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2 SAMUEL 20

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:1-2
 ¹Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said,
 "We have no portion in David,
 Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;
 Every man to his tents, O Israel!"
²So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

20:1 "a worthless fellow" The NOUN (BDB 116) is a compound of "not" and "worth," "use," "profit." BDB translates it as "worthless," "good-for-nothing," or "base fellow." It is used several times in Samuel.

1. worthless women ‒ 1 Sam. 1:16
2. worthless men ‒ 1 Sam. 2:12; 10:27
3. worthless man (Nabal) ‒ 1 Sam. 25:17,25; 2 Sam. 16:7; 20:1
4. the wicked and worthless men ‒ 1 Sam. 30:22
5. destruction (NASB) but possibly a title for evil (Belial, as later in the NT; see full note at 2 Cor. 6:15) ‒ 2 Sam. 22:5
6. the worthless ‒ 2 Sam. 23:6

Josephus, Antiq. 7.11.6, adds "a certain wicked man, who took a pleasure in seditious practices."

This was a clan or family of the tribe of Benjamin that traces its lineage back to "Becher" (cf. Gen. 49:21; 1 Chr. 7:6,8). This name has the DEFINITE ARTICLE in v. 14, therefore, refers to a clan/family, not just a person.

However, the surprise is that a clan of Benjamin had a large city in the tribal area of Dan, in the far north of Canaan.

▣ "happened to be there" This apparently refers to David crossing the Jordan on his way back to Jerusalem (i.e., 2 Sam. 19:40-43 and 20:2).

▣ "a Benjamite" This is an abbreviated form found also in 1 Sam. 9:1,4; here; and Esther 2:5. Why it was used is uncertain.

▣ "he blew the trumpet" This was a way to communicate (cf. v. 22).

SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL

▣ "portion" From the next parallel line, it is obvious "portion" equals "inheritance." Israel felt slighted by Judah (2 Sam. 19:40-43). Judah apparently was very harsh with them (esp. v. 43).

▣ "Every man to his tents, O Israel!" This is an idiom (anachronism) from the exodus and wandering period. It means "to your homes." See note at 2 Sam. 18:17.

In later periods it has a distinct military connotation (cf. Jdgs. 7:8; 20:8; 1 Sam. 4:10; 13:2; 2 Kgs. 13:5; see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 300-302).

I often use the textual notes in Rotherham's Emphasized Bible; it mentions

"We are told in the Mechiltha, which contains the earliest record on this subject, that this is not the original reading, but that it exhibits an alteration of the Sopherim. Originally the text read, 'every one to his gods, O Israel.' . .The ancient authorities tell us the expression in question was also altered to the "same phrase in 1 Kings xii. 16 and 2 Chron. x. 16, which record a similar event," p. 343.

20:2 No sooner than David crosses the Jordan, another revolt involving Saul's tribe breaks out. The other tribes were also hurt by Judah's actions/words and joined the rebellion.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:3
  ³Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

20:3 This verse relates to the ten concubines that David had left in Jerusalem when he fled (2 Sam. 15:16), which Absalom had publicly (i.e., on the roof of the palace) had sex with (2 Sam. 16:21-22). They were still royal wives but they had been compromised. David cared for them but never was involved with them again (i.e., "living as widows").

The Aramaic Targums translates this as "widows of a living man." It is tragic to me how women are treated in Patriarchal cultures, ancient and modern. I so long for the mutuality of Genesis 1. It has come in Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26-29)! See Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy, IVP, ISBN 0-8308-2834-6.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:4-9
  ⁴Then the king said to Amasa, "Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself." ⁵So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. ⁶And David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord's servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight." ⁷So Joab's men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. ⁸When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out. ⁹Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

20:4-5 This is a telling account of Amasa's lack of military readiness.

There is some uncertainty about the VERB "delayed" (BDB 29, KB 35) in v. 5.

1. MT has a VERB stem that means "tarry" or "hinder" (Piel)
2. the Masoretic scholars (Qere) suggested the same root consonants but different VERB stem (BDB 29, KB 35), "delay," "tarry" (Niphal)

20:6 David realized that he could not trust Amasa but he was reluctant to summon Joab, so he gave Joab's brother, Abishai, the task of pursuing the rebels, knowing that Joab would take over the cause!

▣ David realized the real danger of another rebellion involving Saul's tribe uniting with all Israel. The tension between Judah and the other tribes was intensifying!

▣ "and escape from our sight" This phrase has many variations in the ancient manuscripts and versions. The UBS Text Project, p. 256, supports the MT ("and snatch away our eye"), but only with a "C" rating (considerable doubt).

The LXX has "and will overshadow our eyes." The JPSOA has "and eludes us" (NRSV, REB).

20:7 Notice who made up David's attack force.

1. Joab and the Judean soldiers
2. David's mercenaries
   1. Cherethites
   2. Pelethites
3. all the mighty men

20:8-13 Joab tricks and kills Amasa, just like Abner, apparently for

1. being late in accomplishing David's orders
2. restoring himself as military leader

Amasa's military men were shocked and appalled at this action. They stood still looking at Amasa until he was dragged off the road and covered up by one of Joab's loyalists.

Josephus, Antiq. 7.11.7, adds "having left a man with the dead body who was ordered to proclaim aloud to the army that Amasa was justly slain and deservedly punished."

20:8 "it fell out" This seems to have been part of the trick or subterfuge played on Amasa.

1. Joab had no sword available
2. Joab had another sword hidden
3. Joab dropped it on purpose to grab it quickly and strike (Josephus, Antiq. 7.11.7)

This was eyewitness detail.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:10-12
  ¹⁰But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab's hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. ¹¹Now there stood by him one of Joab's young men, and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab." ¹²But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

20:10 This is another eyewitness detail.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:13
  ¹³As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:14-22
  ¹⁴Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him. ¹⁵They came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. ¹⁶Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here that I may speak with you.'" ¹⁷So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." ¹⁸Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute. ¹⁹I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?" ²⁰Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." ²²Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

20:14 "to Abel, even Beth-maacah" This location is to the west of the northern city of Dan, about five miles. Sheba or Joab moved through all the tribal area of the northern tribes and came to a small fortified city in Dan (cf. 1 Kgs. 15:20; 2 Kgs. 15:29).

The PRONOUN ANTECEDENT is uncertain. In context it seems to refer to Sheba trying to gain support from Israelite tribes.

The MT has "Berites," but the UBS Text Project, p. 257, gives "and all the chosen ones" (Vulgate) a "D" rating (highly doubtful). The UBS Text Project suggests that the MT is corrupt and the Vulgate tried to make sense of it.

The MT is reflected in the JPSOA translation. The LXX may reflect the original Hebrew text better.

1. MT ‒ משׁחיתם, BDB 1007, KB 1469, Hiphil PARTICIPLE; they were destroying the wall
2. LXX reflects ‒ מחשׁבים; they intended to destroy the wall but had not started

20:16-19 "a wise woman" Apparently this town was well known for its "wise" women. I get this from vv. 18-19, but the problem is that these verses are uncertain. The UBS Text Project has a three page note with options (pp. 257-259). These scholars are unsure if the MT or the LXX has the original wording. It gives a "B" rating (some doubt) to the MT.

"in Abel, and so they concluded I (am) of the peaceable and faithful of Israel."

The LXX has

"in Abel, and in Dan if they had abandoned what the faithful of Israel had established."

The Peshitta is very different.

20:18 There are two emphatic constructions involving an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root.

1. "formerly they used to say" ‒ BDB 180, KB 210, Piel
2. "they will surely ask advice" ‒ BDB 981, KB 1371, Piel

20:19 "a city, even a mother in Israel" This is an idiomatic statement for an important fortified city with many surrounding unwalled villages.

▣ "swallow up" This is an idiom for destruction (BDB 118, KB 134, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. 2 Sam. 17:16).

▣ "the inheritance of the Lord" This was a way of referring to YHWH's covenant people and covenant promise of a land (cf. Deut. 32:9; 1 Sam. 26:19; 2 Sam. 14:16; 21:3).

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS

The MT has the NEGATIVE INTERJECTION (BDB 321, KB 318) which is used in Gen. 18:25; 44:7,17; Josh. 22:29; 24:16; 1 Sam. 2:30; 12:23; 14:45; 20:9; 22:15; 24:6; 26:11; 2 Sam. 23:17; 1 Kgs. 21:3; Job 27:5; 34:10. It is analogous to Paul's "God forbid" of the NT.

20:21 The city is spared by the head of Sheba being thrown over the wall. The text does not say what happened to the supporters of Sheba in v. 14.

▣ "lifted up his hand" This imagery is used of several motivations.

1. oath-taking, Exod. 6:8; Num. 14:3
2. rebellion, 2 Sam. 20:6]
3. blessings, Lev. 9:22; Ps. 143:2

SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 20:23-26
  ²³Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; ²⁴and Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; ²⁵and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests; ²⁶and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.

20:23-26 This same information is found earlier in 2 Sam. 8:16-18. Moderns do not know the time, place, or persons involved in the final rendition of the OT. There have obviously been some editorial additions and summaries.

SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (it's uniqueness and inspiration)

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (Bob's Presuppositions)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why was Sheba's rebellion seen by David as more dangerous than Absalom's? (v. 6)
2. Why was Amasa delayed? What did David do about it?
3. Why did Joab kill Amasa?
4. Is the occurrence of a wise woman unusual in the OT?

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