2 Samuel 20:6–22

⁶David then told Abishai, “Sheba, son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or he will find some fortified cities and take the best ones for himself.” 

⁷So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, Bichri’s son. ⁸When they were at the large rock in Gibeon, Amasa met them there. Joab wore a military uniform, and strapped over it at his hip was a sword in a scabbard. As he stepped forward, the sword dropped ⸤into his hand⸥. ⁹“How are you, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him. ¹⁰Amasa wasn’t on his guard against the sword in Joab’s ⸤left⸥ hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and his intestines poured out on the ground. (He died without being stabbed again.) Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri. ¹¹One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa^cand said, “Anyone who favors Joab and is on David’s side should follow Joab.” ¹²Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the troops stopped as they came to the body, he carried Amasa from the road to the field and threw a sheet over him. ¹³As soon as he was moved from the road, everyone followed Joab and pursued Sheba, Bichri’s son. 

¹⁴Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel (Beth Maacah). All the Berites were gathered together and followed him to the city. ¹⁵Joab’s army came and attacked him in Abel (Beth Maacah). They put up a dirt ramp against the city, and it stood level with the outer wall. All the troops with Joab were trying to destroy the wall and tear it down. 

¹⁶Then a clever woman called from the city, “Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can talk to him.” 

¹⁷He came near, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” 

“I am,” he answered. 

“Listen to what I have to say,” she told him. 

“I’m listening,” he answered. 

¹⁸So she said, “There’s an old saying: ‘Be sure to ask at Abel ⸤before doing anything⸥. That’s the way they settle matters.’ ¹⁹We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. Are you trying to destroy a mother city in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to the Lord?” 

²⁰Joab answered, “That’s unthinkable! I don’t wish to swallow ⸤it⸥ up or destroy ⸤it⸥. ²¹That isn’t the case. A man from the mountains of Ephraim by the name of Sheba, son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. Give him to me, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” 

“That’s fine,” the woman told Joab. “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” ²²Then the woman went to all the people with her clever plan. They cut off Sheba’s head and threw it to Joab. He blew the ram’s horn, and everyone scattered and withdrew from the city and went home. Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.