2 Samuel 20:13

13 Therefore when he was removed from the way, each man passed forth, following Joab to pursue Sheba, the son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20:13 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:13

When he was removed out of the highway
Into the field, and covered over with a cloth, that he could not be seen:

all the people went on after Joab;
made no stop at all, knowing nothing of the matter, or what had happened:

to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri;
these were the troops that Amasa had been assembling, which followed one another after him; for Joab and Abishai, with their men, were at Gibeon first.

2 Samuel 20:13 In-Context

11 In the meantime, when some of the children of David, of the fellows of Joab, had stood beside the dead body of Amasa, they said, Lo! he that would be the fellow of David, (be) for Joab. (In the meantime, one of Joab's young men stood beside Amasa's dead body, and he said, Lo! he who would be the fellow of Joab and of David, follow he Joab!)
12 And Amasa was besprinkled with blood, and lay in the middle of the way. Some man saw this/A man saw this, that all the people abode to see Amasa, and he removed Amasa from the way into the field, and he covered Amasa with a cloth, lest men passing should abide [still] for him. (And Amasa was covered with blood, and lay in the middle of the road. And some man saw that all the people stood about looking at Amasa, and so he moved Amasa's body from the road to a nearby field, and he covered it with a cloak, lest men passing by should stand there, and gawk at him.)
13 Therefore when he was removed from the way, each man passed forth, following Joab to pursue Sheba, the son of Bichri.
14 Forsooth Sheba had passed by all the lineages of Israel till into Abel, and into Bethmaachah; and all the chosen men were gathered to him. (And Sheba passed through the territories of all the tribes of Israel unto Abel of Bethmaachah; and all the men of Bichri/and all the Berites were gathered to him, and followed him.)
15 Therefore they came, and fought against him in Abel, and in Bethmaachah, and (en)compassed the city with strongholds; and the city was besieged. And all the company, that was with Joab, enforced to destroy the walls. (And then Joab and his men came, and fought against him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and surrounded the city with strongholds; and the city was besieged. And all the men who were with Joab endeavoured to destroy the walls.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.