2 Samuel 20 25

2 Samuel 20:25 kjv

And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

2 Samuel 20:25 nkjv

Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests;

2 Samuel 20:25 niv

Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

2 Samuel 20:25 esv

and Sheva was secretary; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

2 Samuel 20:25 nlt

Sheva was the court secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.

2 Samuel 20 verses

2 Samuel 20 25 Meaning

This verse states that Sheva held the position of secretary or scribe within King David's administrative court. It functions as part of a list detailing key officials, underscoring the established and formalized governmental structure during David's reign. The role was highly significant, involving royal correspondence, record-keeping, and likely advising.

2 Samuel 20 25 Context

2 Samuel 20:25 appears in a list of David's governmental officials after the successful suppression of Sheba son of Bichri's rebellion. Following a period of significant civil unrest and challenges to David's throne, including Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15-18) and Sheba's revolt, the immediate context highlights David's re-establishment of stable and structured governance. The inclusion of this list of officers (similar to 2 Sam 8:16-18 and 1 Chr 18:15-17) signifies the administrative stability and the organized bureaucracy necessary for ruling an expanding kingdom. It underlines David's efforts to consolidate power and ensure order through a loyal and efficient civil service. The verse's primary purpose is to identify a specific, vital office holder within this framework.

2 Samuel 20 25 Word analysis

• Sheva: Hebrew: שְׁוָא (Sh'va). This name is found with variations in parallel lists of David's officials: "Seraiah" (שְׂרָיָה - Serayah) in 2 Sam 8:17, "Shavsha" (שַׁוְשָׁא - Shavsha) in 1 Chr 18:16, and potentially "Shisha" (שִׁישָׁא - Shisha) through his sons Elihoreph and Ahiah, who are scribes for Solomon (1 Ki 4:3). The variation suggests either different scribal traditions, changes in personal names over time (perhaps honorific), or the possibility of different individuals or multiple individuals holding similar names within a family line. Regardless, the name denotes a specific individual holding a high office.
• also: Hebrew: וּ (u-) - "and" or "also". This conjunctive particle signifies continuation of the preceding list. It implies that Sheva's position is equally important to the others named, showing that the secretary was a foundational and indispensable part of the royal administration, listed among other critical figures like the army commander, recorder, and chief priest.
• was: Hebrew: היה (hayah) - "was" or "existed". A simple stative verb, it confirms Sheva's active tenure in the specified role. It emphasizes a present reality of his appointment and function within David's re-organized court.
• secretary: Hebrew: סוֹפֵר (sofer). This is a highly significant title in the ancient Near East and biblical Israel. A sofer was more than a mere transcriber; this official served as the king's royal scribe, secretary of state, and sometimes an archivist, royal advisor, and administrator. They managed royal correspondence, recorded important decrees and events, drafted diplomatic documents, and possibly maintained financial records. The role demanded high literacy, intelligence, and discretion, often making them privy to royal secrets and affairs. In later periods (like Ezra), the sofer became deeply associated with the study and transmission of the Law of Moses, linking the administrative role with spiritual authority and wisdom.
• Sheva also was secretary: This phrase encapsulates the professional bureaucracy emerging under David. It signifies a complex government structure that required specialized, literate personnel to manage the administrative burden of a kingdom rather than simply a chieftainship. The presence of such a high-ranking scribe speaks to the level of organization and official documentation that characterized David's kingdom.

2 Samuel 20 25 Bonus section

The role of the sofer in ancient Israel often extended beyond mere secretarial duties. These individuals were educated, possibly fluent in multiple languages, and would have been experts in various types of script (e.g., paleo-Hebrew, Aramaic). Their office likely resided within the royal palace, suggesting direct and continuous access to the king. The name variations for Sheva (Seraiah, Shavsha) point to common issues in ancient transcription or possibly familial succession within the office, where a position might be passed down and the names recorded slightly differently in various records or at different times during a long reign. This reflects the dynamic nature of record-keeping in ancient times, where perfect consistency was not always maintained across disparate accounts, yet the functional continuity of the important office remained.

2 Samuel 20 25 Commentary

2 Samuel 20:25 is a concise yet illuminating statement about the professional and structured nature of David's kingdom. By simply listing Sheva's position, the verse highlights the essential administrative apparatus required to govern. The "secretary" (sofer) was a lynchpin in the royal court, central to all written communications and records, demonstrating that David's rule was founded not just on military prowess, but also on established legal and administrative order. This stable government provided the framework necessary for national identity and future divine plans. The recurrence of this official's name across various court lists (albeit with slight variations) underscores the enduring and vital role of the scribe within Israelite monarchy.