2 Sa. 20: The Sheba Rebellion

2 Samuel 20:22 "Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem."

Obviously, not all of the Israelites were pleased with David being king. Sheba, a Benjamite (go figure), incites a rebellion, and David sends his best men out to squash it. And you may be wondering what awe-inspiring oration Sheba gave to get all the men of Israel back on his side. Well here it is...

"We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!"

Don't you just get chills? I know. Me neither. But it was enough.

I don't want to overlook how David treated his concubines. They were basically imprisoned, but provided for. That blows. I guess I don't know the whole story, but that's not that cool by me. David. Loving husband. There you go.

Meanwhile, on the way to crush Sheba, the deposed Joab greets and guts Amasa, slicing his intestines out with his knife. Amasa is tossed to the side of the road, and the men of Judah go on their way to beseige the city. And Joab gives a rather Bush-sounding ultimatum. "If you are with David, you are with me." Who could refuse? David gave the order for Pete's sake. This city, Abel Beth Maacah, was in no mood to be destroyed, so some wise woman negotiates. Joab was probably indifferent toward destroying the city, as his streak of impetuousness indicates, but he allows them to live in return for the head of Sheba. They toss it down to him. Which...is interesting. How great could this Sheba be if men weren't willing to die for him? He didn't have time to establish gravitas. I have to wonder if this bad-guy streak is going to do Joab in eventually. And when Joab returned home, and not Amasa...What did David do?