Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 20:21

21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim (Sheba the son of Bichri by name) hath lift up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him onely, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall .

Qu. How can this be so, when he is called a Benjamite? ver. 1. Answ. Either he was a Benjamite by Birth, but dwelt in the Tribe of Ephraim, as many did upon several occasions dwell out of their own Tribes: or, mount Ephraim was a place in Benjamin, which might be so called, either because it was upon the Borders of Ephraim, and looked towards it; or from some notable Action or Event of the Ephraimites in that place. Comp. Chap. 18. 6.

i. e. Taken up Arms, or raised Rebellion.

Which she undertook, because she knew the present temper, and great fears of the Citizens, and Soldiers too; and that considering their evident and extream Danger, they were generally desirous of Peace, from which they were restrained onely by Sheba's Authority and Interest; and therefore did not doubt by God's Blessing upon her Wise Counsel to effect it, as indeed she did. And it is not unlikely, that this Woman might be a Governess in that City. For though this Office was commonly performed by Men; yet were not the Women wholly Excluded, but sometimes Imployed in the Government: As we see in Deborah, who Judged Israel, Iudg. 4. 4. And Queen Athalia, 2 King. 11.

Marginal references: Heb. by [illegible: 1 word] Name.