Sheba Rebels Against David
2 Samuel 20:1-26
Key verse 19 “We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”
Introduction
Through today's passage, we can learn how we should work for the kingdom of God like king David and a wise woman. We also realize that there are so many enemies of God such as Sheba who tries to destroy the kingdom of God. Through today' passage may the Lord help us to build up the kingdom of God together.
1. Read verses 1-5. Who is Sheba and how does he instigate a rebellion against David? (1) How do the men of Israel respond? What do the men of Judah do? (2) What does David do with the ten concubines whom he had left when he had fled from Absalom? (3) What does David say to Amasa? (4) What happens when Amasa attempts to carry out David’s orders? (5)
1-1) Read verses 1-5
"Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” 5 But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him."
1-2) Who is Sheba and how does he instigate a rebellion against David? (1)
Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!”
*Its background is 2 Samuel 19:11-12 and 41-43,
“King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12 You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’”
“Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”
42 All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel.”
* In this way although King David wanted to unite his kingdom after rebellion was resolved by sending a messager to the elders of Israel to welcome David as their king again.
But there was conflict between the men of Israel and the men of Judah.
*Who is Sheba? He is a Son of Bicri and a Benjamite. He is a troublemaker instead of a kingmaker. He became a rebel.
He says, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!”
*What’s the reason that there are on going rebels such as Absalom or Sheba?
We celebrate some rebels as heroes. Often times books and films paint rebels as heroes. That sounds pretty inspiring. They say that rules are made to be broken.
However there’s a problem when you begin to apply into real life. We are not living in a virtual world but in a real world. We were created fro the glory of God. God came up with “instruction manual” for our lives from the beginning.
Romans 1:21 reads, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
*The men of Israel were the people who rebelled against David. But they totally forgot what they had done.
They did not appreciate David's favor. Instead, they claimed their own right and joined the rebellion of Sheba again when they felt they were not accepted. They were so forgettable and proud that they never wanted to acknowledge their sins.
The men of Judah did not accept the men of Israel out of hatred and pride. They did not fully understand David's heart to unite his kingdom in peace. They did not want to work together for God and David with the men of Israel who were their former enemies. So they intentionally excluded the men of Israel.
Even if rebellion was subsided, conflict and hatred still remained in both sides. Sheba used the opportunity to be a leader over Israel. He provoked the men of Israel to rebel against David. The Bible plainly says that he was a troublemaker. He brought a huge trouble into Israel by dividing Israel again just to fill his sinful desire.
His rebelling spirit dishonors God as well as hurts others, thus leading himself and others to destruction. But Jesus Christ died to save you and I from our rebellion. He dies to transform rebels like you and me into His loving children.
How many of you realize the danger and pain you are bringing to others to yourself, and to God this morning? Right now is the time to lay down your arms, and surrender to the Lord Jesus Chris.
1-3) How do the men of Israel respond?
* all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri.
* At first, they followed Absalom. And when Absalom was dead, they tried to follow David. But, when they felt unwelcomed or excluded by the men of Judah, they again deserted David and chose to follow Sheba. We can't see any sincerity or loyalty in them. They changed their lord continually by following their own sinful desire.
1-4) What do the men of Judah do? (2)
2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
* We can not deny the fact that the men of Judah needed an open mind to accept and work together with their former enemies though they were loyal to David from the beginning to the end.
1-5) What does David do with the ten concubines whom he had left when he had fled from Absalom? (3)
3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
1-6) What does David say to Amasa? (4)
4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself"
* Amasa was the commander of Absalom' army. He led Absalom's army to fight and kill David. But David forgave him and even promised that he would make Amasa the commander of David's army.
2 Samuel 19: 13 "And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab."
* David did not act according to his own feeling or emotion. He denied his personal feeling against Amasa and wanted to work together with Amasa to unite his kingdom in peace.
1-7) What happens when Amasa attempts to carry out David’s orders? (5)
5 But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
* He took longer than the time the king had set for him. Maybe, the men of Judah did not accept Amasa as their new commander on behalf of Joab, their old commander. Nor did they want to follow his order willingly. Amasa probably had a hard time in mustering the army.
2. Read verses 6-13. What does David order Abishai to do and what do Joab’s men and the army do under Abishai’s command? (6-7) What does Joab do to Amasa? (8-10) What does one of Joab’s men do? (11-13)
2-1) Read verses 6-13
6 David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.”[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8561a"a] 7 So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.8 While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.9 Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.11 One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. 13 After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
2-2) What does David order Abishai to do and what do Joab’s men and the army do under Abishai’s command? (6-7)
6 David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” 7 So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
* David worried that Sheba would grow more powerful and become a big danger for his kingdom. He could not wait for Amasa any longer. So, he commanded Abishai to subside the rebellion of Sheba.
2-3) What does Joab do to Amasa? (8-10)
8 While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.9 Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.
* He killed Amasa with his dagger.
* Read also 2 Samuel 3: 22-30.
David made Abner the new commander of his army even though Abner was the commander of king Saul. He did so in order to unite his kingdom in peace. But Joab did not understand David' heart for he’s politically minded. He killed Aber, the commander of Saul's army out of revenge and hatred because Abner killed his brother Abahel. (2 Samuel 3:30).
* In today's passage, Joab again disobeyed David and killed Amasa. This time, he killed Amasa not because of any personal revenge but because of his own ambition to keep his position as a chief commander of Israel. Joab was the man of ambition and pride. He always acts according to his own judgment.
*Also he was not patient enough to accomodate other’s weak point. Amasa had hard time in adopting himself as a new leader. It was understandable situation for him. But Joab was not patient enough to work together with him by bearing him with God’s love and thanks.
* Joab was a man with military skill and strategy. Outwardly, it seemed he was working for David. But he used his ability only for himself and as the result, he was working against God and David.
2-4) What does one of Joab’s men do? (11-13)
11 One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. 13 After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
* He asked army to follow Joab as their new commander. He covered a garment over Amasa and removed him from the road because the dead body of Amasa blocked the march of army. He was Joab's man. He worked for Joab.
3. Read verses 14-19. Where does Sheba pass through on the way to Abel Beth Maakah and what do Joab’s troops do to that city? (14-15a). How does a wise woman in the city start talking to Joab and what does she say? (15b-19)
3-1) Read verses 14-19
14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites,[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8569b"b] who gathered together and followed him. 15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, 16 a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” 17 He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered. She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” “I’m listening,” he said. 18 She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. 19 We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”
3-2) Where does Sheba pass through on the way to Abel Beth Maakah and what do Joab’s troops do to that city? (14-15a).
14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites,[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8569b"b] who gathered together and followed him. 15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications.
Abel Beth Maachah (HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language"Hebrew: אבל בית מעכה "Meadow of the house ofHYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maacah" Maacah") was a city in the north ofHYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" Israel in the neighborhood ofHYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_(ancient_city)" Dan andHYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ijon&action=edit&redlink=1" Ijon, in theHYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_of_Naphtali" tribe of Naphtali.
Abel Beth Maachah was a place of considerable strength and importance. It is called "a mother in Israel".
3-3) How does a wise woman in the city start talking to Joab and what does she say? (15b-19).
"She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord's inheritance?"
According to what she had said, Abel seemed to be a well known city for wise and prudent men and women based on the meaning of the city.
Whenever any controversy arose among them and they couldn’t agree the matter among themselves, they might say, “let us go to Abel, and take advice there, and leave it to their arbitration.” And then they could had things concluded.
Now a woman stepped out to Joab’s army according to God’s intervention through the wise woman. It is like Abigail who saved hot tempored young man, David in the past.
The commands of God was shown in Deuteronomy 20:10-11;
“When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. 11 If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. 12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.”
Heathen cities were treated this way, how much more with the city of Israel.
However Joab who jumped to the conclusion was able to wipe out the city with a military man with his machine gun style.
Who knows? This woman assured Joab that the men of Abel had not invited, nor willingly received Sheba and his rebels into the city.
* The situation was very critical. The wall of the city was about to be demolished and many innocent people in the city could be killed. At that time, a wise woman stood up boldly to stop Joab's intention to destroy the city and saved the city and innocent people in the city.
* Some people blindly follow the world and the things in it without knowing the terrible consequences. They need someone who can tell them the way of salvation.
May the Lord richly bless American to raise up many wise and spiritual women of faith to egg on men to lay down their arms but to work for the glory of God!
*Also we can learn of courageous spirit of a woman who was not afraid of speaking out to Joab and his army. Let's stand up boldly and deliver the way of life to the people who are going to die.
Acts 5: 20 ""Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
4. Read verses 20-26. What does Joab tell the woman? (20-21a) What does the woman say?(21b) What happens after their conversation? (22) Who are David’s officials? (23-25).
4-1) Read verses 20-26
20 “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem. 23 Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; 24 Adoniram[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8579c"c] was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8581d"d] was David’s priest.
4-2) What does Joab tell the woman? (20-21a)
20 “Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”
4-3) What does the woman say?(21b)
The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall"
4-4) What happens after their conversation? (22)
22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
* The woman persuaded people in the city with her wise advice. They listened to her wise advice and as the result, they could save themselves and others.
* Thank God for the women of God who were brave for God’s glory. The people listened to them with humble mind. It was a beautiful work of God in making a unity of their hearts.
4-5)Who are David’s officials? (23-25).
. 23 Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; 24 Adoniram[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8579c"c] was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 25 Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26 and Ira the Jairite[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+20&version=NIV#fen-NIV-8581d"d] was David’s priest.
In conclusion,
We are called to build up the kingdom of God. How then can we build up God's kingdom? First, we should accept people with God's love and forgiveness and work together with them. Second, we should fight against the enemy of God who rebels against Him and who divides His kingdom. May God bless and help us to fight the spiritual fight together with one mind to build up His kingdom. Amen.
One word: we are the builders of God’s kingdom!
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