2 Sam. 20 By occasion of this quarrel Sheba stirreth up Israel to sedition, 2 Sam. 20:1–2. David’s ten concubines are shut up in perpetual prison, 2 Sam. 20:3. Amasa is slain by Joab, 2 Sam. 20:4–10. He and Abishai pursue Sheba unto Abel, 2 Sam. 20:11–15.

There happened to be there; his presence was casual in itself, though certain, and ordered by God’s providence. Man of Belial; a lawless person, one that attempted to shake off the yoke of civil authority. See Deut. 13:13.

Every man of Israel, i.e. the generality of those Israelites who were present.

Put them in ward; partly, because they had not vigorously opposed Absalom’s lustful desire, as they should have done, even with the hazard of their lives; and partly, lest the sight of them should renew the memory of Absalom’s filthiness, and of their own and David’s reproach, which it was fit to…

Assemble me the men of Judah, and march in the head of them as their general, as I have promised thee, 2 Sam. 19:13. Within three days; which he supposed Amasa, having been their late general, could easily do; and the business required haste.

Either because the people, being wearied out by the late civil war, were not forward to engage in another; or because the soldiers had more affection to Joab than to their new general, to whose ill conduct possibly they might impute their unsuccessfulness in the last battle; or because Amasa for…

David said to Abishai; not to Joab, lest by this means he should recover his place, and Amasa be discontented, and David’s fidelity in making good his promise to Amasa be questioned. Thy lord’s servants, i.e. my guards that attend upon my person, and the other soldiers who are now present with me.

Joab’s men; the remainders of Joab’s army who were there present, with whom also Joab might go as a reformade, watching an opportunity to do what he designed. Of the Cherethites and the Pelethites, See Poole on “2 Sam. 8:18”.

Amasa went before them; having gathered some forces, and given due orders for the rest to follow him, he returned to Jerusalem, and by the king’s command went after those mentioned 2 Sam.

As the manner of ancient times was, when they kissed and saluted one another.

The sword that was in Joab’s hand; which falling out, as it seemed, casually, he supposed that Joab intended only to put it into its scabbard, and therefore took no care to defend himself against the stroke. In the fifth rib: See Poole on “2 Sam. 2:23”.

One of Joab’s men, left there on purpose to deliver the following message. He that favoureth Joab; he that would have Joab to be general, rather than such a perfidious rebel and traitor as Amasa.

Wallowed, Heb. rolled himself, being in the pangs of death; yet having so much life left as to move himself a little, though not to raise himself up from his place. In blood; in his own blood, which was shed there. All the people, to wit, the soldiers which were upon their march.

He went; either, 1. Joab, who pursued Sheba through all the tribes as far as Abel. Or rather, 2. Sheba, who was last mentioned, who marched from tribe to tribe to stir them up to sedition; and to him the following words seem best to agree.

They came, i.e. Joab and his army, which is easily understood, both from the foregoing and following verses. They cast up a bank; from whence they might either batter the wall, or shoot at those who defended it against them who should assault it. See 2 Kings 19:32, Jer. 32:24, Jer. 33:4.

According to this translation the sense is, This city which thou art about to destroy is no mean and contemptible one, but so honourable and considerable for its wisdom, and the wise people in it, that when any differences did arise among any of the neighbours, they used proverbially to say, We…

Or, I (to wit, the city of Abel, in whose name and person she speaks this) am one of the peaceable and faithful cities of Israel. Whatsoever Sheba may design, whom we have innocently received into our city before we well understood the matter, we of this city abhor the thoughts of warring and…

A man of Mount Ephraim. Quest. How can this be so when he is called a Benjamite, 2 Sam. 20:1? Answ. Either he was a Benjamite by birth, but dwelt in the tribe of Ephraim, as many did upon several occasions dwell out of their own tribes; or Mount Ephraim was a place in Benjamin, which might be so…

In her wisdom prudently treated with them about it, either severally or jointly, as she saw fit; representing to them the certainty and nearness of all their ruin, if they did not speedily comply with her desires, and certain deliverance if they did.

Joab was over all the host of Israel: the good success of this and of the former expedition, under the conduct of Joab, had so fixed his interest in the army, and others of David’s fastest friends, that the king could not without danger to the public weal displace him.

Over the tribute; the receiver and manager of the king’s public revenue. See Poole on “1 Kings 4:6”. Jehoshaphat was recorder: See Poole on “2 Sam. 8:16”.

The Jairite; so called from his birth or dwelling in the country of Jair in Gilead, Num. 32:41, Judg. 10:4. A chief ruler; either the president of the king’s council; or his chief minister (as the Hebrew word cohen signifies) of state, instead of Ahithophel; or in some other very high place near…