2 Samuel 20:1-13 ▼

1 Now a worthless man named Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful), a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David (beloved), no inheritance in Jesse’s (I possess) son. Every man to his tent, O Israel (he wrestles with God)!”

2 So all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) deserted David (beloved) to follow Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful). But the men of Judah (praised) stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan (flowing down) to Jerusalem (city of peace).

3 When David (beloved) returned to his palace in Jerusalem (city of peace), he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

4 Then the king said to Amasa (burden), “Summon the men of Judah (praised) to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

5 So Amasa (burden) went to summon Judah (praised), but he took longer than the time allotted him.

6 And David (beloved) said to Abishai (my father is a gift), “Now Sheba (seven) the son of Bichri (youthful) will do us more harm than Absalom (my father is peace). Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us (and snatch away our eyes).

7 So Joab’s (YHWH is father) men, along with the Cherethites (executioners), the Pelethites (couriers), and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem (city of peace) in pursuit of Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful).

8 And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon (hill city), Amasa (burden) joined them. Now Joab (YHWH is father) was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.

9 “Are you well, my brother?” Joab (YHWH is father) asked Amasa (burden). And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

10 Amasa (burden) was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s (YHWH is father) hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai (my father is a gift) pursued Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful).

11 One of Joab’s (YHWH is father) young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David (beloved), let him follow Joab!”

12 But Amasa (burden) wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it.

13 As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab (YHWH is father) to pursue Sheba (seven) son of Bichri (youthful).