📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 20 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 20:1 RAnd 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.
2 Samuel 20:2 So Revery 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 Rten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in Tward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were Tshut up unto the day of their death, Tliving in widowhood.
2 Samuel 20:4 Then said the king to RAmasa, TAssemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
2 Samuel 20:5 RSo Amasa went to Tassemble 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 RAbishai, 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 Tescape us.
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.
2 Samuel 20:8 When they were at the great stone which is Rin 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, RArt 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 Rhe smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and Tstruck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
2 Samuel 20:11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is Rfor David, let him go after Joab.
2 Samuel 20:12 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 Rthe 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 RAbel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
2 Samuel 20:15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they Rcast up a bank against the city, and it stood Tin the trench: and all the people that were with Joab Tbattered the wall, to throw it down.
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, RHear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
2 Samuel 20:18 Then she spake, saying, RTThey 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 Rpeaceable 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?
2 Samuel 20:20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, Rthat I should swallow up or destroy.
2 Samuel 20:21 The matter is not so: but Ra man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri Tby 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 Rin 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 Tretired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
2 Samuel 20:23 RNow Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
2 Samuel 20:24 And RAdoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was Trecorder:
2 Samuel 20:25 And RSheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
2 Samuel 20:26 And RIra also the Jairite was Ta chief ruler about David.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 20:1–7 — A new rebellion and a wounded household
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Sheba uses a trumpet call to draw Israel away from David, while Judah remains with him. At Jerusalem, David places the ten concubines in protected custody but they live in confinement and widowhood. Their suffering is part of the cost of the power struggle, not evidence that they were responsible for it. Amasa delays the mustering, and David sends Abishai.
Key Truth: Political conflict can leave lasting harm to people who did not choose it.
Check What You Remember
1. Who announced the new rebellion? (2 Samuel 20:1)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:1 (KJV).
2. Which group stayed with David? (2 Samuel 20:2)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:2 (KJV).
3. Within how many days was Amasa to assemble Judah? (2 Samuel 20:4)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 20:8–13 — Joab kills Amasa
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joab approaches Amasa with a friendly greeting and kills him with a sword. The pursuit pauses around the body until it is moved from the road, then continues under Joab. The outward gesture of friendship concealed lethal betrayal. This account describes wrongdoing amid royal service; it does not excuse it because the pursuit continues.
Key Truth: Claims of loyalty do not justify treachery.
Check What You Remember
1. Where did Amasa meet the force? (2 Samuel 20:8)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:8 (KJV).
2. Who killed Amasa? (2 Samuel 20:10)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:10 (KJV).
3. Whom did the force continue to pursue? (2 Samuel 20:13)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 20:14–26 — A wise woman intervenes at the siege
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
At Abel of Bethmaachah, a wise woman challenges Joab about destroying a faithful city. Joab identifies Sheba as the target, and the inhabitants kill Sheba, ending the siege. The account then names David’s officials. The woman’s intervention prevents destruction of the whole city; the killing remains part of ancient wartime judgment, not a model for private violence.
Key Truth: Listening to wise intervention can prevent wider destruction.
Check What You Remember
1. Who called to Joab from the city? (2 Samuel 20:16)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:16 (KJV).
2. Who was the rebel Joab requested? (2 Samuel 20:21)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:21 (KJV).
3. Who was the recorder in the closing list? (2 Samuel 20:24)
Find it in 2 Samuel 20:24 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Ecclesiastes 9:18 — This passage contrasts wisdom’s value with the damage one sinner can cause.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you help keep a conflict from harming everyone around it? Consider the value of listening before acting and confronting deception honestly.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does Sheba’s cry exploit division after David’s return?
2. What makes Amasa’s delay urgent to David?
3. How does Joab disguise his approach before killing Amasa?
4. How does the wise woman challenge the siege’s effect?
5. What limited demand allows the siege to end?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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