2 Samuel 20 14

2 Samuel 20:14 kjv

And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

2 Samuel 20:14 nkjv

And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after Sheba.

2 Samuel 20:14 niv

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, who gathered together and followed him.

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.

2 Samuel 20:14 nlt

Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town.

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 14 Meaning

The verse describes the rapid and extensive movement of Joab, King David's general, as he pursued Sheba, the son of Bichri, who had initiated a widespread rebellion against David's authority. Joab, leading his forces, traversed the entire tribal territories of Israel in the north until he reached Abel of Beth-Maachah, a well-fortified city. The phrase "all the Berites" refers to the local inhabitants or a specific group in that region. These individuals had actively assembled and joined Sheba, indicating his success in gathering support among the northern tribes for his insurgency.

2 Samuel 20 14 Context

This verse occurs immediately after the suppression of Absalom's rebellion and David's tumultuous return to Jerusalem. The nation of Israel was deeply divided, especially between the northern tribes and Judah. Sheba, a Benjamite, exploited this lingering discontent by rallying the northern tribes with a cry of "No portion in David!" and inciting a new rebellion (2 Sam 20:1-2). David, desiring swift action, initially tasked Amasa (David's new general) with gathering an army. However, Amasa was slow, leading Joab to take over the command. As Joab marched from Gibeon (after murdering Amasa), his determined pursuit led him northward, tracking Sheba through the entire land of Israel. He eventually corners Sheba in Abel of Beth-Maachah, a strategic stronghold on Israel's northern border. The verse highlights Joab's relentless military efficiency in suppressing this renewed threat to David's unified kingdom.

2 Samuel 20 14 Word analysis

• And he went through: Hebrew: וַיַּעֲבֹר (vayya'avor). From the verb עָבַר (avar), meaning "to pass over, to cross, to traverse." This indicates a determined and deliberate movement across the land by Joab and his forces. It signifies his relentless pursuit and quick action in quashing the rebellion.
• all the tribes of Israel: This phrase emphasizes the vast geographical scope of Sheba's rebellion and, consequently, Joab's pursuit. "Israel" here refers to the northern tribes, distinct from Judah, highlighting the deep-seated political divisions that Sheba exploited. It suggests Joab methodically moved through each tribal area that had potentially been influenced or taken over by the rebellion.
• unto Abel: Hebrew: אָבֵל (Abel), meaning "meadow" or "mourning." This refers to a specific northern city, more fully identified as Abel of Beth-Maachah in other biblical texts (and often rendered as such in modern translations of this verse).
• and to Beth-maachah: Hebrew: בֵית־מַעֲכָה (Bet-Ma'akhah), meaning "House of Maachah." It was a highly fortified city, strategically located in the far northern reaches of Israel's territory, near the border with the Aramean kingdom of Maacah (cf. Deut 3:14; Josh 12:5). Its prominence and defensive capabilities made it a suitable stronghold for a rebel leader. The combined phrase "Abel, and to Beth-maachah" often refers to a single major city and its surrounding district, "Abel of Beth-maacah."
• and all the Berites: Hebrew: וְכָל־הַבֵּרִים (vechol ha-Berim). This is a unique and debated term. The most probable interpretation, given the context, is that it refers to the inhabitants of the immediate region surrounding Abel-Beth-Maachah, or perhaps a particular clan or group indigenous to that northern area. It signifies that the local population, the people from "Berite" territory, had allied themselves with Sheba, providing him with a base of support in the region.
• and they were gathered together: Hebrew: וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ (vayyiqqahelu). From קָהַל (qahal), meaning "to assemble, gather." This active verb denotes the deliberate decision of the "Berites" and people of Abel-Beth-Maachah to convene and unify their efforts behind Sheba. It implies collective support and mobilization.
• and went also after him: Hebrew: וַיָּבֹאוּ אַחֲרָיו (vayyavo'u acharav). This phrase, referring to Sheba ("him"), further solidifies that the gathering was one of active allegiance to his cause. It signifies that these local people not only assembled but also joined his ranks, actively following him as their leader in the rebellion against David.

2 Samuel 20 14 Bonus section

The location, Abel of Beth-Maachah, was not only strategically important in David's time but continued to be so. It is later mentioned as one of the cities struck by Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, during the reign of Asa of Judah (1 Kgs 15:20) and by Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria in the time of Pekah of Israel (2 Kgs 15:29), emphasizing its perennial role as a key northern outpost susceptible to foreign incursions and internal conflicts due to its border location. Joab's rapid and direct movement northward underscores his decisiveness and effectiveness as a military commander, despite his often questionable ethics, as demonstrated by his recent murder of Amasa. This efficiency was vital for re-establishing stability for David's fragile kingdom.

2 Samuel 20 14 Commentary

This verse encapsulates the urgency and scale of Joab's campaign to suppress Sheba's rebellion. It highlights Joab's efficient and ruthless pursuit of the rebel leader, moving systematically through all the tribal territories of northern Israel to corner him. The choice of Abel of Beth-Maachah as Sheba's refuge demonstrates its strategic importance as a well-fortified city in the northern frontier. Crucially, the verse reveals the extent of Sheba's influence: "all the Berites" – likely the people of the region surrounding Abel – actively gathered and sided with him, showcasing the continued fragmentation and challenge to David's authority even after Absalom's defeat. Joab's relentless drive ensures that the immediate aftermath of Absalom's rebellion, marked by lingering disunity, does not escalate into another prolonged civil war. This scene sets the stage for the swift resolution of the crisis in the verses that follow, focusing on the wisdom of the woman of Abel and the city's ultimate fate.