2 Samuel 20:1–10a

And there happened to be there a rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said:

“We have no share in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;
Every man to his tents, O Israel!”

So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.

Now 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 seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

And the king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him. And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.” So Joab’s men, with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out. Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died.

Notice Sheba’s complaint. “We have no share in David.”

This is ridiculous. Any king would have to be from one tribe. Nothing David has done favors his own tribe. He’s been careful to mend fences. David isn’t perfect, but in this phase he’s done everything right.

Nevertheless, Sheba’s complaint rings true with every man of Israel, and the rebellion is on. David is right when he says, “Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom.” Note two things.

First, David is thinking of the whole nation, not just of himself. Absalom’s rebellion was within his family. It was terrible for David, but it couldn’t fracture the nation the way Sheba’s rebellion could.

Second, David said, “will do us more harm,” not, “could do us more harm.“ Yikes.

The tribes of Israel will find any excuse to fight with each other. Rivalry is systemic to the human condition. People hold grudges, especially ones with little foundation.

It’s why Joab killed Amasa.

To forward this devotional, see the link in green below.

These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.