2 Samuel 20

1There happened to be a scoundrel there named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, who blew the trumpet and said, "We have no share in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jesse—every man to his tents, Israel!"

2All the men of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah stayed with their king from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3David came to his house in Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, his concubines whom he had left to guard the house, confined them under watch, supported them, but did not sleep with them. They remained restricted as living widows until the day of their death.

4The king said to Amasa, "Call up Judah's men for me within three days, and stand here."

5Amasa went to assemble Judah, but he lingered and delayed beyond the appointed time he had set for him.

6David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bichri will harm us more than Absalom. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he seize fortified cities for himself and escape our sight."

7Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men went out after him from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

8When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them; Joab was girded with his garment, his clothing, a girdle upon him with a sword fastened upon his loins in its sheath, and as he went forth it fell out.

9Joab said to Amasa, "Peace to you, my brother?" Joab grasped Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10Amasa paid no heed to the sword in Joab's hand, so he struck him with it in the fifth rib, pouring his bowels out onto the ground, and did not strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba son of Bichri.

11One of Joab's young men stood beside him and said, "Whoever delights in Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab."

12Amasa lay rolling in blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw all the people standing, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him, because he saw that everyone passing by him halted.

13When he was removed from the highway, all the men went after Joab to chase after Sheba son of Bichri.

14He passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth-maacah and all the Berites, and they gathered to him and assembled and also went after him.

15They came and besieged him at Abel Beth Maacah, and they heaped up a ramp against the city, which stood against the rampart; all the people with Joab battered the wall to bring it down.

16A wise woman called out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, so I can speak with you.’”

17He drew near to her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He said, "I am." She said to him, "Hear your maidservant's words." He said, "I hear."

18She said, saying, "Formerly they would speak, saying, 'They shall surely ask at Abel,' and so they finished."

19I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel—why devour Yahweh's inheritance?

20Joab answered, "Far, far from me to devour or destroy."

21The matter is not so, for a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Give him only, and I will leave the city. The woman said to Joab, "Look, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."

22The woman went to all the people with her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and hurled it to Joab. He sounded the trumpet, and they scattered from the city, every man to his tent. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

23Joab was over all Israel's army, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.

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

25and Sheva, Sheva the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

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