2 Samuel 20:6

Abishai. The brother of Joab (ch. 2:18). David had recently manifested his impatience with him (ch. 19:22), but now turned to him rather than to Joab. He was evidently determined to pass over Joab, regardless of the seriousness of the crisis. But Joab was not easily eliminated, as the sequence of events was to reveal.

Do us more harm. The nation was still in a state of dissatisfaction and unrest, and David had not yet regained a firm grip on affairs. In this general state of disorganization almost anything could happen, and David was keen enough to sense the extreme peril of the situation. Furthermore, the cleavage was along the old Judah-Israel line of division.

Fenced cities. If Sheba was given opportunity to secure a number of fortified cities and entrench himself behind the walls of one of them, the task of stamping out his rebellion would become exceedingly difficult. David’s greatest hope was speed, before Sheba could consolidate his forces and establish a strong defensive position.

Escape us. Literally, “take away our eye.” Several interpretations have been given to this passage. The KJV translators understood the phrase “take away our eye,” as meaning, “eluding the eye.” The LXX may be translated, “cast a shadow over our eyes.” However, the Targums read, “cause us harm,” from which the RSV takes its rendering, “cause us trouble.”