Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
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| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
2 Samuel 20
A new rebellion raised by Sheba, ver. 1, 2. David confines his
ten concubines for life, ver. 3. Joab murders Amasa, ver. 4-12.
Pursues Sheba to Abel, ver. 13-15. He is delivered up, ver. 16-22.
David's great officers, ver. 23-26.
Verse 1. Happened - His presence was casual in itself, though ordered
by God's providence. No part - The tribe of Judah have
monopolized the king to themselves, and will not allow us any
share in him; let them therefore enjoy him alone, and let us seek
out a new king. The son of Jesse - An expression of contempt,
implying that he was no more to be owned as their king, but as a
private person, as the son of Jesse. To his tents - Let us all desist
from this unthankful office, of bringing the king back, and go
each to our homes, that we may consider, and then meet together
to chuse a new king.
Verse 2. Every man - That is, the generality of those Israelites who were
present.
Verse 5. Tarried - Either, because the people being wearied out by the
late war, were not forward to engage in another: or because the
soldiers had more affection to Joab, than to their new general.
Verse 6. Abishai - Not to Joab; lest by this means he should recover his
place, and Amasa be discontented, and David's fidelity in making
good his promise to Amasa be questioned.
Verse 7. Joab's men - The remainders of Joab's army who were there
present, with whom also Joab might go as a reformade, watching
an opportunity to do what he designed.
Verse 8. Amasa went - Having gathered some forces, and given due
orders for the rest to follow him, he returned to Jerusalem, and by
the king's command went after those mentioned ver. 7, and being
come up to them at the place where they waited for him, he put
himself in the head of Joab's men, and the Cherethites and the
Pelethites, and such as he had brought along with him, and
marched before them as their general. Girded - After the manner
of travelers and soldiers. Went forth - To meet and salute Amasa,
who was coming towards him to do him honour. It fell - Things
having (it is likely) been so contrived by Joab, that upon the least
motion of his body, his sword should drop out, and he might take
it up without raising Amasa's suspicion.
Verse 9. Beard - As the manner of ancient times was, when they saluted
one another.
Verse 10. The sword - Which falling out, as it seemed, casually, he
supposed that Joab intended only to put it into its scabbard, and
therefore took no care to defend himself against the stroke. So
Joab - Who now boldly resumed his former place, and marched in
the head of the army. It is not strange, that Amasa's soldiers did
not fight to revenge his death; partly, because not many of them
were yet come up, as the following verses shew; and partly,
because Joab's interest and authority with the military-men was
very great; especially, with David's guards, who were here
present, and who had no kindness for Amasa, as having been the
general of the rebellious army; and, as they might think, not fit to
be put into a place of so great trust.
Verse 11. One - Left there on purpose to deliver the following message.
favoureth Joab - He that would have Joab to be general, rather
than such a perfidious rebel as Amasa. For David - He that
wisheth David good success against Sheba, and against all rebels.
Verse 12. Stood still - Wondering at the spectacle, and enquiring into the
author and occasion of it. Removed - Perceiving, that it both
incensed them against Joab and hindered the king's service. Cast a
cloth upon him - But the covering of blood with a cloth cannot
stop its cry to God for vengeance.
Verse 14. He - Sheba, who marched from tribe to tribe to stir them up to
sedition. Abel - Unto Abel-beth-maachah, as this place is called
here in the Hebrew text, ver. 15, to distinguish it from other
Abels; and to signify, that this was that Abel which was in the
northern border of Canaan towards that part of Syria called
Maachah, chap. x, 8. Berites - Such as lived in the city, or
territory of Beeroth of Benjamin, Josh. xviii, 25, who being of the
same tribe, if not city with Sheba, adhered to him, and followed
him through all the tribes of Israel. They - The tribes of Israel;
that is, a considerable number of them; as might well be expected,
when the discontents were so high and general.
Verse 15. They - That is, Joab and his army. A bank - From whence they
might either batter the wall, or shoot at those who defended it. It
stood - The bank stood in, or near to the trench, or the wall of the
city; so that the city was in great danger of being taken.
Verse 16. Then cried a wise woman - It seems none of all the men of
Abel, offered to treat with Joab: no, not when they were reduced
to extremity: but one wise woman saved the city. Souls know no
difference of sex: many a manly heart is lodged in a female breast.
Nor is the treasure of wisdom the less valuable, for being lodged
in the weaker vessel.
Verse 18. Ask counsel - This city which thou art about to destroy, is no
mean and contemptible one, but so honourable and considerable
for its wisdom, that when any differences arose among any of the
neighbours, they used proverbially to say, We will ask the opinion
and advice as the men of Abel about it, and we will stand to their
arbitration; and so all parties were satisfied, and disputes ended.
Verse 19. A mother - Great cities are commonly called mothers; as
lesser towns or villages subject to them, and depending upon
them, are called their daughters. Inheritance - That is, a
considerable part of, that land which God hath chosen for his
particular possession. The destruction which thou art about to
bring upon us, is an injury to Israel, and to the God of Israel.
Verse 21. Ephraim - Probably mount Ephraim was a place in Benjamin
so called, either because it was upon the borders of Ephraim or for
some notable action or event of the Ephraimites in that place. His
head - Which she undertook, because she knew the present temper
of the citizens, and soldiers too. And it is not unlikely, that this
woman might be a governness in that city. For though this office
was commonly performed by men; yet women were sometimes
employed in the government: as we see in Deborah, who judged
Israel, Judg. iv, 4.
Verse 22. Wisdom - Prudently treated with them about it, representing to
them the certainty and nearness of their ruin, if they did not
speedily comply with her desires, and certain deliverance if they
did.
Verse
23. Over all the host - The good success of this, and of the former
expedition, under the conduct of Joab, had so fixed his interest in
the army, and others of David's fastest friends, that the king could
not without danger displace him.
Chapter 20:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Samuel 1 Kings
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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