Lexical Definition

‎שֶׁבַע‎ shebaʻ (sheh'-bah) Sheba ^N:N-M-P
the same as ‎שֶׁבַע‎; seven

Sheba.

• § Sheba = "seven"
• Sheba, the name of a place in Palestine, and of two Israelites

n pr m
1) Benjamite, son of Bichri and one who led a rebellion against David
2) Gadite, brother of Michael, Meshullam, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Heber
n pr loc
3) a town in Simeon

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.20.1
• son of: Bichri (בִּכְרִי)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. ‎שֶׁ֫בַע‎ proper name, masculine

1. in Benjamin, ‎בֶּןבִּֿכְרִי‎ 2Sam 20:1; 2Sam 20:2; 2Sam 20:6; 2Sam 20:7; 2Sam 20:10; 2Sam 20:13; 2Sam 20:21; 2Sam 20:22 Σαβεε

2. in Gad 1Chr 5:13 Σεβεε, A Σωβαθε, ᵐ5^L Σαβεε.

Also see: בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע

III. ‎שֶׁבַע‎ si vera lectio proper name, of a location in Simeon, ‎בְּאֵרשֶֿׁבֶע וְשֶׁבַע‎ Josh 19:2 Σαμαα, ᵐ5^L Σαβε; probably strike out ‎׳‎‎וְשׁ‎ Di and others (omit || 1Chr 4:23). — ‎׳‎‎בְּאֵר שׁ‎. ‎שֶׁבַע‎ see in compounds ‎אֱלִישֶׁבַע‎, (‎בַּתשֶֿׁבַע‎), ‎יְהוֺשֶׁבַע‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • David's opponent • Benjamite rebel against King David

Man living at the time of United Monarchy

Sheba, a Benjamite, led a rebellion against King David but was ultimately defeated, and his head was delivered to Joab.

• A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.20.1;
• only referred to as Sheba שֶׁבַע;
• a son of Bichri בִּכְרִי.

Sheba, mentioned in 2 Samuel 20, was a Benjamite who led a rebellion against King David. After the quelling of Absalom's rebellion and David's return to Jerusalem, Sheba took advantage of the lingering tensions between Israel and Judah. He rallied the men of Israel to abandon David, proclaiming, "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son!" (2 Samuel 20:1). David, recognizing the threat posed by Sheba's rebellion, ordered his men, led by Joab and Abishai, to pursue Sheba. Sheba fled to the city of Abel-beth-maacah, where he sought refuge. Joab besieged the city, but a wise woman intervened and negotiated with him. She convinced the people of the city to behead Sheba and throw his head over the wall to Joab, thus ending the rebellion. The incident with Sheba highlights the fragile unity between Israel and Judah during David's reign and the challenges he faced in maintaining control over the kingdom. It also demonstrates the importance of wise counsel and the role of negotiation in resolving conflicts.

All entries for Sheba: שֶׁבַע

Related Profiles:

• Bichri (father)