| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son! Every man to his tent, Israel!" |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Then the king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself." |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us." |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7So Joab's men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11One of Joab's men stood beside Amasa and said, "Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!" |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, who gathered together and followed him. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him." |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he answered. She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say." "I'm listening," he said. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19We are the 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 LORD's inheritance?" |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20"Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you from the wall." |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Joab was over Israel's entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26and Ira the Jairite was David's priest. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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