2 Samuel 20 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~974 BC, within weeks of David's return to Jerusalem
Location
The Jordan valley and Jerusalem, then north through Israelite territory to Abel Beth Maacah, a fortified town near the far northern border by Dan
Audience
Israelites of the later monarchy, for whom the split between the northern tribes and Judah was a live and painful reality
Situation
A Benjaminite named Sheba son of Bichri exploits the quarrel of the previous chapter and calls the northern tribes to abandon David. Joab murders his replacement Amasa on the road, takes command by force, and besieges Sheba in the northern town of Abel until a wise woman inside negotiates the rebel's death and saves the city.
Key Background
Sheba's slogan, that Israel has no share in David, is the same cry used generations later when the kingdom permanently divided under Solomon's son, so this rebellion reads as a first tremor of that split. Israelite siege law required an attacker to offer terms before assaulting a town, which is the legal footing the woman of Abel stands on when she bargains. Towns with a reputation for settling disputes could be represented by respected elders or wise women in exactly this way, and handing over a single fugitive's head to lift a siege was a recognised, if brutal, settlement.
Now a named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He blew a and declared, "We have no share in David -- no stake in Jesse's son! Everyone back to your own Israel!"
So every man of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah to their king and accompanied him from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem.
When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten he had left to look after the palace and put them in a guarded house. He provided for them, but he never slept with them again. They lived like widows, shut away until the day they died.
Then the king said to "Call up the men of Judah for me within three days, and report here yourself."
So Amasa went to call up Judah, but he took longer than the deadline David had set.
David said to Abishai, "Sheba son of Bikri is going to cause us more trouble than Absalom ever did. Take your master's soldiers and go after him before he finds and slips away from us."
So Joab's men marched out after him, along with the the and all the elite warriors. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
When they were at the large rock in Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a belt strapped over it, and a sword in its sheath fastened at his hip. As he stepped forward, it slipped out.
Joab said to "How are you doing, brother?" And with his right hand, Joab by the to
Amasa didn't notice the sword in Joab's other hand. Joab in the with it, and his intestines spilled out onto the ground. He didn't need to strike again -- the first blow killed Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued the pursuit of Sheba son of Bikri.
One of Joab's men stood over Amasa's body and called out, "Anyone who supports Joab and anyone who is for David -- follow Joab!"
Meanwhile, Amasa lay wallowing in his own blood in the middle of the road. When the soldier saw that everyone was stopping to stare, he dragged Amasa's body off the road into a field and threw a garment over him.
Once the body was cleared from the road, all the men followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.
Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel to and all the gathered together and followed him there.
Joab's forces came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a against the city's outer wall and were battering the wall to bring it down.
Then a called out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak with him."
When he came near, the woman asked, "Are you Joab?" He replied, "I am." She said, "Listen to what has to say." He answered, "I'm listening."
She continued, "In the old days, people used to say, 'Go at and that would settle it.
We are one of the most peaceful and faithful cities in You're trying to destroy a city that is like a in Why would you swallow up
Joab answered, "No, no -- I have no intention of swallowing up or destroying anything!
That's not how it is. A man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bikri has King David. over this one man, and I'll withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, head will be thrown to you over the wall."
Then the woman went to all the people with her and they cut off Sheba son of Bikri's head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram's horn, and his men dispersed from the city, each heading home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
Now Joab was in command of the entire army of Israel. of was over the Kerethites and Pelethites.
Adoram was in charge of Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the
Sheva was the Zadok and Abiathar were the
And Ira the was David's