2 Samuel 20 2

2 Samuel 20:2 kjv

So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 20:2 nkjv

So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.

2 Samuel 20:2 niv

So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 20:2 esv

So all the men of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 20:2 nlt

So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 2 Meaning

2 Samuel 20:2 describes a rapid and extensive division within King David's kingdom following Absalom's rebellion. The majority of the Israelite tribes (the northern kingdom), discontented and disaffected, withdrew their loyalty from David and defected to Sheba, a Benjaminite leader. In stark contrast, the tribe of Judah, David's own tribe, steadfastly remained faithful to him, securing the territory from the Jordan River to Jerusalem as David's loyal domain.

2 Samuel 20 2 Context

This verse is positioned in 2 Samuel 20, immediately following Absalom's failed rebellion and David's triumphant but problematic return to Jerusalem in chapter 19. David's decision to forgive the rebels and his perceived favoritism toward Judah during his return (especially the dispute in 19:41-43 over transporting the king) reignited pre-existing tensions between the northern tribes of Israel and Judah. The Israelite tribes felt slighted and overlooked despite having fought alongside Absalom, and now felt disregarded during the restoration of David. This simmering resentment provided fertile ground for a new rebellion, swiftly led by Sheba, a Benjaminite. Sheba, possibly capitalizing on lingering loyalty to Saul's house from his tribe, seized this opportune moment to incite widespread defection among the already aggrieved Israelites. The context thus shows a kingdom fraught with political instability, tribal rivalries, and a fragile unity that easily splintered under new leadership.

2 Samuel 20 2 Word analysis

• So all the men of Israel (וַיַּעַל כָּל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל / va'ya'al kol-ish Yisrael):
  • kol-ish Yisrael literally means "every man of Israel" or "all the men of Israel."
  • This phrase emphasizes a sweeping, nearly total abandonment by the northern tribes. It denotes a collective action, highlighting the widespread discontent beyond just a few individuals.
  • It also starkly contrasts with "the men of Judah," emphasizing the schism.
  • "Went up" (וַיַּעַל / va'ya'al): Implies a movement away, often to higher ground, or in a general sense, leaving their place. Here, it denotes their departure from following David.
• went up from after David (מֵאַחֲרֵי דָוִד / me'akharei David):
  • me'akharei means "from after" or "from behind."
  • This signifies their withdrawal of support and allegiance. To follow "after" a leader denotes loyalty and submission; to go "from after" them means desertion. It's a public renunciation of his authority.
• and followed Sheba the son of Bichri (וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי שֶׁבַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִי / va'yelechu akharei Sheva ben-Bichri):
  • va'yelechu akharei means "and they went after," indicating immediate allegiance to a new leader.
  • Sheba (שֶׁבַע / Sheva): Meaning "seven" or "oath." He is a Benjaminite, from Saul's tribe, suggesting that some loyalty to Saul's defunct dynasty still simmered in the northern tribes, particularly Benjamin. He serves as a catalyst, preying on existing grievances.
  • son of Bichri (בֶּן־בִּכְרִי / ben-Bichri): Identifying his lineage. Bichri implies first-born or primogeniture, suggesting a prominent family, perhaps indicating his authority or reason for leading this movement. His specific identification lends him legitimacy in the eyes of the rebellious Israelites.
• but the men of Judah (וְאִישׁ יְהוּדָה / ve'ish Yehudah):
  • The conjunction "but" (וְ / ve here used as an adversative "but") marks a strong contrast to the preceding phrase, emphasizing Judah's distinct loyalty.
  • ish Yehudah - "men of Judah," represents the collective allegiance of David's own tribe.
• remained loyal to their king (דָּבְקוּ בְמַלְכָּם / davku ve'malkam):
  • remained loyal (דָּבְקוּ / davku): From the root דבק (dāḇaq), meaning "to cling," "to adhere," "to be devoted to." It conveys a strong, unwavering attachment, not just passive loyalty but an active clinging to. This is a powerful word to describe their steadfastness amidst widespread rebellion.
  • their king (בְמַלְכָּם / ve'malkam): Referring to David. It shows their continued recognition of his legitimate kingship over them, despite the turbulent circumstances.
• from the Jordan even to Jerusalem (מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּן וְעַד יְרוּשָׁלִָם / min-haYarden ve'ad Yerushalayim):
  • This is a geographical descriptor indicating the full extent of Judah's territory that remained loyal to David.
  • Jordan (הַיַּרְדֵּן / haYarden): The eastern border of Judah's influence.
  • Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלָיִם / Yerushalayim): The capital city, central to Judah and David's seat of power. This phrase delineates the compact and continuous loyal domain, providing a visual understanding of the reduced kingdom under David's direct, undisputed control at that moment.

2 Samuel 20 2 Bonus section

• The tension between Israel and Judah demonstrated in this verse, stemming from the dispute over who had more right to the king (2 Sam 19:40-43), served as a precursor to the permanent division of the kingdom into Northern Israel (House of Israel/Ephraim) and Southern Judah after Solomon's reign, marking a significant and lasting split in the history of God's people.
• Sheba's call, "To your tents, O Israel!" (2 Sam 20:1), became a rallying cry that reappeared generations later at the actual division of the kingdom under Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:16), reinforcing the continuity of northern discontent with the Davidic monarchy centered in Judah.
• This passage highlights the dangers of incomplete reconciliation; while Absalom was defeated, the underlying issues and divisions were not fully resolved, making the kingdom susceptible to renewed rebellion. It shows that winning a battle does not necessarily heal deep-seated societal wounds.

2 Samuel 20 2 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:2 starkly illustrates the fractured nature of David’s kingdom, even after his victory over Absalom. The rapid defection of "all the men of Israel" to Sheba reveals the deep-seated disunity and tribal animosities that persisted despite David’s unifying reign. This incident is a vivid example of how quickly allegiances can shift when grievances fester and opportunistic leaders arise. The contrast with Judah’s unwavering loyalty highlights their unique covenantal bond with David and the separate identity of the southern kingdom, foreshadowing the permanent schism that would occur under Rehoboam. The passage underscores that human kingship, even when divinely appointed, remains subject to the volatile wills of men and internal political pressures, demonstrating the fragility of unity when personal interests and tribal grievances overshadow national cohesion and fidelity to leadership.