“And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.”
He thought by speaking contemptuously of the king, to stir the people rather to sedition, or else by causing Israel to depart, thought that they of Judah would have less esteemed him. Where the ten tribes contended against Judah. As they of Judah say.
“So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.”
From Gilgal, which was near Jordan.
“And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. ward: Heb. an house of ward shut: Heb. bound living: Heb. in widowhood of life”
Cross references: : 2 Sam. 16:22
“Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. Assemble: Heb. Call”
Who was his chief captain in Joab’s room, 2 Sam. 19:13 .
“And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. escape: Heb. deliver himself from our eyes”
Either them which had been under Joab or David’s men.
“When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.”
Which was his coat, that he used to wear in the wars.
“But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. struck: Heb. doubled not his stroke”
Hebrew, doubled not his stroke .
“And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.”
He stood by Amasa at Joab’s appointment.
“And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together , and went also after him.”
Unto the city Abel, which was near to Beth Maachah.
“And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. in the trench: or, against the outmost wall battered: Heb. marred to throw down”
That is, he went about to overthrow it.
“Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. They were: or, They plainly spake in the beginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end”
She showeth that the old custom was not to destroy a city before peace was offered, Deut. 20:10 , 11 .
“I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”
She speaketh in the name of the city.
“The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. by name: Heb. by his name”
Hearing his fault told him, he gave place to reason, and required only him that was author of the treason.
“And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. a chief: or, a prince”
Either in dignity or familiarity.