2 Samuel 20 - GNTD & KBTP

I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord

2 Samuel 20:14-22

In a time of political turmoil and war, a single wise woman from the city of Abel Beth Maacah changed the course of history. Her courage, intelligence, and diplomatic skills saved her city from destruction and demonstrated the power of wisdom in leadership. While her name is not recorded, her story leaves an unforgettable lesson: a wise woman can be a peacemaker, a leader, and a lifesaver.

1. A City in Crisis

2 Samuel 20:14 (ESV) – “And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah, and all the Bichrites assembled and followed him in.”

The city of Abel Beth Maacah found itself in the middle of a crisis. Sheba, a rebel against King David, had taken refuge there. His rebellion had already divided Israel, and now his presence put the entire city at risk. Sometimes, we find ourselves in situations where we are caught in conflicts we did not start but how we respond determines the outcome.

2. The Siege Begins

2 Samuel 20:15 (ESV) – “And all the men who were with Joab came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah. They cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart, and they were battering the wall to throw it down.”

King David’s general, Joab, did not hesitate. He and his army prepared to destroy the city to capture Sheba. The people of Abel Beth Maacah were trapped—innocent citizens about to suffer for someone else’s wrongdoing. In desperate situations, will we allow fear to control us, or will we take action?

3. The Wise Woman Speaks Up

2 Samuel 20:16 (ESV) – “Then a wise woman called from the city, ‘Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’”

In the midst of chaos, one woman stepped forward. Instead of waiting in fear, she took initiative. She called for Joab, demanding to speak with the leader of the army. This shows us the power of courageous women who use their voice to influence events. One wise woman can change the course of history.

4. A Reputation for Wisdom

2 Samuel 20:18 (ESV) – “Then she said, ‘They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.’”

The woman reminded Joab that Abel Beth Maacah had always been known for wisdom and peace. She urged him to remember the city’s legacy. Instead of responding with emotion or panic, she appealed to reason and history. Wise women know how to speak in a way that persuades others to listen.

5. A Plea for Peace

2 Samuel 20:19 (ESV) – “I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?”

The woman positioned herself as a protector of the city—a “mother in Israel.” She reminded Joab that destroying the city would mean harming innocent people. Her wisdom teaches us that true leadership seeks peace, not destruction.

6. A Strategy to Save the City

2 Samuel 20:21 (ESV) – “That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, ‘Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.’”

Joab was not set on destruction; he only wanted Sheba. The woman had skillfully brought clarity to the situation. Instead of war, she found a way to resolve the problem peacefully. This reminds us that wisdom seeks solutions, not conflict.

7. Victory Through Wisdom

2 Samuel 20:22 (ESV) – “Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.”

Her wisdom saved the entire city from destruction. Because she spoke up and acted decisively, a war was prevented, and innocent lives were spared. This shows us that one wise woman can save a whole generation.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, may we be inspired by this wise woman, whose name was forgotten by history, but whose actions saved an entire city.

Sheba's Rebellion

1 There happened to be in Gilgal a worthless character named Sheba son of Bikri, of the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and called out, “Down with David! We won't follow him! Men of Israel, let's go home!” 2 So the Israelites deserted David and went with Sheba, but the men of Judah remained loyal and followed David from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3 When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and put them under guard. He provided for their needs, but did not have intercourse with them. They were kept confined for the rest of their lives, living like widows.

4 The king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together and be back here with them by the day after tomorrow.” 5 Amasa went to call them, but he did not get back by the time the king had told him to. 6 So the king said to Abishai, “Sheba will give us more trouble than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or else he may occupy some fortified towns and escape from us.” 7 So Joab's men, the royal bodyguards, and all the other soldiers left Jerusalem with Abishai to go after Sheba. 8 When they reached the large rock at Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was dressed for battle, with a sword in its sheath fastened to his belt. As he came forward, the sword fell out. 9 Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my friend?” and took hold of his beard with his right hand in order to kiss him. 10 Amasa was not on guard against the sword that Joab was holding in his other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the belly, and his insides spilled out on the ground. He died immediately, and Joab did not have to strike again.

Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on after Sheba. 11 One of Joab's men stood by Amasa's body and called out, “Everyone who is for Joab and David follow Joab!” 12 Amasa's body, covered with blood, was lying in the middle of the road. Joab's man saw that everybody was stopping, so he dragged the body from the road out into the field and threw a blanket over it. 13 After the body had been removed from the road, everyone followed Joab in pursuit of Sheba.

14 Sheba passed through the territory of all the tribes of Israel and came to the city of Abel Beth Maacah, and all the members of the clan of Bikri assembled and followed him into the city. 15 Joab's men heard that Sheba was there, and so they went and besieged the city. They built ramps of earth against the outer wall and also began to dig under the wall to make it fall down. 16 There was a wise woman in the city who shouted from the wall, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here; I want to speak with him.” 17 Joab went, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

“Listen to me, sir,” she said.

“I'm listening,” he answered.

18 She said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Go and get your answer in the city of Abel’—and that's just what they did. 19 Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the Lord?”

20 “Never!” Joab answered. “I will never ruin or destroy your city! 21 That is not our plan. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, who is from the hill country of Ephraim, started a rebellion against King David. Hand over this one man, and I will withdraw from the city.”

The Woman Who Stopped a War: A Story of Wisdom and Leadership

“We will throw his head over the wall to you,” she said. 22

Then she went to the people of the city with her plan, and they cut off Sheba's head and threw it over the wall to Joab. He blew the trumpet as a signal for his men to leave the city, and they went back home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

David's Officials

23 Joab was in command of the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of David's bodyguards; 24 Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records; 25 Sheva was the court secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests, 26 and Ira from the town of Jair was also one of David's priests.

Bupanduki gwa Sheba

1 Ipapo kukabe ne mmwe nthu usi we tjimwe we zina linoyi Sheba, nkololo wa Bikiri we Nbhenjamini, kalidza lunyanga ebe eti, “Atina gobe muna Dafite, naiko atina lukata mu nkololo wa Jesi, imwi, Baiziraela, mmwe ne mmwe ngaayende ku nzi uwe.”

2 Ndizo bathu bose be Iziraela bakashandukila Dafite, bakatobela Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri, koga Bajuda bakatobela Dafite nge kugalikabgwe kudwa ku Jorodani kunoti ku Jerusalema.

3 Ngono Dafite kati eswika ku ng'umba iye ye bushe ku Jerusalema, katola bakadzi babe be bakadzi batukunu baakabe asiya bakalinda ng'umba kababiga mu imwe ng'umba bakalindiwa, ebajisa ngono asingawalilane nabo. Bakazhaliligwa butjilo gwabo gose, baligele se tjilikadzi.

4 Ndizo mambo kadwa Amasa kati, “Undidanile babhayani bose be Juda bazhe kundili nngwani, nawe ubepobo.” 5 Amasa kanodana babhayani be Juda, koga kanonoka kasiswike mu zhuba lakabe labigwa ndi mambo. 6 Dafite kabe edwa Abishayi eti, “Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri unowotithamila mbipo inopinda yatakathamigwa ndi Abusalomu, tola balanda ba tetshi uwo untatamile, ungadwa engina mu mizi yakabakiligwa nge luswingo, ngono tikasitjankunde.” 7 Ndizo babhayani ba Joabu ne Bakhereti ne Bapeleti ne babhayani bose bakasima bakabhuda mu Jerusalema bakatatamila Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri bakatungamigwa ndi Abishayi. 8 Bakati beswika pa shongwe wulu imu Gibiyoni, Amasa kabashanganidza. Ipapo Joabu wakabe akaambala tjiambalo tje ngwa, mu thunji dzidze ana mwandabula wakasungigwa ikhata tjina bukanu muili, kati eyendila mbeli gukawila pasi. 9 Ngono Joabu kadwa Amasa kati, “Unomukazo nkololo wa tate?” Joabu kabhata Amasa nge ndedu nge luboko gwe luji kumputa. 10 Koga Amasa kasibe nge njele ngekwe bukanu gwakabe guli mu luboko gwa Joabu, ndizo Joabu kambhaya ndigo mu ntumbu mabula katebukila pasi, tjinyolotjo kafa, ngono kasimbhaye kakale.

Joabu ne nnung'una uwe Abishayi bakatatamila Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri. 11 Mmwe we babhayani ba Joabu kama pa itumbu tja Amasa kamimila eti, “Mmwe ne mmwe umile na Joabu na Dafite ngaatobele Joabu.” 12 Ngono Amasa kakandalala akadubama mu malopa awe pakati kwe zila, ngono mmwe ne mmwe wakabe eti epinda nge zila kama, ndizo mmwe we babhayani ba Joabu kakwebela itumbu tja Amasa ku shango kaposela ngubo pezhugwi kwatjo. 13 Kukati kusinobe kwadusiwa itumbu tja Amasa mu zila, babhayani bose bakatobela Joabu betatamila Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri.

14 Sheba kapalama njudzi dzose dze Iziraela kunoti ku Abele iku Bhethimaaka, ngono Babiri bose bakakubungana bakantobela mu nzi. 15 Babhayani ba Joabu bakahwa kuti Sheba umukati kwe Abelibetimaka, ipapo bakayenda bakanokomba nzi. Bakabaka duluthulu le mavu kunoti pezhugwi kwe luswingo gukuzhe, ngono bakatangisa kukatsha luswingo kuti baguligile pasi. 16 Ipapo mmwe nkadzi wakabe akatjenjela akamimila ali mukati kwe luswingo eti, “Hwililani! Hwililani! Idwani Joabu azhe ngeno, ‘Ndokumbila lebeleka naye.’ ” 17 Ngono Joabu kazha pejo naye, ipapo nkadzi kambhuzwa kati, “Ndimwi Joabu kene?” Kadabila eti, “Ndimi.” Ndizo kandwa kati, “Teedzani matama e nlandakadzi wenyu.” Ngono kadabila eti, “Ndakateedza.” 18 Ndizo nkadzi kati kunli, “Kwakalebgwa ne bantolo kuyi, ‘Dzene banganokumbila gumbuludzo koga ku Abele,’ ngono shule kwa ikoku, bakapedza ndebo. 19 Imi ndi mmwe we banoda lunyalalo kakale unogalikabgwe mu Iziraela, apa unoshaka kolomola nzi nkulu we Iziraela, ini ungalobesa lukata gwa Yahwe kene?” 20 Joabu kashandula eti, “Ngakube kutjena nami, kube kutjena, kuti ndingaulobesa kene kuli kuukolomola! 21 Atizozwimisila kukolomola nzi wenyu. Koga nlume we shango ye matombo ye Ifureimi, unoyi Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri, wakapandukila Mambo Dafite, mundipe iye koga, ndowobe ndiletjedza kukolomola nzi.” Nkadzi kabe edwa Joabu eti, “Towomuposela nsholo uwe tiutjuludza luswingo.” 22 Ndizo nkadzi kayenda kanobudza bathu nge butjenjedu gugwe. Ngono bakathubula nsholo wa Sheba nkololo wa Bikiri bakauposela kuzhe kuna Joabu. Ndizo Joabu kalidza lunyanga, ngono bakapalala bedwa pa nzi we Abele, mmwe ne mmwe kayenda kanyi kwabo. Ngono Joabu iye kashandukila ku Jerusalema kuna mambo.

23 Ngwenu Joabu kabe ntungamili we babhayani bose be Iziraela, Bhenaya nkololo wa Jehoyada kabe ntungamili we Bakhereti ne Bapeleti. 24 Adoramu wakabe ali nlauli we bashingi, Jehoshafati nkololo wa Ahiludi ali nkwali we zwiyitikalo. 25 Sheva wakabe ali nkwalili, ngono Zadoki na Abiathari bali bapirisiti 26 na Ira we Njairi na iyebo ali mpirisiti wa Dafite.