20:1
We are now in the closing days of David’s reign. With the Absalom rebellion having been dealt with one might have expected things to quieten down, but that was not the case. As we have seen, there was no deep seated unity in Israel, rather a deep chasm between Israel and Judah. Sheba is described as a troublemaker. He declares that Israel has no part in David and calls all the soldiers of Israel to return home. Absalom had carefully planned his revolt, but Sheba was just an opportunist.
20:2,3
The men of Israel followed Sheba’s call. The men of Israel were not a very sensible nor honourable lot. The men of Judah, however, stuck with David and continued to follow him all the way to Jerusalem. David’s concubines had not fared well, and David kept them in the palace, under guard. This was to protect them. David did not have any further sexual relations with them. The women effectively lived as widows. It is never good for women when men do not exercise sexual restraint.
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