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, nor any inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

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.

So all the men of Israel left David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri, but the men of Judah stayed loyal to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

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.

And David returned to his house in Jerusalem, and the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to keep the house and put them in confinement. He provided for them but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

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.

Then the king said to Amasa, Gather the men of Judah for me in three days, and be here yourself.

Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

So Amasa went to gather the men of Judah, but he delayed beyond the appointed time.

So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

And David said to Abishai, Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did; take your master’s servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities and escape from us.

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.

So Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men went out after him, and they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

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.

When they reached the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing his military garment, with a belt and a sword fastened at his waist in its sheath; as he went forward, it fell out.

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.

And Joab said to Amasa, Are you well, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

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.

But Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab’s hand, so Joab struck him in the stomach, spilling his intestines to the ground. He did not strike him again, and Amasa died. Joab and his brother Abishai then pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

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.

And one of Joab's men stood by Amasa and said, Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.

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.

Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the people stopped, he moved Amasa from the road into the field and threw a cloth over him, because everyone who came by stopped.

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.

Once he was removed from the road, all the people continued after Joab, pursuing Sheba the son of Bichri.

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites gathered together and followed him.

And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

They besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, building a siege ramp against the city that stood against the wall, and all the people with Joab battered the wall to bring it down.

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, 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.

Then a wise woman called out from the city, Listen, listen; please say to Joab, Come here, that I may speak with you.

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.

When he came near her, the woman asked, Are you Joab? He answered, I am. Then she said, Listen to the words of your servant. And he answered, I am listening.

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.

She continued, In former times, they used to say, Let them ask counsel at Abel; and so they resolved disputes.

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.

I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

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?

Joab answered, Far be it from me, far be it from me, to swallow up or destroy.

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

The matter is not so; but a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. The woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.

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.

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

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.

Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.

Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

Adoram was in charge of revenue; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

Sheva was the secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

And Ira the Jairite was also a chief official under David.

And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.