SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 20
SHEBA REBELS AGAINST DAVID (vs. 1-26)
A troublemaker named Sheba sounded a trumpet and shouted: “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son!. Every man to his tent, O Israel” (v. 1). So the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba. But the men of Judah remain faithful to King David from Jordan to Jerusalem.
When king David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he let the 10 concubines take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard with his provisions. King David told Amasa to summon the men of Judah. David commanded Abishai and his men to pursue Sheba. So Joab’s men and the mighty warrior went out and marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba.
While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing a military tunic and met Amasa. When they met, he took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. He also got his dagger and stabbed Amasa dead. Then Joab and Abishai pursued Sheba.
There was a wise woman who wanted to talk to Joab. When they met, she told Joab not to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance. Joab denied the accusation and told her that they were pursuing Sheba because he had lifted up his hand against king David. He promised to withdraw from the city if she can handover the man to him,.
The woman went to all the people and told them to Kill Sheba. So the men cut off Sheba’s head and threw it to Joab. Then Joab sounded the trumpet and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home in Jerusalem.
THOUGHT:
The wise woman thought of a way to end the war and prevent many innocent people from being killed. She used wise words with a plan of action to stop Joab’s attack. Sometimes, the courage to speak up can prevent great disaster.