2 Samuel 20:1-7 ▼

1 Now there happened to be a worthless man, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bikri, a Benjamite. And he blew the trumpet, and said, |We have no share in David, nor do we have any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel.|

2 So all Israel deserted David and followed Sheba the son of Bikri, but the men of Judah stayed by their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

3 Then David came to his palace at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women his secondary wives, whom he had left to keep the palace, and placed them under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were kept in confinement until the day of their death, living as widows.

4 Then the king said to Amasa, |Summon the men of Judah to me within three days, and be present here yourself.|

5 So Amasa went to summon Judah together, but he delayed beyond the set time that had been allotted him.

6 David said to Abishai, |Now Sheba the son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Now then, take your lord’s servants with you and pursue after him, otherwise he will get himself to fortified cities and escape from us.|

7 So there went out after him Joab's men and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the warriors. And they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.