1 And there was a transgressor so called there, and his name was Sheba, a Benjaminite, the son of Bichri: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, Israel, every one. 2 And all the men of Israel went up from following David after Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah adhered to their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 And David went into his house at Jerusalem: and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and he put them in a place of custody, and maintained them, and did not go in to them; and they were kept living as widows, till the day of their death. 4 And the king said to Amasa, Call to me the men of Judah for three days, and be present here. 5 And Amasa went to call Judah, and delayed beyond the time which David appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom: now then take with you the servants of your lord, and follow after him, for fear that he might find for himself strong cities, so he will blind our eyes. 7 And there went out after him the men of Joab, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 And they were by the great stone that is in Gibeon: and Amasa went in before them: and Joab had upon him a military cloak over his clothing, and over it he had a dagger bound upon his waist in its scabbard: and the dagger came out and fell. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Are you in health, my brother? and the right hand of Joab took hold of the beard of Amasa to kiss him. 10 And Amasa did not guard against the dagger that was in the hand of Joab: and Joab struck him with it on the abdomen, and his intestines were shed out upon the ground, and he did not repeat the blow, and he died: and Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And there stood over him one of the servants of Joab, and said, Who is he that is for Joab, and who is on the side of David? Follow Joab. 12 And Amasa was weltering in blood in the midst of the way. And a man saw that all the people stood still; and he removed Amasa out of the path into a field, and he cast a garment upon him, because he saw every one that came to him standing still. 13 And when he was quickly removed from the road, every man of Israel passed after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah; and all in Charri too were assembled, and followed after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel and Beth Maacah: and they raised a mound against the city and it stood close to the wall; and all the people with Joab proposed to throw down the wall.⁠a 16 And a wise woman cried from the wall, and said, Hear, hear; say, Please, to Joab, Draw near here, and I will speak to him. 17 And he drew near to her, and the woman said to him, Are you Joab? and he said, I am. And she said to him, Hear the words of your female servant; and Joab said, I do hear. 18 And she spoke, saying, Of old time they said thus, Surely one was asked in Abel, and Dan, whether the faithful in Israel failed in what they purposed; they will surely ask in Abel, even in like manner, whether they have failed. 19 I am a peaceful one of the strong ones in Israel; but you seek to destroy a city and a mother city in Israel: why do you seek to ruin the inheritance of the Lord? 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should ruin or destroy. 21 Is not the case thus, that a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba, son of Bichri by name, has even lifted up his hand against king David? Give him only to me, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Look, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall. 22 And the woman went in to all the people, and she spoke to all the city in her wisdom; and they took off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri; and took it away and threw it to Joab: and he blew the trumpet, and the people separated from the city away from him, every man to his tent: and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. 23 And Joab was over all the forces of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites. 24 And Adoniram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. 25 And Susa was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 26 Moreover Ira the son of Jair was priest to David.