2Samuel:20

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* And there happened to be a worthless man , whose name was Sheba ’, the son of Bichri , a Benjamite ; and he blew the cornet , and said , We have no part in David , nor have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse : every man to his tents , O Israel ! * So every man of Israel went off from David , following Sheba ’ the son of Bichri ; but the men of Judah adhered unto their king , from the Jordan even to Jerusalem . * And David came to his house at Jerusalem ; and the king took the ten women , the concubines , whom he had left to guard the house , and put them in a guard –house , and provided for them , but went not in unto them . So they were confined until the day of their death , living in widowhood . * Then said the king to ‘Amassa , Call together for me the men of Judah within three days , and thou present thyself here . * So ‘Amassa went to call Judah together ; but he remained out longer than the set time which he had appointed him . * And David said to Abishai , Now will Sheba ’ the son of Bichri do us more harm than Abshalom : take thou the servants of thy Lord , and pursue after him , lest he succeed in reaching fortified cities , and withdraw himself from our eyes . * And there went out after him Joab ’s men , and the Kerethites , and the Pelethites , and all the mighty men : and they went forth out of Jerusalem , to pursue after Sheba ’ the son of Bichri . * They were close by the great stone which is at Gib ’on , as ‘Amassa came before them . And Joab was girded with his coat , his garment , and upon it the girdle of the sword which was fastened upon his loins in its sheath ; and as he went forth it fell out . * And Joab said to ‘Amassa , Art thou in health , my brother ? And Joab ’s right hand took hold of ‘Amassa ’s beard to kiss him . * And ‘Amassa did not guard himself against 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 . But Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba ’ the son of Bichri . * And one man of Joab ’s people remained standing by him , and said , He that favoreth Joab , and he that is for David , follow Joab . * And ‘Amassa was wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway . And when the man saw that all the people stood still , he put ‘Amassa aside out of the highway into the field , and threw a garment over him , when he saw that every one that came by him stood still . * When he was removed out of the highway , every man passed on after Joab , to pursue after Sheba ’ the son of Bichri . * And this one passed through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel , which is of Beth –ma ’achah , and all the Berim : and they assembled themselves together , and went also after him . * And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth –ma ’achah , and they cast up a trench against the city , and it stood enclosed by the troops : and all the people that were with Joab were battering to throw down the wall . * Then called a wise woman out of the city , Hear , hear : say , I pray you , unto Joab , Come near as far as hither , that I may speak with thee . * And when he was come near unto her , the woman said , Art thou Joab ? And he said , I am . Then said she unto him , Hear the words of thy hand –maid . And he said , I do hear . * Then said she , thus , They ought surely first to have spoken , saying , "Let them ask at least in Abel :" and so would they have come to an end . * I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel ; thou seekest to overthrow a city and a metropolis in Israel : why wilt thou destroy the inheritance of the Lord ? * And Joab answered and said , Far be it , far be it from me , that I should destroy or ruin . * The matter is not so ; but a man from the mountains of Ephraim , Sheba ’ the son of Bichri is his name , hath lifted up his hand against the king , against David : give him up alone , and I will withdraw from the city . And the woman said unto Joab , Behold , his head shall be cast down to thee over the wall . * And the woman came unto all the people with her wisdom ; and they cut off the head of Sheba ’ the son of Bichri , and cast it down to Joab : and he blew the cornet , and they scattered themselves from the city , every man to his tents . And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king . * Now Joab was over all the army of Israel ; and Benayah the son of Yehoyada ’ was over the Kerethites and over the Pelethites ; * And Adoram was over the tribute ; and Jehoshaphat the son of Achilud was recorder ; * And Sheva was scribe ; and Zadok and Ebyathar were priests ; * And ‘Ira also the Yairite was an officer of state unto David .

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