1
Now a worthlessfellowhappened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite*; and he blew the trumpet and said, "We havenoportion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Everyman to his tents, O Israel!"
2
So all the men of Israelwithdrew from followingDavid and followedSheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judahremainedsteadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3
Then Davidcame to his house at Jerusalem, and the kingtook the tenwomen, the concubineswhom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard* and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.
6
And Davidsaid to Abishai, "NowSheba the son of Bichri will do us moreharmthanAbsalom; take your lord'sservants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortifiedcities and escape from our sight."
7
So Joab'smenwent out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mightymen; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursueSheba the son of Bichri.
8
When they were at the largestonewhich is in Gibeon, Amasacame to meet them. Now Joab was dressed* in his military attire*, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheathfastened at his waist; and as he wentforward, it fell out.
10
But Amasa was not on guard against the swordwhich was in Joab'shand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inwardparts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brotherpursuedSheba the son of Bichri.
12
But Amasalaywallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the mansaw that all the peoplestoodstill, he removedAmasa from the highway into the field and threw a garmentover him when he saw that everyone who came by him stoodstill.
15
They came and besieged* him in AbelBeth-maacah, and they cast up a siegerampagainst the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the peoplewho were with Joab were wreakingdestruction in order to topple the wall.
17
So he approached her, and the womansaid, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening."
19
"I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"
21
"Such is not the case. But a man from the hillcountry of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against KingDavid. Onlyhand him over, and I will depart from the city." And the womansaid to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."
22
Then the womanwiselycame to all the people. And they cutoff the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.