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2 Samuel 20:25

in 2 Samuel 20

Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

KJV

And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

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This verse in 2 Samuel 20

Commentary

4 notes on this verse
And Sheva was scribe,.... Either the same with Benaiah, or he was dead or removed, and Sheva was put in his place, see 2Sa 8:17, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests; as before; See Gill on 2Sa 8:17.

This site's exposition

Now Joab was over all the host of Israel

on 2 Samuel 20:23-26

The chapter closes with an officer list that answers the one at 8:16-18 almost office for office, Joab over the host again, Benaiah over the Cherethites and Pelethites, Zadok and Abiathar still the priests. Two differences stand out: Adoram now stands over the tribute David collects from conquered peoples, an office the first list did not have, and Sheva holds the scribe's post Seraiah held before. David's sons no longer close the list as chief rulers; Ira the Jairite does, a change the text does not explain, and the repetition marks a fresh start after two rebellions, Absalom's and Sheba's, closing the bracket the first list opened.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

When a reconciliation is newly made, it ought to be handled with great tenderness and caution, lest the peace break again before it be settled. A broken bone, when it is set, must have time to knot. That the ring-leader of this rebellion was Sheba, a Benjamite by birth (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Shevah was scribe - The king’s secretary.

The words behind it

5 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּשְׁוָ֖אand Sheva

    usheya'H7724 →

  • סֹפֵ֑ר[was] secretary

    soferH5608 →159 times

  • וְצָד֥וֹקand Zadok

    vetzadokH6659 →53 times

  • וְאֶבְיָתָ֖רand Abiathar

    veevyatarH54 →30 times

  • כֹּהֲנִֽים׃[were] priests

    kohanimH3548 →750 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Chronicles 18:16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;6 works1 Kings 1:7So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.5 works2 Samuel 15:24Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had passed out of the city.4 works1 Kings 1:8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.4 works1 Kings 4:4Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;3 works2 Samuel 8:17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;3 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Samuel 22:20But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.2 works2 Kings 12:10Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would go up, count the money brought into the house of the LORD, and tie it up in bags.2 worksEzra 4:8Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote the letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows:2 worksJeremiah 36:10From the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people.2 works1 Chronicles 15:11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.2 works1 Chronicles 24:3With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.2 works1 Chronicles 6:53Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.2 works1 Chronicles 6:8Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz,2 worksMark 2:26During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Kings 4:4

    Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

    it leads to

    • 1 Kings 2:35

      And the king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada in Joab’s place over the army, and he appointed Zadok the priest in Abiathar’s place.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    1 Chronicles 18:16

    Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;

    it leads to

    • 2 Samuel 8:17

      Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;

    • 1 Kings 4:3

      Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

  • Through

    2 Samuel 8:17

    Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;

    it leads to

    • 1 Chronicles 18:16

      Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;

    • 1 Chronicles 6:8

      Ahitub was the father of Zadok, Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz,

    • 1 Chronicles 24:3–4

      With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.

    • 1 Chronicles 16:39

      And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon

    • 1 Chronicles 6:53

      Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 20 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Samuel 20 →