The Voice of Wisdom (2 Samuel 20)
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Today’s reading is the whole of 2 Samuel 20
“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?”
2 Samuel 20:19
Reflect ❤️
The chapter opens with the introduction of the “worthless troublemaker” Sheba, who leads a short-lived rebellion against King David. Sheba was a Benjamite – the tribe of King Saul. The Benjamites had once enjoyed politically elite status as the tribe of Israel’s first king, Saul. But after Saul and Jonathan died in battle and David succeeded Saul as king, this led to widespread resentment and anger among them.
Sheba’s rallying cry (v 1) was not an attempt to overthrow King David, but to withdraw support for him and reject his kingship. “Every man to his tent” was a known military order, telling the tribes to stand down from their Israelite duties and merely look out for their own families at their own homes.
God’s plan for the people of Israel was quite different – a plan of togetherness and common purpose, resulting in salvation and a message of hope. Sheba wanted the opposite – segregation, selfishness, and abandonment, resulting in undue conflict and death.
Sheba also, as we have seen many times in 2 Samuel so far, chose his words carefully to twist the truth. He claimed his people had “no share” in David, and referred to him as the son of Jesse to deliberately draw attention to his humble family beginnings instead of his eternal purpose and God-given status. Sheba’s insult is self-defeating because the biblical account of the sons of Jesse, when King David is chosen, reminds us to not look at outward appearances, but at the heart. This is something we have seen before: the words of this twisted truth are accepted, and all the northern tribes turn away from their king and follow Sheba.
King David had made Amasa commander of the army in place of Joab. This was likely a deliberate decision to promote peace after Absalom’s rebellion, since Amasa had previously commanded Absalom’s forces. David then instructed Amasa to summon the men of Judah and return within three days. But Amasa delayed, and David, having learned from the danger of past rebellions, acted quickly. He feared that Sheba would do even more harm than Absalom if he was allowed time to gather strength, so he ordered his mighty warriors to go out and pursue him.
Joab, like Sheba and the Benjamites, harboured resentment against Amasa. He used this as an opportunity. Though he had been replaced, he marched with the army and, while pretending to greet Amasa, killed him and left his body as a spectacle.
We see the tragic effects of resentment worsening as the armies of King David chase down Sheba and contain him in a city. In the midst of battlements being set up against the city walls, and war about to break out, an unnamed woman enters the scene and, in her remarkable wisdom, is able to engage the attention of hot-headed Joab.
She reminds him that this city is part of the Lord’s inheritance and challenges him over the destruction he is about to bring. Joab insists that he does not want to destroy the city, but only wants Sheba handed over. Her intervention succeeds: Sheba is delivered over, the city is spared, and the siege comes to an end.
The other positive here is that it seems she gets Joab to reflect on his actions and recognise something of the destruction that he has been responsible for. However, it’s unclear if Joab’s anger is completely spent, as his reference to Sheba as “a man of the hill country of Ephraim” may suggest that the tribal tensions and resentment running through the chapter have not completely disappeared.
With another trumpet blast we now see the scene of an unnamed woman ending conflict and Joab leading his troops back to their rightful place and role, in stark contrast to the opening scene of the prideful and angry Sheba blowing his trumpet to announce his divisive commands and hurtful versions of the truth.
In this chapter, we see three ways to navigate tension. We see Sheba exploiting conflict and creating more division. We see Joab’s aggressive approach and military might. And we see the de-escalating voice of wisdom from the woman of Abel.
We are called to be voices of unity and de-escalation. To do this, we lean on Christ, the ultimate peacemaker: the One who does not scheme or destroy, but offers sacrifice, healing, and unity.
Pray 🙏
Father God, thank you that you are a God of love and unity. Your purpose for us, your people, is not division and self-importance, but unity, togetherness, and common purpose – for your glory, and to serve one another. Shape us into people who can serve you, our King, more effectively, in fellowship, living for you. Amen