's seer, 2 Samuel 24:11 , and Jeduthun was the seer of King Josiah, 2 Chronicles 35:16 . The conclusion of this chapter is very... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:14-26

The causes and remedies of religious strife. The facts are: 1 . Joab and his forces, pursuing Sheba till they came upon him in the city of Abel, lay siege to it. 2 . A wise woman of the city remonstrates with Joab for attacking the city, and refers to the fact that when Sheba with his armed followers threw themselves into the city, the people felt sure that when the pursuing foes came up they would open negotiations with the authorities, and so bring the conflict to an end. 3 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:26

Ira … was a chief ruler; Hebrew, cohen, priest, minister (see on this term, 2 Samuel 8:18 ). We there find David's sons holding this confidential office; but the feuds which resulted from David's sin had destroyed the concord of the family, and the usefulness of David's children. In their degradation from this office we see also a preparation for their being set aside from the succession, and the throne given to Solomon. ADDITIONAL NOTE With this chapter ends the second section... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 20:26

Ira the Jairite - Not mentioned before: perhaps the same as “Ira an Ithrite” (marginal reference), i. e., an inhabitant of Jattir in the hill country of Judah Joshua 15:48; 1 Samuel 30:27. Perhaps we ought to read “Ithrite,” for “Jairite.”A chief ruler ... about David - More simply and clearly, “was David’s kohen” (2 Samuel 8:18 note). In the early part oph David’s reign his own ons were כהן kôhên (chief rulers). The deaths of Amnon and Absalom, and the dissensions in the family, had probably... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

Sheba’s revolt (20:1-26)With virtually the whole nation in a state of unrest, Sheba, a Benjaminite, seized the opportunity to try to lead the northern tribes to break away from David (20:1-2). Being anxious to re-establish his kingdom in Jerusalem, David did not leave the city but sent his new commander-in-chief Amasa to assemble the army and pursue Sheba (3-4).When Amasa was slow in assembling the army, David sent off his private army, the fighting force that had been with him since the days... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 20:26

chief ruler . Compare 2 Samuel 8:18 ; 2 Samuel 23:38 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 20:23-26

David’s administrators 20:23-26"With Joab’s return to the king in Jerusalem, the grand symphony known as the Court History of David reaches its conclusion for all practical purposes (at least as far as the books of Samuel are concerned . . .). The last four verses of chapter 20 constitute a suitable formal coda, serving the same function for the Court History that the last four verses of chapter 8 do for the narrative of David’s powerful reign . . ." [Note: Youngblood, p. 1048.] This list of... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 20:1-26

The Rebellion of ShebaSheba takes advantage of the jealousy of the men of Israel to begin a rebellion, which, but for the prompt action of Joab, might have resulted in a disruption between Israel and Judah. During this expedition Amasa is murdered by Joab. The chapter concludes with a list of David’s officers.This chapter evidently continues the narrative of the concluding vv. of the preceding. During the period of the Judges, Ephraim had been the leading tribe and they could not brook to see... read more