2 Samuel Chapter 20 Summary - Key Points & Themes

Read 2 Samuel Chapter 20 Summary

Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, blows the trumpet and calls Israel to abandon David; Israel follows Sheba while Judah stays loyal. David gives Amasa three days to muster Judah, but he delays; Abishai is sent with the army. At Gibeon, Joab embraces Amasa and with his left hand drives a sword into his belly, killing his rival. Joab and Abishai pursue Sheba to Abel Beth-maacah and begin siege works. A wise woman negotiates: they only want Sheba. She persuades the city, Sheba's head is thrown over the wall to Joab, and he returns to Jerusalem. David's cabinet is listed again.

Original

Characters in This Chapter

David

King of Israel whose reign is chronicled with both triumphs and failures

Bathsheba

Woman with whom David committed adultery, later mother of Solomon

Nathan

Prophet who confronted David about his sin and delivered God's covenant

Absalom

David's son who rebelled and tried to take the throne

Joab

David's military commander, loyal but sometimes ruthless

Judah

Son of Jacob, Ancestor of David and Christ

Abel

First Martyr

Jehoshaphat

Righteous King of Judah

Places in This Chapter

Jerusalem

Captured by David and established as Israel's capital and spiritual center

Hebron

David's capital for the first seven years of his reign over Judah

Mount Moriah

Site where David built an altar, later location of Solomon's temple

Gibeon

Gibeon was a Canaanite city whose inhabitants tricked Joshua into making a peace treaty. God made the sun stand still here during Joshua's battle. Solomon offered sacrifices at the great high place in Gibeon, where God appeared to him in a dream offering him anything he asked.

Position in Book

David's Rise to PowerChapters 1-5

David's TriumphsChapters 6-10

David's Sin and ConsequencesChapters 11-20

Sin with Bathsheba, Nathan's rebuke, death of the child, Absalom's rebellion and death.

EpilogueChapters 21-24