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.

2 SAMUEL 20:15KJV
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2 Samuel 20:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 20:15 mean?

2 Samuel 20:15 describes Joab and his forces surrounding the city of Abel of Bethmaachah, building a siege ramp against it, and attacking its walls in an effort to capture Sheba, who was hiding there. The verse shows the determined military action taken to break into the city and end Sheba’s rebellion.

Joab, King David’s military commander, is leading his troops in pursuit of Sheba, a rebel who has fled to Abel of Bethmaachah. The verse gives a snapshot of ancient siege warfare: the army builds up a mound (a "bank") to reach the city walls and uses battering to try to break through. This moment is part of a larger story about restoring order to Israel after Absalom’s rebellion.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 20:15

  • בָּאוּ (ba'u, "came") and צָרוּ (tsaru, "besieged"): These words show the deliberate, organized arrival and encirclement of the city, not just a casual approach.
  • סֹלְלָה (solelah, "bank"): This refers to an earthen ramp built up against the city wall, a common siege tactic in the ancient world to breach fortifications.
  • חֵיל (cheil, "trench"): This word can mean a defensive wall, rampart, or trench; here, it likely refers to the siege works or the area between the ramp and the city wall.
  • שָׁחַת (shachat, "battered"): This verb means to destroy or ruin, emphasizing the forceful attempt to break down the city’s defenses.

Why 2 Samuel 20:15 matters

  • The verse clarifies the intensity and method of ancient warfare, showing that sieges involved careful planning and engineering, not just direct assault.
  • It highlights Joab’s leadership and determination to end rebellion quickly, which is a recurring theme in the books of Samuel.
  • Understanding the siege tactics helps explain why the people of Abel of Bethmaachah later negotiate with Joab, leading to a peaceful resolution rather than total destruction.

Where else these words appear

“Bethmaachah” Hebrew H1038 · used in 2 verses

  • 2 Samuel 20:14 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.

“Abel” Hebrew H59 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Samuel 6:18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.
  • 2 Samuel 20:14 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.
  • 2 Samuel 20:18 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.

“trench” Hebrew H2426 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Kings 21:23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
  • Psalms 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
  • Lamentations 2:8 The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.

“bank” Hebrew H5550 · used in 11 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
  • Jeremiah 32:24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.
  • Ezekiel 17:17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: