Question 1

Who was Sheba son of Bichri, and why did he rebel against David?

Accepted Answer

Sheba son of Bichri was a Benjamite described as a “man of Belial,” meaning a wicked and worthless man. Right after Absalom’s revolt failed, Sheba seized the moment of tension and blew a trumpet, calling Israel away from David by saying, “We have no part in David.” He rejected David’s rule and tried to stir the northern tribes against him. His rebellion shows how division can quickly rise in a shaken kingdom and how some people use unrest and hurt feelings as a chance to resist God’s chosen leader.

Question 2

Why did many in Israel follow Sheba while Judah stayed with David?

Accepted Answer

The passage says that “every man of Israel” went after Sheba, but the men of Judah stayed close to David from the Jordan back to Jerusalem. This points to a growing split between the northern tribes and Judah. Israel likely felt slighted and thought David favored Judah, and Sheba’s words tapped into that frustration. Judah, David’s own tribe, stayed loyal. The scene warns how old hurts and a sense of unfair treatment can open the door to rebellion when a clever agitator speaks up.

Question 3

Why did Joab kill Amasa, and what does this show about his character?

Accepted Answer

Joab kills Amasa in a deceitful way. He greets him as a brother, takes him by the beard as if to kiss him, and then stabs him. Amasa had been put in charge of the army in Joab’s place and was slow to gather the men. Joab’s act seems driven by ambition, jealousy, and a desire to keep control. He is very effective as a commander but willing to use treachery and violence to get his way. This shows how unchecked anger and self-interest can twist even someone who is outwardly serving the king.

Question 4

What is the significance of David shutting up his concubines for life?

Accepted Answer

When David returns to Jerusalem, he takes the ten concubines he had left to care for the house and puts them away in guarded living, providing for them but never again going in to them. They live like widows until they die. This sad detail shows how far the results of sin can spread. These women had been publicly violated in Absalom’s revolt, which grew out of David’s earlier sin. David’s many wives and concubines were part of the problem, and now these women bear life-long consequences. It is a sober picture that sin harms others, not just the one who first chose it.

Question 5

How did the wise woman of Abel save her city from destruction?

Accepted Answer

When Joab’s army besieged Abel of Beth-maachah, a wise woman called out from the city wall and asked to speak with him. She reminded Joab that Abel had a reputation as a place where people sought counsel and peace. She said she was peaceable and faithful and asked why he would destroy “a city and a mother in Israel,” the Lord’s inheritance. Joab replied he only wanted Sheba. The woman then wisely gathered the townspeople, and they agreed to put Sheba to death and threw his head over the wall. Her courage and wisdom brought peace without the whole city being ruined.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about rebellion against God’s appointed authority?

Accepted Answer

Sheba’s words, “We have no part in David,” show open rejection of the king God had placed over Israel. His rebellion spreads quickly and brings a siege, fear, and bloodshed. In the end, he loses his life and his cause dies with him, while David’s rule is restored. The story reminds us that turning against God’s order, whether through open revolt or stirring up division, leads to harm for many people. At the same time, God can bring justice and restore peace, using both strong action and wise, peace-seeking voices like the woman of Abel.

Question 7

Why does God allow so much conflict around David in this chapter?

Accepted Answer

This chapter sits in a time when the consequences of David’s earlier sin are still unfolding. God had warned that the sword would not depart from David’s house, and we see that here in another uprising, broken trust, and violent power struggles among his commanders. The conflicts show how sin weakens leadership and opens the door to further trouble. Yet God does not abandon his promise. He allows these events, uses even flawed people like Joab, and a wise woman from an obscure town, to end the revolt and keep David on the throne. It shows both the seriousness of sin and God’s steady rule over events.

Question 8

How can the actions of the wise woman of Abel guide believers today?

Accepted Answer

The wise woman of Abel shows that one person, even without rank or weapons, can make a real difference by speaking wisely and seeking peace. She listens, understands the real issue, reminds Joab of what is right, and then works with her people to act. For believers today, her example encourages us to use calm words instead of quick anger, to value peace, and to look for just solutions that protect others when there is conflict. She does not ignore evil, but she deals with it in a way that saves many lives instead of adding more needless damage.

2 Samuel 20:1

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.

Sheba’s Rebellion

Sheba’s Revolt

Amasa Murdered

Revolt Put Down

Sheba’s Rebellion

Sheba’s Revolt

Cross References

2 Samuel 20:1

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.

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Sheba’s Rebellion

Sheba’s Revolt

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Sheba’s Rebellion

Sheba’s Revolt

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