6 And David H1732 said H559 to Abishai, H52 Now shall Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075 do us more harm H3415 than did Absalom: H53 take H3947 thou thy lord's H113 servants, H5650 and pursue H7291 after H310 him, lest he get H4672 him fenced H1219 cities, H5892 and escape H5337 us. H5869
And Uriah H223 said H559 unto David, H1732 The ark, H727 and Israel, H3478 and Judah, H3063 abide H3427 in tents; H5521 and my lord H113 Joab, H3097 and the servants H5650 of my lord, H113 are encamped H2583 in the open H6440 fields; H7704 shall I H589 then go H935 into mine house, H1004 to eat H398 and to drink, H8354 and to lie H7901 with my wife? H802 as thou livest, H2416 and as thy soul H5315 liveth, H2416 I will not do H6213 this thing. H1697
But Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 succoured H5826 him, and smote H5221 the Philistine, H6430 and killed H4191 him. Then the men H582 of David H1732 sware H7650 unto him, saying, H559 Thou shalt go H3318 no more out with us to battle, H4421 that thou quench H3518 not the light H5216 of Israel. H3478
Then answered H6030 David H1732 and said H559 to Ahimelech H288 the Hittite, H2850 and to Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 brother H251 to Joab, H3097 saying, H559 Who will go down H3381 with me to Saul H7586 to the camp? H4264 And Abishai H52 said, H559 I will go down H3381 with thee.
And I am this day H3117 weak, H7390 though anointed H4886 king; H4428 and these men H582 the sons H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 be too hard H7186 for me: the LORD H3068 shall reward H7999 the doer of evil H6213 according to his wickedness. H7451
When Joab H3097 saw H7200 that the front H6440 of the battle H4421 was against him before H6440 and behind, H268 he chose H977 of all the choice H977 men of Israel, H3478 and put them in array H6186 against H7125 the Syrians: H758 And the rest H3499 of the people H5971 he delivered H5414 into the hand H3027 of Abishai H52 his brother, H251 that he might put them in array H6186 against H7125 the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983
And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that the Syrians H758 were fled, H5127 then fled H5127 they also before H6440 Abishai, H52 and entered H935 into the city. H5892 So Joab H3097 returned H7725 from the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and came H935 to Jerusalem. H3389
And David H1732 sent forth H7971 a third part H7992 of the people H5971 under the hand H3027 of Joab, H3097 and a third part H7992 under the hand H3027 of Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 Joab's H3097 brother, H251 and a third part H7992 under the hand H3027 of Ittai H863 the Gittite. H1663 And the king H4428 said H559 unto the people, H5971 I will surely H3318 go forth H3318 with you myself H589 also.
And the man H376 said H559 unto Joab, H3097 Though H3863 I should receive H8254 a thousand H505 shekels of silver H3701 in mine hand, H3709 yet would I not put forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against the king's H4428 son: H1121 for in our hearing H241 the king H4428 charged H6680 thee and Abishai H52 and Ittai, H863 saying, H559 Beware H8104 that none touch the young man H5288 Absalom. H53
Now therefore arise, H6965 go forth, H3318 and speak H1696 comfortably H3820 unto thy servants: H5650 for I swear H7650 by the LORD, H3068 if thou go not forth, H3318 there will not tarry H3885 one H376 with thee this night: H3915 and that will be worse H7489 unto thee than all the evil H7451 that befell H935 thee from thy youth H5271 until now.
And Abishai, H52 the brother H251 of Joab, H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 was chief H7218 among three. H7992 And he lifted up H5782 his spear H2595 against three H7969 hundred, H3967 and slew H2491 them, and had the name H8034 among three. H7969
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 20
Commentary on 2 Samuel 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 20
How do the clouds return after the rain! No sooner is one of David's troubles over than another arises, as it were out of the ashes of the former, wherein the threatening is fulfilled, that the sword should never depart from his house.
2Sa 20:1-3
David, in the midst of his triumphs, has here the affliction to see his kingdom disturbed and his family disgraced.
2Sa 20:4-13
We have here Amasa's fall just as he began to rise. He was nephew to David (ch. 17:25), had been Absalom's general and commander-in-chief of his rebellious army, but, that being routed, he came over into David's interest, upon a promise that he should be general of his forces instead of Joab. Sheba's rebellion gives David an occasion to fulfil his promise sooner than he could wish, but Joab's envy and emulation rendered its fulfillment of ill consequence both to him and David.
2Sa 20:14-22
We have here the conclusion of Sheba's attempt.
2Sa 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 (ch. 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 Ki. 12:18.