Sheba’s rebellion reveals how inner strife can threaten even a restored kingdom.
“Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, ‘We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!’” (2 Samuel 20:1). In this passage, we see the abrupt emergence of Sheba, described here as a “worthless fellow,” signaling the start of a new rebellion against King David. The verse sets the scene just after Absalom’s revolt, when David was re-establishing his rule in Jerusalem. Sheba’s plea to “Every man to his tents” was a rallying cry, urging the people of Israel to abandon David in favor of rebellion, similar to the divisions that had recently plagued the kingdom. By declaring, “We have no portion in David,” Sheba was effectively denouncing David’s legitimacy, seeking to fracture the unity of the nation and further plunge it into discord.
Sheba was a Benjamite, meaning he hailed from the tribe of Benjamin, which had historically produced Israel’s first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2). These events most likely took place around the early 10th century B.C. as part of the ongoing power struggles after David’s reign was firmly established. When Scripture states Sheba was “a worthless fellow,” it implies that he was deceitful or vile, leading others into strife. Scripture also mentions Sheba’s Revolt elsewhere, such as in commentary reflecting on David’s hardships, showing the frequency and severity of rebellions he faced. Sheba’s actions illustrate the internal instability that continued to challenge David, even after Absalom’s conspiracy had been quelled.
This verse underscores how quickly dissension can emerge and how one disloyal leader can capitalize on unrest to challenge God’s chosen king. David, though he had triumphed in previous conflicts, now faced another insurgency fueled by personal ambition and tribal tension. Sheba’s cry, while simple, carried enough influence to destabilize David’s fragile peace, reminding us that faithful governance requires constant vigilance against seeds of rebellion and discord.
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2 Samuel 20:1 meaning
“Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, ‘We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!’” (2 Samuel 20:1). In this passage, we see the abrupt emergence of Sheba, described here as a “worthless fellow,” signaling the start of a new rebellion against King David. The verse sets the scene just after Absalom’s revolt, when David was re-establishing his rule in Jerusalem. Sheba’s plea to “Every man to his tents” was a rallying cry, urging the people of Israel to abandon David in favor of rebellion, similar to the divisions that had recently plagued the kingdom. By declaring, “We have no portion in David,” Sheba was effectively denouncing David’s legitimacy, seeking to fracture the unity of the nation and further plunge it into discord.
Sheba was a Benjamite, meaning he hailed from the tribe of Benjamin, which had historically produced Israel’s first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2). These events most likely took place around the early 10th century B.C. as part of the ongoing power struggles after David’s reign was firmly established. When Scripture states Sheba was “a worthless fellow,” it implies that he was deceitful or vile, leading others into strife. Scripture also mentions Sheba’s Revolt elsewhere, such as in commentary reflecting on David’s hardships, showing the frequency and severity of rebellions he faced. Sheba’s actions illustrate the internal instability that continued to challenge David, even after Absalom’s conspiracy had been quelled.
This verse underscores how quickly dissension can emerge and how one disloyal leader can capitalize on unrest to challenge God’s chosen king. David, though he had triumphed in previous conflicts, now faced another insurgency fueled by personal ambition and tribal tension. Sheba’s cry, while simple, carried enough influence to destabilize David’s fragile peace, reminding us that faithful governance requires constant vigilance against seeds of rebellion and discord.