2 Samuel 20

1Now a worthless man happened to be there. His name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. He blew the ram’s horn and said, “We have no share in David, no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, Israel!”

2So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed close to their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, the king took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but did not sleep with them. They were confined until the day they died, living as widows.

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

5So Amasa went to call up Judah, but he took longer than the time the king had set for him.

6David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities for himself and escape from us.”

7So Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the warriors. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

8When they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was dressed in his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a sword in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it fell out.

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

10Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab’s hand, and Joab struck him in the stomach with it, so that his insides spilled out on the ground. Without being struck a second time, he died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

11One of Joab’s young men stood over Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”

12Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops were stopping there. So he dragged Amasa from the road into a field and threw a cloak over him, because he saw that everyone who came by him stopped.

13Once he was moved off the road, all the men went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth-maacah and all the Berites, who gathered together and followed him in.

15Joab’s forces came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer wall. All the troops with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down.

16Then a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here so that I can speak with you.’”

17He came near her, and the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” She said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He answered, “I am listening.”

18She said, “Long ago people used to say, ‘Just ask for advice at Abel,’ and that would settle the matter.

19I am one of the peaceful and faithful people in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?”

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

21That is not the case. A man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bichri has raised his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn, and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

23Joab was over the whole army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.

24Adoram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.

25Sheva was the secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.

26And Ira the Jairite was also David’s priest.