1
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:everyman to his tents, O Israel.
2
So every man of Israel went up from afterDavid, and followedSheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judahclave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3
And Davidcame to his house at Jerusalem; and the kingtook the tenwomen his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward,[a] and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4
Then said the king to Amasa,Assemble[b] me the men of Judah within threedays, and be thou here present.
5
So Amasawent to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6
And Davidsaid to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom:take thou thy lord'sservants, and pursueafter him, lest he get him fencedcities, and escape[c]us.