2 Samuel 20
1. And there happened * to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew * a trumpet, and said * , We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
2. So every man of Israel went up * from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave * unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3. And David came * to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took * the ten women his concubines, whom he had left * to keep * the house, and put * them in ward, and fed * them, but went not in * unto them. So they were shut up * unto the day of their death * , living in widowhood.
4. Then said * the king to Amasa,Assemble * me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present * .
5. So Amasa went * to assemble * the men of Judah: but he tarried longer * than the set time which he had appointed * him.
6. And David said * to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm * than did Absalom: take * thou thy lord's servants, and pursue * after him, lest he get * him fenced * cities, and escape * us.
7. And there went out * after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out * of Jerusalem, to pursue * after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8. When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went * before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded * unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened * upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth * it fell out * .
9. And Joab said * to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took * Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss * him.
10. But Amasa took no heed * to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote * him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out * his bowels to the ground, and struck * him not again * ; and he died * . So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued * after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11. And one of Joab's men stood * by him, and said * , He that favoureth * Joab, and he that is for David,let him go after Joab.
12. And Amasa wallowed * in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw * that all the people stood still * , he removed * Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast * a cloth upon him, when he saw * that every one that came * by him stood still * .
13. When he was removed * out of the highway, all the people went on * after Joab, to pursue * after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14. And he went * through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together * , and went * also after him.
15. And they came * and besieged * him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up * a bank against the city, and it stood * in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered * the wall, to throw it down * .
16. Then cried * a wise woman out of the city, Hear * , hear * ; say * , I pray you, unto Joab, Come near * hither, that I may speak * with thee.
17. And when he was come near * unto her, the woman said * , Art thou Joab? And he answered * , I am he. Then she said * unto him, Hear * the words of thine handmaid. And he answered * , I do hear * .
18. Then she spake * , saying * , They were wont * to speak * in old time, saying * , They shall surely * ask * counsel at Abel: and so they ended * the matter.
19. I am one of them that are peaceable * and faithful * in Israel: thou seekest * to destroy * a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up * the inheritance of the LORD?
20. And Joab answered * and said * , Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up * or destroy * .
21. The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up * his hand against the king, even against David:deliver * him only, and I will depart * from the city. And the woman said * unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown * to thee over the wall.
22. Then the woman went * unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off * the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast * it out to Joab. And he blew * a trumpet, and they retired * from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned * to Jerusalem unto the king.
23. Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites * and over the Pelethites:
24. And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder * :
25. And Sheva * was scribe * : and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26. And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
