ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Samuel 20

2 Sam 20:1–26 Sheba’s rebellion is directly connected with the split within the nation seen in 19:41–43. This particular rebellion does not seem to have gained support outside of Sheba’s own clan (20:14), but the feeling that the king was not treating them well seems to have lingered among the northern tribes. That feeling increased under Solomon, who did not require Judah to supply him with food (1 Kings 4:7–19), and finally caused the nation to split in two (1 Kings 12).

2 Sam 20:1 Sheba rejects David’s right to rule and leads a revolt.

2 Sam 20:3 The ten concubines are those whom Absalom had claimed in 16:22.

2 Sam 20:4–5 David had made Amasa commander in 19:13, replacing Joab. Three days is a rather short time if he is supposed to gather men from all over Judah.

2 Sam 20:6 When Amasa failed to produce an armed force on schedule (v. 5), David turned to Abishai, brother of Joab (see note on 19:13–14). Abishai and Joab had often worked together in battle (3:30; 10:9–10; 18:2; also 1 Kings 11:15; 1 Chron. 18:12). Sheba . . . will do us more harm. David seems to have overestimated Sheba’s strength. Apparently only the members of Sheba’s own Bichrite clan were truly committed to his cause (2 Sam. 20:14). Your lord’s servants refers to David’s standing army, as does “the servants of David” in 18:7.

2 Sam 20:8–10 Readers are not told why Amasa was in Gibeon instead of in Judah. The sword falls out of Joab’s belt, but when he takes Amasa’s beard with his right hand, with his left hand he either picks it up again or gets out a hidden sword (compare the story of Ehud; Judg. 3:15–23). Compare Joab’s similar murder of Abner in 2 Sam. 3:27 and his execution of Absalom in 18:14. brother. Joab and Amasa were first cousins.

2 Sam 20:11–13 The people who are addressed in v. 11 and who stopped at the sight of Amasa were probably the “men of Judah” of v. 4 who had come from Judah to Gibeon with Amasa.

2 Sam 20:14 Sheba and his men go to Abel. It is located just west of Dan in the north of Israel.

2 Sam 20:15 The mound is a ramp built against the wall to get near its top.

2 Sam 20:16–22 The woman is wise (v. 16), skilled in choosing a strategy to avert destruction and in persuading people to follow her plan. A mother in Israel (v. 19) describes a main city with associated (daughter) villages (see Judg. 1:27). The hill country of Ephraim (2 Sam. 20:21) includes Benjaminite territory.

2 Sam 20:22 Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. Apparently David did not punish Joab for the murder of Amasa (since Joab was still commander at the end of David’s reign; 1 Kings 1:19), but he did not forgive him either (1 Kings 2:5).

2 Sam 20:23–26 This list is very similar to the lists in 8:15–18 and 1 Kings 4:1–6. The posts and officials overlap to a large degree, but the order is different. David’s priest (2 Sam. 20:26) may have been similar to a private chaplain or adviser.