2 Samuel, Chapter 20:
advertising
Verses from 2 Samuel, Chapter 20 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.
Sheba rebels against David
- 1. At that time a man named Sheba, son of Bichri, a rebel from Benjamin, blew the trumpet and proclaimed: “We have no share with David, no inheritance with the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel!”
- 2. So all the men of Israel abandoned David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. However, the men of Judah remained loyal to their king and accompanied him from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
- 3. When David returned to the palace in Jerusalem, he ordered the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace to be confined in a house under guard. He supported them, but never had a relationship with them again. They were confined, living as widows until the end of their lives.
- 4. Then the king said to Amasa, “Gather the men of Judah and come before me in three days.”
- 5. Amasa took longer than the deadline set by the king to gather the men of Judah.
- 6. Then David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will be more dangerous to us than Absalom. Call my soldiers, and let us pursue him before he finds refuge in some fortified city and escapes us.”
- 7. So Joab's soldiers, the Cherethites, the Pelethites and all the warriors left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
- 8. When they came to the great rock at Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was dressed in his military attire and had a dagger attached to his belt. As he approached Amasa, the dagger fell.
- 9. Joab greeted Amasa, saying, “How are you, my brother?” And he held Amasa's beard with his right hand to kiss him.
- 10. But Amasa did not realize that the dagger was in Joab's left hand. Joab hit him in the stomach with the dagger, causing his insides to spill out onto the floor. Amasa died right there, without needing a second blow. Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
- 11. One of Joab's soldiers stood over Amasa's body and said, “Everyone who is for Joab and David, follow Joab!”
- 12. Amasa was lying in the middle of the road, covered in blood, and everyone who passed by stopped. When they saw everyone stopping to look, the soldier dragged Amasa's body off the road and covered it with a cloak.
- 13. After Amasa's body was removed from the road, all the men followed Joab in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.
- 14. Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel until she reached Abel-Beth-Maacah. The Bicrites gathered around him.
- 15. Joab and his army arrived and surrounded Abel-Beth-Maacah. They built an embankment against the city walls to try to bring them down.
- 16. Then a wise woman shouted from the city: “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so I can talk to him.”
- 17. As Joab approached, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He replied, “Yes, it’s me.” Then she said, “Please listen to what your servant has to say.”
- 18. And she continued: “It used to be said in ancient times, 'Look to Abel for guidance,' and that was how they resolved disputes.
- 19. We are peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a mother city in Israel. Why do you want to ruin the Lord’s inheritance?”
- 20. Joab replied, “No way! It is not my intention to destroy and ruin this city.
- 21. That's not the point. There is a man named Sheba, son of Bichri, from the mountains of Ephraim, who rebelled against King David. Hand this man over to me, and we will leave the city in peace.” Then the woman said to Joab, “We will throw his head over the city wall.”
- 22. The woman went to talk to everyone in the city, and they followed her advice. They beheaded Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw his head to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and his soldiers dispersed, each returning to his home. Joab then returned to the king in Jerusalem.
- 23. Joab was in command of the entire army of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
- 24. Adoniram was in charge of forced labor, Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilude, was the royal chronicler.
- 25. Seva was the secretary, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
- 26. and Ira, the son of Iair, was a priest of David.
