And there happened to be there a rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said: “We have no share in David, nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!” (2 Samuel 20:1)
Saul was a Benjamite
Shimei was a Benjamite
Sheba was a Benjamite
David seems to have great opposition from this one tribe
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)
In 2 Samuel 19:40-43 leaders from these same ten tribes argued with the tribe of Judah over who honored David more. Their response to Sheba's rebellion shows that their desire to honor David had nothing to do with honoring him, but in exalting self.
And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him (2 Samuel 20:6)
David had learnt his lessons well from the fiasco with Absalom and this time he did not take any chances with Sheba son of Bichri in dealing with rebellion.
Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’” When he had come near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” (2 Samuel 20:16-17)
There is perhaps no more hotly debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors or preachers.
A woman brought peace to her entire city through her negotiation.
A woman negotiated with the elders of the city and negotiated peace terms.
Why can’t a woman preach then?
They were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood: (2 Samuel 20:3)
The sad fate of David’s ten concubines is an example of how our sin often has horrible effects on others. They suffered the consequences because of Absalom’s sin and David’s sin.
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