Pursuing Sheba, Bichri’s Son |
2 Samuel 20:1-26 The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
There [was] a [wicked] man [named] Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet & said, We have no part in David, neither do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel. |
So, every man of Israel [stopped following king] David & followed Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, but the men of Judah from [the] Jordan to Jerusalem [stuck with] their king. |
And David came to his house [in] Jerusalem & took his 10 [mistresses,] whom he had left to [take care of his] house & put them into [seclusion] & fed them, but [wasn’t intimate] with them. |
They were [secluded,] living in widowhood until the day of their death. [2 Samuel 16:21-22 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s [mistresses, that] he has left to keep the house. And all Israel shall hear that you are [loathed by] your father. |
Then the hands of all [who] are with you, shall be strong. So, they spread a tent [for] Absalom upon the top of the house & Absalom [was intimate] with his father’s [mistresses] in the sight of all Israel.] |
Then, king [David] said to Amasa, Assemble the men of Judah within 3 days [for] me & you be here. So, Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he [stayed] longer than the appointed time. |
And David said to Abishai, Shall Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, now do more harm [to] us than Absalom did? You take your lord’s servants & pursue after him, lest he [escapes into] the fenced cities. |
Joab’s men, the Cherethites, Pelethites & all the mighty men of Jerusalem went to pursue after Sheba. When they were at the [large rock] in Gibeon, Amasa went [in front of] them. |
Joab [was clothed in a] garment with a [belt strapped to his waist, with a sword in its] sheath. As [Joab] went [forward,] it fell out. And Joab said to Amasa, Are you in [good] health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by [his] beard with his right hand to kiss him. |
But Amasa [didn’t pay any attention] to the sword in Joab’s hand. [So, Joab struck Amasa with the sword] in the 5th rib & his [intestines spilled out on] the ground & [Joab didn’t need to strike Amasa] again, [because] he died. |
So, Joab & Abishai, his brother, pursued after Sheba, [Bichri’s] son. One of Joab’s men stood by [the stabbed Amasa] & said, Let all [who] favor Joab & David, go [& follow] after Joab. |
And Amasa [lay] in his blood in the [middle] of the highway. When [a] man saw that all the people stood still, he removed [Amasa’s body] out of the highway, into the field & [threw] a cloth upon him. |
When [Amasa] was removed out of the highway, all the people [followed] Joab to pursue Sheba, [Bichri’s] son. [Sheba] went through all the tribes of Israel, [all the way] to Abel & to Beth Maachah & all the Bethrites. And they gathered together & also went after [Sheba.] |
They came & [attacked Sheba] in Abel of Beth Maachah & they [put] up a bank [of dirt] against the city & [that] stood in the trench. All the people with Joab, battered the wall, to [knock] it down. |
Then, a wise woman cried out of the city, I pray [that] you, Joab, Come [close, so] I may speak with you. When [Joab came close,] she asked, Are you Joab? And he said, I am he. Then, she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. |
He answered, [I'm listening.] Then, she [said,] In old [times,] they [used to say,] They shall surely ask [for advice] at Abel, so they ended the matter. I am one of [those who] are peaceful & faithful in Israel, [but you are trying] to destroy a city & a mother in Israel. |
Why [would] you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? Joab answered, Far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy & [it isn’t] so. But Sheba, [Bichri’s] son, of Mount Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against king [David.] |
Deliver only [Sheba] & I will [leave] from the city. The woman said, [Look, Sheba’s] head will be thrown over the wall to you. In her wisdom, the woman went to all the people & they cut off [Sheba’s] head & [threw] it out to Joab. |
[Joab] blew a trumpet & they [withdrew] from the city & every man [went] to his tent. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. Now, Joab was over all the [army] of Israel & Benaiah, [Jehoiada’s] son, was over the Cherethites & Pelethites. |
And Adoram was over the [forced labor] & Jehoshaphat, [Ahilud’s] son, was [the] recorder. And Sheva was [the] scribe, [who recorded everything] & Zadok & Abiathar were the priests. And also Ira, the Jairite, was [David’s] chief ruler. |