Sheba, a Benjamite, leads a revolt against David. Joab kills Amasa and pursues Sheba to the city of Abel, where the townspeople cut off Sheba's head and throw it over the wall.
1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial , whose name was Sheba , the son of Bichri , a Benjamite : and he blew a trumpet , and said , We have no part in David , neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse : every man to his tents , O Israel .
2 So every man of Israel went up from after David , and followed Sheba the son of Bichri : but the men of Judah clave unto their king , from Jordan even to Jerusalem .
3 And 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 ward , and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death , living in widowhood .
4 Then said the king to Amasa , Assemble me the men of Judah within three days , and be thou here present .
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah : but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6 And David said to Abishai , Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom : take thou thy lord's servants , and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities , and escape us .
7 And there went out after him Joab's men , and the Cherethites , and the Pelethites , and all the mighty men : and they went out of Jerusalem , to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri .
8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon , Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out .
9 And Joab said to Amasa , Art thou in health , my brother ? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand : so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground , and struck him not again ; and he died . So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri .
11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said , He that favoureth Joab , and he that is for David , let him go after Joab .
12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway . And when the man saw that all the people stood still , he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field , and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still .
13 When he was removed out of the highway , all the people went on after Joab , to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri .
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel , and to Bethmaachah , and all the Berites : and they were gathered together , and went also after him.
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah , and they cast up a bank against the city , and it stood in the trench : and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall , to throw it down .
16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city , Hear , hear ; say , I pray you, unto Joab , Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said , Art thou Joab ? And he answered , I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid . And he answered , I do hear .
18 Then she spake , saying , They were wont to speak in old time , saying , They shall surely ask counsel at Abel : and so they ended the matter.
19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel : thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel : why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD ?
20 And Joab answered and said , Far be it , far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy .
21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim , Sheba the son of Bichri by name , hath lifted up his hand against the king , even against David : deliver him only, and I will depart from the city . And the woman said unto Joab , Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall .
22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom . And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri , and cast it out to Joab . And he blew a trumpet , and they retired from the city , every man to his tent . And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king .
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel : and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites :
24 And Adoram was over the tribute : and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder :
25 And Sheva was scribe : and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests :
26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David .