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OEB 2SA Chapter 20

20 Now there chanced to be there a vile scoundrel, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew on a trumpet and cried,

We have no share in David,

And we have no claim in the son of Jesse!

Each to his tents, O Israel! 2 So all the men of Israel ceased to follow David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah remained loyal to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 And when David came to his palace at Jerusalem, he took care of his ten concubines, whom he had left to take charge of the palace, and put them in a guarded house and supported them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut in until the day of their death, .

4 Then the king said to Amasa, ‘Summon in my name the men of Judah within three days, and also be present yourself.’ 5 So Amasa went to summon Judah. But when he delayed longer than the time which David had appointed him, 6 David said to Abishai, ‘Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom; take your lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and escape out of our sight.’ 7 So there went out after , and the Cherethites and Pelethites, and all the mighty heroes. They set out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 {This verse will need special attention.} When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girt with a sword under his warrior’s cloak, and also over it was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, ‘Is it well with you, my brother?’ And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand; so he smote him with it in the body, and shed his bowels to the ground, and he did not strike a second blow; but he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And one of Joab’s young men stood by him and said, Whoever favors Joab and is for David, let him follow Joab. 12 But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, inasmuch as he saw that every one who came to him stood still. 13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 {This verse will need special attention.} But he passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah. And all the Bichrites gathered together, and entered also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel-beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood even with the wall; and all the people with Joab were devising how to throw down the wall. 16 Then a wise woman out of the city, cried, ‘Hear, hear! Say, I pray, to Joab, “Come near that I may speak with you.” ’ 17 And he came near her; and the woman said, ‘Are you Joab?’ And he answered, ‘I am.’ Then she said to him, ‘Hear the words of your maid-servant.’ And he said, ‘I am listening.’ 18 Then she spoke, saying, ‘They used to say formerly, “Let them ask in Abel and ” 19 I am of those who are peaceful and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel; why will you consume the inheritance of Jehovah?’

20 And Joab answered and said, ‘Far be it, far be it from me, that I should consume or destroy. 21 That is not at all our errand. But a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; only deliver him, and I will leave the city.’ And the woman said to Joab, ‘Behold his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.’ 22 Then the woman went all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his home. And Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.start jps1917 23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;stop jps1917 24 and was in charge of the forced labor.start jps1917

and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; 25 and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;stop jps1917 26 Ira the Jairite was also a priest of David,

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