2 Samuel

2 Samuel 20:1-2

At the end of chapter 19, the northern 10 tribes of Israel were areguing with the two tribes of Judah over who was more loyal to David.  This is quite an argument between two groups that both had many who followed Absalom in his rebellion.  We quickly see the depth of Israel's loyalty in the first few verses of this chapter.  Sheba must have been a powerful and influential man to declare they had no part in David and to get all the other tribes to follow him. 

The words translated to rebel actually means "a worthless one" is an interpretation of "Sons of Belial".  This was another way of saying base or wicked men.  Sheba was already a rebel and was simply siezing an opportunity in a climate of division and unrest; especially while David's rule was weakened.  When people's personal lives are affected and they sense they are without representation, they will follow anyone.  Throughout history you see wicked men rise to power from bad situations.  We'll see the same thing in the end times when the anti-christ rises to power.  John said, "the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."

2 Samuel 20:3

When he gets home, David sets aside the 10 concubines because Absalom had lay with them.  They had done nothing wrong, but were merely caught up in this situation; more victims of David's sin.   

2 Samuel 20: 4-10a

Amasa was installed as a general in David's army as a political move after Joab had killed Absalom.  Joab had defied the kings direct orders in killing Absalom, even though Joab may well have been doing what was best for the kingdom.  Amasa had been Absalom's genral and it was David's act of grace and forgiveness towards him.  But, to be put in a position where the rest of the army would follow him was borrowing trouble. 

David knew time was of the essence; Sheba was a dangerous man.  Amasa was to get an army together in 3 days to pursue Sheba before the situation got worse.  When Amasa takes too long to respond, David turns to Abishai to lead some men to pursue Sheba.  While the order was given to Abishai, Joab went also.  This was the kind of job Joab and Abishai were used to.  When Amasa showed up, Joab took vengeance on him.  Joab gave the appearance of being unarmed when this sword fell.  Grabbing Amasa by the beard was the greeting of a friend.  Joab, in a cold and ruthless way, gutted Amasa and left him to die a slow and painful death.

Amasa was David's cousin, so once again, we see the sword strike the household of David fulfilling prophecy.

2 Samuel 20: 10b-13

The troops were willing to reinstated and follow Joab on the spot.  But doing in the presence of Amasa wallowing in his blood seemed to lock them down.  When Amasa was moved aside and covered they were able to follow Joab. 

2 Samuel 20: 14-22

Joab pursued Sheba to Abel Beth-maacah where they began to siege the city where Sheba was holed up.  Joabs men were tearing the place apart when this woman called to Joab.  She was apparently a judge who sought peace and she wanted to protect the city (a mother of Israel).  Joab agreed to stop destroying the city if Sheba was handed over.  So this "peacable" woman had Sheba beheaded and threw his head over the wall.  Nice! 

Sheba lived by rebellion and wickedness; the sword he lived by took his head off.  He led a people astray who had a shallow loyalty to David, they also had a shallow loyalty to him. 

2 Samuel 20: 23-26

David re-established his government.  He left Joab as his general even though that position opened up by him murdering Amasa.  David surrounded himself with others who made him successful.

©2016 Doug Ford