Addressing A Problem Before It Grows.

By not involving the other people in reinstating David as king, Judah had caused a major split in the nation of Israel.  If it was not dealt with immediately it could destroy the entire nation.  Though he had not caused it, David was forced to take action, in II Samuel 20:4.  “Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.”

Not registering the urgency of the situation, Amasa did not respond as fast as needed, so David sent Abishai to initiate action and prevent the rebellion form getting too strong, in II Samuel 20:5-7.  “So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.   And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.  And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.”

Joab had deliberately disobeyed orders in murdering Absalom.  As a result, David had replaced him with Amasa.  When Amasa didn’t act quickly enough, David appointed Abishai to lead instead of Joab.  Unwilling to relinquish his power, Joab murdered Amasa, in II Samuel 20:8-10a.  “When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.  And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died.”

The people understood why David had replaced Jab, and were hesitant to follow him.  One of Joab’s men told them they had to choose whether they wanted David as king or not, but as long as Amasa’s body was visible the people hesitated.  Once the body was removed it no longer distracted the people and they followed Joab’s leadership, in II Samuel 20:10b-13.  “So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.  And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.  And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.  When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.”

Sheba had been out recruiting supporters and Joab finally caught up with him at Abel of Bethmaachah, and besieged the city, as II Samuel 20:14-15 tells us.  “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.  And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.”

Joab’s record of success in besieging and destroying far stronger cities was well known.  Knowing they would eventually be defeated, one of the wiser women of the city contacted Joab, to see if there was any way to keep him from destroying the entire city, in II Samuel 20:16-21.  “Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab?

And he answered, I am he.

Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid.

And he answered, I do hear.

Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.  I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.  The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.  And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.  Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.”

Upon learning Joab’s only concern was that Sheba be executed, the woman promised to have him executed and his head thrown over the wall as proof of heis death.   Satisfied Sheba was dead and no longer posed a threat, Joab returned to Jerusalem with the army.  David had tried to replace Joab, but he was highly respected, and with Amasa dead and Abishai having yielded his leadership to Joab, David had little choice but to allow him to continue to lead the army, although he placed his personal guard and special forces under Benaiah.   Even the strongest and smartest leaders have to yield to reality, and sometimes allow someone other than their ideal to hold a position of authority and to start a conflict with Joab at that point in time would have severely damaged David’s administration.   Far better to work with him than to him and his followers into enemies.   II Samuel 20:23-25 names some of the ones who served as David’s cabinet members.  “Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.”

By dealing with the threat Sheba posed immediately, David was able to minimize the effect with the result only one person was killed and a war was averted.  Had they delayed, who knows how many thousands might have been killed or how hard his influence would have been to eradicate?