Sheba’s Rebellion

1Now a worthless man named Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful), a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted:

“We have no share in David (beloved),

no inheritance in Jesse’s (I possess) son.

Every man to his tent,

O Israel (he wrestles with God)!”

2So all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) deserted David (beloved) to follow Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful). But the men of Judah (praised) stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan (flowing down) to Jerusalem (city of peace).

3When David (beloved) returned to his palace in Jerusalem (city of peace), he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of 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.

4Then the king said to Amasa (burden), “Summon the men of Judah (praised) to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

5So Amasa (burden) went to summon Judah (praised), but he took longer than the time allotted him.

6And David (beloved) said to Abishai (my father is a gift), “Now Sheba (seven) the son of Bichri (youthful) will do us more harm than Absalom (my father is peace). Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us (and snatch away our eyes).a”

7So Joab’s (YHWH is father) men, along with the Cherethites (executioners), the Pelethites (couriers), and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem (city of peace) in pursuit of Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful). 8And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon (hill city), Amasa (burden) joined them.

Now Joab (YHWH is father) was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.b 9“Are you well, my brother?” Joab (YHWH is father) asked Amasa (burden). And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

10Amasa (burden) was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s (YHWH is father) 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 (my father is a gift) pursued Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful).

11One of Joab’s (YHWH is father) young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David (beloved), let him follow Joab!” 12But Amasa (burden) 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. 13As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab (YHWH is father) to pursue Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful).

14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) to Abel-beth-maacah (house of pressure) \to Abel and Beth-maacah/c and through the entire region of the Berites [Bicrites],d who gathered together and followed him.

15And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah (house of pressure) and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city.

As all the troops with Joab (YHWH is father) were battering the wall to topple it, 16a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab (YHWH is father) to come here so that I may speak with him.”

17When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab (YHWH is father)?”

“I am,” he replied.

“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said.

“I am listening,” he answered.

18Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. 19I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel (he wrestles with God), but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s {YHWH} inheritance?”

20“Far be it!” Joab (YHWH is father) declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21That is not the case. But a man named Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful), from the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), has lifted up his hand against the king, against David (beloved). Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.”

“Look,” the woman replied (YHWH is father), “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful) and threw it to Joab (YHWH is father). 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 (city of peace).

23Now Joab (YHWH is father) was over the whole army of Israel (he wrestles with God); Benaiah (YHWH has built up) son of Jehoiada (YHWH knows) was over the Cherethites and Pelethites (couriers); 24Adoram (Hadoram)e was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat (YHWH has judged) son of Ahilud (child's brother) was the recorder; 25Sheva (Shavsha)f was the scribe; Zadok (righteous) and Abiathar (my father is great) were priests; 26and Ira (watchful of a city) the Jairite [Ithrite]g was David’s (beloved) priest.