II Samuel 19:15- So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
The king and all his family and his Mighty Men that had fled from Absalom were now going back to Jerusalem. But, there was a man who had cursed David and thrown rocks at him while he was fleeing, and this man was now worried what the consequences of his actions would be.
II Samuel 19:18-20- And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
Shimei decided it would be better for him if he went to meet David before he got back to Jerusalem. He thought that he could apologize and he was hoping to receive some mercy for his humility.
There were some in David's company who thought that Shimei should be put to death for his acts.
II Samuel 19:21-23- But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed? And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
David had mercy on Shimei. He told him that he wouldn't die. David was happy that the Lord had not placed any of the curses on him that Shimei yelled at him. He knew that God wanted him to be king of Israel, and he was glad that the Lord would now bless him.
Mephibosheth also showed up to meet the king. He told the king that he wanted to go with him, but that Ziba didn't get him his horse and let him. The king also forgave Mephibosheth. He could see that Mephibosheth didn't bare him any ill will.
Along with apologies, there were also friends who showed up. One in particular who had been a great blessing to David and his family while they were on the run.
II Samuel 19:31-38- And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.
Barzillai came to express his delight that David would be going back to sit on the throne. David wanted to invite him to a party, but Barzillai was a very old man. He told David that he wouldn't be able to hear the music or taste the food. He asked that David take his son to the party instead.
But, not everyone was happy to see King David going back to take his place on the throne.
II Samuel 20:1-2- 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. 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.
Israel was now split between two. Some of them followed David, and some of them followed Sheba. The rift that Absalom had caused would not easily be sown up by just one battle.
II Samuel 20:6-7- 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. 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.
David knew that if he didn't take care of this now that there would be a greater war coming. Even his nephew, Amasa, had joined with Sheba. David sent Joab and his Mighty Men after Sheba.
II Samuel 20:8-13- 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Joab killed his cousin Amasa. He had no desire to see anyone live who was a threat to the king. Perhaps he still felt guilty about all the trouble Absalom caused; he was the one who talked the king into bringing Absalom home from his exile.
Joab then took the rest of the army to kill Sheba.
II Samuel 20:15- 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.
In his zeal to destroy this new threat, Joab was going to destroy an entire city and it's population.
II Samuel 20:16-22- 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. 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. 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. 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? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 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. 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.
The battle was ended by a wise woman. The Bible doesn't tell us how old she was, or how wealthy she was, or even how pretty she was. The Bible doesn't even give us her name. All we know is that she was brave and wise.
Proverbs 4:7- Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
This woman was so wise, in fact, that she was able to stop her city from being destroyed and her friends and family from being killed. She didn't do this by fighting in the battle. She didn't have to be strong, or cunning with weapons. She just had to be wise.
