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: every man to his tents, O Israel.
2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, 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 me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?
20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

1And there happened to bee there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba the sonne of Bichri, a Beniamite, & hee blew a trumpet, and said, Wee haue no part in Dauid, neither haue we inheritance in the sonne of Iesse: euery man to his tents, O Israel.

2So euery man of Israel went vp from after Dauid, and followed Sheba the sonne of Bichri: but the men of Iudah claue vnto their king, from Iordane euen to Ierusalem.

3 And Dauid came to his house at Ierusalem, and the king tooke the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in vnto them: so they were shut vp vnto the day of their death, liuing in widowhood.

4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Iudah within three dayes, and be thou here present.

5So Amasa went to assemble the men of Iudah; but hee taried longer then the set time which he had appointed him.

6And Dauid said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the sonne of Bichri doe vs more harme then did Absalom: take thou thy lords seruants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape vs.

7And there went out after him Ioabs men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Ierusalem, to pursue after Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

8When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them: and Ioabs garment that he had put on, was girded vnto him, and vpon it a girdle with a sword fastned vpon his loynes in the sheath thereof, and as hee went forth, it fell out.

9And Ioab saide to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Ioab tooke Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kisse him.

10But Amasa tooke no heed to the sword that was in Ioabs hand: so hee smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and strake him not againe, and he died: so Ioab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

11And one of Ioabs men stood by him, and said, He that fauoureth Ioab, and hee that is for Dauid, let him goe after Ioab.

12And Amasa wallowed in blood in the mids of the high way: and when the man saw that all the people stood still, he remoued Amasa out of the high way into the field, and cast a cloth vpon him, when hee saw that euery one that came by him, stood still.

13When he was remoued out of the high way, all the people went on after Ioab, to pursue after Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

14 And hee went thorow all the tribes of Israel vnto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast vp a banke against the citie, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Ioab, battered the wall, to throw it downe.

16 Then cried a wise woman out of the citie, Heare, heare; say, I pray you, vnto Ioab, Come neere hither, that I may speake with thee.

17And when he was come neere vnto her, the woman said, Art thou Ioab? And he answered, I am he: Then shee said vnto him, Heare the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I doe heare.

18Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speake in old time, saying, They shall surely aske counsell at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

19I am one of them that are peaceable and faithfull in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou swallow vp the inheritance of the Lord ?

20And Ioab answered and saide, Farre be it, farre be it from me, that I should swallow vp or destroy.

21The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim (Sheba the sonne of Bichri by name) hath lift vp his hand against the king, euen against Dauid: deliuer him onely, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said vnto Ioab, Behold, his head shall be throwen to thee ouer the wall.

22Then the woman went vnto all the people in her wisedome, and they cut off the head of Sheba the sonne of Bichri, and cast it out to Ioab: and hee blew a trumpet, and they retired from the citie, euery man to his tent: & Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king.

23 Now Ioab was ouer all the hoste of Israel, and Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer the Cherethites, and ouer the Pelethites.

24And Adoram was ouer the tribute, and Iehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud was Recorder.

25And Sheua was scribe, and Zadok, and Abiathar were the Priests.

26And Ira also the Iairite, was a chiefe ruler about Dauid.

I == 2nd Sam 19:43 ; 1st Kings 12:16 ; 2nd Chr 10:16

 

 

 

 

 

III == 2nd Sam 15:16 ; 16:21-22

 

 

 

 

IV == 2nd Sam 19:13

 

 

 

 

VI == 2nd Sam 11:11 ; 1st Kings 1:33

 

VII == 2nd Sam 8:18 ; 1st Kings 1:38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Matt 26:49 ; Luke 22:47

 

X == 2nd Sam 2:23 ; 1st Kings 2:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == 2nd Kings 15:29 ; 2nd Chr 16:4

 

XV == 2nd Kings 19:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XVIII == Deut 20:11

 

 

XIX == 1st Sam 26:19 ; 2nd Sam 21:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == Eccl 9:14-15

 

 

 

 

XXIII == 2nd Sam 8:16 , 19

 

XXIV == 2nd Sam 8:16 ; 1st Kings 4:3 , 6

 

XXV == 2nd Sam 8:17 ; 1st Kings 4:4

XXVI == Gen 41:45 ; Ex 2:16 ; 2nd Sam 8:18 ; 23:38

 

 

1 Now a rebellious individual from Benjamin named Sheba, the son of Bichri, happened to be there. He sounded the horn and cried out, "We have no portion in David, nor any share in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tent, O Israel!"

2 So all the Israelites left David for Sheba, son of Bichri. But from the Jordan to Jerusalem the Judahites remained loyal to their king.

3 When King David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the palace and placed them in confinement. He provided for them, but had no further relations with them. And so they remained in confinement to the day of their death, lifelong widows.

4 Then the king said to Amasa: "Summon the Judahites for me within three days. Then present yourself here."

5 Accordingly Amasa set out to summon Judah, but delayed beyond the time set for him by David.

6 Then David said to Abishai: "Sheba, son of Bichri, may now do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities and take shelter while we look on."

7 So Joab and the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the warriors marched out behind Abishai from Jerusalem to campaign in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri.

8 They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa met them. Now Joab had a belt over his tunic, from which was slung, in its sheath near his thigh, a sword that could be drawn with a downward movement.

9 And Joab asked Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" With his right hand Joab held Amasa's beard as if to kiss him.

10 And since Amasa was not on his guard against the sword in Joab's other hand, Joab stabbed him in the abdomen with it, so that his entrails burst forth to the ground, and he died without receiving a second thrust. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri.

11 One of Joab's attendants stood by Amasa and said, "Let him who favors Joab and is for David follow Joab."

12 Amasa lay covered with blood in the middle of the highroad, and the man noticed that all the soldiers were stopping. So he removed Amasa from the road to the field and placed a garment over him, because all who came up to him were stopping.

13 When he had been removed from the road, everyone went on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri.

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth-maacah. Then all the Bichrites assembled and they too entered the city after him.

15 So David's servants came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah. They threw up a mound against the city, and all the soldiers who were with Joab began battering the wall to throw it down.

16 Then a wise woman from the city stood on the outworks and called out, "Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here, that I may speak with him."

17 When Joab had come near her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he replied, "Yes." She said to him, "Listen to what your maidservant has to say." He replied. "I am listening."

18 Then she went on to say: "There is an ancient saying, 'Let them ask if they will in Abel

19 or in Dan whether loyalty is finished or ended in Israel.' You are seeking to beat down a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you wish to destroy the inheritance of the LORD?"

20 Joab answered, "Not at all, not at all! I do not wish to destroy or to ruin anything.

21 That is not the case at all. A man named Sheba, son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim has rebelled against King David. Surrender him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." Then the woman said to Joab, "His head shall be thrown to you across the wall."

22 She went to all the people with her advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He then sounded the horn, and they scattered from the city to their own tents, while Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

23 Joab was in command of the whole army of Israel. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites.

24 Adoram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the chancellor.

25 Shawsha was the scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.

26 Ira the Jairite was also David's priest.

v 1,2. As a result of the preceding fierce argument, this Benjamite rallied Israel to depart from David, a disappointing turn of events, but Judah remained faithful.

 

 

v 3. What Absalom had done,16:21,22, was contrary to the principle of Lev. 18 or Deut. 22:30, and neither would it be proper for David to go in unto them again.

 

v 4-7. Amasa, David’s nephew, failed in his first assignment, and his delay was allowing Sheba to escape and gather his own supporters. David sent Abishai with a smaller force, so his brother  Joab and David’s mighty men also followed in pursuit.

 

 

 

 

 

v 8-13. They met Amasa’s group at Gibeon, and more out of jealousy than feeling the unfaithful man should be removed, Joab deceived him as a friend. Allowing his sword (or dagger) to fall, Joab picked it up with his left hand, extended his right hand in greeting, then cut open his cousin Amasa’s abdomen with the sword in his left hand. Joab took command as though nothing had happened, and Amasa’s men were challenged by a follower of Joab as to whether they would follow Joab. Most stood to gaze at Amasa in his death movements, so the man drug his body off and covered it with a cloth so the people would follow Joab in pursuit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 14,15. The Amplified text incorrectly says “he” is Joab. This properly refers to Sheba, who was not as successful as he had hoped to be, gathering up mainly Berites, a people in northern Palestine. Joab’s men apparently were both building a siege mound and undermining the wall, so the city would soon be destroyed.

v 16-22. A wise woman called to Joab from the wall and reminded him of Deut. 20:10-12, which states that when a city is approached, it should first be offered peace before besieging and destroying it. Since this had been a peaceable city, why was he trying to destroy the inheritance of the Lord? When she was informed that he only wanted, Sheba, she counseled the people and they willing cut off Sheba’s head and threw it over the wall. Then Joab and his men went to Jerusalem or their homes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 23-25. Joab was allowed to remain general of Israel’s army. His independence was sometimes a problem, but he remained faithful to David until almost the end, when he threw in his lot with Adonijah, 1 Ki. 1:7. Benaiah, whose father Jehoida was probably the one who helped David at Hebron, 1 Chr. 12:27 , was captain over David’s bodyguard of volunteers, and and Solomon put him in Joab’s place, 1 Ki 2:35.  Adoram was placed over the tribute, which may have involved taxation, but is better translated forced laborers. The recorder, scribe, priests and David’s chief assistant, who succeeded David’s sons,are also named here. Near David’s death, Abiathar, one of the priests defected with Joab, so Solomon removed him as priest, 1 Ki 2:27, fulfilling the word of the Lord to Eli, that his line would be cut off. The Lord may delay, but His word is ultimately fulfilled, 1 Sam. 2:30-35. . This left only Zadok as priest.