The Second Book of Samuel

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- Kapitel 20 -

There also happened to be at the same place a troublemaker whose name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew the trumpet and said, “We have no part in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Let every man go back to his home, Israel.”

So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah followed closely their king, from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem.

When David came to his palace at Jerusalem, he took the ten slave wives whom he had left to keep the palace, and he put them in a house under guard. He provided for their needs, but he did not sleep with them any longer. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living as if they were widows.

Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together within three days; you must be here, too.”

So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which the king had commanded him.

So David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s servants, my soldiers, and pursue after him, or he will find fortified cities and escape out of our sight.”

Then Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty warriors. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

When they were at the great stone which is at Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing the battle armor that he had put on, which included a belt around his waist with a sheathed sword fastened to it. As he walked forward, the sword fell out.

So Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my cousin?” Joab affectionately took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Amasa did not notice the dagger that was in Joab’s left hand. Joab stabbed Amasa in the stomach and his bowels spilled out to the ground. Joab did not strike him again, and Amasa died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

Then one of Joab’s men stood by Amasa, and the man said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab.”

Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa off of the road and into a field. He threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

After Amasa was taken off the road, all the men followed on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth Maacah, and through all the land of the Berites, who gathered together and also pursued Sheba.

They caught up with him and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah. They built up a siege ramp against the city against the wall. All the army who were with Joab battered the wall to knock it down.

Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Listen, please listen, Joab! Come near me so I may speak with you.”

So Joab came near to her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He answered, “I am listening.”

Then she spoke, “They used to say in old times, ‘Surely seek advice at Abel,’ and that advice would end the matter.

We are a city that is one of the most peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?”

So Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

That is not true. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Sheba son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew the trumpet and Joab’s men left the city, every man to his home. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites.

Adoram was over the men who did forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.

Sheva was scribe and Zadok and Abiathar were priests.

Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.

There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”

So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”

So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.

David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”

Joab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.

Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”

Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.

They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.

Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”

He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”

Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.

I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,

Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,

Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,

and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.