1 Now a worthless man happened to be there, named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. He blew the ram’s horn and said, “We have no share in David, no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel left David and followed Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clung to their king from the Jordan to Jerusalem. 3 When David came home to Jerusalem, the king took the ten concubines he had left to look after the house and placed them under guard. He provided for them but did not lie with them. They remained confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

4 The king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah for me within three days, and be here yourself.” 5 Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time appointed for him.

6 David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he may find fortified cities and escape our sight.” 7 So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites and all the mighty men went out after him. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. 8 They were by the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his belted garment, and over it a belt with a sword fastened at his waist in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it fell out.

9 Joab said to Amasa, “Are you well, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa did not guard against the sword in Joab’s hand. Joab struck him with it in the belly, spilling his entrails to the ground. He did not strike him a second time, and Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

11 One of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!” 12 Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people were stopping, he moved Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him, for he saw that everyone who came upon him stopped. 13 Once he had been removed from the highway, everyone went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. 14 He passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth-maacah, and all the Berites gathered and also followed him.

15 They came and besieged him in Abel-beth-maacah. They piled up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer fortification. All the people with Joab were battering the wall to bring it down. 16 Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here so I may speak to you.’ ” 17 He came near her, and the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He said, “I am.” She said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He said, “I am listening.” 18 She said, “In former times they used to say, ‘Let them seek counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled the matter. 19 I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

20 Joab replied, “Far be it, far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21 That is not the matter. A man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bichri has raised his hand against King David. Hand him over alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. He blew the ram’s horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his tents. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

23 Joab was over all the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. 24 Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder. 25 Sheva was the scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests. 26 Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.