And there happened to be there a man
of Belial
, whose name
was Sheba
, the son
of Bichri
, a Benjamite
: and he blew
a trumpet
, and said
, We have no part
in David
, neither have we inheritance
in the son
of Jesse
: every
man
to his tents
, O Israel
.
So every man of Israel
went up
from after
David
, and followed
Sheba
the son
of Bichri
: but the men
of Judah
clave
unto their king
, from Jordan
even to Jerusalem
.
And 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 ward
, and fed
them, but went not in
unto them. So they were shut up
unto the day
of their death
, living
in widowhood
.
Then said the king
to Amasa
, Assemble
me the men
of Judah
within three
days
, and be thou here present
.
So Amasa went
to assemble
the men of Judah
: but he tarried longer
than the set time
which he had appointed
him.
And David said
to Abishai
, Now shall Sheba
the son
of Bichri
do us more harm
than did Absalom
: take
thou thy lord's
servants
, and pursue
after
him, lest he get
him fenced
cities
, and escape
us
.
And there went out after
him Joab's
men
, and the Cherethites
, and the Pelethites
, and all the mighty men
: and they went out
of Jerusalem
, to pursue
after
Sheba
the son
of Bichri
.
When they were at the great stone
which is in Gibeon
, Amasa
went
before
them. And Joab's
garment
that he had put on
was girded
unto him, and upon it a girdle
with a sword
fastened
upon his loins
in the sheath
thereof; and as he went forth
it fell out
.
And Joab said
to Amasa
, Art thou in health
, my brother
? And Joab
took
Amasa
by the beard
with the right
hand
to kiss
him.
But Amasa took no heed
to 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
. So Joab
and Abishai
his brother
pursued
after
Sheba
the son
of Bichri
.
And one of Joab's
men
stood
by him, and said
, He
that favoureth
Joab
, and he that is for David
, let him go after
Joab
.
And Amasa wallowed
in blood
in the midst
of the highway
. And when the man
saw
that all the people
stood still
, he removed
Amasa
out of the highway
into the field
, and cast
a cloth
upon him, when he saw
that every one that came
by him stood still
.
When he was removed out of the highway
, all the people
went on
after
Joab
, to pursue
after
Sheba
the son
of Bichri
.
And he went through all the tribes
of Israel
unto Abel
, and to Bethmaachah
, and all the Berites
: and they were gathered together
, and went
also after
him.
And they came and besieged
him in Abel
of Bethmaachah
, and they cast up
a bank
against the city
, and it stood
in the trench
: and all the people
that were with Joab
battered
the wall
, to throw it down
.
Then cried a wise
woman
out of the city
, Hear
, hear
; say
, I pray you, unto Joab
, Come near
hither, that I may speak
with thee.
And when he was come near unto her, the woman
said
, Art thou Joab
? And he answered
, I am he . Then she said
unto him, Hear
the words
of thine handmaid
. And he answered
, I do hear
.
Then she spake, saying
, They were wont
to speak
in old time
, saying
, They shall surely
ask
counsel at Abel
: and so they ended
the matter .
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful
in Israel
: thou seekest
to destroy
a city
and a mother
in Israel
: why wilt thou 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
.
The matter is not so: but a man
of mount
Ephraim
, Sheba
the son
of Bichri
by name
, hath lifted up
his hand
against the king
, even against David
: deliver
him only, and I will depart
from the city
. And the woman
said
unto Joab
, Behold, his head
shall be thrown
to thee over
the wall
.
Then the woman went
unto all the people
in her wisdom
. And they cut off
the head
of Sheba
the son
of Bichri
, and cast
it out to Joab
. And he blew
a trumpet
, and they retired
from the city
, every man
to his tent
. And Joab
returned
to Jerusalem
unto the king
.
Now Joab was over all the host
of Israel
: and Benaiah
the son
of Jehoiada
was over the Cherethites
and over the Pelethites
:
And Adoram was over the tribute
: and Jehoshaphat
the son
of Ahilud
was recorder
:
And Sheva was scribe
: and Zadok
and Abiathar
were the priests
:
And Ira also the Jairite
was a chief ruler
about David
.