2 Samuel 20

1And there happenedH7122 to be there a base fellow, whose nameH8034 was ShebaH7652, the sonH1121 of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blewH8628 the trumpetH7782, and saidH559, We have no portionH2506 in DavidH1732, neither have we inheritanceH5159 in the sonH1121 of JesseH3448: every manH376 to his tentsH168, O IsraelH3478. 2So all the menH376 of IsraelH3478 wentH5927 up from following DavidH1732, and followed ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri; but the menH376 of JudahH3063 clave unto their kingH4428, from the JordanH3383 even to JerusalemH3389.

3And DavidH1732 cameH935 to his houseH1004 at JerusalemH3389; and the kingH4428 tookH3947 the tenH6235 womenH802 his concubinesH6370, whom he had left to keepH8104 the houseH1004, and putH5414 them in ward, and providedH3557 them with sustenance, but wentH935 not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the dayH3117 of their deathH4194, living in widowhoodH491.

4Then saidH559 the kingH4428 to AmasaH6021, Call me the menH376 of JudahH3063 togetherH2199 within threeH7969 daysH3117, and be thou hereH6311 present. 5So AmasaH6021 went to callH2199 the men of JudahH3063 togetherH2199; but he tarried longer than the set timeH4150 which he had appointedH4150 him. 6And DavidH1732 saidH559 to AbishaiH52, NowH6258 will ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri do us moreH4480 harm than did AbsalomH53: takeH3947 thou thy lord’sH113 servantsH5650, and pursueH7291 after him, lestH6435 he get him fortifiedH1219 citiesH5892, and escape out of our sight. 7And there wentH3318 out after him Joab’s menH376, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mightyH1368 menH376; and they wentH3318 out of JerusalemH3389, to pursueH7291 after ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri. 8WhenH834 they were at the greatH1419 stoneH68 which is in GibeonH1391, AmasaH6021 cameH935 to meet them. And JoabH3097 was girdedH2296 with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a girdle with a swordH2719 fastened upon his loinsH4975 in the sheathH8593 thereof; and as he wentH3318 forthH3318 it fellH5307 out. 9And JoabH3097 saidH559 to AmasaH6021, Is it well with thee, my brotherH251? And JoabH3097 tookH270 AmasaH6021 by the beardH2206 with his rightH3225 handH3027 to kiss him. 10But AmasaH6021 took no heedH8104 to the swordH2719 that was in Joab’s handH3027: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shedH8210 out his bowelsH4578 to the groundH776, and struckH5221 him not again; and he diedH4191.

And JoabH3097 and AbishaiH52 his brotherH251 pursuedH7291 after ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri. 11And there stood by him oneH376 of Joab’s youngH5288 menH376, and saidH559, He that favoreth JoabH3097, and he that is for DavidH1732, let him follow JoabH3097. 12And AmasaH6021 lay wallowing in his bloodH1818 in the midstH8432 of the highwayH4546. And when the manH376 sawH7200 that all the peopleH5971 stoodH5975 stillH5975, he carried AmasaH6021 out of the highwayH4546 into the fieldH7704, and castH7993 a garmentH899 over him, when he sawH7200 that every oneH376 that cameH935 by him stoodH5975 stillH5975. 13WhenH834 he was removed out of the highwayH4546, all the people went on after JoabH3097, to pursueH7291 after ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri.

14And he wentH935 through all the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 unto AbelH59, and to Beth-maacah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and wentH935 alsoH637 after him. 15And they cameH935 and besieged him in AbelH59 of Beth-maacah, and they castH5307 up a mound against the cityH5892, and it stoodH5975 against the rampartH2426; and all the peopleH5971 that were with JoabH3097 battered the wallH2346, to throw it downH5307. 16Then cried a wiseH2450 womanH802 out of the cityH5892, HearH8085, hearH8085; sayH559, I pray you, unto JoabH3097, Come near hither, that I may speakH1696 with thee. 17And he came near unto her; and the womanH802 saidH559, Art thou JoabH3097? And he answered, I am. Then she saidH559 unto him, HearH8085 the wordsH1697 of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hearH8085. 18Then she spake, sayingH559, They were wont to speakH1696 in old timeH7223, sayingH559, They shall surely askH7592 counsel at AbelH59: and so they endedH8552 the matter. 19I am of them that are peaceable and faithfulH539 in IsraelH3478: thou seekest to destroy a cityH5892 and a motherH517 in IsraelH3478: whyH4100 wilt thou swallowH1104 up the inheritanceH5159 of Jehovah? 20And JoabH3097 answered and saidH559, FarH2486 be it, farH2486 be it from me, that I should swallowH1104 up or destroyH7843. 21The matterH1697 is not soH3651: but a manH376 of the hill-country of EphraimH669, ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri by nameH8034, hath liftedH5375 up his handH3027 against the kingH4428, even against DavidH1732; deliver him onlyH905, and I will depart from the cityH5892. And the womanH802 saidH559 unto JoabH3097, Behold, his headH7218 shall be thrownH7993 to thee over the wallH2346. 22Then the womanH802 wentH935 unto all the peopleH5971 in her wisdomH2451. And they cutH3772 off the headH7218 of ShebaH7652 the sonH1121 of Bichri, and threwH7993 it out to JoabH3097. And he blewH8628 the trumpetH7782, and they were dispersed from the cityH5892, every manH376 to his tentH168. And JoabH3097 returnedH7725 to JerusalemH3389 unto the kingH4428.

23Now JoabH3097 was over all the hostH6635 of IsraelH3478; and BenaiahH1141 the sonH1121 of JehoiadaH3077 was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites; 24and AdoramH151 was over the men subject to taskwork; and JehoshaphatH3092 the sonH1121 of AhiludH286 was the recorderH2142; 25and Sheva was scribeH5608; and ZadokH6659 and AbiatharH54 were priestsH3548; 26and alsoH1571 IraH5896 the Jairite wasH1961 chief minister unto DavidH1732.