Sheba’s Rebellion

1  וְשָׁ֨ם (And there) נִקְרָ֜א (happened to be) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) בְּלִיַּ֗עַל (of worthlessness), וּשְׁמ֛וֹ (and his name was) שֶׁ֥בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִ֖י (of Bichri), אִ֣ישׁ (a man), יְמִינִ֑י (a Benjamite). וַיִּתְקַ֣ע (And he blew) בַּשֹּׁפָ֗ר (with the shofar) וַ֠יֹּאמֶר (and said),

אֵֽין־ (There is no) לָ֨נוּ (unto us) חֵ֜לֶק (share) בְּדָוִ֗ד (in David),

וְלֹ֤א (and not) נַֽחֲלָה־ (inheritance) לָ֙נוּ֙ (do have we) בְּבֶן־ (in the son) יִשַׁ֔י (of Jesse).

אִ֥ישׁ (Every man) לְאֹהָלָ֖יו (to his tents),

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (O Israel).

2  וַיַּ֜עַל (And deserted) כָּל־ (every) אִ֤ישׁ (man) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י (after) דָוִ֔ד (David), אַחֲרֵ֖י (to after) שֶׁ֣בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִ֑י (of Bichri). וְאִ֤ישׁ (And the men) יְהוּדָה֙ (of Judah) דָּבְק֣וּ (remained loyal) בְמַלְכָּ֔ם (to their king) מִן־ (from) הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן (the Jordan) וְעַד־ (and as far as) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (Jerusalem).

3  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And came) דָוִ֣ד (David) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתוֹ֮ (his house) יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֒ (at Jerusalem), וַיִּקַּ֣ח (and took) הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (the king) אֵ֣ת (-) עֶֽשֶׂר־ (ten) נָשִׁ֣ים׀ (the women) פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים (his concubines) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הִנִּיחַ֩ (he had left) לִשְׁמֹ֨ר (to keep) הַבַּ֜יִת (the house), וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֤ם (and he placed them) בֵּית־ (in a house) מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙ (under guard). וַֽיְכַלְכְּלֵ֔ם (And he supported them), וַאֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (and to them) לֹא־ (not) בָ֑א (did he go in). וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה (And they were) צְרֻר֛וֹת (shut up) עַד־ (to) י֥וֹם (the day) מֻתָ֖ן (of their death) אַלְמְנ֥וּת (in widowhood) חַיּֽוּת׃ס (living).

4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) עֲמָשָׂ֔א (Amasa), הַזְעֶק־ (Call) לִ֥י (for me) אֶת־ (-) אִישׁ־ (the men) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת (in three) יָמִ֑ים (days), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) פֹּ֥ה (here) עֲמֹֽד׃ (stand).

5  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And went) עֲמָשָׂ֖א (Amasa) לְהַזְעִ֣יק (to assemble) אֶת־ (-) יְהוּדָ֑ה (Judah), וַיֵּיחַר (and he delayed) מִן־ (beyond) הַמּוֹעֵ֖ד (the appointed time) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יְעָדֽוֹ׃ס (he allotted him).

6  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִישַׁ֔י (Abishai), עַתָּ֗ה (Now) יֵ֧רַֽע (will do more harm) לָ֛נוּ (to us) שֶׁ֥בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִ֖י (of Bichri) מִן־ (than) אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom). אַ֠תָּה (You) קַ֞ח (take) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדֵ֤י (the servants) אֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙ (of your lord) וּרְדֹ֣ף (and pursue) אַחֲרָ֔יו (him), פֶּן־ (lest) מָ֥צָא (he find) ל֛וֹ (for himself) עָרִ֥ים (cities) בְּצֻר֖וֹת (fortified) וְהִצִּ֥יל (and escape) עֵינֵֽנוּ׃ (our eyes).

7  וַיֵּצְא֤וּ (And went out) אַֽחֲרָיו֙ (after him) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (men) יוֹאָ֔ב (of Joab), וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י (and the with Cherethites), וְהַפְּלֵתִ֖י (and the Pelethites), וְכָל־ (and all) הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים (the mighty men), וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ (and they went out) מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (of Jerusalem) לִרְדֹּ֕ף (to pursue) אַחֲרֵ֖י (after) שֶׁ֥בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִֽי׃ (of Bichri). 8  הֵ֗ם (They) עִם־ (were near) הָאֶ֤בֶן (stone) הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ (the great) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בְּגִבְע֔וֹן (is in Gibeon), וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א (and Amasa) בָּ֣א (came) לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם (before their faces).

וְיוֹאָ֞ב (And Joab) חָג֣וּר׀ (was girded) מִדּ֣וֹ (in his long robe) לְבֻשׁ֗וּ (for his clothing), וְעָלוֹ (and on it) חֲג֥וֹר (was a belt) חֶ֙רֶב֙ (with a sword) מְצֻמֶּ֤דֶת (fastened) עַל־ (at) מָתְנָיו֙ (his hips) בְּתַעְרָ֔הּ (in its sheath). וְה֥וּא (And as he) יָצָ֖א (was going forward) וַתִּפֹּֽל׃ס (and it fell out). 9  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א (to Amasa), הֲשָׁל֥וֹם (Is it well) אַתָּ֖ה (with you) אָחִ֑י (my brother)? וַתֹּ֜חֶז (And held on) יַד־ (with his hand) יְמִ֥ין (right) יוֹאָ֛ב (Joab) בִּזְקַ֥ן (to the beard) עֲמָשָׂ֖א (of Amasa) לִנְשָׁק־ (to kiss) לֽוֹ׃ (him).

10  וַעֲמָשָׂ֨א (And Amasa) לֹֽא־ (not) נִשְׁמַ֜ר (did notice) בַּחֶ֣רֶב׀ (the sword) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) בְּיַד־ (in the hand) יוֹאָ֗ב (of Joab), וַיַּכֵּהוּ֩ (and he struck him) בָ֨הּ (with it) אֶל־ (in) הַחֹ֜מֶשׁ (the stomach), וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ (poured out) מֵעָ֥יו (and his bowels) אַ֛רְצָה (on the ground), וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁ֥נָה (he did do it again) ל֖וֹ (to him), וַיָּמֹ֑תס (and he died). וְיוֹאָב֙ (And Joab) וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י (and Abishai) אָחִ֔יו (his brother) רָדַ֕ף (pursued) אַחֲרֵ֖י (after) שֶׁ֥בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִֽי׃ (of Bichri).

11  וְאִישׁ֙ (And a man) עָמַ֣ד (stood) עָלָ֔יו (by him) מִֽנַּעֲרֵ֖י (of the young men) יוֹאָ֑ב (of Joab), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), מִי֩ (Who is he) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) חָפֵ֧ץ (takes delight in) בְּיוֹאָ֛ב (Joab). וּמִ֥י (And who is he) אֲשֶׁר־ (that is) לְדָוִ֖ד (for David)— אַחֲרֵ֥י (follow) יוֹאָֽב׃ (Joab)! 12  וַעֲמָשָׂ֛א (And Amasa) מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל (was rolling around) בַּדָּ֖ם (in his blood) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the middle) הַֽמְסִּלָּ֑ה (of the highway). וַיַּ֨רְא (And saw) הָאִ֜ישׁ (the man) כִּֽי־ (that) עָמַ֣ד (stood still) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֗ם (the people), וַיַּסֵּב֩ (and he moved) אֶת־ (-) עֲמָשָׂ֨א (Amasa) מִן־ (from) הַֽמְסִלָּ֤ה (the highway) הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (to the field) וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ (and threw) עָלָיו֙ (over him) בֶּ֔גֶד (a garment) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (when) רָאָ֔ה (he saw) כָּל־ (everyone) הַבָּ֥א (who came) עָלָ֖יו (upon him) וְעָמָֽד׃ (and stood still). 13  כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (When) הֹגָ֖ה (he was removed) מִן־ (from) הַֽמְסִלָּ֑ה (the highway), עָבַ֤ר (went on) כָּל־ (all) אִישׁ֙ (the people) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab) לִרְדֹּ֕ף (to pursue) אַחֲרֵ֖י (after) שֶׁ֥בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִֽי׃ (of Bichri).

14  וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר (And he went) בְּכָל־ (through all) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) אָבֵ֛לָה (to Abel) וּבֵ֥ית (and Beth-) מַעֲכָ֖ה (maacah), וְכָל־ (and all) הַבֵּרִ֑יםס (the Berites). וַיִּקָּלְהוּ (And they were gathered together) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and went) אַף־ (also) אַחֲרָֽיו׃ (after him).

15  וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ (And they came) וַיָּצֻ֣רוּ (and besieged) עָלָ֗יו (him) בְּאָבֵ֙לָה֙ (in Abel-beth-maacah) בֵּ֣ית (of Beth-) הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה (maachah), וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֤וּ (and they heaped up) סֹֽלְלָה֙ (a mound) אֶל־ (against) הָעִ֔יר (the city), וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד (and it stood) בַּחֵ֑ל (by the rampart).

וְכָל־ (And all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אֶת־ (with) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab) מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם (were destroying) לְהַפִּ֥יל (to throw it down) הַחוֹמָֽה׃ (the wall), 16  וַתִּקְרָ֛א (and cried out) אִשָּׁ֥ה (a woman) חֲכָמָ֖ה (wise) מִן־ (from) הָעִ֑יר (the city), שִׁמְע֤וּ (Listen), שִׁמְעוּ֙ (listen)! אִמְרוּ־ (Say), נָ֣א (please), אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), קְרַ֣ב (come nearby) עַד־ (here) הֵ֔נָּה (-), וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה (that I may speak) אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (with you).

17  וַיִּקְרַ֣ב (And he had come near) אֵלֶ֔יהָ (to her) וַתֹּ֧אמֶר (and said) הָאִשָּׁ֛ה (the woman), הַאַתָּ֥ה (Are you) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And He answered), אָ֑נִי (I am).

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (And she said) ל֗וֹ (to him), שְׁמַע֙ (Listen) דִּבְרֵ֣י (to the words) אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ (of your maidservant).

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he answered), שֹׁמֵ֥עַ (Am listening) אָנֹֽכִי׃ (I).

18  וַתֹּ֖אמֶר (And she spoke), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), דַּבֵּ֨ר (Speaking) יְדַבְּר֤וּ (they spoke) בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ (in former times), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), שָׁאֹ֧ל (Asking) יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ (let them ask) בְּאָבֵ֖ל (at Abel), וְכֵ֥ן (and so) הֵתַֽמּוּ׃ (they finished). 19  אָנֹכִ֕י (I) שְׁלֻמֵ֖י (am a peaceable) אֱמוּנֵ֣י (and faithful one) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel). אַתָּ֣ה (You) מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ (seek) לְהָמִ֨ית (to destroy) עִ֤יר (a city) וְאֵם֙ (and a mother) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (in Israel). לָ֥מָּה (Why) תְבַלַּ֖ע (would you swallow up) נַחֲלַ֥ת (the inheritance) יְהוָֽה׃פ (of YHWH)?

20  וַיַּ֥עַן (And answered) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), חָלִ֤ילָה (Far be it), חָלִ֙ילָה֙ (far be it) לִ֔י (from me) אִם־ (that) אֲבַלַּ֖ע (I should swallow up) וְאִם־ (or) אַשְׁחִֽית׃ (destroy)! 21  לֹא־ (Is not) כֵ֣ן (so) הַדָּבָ֗ר (the matter)! כִּ֡י (But) אִישׁ֩ (a man) מֵהַ֨ר (from the hill country) אֶפְרַ֜יִם (of Ephraim), שֶׁ֧בַע (Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִ֣י (of Bichri) שְׁמ֗וֹ (by name), נָשָׂ֤א (has raised) יָדוֹ֙ (his hand) בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ (against the king), בְּדָוִ֔ד (against David). תְּנֽוּ־ (Give up) אֹת֣וֹ (him) לְבַדּ֔וֹ (alone), וְאֵלְכָ֖ה (and I will depart) מֵעַ֣ל (from) הָעִ֑יר (the city).

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (the woman) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), רֹאשׁ֛וֹ (his head) מֻשְׁלָ֥ךְ (will be thrown) אֵלֶ֖יךָ (to you) בְּעַ֥ד (over) הַחוֹמָֽה׃ (the wall).

22  וַתָּבוֹא֩ (And went) הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (the woman) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֜ם (the people) בְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּ (in her wisdom). וַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּ (And they cut off) אֶת־ (-) רֹ֨אשׁ (the head) שֶׁ֤בַע (of Sheba) בֶּן־ (son) בִּכְרִי֙ (of Bichri), וַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּ (and they threw it) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab). וַיִּתְקַע֙ (And he blew) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר (with the shofar), וַיָּפֻ֥צוּ (and they withdrew) מֵֽעַל־ (from) הָעִ֖יר (the city), אִ֣ישׁ (every man) לְאֹהָלָ֑יו (to his tents). וְיוֹאָ֛ב (And Joab) שָׁ֥ב (returned) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (to Jerusalem) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ס (the king).

23  וְיוֹאָ֕ב (And Joab was) אֶ֥ל (over) כָּל־ (all) הַצָּבָ֖א (the host) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); וּבְנָיָה֙ (and Benaiah) בֶּן־ (son) יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע (of Jehoiada was) עַל־ (over) הַכְּרִי (the Cherethites) וְעַל־ (and) הַפְּלֵתִֽי׃ (the Pelethites); 24  וַאֲדֹרָ֖ם (and Adoram was) עַל־ (in charge) הַמַּ֑ס (of revenue); וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט (and Jehoshaphat) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיל֖וּד (of Ahilud) הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃ (was recorder); 25  וְשֵׁיָא (and Sheva was) סֹפֵ֑ר (scribe); וְצָד֥וֹק (and Zadok) וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר (and Abiathar) כֹּהֲנִֽים׃ (were the priests); 26  וְגַ֗ם (and) עִירָא֙ (Ira) הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י (the Jairite) הָיָ֥ה (was) כֹהֵ֖ן (a chief minister) לְדָוִֽד׃ס (to David).