unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah<\/em> ] Abel was apparently near Beth-Maachah, which is not elsewhere mentioned as a distinct place, and was commonly called Abel-beth-Maachah to distinguish it from other places named Abel (= meadow<\/em>). It was also known as Abel Maim = meadow of waters<\/em> (2Ch 16:4<\/span>). It was one of the towns which fell a prey to Benhadad (1Ki 15:20<\/span>), and afterwards to Tiglath-pileser (2Ki 15:29<\/span>). The name Maachah may point to some connexion with the Syrian kingdom of that name (ch. 2Sa 10:6<\/span>). Its site is supposed to be marked by the village of Abil<\/em>, about twelve miles north of Lake Huleh<\/em>, the ancient Waters of Merom.<\/p>\n all the Berites<\/em> ] If the text is sound, Berim<\/em> or the Berites<\/em> must be the name of a district or people in northern Palestine otherwise unknown to us. But perhaps following the Vulg. and the indications of the Sept. we should read and all the chosen men were gathered together<\/em>.<\/p>\n Abel – <\/B>More commonly called 2Sa 20:15<\/span> Abel-Beth-maachah to distinguish it from other places of the name of Abel (a grassy plain). It is represented by the modern Abil-el-Kamh, a Christian village on the northwest of lake Huleh, the ancient Merom. Compare 2Ch 16:4<\/span>, Abel-maim, Abel by the water.<\/P> And all the Berites – <\/B>What this means is utterly unknown. Many approve of the reading of the Latin Version, connecting it with what follows: And all the choice young men mustered and followed him.<\/P><\/p>\n Verse 14<\/span>. Unto Abel<\/B><\/I>] This is supposed to have been the capital of the district called Abilene in St. Luke’s Gospel, Lu 3:1<\/span>.<\/P> <\/P> Beth-maachah<\/B><\/I>] Is supposed to have been in the northern part of the Holy Land, on the confines of Syria, and probably in the tribe of Naphtali.<\/P> <\/p>\n He went; <\/B>either, <\/P> 1. Joab, who pursued Sheba through all the tribes as far as Abel. Or rather, <\/P> 2. Sheba, who was last mentioned, who marched from tribe to tribe to stir them up to sedition; and to him the following words seem best to agree. <\/P> Unto Abel, and to Beth-aachah, <\/B>or rather, to Abel, even to Beth-maachah<\/I>, i.e. unto Abel-beth-maachah<\/I>, as this place is called here in the Hebrew text, 2Sa 20:15<\/span>; 1Ki 15:20<\/span>; 2Ki 15:29<\/span>, to distinguish it from other Abels; and to signify that this was that Abel which was in the tribe of Naphtali in the northern border of Canaan, towards that part of Syria called Maachah<\/I>, 2Sa 10:8<\/span>. <\/P> The Berites; <\/B>such as lived in the city or territory of Beeroth of Benjamin, Jos 18:25<\/span>, who being of the same tribe, if not city, with Sheba, and his greatest acquaintance and friends, or being most implacable against David, adhered to Sheba, and followed him through all the tribes of Israel. <\/P> They were gathered together, <\/B>to wit, the tribes of Israel, i. e. a considerable number of them; as might well be expected, when the discontents were so high and general. <\/P> After him, <\/B>i.e. after Sheba. <\/P> <\/p>\n 14. he went through all the tribesof Israel unto Abel<\/B>beating up for recruits. But there theprompt marches of Joab overtook and hemmed him in by a close siege ofthe place.<\/P><\/p>\n And he went through all the tribes of Israel<\/strong>,…. That is, Sheba the son of Bichri, last mentioned, 2Sa 20:13<\/span>, who passed through all the tribes of Israel to get as many to be of his party as he could, and to be proclaimed their king; or finding himself pursued, he passed on as fast as he could from place to place, through all the tribes, until at length he fixed for safety in a place later named; though Josephus w understands this of Joab pursuing Sheba through all the tribes of Israel with the forces under him; and to this sense the Syriac and Arabic versions, and so R. Isaiah interprets it; but the first sense is more generally received, that Sheba is meant, who passing through various tribes, came<\/p>\n unto Abel, and unto Bethmaachah<\/strong>; which were two places very near one another, if not one and the same place; since Abel is in 2Sa 20:15<\/span> called Abel of Bethmaachah, to distinguish it from any other place: it was a city that lay to the north of Israel near Syria; and from<\/p>\n 2Ki 15:29<\/span>, it appears to be in the tribe of Naphtali. There was one city of this name of Abel, six miles from Philadelphia, another twelve miles from Gadara, and a third between Paneas and Damascus, which, of the three, Reland thinks x, is most eligible to be the place here meant; though he rather chooses to look for it in Galilee, to the west or south of Paneas, than to the east or north in the way to Damascus; and so Adrichomius y calls it a city of upper Galilee, sixty furlongs or seven and an half miles from Jordan; and though he also places it in the tribe of Naphtali, in the plain of the country of Berim (from whence perhaps were the Berites next mentioned), not far from Caesarea Philippi; see 1Ki 15:20<\/span>;<\/p>\n and all the Berites<\/strong>; the inhabitants of Beeroth, in the tribe of Benjamin, of which tribe Sheba was, they followed him hither, as in the next clause:<\/p>\n and they were gathered together, and went also after him<\/strong>; unto Abel; of these, see Jos 18:25<\/span>; though perhaps these Berim or Berites were nearer to Abel; or rather that was in their country, as has been observed by Adrichomius.<\/p>\n w Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7.) x Palestina Illustrata, tom. 2. p. 519. y Theatrum Terrae S. p. 101.<\/p>\n Sheba Pursued.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/I><\/span><\/P> <\/TD> B. C.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN> 1023.<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P> <\/TD> <\/TR> <\/TABLE> 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were<\/I> 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<\/I> thou Joab? And he answered, I am he.<\/I> 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<\/I> at Abel: and so they ended the matter.<\/I> 19 I am one of them that are<\/I> peaceable and<\/I> faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD<\/B>? 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<\/I> not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even<\/I> 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<\/I> 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.<\/P> We have here the conclusion of Sheba’s attempt.<\/P> I. The rebel, when he had rambled over all the tribes of Israel, and found them not so willing, upon second thoughts, to follow him, as they had been upon a sudden provocation to desert David (having only picked up a few like himself, that sided with him), at length entered Abel-Beth-maacah, a strong city in the north, in the lot of Naphtali, where we find it placed, 2 Kings xv. 29<\/span>. Here he took shelter, whether by force or with consent does not appear; but his adherents were most Berites, of Beeroth in Benjamin, v.<\/I><\/span> 14<\/span>. One bad man will find or make more.<\/P> II. Joab drew up all his force against the city, besieged it, battered the wall, and made it almost ready for a general storm, v.<\/I><\/span> 15<\/span>. Justly is that place attacked with all this fury which dares harbour a traitor; nor will that heart fare better which indulges those rebellious lusts that will not have Christ to reign over them.<\/P> III. A discreet good woman of the city of Abel brings this matter, by her prudent management, to a good issue, so as to satisfy Joab and yet save the city. Here is,<\/P> 1. Her treaty with Joab, and her capitulation with him, by which he is engaged to raise the siege, upon condition that Sheba be delivered up. It seems, none of all the men of Abel, none of the elders or magistrates, offered to treat with Joab, no, not when they were reduced to the last extremity. They were stupid and unconcerned for the public safety, or they stood in awe of Sheba, or they despaired of gaining any good terms with Joab, or they had not sense enough to manage the treaty. But this one woman and her wisdom saved the city. Souls know no difference of sexes. Though the man be the head, it does not therefore follow that he has the monopoly of the brains, and therefore he ought not, by any salique law, to have the monopoly of the crown. Many a masculine heart, and more than masculine, has been found in a female breast; nor is the treasure of wisdom the less valuable for being lodged in the weaker vessel. In the treaty between this nameless heroine and Joab,<\/P> (1.) She gains his audience and attention, 2Sa 20:16<\/span>; 2Sa 20:17<\/span>. We may suppose it was the first time he had ever treated with a woman in martial affairs.<\/P> (2.) She reasons with him on behalf of her city, and very ingeniously. [1.] That it was a city famous for wisdom (v.<\/I><\/span> 18<\/span>), as we translate it. She pleads that this city had been long in such reputation for prudent knowing men that it was the common referee of the country, and all agreed to abide by the award of its elders. Their sentence was an oracle; let them be consulted and the matter is ended, all sides will acquiesce. Now shall such a city as this be laid in ashes and never treated with? [2.] That the inhabitants were generally peaceable and faithful in Israel, v.<\/I><\/span> 19<\/span>. She could speak, not for herself only, but for all those whose cause she pleaded, that they were not of turbulent and seditious spirits, but of known fidelity to their prince and peaceableness with their fellow-subjects; they were neither seditious nor litigious. [3.] That it was a mother in Israel, a guide and nurse to the towns and country about; and that it was a part of the inheritance of the Lord,<\/I> a city of Israelites, not of heathen; and the destruction of it would lessen and weaken that nation which God had chosen for his heritage. [4.] That they expected him to offer them peace before he made an attack upon the, according to that known law of war, Deut. xx. 10<\/span>. So the margin reads (v.<\/I><\/span> 18<\/span>): They plainly spoke in the beginning<\/I> (of the siege), saying, Surely they will ask of Abel,<\/I> that is, “The besiegers will demand the traitor, and will ask us to surrender him; and if they do, we will soon come to an agreement, and so end the matter.” Thus she tacitly upbraids Joab for not offering them peace, but hopes it is not too late to beg it.<\/P> (3.) Joab and Abel’s advocate soon agree that Sheba’s head shall be the ransom of the city. Joab, though in a personal quarrel he had lately swallowed up and destroyed Amasa, yet, when he acts as a general, will by no means bear the imputation of delighting in bloodshed: “Far be it from me that I should<\/I> delight to swallow up or destroy,<\/I> or design it but when it is necessary for the public safety, v.<\/I><\/span> 20<\/span>. The matter is not so. Our quarrel is not with your city; we would hazard our lives for its protection. Our quarrel is only with the traitor that is harboured among you; deliver him up, and we have done.” A great deal of mischief would be prevented if contending parties would but understand one another. The city obstinately holds out, believing Joab aims at its ruin. Joab furiously attacks it, believing the citizens all confederates with Sheba. Whereas both were mistaken; let both sides be undeceived, and the matter is soon accommodated. The single condition of peace is the surrender of the traitor. It is so in God’s dealing with the soul, when it is besieged by conviction and distress: sin is the traitor; the beloved lust is the rebel; part with that, cast away the transgression, and all shall be well. No peace on any other terms. Our wise woman immediately agrees to the proposal: Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee presently.<\/I><\/P> 2. Her treaty with the citizens. She went to them in her wisdom (and perhaps she had as much need of it in dealing with them as in dealing with Joab) and persuaded them to cut off Sheba’s head, probably by some public order of their government, and it was thrown over the wall to Joab. He knew the traitor’s face, and therefore looked no further, intending not that any of his adherents should suffer. The public safety was secured, and he felt no wish to gratify the public revenge. Joab hereupon raised the siege, and marched back to Jerusalem, with the trophies rather of peace than victory.<\/P> <\/p>\n Sheba Executed, vs. 14-22<\/strong><\/p>\n Sheba had made his way across all the tribes of northern Israel <\/em>to the city of Abel Beth-maachah. This was in the far north, slightly northwest of the city of Dan, and though allotted to the Israelites, was still inhabited by the Maachathites. During the reigns of David and Solomon it was subject to Israel. Joab traversed this same area as he followed Sheba. The Berites are only mentioned here in the Scriptures and were evidently other pagan people inhabiting the area to which Sheba had fled.<\/em><\/p>\n Joab set siege to Abel, <\/em>casting up a bank, or an embankment against it. The trench was a kind of palisade behind which the archers and stone-throwers could be sheltered from the defenders who would hurl missiles against them from the wall. He then brought up battering rams to batter down the wall of Abel to get in and capture Sheba.<\/em><\/p>\n At this juncture there appeared a wise woman <\/em>on the wall calling for an audience with Joab. When he came, and assured her that he was the captain, the woman spoke to him of the reputation of the city of Abel, as a place to which people came to ask counsel for its wisdom. Many questions had been settled, she claimed, by seeking counsel at Abel. This was her invitation to Joab to receive counsel about what he was preparing to do. She accused him of attempting to destroy a city and a mother in Israel and of swallowing up the inheritance of the Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n Joab denied that he wanted to swallow up or destroy anything, <\/em>but that he was besieging the city because of the rebel, Sheba the son of Bichri, who had lifted up his hand against the king. If the city would deliver up Sheba to him he would withdraw the siege army from Abel. The woman agreed that Sheba would be executed and his head thrown over the wall to Joab. She was true to her word. When Joab saw that Sheba was dead he blew the trumpet to withdraw the army. The men returned to their homes, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to face David, with his insubordinate murder of Amasa.<\/em><\/p>\n CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:14<\/span>. Abel.<\/strong> Lit., meadow<\/em>, and the name of several places in Palestine, but from its proximity to Beth-Maachah (with which it is sometimes joined, 2Sa. 20:15<\/span>; 1Ki. 15:20<\/span>; 2Ki. 15:29<\/span>), known to be the present Christian village of Abilel-Kamh (wheat meadow) in the extreme north of the country.<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:15<\/span>. They. Him.<\/strong> Evidently the first pronoun refers to Joab and his followers, and the second to Sheba. A bank.<\/strong> The first preparation for a siege was the construction of a causeway, or embankment, for wheeling the battering rams and other military machines close to the walls, (Jamieson)<\/em>. It,<\/strong> i.e.<\/em>, the embankment, in the trench,<\/strong> rather, by the wall<\/em>.<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:16<\/span>. A wise woman.<\/strong> (See 2Sa. 14:2<\/span>). Some suppose her to have been, like Deborah, a judge or leader.<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:18<\/span>. They were wont,<\/strong> etc. These words are variously explained, but the most natural construction appears to be that Abel had formerly been famed for the wisdom of its inhabitants, and that it was unfair to besiege the city without consulting them. Erdmann observes that negotiation before laying siege to a city (and a foreign city, indeed), such as the woman here refers to, is prescribed in the law. (Deu. 20:10<\/span> sqq. comp<\/em>. Num. 21:21<\/span>.)<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:19<\/span>. A mother.<\/strong> A chief city. (See on 2Sa. 8:1<\/span>). The villages surrounding such a city were called her daughters<\/em>. (See the margin in Num. 21:25<\/span>; Num. 21:32<\/span>) etc.<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:21<\/span>. Hath lifted,<\/strong> etc. Some have supposed that the inhabitants of Abel now learned for the first time of the guilt of Sheba.<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:22<\/span>. The woman went,<\/strong> etc. To report the result of her parley, and to counsel the inhabitants to give up Sheba. And Joab returned,<\/strong> etc. The issue of this occurrence, how David received the victorious Joab, is omitted in our present narrative; he was, doubtless, now also forbearing to a man who as a soldier was indispensable to him, and who, with all his punishmentdeserving savagery, always meant well for his government. (Ewald.)<\/em><\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:23<\/span>. The enumeration of Davids cabinet is here given to show that the government was re-established in its wonted course. (Jamieson.)<\/em> Benaiah<\/strong> (see on 2Sa. 8:18<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:24<\/span>. Adoram.<\/strong> Or Adoniram<\/em>. The nature of his office is indicated 1Ki. 5:14<\/span> sq. compared with 1Ki. 4:6<\/span>. (Erdmann.)<\/em> He continued in office until the time of Rehoboam (see 1Ki. 12:18<\/span>, and is called Hadoram<\/em> in 2Ch. 10:18<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:25<\/span>. Ira.<\/strong> Not mentioned elsewhere. For his office see on chap, 2Sa. 8:18<\/span>, where Davids sons are mentioned as holding such a position. The other names and offices enumerated are alike in both places.<\/p>\n MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.<\/em>2Sa. 20:14-26<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n THE DEATH OF SHEBA<\/p>\n I. A peace-maker is a blessing, both to the victors and the vanquished<\/strong>. A victorious commander may deservedly win great praise when be wins a great battle, because he may really be the means of bringing peace to a nation. Yet the blood of many may cry against him, because he can only gain his end by the loss of many, and the tears and maledictions of those whom he defeats mingle with the rejoicings of those whom he saves. And not only so, the blood of many of his own faithful followers must flow to win him reputation and success, so that, if he be a truly humane man, he will feel indeed that there is nothing so terrible as a victory except a defeat, and will rejoice greatly if wrongs can be put right in any other way. Greatly are they to be held in honour, who, by wise words and deeds, avert so great a catastrophe as war, especially that most terrible form of itcivil war. It was Joabs good fortune to have such a mediator at the siege of Abelone who had sufficient good sense and influence enough with both parties to put an end to the strife without injury to the innocent on either side. For this good office this nameless woman deserves to be held in honourable remembrance now, as she doubtless was by her fellow-countrymen of her own day. To her must be awarded the blessing of the peace-makersto be called the children of God.<\/p>\n II. The life of one man is sometimes justly sacrificed to secure the life of many.<\/strong> Sheba had no reason to complain that the citizens of Abel bought their own safety with his head. Although it is cowardly and wrong at all times to act upon the doctrine of Cairaphas (Joh. 11:50<\/span>) and save many at the expense of one, yet it is right to do this when the one man is the sole cause of the impending calamity, when the mass of the people have been misled and injured by him, and when there can be no safety for them while he lives. Such appears to have been the state of things in relation to Sheba and the inhabitants of Abel, and therefore they only acted in accordance with a recognised and just law when they delivered his head to Joab.<\/p>\n OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS<\/em><\/p>\n 2Sa. 20:20<\/span>. Joab, in the prosecution of war, does not seem chargeable with peculiar swiftness to shed blood, inasmuch as he could exclaim, as if indignant of the imputation, Far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! But when his private and personal interests were affected, he then gave full scope to his furious passions, without regard either to God or men. A mans general<\/em> conduct may be good, and even exemplary, so that on the whole he may move in the world with reputation and usefulness, yet one<\/em> indulged lust or passion may lead him on to crime and infamy.Lindsay<\/em>.<\/p>\n Spiritually the case is ours; every mans breast is as a city inclosed; every sin is as a traitor that lurks within those walls. God calls to us for Shebas head, neither hath he any quarrel to our person, but for our sin. If we love the head of our traitor above the life of our soul, we shall justly perish in the vengeance. We cannot be more willing to part with our sin than our merciful God is to withdraw his judgments.Bp. Hall<\/em>.<\/p>\n Shebas Death. 2Sa. 20:14-23<\/span><\/p>\n 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 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. 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.<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 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.<\/p>\n 23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:<\/p>\n 8.<\/p>\n Where was Abel-beth-maachah? 2Sa. 20:14<\/span><\/p>\n Abel-beth-maachah was near the waters of Merom at the northern end of the land of Israel. The name of the town was a compound of Hebrew words signifying the meadow of the house of the oppressor, and has been identified with Abiel-el-Kumh. The circumstances surrounding its mention in the Scriptures indicate that it was a place of some importance. Joab laid siege to it in order to drive out Sheba; and in later history, Ben-hadad and Tiglathpileser led their armies against it (1Ki. 15:20<\/span>; 2Ki. 15:20<\/span>). The Berites were a people mentioned only at this point, but their mention here indicates that they must have lived in the north part of Israel. The town of Beroth, a city in the northern part of Galilee, not far from Kadesh, is a likely spot for their center of activity. These people were far removed from the center of activity in Israel and were easily influenced to follow Sheba in his revolt.<\/p>\n 9.<\/p>\n How did Joab attack the city? 2Sa. 20:15<\/span><\/p>\n Abel was so strongly fortified that Joab found it necessary to throw up a rampart against the city. The earthwork which he made was up against the outside wall of the city; making it possible for his men to attack the wall with some success. The blows with which they hammered the city were beginning to take effect and the wall was starting to crumble when their siege was broken by the wise woman.<\/p>\n 10.<\/p>\n Why did a woman speak for the citizens? 2Sa. 20:16<\/span><\/p>\n A woman took the lead in stopping Joabs attack against Abel. She is described as a wise woman. This same kind of terminology was used with regard to the woman of Tekoah whom Joab fetched to intercede on Absaloms behalf (2Sa. 14:2<\/span>). These women must have stood in the same kind of company as that of Deborah, who was Israels female leader in the days of the judges (Jdg. 4:4<\/span>). These women were not banded together in any kind of order, but they were women who showed unusual wisdom and took action when action was needed.<\/p>\n 11.<\/p>\n What was the reputation of Abel? 2Sa. 20:18<\/span><\/p>\n Abel was known in ancient times as the home of citizens who were very clever. They had the reputation of being able to make judgments which were right and good, and many matters were brought to them to be resolved. The woman demonstrated this wisdom and she described herself as being a peaceable and faithful citizen of Israel. She felt that Joab and Abishai were out to destroy the city and herself, a mother of Israel. She felt that this destruction was needless, and asked them why they would devour the inheritance of the Lord in such a holocaust. Joab denied that he was intending to destroy Abel. He was only after Sheba, a worthless fellow who had led a revolt against King David. Joab showed that he was sincere in this by promising the citizens that if Sheba was delivered to them, they would withdraw their siege.<\/p>\n 12.<\/p>\n How did the matter end? 2Sa. 20:22<\/span><\/p>\n The woman was able to make good on her promise to throw Shebas head over the wall to Joab. Her words were wise, and she persuaded the leaders of the community to follow her advice. They captured Sheba, cut off his head, and threw it out to Joab. When Joab received the assurance that Sheba was dead, he lifted the siege from the city and dismissed his troop. Joab then went back to Jerusalem to report to the king.<\/p>\n (14) Unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah.<\/strong>Abel has been identified with the modern Christian village of Abil (called Abil-el-Kamh, on account of the excellence of its wheat (north-west of Lake Huleh). It is called Abel-Beth-maachah, in 2Sa. 20:15<\/span> (the of should be omitted), and is spoken of under that name in 1Ki. 15:20<\/span> and 2Ki. 15:29<\/span> in connection with Ijon and Dan, and in the same connection is called Abel-maim (Abel of waters) in 2Ch. 16:4<\/span>, to distinguish it from other places of the same name. It was at the extreme north of the land.<\/p>\n All the Berites.<\/strong>Apparently a family, or clan, in the north of Israel, otherwise entirely unknown. The LXX. and Vulg. here apparently follow a different text. The Bishop of Bath and Wells supposes the Hebrew word to be a form of the word for fortresses, but no such form is known.<\/p>\n 14<\/strong>. <\/strong> Through all the tribes <\/strong> That is, all the tribes whose territory lay between Jerusalem and Abel, namely, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali. <\/p>\n Abel, and to Beth-maachah <\/strong> Called Abel of Beth-maachah <\/em> in the next verse, and Abel-beth-maachah <\/em> in 1Ki 15:20<\/span>, and 2Ki 15:29<\/span>. Beth-maachah was probably the district of which Abel was the chief city. This city was situated on a long oval mound, about twenty-five miles north of the Sea of Galilee, and identical with the modern Abil. Says Dr. Thomson: “I have repeatedly ridden round it, and stood on the top trying to realize the scene. Taking advantage of an oblong knoll of natural rock that rises above the surrounding plain, the original inhabitants raised a high mound sufficiently large for their city. With a deep ‘trench’ and strong wall, it must have been almost impregnable. The country on every side is most lovely, well watered, and very fertile.” In 2Ch 16:4<\/span>, it is called Abel-maim, <\/em> probably from the fountains and vast marsh near by. <\/p>\n All the Berites <\/strong> The meaning of this is uncertain. It may designate a tribe of people dwelling near Abel; or we may render the Hebrew by all the Berim, <\/em> and understand a district of open country in the same vicinity. Compare all Bethron, <\/em> (2Sa 2:29<\/span>,) and the Chaldee , an open field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong> The Death of Sheba<\/p>\n v. 14. And he,<\/strong> Joab, went through all the tribes of Israel,<\/strong> moving ever northward through the country of the ten tribes, unto Abel and to Beth-maachah,<\/strong> in the territory of Naphtali, and all the Barites; and they were gathered together and went also after him,<\/strong> his army was continually increased by the addition of chosen young men who flocked to his standards. <\/p>\n v. 15. And they came and besieged him,<\/strong> Sheba, in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank,<\/strong> threw up a high embankment, against the city, and it stood in the trench,<\/strong> it reached the height of, and was joined to, the outer wall or works of the fortress; and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall,<\/strong> the inner wall, to throw it down. <\/p>\n v. 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. <\/p>\n v. 17. And when he,<\/strong> acting upon her suggestion, 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. <\/p>\n v. 18. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying,<\/strong> it was a proverbial saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel; and so they ended the matter. <\/strong> The discretion and wisdom of the city’s inhabitants were so widely known that their advice was acted upon without question. So in this case the inhabitants of Abel should first have been consulted before laying siege to the city. <\/p>\n v. 19. I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel,<\/strong> for she speaks in the name of the entire city. Thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel,<\/strong> one of the chief cities of the nation; why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?<\/strong> Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\nFuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n