2 Samuel Chapter 20

“And there happened to be a man of Belial, etc.] A wicked man, as the Targum, a lawless, yokeless man, that had cast off the yoke of the law, and was without it, as Belial is by some interpreted; or one unprofitable and useless, yea, noxious and pernicious: this man, though, with respect to second causes, may be said to be there by chance, yet it was so ordered by the providence of God that he should be present at this time for the further fulfilment of the threatening to David, that the sword should not depart from his house: whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; one perhaps that had been in the…”

“SHEBA MAKES A PARTY IN ISRAEL. (Sa2 20:1-9) Sheba . . . a Benjamite--Though nothing is known of this man, he must have been a person of considerable power and influence, before he could have raised so sudden and extensive a sedition. He belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, where the adherents of Saul's dynasty were still numerous; and perceiving the strong disgust of the other tribes with the part assumed by Judah in the restoration, his ill-designing heart resolved to turn it to the overthrow of David's authority in Israel. every man to his tents--This proverbial expression may have had its foundation in the fact,…”

“The son of Bichri ... - Rather, “a Bichrite,” formed like the names “Ahohite,” “Hachmonite,” etc. 2 Samuel 23:8-9, and so called from Becher, the son of Benjamin Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6-8 Saul was also of this family. It is evident that the transfer of the royalty from their tribe to that of Judah still rankled in the hearts of many Benjamites (2 Samuel 16:8 note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Happened - His presence was casual in itself, though ordered by God's providence. No part - The tribe of Judah have monopolized the king to themselves, and will not allow us any share in him; let them therefore enjoy him alone, and let us seek out a new king. The son of Jesse - An expression of contempt, implying that he was no more to be owned as their king, but as a private person, as the son of Jesse. To his tents - Let us all desist from this unthankful office, of bringing the king back, and go each to our homes, that we may consider, and then meet together to chuse a new king. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 20:2”

“20:1 Down with the dynasty of David! By the same rallying cry, the northern Israelites later dissociated themselves from Solomon (1 Kgs 12:16). Sheba’s failed revolt foreshadowed the ultimate failure of the northern kingdom, which was founded on a similar revolt by Jeroboam (1 Kgs 12).”

“And there: Sa2 19:41-43; Psa 34:19 a man: Sa2 23:6; Deu 13:13; Jdg 19:22; Sa1 2:12, Sa1 30:22; Psa 17:13; Pro 26:21; Hab 1:12, Hab 1:13 he blew: Sa2 15:10; Jdg 3:27; Pro 24:21, Pro 24:22, Pro 25:8 We have: Sa2 19:43; Kg1 12:16; Ch2 10:6; Luk 19:14, Luk 19:27 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 20:2”

“Sheba's Rebellion. - Sa2 20:1. There happened to be a worthless man there, named Sheba, a Benjaminite. He blew the trumpet, and said, "We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel!" "To his tents," i.e., to his home, as in Sa2 19:9, etc. Sa2 20:2 All the men of Israel responded to this call, and went up (to the mountains) away from David and after Sheba; but the men of Judah adhered to their king from the Jordan to Jerusalem. The construction of דּבק with ועד ... מן is a pregnant one: they adhered to and followed him. The expression "from Jordan" does not prove…”