2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:1 Sheba’s rebellion is directly connected with the split within the nation seen in 2 Samuel 19:41. This particular rebellion does not seem to have gained support outside of Sheba’s own clan (2 Samuel 20:14), but the feeling that the king was not treating them well seems... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:3 The TEN CONCUBINES are those whom Absalom had claimed in 2 Samuel 16:22. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:4 David had made AMASA commander in 2 Samuel 19:13, replacing Joab. THREE DAYS is a rather short time if he is supposed to gather men from all over Judah. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:6 When Amasa failed to produce an armed force on schedule (v. 2 Samuel 20:5), David turned to ABISHAI, brother of Joab (see note on 19:13–14). Abishai and Joab had often worked together in battle (2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 10:9; 2 Samuel 18:2; also 1 Kings [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:8 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; Judges 3:15)... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:11 The PEOPLE who are addressed in v. 2 Samuel 20:11 and who STOPPED at the sight of AMASA were probably the “men of Judah” of v. 2 Samuel 20:4 who had come from Judah to Gibeon with Amasa. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:14 Sheba and his men go to ABEL. It is located just west of Dan in the north of Israel. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:15 The MOUND is a ramp built against the wall to get near its top. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:16 The WOMAN is WISE (v. 2 Samuel 20:16), skilled in choosing a strategy to avert destruction and in persuading people to follow her plan. A MOTHER IN ISRAEL (v. 2 Samuel 20:19) describes a main city with associated (daughter) villages (see Judges 1:27). The HILL COUNTRY... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 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). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy... [ Continue Reading ]
2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:23 This list is very similar to the lists in 2 Samuel 8:15 and 1 Kings 4:1. The posts and officials overlap to a large degree, but the order is different. DAVID’S PRIEST (2 Samuel 20:26) may have been similar to a private chaplain or adviser. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]