2 Samuel 20 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Sheba Goes Up Against David

Now a vile^H1100 fellow^H376 happened^H7122 to be there^H8033 whose name^H8034 was Sheba^H7652, the son^H1121 of Bichri^H1075, a Benjamite^H376^H3228; and he blew^H8628 the trumpet^H7782 and said^H559,

“We have^H369 no^H369 portion^H2506 in David^H1732,

Nor^H3808 do we have inheritance^H5159 in the son^H1121 of Jesse^H3448;

Every^H376 man^H376 to his tents^H168, O Israel^H3478!”

2Sa 20:2

So all^H3605 the men^H376 of Israel^H3478 went^H5927 up^H5927 from following^H310 David^H1732 and followed^H310 Sheba^H7652 the son^H1121 of Bichri^H1075; but the men^H376 of Judah^H3063 clung^H1692 to their king^H4428, from the Jordan^H3383 even to Jerusalem^H3389.

2Sa 20:3

Then David^H1732 came^H935 to his house^H1004 at Jerusalem^H3389, and the king^H4428 took^H3947 the ten^H6235 women^H802, the concubines^H6370 whom^H834 he had left^H5117 to keep^H8104 the house^H1004, and placed^H5414 them under guard^H1004^H4931 and provided^H3557 them with^H3557 sustenance^H3557, but did not go^H935 in to them. So they were shut^H6887 up^H6887 until^H5704 the day^H3117 of their death^H4191, living^H2424 as widows^H491.

2Sa 20:4

Then the king^H4428 said^H559 to Amasa^H6021, “Call^H2199 out^H2199 the men^H376 of Judah^H3063 for me within three^H7969 days^H3117, and you^H859 yourself^H859 stand^H5975 here^H6311.”

2Sa 20:5

2Sa 20:5So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

2Sa 20:6

2Sa 20:6And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and deliver himself from our sight.”

2Sa 20:7

2Sa 20:7So Joab’s men pursued him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

2Sa 20:8

2Sa 20:8They were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, and Amasa came [fn]to meet them. Now Joab was [fn]dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his [fn]waist; and as he came out, it fell out.

2Sa 20:9

2Sa 20:9Then 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.

Joab Strikes Amasa

2Sa 20:10

2Sa 20:10But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

2Sa 20:11

2Sa 20:11Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever delights in Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.”

2Sa 20:12

2Sa 20:12But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And the man saw that all the people stood still. So he [fn]removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

The Beheading of Sheba

2Sa 20:13

2Sa 20:13As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

2Sa 20:14

Now he went^H5674 through^H5674 all^H3605 the tribes^H7626 of Israel^H3478 to Abel^H59, even Beth-maacah^H1038, and all^H3605 the Berites^H1276; and they were assembled^H6950 and also^H637 came^H935 after^H310 him.

2Sa 20:15

2Sa 20:15So they came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah, and they [fn]cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to cause the wall to fall.

2Sa 20:16

2Sa 20:16Then a wise woman called from the city, “Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ‘Draw near that I may speak with you.’”

2Sa 20:17

2Sa 20:17So he drew near to her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” And he answered, “I am listening.”

2Sa 20:18

2Sa 20:18Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to speak in this way, saying, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute.

2Sa 20:19

2Sa 20:19“I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to put to death a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?”

2Sa 20:20

2Sa 20:20And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!

2Sa 20:21

2Sa 20:21“Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give him over alone, and I will go from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

2Sa 20:22

2Sa 20:22Then the woman came to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were scattered from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

2Sa 20:23

Now Joab^H3097 was over^H413 the whole^H3605 army^H6635 of Israel^H3478, and Benaiah^H1141 the son^H1121 of Jehoiada^H3077 was over^H5921 the Cherethites^H3774 and the Pelethites^H6432;