2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20:1

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, 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!"

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2 Samuel 20:2

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.

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2 Samuel 20:3

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.

2 Samuel 20:3 · BSB

and put The confinement and retired maintenance of these women was the only measure which in justice and prudence could be adopted. In China , when an emperor dies , all his women are removed to an edifice called the palace of chastity , situated within the palace , in which they are shut up for the remainder of their lives.

shut Heb. bound

living in widowhood Heb. in widowhood of life

2 Samuel 20:4

Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

2 Samuel 20:4 · BSB

Assemble Heb. Call

2 Samuel 20:5

So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

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2 Samuel 20:6

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.”

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escape us Heb. deliver himself from our eyes

2 Samuel 20:7

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.

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2 Samuel 20:8

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.

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2 Samuel 20:9

“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20:9 · BSB

took Amasa Thevenot says , that among the Turks it is a great affront to take one by the beard , unless it be to kiss him , in which case they often do it. D'Arvieux , describing an assembly of Arab emirs at an entertainment , says , "After the usual civilities , caresses , kissings of the beard , and of the hand , which every one gave and received according to his rank and dignity , they sat down upon mats." The doing this by the Arab emirs corresponds with the conduct of Joab , and illustrates this horrid assassination.

2 Samuel 20:10

Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him 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.

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2 Samuel 20:11

One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!”

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2 Samuel 20:12

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.

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2 Samuel 20:13

As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

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2 Samuel 20:14

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.

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2 Samuel 20:15

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,

2 Samuel 20:15 · BSB

a bank So LXX generally render solelah , by נסןףקשלב or קשלב; which latter is described by Potter as "a mount , which was raised so high as to equal , if not exceed , the top of the besieged walls. The sides were walled in with bricks or stones , or secured with strong rafters; the fore part only , being by degrees to be moved near the walls , remained bare."

it stood in the trench or , it stood against the outmost wall

battered etc. Heb. marred to throw down

2 Samuel 20:16

a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

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2 Samuel 20:17

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.

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2 Samuel 20:18

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

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2 Samuel 20:19

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?”

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2 Samuel 20:20

“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!

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2 Samuel 20:21

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.”

2 Samuel 20:21 · BSB

by name Heb. by his name

2 Samuel 20:22

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.

2 Samuel 20:22 · BSB

retired Heb. were scattered

2 Samuel 20:23

Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;

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2 Samuel 20:24

Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

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2 Samuel 20:25

Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

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2 Samuel 20:26

and Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

2 Samuel 20:26 · BSB