1Now there happened to be there a worthless man whose name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. He blew the ram’s horn and said, “We have no share in David, and no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel!”
2So every man of Israel went up from following David and followed Sheba son of Bichri; but the men of Judah clung to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in a house of guarding. He provided for them, but he did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.
4Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to me within three days, and you yourself be present here.”
5So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the appointed time that he had set for him.
6And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. You take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.”
7So Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the warriors; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri.
8They were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, and Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was girded with his military garment as his clothing, and over it a belt with a sword fastened on his hips in its sheath; and as he went forward, it fell out.
9Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab’s right hand took hold of Amasa’s beard to kiss him.
10But Amasa was not on guard against the sword that was in Joab’s hand, and Joab struck him with it in the belly and poured out his entrails to the ground; he did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba son of Bichri.
11One of Joab’s young men stood over him and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, after Joab!”
12Now Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stopped, he moved Amasa off the highway into the field and threw a garment over him, since he saw that everyone who came upon him stopped.
13When he was removed from the highway, every man passed on after Joab to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri.
14He passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth-maacah and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him.
15They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the rampart. All the people who were with Joab were battering to bring down the wall.
16Then a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”
17So he came near to her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he said, “I am.” She said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he said, “I am listening.”
18Then she said, “In earlier times they used to say, ‘Let them inquire at Abel,’ and so they would settle a matter.
19I am one of the peaceable and faithful of Israel. You are seeking to put to death a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?”
20Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
21That is not how the matter stands. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his tents, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23Now Joab was over all the army of Israel; and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;
24and Adoram was over the forced labor; and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
25and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
26and Ira the Jairite was also priest to David.
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