2 Samuel 20:18

Verse

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Bible in Basic English

Then she said, In the old days, there was a saying, Let them put the question in Abel and in Dan, saying, Has what was ordered by men of good faith in Israel ever come to an end?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And she again said: A saying was used in the old proverb: They that inquire, let them inquire in Abela: and so they made an end.

Free Bible Version

Then the woman said, “In times gone by people used to say, ‘If you want advice, go to Abel,’ and that's how arguments were settled.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then shee spake thus, They spake in the olde time, saying, They shoulde aske of Abel. and so haue they continued.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

She said, “Long ago people used to say, ‘Go to Abel town to get good advice about your problems.’ And that is what people did.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then she spoke, “They used to say in old times, 'Surely seek advice at Abel,' and that advice would end the matter.

Noah Webster Bible

Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter .

World English Bible

Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.

Young's Literal Translation

and she speaketh, saying, 'They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.

Context

Sheba’s Rebellion

¹⁷When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.¹⁸Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.¹⁹I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

Summary

This verse describes a wise woman in the city of Abel who negotiates with Joab, the commander of David's army, to save her city from destruction. She displays courage and shrewdness by convincing Joab to spare her people by delivering the head of Sheba, a rebel leader, instead. Her actions prevent unnecessary bloodshed and demonstrate the power of diplomacy and wisdom in resolving conflicts. This account serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking peaceful solutions and the impact of individual actions in preserving communities.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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 speak sense. Abel was probably famed for the wisdom of its inhabitants; and parties who had disputes appealed to their judgment, which appears to have been in such high reputation as to be final by consent of all parties. To this the wise woman refers, and intimates to Joab that he should have proceeded in this way before he began to storm the city, and destroy the peaceable inhabitants.

John Gill Bible Commentary

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 ended the matter. Abel, it seems, had been a city so famous for wise and prudent men, that it was common for the inhabitants of other cities, in the several parts of the kingdom, when any controversy arose among them, to say to one another, since we cannot agree this matter among ourselves, let us go to Abel, and take advice there, and leave it to their arbitration; and so they did, and things were presently brought to an issue, and happily concluded; nay, when the king had a mind to make a decree or law, as R. Isaiah observes, he used to send to Abel to know whether they would submit to it; and if they agreed to it, then he proceeded in it; for other cities followed their example, so famous was this city, and of so great account: now the woman argues from hence, that surely such a renowned city should not hastily be destroyed; but the Targum directs to another sense, and which perhaps is best, and is followed by Jarchi, Kimchi, and others, paraphrasing the words thus,"she spake, saying, I remember now what is written in the book of the law, to ask a city first, saying, (will ye make peace?) so shouldest thou have asked of Abel, will ye make peace, or receive terms of peace?''referring to the law in Deu 20:10; signifying, if that had been attended to as it ought (for if such methods were to be taken with Heathen cities, much more with a city of Israel, as Abel was), things would soon have been agreed and issued; had Joab upon approaching the city proposed his terms of peace, they would have immediately yielded to them, and so the matter would have ended at once; for they were a peaceable people, as it follows: though Dr. Lightfoot (b) gives another sense of these words, that Sheba and his party when they came to the city,"they at first certainly said thus, that they would ask Abel of its peace (or on whose side it was), and so they made the matter entire, or made a show of their own integrity:''by which this woman assured Joab, that the men of Abel had not invited, nor willingly received Sheba and his rebels into the city, but they had deceived them by fawning and false words, pretending only to inquire about the peace and welfare of their city. (b) Works, vol. 2. p. 367.

2 Samuel 20:18

Sheba’s Rebellion

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Bible in Basic English

Then she said, In the old days, there was a saying, Let them put the question in Abel and in Dan, saying, Has what was ordered by men of good faith in Israel ever come to an end?

Douay-Rheims 1899

And she again said: A saying was used in the old proverb: They that inquire, let them inquire in Abela: and so they made an end.

Free Bible Version

Then the woman said, “In times gone by people used to say, ‘If you want advice, go to Abel,’ and that's how arguments were settled.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then shee spake thus, They spake in the olde time, saying, They shoulde aske of Abel. and so haue they continued.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

She said, “Long ago people used to say, ‘Go to Abel town to get good advice about your problems.’ And that is what people did.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then she spoke, “They used to say in old times, 'Surely seek advice at Abel,' and that advice would end the matter.

Noah Webster Bible

Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter .

World English Bible

Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.

Young's Literal Translation

and she speaketh, saying, 'They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

2 Samuel 20:18

Verse

Context

Sheba’s Rebellion

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

2 Samuel 20:18

Sheba’s Rebellion

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes