II Samuel Chapter 20

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Introduction: More consequences of the civil war with Absalom continue. A different Benjamite, Sheba, incited a new revolt. Meanwhile Joab murders Amasa. Joab in turn suppresses the revolt of Sheba.

I. Political Situation For David Is Still Unsure

2 Sam 20:1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

2 Sam 20:2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

2 Sam 20:3 And David 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 ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

In verse 1, it is noted that this Sheba is called a man of Belial. Belial is essentially a name of the devil. It referred to a wicked man. Though unstated, this Sheba may have been a part of Absalom’s rebellion. As a Benjamite, he may also have been still sore that David had removed the kingdom from the house of Saul of that tribe.

He sounded a trumpet which was a public signal announcing that as far as he was concerned, he wanted nothing to do with the son of Jesse. The phrase “the son of Jesse” likely was one of contempt not even giving David the honor of mentioning his name. He urged all disgruntled with David to desert to him.

Verse 2 indicates that David had not as yet arrived at Jerusalem. It would appear that many of the men who came to meet him as he crossed Jordan were not enthusiastic. Those of diluted loyalty turned away from him. The tribe of Judah showed their loyalty to their king as he journeyed up from the Jordan River valley to Jerusalem. When David had been forced to flee the city, he had left ten of his concubines in charge of his palace. Absalom had publicly defiled them and humiliated them. David took care of them for the rest of their lives, but he was not intimate with any of them.

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