The big picture
2 Samuel 20 opens in verse 1 with “And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue…”, and closes in verse 26 with “And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.” Repeated or prominent terms include Joab, Amasa, Bichri, Sheba, David. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 262 Samuel 20:1-7
1–7: There happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the…
2 Samuel 20:1–7 opens with “And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a…” and reaches “And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 20 develops its own movement around Joab, Amasa, Bichri, Sheba, David, with particular weight carried by Bichri, David, Sheba.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a…” Naming Belial and Benjamite keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Samuel 20:1-7
King James Version1And 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.
2So 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.
3And 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.
4Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6And 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.
7And 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 20:8-14
8–14: When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before…
2 Samuel 20:8–14 opens with “When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment…” and reaches “And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 20 develops its own movement around Joab, Amasa, Bichri, Sheba, David, with particular weight carried by Amasa, Joab, highway.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on…” Naming Amasa and Gibeon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“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…” Naming Joab and Abishai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 20:8-14
King James Version8When 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.
9And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10But 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.
11And 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.
12And 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.
13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
2 Samuel 20:15-21
15–21: They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a…
2 Samuel 20:15–21 opens with “And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the…” and reaches “The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 20 develops its own movement around Joab, Amasa, Bichri, Sheba, David, with particular weight carried by Joab, city, hear.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the…” Naming Abel and Beth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak…” Naming Come and Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 20:15-21
King James Version15And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, 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.
16Then 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.
17And 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.
18Then 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.
19I 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 ?
20And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21The 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 20:22-26
22–26: The woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the…
2 Samuel 20:22–26 opens with “Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the…” and reaches “And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 20 develops its own movement around Joab, Amasa, Bichri, Sheba, David, with particular weight carried by Joab, Abiathar, Adoram.
Context that brings the passage to life
“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…” Naming Joab and Bichri keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 20:22-26
King James Version22Then 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.
23Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
24And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
25And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 20:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 20:10 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
2 Samuel 20:26 leaves the reader with “And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Joab, Amasa, Bichri, Sheba, David, Israel help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What assumption drives Abraham's deception?
He assumes there is no fear of God in the place and that he will be killed.
How does the chapter expose that assumption?
Abimelech responds seriously to God's warning and confronts Abraham about wrongdoing.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.