26. Sheba’s rebellion and a wise woman ( 2Samuel 20:1 – 26)

David’s folly lay in favoring Judah and appointing Amasa, which provoked rebellion and weakened his rule. Joab’s cunning restored order through ruthless violence—effective but morally corrupt, exposing both shrewdness and folly. In contrast, the wise woman of Abel preserved her city and ended the revolt through counsel and negotiation, showing how true wisdom saves where folly and cruelty fail.

👉 Read 2Samuel 20:1-26

Q1. (1 – 7) At the ford of the Jordan River, the Judahites’ overly strong and exclusive claim to credit for restoring David as king provoked (   ) to lead another insurrection. All the men of Israel abandoned David and followed (   ). After returning to Jerusalem, David ordered the confinement of the (   ). He then commanded (   ) to gather the soldiers to suppress Sheba’s revolt, but he delayed beyond the three days allotted. Consequently, David instructed (   ) to take Joab’s men and pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

At the ford of the Jordan River, the Judahites’ overly strong and exclusive claim to credit for restoring David as king provoked ( Sheba ) to lead another insurrection. All the men of Israel abandoned David and followed ( Sheba ). After returning to Jerusalem, David ordered the confinement of the ( ten concubines ). He then commanded ( Amasa ) to gather the soldiers to suppress Sheba’s revolt, but he delayed beyond the three days allotted. Consequently, David instructed ( Abishai ) to take Joab’s men and pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

Note that David intentionally try to exclude Joab from this operation.

Q2. (8–13) What did Joab say when he killed Amasa? Why did one of Joab’s soldiers put Amasa off the road and cover him with a garment while he was still alive?

Joab greeted him, saying, “How are you, my brother?” and then struck him down. 

One of Joab’s men dragged Amasa from the road and covered him with a garment, because the soldiers kept stopping at the sight of his body, and this hindered them from following Joab.

Joab’s cunning deception is clearly portrayed as he killed his cousin. 

As the army rallied through the towns to gather more soldiers, some of them may have responded to Amasa’s call. But when they saw him fatally wounded and dying, they were embarrassed and baffled. To prevent hesitation, one of Joab’s soldiers urged them to follow Joab if they were loyal to David, and removed Amasa’s body from sight so it would not distract the troops.

Amasa is portrayed as an obstacle to the secure establishment of David’s kingdom, as seen in the note, “Once he had removed Amasa from the path, everyone followed Joab to pursue Sheba” (v. 13). David’s attempt to reconcile with Amasa by appointing him commander was a human strategy that failed. When Amasa delayed in mustering the troops, Joab seized the chance to kill him. Joab’s guilt is clear, yet David’s handling also showed poor judgment. He neither punished nor removed Amasa, though he had supported Absalom, and his indecision weakened his rule. Likewise, his treatment of the ten concubines reflected another lapse in wisdom.

Q3. As Sheba fled to a town called (       ), a (      ) woman appeared on the top of the city wall and urged Joab not to destroy her town, which was known as a town of (      ). Joab replied that he sought only (      ). The woman then persuaded the townspeople with her (      ) counsel, and they killed Sheba and threw his head over the wall to Joab. At that, Joab blew the trumpet, and everyone returned to (                        ). (      ) was once again confirmed as commander of the army.

As Sheba fled to a town called (Abel ), a (wise ) woman appeared on the top of the city wall and urged Joab not to destroy her town, which was known as a town of (wisdom ). Joab replied that he sought only (Sheba ). The woman then persuaded the townspeople with her (wise ) counsel, and they killed Sheba and threw his head over the wall to Joab. At that, Joab blew the trumpet, and everyone returned to (his own home ). (Joab ) was once again confirmed as commander of the army.

The bible emphasizes that she was wise (16,22) from the town of wisdom (21).

The woman’s wisdom stands in striking contrast to David’s unwise decision. It was unwise for David to send a messenger to Zadok and Abiathar, urging the Judahite elders to act before the other tribes in bringing him back. This move, in turn, provoked Sheba’s rebellion. Moreover, his appointment of Amasa as commander proved ineffective and ultimately only served to reinforce Joab’s dominance.

The summary of David’s cabinet suggests that his kingdom had regained stability and that the crisis was resolved.