Chapter 20

And there happened⁸ to be there a man of Belial, whose name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: ³²²⁸ and he blew⁴ a trumpet, and said,⁴ We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

So every man of Israel went up⁴ from after David, [and] followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave¹ unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

And David came⁴ to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took⁴ the ten women [his] concubines, whom he had left⁵² to keep² the house, and put⁴ them in ward, and fed⁴⁶ them, but went¹ not in unto them. So they were shut up⁷ unto the day of their death,² living in widowhood.

Then said⁴ the king to Amasa, Assemble⁵⁴ me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.³

So Amasa went⁴ to assemble⁵³ [the men of] Judah: but he tarried longer^{4 3186 4} than the set time which he had appointed¹ him.

And David said⁴ to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm⁴ than [did] Absalom: take³ thou thy lord's servants, and pursue³ after him, lest he get¹ him fenced⁷ cities, and escape⁵² us.

And there went out⁴ after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out⁴ of Jerusalem, to pursue² after Sheba the son of Bichri.

When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon, Amasa went¹ before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded⁷ unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened³⁰ upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth¹ it fell⁴ out.

And Joab said⁴ to Amasa, [Art] thou in health, my brother? And Joab took⁴ Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss² him.

But Amasa took no heed⁸ to the sword that [was] in Joab's hand: so he smote⁵⁵ him therewith in the fifth [rib], and shed out⁴ his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again;¹ and he died.⁴ So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued¹ after Sheba the son of Bichri.

And one of Joab's men stood¹ by him, and said,⁴ He that favoureth¹ Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after Joab.

And Amasa wallowed¹⁰⁹ in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw⁴ that all the people stood still,¹ he removed⁵⁵ Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast⁵⁵ a cloth upon him, when he saw¹ that every one that came⁶ by him stood still.¹

When he was removed⁵² out of the highway, all the people went on¹ after Joab, to pursue² after Sheba the son of Bichri.

And he went through⁴ all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together,^{11 7035 11} and went⁴ also after him.

And they came⁴ and besieged⁴ him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up⁴ a bank against the city, and it stood⁴ in the trench: and all the people that [were] with Joab battered⁵⁶ the wall, to throw it down.⁵³

Then cried⁴ a wise woman out of the city, Hear,³ hear;³ say,³ I pray you, unto Joab, Come near³ hither, that I may speak¹⁷ with thee.

And when he was come near⁴ unto her, the woman said,⁴ [Art] thou Joab? And he answered,⁴ I [am he]. Then she said⁴ unto him, Hear³ the words of thine handmaid. And he answered,⁴ I do hear.⁶

Then she spake,⁴ saying,² They were wont¹⁵ to speak¹⁷ in old time, saying,² They shall surely² ask¹⁷ [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended⁵² [the matter].

I [am one of them that are] peaceable⁷ [and] faithful⁷ in Israel: thou seekest¹⁸ to destroy⁵³ a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up¹⁷ the inheritance of the LORD?

And Joab answered⁴ and said,⁴ Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up¹⁷ or destroy.⁵⁵

The matter [is] not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up¹ his hand against the king, [even] against David: deliver³ him only, and I will depart⁴ from the city. And the woman said⁴ unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown⁹⁴ to thee over the wall.

Then the woman went⁴ unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off⁴ the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast⁵⁵ [it] out to Joab. And he blew⁴ a trumpet, and they retired⁴ from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned¹ to Jerusalem unto the king.

Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites ³⁷⁴⁶ and over the Pelethites:

And Adoram [was] over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder:⁵⁶

And Sheva ⁷⁷²⁴ [was] scribe:⁶ and Zadok and Abiathar [were] the priests:

And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.