1And a worthless man was found there, and his name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite man; he blew the trumpet and said, "We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel."2So every man of Israel went up from following David after Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah clung to their king from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem.3When David came to his house in Jerusalem, the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to keep the house; he placed them in a house of charge, provided for them, and did not go in to them, so they were kept in widowhood until the day of their death.4The king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to me within three days, and you yourself stand here."5Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the appointed time that had been set for him.6David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and rescue his eye."7So Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men went out after him; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.8They were with the great stone that is in Gibeon, and Amasa came before them; Joab was girded with a garment as clothing, and upon him was a belt with a sword fastened at his waist in its sheath, and as he went out the sword fell.9Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" Then he took hold of Amasa's beard with his right hand to kiss him.10Amasa was not on guard against the sword that was in Joab's hand; Joab struck him with it in the stomach so that his intestines poured out on the ground, and he did not strike him again, for he died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.11One of Joab's young men stood over him and said, "Whoever delights in Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow after Joab."12While Amasa was rolling in blood in the midst of the highway, the man saw that all the people stood still; he turned Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came upon him stood still.13Once he had been thrust away from the highway, everyone passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.14He passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah, and all the Bichrites assembled and also came after him.15They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah; they built a siege mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart, while all the people who were with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down.16Then a wise woman from the city called out, "Listen, listen! Tell Joab, 'Come near here so that I may speak with you.'"17He approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." She said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." He replied, "I am listening."18She continued, "They used to say in former times, 'Let them inquire at Abel,' and so the matter was settled."19"I am one of the faithful allies of Israel; are you seeking to put to death a city and a mother in Israel? Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"20Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow it up or destroy it."21"That is not the case, for a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri by name, has lifted his hand against King David; hand him over alone, and I will withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."22The woman went to all the people with her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab; he then blew the trumpet, and the people dispersed from the city, each man to his tents, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.23Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Carites, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites.24Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.25Sheya and Sheva were secretaries; Zadok and Abiathar were priests.26Ira the Jairite was also priest to David.