This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
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Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
2Samuel
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.
2 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.
((Mom was in the kitchen, and her 2-year-old daughter came in asking for a twinkie. Mom said, "Honey, we're about to eat lunch. You can have a twinkie after lunch." Well, the 2-year-old began to pout. So Mom took her up in her arms and said, "Your still my sweet little dumpling." The little girl said, "I ain't your NOTHIN' if you won't give me a twinkie!"))
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.
4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
David has made no statement. Worthy of the king is the fact that he has not put fuel to the flames of wrath.
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.
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.
David then called Abishai (Joab's brother) and gave him orders to gather all the troops and find Sheba.
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.
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.
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.
This is probably why Amasa couldn't gather the troops in three days. Joab "had it in for him," so to speak. Joab and Abishai probably deterred him from completing his task on purpose.
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.
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.
13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Even the warriors in David's elite army (the most accomplished and skilled ones) backed away at this awful murder.
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-ma'achah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-ma'achah, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
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.
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.
Now Joab went about the business of finding Sheba. They found him in a little town known as "Abel of Bethmaachah." And they beseiged the town as though they would destroy the whole town just to get Sheba. It seems that sometimes we humans will justify "casualties" of war. We lay aside valor and modesty to accomplish a goal.
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
This is how David set up the heads of his kingdom after it was fully restored.
Please continue with us in daily Bible study.
CHAPTER 20
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise."(Proverbs 10:19)
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."(Proverbs 15:1)
A lot is said in the Old Testament about controlling our tongues. This whole chapter is a lesson on what angry words will do.
Sheba is called a "son of Belial" - or child of the devil. His desire is division. That's the desire of the devil for Christian brotherhood.
In his anger, Sheba sounds a trumpet call and bids all the tribes follow him in turning away from David as king. Since Sheba is of the tribe of Benjamin, that means that now 11 tribes are going to follow him. Only Judah remains with David.
All this happened because of a few angry words!
However, David decided to put a stop to the rebellion and bring Israel back to unity.
He called Amasa and told him to gather the troops within three days. But Amasa didn't complete the task.
Abishai did so and took Joab with him (verse 8).
Now, though, Amasa determined to take the lead. Joab pretended friendship and used it to kill Amasa (verse 9). This was another self-centered murder by this man who wanted NO COMPETITION as head of the armies of Israel.
Joab did this plainly in view of everyone. And one might say this was absolute treason against the king who had chosen Amasa as head of the armies.
Later, when Solomon is given final directions before taking the throne (by David), David told him to "take care" of Joab. David knew Joab's self-centered willfulness. He himself was able to control Joab somewhat because of the loyalty Joab had for David. But no one else would be able to control him.
Amasa's body had to be removed from sight before they would follow Joab.
But a wise woman called for a private audience with Joab. She shared with him an old saying (verse 18). "Ask counsel at Abel.." she said. And that wasn't identifying the city, but the PERSON. In other words, "before committing murder, think about ole Abel...what would HE say?" Anger leads to unjustified acts, even murder.
Joab agreed that slaughter of the innocent was not his demeanor. So the woman approached the leaders of the town with a solution. They decided to sever Sheba's head and give it to Joab.
That ENDED the matter!!
Others needn't suffer for a traitor in his evil manner.
Joab remained as head of the army (verse 23).
Benaiah remained head of David's persanal bodyguard (verse 23).
Zadok & Abiathar remained as co-High Priests (verse 25).
Sheva replaced Seraiah as scribe (2Samuel 8:17, and verse 25 here).
Ira (verse 26) is given the charge of "minister." Perhaps Minister of Domestic Affairs?
Jehoshaphat becomes "recorder" (verse 24).
And a new office is created (verse 24) of TAX COLLECTOR! Adoram is chosen to head this office. David now is seeking to gain monies for the treasury.