Brit-Am Commentary
"2-Samuel"
Chapter Twenty
The Kingdom
of David
A Brit-Am
On-Line First Publication
[2-Samuel 20:1] 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.
We saw in the previous chapter how the
Men of Israel quarreled with those of Judah over what they saw as excessive
proprietorship on the part of Judah concerning the personage of David.
So too today we have similar problem.
"Ephraimites"
who (in many cases) have only recently become aware of their probable Israelite
Ancestry and have just begun to explore their "Hebrew Roots" still sometimes
give evidence of something approaching jealousy towards Judah. They seem to feel
like they wish to say,
"If we are Israelites like Judah then we too should have a say in what goes on
in the Land of Israel. What right has Judah to deny us the same rights in the
Land accorded to Jews? We too, should also have a say in how the Bible should be
kept or at the least we should be taken into consideration".
This may be a bit exaggerated but such sometimes approximates the feeling ("the
vibes") people like ourselves sometimes receive from some
Ephraimites.
This is what we get from people who cannot be absolutely sure they are of
Israelite Origin and only yesterday thought they were not.
Imagine how the feeling would be if they were sure of it!
Perhaps this is why Divine Providence DOES NOT WANT
Ephraimites
to be certain at present?
Perhaps the Brit-Am path of taking things quietly while working on the depth and
inner intensification of Israelite consciousness is the right one?
Brit-Am needs your support.
<<A MAN OF BELIAL: An evil person.
"Belial" is explained to mean "bli-ol"
or "without a yoke" meaning someone who is irresponsible and negative. To create
division amongst the Tribes of Israel is an evil act. To cause Israel to resent
Judah and to act against Judah is extremely wicked.
<<A
BENJAMITE:
Saul the first king of Israel was from the Tribe of Benjamin. Even though
Benjaminites
had been amongst the earliest and most faithful followers of David it could be
that some of them felt offended by the loss of the throne to the Tribe of Judah.
<<A TRUMPET: In Hebrew "shophar"
meaning the hollowed out horn of a ram or goat.
In more (but not all cases) where the KJ has "trumpet" the Hebrew is
shophar.
[2-Samuel 20: 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.
[2-Samuel 20:3] 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.
These concubines had been publicly
coupled by Absalom. They probably were not culpable concerning what had happened
since they had no choice but David was the Royal personage in Israel and had to
act as such. A woman who is raped is not considered to have committed adultery
but if she is the wife of a priest he has to divorce her even so. The King in
some respects has a similar status to that of a priest.
[2-Samuel 20:4] THEN SAID THE KING TO AMASA, ASSEMBLE ME THE MEN OF JUDAH WITHIN
THREE DAYS, AND BE THOU HERE PRESENT.
Amasa
had been appointed (2-Samuel 19:14) to head the army in place of
Joab.
David had replaced Joab
because he had killed Absalom and because his independence of spirit was liable
to destabilize the monarchy.
[2-Samuel 20:5] SO AMASA WENT TO ASSEMBLE THE MEN OF JUDAH: BUT HE TARRIED
LONGER THAN THE SET TIME WHICH HE HAD APPOINTED HIM.
[2-Samuel 20:6] 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.
<<ABISHAI:
He was brother of Joab
and a leader of the army alongside
Joab.
Cf.
WHEN JOAB
SAW THAT THE FRONT OF THE BATTLE WAS AGAINST HIM BEFORE AND BEHIND, HE CHOSE OF
ALL THE CHOICE MEN OF ISRAEL, AND PUT THEM IN ARRAY AGAINST THE SYRIANS
[2-Samuel 10:9]:
AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE HE DELIVERED INTO THE HAND OF
ABISHAI
HIS BROTHER, THAT HE MIGHT PUT THEM IN ARRAY AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF
AMMON
[2-Samuel 10:10].
AND DAVID SENT FORTH A THIRD PART OF THE PEOPLE UNDER THE HAND OF
JOAB,
AND A THIRD PART UNDER THE HAND OF
ABISHAI
THE SON OF ZERUIAH,
JOAB'S
BROTHER, AND A THIRD PART UNDER THE HAND OF
ITTAI
THE GITTITE
[2-Samuel 18:2].
[2-Samuel 20:7] AND THERE WENT OUT AFTER HIM JOAB'S MEN, AND THE CHERETHITES,
AND THE PELETHITES, AND ALL THE MIGHTY MEN: AND THEY WENT OUT OF JERUSALEM, TO
PURSUE AFTER SHEBA THE SON OF BICHRI.
Joab
was also with them as becomes clear below. Why however is the presence of
Joab
related to us only indirectly? I would suggest that in this case, as distinct
from previously, Joab
went out with his men and took control of the army in an unofficial capacity.
David had in effect demoted him but when
Amasa
who was supposed to take his place proved not up to standard
Joab
simply took over.
[2-Samuel 20:8] 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.
[2-Samuel 20:9] AND JOAB SAID TO AMASA, ART THOU IN HEALTH, MY BROTHER? AND JOAB
TOOK AMASA BY THE BEARD WITH THE RIGHT HAND TO KISS HIM.
[2-Samuel 20:10] 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.
A simple reading has
Joab
killing Amasa
out of jealousy. We do not however know everything and Scripture leaves the
delay of Amasa
in assembling the army unexplained.
[2-Samuel 20:11] 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.
Here too we find loyalty to
Joab
and loyalty to David considered one and the same in the eyes of the soldiers.
The loyalty of Amasa
may have been in question.
Students of the bible have mixed feelings about
Joab.
He was a son of the sister of David. Amongst the Irish and Berbers of North
Africa there were places were the son of the sister received an importance
approaching that of a son. Joab was a warrior and a killer. He was both better
and worse than a simple reading of Scripture would suggest. It was evidently
through him that the sin of David with Bath-Sheba and Uri the Hittite became
public. He was the indirect cause of troubles in the Kingdom but also the one
who put them to right. The Sages said that the generosity and self-sacrifice of
Joab
were legendary. David needed Joab
but did not like it.
[2-Samuel 20:1 AND AMASA WALLOWED IN BLOOD IN THE MIDST OF THE HIGHWAY. AND WHEN
THE MAN SAW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE STOOD STILL, HE REMOVED AMASA OUT OF THE HIGHWAY
INTO THE FIELD, AND CAST A CLOTH UPON HIM, WHEN HE SAW THAT EVERY ONE THAT CAME
BY HIM STOOD STILL.
[2-Samuel 20:13] WHEN HE WAS REMOVED OUT OF THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE PEOPLE WENT ON
AFTER JOAB, TO PURSUE AFTER SHEBA THE SON OF BICHRI.
[2-Samuel 20:14] 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.
<<ABEL, AND TO
BETHMAACHAH:
These places were evidently close together and are usually referred to under one
name as we find in the next verse.
[2-Samuel 20:15] 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.
<<ABEL OF
BETHMAACHAH:
In Hebrew "ABEL-BETH-MAACHAH"
or the "Plain of the House of
Maachah". "Abel" meaning plain
can also be rendered "Even" or "Eben"
or "Emen".
Maacah
was one of the wives of Machir
first born son of Manasseh. "Emain
Macah"
was a major center in Ancient Ulster in Northern Ireland.
It is the linguistic equivalent of ABEL-BETH-MAACHAH.
A goddess of the Ancient Irish was
Macah
who was associated with war, horses, and sovereignty.
Macah
was also the wife of Nemed
the Primary ancestor of the Ancient Gaels of Ireland.
Nemed
means "separated" or "sanctified" the same as "Peresh"
in Hebrew.
Emain Macha (Ulster) =
Abel beth Maachah of Menasseh and Nephtali.
Emain
Macha
(the ancient capital of Ulster) is synonymous (in Biblical Hebrew) with Abel
beth
Maachah.
Abel beth
Maachah
was an important centre whose inhabitants were deported to Assyria by the
Assyrian king Tiglathpileser.
It was in the territory of
Nephtali (2-Kings 15:29)
adjoining Menasseh
while "Maachah"
the wife of Machir
(son of Menasseh)
was the mother of Peresh,
Sheresh,
Ulam,
and Rakem
(1 Chronicles 7:16). Amongst the several wives of Caleb prince of Judah was a
concubine named also Maachah
(1-Chronicles 2:;48-49) who bore him
Sheber
and Tirhanah,
Shaaph
(father of Madmannah)
and Sheva
(father of Machbena
and Gibea);
and also apparently Achsah
the famous daughter of Caleb who married
Othniel
ben
Kenaz
and settled in southern Judah (Joshua 15;16-19) as well as waging war against
the king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:9). Some of the descendants of Caleb were to
be found in northern Syria an area belonging to
Yair
who in turn was affiliated with Gilead of
Menasseh.
"Macha"
in Irish tradition was an ancestress identified as the goddess of war.
Abel, says the Hebrew Concordance of "Even
Shushan",
is a form for "Even" (Hebrew: "stone" or "foundation" or "plain") which is
interchangeable with "Amen" or "Emain"
and the "beth"
meaning "house" is really optional.
Emain
Macha
of Ireland in Hebrew is therefore a name synonymous with Abel
beth
Maacha
which had probably been formed when the adjacent settlements of "Avala"
or "Abala"
and Maacha
joined together:
"And he went through all the tribes of Israel,
Abelah
and to beth-Maachah..."
(2-Samuel 20:14).
[Scandinavia according to Pliny was called by the locals
Abalus
and a legendary western paradise home of the Tribe of Dana was known as
Avallon.]
Abala
belonged to Nephtali
who were full-brothers to Dan and both settled in Scandinavia.
Adapted from "Lost Israelite Identity. The Hebrew Ancestry of Celtic Races"
[2-Samuel 20:16] THEN CRIED A WISE WOMAN OUT OF THE CITY, HEAR, HEAR; SAY, I
PRAY YOU, UNTO JOAB, COME NEAR HITHER, THAT I MAY SPEAK WITH THEE.
[2-Samuel 20:17] AND WHEN HE WAS COME NEAR UNTO HER, THE WOMAN SAID, ART THOU
JOAB?
AND HE ANSWERED, I AM HE. THEN SHE SAID UNTO HIM, HEAR THE WORDS OF THINE HANDMAID. AND HE ANSWERED, I DO HEAR.
[2-Samuel 20:18] 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.
[2-Samuel 20:19] 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?
<<A CITY AND A MOTHER: A major city that outlying settlements are attached to,
i.e. a metropolitan.
<<THE INHERITANCE OF THE LORD: The land of Israel belongs to the Almighty.
Israel is the People of the Almighty. The settlement of Israelites in the Land
is THE INHERITANCE OF THE LORD.
[2-Samuel 20:20] AND JOAB ANSWERED AND SAID, FAR BE IT, FAR BE IT FROM ME, THAT I SHOULD SWALLOW UP OR
DESTROY.
[2-Samuel 20:21] 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.
[2-Samuel 20:22] THEN THE WOMAN WENT UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE IN HER WISDOM. AND THEY
CUT OFF THE HEAD OF SHEBA THE SON OF BICHRI,
AND CAST IT OUT TO JOAB.
AND HE BLEW A TRUMPET, AND THEY RETIRED FROM THE CITY, EVERY MAN TO HIS TENT.
AND JOAB RETURNED TO JERUSALEM UNTO THE KING.
[2-Samuel 20:23] NOW JOAB WAS OVER ALL THE HOST OF ISRAEL: AND BENAIAH THE SON
OF JEHOIADA WAS OVER THE CHERETHITES AND OVER THE PELETHITES:
Benaiah
as becomes apparent later was the head of the personal bodyguard and "enforcer"
of the monarch. The CHERETHITES
and THE PELETHITES
were mercenaries and probably of foreign origin as we have explained previously
but other opinions exist.
[2-Samuel 20:24] AND ADORAM WAS OVER THE TRIBUTE: AND JEHOSHAPHAT THE SON OF
AHILUD WAS RECORDER:
[2-Samuel 20:25] AND SHEVA WAS SCRIBE: AND ZADOK AND ABIATHAR WERE THE PRIESTS:
[2-Samuel 20:26] AND IRA ALSO THE JAIRITE WAS A CHIEF RULER ABOUT DAVID.
<<JAIRITE:
In Hebrew "HaYaiRI"
i.e. belonging to Yair.
He was from Gilead. The People of
Yair
became very important in Ancient Israel and in the Ancient middle East in
general. They were also recalled in the legends and place-names of Ancient
Ireland and Scotland as explained in "Lost Israelite Identity".
Chapter Nineteen
