Chapter 20

Sheba’s Revolt

1 Now aa worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of bBichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said,

“cWe have no portion in David,

Nor do we have inheritance in dthe son of Jesse;

eEvery man to his tents, O Israel!”

2 So all the men of Israel 1withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah 2remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and athe 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.

4 Then the king said to aAmasa, “Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”

5 So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he adelayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6 And David said to aAbishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; btake your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.”

7 So Joab’s men went out after him, aalong with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 When they were at the large stone which is in aGibeon, Amasa came 1to meet them. Now Joab was 2dressed 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.

9 Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And aJoab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Amasa Murdered

10 But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so ahe 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.

11 Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, alet him follow Joab.”

12 But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he 1removed 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

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

14 Now 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.

15 They came and besieged him in aAbel Beth-maacah, and bthey 1cast 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.

16 Then aa wise woman called from the city, “Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here that I may speak with you.’ ”

17 So 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.”

18 Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to say, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute.

19 “I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. aYou are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up bthe inheritance of the Lord?”

20 Joab replied, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!

21 “Such is not the case. But a man from athe hill country of Ephraim, bSheba 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.”

22 Then the woman awisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So bhe blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

23 aNow Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

24 and Adoram was over the forced labor, and aJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

25 and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and aAbiathar were priests;

26 and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.