Overview:
1. Sheba, a Benjamite, blows a trumpet calling for the withdraw of Israel (10 tribes) from David.
2. David returns to Jerusalem and provides food and shelter for his 10 concubines. They live as widows, in confinement, until their death. He does not go into them again.
3. In pursuit of Sheba, Joab murders Amasa and leaves him with guts spilled out, in the middle of the street.
4. Joab's army finds Sheba in the city of Abel of Bethmaachah and besieges the city. As they proceed to destroy the city walls, a woman reasons with him to stop in exchange for the head of Sheba. Sheba's head is cut off and thrown over the wall.
5. Joab returns to Jerusalem.
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The drama in these stories are so intriguing. Who is able to make up such good stuff! And they are REAL! I missed the class on this chapter and am now getting around to reading it. Whoever is willing to share what was discussed, please enlighten us.
I made a couple observations:
v3: I had to look up the full concept of a concubine, given David's special care for these women. I learned that they had almost the same status as a wife, except no dowry was paid. They enjoyed all the protections and privilege of a wife. One Jewish rabbi suggests that only kings had concubines.
v1: I'm confused on one point here: I thought the split of the northern kingdom (after Solomon died) were the Northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom made up of the remaining two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. If that is true, then why is Sheba, a Benjamite, found saying "We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his own tents, O Israel"? That is a call to Israel which he is not a part of?
v9, 10: Joab is an interesting and dangerous character and one of David's mighty men. Very specific and gory details are given as to how he murders Amasa. What did he have against Amasa? Was it personal or did he just distrust him and see him as a threat to David? Why did David give him leadership responsibility in v4?
Note: Absalom had given Amasa rule over the armies in Ch. 17:25 instead of to Joab. Also, he was the son of Abigail, who was sister to King David (1 Chr 2:16,17) and Zeruiah, the mother of Joab. Amasa was, therefore, a nephew of David, a cousin to Joab, and a cousin to Absalom. Joab also killed Absalom.
v 19 - A wise woman whose name is not given asks Joab "why will you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord". What is she alluding to?
1. Sheba, a Benjamite, blows a trumpet calling for the withdraw of Israel (10 tribes) from David.
2. David returns to Jerusalem and provides food and shelter for his 10 concubines. They live as widows, in confinement, until their death. He does not go into them again.
3. In pursuit of Sheba, Joab murders Amasa and leaves him with guts spilled out, in the middle of the street.
4. Joab's army finds Sheba in the city of Abel of Bethmaachah and besieges the city. As they proceed to destroy the city walls, a woman reasons with him to stop in exchange for the head of Sheba. Sheba's head is cut off and thrown over the wall.
5. Joab returns to Jerusalem.
----------------------------------
The drama in these stories are so intriguing. Who is able to make up such good stuff! And they are REAL! I missed the class on this chapter and am now getting around to reading it. Whoever is willing to share what was discussed, please enlighten us.
I made a couple observations:
v3: I had to look up the full concept of a concubine, given David's special care for these women. I learned that they had almost the same status as a wife, except no dowry was paid. They enjoyed all the protections and privilege of a wife. One Jewish rabbi suggests that only kings had concubines.
v1: I'm confused on one point here: I thought the split of the northern kingdom (after Solomon died) were the Northern kingdom consisting of 10 tribes (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom made up of the remaining two tribes, Judah and Benjamin. If that is true, then why is Sheba, a Benjamite, found saying "We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his own tents, O Israel"? That is a call to Israel which he is not a part of?
v9, 10: Joab is an interesting and dangerous character and one of David's mighty men. Very specific and gory details are given as to how he murders Amasa. What did he have against Amasa? Was it personal or did he just distrust him and see him as a threat to David? Why did David give him leadership responsibility in v4?
Note: Absalom had given Amasa rule over the armies in Ch. 17:25 instead of to Joab. Also, he was the son of Abigail, who was sister to King David (1 Chr 2:16,17) and Zeruiah, the mother of Joab. Amasa was, therefore, a nephew of David, a cousin to Joab, and a cousin to Absalom. Joab also killed Absalom.
v 19 - A wise woman whose name is not given asks Joab "why will you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord". What is she alluding to?
