2 Samuel 20

¹ Now a worthless man happened to be there, named 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 tent, O Israel!"

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

³ David came to his palace in Jerusalem. The king took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not go in to them. They were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah for me within three days, and be here yourself."

⁵ So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the time that had been set for him.

⁶ David 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 our sight."

⁷ So Joab's men went out after him, along with the Kerethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

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

⁹ Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab's right hand took Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

¹⁰ But Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab's hand. Joab struck him with it in the stomach and spilled his intestines on the ground, and he did not strike him a second time, for he was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

¹¹ One of Joab's young men stood over Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever belongs to David—follow Joab!"

¹² Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the troops were stopping, he dragged Amasa off the road into the field and threw a garment over him, because everyone who came by him would stop.

¹³ When he was removed from the road, everyone followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

¹⁴ Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah. All the Bichrites assembled and also went in after him.

¹⁵ They came and besieged him in Abel-beth-maacah. They threw up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer fortification. All the troops with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down.

¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here so I can speak to you.'"

¹⁷ He came near her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." He said, "I am listening."

¹⁸ She said, "In the past they used to say, 'Let them inquire at Abel'—and that would settle it.

¹⁹ "I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"

²⁰ Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!

²¹ "That is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Hand him over alone, and I will withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you over the wall."

²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. He blew the ram's horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem, to the king.

²³ Now Joab was over the entire army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and the Pelethites.

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

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

²⁶ And Ira the Jairite was David's priest.