旧约 - 撒母耳记下(2 Samuel)第20章
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. |
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. |
Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. |
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. |
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. |
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. |
And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. |
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. |
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. |
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: |
And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: |
And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: |
And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. |
撒母耳记下第二十章
第 20 章
示巴的背叛
撒下 20:1> 人与人之间的疑忌,往往损害的不单是自己,还殃及四周的人……
20:1 以色列虽然是统一的国家,却由十二个支派各自为政。这些支派对国家整体的目标,常难达成一致。支派之间的嫉妒,从起初就使他们无法完全征服应许之地(参看约书亚记),现在因为示巴有背叛的行为,支派之间的疑忌又威胁到大卫王朝的安定。
撒下 20:7-10> 为什么屡次犯罪的人仍可逃过审判?难道公义的神不再理会吗?
20:7-10 约押的杀人罪又被轻易带过,正如他上次杀死押尼珥一样( 3:26-27 ),但是他到最后终于受到公义制裁(参王上 2:28-35 )。表面上奸诈似乎未受刑罚,但是神的公义并不限于今生的报应。即使约押能够白头下阴间,他仍要面对神审判的日子。
撒下 20:16-22> 智慧的言语,可成为拯救众人的利器,我有善用口才,传递神的祝福与拯救吗?
20:16-22 约押的军队正在围攻示巴所住之城,看起来这城似乎要被摧毁。按当时的习俗来说,妇女在公开场合要保持缄默,但是这个妇人却敢与元帅约押对话。她不是用武器,而是以智慧的言语、果断的行动,阻止约押的攻击。勇敢地讲出几句打动人的话,常常能止住大灾难。
撒下 20:23> 比拿雅有何功绩?
20:23 比拿雅是大卫的卫队队长,列入“三十个勇士”之中( 23:24 ),是享有殊荣的一位。在押沙龙背叛的时候,他一直忠于大卫,后来协助立所罗门为王(参王上 1:32-40 ; 2:28-34 ),终于代替约押,作了以色列军队的元帅 ( 参王上 2:35) 。──《灵修版圣经注释》
撒母耳记下第二十章
内忧外患(二十 1 ~ 26 )
犹大与以色列其余十支派的争执趋白热化,从彼此有心病、互相口角,继而有进一步行动,以致匪徒示巴乘虚而入,极尽挑拨离间的能事。当人感到不如意时,往往容易被煽动而做出不合情理的事情。读这一段圣经时,我们领略到人是很容易变的,见异思迁乃常见之事,有事实为证:
1. 示巴只一呼唤,以色列人便纷纷离开大卫而跟随他,而且声势非常浩大( 2 )。
2. 可是当约押到以色列地游说他们时,有不少人便转而跟随他( 14 )。
3. 城中的人本协助示巴的,妇人竟可以说服他们杀了示巴( 22 )。人的心实在非常容易动摇,不过由于这样,外患才得以平定。
约押虽智勇双全,可惜他的顽固、心胸狭隘、自作主张,实为大卫增添了不少麻烦。他与押尼珥的一句戏言曾害死了多人;刚愎自用的性格使他视大卫如无物,既杀押尼珥及押沙龙,又用诡计杀死亚玛撒,或许亚玛撒的迟误是另有内情,因他曾在押沙龙的麾下。虽然如此,约押也无权任意杀人,故此他成了大卫的心腹大患。
思想 我是否也是一个很易被人动摇的人呢?在信仰上我是否站立得稳?──《新旧约辅读》
撒母耳记下 第二十章 注释
1-22 示巴造反
1-3
示巴煽动各支派不再效忠大卫,只有犹大支派仍紧随他。
4-13 约押因妒忌而刺杀亚玛撒
示巴叛变,大卫派元帅亚玛撒招募犹大人去平息叛变。亚玛撒耽误了
时日,大卫恐怕叛变事件因耽延而不可收拾,另派亚比筛前往平乱,
途中约押趁机杀了取代自己元帅地位的亚玛撒。
6
大卫派亚比筛率兵平乱,而不派约押,显示约押已失宠於大卫
,但他在军中仍居领导地位(参11-13)。
8 「基遍」:在耶京以北。
「亚玛撒来迎接他们」:亚玛撒军队可能早一步到,与亚比筛
的军队汇合。
9 「抓住亚玛撒 ......
亲嘴」:这是中东的见面礼。
11
亚玛撒一死,他招募的兵士便无人率领,因此,约押派少年人
驻守在亚玛撒的尸旁,呼吁亚玛撒的部下转跟从约押。
14-22 示巴死
示巴势孤力弱,叛变迅速平息。
14 「他」:指示巴,他走遍境内各处,煽动百姓反叛。
「伯玛迦的亚比拉」:在加利利海以北四十公里(廿五英里)
处,与但相对,是极北的城。
15
「对着城筑垒」:古时常用的攻城方法,在城墙对开筑一土堆
,高度与墙齐,然後搭桥入城。
18 「当先在亚比拉 ......
定妥」:七十士译本作「当在亚比拉和但
求问」。大抵亚比拉城的居民比较聪明。
19 「大城」:原文为「母城」。
以色列人习惯上称首都、首府为「母亲」,称它们附属的城镇
为「女儿」,例如结16:27。
21 「以法莲山地」:延至便雅悯境内。
23-26 大卫复位後内阁官员的名单
这分名单与 8:16-18稍异,是大卫作王末期的委任。
约押复得元帅职,在大卫朝中当权。
24 「服苦的人」:负责为王劳力作工的以色列人。
(参王上5:13注)
「亚多兰」:参串。
「史官」:职责是保管朝廷纪录并且提醒君王应处理的约会和
责任。
25 「书记」:朝廷上的秘书。
「示法」:见8:17注。
26 「大卫的宰相」:原文为「大卫的祭司」。
大卫的罪带来家庭惨变,众儿子都没有作领袖(参8:18)。
思想问题(第 20章)
1 若果你是当日的以色列人,你会根据什麽原则去选择追随示巴或
大卫呢?
今天,你又是凭什麽理由选择你效忠的对象呢?
2 约押为何要刺杀亚玛撒?参 19:13。
约押在大卫手下立了不少汗马功劳,但这次杀亚玛撒之举却引来
什麽後果?参王上 2:5-6。
这对你有什麽警惕?
3 试比较亚比拉妇人和约押捉拿示巴的策略,亚比拉妇人的策略如
何比约押的优越?
4 23-25节记载大卫臣仆的名单,和8:16-18王朝初期的名单有何分
别?
撒母耳记下注释 九. 示巴的叛变和死亡(二O)
二O1~2 便雅悯人示巴(可能是扫罗的亲属)是个可恶的匪徒,他拿着犹大支派的话柄(一九42),作为叛乱的根据。犹大人曾经声称大卫是属他们的,示巴现在挑衅地宣告,十个支派与大卫无分。他们要脱离大卫。只有犹大支派紧紧的跟随大卫。但后来发生的事情显示,跟随示巴的人只占相对的少数。第2节的“每一个以色列人”(和合本省去“每一个”)必须从狭义来理解,只包括十个支派中的异见人士。
二O3 回到耶路撒冷之后,大卫王找到他留下看守宫殿的十个妃嫔,她们都曾经被押沙龙玷辱。大卫安排她们终身禁闭在冷宫,如同寡妇。
二O4~7 到这时,约押已被降职,而押沙龙的叛军元帅亚玛撒正掌管大卫的军队。王吩咐亚玛撒,在三日之内将犹大的军兵招聚来,去追拿叛军领袖示巴。无法解释原因,亚马撒未能在指定日期内完成任务,于是大卫便吩咐亚比筛去执行命令,带领着拣选的人马出去阻止示巴取得坚固城。约押也与亚比筛的人马一同出去。
二O8~10上 当他们到达基遍的一个大磐石标志。亚马撒来迎接他们。约押穿着战衣,上前去迎接亚玛撒,鞘内的刀却掉了出来,看来他是故意这样做。他拾起刀来,走向他毫无防备的表兄弟。约押大表友善,抓住亚玛撒的胡子,好象要与他亲嘴,然后一刀把他杀死了。
二O10下~13 当约押和……亚比筛开始追赶示巴时,跟随他们的人看见亚玛撒的尸首在道路上辊在自己的血里,就站着不动。直到亚玛撒的尸首被移走,约押的人才跟随他去。约押的杀人罪又被轻易带过,正如他上次杀死押尼珥一样。
二O14~22 大卫的人马追捕示巴至极北的地方,去到伯玛迦的亚比拉城,这城位于米伦水的北边,城里居民以聪明着名。约押围城进攻,一个聪明的妇人从城上呼叫他,问他为什么要毁坏一个向来以智慧着名、以色列中的大城(即一个重要的城)。约押解释,他只不过要追捕叛乱者示巴,示巴正藏身城内。那个妇人答应把示巴杀死,并把他的首级从城墙上丢给约押,以证明示巴已死。事情一办妥,约押的任务也完成,他就吹角,众人就离城而散,各归各家;约押回耶路撒冷到王那里。示巴的叛乱大概持续一个星期而已。
二O23~26 大卫曾经把约押降职,先后委任亚玛撒(一九13)和亚比筛(二O6)代替他,但约押又重夺他作大元帅的位置。
本段记载大卫王的重要官员名单。大体上与第八章15至18节所记相同。约押带领全军,比拿雅统辖大卫的护卫军,约沙法作史官,示法作书记,而撒督和亚比亚他仍然作祭司。不同的是,亚多兰掌管服苦役的人,睚珥人以拉作大卫的宰相(英文原文作:亚多兰掌管税收,以拉作大卫的祭司)。
撒母耳记下 2 0:1
撒母耳记下
注释
十九 40 至二十 13 北方的叛乱
在十九章末,犹大和北方各支派又回复紧张的关系。北方的人对大卫并不是全心全意的( 40 节),纵使他们声称与王有更多的情分( 43 节)。他们与犹大之间的磨擦导致另一次反对大卫的叛变,带领者是示巴(二十 1 )。实际上,那只是一件小事故,不用争战也就结束了,但它却获得广泛的支持(二十 2 )。
个人的描述集中在约押和他的亲属亚玛撒身上。亚玛撒显出他是一个不胜任的元帅,而再一次,是约押的能力和他向大卫的忠心,把敌人打败了。这故事也再次显出约押那残酷无情的性格。
二十 14-26 叛乱的结束
这次叛乱的弱点在于,示巴虽从未停止作战,却是退到以色列北面边界「伯玛迦的亚比拉」去。即使在那里,他也不是好好地作一战,却是等待被围困。似乎亚比拉是一个极差的选择,因为这城以「和平忠厚」而闻名( 18-19 节)。那城的居民反应很敏捷,他们把示巴杀了,结束了这场战争。又再一次,是一个人的死亡,解决了这个问题。
约押得胜了,便返回「耶路撒冷到王那里」,他有信心必得再次担任以色列全军的元帅,而大卫必也确认他这个地位( 23 节)。本章末列出大卫在位晚期的大臣,而这名单跟较早期在八章 16 至 18 节的名单有所不同。这里初次提到「服苦的人」,显示大卫需要强迫以色列一些没有服苦的人去进行国家的工程和计划。最悲惨的转变是这里没有再提及大卫的众子。他的儿子有些仍活着,包括亚多尼雅和所罗门,但暗嫩和押沙龙都在悲惨的境况下丧生了。列王纪上第一章继续大卫众子的故事。
撒母耳记下
撒母耳记下第二十章
20:1-2 示巴藉制造支派间的分裂煽动叛乱。2节的“以色列人”指19:41-43所记犹大和西缅支派以外各支派的人。
20:3 看15:16;16:22。
20:4
大卫对亚玛撒的信任开始动摇。大卫要他招聚犹大人去平示巴之乱,却迟迟不见结果,只好叫亚比筛当此任务。约押和旧日将领出发追赶示巴,途遇亚玛撒,约押假意和他亲嘴,把他杀了(10节)。
20:11 本节至13节似为作者用亚玛撒之死儆戒读者,背叛者必有此下场。
少年人表明约押的立场,号召亚玛撒的部属,如果真正归顺大卫,应跟随约押。
20:14 示巴造反,四处诱人加入叛军。亚比拉在米伦湖西北,是个大城。本节所记各地都在北方。
20:18 妇人的话等于说,亚比拉城的人智慧过人,约押若能把理由说清楚,城里的人自然知道该怎样行,不必动武,涂炭生灵。
20:19 “耶和华的产业”指以色列民。
20:23-26
这些是协助大卫统治全国的人,和8:15-18比较,多了掌管服劳役的官和宰相(亦作“祭司”,为大卫家的祭司,与撒督及亚比亚他作公众的祭司不同)。“服苦的人”多是外邦人俘虏(参代上22:1;代下2:17-18)。
20:26 睚珥人可能是玛拿西支派的一族(民32:41)或基列人的士师的后裔(士10:3,5)。