2 Samuel 20

Sheba Leads Israel Away from David

1There happened to be there a worthless man whose name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. He blew the ram’s horn and said:

“We have no portion in David,
and we have no inheritance
in the son of Jesse.
Each man to his tents, Israel!” 2So every man of Israel went up from following David and followed Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clung to their king, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem.

David Confines the Concubines

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

Amasa Delays

4The king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and you yourself be present here.” 5So Amasa went to call Judah together, but he delayed beyond the appointed time that David had set for him. 6Then David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. You take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities for himself and escape from our eyes.” 7Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. They went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

Joab Kills Amasa

8When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Joab was wearing his military garment, and over it was a belt with a sword fastened at his waist in its sheath. As he went forward, it fell out. 9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10Yet Amasa did not guard himself against the sword that was in Joab’s hand. Joab struck him with it in the belly and spilled his entrails to the ground without striking him again, and he died.

Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

The Army Regathers behind Joab

11One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12Amasa was wallowing in blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the people stopped, he moved Amasa from the road to the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came upon him stopped. 13When he was removed from the road, every man passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

Sheba Takes Refuge in Abel-Beth-Maacah

14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth-Maacah and all the Berites. They gathered together and also came after him. 15They came and besieged him in Abel-Beth-Maacah. They cast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart. All the people who were with Joab were battering the wall to cause it to fall.

A Wise Woman Saves the City

16Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear! Hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here so that I may speak to you.’” 17He came near to her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He said, “I am.” She said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He said, “I am listening.” 18Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. 19I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to put to death a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?” 20Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! 21The matter is not so. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri by name, has lifted his hand against the king, against David. Give him alone, and I will go away from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Look, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

Sheba’s Rebellion Ends

22Then the woman came to all the people in her wisdom. 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.

David’s Officials

23Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; 24Adoram was over forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 25Sheva was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26and Ira the Jairite also was priest to David.