October 24, 2025 • 39 mins
Chapter 28 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 2 Samuel 20.
The Rebellion of Sheba - An ambitious and evil man rises through the ranks and threatens to tear apart everything God has built through David. Will he be able to strike when the king is at his most vulnerable?
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Hebrews 11:6, Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
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Learn more about Dr. Tony Evans at https://tonyevans.org/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evan jehosts for Heroes in the Bible.
If you've been enjoying this series, please write a review
and let me know how this podcast has impacted your life.
Welcome to the Epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
(00:21):
few know about David the Man. In this episode, David
the Man is exposed and rebuked. This episode does not
feature a profound failure or moral mishap, but we are
coming to a point in the story where the myth
of David has melted away and all that remains is
David the Man. Our story only has a few more episodes,
(00:42):
and it would seem like David's epic tale is crawling
to the finish line. Rest assured, dear listeners that David
still has a few more epic adventures before our time
is up. This episode reminds us that David has some
growing up to do, even in his old age. The
death of his son has left him despondent and crippled
with grief. Normally, we appreciate David's sensitive soul, but this
(01:05):
time it is a bit different. David's emotions overcome him,
resembling what modern doctors might call clinical depression. David is
trapped in his own emotions all throughout this episode, whether
it's because of Absolom, Joe Ab or the state of Israel.
But the kingdom needs him, his men need him. There
is a mounting threat that can consume the nation if
(01:27):
not dealt with. Does David still have what it takes?
Or as he had a point in his life where
he delegates everything to his subjects, have we seen the
end of the giant slayer? Will the people be forced
to put their trust in Joe Ab? Let's find out
In episode twenty eight, The Rebellion of Sheba.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Prelude to Chapter twenty eight, David sat between two gates,
peering out at the battlefield miles away. I could hear
the clanging of swords and the screams of fallen men,
where there was no way of him knowing what had
come of the battle. He had faith in his men
that they would end the insurrection of Absalom swiftly and decisively.
(02:12):
There had yet to be an army his mighty men
could not topple, and he was confident in their skills. However,
his confidence in them grieved him, for he knew that
they would slay his son if given the chance. He
had ordered them not to, but the possibility of his
death remained. The king sighed and buried his face in
his hands. He hated being sidelined, but he knew it
(02:36):
was best for the battle. He would be a distraction
and he could not get his hands dirty with the
blood of Israelites. David sipped his water skin inside. The
sun was fixed directly in the center of the sky,
beating down on his bare neck. He wiped the sweat
off his brow and mumbled the prayer to the Lord
protect them, he whispered. He was filled with anxiety about
(02:59):
the battle, and his heart pounded even heavier when he
saw a man approaching the watchman on the tower above.
David called out, saying, there's a man running alone. If
he is alone, it means he's a messenger. It was
a he Maaas, son of Zaduk, the priest. He came
with news from the forest. He approached with a smile
(03:19):
on his face, waving and jumping with glee. David's heart
was relieved at the sight.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
All is well, my king.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
A Heeaoz declared, blessed be the Lord, your god.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
He has delivered up the men who rebelled against you.
Joab and the others were able to subdue the enemy
and make swift work of their ranks.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
What of my son Absolum, David asked anxiously. I have
no word, he replied.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
There was a great commotion once the army began to flee.
Perhaps he departed with the rest of them.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
As a he Maya said this, another messenger came from
the same direction. It was a Kushited messenger sent by
Joab himself.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
I go with goodness.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Who is my king, he said, with a beaming smile. Yes,
good Ahi Mayas has told me we have won. David replied,
but what of my son Absolom? The Kushite smile leaft immediately,
and he darted his eyes to a hemaas he looked
down and bowed before the king, saying, my.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
King, if it is any consolation, I pray all of
your enemy's perish in the same way absolute did, For
he was an evil young man.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
David's heart grew heavy in his chest, and he found
it nearly impossible to speak. His son had been slain
like an uncircumcised enemy. He said nothing to the messengers.
He stumbled behind the gate and leaned on the wall,
gasping for air. Tears rained down from his face on
to the dry ground beneath him. He pounded his fists
(04:48):
against the stone wall and fell onto his knees. He
gripped his chest. The pain was unbearable. My son, Absolom,
my son, my son, my son. His face hit the dirt,
and the tears continued to flow out of him like
a river. Who is it with me? Who perished and
said of you, my dear son, by son, by son Absalom.
(05:15):
The king was inconsolable. He retreated into a room within
the walls and laid his head on the floor. His
weeping was great, and his pain was overpowering. For days
he laid there, unable to get himself out of bed.
Chapter twenty eight, the rebellion of Sheba. Joab rode in
(05:37):
with his men into the gates of Gilead. Word was
sent to him that the king had locked himself away
in his room. The grizzled commander dismounted his horse and
strode through the courtyard. He saw one of the servants
bringing food in for the king. Where is he, he
said shortly. He is in his chambers. He has barely
eaten in days, he said, nodded, and knocked on David's door.
(06:03):
There was no answer. He knocked again and yelled.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
My king, we have won. Come and congratulate your men
for their courage.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
There was still no response. Joe Ab was frustrated. He
pounded on the door until finally kicking him down. The
wood at the hinges split into dozens of pieces, and
joe Ab stormed in to see David lying in bed.
The king rolled over and glared at Joeab. What are
you doing? He asked? What am I doing? Joeab gasped,
(06:33):
what are you doing?
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Your men have returned from a valiant battle and reclaimed
your throne, yet you lay here like a spoiled child.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
David got out of his bed and stood to his feet.
I am grieving the loss of my son, he yelled,
have some compassion, Joab, have you no heart? Joe Ab
took the king by the collar and pushed him ah.
David pushed back, landing a blow on Joab's jaw. Joeab
tackled him and pinned him to the wain, this time
(07:01):
slamming him against the stone. Listen to me, Joe Abb yelled.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
I have served you for years, and I have earned
the right to speak.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
David tried to break free again, but Joe Abb was
intent on getting his point across. He drove his arm
into David's neck and yelled, you will.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
Lose far more than your son if you decide to
remain here weeping.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Joe Ab released David and then pointed out the window.
Speaker 6 (07:26):
Come look and see what I see.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
David was considering striking Joe Abb, but instead looked outside.
Thousands of men were sitting outside the gate, nursing wounds
and enjoying their first meal in days. Joe Ab spoke
close to David's face, continuing.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
To yell, today you have covered them all in shame.
They marched out to save your life. They fought for you,
your wives, and your children. You have not come out
to greet them, nor have you prepared anything for them
as a reward. You have made it clear that your
commanders and servants me nothing to you.
Speaker 7 (08:00):
Of course I care, David yelled, I wanted to march
with them, but you wouldn't let me because we were
trying to save you, joe Ab retorted, and we succeeded.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
But you haven't noticed, have you, David? No, do you
know why?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Joe Ab walked closer to David and maintained his aggressive demeanor.
He pointed his finger at David's chest and said.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
Because you love those who hate you. David, you longed
for their acceptance and show too much mercy. You did
it with Zaul, and you did the same with Absalom.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
There was a long pause, and joe AB's tough veneer
began to break. There was a crack in his voice,
and David could see he was holding back tears.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
My King, you mourn as if you wished Absalom were
alive and we were dead.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
David was speechless. Joe AB's words cut him deeply. Joeb
coughed and composed himself. He stood up straight and said.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Arise, my king, go out and speak kind words to
the men who laid it all on the line for you.
I swear by the Lord. If you do not go,
not a man will stay with you.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Joab rubbed his sore jaw and left the room. David
was left standing there, cut to the heart by Joab's words.
The men were outside, laughing through the pain of broken
bones and flesh wounds. They sat in the dust, content
to enjoy one another's company until given orders. Then the
king arose from his room and stepped out into the courtyard.
(09:32):
The men all stood at attention. He smiled and lifted
up his hands and praised to God. The rest of
them cheered, and David embraced them. He thanked them for
their sacrifice and praised them for their bravery. King David,
the Shepherd of Israel and commander of his armies, had returned.
The king made peace with the elders of Judah and Israel,
(09:55):
and returned with an agenda of peace. The people repented
for their confused vote to Absalom and once again embraced
their king as God's chosen and anointed. He pardoned those
who did him wrong and forgave those who sought to
destroy him. Even Shimei, the man who threw dung at
him and cursed him, was pardoned and forgiven for all
(10:16):
the things Joab had said. He got one thing wrong.
David would continue to show mercy to those who hated him.
He would continue to extend grace to those who scorned him.
Why because he served a merciful and gracious God. Who
was he to deny them what God had freely given
him again and again. Yet not all was at peace.
(10:38):
Within the borders of Israel, a bitter and contentious spirit
was growing. The night sky was covered by dark clouds.
The air was hot and humid, and most people had
retreated early into their homes to escape the grossness of
the air. However, there was a man who was not
sleeping that night. In the middle of a courtyard in Jerusalem,
(11:00):
she Sheba, a Benjamite, conspired against the king. He stood
on a platform dimly lit by torchlight. He was a
tall and lean man, clearly hardened from years of battle.
His long legs paced back and forth on the platform
as he spoke to the people below. There will be
no riches for us to inherit under King David, he
(11:21):
said to them. His voice was resonating like the roar
of a lion, yet smooth like the gentle hissab a snake.
Absolute proof to us that is throwne is fragile, His
rule is weak, and we have no future under him.
He spoke to the lonely and the marginalized. In the
weeks leading up to this moment, there had been growing
division among Judah and the rest of Israel. While the
(11:43):
region of Judath thrived under King David, the rest of
the tribes found themselves struggling in economic uncertainty. The people
of Israel had felt the pain of an unstable rule
since the war against Ammon. They believed it was time
for a new king, and Sheba took advantage of their restlessness.
He stirred up the crowds to chant, we have no
(12:04):
inheritance in David. He shouted, he favors Judah. Well, maybe
he should go back to just being their key. Let
us find our own way, let us fight. The men
of Israel gathered around Sheba. As the weeks passed, his
message of insurrection grew. Hundreds turned into thousands, and David's
name became a curse to many. The mocking of the
(12:27):
multitude multiplied. However, Judah remained steadfast and loyal to their king.
David did not take the stirring of Sheba lightly. He
needed to put an end to it before the nation
became too divided to recover. He gathered his loyal men
and the elders of Judah together to discuss sheba missing
from the group was Joe app whom David did not
(12:49):
invite to the table. After their fight, David had decided
to look elsewhere for leadership over his army. He leaned
over the war table and shook his head. What do
we hear, he asked his advisers. The nation has split
in two once again. Amasa said.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
The economic repercussions of Absalom's coup have been hard to
recover from, and the people blame you.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Amasa was once loyal to Absalom, but had since been
reconciled with David. However, there was still a lingering distrust
between him and the others. Abieshi was also there. He
lifted his voice and said.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
My King, we need to end this swiftly. Absalom was
self serving and ambitious. He was calculated, but easy to predict.
This man Sheba is chaotic, unpredictable, and has no clear
desire to be king. He is dangerous.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
David nodded, His brow was furrowed and his lips were pursed.
He prayed to the Lord for wisdom in his mind,
seeking answers to such a complicated problem. The men of
Judah have remained loyal, he said. They outnumber the rebels
of Israel greatly. We need them here to quit this rebellion.
David gesture to Amasa, Amasa, will you gather the men
(14:05):
of Judah as their commander. Abishi turned his head and shock,
my king, what of job? David peered over at Abashi
and shook his head. Do not speak to me of joeeb,
he said plainly. He turned again to Amasa and said,
can I count on you? The young commander bowed his
head and smiled, I will not let you down, my king.
(14:27):
So Amasa left to gather the men of Judah. It
was his duty to organize the ranks of Judah's men,
form a march, and set up a garrison outside Jerusalem.
David needed the men present to lead them into battle,
and Amasa's job was of great importance. However, three days
passed and Amasa had failed to gather the men. He
(14:48):
showed no urgency, leadership, or ability to mobilize. In crisis,
David waited for the men of Judah to arrive at
the gates of Jerusalem. However, there was no one to
be seen. Finally, he he called for Abishi to enter
his war room. Abesh I entered and sat down before David.
The king sighed and rubbed his temples. Abishai, I once
(15:10):
again need to call on your faithfulness. You are a
good friend and an excellent warrior. Abshi nodded and smiled.
David stood up and pointed to a map. His finger
slid from Jerusalem to beth Makhah. I have been given
word that Sheba has mobilized a great number of men
to the region of Beth Makah. It is believed that
(15:33):
he may be creating a stronghold in one of the
smaller towns. Abitshi looked at the map. Beth Makhan was
a poor region with rich history, No doubt she besought
as an opportunity to easily take advantage of the people there.
What would you have me do, Lord, he asked politely,
Still slightly perturbed that his brother was not there. The
(15:55):
king folded his hands and paced the room. A Massa
has failed to gather the men of Judah in time.
I do not know where he is or if he
is even coming. I cannot wait any longer. If Sheba continues,
he can do more damage than Absolom. Will you take
the mighty men and pursue him? Ambishi, I looked at
(16:16):
the king and studied his face. He was clearly in
conflict with himself. David knew that he should assign this
to Joe Ab, but there was something that held him back.
As David grew older, abesh I could see the cracks
and david seemingly perfect character. He was a man who
struggled with abandonment and deep wounds caused by his own
(16:37):
father and his father in laws Aul. The mythical legend
of the giant Slayer was slowly fading into history, and
now ambish I could see that before him was just
a man, a good man, a noble man, but still
just a man. Abershin drew a deep breath and nodded, of.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Course I will, my king. I will pursue Sheba while
you remain here to study the economic fallout from all this.
The elders need you to help them move forward. While
you deal with the politics, I shall deal with Sheba.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
David was relieved at Abishai's answer. As he left, David
stopped him, saying, Abishai, if Joe Ab desires to march
with you, I would very much appreciate his skill. Abishai
smiled and bowed. Then he left to assemble the Mighty Men.
They gathered immediately, ready to pursue Sheba with all their might.
(17:32):
Even though the Mighty Men were growing older and the
youthful endurance they once possessed was waning, they were still
to be feared. Every surrounding nation knew that David's Mighty
Men were not to be trifled with, and Sheba would
feel their wrath fall down like heavy rain. Sheba stormed
through the nation like a violent wildfire, consuming all in
(17:54):
his wake. His voice resonated with every person he spoke to,
stirring them up to anger and discontentment. He took advantage
of the hurt, the poor, and the dispossessed. Instead of
pointing to the hope of God, he called for uprising
and chaos. Everywhere he went he gathered more followers. They
(18:15):
followed him in hopes for a better future. But Sheiba
had not thought that far. All he wanted to do
was beheard and have their attention. He had it, and
he had no idea what to do with it. Without
the ranks of Judah, Sheba's army was small and insufficient. However,
he had the sway of the masses on his side.
(18:36):
They were under his spell, and his words corrupted them
like a slow working poison. Who shall build a new Israel,
one of no poverty, war or corruption, a new Israel
built by the people. His message resonated, and they followed
him throughout the region. A messenger from Jerusalem found Sheba
(18:57):
and his followers. They are coming. He shouted, run for
your lives.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
The mighty men are coming.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Shiba turned around with a grave expression. Who is coming?
He asked in a hushed voice. The messenger answered, saying.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
The King has sent Aba Shai and the mighty men
of David to pursue you.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Sheba.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
They are only a day's journey away.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
What are you going to do?
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Will you fight them?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Shiba knew it would be utter foolishness to fight them.
He had no army, he had no plan. His role
was to stir the people up, get them angry, and
bask in the wave of glory they created for him.
He turned to the people and raised his hands to
the nearest city. There we shall prepare for David's hunting dogs.
(19:42):
The people began to murmur amongst themselves. The news about
David's mighty Men caused a great deal of consideration among them,
they began to question what they were doing and began
to realize Sheba may not know what he was doing.
Sheba and the rebels marched to the city of Abel.
There he established himself as governor. His followers bullied people
(20:04):
out of their home so they could sleep for the night,
and Sheba called for a great feast to be made
in his name. The elders of Abel were not sure
how to react to Sheba's presence. He came with a
great deal of people, and they did not desire to fight. However,
he was not a welcomed presence in their city. As
Sheba dined on stolen meat, bread, and wine, the elders
(20:27):
convene in a secret place. Among them was a woman,
a wise sage of the city. She led the discussion
against Sheba, strategizing on how to get rid of him.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Listen to me, brothers, she said, the time may come
when David's mighty men come knocking at our gates. We
must decide now if we are going to help them, not.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
If it costs us our lives.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Another elder declared, Sheba has.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
His dagger at our throats.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
One false move and we may be taken out. The
Others mumbled and nodded in a green They were caught
in a difficult situation and were not sure on how
to proceed. They felt like hostages in their own city.
As they discussed, there was a pounding at the door.
The elders looked up, then at one another. They had
(21:16):
no time to act before Sheba and his guards kicked
down the door. Truly, the city of Abel was in
a grave situation. The mighty men of David were camped
out in Gibeon. They remained there under the covering of
a large stone. Its massive frame blocked out of the
sun and protected them from the harshness of midday. The
(21:38):
servants of the king who followed him in exile were
also there, the Cherithites and the Pelethites. They were a
faithful bunch, filled with courage and devotion to their king.
All together they were perfectly capable of going after Sheba.
Abeshi and Joab were confident they could find Sheba by
the week's end and destroy him before the rebellion spread
(21:59):
in any further. Knight approached and the two of them
met under the moon. Together. They sat by the fire,
stoking it and strategizing for the conflict. Ahead.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
We must expect that Sheba has men willing to fight,
Abishi said, some trained soldiers, others willing civilians.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Joeab affirmed, Abishi.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
We want as little bloodshed as possible. If we are
to keep our nation intact, we must not kill too
many of our countrymen.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Finding Sheba and killing him first is our best option
to keep the peace.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Abishi added, wherever.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
He is hiding, I doubt he will come out and
fight us himself.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Joe Ab nodded, and the two of them continued to
discuss the best way to proceed. The next morning, the
two brothers awoke to the sound of marching. They ran
out of their tents and saw the armies of Judah
approaching from the south. In front of them was a massa,
smiling with his arms stretched out in joy. Joe Ab
(22:57):
was not amused. The man who took my he muttered,
Amasa had been weeks late in gathering the armies of Judah.
He proved to be incompetent when it came to leading,
or worse, perhaps he was failing on purpose. Joab looked
at him with skeptical eyes. He did not trust him
and saw his incompetence as a threat to Israel. If
(23:19):
he is in charge, we may perish. Joab sent to
abishi Abhishik knew the look in his brother's eyes. Usually
he was the voice of reason and caution in Joab's life. However,
this time he did not feel the need to hold
his brother back. Do what pleases you, brother, I will
not stop you. Joeab smirked and stepped forward to go
(23:41):
meet Amassa. Joab was wearing a soldier's uniform, signifying his
demotion from commander. It amused Amassa to see Joab humbled
in such a way. Ah the Mighty Joab, He jested,
what a pleasant surprise to see you here. I did
not know if David would allow you to fight for him.
Joe Ab feigned a smile and said.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
Is all well with you, my brother.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
It took you a long time to get here. We
thought you were dead. A Massa's smile left him. Joe
Ab laughed and came close to him.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Come here, Amasa, greet me as an ally. We fight
for the same king.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
A Massa quickly scanned joe Ab to see if he
had a sword. He did not. He let down his
guard and Joab grabbed him by the beard and brought
a dagger out from his thigh. He drove it deep
into a Mass's stomach and twisted him. He leaned in
and whispered, I have.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Killed many men for the safety of this nation.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
You are but another number on the path to peace.
Joe Ab let go, and a Massa fell onto the floor.
His entrails poured out of his stomach. He was still alive.
Frantically trying to get them back in. He wailed in agony,
slowly losing blood and life. Joe Ab wiped the blood
(24:57):
off his blade, looked up to the army behind a
Massa and bowed. He left back into the ranks of
Abeshire without saying a word. Abshi looked out at the
army of Judah and shrugged, then left back to lead
his men. Joab's armor bear stood over the corpse of
Amasa and raised his voice to Judah, saying.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Whoever favors Joab, whoever is for King David, let him
follow Joab into battle.
Speaker 6 (25:24):
Let them fights for the nation.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
The ranks of Judah pressed onward and followed Joab. The
mighty men of David, the servants of the King, and
the armies of Judah all marched to defend the integrity
of Israel. Many of the men passed by Amassa and
winced in disgust, until finally some of them took his
body aside and covered it with a garment. Amasa's body
(25:47):
was left to rod in the desert between Gibeon and Abel.
His death was a sobering reminder of Joab's resolve. He
was brutally and violently devoted to David and the people
of Israel, and no one would stand in his way.
The men of David finally made it to able. The
city had large walls surrounding every side of it. There
(26:08):
was only one entrance, and it was guarded by thousands
of Sheba's men. His devoted followers stood at attention with
their weapons protecting the city. Joab looked back at his men.
Take out the guard first, he shouted. Joe Ab gave
the signal, and the Mighty Men ran forward, with the
armies of Judah behind them. Like a rushing wind. The
(26:30):
Mighty Men blew down the followers of Sheila. They tried
to brace themselves. However, Joeab and the rest of the
warriors were far too quick. Abeshi himself cut through seven
men to reach the edge of the wall. He knocked
four of them out with the blunt end of his blade,
then slashed the other three at the knees. He did
not want to kill them, for they were his countrymen.
(26:52):
There was only one man he desired to kill. Joe
Ab was not so worseful. His sword met the throats
of Dustes was like a mother bear, ferociously protecting her goods.
His stamina was unmatched, and his brutality was without equal.
Whoever did not fall to the sword and fled back
to their homes. And now Sheiba was alone behind the
(27:13):
walls of they The men stood at the rampart of
the walls, clamoring after Sheida, bring in the rams, joe
Ad commanded me. Dozens of men came in from behind
the hills. That battering rams made contrigue in the new adays.
They ran into the door, cracking it slightly from the
first blow. Joe Add signaled for them to cease. When
(27:34):
he yelled at whoever was listening on the other side.
Speaker 6 (27:37):
I will burn this city. I will destroy it if
I must bring out Sheba.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
There was no response, only silence. Very well, joe Ab
said He nodded to the soldiers to continue battering the doors.
The blows shook the earth below. As the soldiers were
readying themselves to go again, Joab heard of voice yell, listen,
please stop. Joeb looked up and saw a woman calling
(28:05):
out from the wall. He sheathed his sword and approached
the rampart. It was the wise woman from the Council
of Elders.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Are you Joab?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
She asked, I am, who are you?
Speaker 5 (28:18):
Joeab replied, I am from the city, and I implore
you to cease this attack. We have done nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
The woman's voice was not frantic or angry. She was
calm and sure of herself. She intrigued Joeab, so he
nodded for her to continue speaking.
Speaker 5 (28:34):
They used to say in former times, before the days
of kings, let us ask for the Council of Abel.
Matters were settled here in the city, and we were
known as the most peaceful and faithful in Israel. Why
would you swallow up a rich heritage like ours by
destroying the city.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Joeb could not help but chuckle.
Speaker 6 (28:55):
You think I want to destroy the city, Far be
it from me to destroy anything I've not to swallow.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
You up in fire.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
I have come for one reason and one reason alone. Sheba,
he has lifted his hand against the king. Give him
up and we will withdraw from the city.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Do I have your word that is true?
Speaker 6 (29:12):
She asked, my very word, Bring me Sheba and we
leave in peace.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Then I will ensure his head is thrown over.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
The wall, she said nervously. Joab once again could not
help but chuckle. She seems so sure of herself. However,
Sheba would not go quietly. Joab gestured for his men
to cease their attack of the wall. They waited, looking
for any sign from the city that Siba was dead.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Joab has given his word.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
The wise woman said, in confidence.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
If we are able to kill Sheba, he retreats.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
The elders were gathered in a room discussing in secret
what to do with Sheba.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
We will have Joab come and cause an uproar in
our city. Sheba will retaliate and many lives will be lost.
Speaker 6 (30:00):
Is that what you want?
Speaker 2 (30:01):
The elders shook their heads in shame. The woman put
a hand on her heart and.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Said, I want to live in peace within my city.
Sheba has robbed our piece, so I say we take
it back.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
They were all in agreement. The elders called Sheba in
for a feast. They staged warriors at the sides of
the entrance with daggers. Slowly they want Sheba approach. He
was as skittish as ever, but would not turn down
a hearty meal. His guards came in first, and the
warriors of the city took daggers to their ribs. In
(30:34):
one swift motion, the two warriors killed the guards. They
keeled over, and Sheba ran for his life after them.
They yelled. He ran through the city streets, running away
from the warriors a babel. He knocked over carts from
the marketplace and burst open chicken coops to escape. He
did not care who he ran over to get away. Finally,
(30:57):
he scaled up a roof and began to run over
the rooftop one by one. He jumped from home to
home until finally reaching the top of the wall. He
ran on the top searching for a way out, but
Joe Ab was waiting at the bottom for him. He
saw an opening leading to an exit on the other side.
Just as he was about to jump down, a spear
(31:19):
went whistling through the air, landing directly through his side.
Sheba fell onto the stone floor of the wall and
writhed in pain. The warriors finally caught up to him,
took him by the head and chopped it off. Sheiba's
body bled over the edge of the wall, dripping down
onto the floor below. They held the head high in
the air for the whole city to see. Shiva was
(31:42):
dead and no rebel would be welcomed within the gates
of Abel. Joe Ab was on the other side. The
sun was descending over the wall, causing joe Ab to
squint when he heard a clamoring from within its borders. Finally,
something went flying through the air, blocking the sun for
a moment. All the men watched the object fall onto
the floor with a thud. Joab approached and turned the
(32:05):
object around with his foot. Shebassevered head was lying face
first in the sand. Joab laughed again and a bow
to the wall. Although he could not see her, he
knew the wise woman was watching. She was and smirked
as Joab gave a sarcastic bow. Joab took out the
trumpet from his belts and blew it. The sound resonated
(32:28):
for over a mile, signaling for the men to return home.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Lingering unrest was inevitable. Absalom shook up Israel, and it
comes as no surprise that there was political and social unrest.
It came at a bad time because King David does
not seem up to the task of handling any of it.
The prelude takes us into the chambers of the king.
He has responded after the loss of his son, even
(32:55):
though he was a treacherous psychopath. David is no different
from any father who loved his son. However, the grief
cripples him in a way unbecoming of a king. His
bereavement seems over the top, and there is political and
social strife being ignored. I am not a psychologist, but
many scholars, psychologists and theologians believe that David had suffered
(33:18):
from some sort of depression in his life. We may
have witnessed a particularly difficult bout for him. Either way,
David's kingdom was being neglected and it took the heavy
handedness of joe Ab to snap him out of it.
Joe Ab was harsh physically and verbally with the king,
but we don't get the sense that he went too far.
(33:38):
But he made some really powerful but he made some
really forceful points. In the heat of the moment, Joe
ad pins David down and rebukes him. This is one
of the more compelling scenes of our series, because we
are trying to save you, Joe, I retorted, and we succeeded.
But you haven't noticed, have you, David?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
No, do you know why?
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Joab walked closer to David and maintained his aggressive demeanor.
He pointed his finger at David's chest and said, because
you love those who hate you, David, you long for
their acceptance and show too much mercy. You did it
with Saul, and you did it with Absolom. There was
a long pause, and Joeab's tougher veneer began to break.
(34:20):
There was a crack in his voice, and David could
see he was holding back tears. My King, you mourn
as if you wish Absen were alive and we were dead.
Joe Ab reintroduced an older theme of this series, father wounds.
David's childhood was marked by neglect, and as a result,
he seemed to pine after the approval of those who
(34:42):
hated him. Joab hit a nerve with David, but it
was the right thing to do. His words got David
out of bed and among his men. However, Ab and
David's relationship suffers, mainly because of David's pride. Sometimes compelling
truths are packaged and tones. Jesus, when faith with some
(35:03):
of the Pharisees and money changes in the Temple, used
very aggressive tones and even flip tables. When Peter was
undermining the mission of God, Jesus said, get behind me, Satan.
Jesus was no stranger to conflict. The balance for us
is to know when to speak gently and when to
speak boldly. The coup of Absalom shook the economic foundation
(35:25):
of Israel. Judah, being the larger and more stable tribe,
was not as effected. However, the other tribes of Israel
were hurting. There was a large group of people who
felt dispossessed and angry, which was a perfect opportunity for
someone to take advantage. People like Sheba come around every
couple of years. Sheba is like many cult leaders, fringe
(35:47):
political activists and ideologues that loved to stir people up.
People like him, fan the flames of anger but offer
no real solutions. They talk of a new world order
and salvation without any uncreed ideas of convictions Utopia is
always their fantasy, but corruption is always their reality. Sheba
(36:09):
is an agent of chaos. David knows he needs to
quench the uprising and put an end to Sheba, but
he can't march against him. He needs to stay and
deal with the elders, so he sends a Massa to
lead his army. He doesn't invite Joe ab though, because
of his petty grudge. A Massa's loyalty and competence are
in question, so it surprises Abashar to see him take command.
(36:33):
There's a moment in this episode where Abashah observes David
like we would as David grew older. Abajah could see
the cracks and David's seemingly perfect character. He was a
man who struggled with abandonment and deep wounds caused by
his own father and his father in law, Saul. The
mythical legend of the Giant Slayer was slowly fading in
(36:54):
the history, and now Abajar could see that before him
was just a man, a good man, a noble man,
but just a man. As our story is slowly drawing
to a close, our overarching theme becomes clearer. David is
not the ultimate hero. We've been reminding ourselves this whole
series while also standing in awe of how awesome David is.
(37:18):
But now, as he stacks more and more failures, we
get to fully realize David is just another sinner. The
myth of David is melting away, and we are left
with just a man. Joe Ab re enters the story
when it is time to march against Sheba. It seems
clear that a massa was either terribly incompetent or secretly rebelling.
(37:39):
Either way, it was putting Israel in danger. Joe it
takes matters into his own hands. He did it with Abner,
he did it with Absalom, and he did it with
the Massa. Joe Ab, the most fiercely loyal subject of David,
frequently disobeys him for the safety of Israel. We are
supposed to love and hate Joe Ab. Why because we
(38:00):
just can't tell if he's good or bad. He protects Israel,
but he disobeys the king. He saves lives, but he
murders out of revenge. He loves David, but he kills
David's allies. Joe Ab seems to think David needs him
to make the tough decisions he is unwilling to make.
Is he wrong? Job is one of the most confusing
characters in scripture. We don't know whether to praise him
(38:23):
or hate him, and neither does David. Sheba's eventually killed
and the people go back to normal. This is a
perfect example of fleeting ideologies and movements that have no
momentum once their charismatic leader is gone. Would it be
the same for David? What will his legacy be? At
this point in David's life, he isn't quite sure what
(38:44):
the lasting memory of him will be.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
In our next.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
Episode, we will witness David wrestling with his own legacy
and the name he will leave behind. We are almost
to the end of our series and David has a
few more good fights in him. Let's fit Fish well
with episode twenty nine, The Heart of a King. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers with
(39:08):
them to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com
and to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download
the Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.
Forward slash Heroes, Write a review and let us know
how this podcast has impacted your life, God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evan jehosts for Heroes in the Bible.
If you've been enjoying this series, please write a review
and let me know how this podcast has impacted your life.
Welcome to the Epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
(00:21):
few know about David the Man. In this episode, David
the Man is exposed and rebuked. This episode does not
feature a profound failure or moral mishap, but we are
coming to a point in the story where the myth
of David has melted away and all that remains is
David the Man. Our story only has a few more episodes,
(00:42):
and it would seem like David's epic tale is crawling
to the finish line. Rest assured, dear listeners that David
still has a few more epic adventures before our time
is up. This episode reminds us that David has some
growing up to do, even in his old age. The
death of his son has left him despondent and crippled
with grief. Normally, we appreciate David's sensitive soul, but this
(01:05):
time it is a bit different. David's emotions overcome him,
resembling what modern doctors might call clinical depression. David is
trapped in his own emotions all throughout this episode, whether
it's because of Absolom, Joe Ab or the state of Israel.
But the kingdom needs him, his men need him. There
is a mounting threat that can consume the nation if
(01:27):
not dealt with. Does David still have what it takes?
Or as he had a point in his life where
he delegates everything to his subjects, have we seen the
end of the giant slayer? Will the people be forced
to put their trust in Joe Ab? Let's find out
In episode twenty eight, The Rebellion of Sheba.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Prelude to Chapter twenty eight, David sat between two gates,
peering out at the battlefield miles away. I could hear
the clanging of swords and the screams of fallen men,
where there was no way of him knowing what had
come of the battle. He had faith in his men
that they would end the insurrection of Absalom swiftly and decisively.
(02:12):
There had yet to be an army his mighty men
could not topple, and he was confident in their skills. However,
his confidence in them grieved him, for he knew that
they would slay his son if given the chance. He
had ordered them not to, but the possibility of his
death remained. The king sighed and buried his face in
his hands. He hated being sidelined, but he knew it
(02:36):
was best for the battle. He would be a distraction
and he could not get his hands dirty with the
blood of Israelites. David sipped his water skin inside. The
sun was fixed directly in the center of the sky,
beating down on his bare neck. He wiped the sweat
off his brow and mumbled the prayer to the Lord
protect them, he whispered. He was filled with anxiety about
(02:59):
the battle, and his heart pounded even heavier when he
saw a man approaching the watchman on the tower above.
David called out, saying, there's a man running alone. If
he is alone, it means he's a messenger. It was
a he Maaas, son of Zaduk, the priest. He came
with news from the forest. He approached with a smile
(03:19):
on his face, waving and jumping with glee. David's heart
was relieved at the sight.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
All is well, my king.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
A Heeaoz declared, blessed be the Lord, your god.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
He has delivered up the men who rebelled against you.
Joab and the others were able to subdue the enemy
and make swift work of their ranks.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
What of my son Absolum, David asked anxiously. I have
no word, he replied.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
There was a great commotion once the army began to flee.
Perhaps he departed with the rest of them.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
As a he Maya said this, another messenger came from
the same direction. It was a Kushited messenger sent by
Joab himself.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
I go with goodness.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Who is my king, he said, with a beaming smile. Yes,
good Ahi Mayas has told me we have won. David replied,
but what of my son Absolom? The Kushite smile leaft immediately,
and he darted his eyes to a hemaas he looked
down and bowed before the king, saying, my.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
King, if it is any consolation, I pray all of
your enemy's perish in the same way absolute did, For
he was an evil young man.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
David's heart grew heavy in his chest, and he found
it nearly impossible to speak. His son had been slain
like an uncircumcised enemy. He said nothing to the messengers.
He stumbled behind the gate and leaned on the wall,
gasping for air. Tears rained down from his face on
to the dry ground beneath him. He pounded his fists
(04:48):
against the stone wall and fell onto his knees. He
gripped his chest. The pain was unbearable. My son, Absolom,
my son, my son, my son. His face hit the dirt,
and the tears continued to flow out of him like
a river. Who is it with me? Who perished and
said of you, my dear son, by son, by son Absalom.
(05:15):
The king was inconsolable. He retreated into a room within
the walls and laid his head on the floor. His
weeping was great, and his pain was overpowering. For days
he laid there, unable to get himself out of bed.
Chapter twenty eight, the rebellion of Sheba. Joab rode in
(05:37):
with his men into the gates of Gilead. Word was
sent to him that the king had locked himself away
in his room. The grizzled commander dismounted his horse and
strode through the courtyard. He saw one of the servants
bringing food in for the king. Where is he, he
said shortly. He is in his chambers. He has barely
eaten in days, he said, nodded, and knocked on David's door.
(06:03):
There was no answer. He knocked again and yelled.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
My king, we have won. Come and congratulate your men
for their courage.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
There was still no response. Joe Ab was frustrated. He
pounded on the door until finally kicking him down. The
wood at the hinges split into dozens of pieces, and
joe Ab stormed in to see David lying in bed.
The king rolled over and glared at Joeab. What are
you doing? He asked? What am I doing? Joeab gasped,
(06:33):
what are you doing?
Speaker 6 (06:35):
Your men have returned from a valiant battle and reclaimed
your throne, yet you lay here like a spoiled child.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
David got out of his bed and stood to his feet.
I am grieving the loss of my son, he yelled,
have some compassion, Joab, have you no heart? Joe Ab
took the king by the collar and pushed him ah.
David pushed back, landing a blow on Joab's jaw. Joeab
tackled him and pinned him to the wain, this time
(07:01):
slamming him against the stone. Listen to me, Joe Abb yelled.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
I have served you for years, and I have earned
the right to speak.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
David tried to break free again, but Joe Abb was
intent on getting his point across. He drove his arm
into David's neck and yelled, you will.
Speaker 6 (07:19):
Lose far more than your son if you decide to
remain here weeping.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Joe Ab released David and then pointed out the window.
Speaker 6 (07:26):
Come look and see what I see.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
David was considering striking Joe Abb, but instead looked outside.
Thousands of men were sitting outside the gate, nursing wounds
and enjoying their first meal in days. Joe Ab spoke
close to David's face, continuing.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
To yell, today you have covered them all in shame.
They marched out to save your life. They fought for you,
your wives, and your children. You have not come out
to greet them, nor have you prepared anything for them
as a reward. You have made it clear that your
commanders and servants me nothing to you.
Speaker 7 (08:00):
Of course I care, David yelled, I wanted to march
with them, but you wouldn't let me because we were
trying to save you, joe Ab retorted, and we succeeded.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
But you haven't noticed, have you, David? No, do you
know why?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Joe Ab walked closer to David and maintained his aggressive demeanor.
He pointed his finger at David's chest and said.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
Because you love those who hate you. David, you longed
for their acceptance and show too much mercy. You did
it with Zaul, and you did the same with Absalom.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
There was a long pause, and joe AB's tough veneer
began to break. There was a crack in his voice,
and David could see he was holding back tears.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
My King, you mourn as if you wished Absalom were
alive and we were dead.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
David was speechless. Joe AB's words cut him deeply. Joeb
coughed and composed himself. He stood up straight and said.
Speaker 6 (08:58):
Arise, my king, go out and speak kind words to
the men who laid it all on the line for you.
I swear by the Lord. If you do not go,
not a man will stay with you.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Joab rubbed his sore jaw and left the room. David
was left standing there, cut to the heart by Joab's words.
The men were outside, laughing through the pain of broken
bones and flesh wounds. They sat in the dust, content
to enjoy one another's company until given orders. Then the
king arose from his room and stepped out into the courtyard.
(09:32):
The men all stood at attention. He smiled and lifted
up his hands and praised to God. The rest of
them cheered, and David embraced them. He thanked them for
their sacrifice and praised them for their bravery. King David,
the Shepherd of Israel and commander of his armies, had returned.
The king made peace with the elders of Judah and Israel,
(09:55):
and returned with an agenda of peace. The people repented
for their confused vote to Absalom and once again embraced
their king as God's chosen and anointed. He pardoned those
who did him wrong and forgave those who sought to
destroy him. Even Shimei, the man who threw dung at
him and cursed him, was pardoned and forgiven for all
(10:16):
the things Joab had said. He got one thing wrong.
David would continue to show mercy to those who hated him.
He would continue to extend grace to those who scorned him.
Why because he served a merciful and gracious God. Who
was he to deny them what God had freely given
him again and again. Yet not all was at peace.
(10:38):
Within the borders of Israel, a bitter and contentious spirit
was growing. The night sky was covered by dark clouds.
The air was hot and humid, and most people had
retreated early into their homes to escape the grossness of
the air. However, there was a man who was not
sleeping that night. In the middle of a courtyard in Jerusalem,
(11:00):
she Sheba, a Benjamite, conspired against the king. He stood
on a platform dimly lit by torchlight. He was a
tall and lean man, clearly hardened from years of battle.
His long legs paced back and forth on the platform
as he spoke to the people below. There will be
no riches for us to inherit under King David, he
(11:21):
said to them. His voice was resonating like the roar
of a lion, yet smooth like the gentle hissab a snake.
Absolute proof to us that is throwne is fragile, His
rule is weak, and we have no future under him.
He spoke to the lonely and the marginalized. In the
weeks leading up to this moment, there had been growing
division among Judah and the rest of Israel. While the
(11:43):
region of Judath thrived under King David, the rest of
the tribes found themselves struggling in economic uncertainty. The people
of Israel had felt the pain of an unstable rule
since the war against Ammon. They believed it was time
for a new king, and Sheba took advantage of their restlessness.
He stirred up the crowds to chant, we have no
(12:04):
inheritance in David. He shouted, he favors Judah. Well, maybe
he should go back to just being their key. Let
us find our own way, let us fight. The men
of Israel gathered around Sheba. As the weeks passed, his
message of insurrection grew. Hundreds turned into thousands, and David's
name became a curse to many. The mocking of the
(12:27):
multitude multiplied. However, Judah remained steadfast and loyal to their king.
David did not take the stirring of Sheba lightly. He
needed to put an end to it before the nation
became too divided to recover. He gathered his loyal men
and the elders of Judah together to discuss sheba missing
from the group was Joe app whom David did not
(12:49):
invite to the table. After their fight, David had decided
to look elsewhere for leadership over his army. He leaned
over the war table and shook his head. What do
we hear, he asked his advisers. The nation has split
in two once again. Amasa said.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
The economic repercussions of Absalom's coup have been hard to
recover from, and the people blame you.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Amasa was once loyal to Absalom, but had since been
reconciled with David. However, there was still a lingering distrust
between him and the others. Abieshi was also there. He
lifted his voice and said.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
My King, we need to end this swiftly. Absalom was
self serving and ambitious. He was calculated, but easy to predict.
This man Sheba is chaotic, unpredictable, and has no clear
desire to be king. He is dangerous.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
David nodded, His brow was furrowed and his lips were pursed.
He prayed to the Lord for wisdom in his mind,
seeking answers to such a complicated problem. The men of
Judah have remained loyal, he said. They outnumber the rebels
of Israel greatly. We need them here to quit this rebellion.
David gesture to Amasa, Amasa, will you gather the men
(14:05):
of Judah as their commander. Abishi turned his head and shock,
my king, what of job? David peered over at Abashi
and shook his head. Do not speak to me of joeeb,
he said plainly. He turned again to Amasa and said,
can I count on you? The young commander bowed his
head and smiled, I will not let you down, my king.
(14:27):
So Amasa left to gather the men of Judah. It
was his duty to organize the ranks of Judah's men,
form a march, and set up a garrison outside Jerusalem.
David needed the men present to lead them into battle,
and Amasa's job was of great importance. However, three days
passed and Amasa had failed to gather the men. He
(14:48):
showed no urgency, leadership, or ability to mobilize. In crisis,
David waited for the men of Judah to arrive at
the gates of Jerusalem. However, there was no one to
be seen. Finally, he he called for Abishi to enter
his war room. Abesh I entered and sat down before David.
The king sighed and rubbed his temples. Abishai, I once
(15:10):
again need to call on your faithfulness. You are a
good friend and an excellent warrior. Abshi nodded and smiled.
David stood up and pointed to a map. His finger
slid from Jerusalem to beth Makhah. I have been given
word that Sheba has mobilized a great number of men
to the region of Beth Makah. It is believed that
(15:33):
he may be creating a stronghold in one of the
smaller towns. Abitshi looked at the map. Beth Makhan was
a poor region with rich history, No doubt she besought
as an opportunity to easily take advantage of the people there.
What would you have me do, Lord, he asked politely,
Still slightly perturbed that his brother was not there. The
(15:55):
king folded his hands and paced the room. A Massa
has failed to gather the men of Judah in time.
I do not know where he is or if he
is even coming. I cannot wait any longer. If Sheba continues,
he can do more damage than Absolom. Will you take
the mighty men and pursue him? Ambishi, I looked at
(16:16):
the king and studied his face. He was clearly in
conflict with himself. David knew that he should assign this
to Joe Ab, but there was something that held him back.
As David grew older, abesh I could see the cracks
and david seemingly perfect character. He was a man who
struggled with abandonment and deep wounds caused by his own
(16:37):
father and his father in laws Aul. The mythical legend
of the giant Slayer was slowly fading into history, and
now ambish I could see that before him was just
a man, a good man, a noble man, but still
just a man. Abershin drew a deep breath and nodded, of.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
Course I will, my king. I will pursue Sheba while
you remain here to study the economic fallout from all this.
The elders need you to help them move forward. While
you deal with the politics, I shall deal with Sheba.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
David was relieved at Abishai's answer. As he left, David
stopped him, saying, Abishai, if Joe Ab desires to march
with you, I would very much appreciate his skill. Abishai
smiled and bowed. Then he left to assemble the Mighty Men.
They gathered immediately, ready to pursue Sheba with all their might.
(17:32):
Even though the Mighty Men were growing older and the
youthful endurance they once possessed was waning, they were still
to be feared. Every surrounding nation knew that David's Mighty
Men were not to be trifled with, and Sheba would
feel their wrath fall down like heavy rain. Sheba stormed
through the nation like a violent wildfire, consuming all in
(17:54):
his wake. His voice resonated with every person he spoke to,
stirring them up to anger and discontentment. He took advantage
of the hurt, the poor, and the dispossessed. Instead of
pointing to the hope of God, he called for uprising
and chaos. Everywhere he went he gathered more followers. They
(18:15):
followed him in hopes for a better future. But Sheiba
had not thought that far. All he wanted to do
was beheard and have their attention. He had it, and
he had no idea what to do with it. Without
the ranks of Judah, Sheba's army was small and insufficient. However,
he had the sway of the masses on his side.
(18:36):
They were under his spell, and his words corrupted them
like a slow working poison. Who shall build a new Israel,
one of no poverty, war or corruption, a new Israel
built by the people. His message resonated, and they followed
him throughout the region. A messenger from Jerusalem found Sheba
(18:57):
and his followers. They are coming. He shouted, run for
your lives.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
The mighty men are coming.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Shiba turned around with a grave expression. Who is coming?
He asked in a hushed voice. The messenger answered, saying.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
The King has sent Aba Shai and the mighty men
of David to pursue you.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Sheba.
Speaker 4 (19:16):
They are only a day's journey away.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
What are you going to do?
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Will you fight them?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Shiba knew it would be utter foolishness to fight them.
He had no army, he had no plan. His role
was to stir the people up, get them angry, and
bask in the wave of glory they created for him.
He turned to the people and raised his hands to
the nearest city. There we shall prepare for David's hunting dogs.
(19:42):
The people began to murmur amongst themselves. The news about
David's mighty Men caused a great deal of consideration among them,
they began to question what they were doing and began
to realize Sheba may not know what he was doing.
Sheba and the rebels marched to the city of Abel.
There he established himself as governor. His followers bullied people
(20:04):
out of their home so they could sleep for the night,
and Sheba called for a great feast to be made
in his name. The elders of Abel were not sure
how to react to Sheba's presence. He came with a
great deal of people, and they did not desire to fight. However,
he was not a welcomed presence in their city. As
Sheba dined on stolen meat, bread, and wine, the elders
(20:27):
convene in a secret place. Among them was a woman,
a wise sage of the city. She led the discussion
against Sheba, strategizing on how to get rid of him.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Listen to me, brothers, she said, the time may come
when David's mighty men come knocking at our gates. We
must decide now if we are going to help them, not.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
If it costs us our lives.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Another elder declared, Sheba has.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
His dagger at our throats.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
One false move and we may be taken out. The
Others mumbled and nodded in a green They were caught
in a difficult situation and were not sure on how
to proceed. They felt like hostages in their own city.
As they discussed, there was a pounding at the door.
The elders looked up, then at one another. They had
(21:16):
no time to act before Sheba and his guards kicked
down the door. Truly, the city of Abel was in
a grave situation. The mighty men of David were camped
out in Gibeon. They remained there under the covering of
a large stone. Its massive frame blocked out of the
sun and protected them from the harshness of midday. The
(21:38):
servants of the king who followed him in exile were
also there, the Cherithites and the Pelethites. They were a
faithful bunch, filled with courage and devotion to their king.
All together they were perfectly capable of going after Sheba.
Abeshi and Joab were confident they could find Sheba by
the week's end and destroy him before the rebellion spread
(21:59):
in any further. Knight approached and the two of them
met under the moon. Together. They sat by the fire,
stoking it and strategizing for the conflict. Ahead.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
We must expect that Sheba has men willing to fight,
Abishi said, some trained soldiers, others willing civilians.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Joeab affirmed, Abishi.
Speaker 6 (22:19):
We want as little bloodshed as possible. If we are
to keep our nation intact, we must not kill too
many of our countrymen.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Finding Sheba and killing him first is our best option
to keep the peace.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Abishi added, wherever.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
He is hiding, I doubt he will come out and
fight us himself.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Joe Ab nodded, and the two of them continued to
discuss the best way to proceed. The next morning, the
two brothers awoke to the sound of marching. They ran
out of their tents and saw the armies of Judah
approaching from the south. In front of them was a massa,
smiling with his arms stretched out in joy. Joe Ab
(22:57):
was not amused. The man who took my he muttered,
Amasa had been weeks late in gathering the armies of Judah.
He proved to be incompetent when it came to leading,
or worse, perhaps he was failing on purpose. Joab looked
at him with skeptical eyes. He did not trust him
and saw his incompetence as a threat to Israel. If
(23:19):
he is in charge, we may perish. Joab sent to
abishi Abhishik knew the look in his brother's eyes. Usually
he was the voice of reason and caution in Joab's life. However,
this time he did not feel the need to hold
his brother back. Do what pleases you, brother, I will
not stop you. Joeab smirked and stepped forward to go
(23:41):
meet Amassa. Joab was wearing a soldier's uniform, signifying his
demotion from commander. It amused Amassa to see Joab humbled
in such a way. Ah the Mighty Joab, He jested,
what a pleasant surprise to see you here. I did
not know if David would allow you to fight for him.
Joe Ab feigned a smile and said.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
Is all well with you, my brother.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
It took you a long time to get here. We
thought you were dead. A Massa's smile left him. Joe
Ab laughed and came close to him.
Speaker 6 (24:13):
Come here, Amasa, greet me as an ally. We fight
for the same king.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
A Massa quickly scanned joe Ab to see if he
had a sword. He did not. He let down his
guard and Joab grabbed him by the beard and brought
a dagger out from his thigh. He drove it deep
into a Mass's stomach and twisted him. He leaned in
and whispered, I have.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
Killed many men for the safety of this nation.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
You are but another number on the path to peace.
Joe Ab let go, and a Massa fell onto the floor.
His entrails poured out of his stomach. He was still alive.
Frantically trying to get them back in. He wailed in agony,
slowly losing blood and life. Joe Ab wiped the blood
(24:57):
off his blade, looked up to the army behind a
Massa and bowed. He left back into the ranks of
Abeshire without saying a word. Abshi looked out at the
army of Judah and shrugged, then left back to lead
his men. Joab's armor bear stood over the corpse of
Amasa and raised his voice to Judah, saying.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
Whoever favors Joab, whoever is for King David, let him
follow Joab into battle.
Speaker 6 (25:24):
Let them fights for the nation.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
The ranks of Judah pressed onward and followed Joab. The
mighty men of David, the servants of the King, and
the armies of Judah all marched to defend the integrity
of Israel. Many of the men passed by Amassa and
winced in disgust, until finally some of them took his
body aside and covered it with a garment. Amasa's body
(25:47):
was left to rod in the desert between Gibeon and Abel.
His death was a sobering reminder of Joab's resolve. He
was brutally and violently devoted to David and the people
of Israel, and no one would stand in his way.
The men of David finally made it to able. The
city had large walls surrounding every side of it. There
(26:08):
was only one entrance, and it was guarded by thousands
of Sheba's men. His devoted followers stood at attention with
their weapons protecting the city. Joab looked back at his men.
Take out the guard first, he shouted. Joe Ab gave
the signal, and the Mighty Men ran forward, with the
armies of Judah behind them. Like a rushing wind. The
(26:30):
Mighty Men blew down the followers of Sheila. They tried
to brace themselves. However, Joeab and the rest of the
warriors were far too quick. Abeshi himself cut through seven
men to reach the edge of the wall. He knocked
four of them out with the blunt end of his blade,
then slashed the other three at the knees. He did
not want to kill them, for they were his countrymen.
(26:52):
There was only one man he desired to kill. Joe
Ab was not so worseful. His sword met the throats
of Dustes was like a mother bear, ferociously protecting her goods.
His stamina was unmatched, and his brutality was without equal.
Whoever did not fall to the sword and fled back
to their homes. And now Sheiba was alone behind the
(27:13):
walls of they The men stood at the rampart of
the walls, clamoring after Sheida, bring in the rams, joe
Ad commanded me. Dozens of men came in from behind
the hills. That battering rams made contrigue in the new adays.
They ran into the door, cracking it slightly from the
first blow. Joe Add signaled for them to cease. When
(27:34):
he yelled at whoever was listening on the other side.
Speaker 6 (27:37):
I will burn this city. I will destroy it if
I must bring out Sheba.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
There was no response, only silence. Very well, joe Ab
said He nodded to the soldiers to continue battering the doors.
The blows shook the earth below. As the soldiers were
readying themselves to go again, Joab heard of voice yell, listen,
please stop. Joeb looked up and saw a woman calling
(28:05):
out from the wall. He sheathed his sword and approached
the rampart. It was the wise woman from the Council
of Elders.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Are you Joab?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
She asked, I am, who are you?
Speaker 5 (28:18):
Joeab replied, I am from the city, and I implore
you to cease this attack. We have done nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
The woman's voice was not frantic or angry. She was
calm and sure of herself. She intrigued Joeab, so he
nodded for her to continue speaking.
Speaker 5 (28:34):
They used to say in former times, before the days
of kings, let us ask for the Council of Abel.
Matters were settled here in the city, and we were
known as the most peaceful and faithful in Israel. Why
would you swallow up a rich heritage like ours by
destroying the city.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Joeb could not help but chuckle.
Speaker 6 (28:55):
You think I want to destroy the city, Far be
it from me to destroy anything I've not to swallow.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
You up in fire.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
I have come for one reason and one reason alone. Sheba,
he has lifted his hand against the king. Give him
up and we will withdraw from the city.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Do I have your word that is true?
Speaker 6 (29:12):
She asked, my very word, Bring me Sheba and we
leave in peace.
Speaker 5 (29:18):
Then I will ensure his head is thrown over.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
The wall, she said nervously. Joab once again could not
help but chuckle. She seems so sure of herself. However,
Sheba would not go quietly. Joab gestured for his men
to cease their attack of the wall. They waited, looking
for any sign from the city that Siba was dead.
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Joab has given his word.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
The wise woman said, in confidence.
Speaker 5 (29:45):
If we are able to kill Sheba, he retreats.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
The elders were gathered in a room discussing in secret
what to do with Sheba.
Speaker 5 (29:52):
We will have Joab come and cause an uproar in
our city. Sheba will retaliate and many lives will be lost.
Speaker 6 (30:00):
Is that what you want?
Speaker 2 (30:01):
The elders shook their heads in shame. The woman put
a hand on her heart and.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Said, I want to live in peace within my city.
Sheba has robbed our piece, so I say we take
it back.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
They were all in agreement. The elders called Sheba in
for a feast. They staged warriors at the sides of
the entrance with daggers. Slowly they want Sheba approach. He
was as skittish as ever, but would not turn down
a hearty meal. His guards came in first, and the
warriors of the city took daggers to their ribs. In
(30:34):
one swift motion, the two warriors killed the guards. They
keeled over, and Sheba ran for his life after them.
They yelled. He ran through the city streets, running away
from the warriors a babel. He knocked over carts from
the marketplace and burst open chicken coops to escape. He
did not care who he ran over to get away. Finally,
(30:57):
he scaled up a roof and began to run over
the rooftop one by one. He jumped from home to
home until finally reaching the top of the wall. He
ran on the top searching for a way out, but
Joe Ab was waiting at the bottom for him. He
saw an opening leading to an exit on the other side.
Just as he was about to jump down, a spear
(31:19):
went whistling through the air, landing directly through his side.
Sheba fell onto the stone floor of the wall and
writhed in pain. The warriors finally caught up to him,
took him by the head and chopped it off. Sheiba's
body bled over the edge of the wall, dripping down
onto the floor below. They held the head high in
the air for the whole city to see. Shiva was
(31:42):
dead and no rebel would be welcomed within the gates
of Abel. Joe Ab was on the other side. The
sun was descending over the wall, causing joe Ab to
squint when he heard a clamoring from within its borders. Finally,
something went flying through the air, blocking the sun for
a moment. All the men watched the object fall onto
the floor with a thud. Joab approached and turned the
(32:05):
object around with his foot. Shebassevered head was lying face
first in the sand. Joab laughed again and a bow
to the wall. Although he could not see her, he
knew the wise woman was watching. She was and smirked
as Joab gave a sarcastic bow. Joab took out the
trumpet from his belts and blew it. The sound resonated
(32:28):
for over a mile, signaling for the men to return home.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
Lingering unrest was inevitable. Absalom shook up Israel, and it
comes as no surprise that there was political and social unrest.
It came at a bad time because King David does
not seem up to the task of handling any of it.
The prelude takes us into the chambers of the king.
He has responded after the loss of his son, even
(32:55):
though he was a treacherous psychopath. David is no different
from any father who loved his son. However, the grief
cripples him in a way unbecoming of a king. His
bereavement seems over the top, and there is political and
social strife being ignored. I am not a psychologist, but
many scholars, psychologists and theologians believe that David had suffered
(33:18):
from some sort of depression in his life. We may
have witnessed a particularly difficult bout for him. Either way,
David's kingdom was being neglected and it took the heavy
handedness of joe Ab to snap him out of it.
Joe Ab was harsh physically and verbally with the king,
but we don't get the sense that he went too far.
(33:38):
But he made some really powerful but he made some
really forceful points. In the heat of the moment, Joe
ad pins David down and rebukes him. This is one
of the more compelling scenes of our series, because we
are trying to save you, Joe, I retorted, and we succeeded.
But you haven't noticed, have you, David?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
No, do you know why?
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Joab walked closer to David and maintained his aggressive demeanor.
He pointed his finger at David's chest and said, because
you love those who hate you, David, you long for
their acceptance and show too much mercy. You did it
with Saul, and you did it with Absolom. There was
a long pause, and Joeab's tougher veneer began to break.
(34:20):
There was a crack in his voice, and David could
see he was holding back tears. My King, you mourn
as if you wish Absen were alive and we were dead.
Joe Ab reintroduced an older theme of this series, father wounds.
David's childhood was marked by neglect, and as a result,
he seemed to pine after the approval of those who
(34:42):
hated him. Joab hit a nerve with David, but it
was the right thing to do. His words got David
out of bed and among his men. However, Ab and
David's relationship suffers, mainly because of David's pride. Sometimes compelling
truths are packaged and tones. Jesus, when faith with some
(35:03):
of the Pharisees and money changes in the Temple, used
very aggressive tones and even flip tables. When Peter was
undermining the mission of God, Jesus said, get behind me, Satan.
Jesus was no stranger to conflict. The balance for us
is to know when to speak gently and when to
speak boldly. The coup of Absalom shook the economic foundation
(35:25):
of Israel. Judah, being the larger and more stable tribe,
was not as effected. However, the other tribes of Israel
were hurting. There was a large group of people who
felt dispossessed and angry, which was a perfect opportunity for
someone to take advantage. People like Sheba come around every
couple of years. Sheba is like many cult leaders, fringe
(35:47):
political activists and ideologues that loved to stir people up.
People like him, fan the flames of anger but offer
no real solutions. They talk of a new world order
and salvation without any uncreed ideas of convictions Utopia is
always their fantasy, but corruption is always their reality. Sheba
(36:09):
is an agent of chaos. David knows he needs to
quench the uprising and put an end to Sheba, but
he can't march against him. He needs to stay and
deal with the elders, so he sends a Massa to
lead his army. He doesn't invite Joe ab though, because
of his petty grudge. A Massa's loyalty and competence are
in question, so it surprises Abashar to see him take command.
(36:33):
There's a moment in this episode where Abashah observes David
like we would as David grew older. Abajah could see
the cracks and David's seemingly perfect character. He was a
man who struggled with abandonment and deep wounds caused by
his own father and his father in law, Saul. The
mythical legend of the Giant Slayer was slowly fading in
(36:54):
the history, and now Abajar could see that before him
was just a man, a good man, a noble man,
but just a man. As our story is slowly drawing
to a close, our overarching theme becomes clearer. David is
not the ultimate hero. We've been reminding ourselves this whole
series while also standing in awe of how awesome David is.
(37:18):
But now, as he stacks more and more failures, we
get to fully realize David is just another sinner. The
myth of David is melting away, and we are left
with just a man. Joe Ab re enters the story
when it is time to march against Sheba. It seems
clear that a massa was either terribly incompetent or secretly rebelling.
(37:39):
Either way, it was putting Israel in danger. Joe it
takes matters into his own hands. He did it with Abner,
he did it with Absalom, and he did it with
the Massa. Joe Ab, the most fiercely loyal subject of David,
frequently disobeys him for the safety of Israel. We are
supposed to love and hate Joe Ab. Why because we
(38:00):
just can't tell if he's good or bad. He protects Israel,
but he disobeys the king. He saves lives, but he
murders out of revenge. He loves David, but he kills
David's allies. Joe Ab seems to think David needs him
to make the tough decisions he is unwilling to make.
Is he wrong? Job is one of the most confusing
characters in scripture. We don't know whether to praise him
(38:23):
or hate him, and neither does David. Sheba's eventually killed
and the people go back to normal. This is a
perfect example of fleeting ideologies and movements that have no
momentum once their charismatic leader is gone. Would it be
the same for David? What will his legacy be? At
this point in David's life, he isn't quite sure what
(38:44):
the lasting memory of him will be.
Speaker 2 (38:46):
In our next.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
Episode, we will witness David wrestling with his own legacy
and the name he will leave behind. We are almost
to the end of our series and David has a
few more good fights in him. Let's fit Fish well
with episode twenty nine, The Heart of a King. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers with
(39:08):
them to last a lifetime, go to pray dot com
and to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download
the Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.
Forward slash Heroes, Write a review and let us know
how this podcast has impacted your life, God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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