Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri , vvv a Benjamite , happened to be there , and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted : “ We have no share in David , no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent , O Israel ! ”
So all the men of Israel deserted ... David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem , he - took the ten ... concubines - he had left to care for the palace , and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them , but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death , living as widows.
Then the king said to Amasa , “ Summon - the men of Judah within three days , and be here ... yourself. ”
So Amasa went to summon - Judah , but he took longer than the time - allotted him.
And David said to Abishai , “ Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. ... Take - your lord’s servants and pursue him , ... or he will find fortified cities and elude us. ”
So Joab’s men - - , along with the Cherethites , the Pelethites , and all the mighty men , marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit ... of Sheba son of Bichri.
(And while) they were at the great - stone in Gibeon , Amasa joined them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire ... , with a dagger strapped - to his belt ... .... And as he stepped forward , he slipped the dagger from its sheath.
“ Are you well , my brother ? ” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger - in Joab’s hand , and Joab stabbed in the stomach and spilled out his intestines ... on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued ... Sheba son of Bichri.
One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said , “ Whoever - favors Joab , and whoever - is for David , (let him) follow Joab ! ”
But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road , and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there , he dragged - (the body) off the road into a field and threw a garment over it - - - - - -.
As soon as (Amasa’s body) was removed from the road , all the men went on with Joab to pursue ... Sheba son of Bichri.
Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah ... ... and through the entire (region of) the Berites , who gathered together and followed ... him.
And Joab’s troops came and besieged (Sheba) in Abel-beth-maacah ... ... and built a siege ramp ... against the outer rampart of the city. ... As all the troops - with Joab were battering the wall to topple it ,
a wise woman called out from the city , “ Listen ! Listen ! Please tell Joab to come ... here so that I may speak with him. ”
When he had come near to her , the woman asked , “ Are you Joab ? ” “ I (am) , ” he replied. “ Listen to the words of your servant , ” she said “ I am listening , ” he answered.
Then (the woman) said ... , “ Long ago ... they used to say ... , ‘ Seek counsel ... at Abel , ’ and that is how disputes were settled.
I (am) (among the) peaceable (and) faithful in Israel , but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance ? ”
“ Far be it ! ” Joab declared . “ Far be it to swallow up or destroy !
That (is) not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri , from the hill country of Ephraim , has lifted up his hand against the king , against David. Deliver him alone , and I will depart from the city. ” “ Look , ” the woman replied - - , “ his head will be thrown to you over the wall. ”
Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel , and they cut off - the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and (his men) dispersed from the city , each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel ; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites ;
Adoram was in charge of the forced labor ; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder ;
Sheva was the scribe ; Zadok and Abiathar were priests ;