2Samuel:20

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* And there happened to be there a rebel , whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri , a Benjamite . And he blew a trumpet , and said : "We have no share in David , Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse ; Every man to his tents , O Israel !" * So every man of Israel deserted David , and followed Sheba the son of Bichri . But the men of Judah , from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem , remained loyal to their king . * Now 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 seclusion and supported them , but did not go in to them . So they were shut up to the day of their death , living in widowhood . * And the king said to Amasa , "Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days , and be present here yourself ." * So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah . But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him . * And David said to Abishai , "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom . Take your lord 's servants and pursue him , lest he find for himself fortified cities , and escape us ." * So Joab 's men , with the Cherethites , the Pelethites , and all the mighty men , went out after him . And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri . * When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon , Amasa came before them . Now Joab was dressed in battle armor ; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips ; and as he was going forward , it fell out . * Then Joab said to Amasa , "Are you in health , my brother ?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him . * But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab 's hand . And he struck him with it in the stomach , and his entrails poured out on the ground ; and he did not strike him again . Thus he died . Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri . * Meanwhile one of Joab 's men stood near Amasa , and said , "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David--follow Joab !" * But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway . And when the man saw that all the people stood still , he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him , when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted . * When he was removed from the highway , all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri . * And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites . So they were gathered together and also went after Sheba . * Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah ; and they cast up a siege mound against the city , and it stood by the rampart . And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down . * Then a wise woman cried out from the city , "Hear , hear ! Please say to Joab , "Come nearby , that I may speak with you ."' * When he had come near to her , the woman said , "Are you Joab ?" He answered , "I am ." Then she said to him , "Hear the words of your maidservant ." And he answered , "I am listening ." * So she spoke , saying , "They used to talk in former times , saying , "They shall surely seek guidance at Abel ,' and so they would end disputes . * I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel . You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel . Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD ?" * And Joab answered and said , "Far be it , far be it from me , that I should swallow up or destroy ! * That is not so . But a man from the mountains of Ephraim , Sheba the son of Bichri by name , has raised his hand against the king , against David . Deliver him only , and I will depart from the city ." So the woman said to Joab , "Watch , his head will be thrown to you over the wall ." * Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people . And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri , and threw it out to Joab . Then he blew a trumpet , and they withdrew from the city , every man to his tent . So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem . * And Joab was over all the army of Israel ; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites ; * Adoram was in charge of revenue ; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder ; * Sheva was scribe ; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests ; * and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David .

---