2 Samuel 20

Sheba’s Revolt

1Now 1a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of 2Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, “3We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in 4the son of Jesse; 5Every man to his tents, O Israel!” 2So all the men of Israel 6withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah 7remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and 8the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

4Then the king said to 9Amasa, “Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” 5So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he 10delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6And David said to 11Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; 12take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.” 7So Joab’s men went out after him, 13along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8When they were at the large stone which is in 14Gibeon, Amasa came 15to meet them. Now Joab was 16dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out. 9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And 17Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Amasa Murdered

10But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so 18he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, 19let him follow Joab.” 12But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he 20removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

Revolt Put Down

13As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him. 15They came and besieged him in 21Abel Beth-maacah, and 22they 23cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. 16Then 24a wise woman called from the city, “Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here that I may speak with you.’” 17So he approached her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” 18Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to say, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute. 19I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. 25You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up 26the inheritance of the Lord?” 20Joab replied, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! 21Such is not the case. But a man from 27the hill country of Ephraim, 28Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 22Then the woman 29wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So 30he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

2331Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24and Adoram was over the forced labor, and 32Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; 25and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and 33Abiathar were priests; 26and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.