2 Samuel 20

Sheba's Rebellion and Death

¹There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”

²So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

³David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

⁴Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”

⁵So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.

⁶David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”

⁷Joab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

⁸When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.

⁹Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

¹⁰But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

¹¹One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”

¹²Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

¹³When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

¹⁴He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.

¹⁵They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.

¹⁶Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”

¹⁷He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”

¹⁸Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.

¹⁹I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

²⁰Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

²¹The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

²²Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

²³Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,

²⁴Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,

²⁵Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,

²⁶and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.

Previous 2 Samuel 19

Next 2 Samuel 21

Sheba the son of Bichri leads a rebellion against David, calling the northern tribes to abandon their allegiance to the king. When David's appointed commander Amasa delays in mustering troops, Joab treacherously murders him and takes control of the pursuit. The rebellion ends when the wise woman of Abel Beth Maacah negotiates with Joab, leading the city to execute Sheba and throw his head over the wall, thus preserving both the city and David's kingdom.

Context

This chapter concludes the series of rebellions that began with Absalom's revolt in chapter 15, showing David's kingdom finally stabilizing after internal threats.

Key Themes

Outline

1-3
Sheba's Rebellion Begins A Benjamite named Sheba calls Israel to abandon David, successfully drawing away the northern tribes while Judah remains loyal.
4-7
David's Military Response David orders Amasa to gather troops within three days, but when he delays, David sends Abishai and Joab's forces to pursue Sheba.
8-13
Joab Murders Amasa Joab treacherously kills Amasa with a concealed sword during a false greeting, then continues the pursuit of Sheba.
14-22
Siege and Resolution at Abel Joab besieges Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah, but a wise woman negotiates peace by having the city execute Sheba and deliver his head.

Sheba's Rebellion and Death

20:1–20:26

narrative narration urgent

Sheba the Benjamite leads a rebellion against David, causing Israel to abandon the king while Judah remains loyal. Joab treacherously murders Amasa and pursues Sheba, ultimately ending the rebellion through siege warfare.

person_contrast

David's kingdom fractures along tribal lines when Sheba's rallying cry "We have no portion in David" exposes the fragile unity that will ultimately split Israel permanently under his grandson Rehoboam.