Westminster Annotations, 2 Samuel (2 Kings) · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Vers. 1. THere] That is, where the ten tribes contended with Judah.
of Belial] See Judg. 19. 22.
a trumpet] To assemble the Israelites who were discontented, Chap. 19. 41, 43. and to stir them up to rebellion.
We have no part] A form of speech used by the Hebrews, whereby they professed, That they would have no commerce with those that had displeased them▪ So 1 King. 12. 16. Act. 8. 21. As if they had said, Judah challengeth the whole interest in the king, and therefore let them wholly have him.
to his tents] That is, shift for himself, and stand upon his own guard.
V. 2. went up] That is, forsook David and followed Sheba.
V. 3. concubines] Chap. 16. 22.
ward] Heb. a house of ward.
went not] That is, did not company with them as his wives, because his son had de…iled them.
shut] Heb. bound.
living in widowhood] Heb. in widowhood of life.
V. 4. Amasa] Whom he had made generall of his army in Joabs place, Chap. 19. 13.
Assemble] Heb. Call.
V. 6. Abishai] Joabs brother, being unwilling to use Joab, lest he might take occasion hereby to presse into the place from which he had deposed him.
thy lords] That is, either them that had been under Joabs command, or Davids souldiers.
escape us] Heb. deliver himself from our eyes.
V. 7. Cherethi…es] See Chap. 8. 18.
V. 8. garment] That is, souldiers coat or cassock.
it fell out] He purposely put it into a wide scabbard, that upon the moving or bending of his body, it might fall out; that falling, he might without Amasa's suspecting any thing, stoop to take it up, and in his rising, might wound Amasa, whilest he imbraced and took him by the beard to kisse and salute him.
V. 9. my brother] Heb. That is, my dear kinsman; for they were sisters sons, 1 Chro. 2. 16, 17.
to kisse] As their manner was in saluting. See Genesis 29. 11.
V. 10. smote him] That is, stabbed him in the body under the fift rib. See Chap. 2. 23.
strook him not again] Heb. doubled not his stroke, Because he made sure to kill him with the first blow. See 1 Sam. 26. 8.
V. 11. favoureth Joab] That is, to restore him to his place of Generall, Amasa being dead.
the man] That is, Joabs friend and follower, mentioned in the former verse.
V. 12. wallowed] To wit, in the panges of death.
V. 14. all the tribes] That is, between Jerusalem and Abel, to wit, Ephraim, Manassch, Issachar, Zebulon, and Naphthali.
Abel] Situate in the tribe of Naphthali in the north border of Canaan towards Syria, where were valleys called Maachah: From whence it is surnamed Abel-Beth-Maachah here, and 2 King. 15. 29. And Abel-Maim, 2 Chro. 16. 4. to distinguish it from another city of this name.
Berites] That is, the inhabitants of the land and city of Beeroth, in the tribe of Benjamin, neer Abel, Josh. 18. 25.
and they] That is, the Israelites, which were the inhabitants of the fore-mentioned places, followed also Joab.
V. 15. besieged him] That is, Sheba the rebell.
a bank] To wit, that from, or upon it, they might fight with, and beat off those that defended the city wall.
it stood in the trench] Or, it stood against the outmost wall.
battered the wall] Heb. marred to throw down. To wit, with engins, and as the word implyeth, undermined the wall.
V. 16. the city] That is, from the city wall.
V. 18. They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsell at Abel: and so they ended the matter] Or, They plainly spake in the beginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end. It seemeth, that the inhabitants of this city were in former times reputed very just and prudent; and therefore, in weighty affairs were resorted unto for counsell▪ Whence it grew into a proverb, That they that needed advice should ask at Abel; And when they had heard it, they so rested in it, That the controversie was ended and determined, and all was well and peaceably concluded. Which course, if Joab had taken before the siege, he might have saved that labour, and that city been preserved from danger. Others think, that she putteth him in minde of the old law, which commandeth that before they besieged a city, they should summon it, and offer unto it, conditions of peace; to which, if the citizens yeelded, there should be a cessation of arms, Deut. 20. 10, 11. Which if Joab had done, sending by his messengers such conditions of peace to Abel, before he laid siege to it, they had yeelded to them, and so the war had ceased.
V. 19. a mother] She speaketh this in the name of the city, that it was a mother, or head city, having other towns and villages under it, which had been peaceable, and loyall to the king.
the inheritance] That is, a city in Israel which the LORD accepteth and loveth as his inheritance.
V. 21. mount Ephraim] That is, dwelling upon the confines of Ephraim; for properly the Beerothites, of which Sheba was, were of the Benjamites. See vers. 1. Chap. 4. 2. Josh. 28. 25.
by name] Heb. by his name.
V. 22. in her wisdom] That is, perswaded the citizens with her wise reasons, to give Sheba's head to Joab as she had promised.
retired] Heb. were scattered.
V. 23. Joab was over all the host of Israel] Chap. 8. 16. That is, was restored to his generallship after the death of Amasa, because another could not be substituted without danger of commotions. See Chap. 3. 39.
and Benaiah] These officers named, 2 Sam. 8. 16. are here the second time repeated, because upon Davids restoring to the kingdom, there might happen many other great alterations, but these remained still the same.
V. 24. recorder] Or, remembrancer.
V. 25. Sheva] That is, the same (as some think) who is called Seraiah, Chap. 8. 17.
V. 26. Jairite] Of the countrey of Jair in Gilead, Num. 32. 41. Judg. 10. 4.
a chief ruler] Or, a prince.