Antiguo Testamento

2 Samuel — Capítulo 20

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 exten…

Versión

Texto — Reina-Valera 1960

1Aconteció que se hallaba allí un hombre perverso que se llamaba Seba hijo de Bicri, hombre de Benjamín, el cual tocó la trompeta, y dijo: No tenemos nosotros parte en David, ni heredad con el hijo de Isaí. ¡Cada uno a su tienda, Israel!

2Así todos los hombres de Israel abandonaron a David, siguiendo a Seba hijo de Bicri; mas los de Judá siguieron a su rey desde el Jordán hasta Jerusalén.

3Y luego que llegó David a su casa en Jerusalén, tomó el rey las diez mujeres concubinas que había dejado para guardar la casa, y las puso en reclusión, y les dio alimentos; pero nunca más se llegó a ellas, sino que quedaron encerradas hasta que murieron, en viudez perpetua.

4Después dijo el rey a Amasa: Convócame a los hombres de Judá para dentro de tres días, y hállate tú aquí presente.

5Fue, pues, Amasa para convocar a los de Judá; pero se detuvo más del tiempo que le había sido señalado.

6Y dijo David a Abisai: Seba hijo de Bicri nos hará ahora más daño que Absalón; toma, pues, tú los siervos de tu señor, y ve tras él, no sea que halle para sí ciudades fortificadas, y nos cause dificultad.

7Entonces salieron en pos de él los hombres de Joab, y los cereteos y peleteos y todos los valientes; salieron de Jerusalén para ir tras Seba hijo de Bicri.

8Y estando ellos cerca de la piedra grande que está en Gabaón, les salió Amasa al encuentro. Y Joab estaba ceñido de su ropa, y sobre ella tenía pegado a sus lomos el cinto con una daga en su vaina, la cual se le cayó cuando él avanzó.

9Entonces Joab dijo a Amasa: ¿Te va bien, hermano mío? Y tomó Joab con la diestra la barba de Amasa, para besarlo.

10Y Amasa no se cuidó de la daga que estaba en la mano de Joab; y este le hirió con ella en la quinta costilla, y derramó sus entrañas por tierra, y cayó muerto sin darle un segundo golpe. Después Joab y su hermano Abisai fueron en persecución de Seba hijo de Bicri.

11Y uno de los hombres de Joab se paró junto a él, diciendo: Cualquiera que ame a Joab y a David, vaya en pos de Joab.

12Y Amasa yacía revolcándose en su sangre en mitad del camino; y todo el que pasaba, al verle, se detenía; y viendo aquel hombre que todo el pueblo se paraba, apartó a Amasa del camino al campo, y echó sobre él una vestidura.

13Luego que fue apartado del camino, pasaron todos los que seguían a Joab, para ir tras Seba hijo de Bicri.

14Y él pasó por todas las tribus de Israel hasta Abel-bet-maaca y todo Barim; y se juntaron, y lo siguieron también.

15Y vinieron y lo sitiaron en Abel-bet-maaca, y pusieron baluarte contra la ciudad, y quedó sitiada; y todo el pueblo que estaba con Joab trabajaba por derribar la muralla.

16Entonces una mujer sabia dio voces en la ciudad, diciendo: Oíd, oíd; os ruego que digáis a Joab que venga acá, para que yo hable con él.

17Cuando él se acercó a ella, dijo la mujer: ¿Eres tú Joab? Y él respondió: Yo soy. Ella le dijo: Oye las palabras de tu sierva. Y él respondió: Oigo.

18Entonces volvió ella a hablar, diciendo: Antiguamente solían decir: Quien preguntare, pregunte en Abel; y así concluían cualquier asunto.

19Yo soy de las pacíficas y fieles de Israel; pero tú procuras destruir una ciudad que es madre en Israel. ¿Por qué destruyes la heredad de Jehová?

20Joab respondió diciendo: Nunca tal, nunca tal me acontezca, que yo destruya ni deshaga.

21La cosa no es así: mas un hombre del monte de Efraín, que se llama Seba hijo de Bicri, ha levantado su mano contra el rey David; entregad a ese solamente, y me iré de la ciudad. Y la mujer dijo a Joab: He aquí su cabeza te será arrojada desde el muro.

22La mujer fue luego a todo el pueblo con su sabiduría; y ellos cortaron la cabeza a Seba hijo de Bicri, y se la arrojaron a Joab. Y él tocó la trompeta, y se retiraron de la ciudad, cada uno a su tienda. Y Joab se volvió al rey a Jerusalén.

23Así quedó Joab sobre todo el ejército de Israel, y Benaía hijo de Joiada sobre los cereteos y peleteos,

24y Adoram sobre los tributos, y Josafat hijo de Ahilud era el cronista.

25Seva era escriba, y Sadoc y Abiatar, sacerdotes,

26e Ira jaireo fue también sacerdote de David.

JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY

Versículo 2

I. from Jordan even to Jerusalem--The quarrel had broken out shortly after the crossing of the Jorda…

from Jordan even to Jerusalem--The quarrel had broken out shortly after the crossing of the Jordan, between Judah and the other tribes, who withdrew; so that Judah was left nearly alone to conduct the king to the metropolis.

Versículo 3

II. the king took the ten women his concubines--Jewish writers say that the widowed queens of Hebrew …

the king took the ten women his concubines--Jewish writers say that the widowed queens of Hebrew monarchs were not allowed to marry again but were obliged to pass the rest of their lives in strict seclusion. David treated his concubines in the same manner after the outrage committed on them by Absalom. They were not divorced, for they were guiltless; but they were no longer publicly recognized as his wives; nor was their confinement to a sequestered life a very heavy doom, in a region where women have never been accustomed to go much abroad.

Versículo 4

III. Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days--Amasa is now install…

Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days--Amasa is now installed in the command which David had promised him. The revolt of the ten tribes, probably, hastened the public declaration of this appointment, which he hoped would be popular with them, and Amasa was ordered within three days to levy a force from Judah sufficient to put down the insurrection. The appointment was a blunder, and the king soon perceived his error. The specified time passed, but Amasa could not muster the men. Dreading the loss of time, the king gave the commission to Abishai, and not to Joab--a new affront, which, no doubt, wounded the pride of the stern and haughty old general. But he hastened with his attached soldiers to go as second to his brother, determined to take the first opportunity of wreaking his vengeance on his successful rival.

Versículo 8

IV. Amasa went before them--Having collected some forces, he by a rapid march overtook the expedition…

Amasa went before them--Having collected some forces, he by a rapid march overtook the expedition at Gibeon, and assumed the place of commander; in which capacity, he was saluted, among others, by Joab. Joab's garment, that he had put on was girded unto him--in the fashion of travellers and soldiers. a sword . . . and as he went forth it fell out--that is, out of the scabbard. According to JOSEPHUS, he let it drop on purpose as he was accosting Amasa, that stooping, as it were accidentally, to pick it up, he might salute the new general with the naked sword in his hand, without exciting any suspicion of his design. He went forth--in a ceremonious manner to meet Amasa, now commander-in-chief, in order to seem to render to that officer, whom he considered as usurping his post, a conspicuous honor and homage.

Versículo 9

V. took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him--This act, common with two friends on mee…

took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him--This act, common with two friends on meeting when one of them returns from a journey, indicates respect as well as kindliness, and the performance of it evinced the deep hypocrisy of Joab, who thereby put Amasa off his guard. No wonder, then, that while this act of friendly gratulation after long absence occupied Amasa's attention, he did not perceive the sword that was in Joab's left hand. The action of Joab was indeed a high compliment, but neither suspicious nor unusual and to this compliment, Amasa paying attention and no doubt returning it with suitable politeness, he could little expect the fatal event that Joab's perfidy produced.

Versículo 10

VI. AMASA IS SLAIN. (Sa2 20:10-13)

AMASA IS SLAIN. (Sa2 20:10-13) smote him . . . in the fifth rib--the seat of the liver and bowels, where wounds are mortal. struck him not again--that is, despatched him at the first blow.

Versículo 11

VII. He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab--It is a striking proof o…

He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab--It is a striking proof of Joab's unrivalled influence over the army, that with this villainous murder perpetrated before their eyes they unanimously followed him as their leader in pursuit of Sheba. A soldier conjoined his name with David's, and such a magic spell was in the word "Joab," that all the people "went on"--Amasa's men as well as the rest. The conjunction of these two names is very significant. It shows that the one could not afford to do without the other--neither Joab to rebel against David, nor David to get rid of Joab, though hating him.

Versículo 14

VIII. JOAB PURSUES SHEBA UNTO ABEL. (Sa2 20:14-15)

JOAB PURSUES SHEBA UNTO ABEL. (Sa2 20:14-15) he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel--beating up for recruits. But there the prompt marches of Joab overtook and hemmed him in by a close siege of the place.

Versículo 15

IX. Abel of Beth-maachah--a verdant place--the addition of "Maachah" betokening that it belonged to t…

Abel of Beth-maachah--a verdant place--the addition of "Maachah" betokening that it belonged to the district Maachah, which lay far up the Jordan at the foot of Lebanon.

Versículo 16

X. A WISE WOMAN SAVES THE CITY BY SHEBA'S HEAD. (Sa2 20:16-22)

A WISE WOMAN SAVES THE CITY BY SHEBA'S HEAD. (Sa2 20:16-22) Then cried a wise woman--The appeal of this woman, who, like Deborah, was probably a judge or governess of the place, was a strong one.

Versículo 18

XI. They were wont to speak in old time--The translation of the Margin gives a better meaning, which …

They were wont to speak in old time--The translation of the Margin gives a better meaning, which is to this effect: When the people saw thee lay siege to Abel, they said, Surely he will ask if we will have peace, for the law (Deu 20:10) prescribes that he should offer peace to strangers, much more then to Israelitish cities; and if he do this, we shall soon bring things to an amicable agreement, for we are a peaceable people. The answer of Joab brings out the character of that ruthless veteran as a patriot at heart, who, on securing the author of this insurrection, was ready to put a stop to further bloodshed and release the peaceable inhabitants from all molestation.

Versículo 23

XII. DAVID'S GREAT OFFICERS. (Sa2 20:23-26)

DAVID'S GREAT OFFICERS. (Sa2 20:23-26) Now Joab was over all the host of Israel--David, whatever his private wishes, found that he possessed not the power of removing Joab; so winking at the murder of Amasa, he re-established that officer in his former post of commander-in-chief. The enumeration of David's cabinet is here given to show that the government was re-established in its wonted course. Next: 2 Samuel Chapter 21

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