2 Samuel 20 Summary

A worthless man named Sheba, son of Bichri, a Benjamite, blows a trumpet and cries out that Israel has no part in David nor inheritance in the son of Jesse, calling all to their tents. Every man of Israel follows Sheba, but the men of Judah cleave to their king from Jordan to Jerusalem. David returns to his house at Jerusalem and puts his ten concubines whom he left to keep the house into ward, feeding them but not approaching them; they remain shut up until their death. David commands Amasa to assemble the men of Judah within three days, but Amasa tarries longer than appointed. David tells Abishai that Sheba will do more harm than Absalom did; he orders him to pursue Sheba lest he take fenced cities and escape. Joab's men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all mighty men pursue Sheba out of Jerusalem. At the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa goes before them. Joab, girded with a sword in his sheath, greets Amasa, takes him by the beard to kiss him, and strikes him in the fifth rib, shedding out his bowels to the ground; Amasa dies without a second blow. Joab and Abishai pursue Sheba. One of Joab's men stands and cries that whoever favors Joab and David should follow him. Amasa wallows in blood in the highway; a man removes him and casts a cloth upon him. All the people go on after Joab. Joab pursues Sheba through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maachah, where they besiege him, cast up a bank, and batter the wall. A wise woman from the city calls out, asking Joab to hear her. She identifies herself as peaceable and faithful in Israel, asking why he would destroy a city and a mother in Israel, swallowing up the inheritance of the Lord. Joab replies he seeks only Sheba, a man of mount Ephraim who lifted his hand against King David; if they deliver him, he will depart. The woman goes to all the people in her wisdom, they cut off Sheba's head, and cast it to Joab. He sounds the trumpet, and the people retire to their tents. Joab returns to Jerusalem to the king. The chapter closes with a list of David's officials: Joab over all the host of Israel; Benaiah over the Cherethites and Pelethites; Adoram over tribute; Jehoshaphat as recorder; Sheva as scribe; Zadok and Abiathar as priests; and Ira the Jairite as chief ruler about David.