2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 2 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1Chr 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931 BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931 BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. Map of David's Kingdom-ESV Global Map of Cities in 2 Samuel HIGHS AND LOWS OF DAVID'S LIFE Source: Life Application Study Bible (borrow) 2 Samuel 20:1 Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, "We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!" And there: 2Sa 19:41-43 Ps 34:19 a man: 2Sa 23:6 De 13:13 Jdg 19:22 1Sa 2:12 30:22 Ps 17:13 Pr 26:21 Hab 1:12,13 he blew: 2Sa 15:10 Jdg 3:27 Pr 24:21,22 25:8 We have: 2Sa 19:43 1Ki 12:16 2Ch 10:6 Lu 19:14,27 2 Samuel 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Samuel 19:41-43+ And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why had our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?” 42 Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?” 43 But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel. SHEBA'S REBELLION FOMENTS AND SPILLS OVER Remember the axiom that context is king in interpretation. Once again the chapter break could mislead the reader by obscuring the previous events. The context (ignoring chapter break) shows that this "Sheba's rebellion" had seeds of dissension sown in the quarrel between the men of Israel and the men of Judah in 2 Samuel 19:41-43+. And this evil opportunist takes advantage of the national turmoil. Paul Apple introduces this chapter - A foolish man (as portrayed in the Book of Proverbs) is one who has lost his head. When confronted with life choices, the fool rejects the counsel of wisdom and the path of righteousness to strike out on his own course of self will and rebellion. His path and experiences may be varied, but his destiny is determined. Here we see one such fool Sheba who rejects the inheritance of the Lord and the rule of God’s anointed to try to establish his own dominion. In the end he loses his head. No surprise – but this sad scenario is played out time and again in the lives of so many. Now a worthless fellow (beliyyaal - Lit - Heb “man of worthlessness”) happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite - Note Sheba is of the tribe of Saul and this in part undoubtedly motivated him to rebel against the leadership of David who had replaced Saul. He saw the fact that David's own son had rebelled forcing David to kill him, as his opportunity to seize power. Sheba may have had a root of bitterness from David replacing Saul and that is dangerous for Hebrews 12:15+ says "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." Sheba's revolt reminds us also of a NT "revolt" in Galatians 2:11-13+ But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. And he blew the trumpet (shophar/shopar/sopar) - The shofar is capable of a variety of tones but cannot play a tune, so it is used primarily for signals either in worship or in warfare. The ram’s horn was softened in hot water, bent and flattened to produce its distinctive shape. Shofars were used for various calls to a large group and in this case sounded a call to rebel against King David. And said, "We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel! - Notice they had just stated the north had 10 parts, but Sheba inverts this, announcing "We have no share in David! We have no part in the son of Jesse! People of Israel, let's go to our own homes!" This is an idiom (anachronism) from the exodus and wandering period. It means "to your homes." In effect he is calling not just to go home, but to go to war, to rebel against the authority of David and thus he is throwing down the gauntlet (so to speak) which would be to his great regret! He is out of his mind and soon would be minus his head! Basically what Sheba is claiming is that David's heart was solely with Judah. Warren Wiersbe sums up Sheba's rebellion noting that "All it takes to light the fires of conflict is a speech from a would-be leader, and Sheba was that leader. Being a Benjamite, he favored the house of Saul, and he was probably an officer in the northern army. If the ten tribes seceded from the kingdom, perhaps he could become commander of their army. Sheba didn't declare war; all he did was dismiss the army and the citizens who came from the northern tribes and tell them not to follow David any longer. But in essence it was a declaration of war, for Sheba marched through the northern tribes trying to gather a following (2Sa 20:14). It appears that not many people responded, and Sheba and his followers ended up in the walled city of Abel (2Sa 20:14,15). (Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament) John