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2 Samuel 20:1-26 — Sheba's Rebellion

2Sam.20.1-26

¹There happened to be there a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. He blew the horn and said, “We have no share in David, no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel!” ²So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah held fast to their king, from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem. ³When David came to his house in Jerusalem, the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody and provided for them; but he did not go in to them. So they were kept confined until the day of their death, living in widowhood. ⁴Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together for me within three days, and be here yourself.” ⁵So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the time that had been appointed for him. ⁶David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, or he may find fortified cities and escape from our reach.” ⁷So Joab's men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the mighty men. They went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. ⁸When they were by the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was dressed in his military clothing, and over it he wore a belt with a sword fastened at his waist in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it fell out. ⁹Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Then with his right hand Joab took Amasa by the beard to kiss him. ¹⁰But Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab's hand, and Joab struck him with it in the belly and spilled his entrails to the ground. He did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bichri. ¹¹One of Joab's young men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David—follow Joab!” ¹²Now Amasa was wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the people were stopping, he moved Amasa from the road into the field and threw a garment over him, because he saw that everyone who came upon him stopped. ¹³Once he had been removed from the road, all the men went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. ¹⁴Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah and all the Berim ; and they gathered together and also followed him. ¹⁵They came and besieged him in Abel Beth Maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer fortification. All the people who were with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down. ¹⁶Then a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen, listen! Please tell Joab, 'Come here, so that I may speak with you.'” ¹⁷So he came near to her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He said, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He said, “I am listening.” ¹⁸Then she said, “They used to say in earlier times, 'Let them surely ask at Abel,' and so they settled matters.” ¹⁹I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel . Why should you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?" ²⁰Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹That is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri by name, has rebelled against the king, against David. Hand over him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.“ And the woman said to Joab, ”Look, 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 son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. Then he blew the horn, and they were scattered from the city, each man to his tent. 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 Pelethites. ²⁴Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder. ²⁵Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests. ²⁶And Ira the Jairite also was priest to David .

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4/11/2026

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