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George Haydock's Catholic Commentary

2 Samuel 20:18

End of their disputes, (Haydock) as Abela was remarkable for its wise counsellors, (Menochius) and equitable decisions; (Haydock) so that many came, from a distance, to consult the learned of this city. (Calmet) --- Others suppose that she refers to the law, which ordains that peace shall first be proposed, and, if this had been done, the affair would long ago have been decided, Deuteronomy xx. 10. (Jonathan; Estius; &c.) --- Hebrew, "They spoke a word at first: Let them ask at Abela, and so they shall make an end." Much must be supplied to make the text conformable to the former explication. We may translate, "They said, in ancient times: Let those who require more, go seek at Abela: so they finished their discourse." (Calmet) --- Protestants, "They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so the ended the matter. "

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See also 2 Samuel 20:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Samuel 20:18. _THEY SHALL SURELY ASK_ COUNSEL _AT ABEL_] This is a proverb, but from what it originated we know not; nor can we exactly say what it means: much must be supplied to bring it to...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    This was an old proverb. Abel, like Teman, and some other places, was once famous for the wisdom of its inhabitants 1 Kings 4:30. The wise woman was herself a remnant of this traditional wisdom....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    10. THE REVOLT OF SHEBA CHAPTER 20 _ 1. Sheba's revolt (2 Samuel 20:1)_ 2. The ten concubines shut up (2 Samuel 20:3) 3. Amasa's failure (2 Samuel 20:4) 4. Joab and the death of Amasa ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 SAMUEL 20. THE REVOLT OF SHEBA (J). 2 SAMUEL 20:1 F. The result of this altercation was a fresh rebellion under a Benjamite, Sheba ben Bichri. 2 SAMUEL 20:3. The members of the king's harem whom...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THEY SHALL, &c. Figure of speech _Parcemia._ App-6....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _They shall surely ask counsel at Abel_ LET THEM BY ALL MEANS INQUIRE OF ABEL. The phrase is that commonly used for inquiring of God. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 16:23. The city had been proverbial for its wisdo...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Sheba besieged in Abel-Beth-Maachah 14. _And he went_ Joab marched rapidly northward, gathering forces as he went. _unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah_ Abel was apparently near Beth-Maachah, which is not...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEN CRIED A WISE WOMAN, &C.— As Joab pressed the siege with all earnestness, a _wise woman,_ who probably was governess of the city, (an office, though generally filled by men, yet sometimes administ...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Sheba's Death._ 2 Samuel 20:14-23 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 15 And...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ They were wont to speak in old time. The translation on the...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE REBELLION OF SHEBA Sheba takes advantage of the jealousy of the men of Israel to begin a rebellion, which, but for the prompt action of Joab, might have resulted in a disruption between Israel and...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The wisdom of the inhabitants of Abel was so generally accepted, that their decision settled all disputed questions. The woman says this to give weight to her remonstrance....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 20 SHEBA OPPOSES DAVID V1 Sheba, the son of Bicri, happened to be there. He came from the *tribe of Benjamin. He was a wicked man....

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    ASK COUNSEL AT ABEL. — The simplest and most obvious explanation is here the true one, viz., that Abel had become proverbial for its wisdom. An ancient Jewish interpretation, which has been incorporat...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ תֹּ֖אמֶר לֵ אמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֨ר יְדַבְּר֤וּ בָ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    ONE HEAD SAVES MANY 2 Samuel 20:14 This wise woman, by her intervention, saved many lives, and reminds us of the value of presence of mind in a great crisis. She gave Joab to understand, first, that...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The occasion invariably finds the man for evil as well as for good. Sheba seized the strife between Judah and Israel as an opportunity to attempt to divide the kingdom. David's hosts went forth again...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then she spake, saying, (l) They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter]. (l) She shows that the old custom was not to destroy...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (16) 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. (17) And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Jo...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    In the sketch proposed of these books of scripture there is of course no pretension to notice every point of interest they contain, but only a general comprehensive view, as far as the Lord enables me...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 14 THROUGH 20. David's partiality for Absalom had yet other and more painful results, and heavy chastisements. It is painful to see the conqueror of Goliath d...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN SHE SPAKE, SAYING, THEY WERE WONT TO SPEAK IN OLD TIME,.... It was a common saying, a proverbial expression among the ancient sages: SAYING, THEY SHALL SURELY ASK [COUNSEL] AT ABEL, AND SO THEY...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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]. Ver. 18. _They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,_] _q.d.,...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He answered, I do hear_ He did not despise her because she was a woman; but, as became a wise man, gave her a favourable audience, and attended to what she said. _They shall surely ask counsel at Abe...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 By occasion of the quarrell, Sheba maketh a party in Israel. 3 Dauids ten concubines are shut vp in perpetual prison. 4 Amasa made captaine ouer Iudah, is slaine by Ioab. 14 Ioab pursueth Sheba v...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, it was a proverbial saying, THEY SHALL SURELY ASK COUNSEL AT ABEL; AND SO THEY ENDED THE MATTER. The discretion and wisdom of the c...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE DEATH OF SHEBA...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Satan is always ready to take advantage of such occasions among God's people, and he had a man there of worthless, ambitious character, Sheba, the son of Bichri was actually a Benjamite, not from any...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    THEY WERE WONT TO SPEAK IN OLD TIME, SAYING, THEY SHALL SURELY ASK COUNSEL AT ABEL: and so they ended the matter: Or, they plainly spake in the beginning, saying, surely they will ask of Abel; and so...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-22 Justly is that place attacked, which dares to harbour a traitor; nor will the heart fare better which indulges rebellious lusts, that will not have Christ to reign over them. A discreet woman,...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    According to this translation the sense is, This city which thou art about to destroy is no mean and contemptible one, but so honourable and considerable for its wisdom, and the wise people in it, tha...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Samuel 20:18 spoke H559 (H8799) saying H559 (H8800) used H1696 (H8763) talk H1696 (H8762) times...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Joab murders Amasa. Suppression of Sheba's revolt. CHARACTERS: David, Joab, Amasa, Sheba, Abishai. CONCLUSION: We must not think it strange while in this world if the end of one trouble be...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Samuel 20:1. _Sheba, a Benjamite,_ and a captain high in command under Absalom, in whose heart the embers of revolt were still burning. This man, seeing the anger of the tribes at not being called t...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _They shall surely ask counsel at Abel._ AN OLD-TIME CUSTOM It will have to come to that again. Things cannot be settled really and lastingly except by counsel, wisdom, consent. The sword has had its...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then cried a wise woman out of the city._ ABEL’S ORACLE; OR PRUDENCE AND PEACEABLENESS I. The people in Abel of Bethmaachah are on the verge of ruin, for Joab is battering away at the walls. Soon hi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:1 Sheba’s rebellion is directly connected with the split within the nation seen in 2 Samuel 19:41. This particular rebellion does not seem to have gained support ou

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 20:16 The WOMAN is WISE (v. 2 Samuel 20:16), skilled in choosing a strategy to avert destructi

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES.— 2 Samuel 20:14. “ABEL.” _Lit., meadow_, and the name of several places in Palestine, but from its proximity to Beth-Maachah (with which it is sometimes joined, 2 Samuel...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 20:1 THERE HAPPENED TO BE THERE A MAN OF BELIAL. The fierce words of the men of Judah led to evil results. It was a time when all wise and thoughtful persons would have laboured f...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    But in chapter twenty, this division is manifested by this particular fellow by the name of Sheba, who is of the tribe of Benjamin. And he blew a trumpet in Israel, which was always a signal gathering...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Deuteronomy 20:10; Deuteronomy 20:11...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Ask counsel — This city which thou art about to destroy, is no mean and contemptible one, but so honourable and considerable for its wisdom, that when any differences arose among any of the neighbours...

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