Examine 2 Samuel 20 and Sheba's rebellion. Discover how God protects His kingdom and why rebellion against His anointed is ultimately futile.
The kingdom of Israel had endured the trauma of Absalom's rebellion. David was back on the throne, but the wounds of division were still fresh. The nation was fragile, and the king was vulnerable. In this moment of weakness, a new threat emerged from within the people.
Sheba, a Benjamite and a worthless man, seized the opportunity to exploit the tribal tensions. He blew a trumpet and declared, "We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel" (2 Samuel 20:1). The cry resonated with the northern tribes who felt slighted by Judah. The rebellion spread quickly, and Sheba gathered followers from across Israel.
The account of 2 Samuel 20 reveals God's faithful protection of His covenant kingdom. Despite the treachery of Sheba, the treachery of Joab, and the failure of Amasa, the Lord preserved the house of David. The rebellion was crushed, and the kingdom was restored. The lesson from this chapter reminds believers that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human schemes and that He protects His people through both wisdom and judgment. The chapter demonstrates that God's covenant faithfulness endures even in the face of persistent rebellion.
The Outbreak of Rebellion
Sheba the Instigator
Sheba was described as "a man of Belial," a worthless and wicked person. He was a Benjamite, a member of the tribe that had originally resisted David's kingship. The tribe of Benjamin had produced Saul, the first king of Israel. The rivalry between the house of Saul and the house of David was still alive in the hearts of some.
Sheba exploited the recent quarrel between Judah and Israel. The men of Israel had complained that they were not included in escorting David across the Jordan. The men of Judah had responded harshly, and the dispute had escalated. Sheba's cry, "We have no part in David," was a rejection of the king and a call to secession.
The Defection of Israel
The response was immediate. 2 Samuel 20:2 records that "every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri." The northern tribes abandoned the king and rallied to the rebel. They were following a charismatic grievance entrepreneur rather than the Lord's anointed.
The rebellion was a serious threat. David had just been restored to the throne, and the nation was divided. Sheba's goal was to fracture the kingdom permanently. His slogan would later be echoed by Jeroboam when the ten tribes broke away from Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:16).
The Loyalty of Judah
The men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 20:2). The loyalty of Judah was a sign of God's protection. The tribe that had been slow to bring David back was now steadfast. The contrast between the fickle Israelites and the faithful Judahites demonstrates that God preserves a remnant of loyal hearts.
The defection of the northern tribes demonstrated the fickleness of popular opinion. The same people who had welcomed David were now rejecting him. The same people who had cried "Hosanna" could soon cry "Crucify." The lesson is that popular loyalty is unreliable and that true loyalty to God's anointed must be based on faith.
David's Response
The Pursuit of Amasa
David recognized the danger immediately. He declared, "Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom" (2 Samuel 20:6). The threat was real. If Sheba was allowed to entrench himself, the rebellion would spread and become difficult to suppress.
David commanded Amasa to assemble the men of Judah within three days (2 Samuel 20:4-5). Amasa was the new commander of the army, appointed to replace Joab. Yet Amasa delayed and failed to meet the deadline. The delay was a costly failure that forced David to act without the full army.
The Pursuit of Abishai
David responded to Amasa's failure with decisive action. He sent Abishai, his nephew, to pursue Sheba with the king's servants (2 Samuel 20:6-7). The forces included Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. The force was sufficient to pursue the rebel.
The decision to send Abishai rather than Joab was significant. David was still angry with Joab for killing Absalom. The command was a slight to the old commander. Yet Joab went anyway, not to be outdone.
The Murder of Amasa
Joab's treachery was revealed at Gibeon. The army met at a great stone, and Amasa went before them as their commander. Joab approached Amasa with a false show of friendship. He took Amasa by the beard to kiss him (2 Samuel 20:8-9). The gesture was a customary greeting, but Joab's sword was ready.
Joab thrust the sword into Amasa's body, and Amasa died immediately (2 Samuel 20:10). The murder was a cold-blooded assassination. Joab had killed his rival to reclaim his position as commander. His ambition and pride led to murder, just as it had led him to kill Abner and Absalom. Joab's actions demonstrated that he was more loyal to his own ambition than to David's authority. The message he sent to the troops was that they should fight for Joab as well as for David.
The Siege of Abel
The Pursuit of Sheba
After the murder of Amasa, Joab assumed command of the army. He pursued Sheba through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah (2 Samuel 20:14). The city was a fortified "mother in Israel," located in the northernmost region of the kingdom. Sheba had gathered his followers and sought refuge behind its walls.
The siege was serious. Joab's forces cast up a bank against the city and battered the wall to throw it down (2 Samuel 20:15). The destruction of the city seemed imminent. The inhabitants of Abel were about to suffer for harboring a traitor.
The Wise Woman of Abel
A wise woman of the city intervened at the critical moment. She called out to Joab and asked to speak with him (2 Samuel 20:16-17). Her wisdom was the key to saving the city. She represented a tradition of wise counsel that had a voice in the community.
The woman reminded Joab that Abel was a peaceable and faithful city in Israel (2 Samuel 20:18-19). She asked why he was seeking to destroy a city that was a "mother in Israel" and to swallow up the inheritance of the Lord. She appealed to his sense of justice and mercy.
The Peace Negotiations
Joab responded that he only wanted Sheba. He declared, "Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city" (2 Samuel 20:21). The single condition of peace was the surrender of the traitor. The woman agreed and promised to deliver his head over the wall.
The woman went to the people in her wisdom, and they cut off Sheba's head and cast it out to Joab (2 Samuel 20:22). The city was saved. Joab blew the trumpet, and the army departed. The rebellion was over, and the kingdom was secure.
Lessons from 2 Samuel 20
God's Protection of the Covenant Kingdom
The events of 2 Samuel 20 demonstrate God's protection of the covenant kingdom. Despite Sheba's rebellion, Joab's treachery, and Amasa's failure, the kingdom endured. The Lord preserved the house of David, which He had promised to establish forever (2 Samuel 7:11-16). The rebellion was a threat, but God's purposes could not be thwarted.
The lesson from 2 Samuel 20 is that God protects His people. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:31: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" The example of David's deliverance encourages believers to trust in God's protection.
The Danger of Rebellion against God's Anointed
Sheba's rebellion is a warning about the danger of opposing God's purposes. To rebel against David was to rebel against the Lord's anointed and, therefore, against the Lord Himself. Sheba's slogan, "We have no part in David," echoed the language of rejection that would later be used against Christ.
The lesson from 2 Samuel 20 is that rebellion against God's appointed authority is rebellion against God. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 13:1-2 that those who resist the governing authority resist God's ordinance. Sheba's example is a warning about the consequences of rejecting God's chosen king.
The Value of Wisdom
The wise woman of Abel demonstrates the value of wisdom. She saved her city through prudent negotiation and wise counsel. Her intervention prevented the destruction of a "mother in Israel" and ended the rebellion peacefully.
The lesson from 2 Samuel 20 is that wisdom is valuable. Proverbs 15:1 declares that "a soft answer turneth away wrath." The wise woman's gentle answer turned away Joab's wrath and saved her city. The lesson encourages believers to seek wisdom and to use it to prevent conflict.
The Danger of Unchecked Ambition
Joab's ambition was destructive. He killed Amasa to reclaim his position. He usurped the authority that David had given to Abishai. His ambition led to murder and to a disregard for the king's authority.
The lesson from 2 Samuel 20 is that unchecked ambition is dangerous. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:3: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Joab's example is a warning about the dangers of pride and ambition.
Connections to Scripture
The Fulfillment of Prophecy
The events of 2 Samuel 20 continue the fulfillment of Nathan's prophecy in 2 Samuel 12. The prophet had declared that the sword would never depart from David's house. The rebellion of Sheba was yet another instance of violence and conflict in David's reign. The prophecy was being fulfilled in the ongoing turmoil of the kingdom.
The lesson is that God's word is trustworthy. The prophecy of Nathan was fulfilled. The verification of the prophecy confirms the reliability of God's word and the certainty of His judgment.
The Parallel with Christ
Sheba's rebellion prefigures the rejection of Christ. Sheba cried, "We have no part in David." The people of Israel later cried, "We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15). Both rejections were rejections of God's appointed king. Sheba's rebellion foreshadows the ultimate rejection of Christ by His own people.
The lesson is that Christ is the true King who was rejected. David's rejection pointed forward to the rejection of Christ. The hope of redemption is found in Christ, who was rejected but now reigns. The account of Sheba's rebellion calls believers to reject the spirit of rebellion and to submit to the rightful King.
The Parallel with Korah's Rebellion
Sheba's rebellion parallels the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16. Korah challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron. Sheba challenged the authority of David. Both rebellions were rooted in pride and ambition. Both were judged by God.
The lesson is that rebellion against God's anointed is rebellion against God. Jude 1:11 warns about the way of Korah. The example of Sheba is a warning about the consequences of rebellion. Sheba's head was cast over the wall as a warning to all who would rebel against the king.
Conclusion
The rebellion of Sheba was the final challenge to David's authority. The uprising was short-lived, but it demonstrated the persistent danger of division and the importance of decisive leadership. David's response was swift and strategic. Joab's ruthless pursuit crushed the rebellion, and the wise woman's negotiation saved the city.
The lesson from 2 Samuel 20 is that God protects His covenant kingdom. Sheba's rebellion was a threat to the house of David, but God's purposes prevailed. The rebellion was crushed, and the kingdom was restored. The lesson applies to believers today. God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human schemes. Believers are called to trust in God's protection and to remain loyal to His appointed King.
The wise woman of Abel demonstrates the value of wisdom in times of crisis. Her prudent negotiation saved her city and ended the rebellion peacefully. The lesson calls believers to seek wisdom and to use it to prevent conflict. The hope of protection is found in God, who preserves His people and establishes His kingdom. The account of 2 Samuel 20 reveals that God's covenant faithfulness endures, that rebellion against His purposes is futile, and that wisdom is a gift from God for the protection of His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did Sheba rebel against David after Absalom's rebellion was over?
Sheba rebelled because he was a Benjamite who resented David's rule and exploited the tribal tensions caused by the quarrel between Judah and Israel (2 Samuel 19:40-43). The men of Israel had argued with the men of Judah about escorting David across the Jordan, and the dispute had escalated. Sheba used this conflict to rally the northern tribes to secede from the kingdom. His cry, "We have no part in David," was a rejection of David's kingship and a call to division. The rebellion demonstrated the persistent tension between the tribes and the fragility of the united monarchy.
2. Why did David appoint Amasa as commander of the army instead of Joab?
David appointed Amasa to replace Joab because he was angry at Joab for killing Absalom (2 Samuel 18:14). David had commanded Joab to deal gently with Absalom, but Joab had disobeyed and killed the king's son. The appointment of Amasa was also a political move to heal the rift with Judah, as Amasa had been Absalom's commander and was a relative of David (2 Samuel 19:13). Joab was a loyal soldier, but his ruthlessness had become a liability.
3. Why did Joab kill Amasa?
Joab killed Amasa because he wanted to reclaim his position as commander of the army. Amasa had been appointed to replace Joab, and Joab saw him as a rival. The murder was a cold-blooded act of ambition and treachery. Joab approached Amasa with a false show of friendship and killed him with a sword (2 Samuel 20:8-10). The assassination was reminiscent of Joab's earlier murder of Abner (2 Samuel 3:27). Joab's actions demonstrated that he was more loyal to his own ambition than to David's authority.
4. Why did the wise woman of Abel save her city by delivering Sheba?
The wise woman saved her city because she understood that harboring a traitor would lead to destruction. Joab had besieged the city and was about to batter the walls. The woman recognized that the people of Abel had to choose between their loyalty to the king and their loyalty to Sheba. She reminded Joab that Abel was a peaceable and faithful city and negotiated the surrender of Sheba alone (2 Samuel 20:16-21). Her wisdom prevented the destruction of the city and ended the rebellion peacefully. Her intervention demonstrates the value of wisdom in times of crisis.
5. What lessons can believers learn from 2 Samuel 20?
Believers can learn several lessons from 2 Samuel 20. God protects His people and His covenant purposes. Sheba's rebellion was crushed because God preserved the house of David. Rebellion against God's appointed authority is rebellion against God. Believers are called to submit to the authority of Christ as the true King. Wisdom is valuable and can prevent conflict. The wise woman's intervention saved a city and demonstrated the power of prudent negotiation. Unchecked ambition is destructive. Joab's murder of Amasa was a warning about the dangers of pride and ambition. The chapter encourages believers to trust in God's protection, to seek wisdom, and to submit to the Lordship of Christ.
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