And there happened{H7122} to be there a base{H1100} fellow,{H376} whose name{H8034} was Sheba,{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri,{H1075} a Benjamite:{H1145} and he blew{H8628} the trumpet,{H7782} and said,{H559} We have no portion{H2506} in David,{H1732} neither have we inheritance{H5159} in the son{H1121} of Jesse:{H3448} every{H376} man{H376} to his tents,{H168} O Israel.{H3478}

So all the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} went up{H5927} from following{H310} David,{H1732} and followed{H310} Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri;{H1075} but the men{H376} of Judah{H3063} clave{H1692} unto their king,{H4428} from the Jordan{H3383} even to Jerusalem.{H3389}

And David{H1732} came{H935} to his house{H1004} at Jerusalem;{H3389} and the king{H4428} took{H3947} the ten{H6235} women{H802} his concubines,{H6370} whom he had left{H3240} to keep{H8104} the house,{H1004} and put{H5414} them in ward,{H4931} and provided them with sustenance,{H3557} but went not in{H935} unto them. So they were shut up{H6887} unto the day{H3117} of their death,{H4191} living{H2424} in widowhood.{H491}

Then said{H559} the king{H4428} to Amasa,{H6021} Call{H2199} me the men{H376} of Judah{H3063} together within three{H7969} days,{H3117} and be thou here present.{H5975}

So Amasa{H6021} went{H3212} to call{H2199} [the men of] Judah{H3063} together; but he tarried longer{H309} than the set time{H4150} which he had appointed{H3259} him.

And David{H1732} said{H559} to Abishai,{H52} Now will Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri{H1075} do us more harm{H3415} than did Absalom:{H53} take{H3947} thou thy lord's{H113} servants,{H5650} and pursue{H7291} after{H310} him, lest he get{H4672} him fortified{H1219} cities,{H5892} and escape{H5337} out of our sight.{H5869}

And there went out{H3318} after{H310} him Joab's{H3097} men,{H582} and the Cherethites{H3774} and the Pelethites,{H6432} and all the mighty men;{H1368} and they went out{H3318} of Jerusalem,{H3389} to pursue{H7291} after{H310} Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri.{H1075}

When they were at the great{H1419} stone{H68} which is in Gibeon,{H1391} Amasa{H6021} came{H935} to meet{H6440} them. And Joab{H3097} was girded{H2296} with his apparel{H4055} of war that he had put on,{H3830} and thereon was a girdle{H2289} with a sword{H2719} fastened{H6775} upon his loins{H4975} in the sheath{H8593} thereof; and as he went forth{H3318} it fell out.{H3318}

And Joab{H3097} said{H559} to Amasa,{H6021} Is it well{H7965} with thee, my brother?{H251} And Joab{H3097} took{H270} Amasa{H6021} by the beard{H2206} with his right{H3225} hand{H3027} to kiss{H5401} him.

But Amasa{H6021} took no heed{H8104} to the sword{H2719} that was in Joab's{H3097} hand:{H3027} so he smote{H5221} him therewith in the body,{H2570} and shed out{H8210} his bowels{H4578} to the ground,{H776} and struck him not again;{H8138} and he died.{H4191} And Joab{H3097} and Abishai{H52} his brother{H251} pursued{H7291} after{H310} Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri.{H1075}

And there stood{H5975} by him one{H376} of Joab's{H3097} young men,{H5288} and said,{H559} He{H4310} that favoreth{H2654} Joab,{H3097} and he that is for David,{H1732} let him follow{H310} Joab.{H3097}

And Amasa{H6021} lay wallowing{H1556} in his blood{H1818} in the midst{H8432} of the highway.{H4546} And when the man{H376} saw{H7200} that all the people{H5971} stood still,{H5975} he carried{H5437} Amasa{H6021} out of the highway{H4546} into the field,{H7704} and cast{H7993} a garment{H899} over him, when he saw{H7200} that every one that came{H935} by him stood still.{H5975}

When he was removed{H3014} out of the highway,{H4546} all the people{H376} went on{H5674} after{H310} Joab,{H3097} to pursue{H7291} after{H310} Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri.{H1075}

And he went{H5674} through all the tribes{H7626} of Israel{H3478} unto Abel,{H59} and to Beth-maacah,{H1038} and all the Berites:{H1276} and they were gathered together,{H6950} and went{H935} also after{H310} him.

And they came{H935} and besieged{H6696} him in Abel{H59} of Beth-maacah,{H1038} and they cast up{H8210} a mound{H5550} against the city,{H5892} and it stood{H5975} against the rampart;{H2426} and all the people{H5971} that were with Joab{H3097} battered{H7843} the wall,{H2346} to throw it down.{H5307}

Then cried{H7121} a wise{H2450} woman{H802} out of the city,{H5892} Hear,{H8085} hear;{H8085} say,{H559} I pray you, unto Joab,{H3097} Come near{H7126} hither, that I may speak{H1696} with thee.

And he came near{H7126} unto her; and the woman{H802} said,{H559} Art thou Joab?{H3097} And he answered,{H559} I am. Then she said{H559} unto him, Hear{H8085} the words{H1697} of thy handmaid.{H519} And he answered,{H559} I do hear.{H8085}

Then she spake,{H559} saying,{H559} They were wont{H1696} to speak{H1696} in old time,{H7223} saying,{H559} They shall surely{H7592} ask{H7592} [counsel] at Abel:{H59} and so they ended{H8552} [the matter].

I am of them that are peaceable{H7999} and faithful{H539} in Israel:{H3478} thou seekest{H1245} to destroy{H4191} a city{H5892} and a mother{H517} in Israel:{H3478} why wilt thou swallow up{H1104} the inheritance{H5159} of Jehovah?{H3068}

And Joab{H3097} answered{H6030} and said,{H559} Far be it,{H2486} far be it{H2486} from me, that I should swallow up{H1104} or destroy.{H7843}

The matter{H1697} is not so: but a man{H376} of the hill-country{H2022} of Ephraim,{H669} Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri{H1075} by name,{H8034} hath lifted up{H5375} his hand{H3027} against the king,{H4428} even against David;{H1732} deliver{H5414} him only, and I will depart{H3212} from the city.{H5892} And the woman{H802} said{H559} unto Joab,{H3097} Behold, his head{H7218} shall be thrown{H7993} to thee over{H1157} the wall.{H2346}

Then the woman{H802} went{H935} unto all the people{H5971} in her wisdom.{H2451} And they cut off{H3772} the head{H7218} of Sheba{H7652} the son{H1121} of Bichri,{H1075} and threw{H7993} it out to Joab.{H3097} And he blew{H8628} the trumpet,{H7782} and they were dispersed{H6327} from the city,{H5892} every man{H376} to his tent.{H168} And Joab{H3097} returned{H7725} to Jerusalem{H3389} unto the king.{H4428}

Now Joab{H3097} was over all the host{H6635} of Israel;{H3478} and Benaiah{H1141} the son{H1121} of Jehoiada{H3077} was over the Cherethites{H3774} and over the Pelethites;{H6432}

and Adoram{H151} was over the men subject to taskwork;{H4522} and Jehoshaphat{H3092} the son{H1121} of Ahilud{H286} was the recorder;{H2142}

and Sheva{H7864} was scribe;{H5608} and Zadok{H6659} and Abiathar{H54} were priests;{H3548}

and also Ira{H5896} the Jairite{H2972} was chief minister{H3548} unto David.{H1732}