Sheba's Rebellion
1And there happenedto be there a manof Belial,whose name[was] Sheba,the sonof Bichri,a Benjamite:and he blewa trumpet,and said,We have no partin David,neither have we inheritancein the sonof Jesse:everymanto his tents,O Israel.
2So every manof Israelwent upfrom afterDavid,[and] followedShebathe sonof Bichri:but the menof Judahclaveunto their king,from Jordaneven to Jerusalem.
3And Davidcameto his houseat Jerusalem;and the kingtookthe tenwomen[his] concubines,whom he had leftto keepthe house,and putthem in ward,and fedthem, but went not inunto them. So they were shut upunto the dayof their death,livingin widowhood.
4Then saidthe kingto Amasa,Assembleme the menof Judahwithin threedays,and be thou here present.5So Amasawentto assemble[the men of] Judah:but he tarried longer{08675;03186:08799} than the set timewhich he had appointedhim.6And Davidsaidto Abishai,Now shall Shebathe sonof Bichrido us more harmthan [did] Absalom:takethou thy lord'sservants,and pursueafterhim, lest he gethim fencedcities,and escapeus.7And there went outafterhim Joab'smen,and the Cherethites,and the Pelethites,and all the mighty men:and they went outof Jerusalem,to pursueafterShebathe sonof Bichri.8When they [were] at the greatstonewhich [is] in Gibeon,Amasawentbeforethem. And Joab'sgarmentthat he had put onwas girdedunto him, and upon it a girdle[with] a swordfastenedupon his loinsin the sheaththereof; and as he went forthit fell out.9And Joabsaidto Amasa,[Art] thou in health,my brother?And JoabtookAmasaby the beardwith the righthandto kisshim.
Amasa Slain
10But Amasatook no heedto the swordthat [was] in Joab'shand:so he smotehim therewith in the fifth[rib], and shed outhis bowelsto the ground,and struck him not again;and he died.So Joaband Abishaihis brotherpursuedafterShebathe sonof Bichri.11And oneof Joab'smenstoodby him, and said,Hethat favourethJoab,and he that [is] for David,[let him go] afterJoab.12And Amasawallowedin bloodin the midstof the highway.And when the mansawthat all the peoplestood still,he removedAmasaout of the highwayinto the field,and casta clothupon him, when he sawthat every one that cameby him stood still.
The Rebellion Stopped
13When he was removedout of the highway,all the peoplewent onafterJoab,to pursueafterShebathe sonof Bichri.
14And he wentthrough all the tribesof Israelunto Abel,and to Bethmaachah,and all the Berites:and they were gathered together{08675;07035:08735}, and wentalso afterhim.15And they cameand besiegedhim in Abelof Bethmaachah,and they cast upa bankagainst the city,and it stoodin the trench:and all the peoplethat [were] with Joabbatteredthe wall,to throw it down.16Then crieda wisewomanout of the city,Hear,hear;say,I pray you, unto Joab,Come nearhither, that I may speakwith thee.17And when he was come nearunto her, the womansaid,[Art] thou Joab?And he answered,I [am he]. Then she saidunto him, Hearthe wordsof thine handmaid.And he answered,I do hear.18Then she spake,saying,They were wontto speakin old time,saying,They shall surelyask[counsel] at Abel:and so they ended[the matter].19I [am one of them that are] peaceable[and] faithfulin Israel:thou seekestto destroya cityand a motherin Israel:why wilt thou swallow upthe inheritanceof the LORD?20And Joabansweredand said,Far be it,far be itfrom me, that I should swallow upor destroy.21The matter[is] not so: but a manof mountEphraim,Shebathe sonof Bichriby name,hath lifted uphis handagainst the king,[even] against David:deliverhim only, and I will departfrom the city.And the womansaidunto Joab,Behold, his headshall be thrownto thee overthe wall.22Then the womanwentunto all the peoplein her wisdom.And they cut offthe headof Shebathe sonof Bichri,and cast[it] out to Joab.And he blewa trumpet,and they retiredfrom the city,every manto his tent.And Joabreturnedto Jerusalemunto the king.
23Now Joab[was] over all the hostof Israel:and Benaiahthe sonof Jehoiada[was] over the Cherethitesand over the Pelethites:24And Adoram[was] over the tribute:and Jehoshaphatthe sonof Ahilud[was] recorder:25And Sheva[was] scribe:and Zadokand Abiathar[were] the priests:26And Iraalso the Jairitewas a chief rulerabout David.
