Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 20:14

¶ 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah , and all the Berites : and they were gathered together, and went also after him .

Either, 1. Ioab, who pursued Sheba through all the Tribes as far as Abel. Or rather, 2. Sheba, who was last mentioned, who Marched from Tribe to Tribe to stir them up to Sedition; and to him the following words seem best to agree.

Or rather, to Abel, even to Bethmaachah; i. e. unto Abel-beth-maachah, as this place is called here in the Hebrew text, ver. 15. and 1 King. 15. 20. 2 King. 15. 29. to distinguish it from other Abels; and to signifie, that this was that Abel which was in the Tribe of Napthali in the Northern border of Canaan towards that part of Syria called Maachah, 2 Sam. 10. 8.

Such as lived in the City, or Territory of Beeroth of Benjamin, Iosh. 18. 25. who being of the same Tribe, if not City with Sheba, and his greatest Acquaintance and Friends: or, being most Implacable against David, adhered to Sheba, and followed him through all the Tribes of Israel.

to wit, the Tribes of Israel; i. e. a considerable Number of them; as might well be expected, when the discontents were so high and general.

i. e. After Sheba.