2 Samuel 20
1 There was a worthless man there named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. He sounded the trumpet and said, “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Each of you to your tents, Israel!”
2 So all the men of Israel abandoned David and followed Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah stayed loyal to their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
3 David came to his house in Jerusalem. The king took the ten concubines he had left to care for the house and put them in a guarded house. He provided for them, but no longer had relations with them. They remained confined until the day they died, living as widows while still alive.
4 The king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah for me within three days, and be here yourself.”
5 Amasa went to summon Judah, but took longer than the time set for him.
6 Then David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your master’s servants and pursue him, so he cannot find fortified towns and escape us.”
7 Joab’s men, the Kerethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors set out after him. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
8 When they were beside the great stone at Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, with a belt over it, and a sword fastened at his waist in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it fell out.
9 Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” With his right hand, Joab took hold of Amasa’s beard to kiss him.
10 Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab’s hand. Joab struck him with it in the abdomen, spilling his entrails onto the ground. He did not strike him again, and Amasa died. Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.
11 One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever is for Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”
12 Amasa lay rolling in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that everyone was stopping, he dragged Amasa off the road into the field and threw a garment over him, because he saw that everyone who came by stopped.
13 After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
14 Sheba went through all the tribes of Israel as far as Abel Beth-maacah. All the Berites gathered and followed him too.
15 They came and besieged him at Abel Beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the city, reaching the outer wall, while all the people with Joab battered the wall to bring it down.
16 Then a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab, ‘Come over here so I can speak with you.’”
17 He came near her, and the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” She said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He replied, “I’m listening.”
18 She continued, “In the past, people used to say, ‘Let them ask at Abel,’ and that settled the matter.
19 I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the LORD’s inheritance?”
20 Joab answered, “Far be it from me! Far be it from me to devour or destroy!
21 That is not the case. A man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bichri has raised his hand against the king, against David. Hand over only him, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22 The woman went to all the people with her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. He sounded the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab returned to Jerusalem, to the king.
23 Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and the Pelethites;
24 Adoram was over the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
25 Sheva was the secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
26 and Ira the Jairite was also David’s priest.
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