Sheba And David’s Concubines

In 2 Samuel 20, we learn two interesting things. One being a man named Sheba who didn’t like David, and even took the men of Israel with him after blowing a trumpet. What he said, we will soon learn. The second being that David no longer had sexual relations with his concubines any longer. Why this is, we don’t know, but it could be because Absalom had his way with them as well, or that he finally knew it was wrong in the sight of God and didn’t want to defile himself anymore. However, no matter the reason he had, it is a good thing he stopped being with them sexually since this is fornication, which God hates. Now, let’s begin our discussion on Sheba. It is recorded that ¹“there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 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 20:1,2) And because Sheba was trying to cause the men of Israel to rise up and go against the king, David sent the men of Judah after him. Of which they ended up finding him in the town of Abel, which was guarded by a large wall. They then did all they could to tear it down until a woman saw them and spoke some sense into Joab. She said that if they wanted Sheba, she would have someone kill him, and then throw his head over the wall, but have them stop what they were doing. Joab agreed and Sheba was killed. This stopped his plans and the people of that town were also safe. Praise God that she was bold enough to speak truth to them.

This brings us David and what he ended up doing with his ten concubines, or mistresses, or even prostitutes, as they were called. It is recorded that ¹“David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.” (2 Samuel 20:3) His days of having his way with those women was over. They may have been taken care of financially by him, even until their death, but his desire to be with them sexually was over and done with. What is interesting here is that we don’t know if David repented of this sin of fornication. He could have simply said he didn’t want to be with them anymore as well. Now, is it good that he stopped seeing them? Yes, it is. Do we know that David repented of his sins? Yes, we do, based on the book of Psalms. So how do we apply what David did to our life? For one, realize that you are in sin and stop doing it. But can this happen on our own? No, it cannot. We need to invoke the Lord God, Jesus, in prayer, that He will forgive us our sins. He will then help change us from within. We cannot live up to God’s standards on our own. This is why we must be praying often, reading the Bible daily, that we will be desirous to do God’s will. This way we will know what is right and what is wrong, and then cleave to what God wants for our lives. We also have a way to defend ourselves when the enemy strikes, for God is now in control. We can live differently, but we can only achieve this when the presence of God is in our lives.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that Your presence will come into our lives, each day that we live. This way we will continue to make the best choices and stay on solid ground. You are our God and can do all things for our lives if we but believe. Thank You for the Bible. I am grateful to know what You have taught us in scripture, that I may go forth and walk out my faith knowing it is Your will and not my own. It is my desire to walk in Your light and no longer be taken over by the lusts of the flesh any longer. Help me put my sins behind me, that I may become Your disciple. What the enemy has done to me needs to stop, and only by You defending me at all times can this happen. Therefore, I call upon You now and forever for Your protection, dear Lord. Help me to walk out my faith and not be given over to temptation and death. Lead me from the darkness of this world, that I may be a light unto those around me. I may not have it all together, but with You, I am complete. You satisfy my soul. If I just have You to love me, I am blessed. I don’t need the things of this world to be happy, but only Your love. You are the reason why I have breathe, and I give You praise for waking me up each day. I love You, Lord. You are the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I wish I could tell everyone about the gospel truth of the cross and resurrection. May more people be open to learning about what You’ve done for them, that they will also be saved in Your kingdom. I would be selfish if I wanted to go to heaven and not bring people with me. I trust in You, Lord. I believe in You, God. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

2 Samuel 20

¹2 Samuel 20 (KJV)
1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
2 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.
3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11 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.
12 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.
13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 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?
20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21 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.
22 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.
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.