1 At|strong="H3478" that|strong="H0559" place|strong="H8033" there|strong="H8033" was|strong="H8034" a|strong="H3808" man|strong="H0376" named|strong="H8034" Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri. Sheba|strong="H7652" was|strong="H8034" a|strong="H3808" worthless|strong="H1100" troublemaker from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0559" tribe of|strong="H1121" Benjamin. He|strong="H8033" blew|strong="H8628" a|strong="H3808" trumpet|strong="H7782" to|strong="H0559" gather the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0376" together and|strong="H1121" said|strong="H0559",
2 So|strong="H4480" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" left|strong="H5927" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H1121" followed|strong="H0310" Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri. But|strong="H0376" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0376" from|strong="H4480" Judah|strong="H3063" stayed|strong="H1692" with|strong="H0376" their|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" way|strong="H3605" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H5704" to|strong="H5704" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
3 David|strong="H1732" went|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H8104" house|strong="H1004" in|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". He|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" left|strong="H5414" ten|strong="H6235" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H8104" slave women|strong="H0802" to|strong="H0413" take|strong="H3947" care|strong="H4931" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" house|strong="H1004". He|strong="H0834" put|strong="H5414" these|strong="H0834" women|strong="H0802" in|strong="H0935" a|strong="H1961" special house|strong="H1004". Then|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" put|strong="H5414" guards|strong="H8104" around the|strong="H0853" house|strong="H1004". They|strong="H0834" stayed in|strong="H0935" this|strong="H0834" house|strong="H1004" until|strong="H5704" they|strong="H0834" died|strong="H4194". David|strong="H1732" took|strong="H3947" care|strong="H4931" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" women|strong="H0802" and|strong="H0935" gave|strong="H5414" them|strong="H0413" food|strong="H1004", but|strong="H3808" he|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" have|strong="H1961" sexual|strong="H3947" relations|strong="H0413" with|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413". They|strong="H0834" lived|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" widows|strong="H0491" until|strong="H5704" they|strong="H0834" died|strong="H4194".
4 The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" told|strong="H0559" Amasa|strong="H6021", “Tell|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0376" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" to|strong="H0413" meet with|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0413" three|strong="H7969" days|strong="H3117". You|strong="H0859" must|strong="H0853" be|strong="H0376" here|strong="H6311", too.”
5 So|strong="H4480" Amasa|strong="H6021" called|strong="H2199" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H4480" Judah|strong="H3063" together|strong="H2199", but|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" took|strong="H0853" longer than|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0853" king had|strong="H0834" told him|strong="H0853".
6 David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Abishai|strong="H0052", “Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri is|strong="H5650" more|strong="H4480" dangerous to|strong="H0413" us|strong="H0413" than|strong="H4480" Absalom|strong="H0053" was|strong="H1732". So|strong="H4480" take|strong="H3947" my|strong="H3947" officers|strong="H5650" and|strong="H1121" chase|strong="H7291" Sheba|strong="H7652". Hurry before|strong="H5869" he|strong="H0310" gets|strong="H3947" into|strong="H0413" cities|strong="H5892" with|strong="H0413" walls. If|strong="H6435" he|strong="H0310" gets|strong="H3947" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" well-protected cities|strong="H5892", we|strong="H6435" will|strong="H5869" not|strong="H6435" be|strong="H1121" able to|strong="H0413" get|strong="H3947" him|strong="H0413".”
7 So|strong="H3318" Joab|strong="H3097" took|strong="H3318" the|strong="H3605" Kerethites and|strong="H1121" Pelethites|strong="H6432" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" soldiers|strong="H0376" with|strong="H0376" him|strong="H0310" and|strong="H1121" left|strong="H3318" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H0376" chase|strong="H7291" after|strong="H0310" Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri.
8 When|strong="H0834" Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" army came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Big Rock|strong="H0068" at|strong="H5921" Gibeon|strong="H1391", Amasa|strong="H6021" came|strong="H0935" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0935" meet|strong="H6440" them|strong="H1992". Joab|strong="H3097" was|strong="H0834" wearing|strong="H2296" his|strong="H5921" uniform with|strong="H5973" a|strong="H0935" belt that|strong="H0834" held a|strong="H0935" knife|strong="H8593". As|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" walked toward|strong="H5921" Amasa|strong="H6021", the|strong="H6440" knife|strong="H8593" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" belt came|strong="H0935" out|strong="H3318".
9 Joab|strong="H3097" asked|strong="H0559" Amasa|strong="H6021", “How|strong="H7965" are|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0859" doing|strong="H3027", brother|strong="H0251"?” Joab|strong="H3097" reached out|strong="H3027" with|strong="H3027" his|strong="H3027" right|strong="H3225" hand|strong="H3027" and|strong="H3027" grabbed Amasa|strong="H6021" by|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0559" beard|strong="H2206" to|strong="H0559" greet|strong="H7965" him|strong="H0559" with|strong="H3027" a|strong="H0559" kiss.
10 Amasa|strong="H6021" didn’t|strong="H3808" see|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" knife that|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" now|strong="H0310" in|strong="H0413" Joab’s|strong="H3097" other|strong="H0251" hand|strong="H3027". Joab|strong="H3097" stabbed|strong="H5221" him|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0834" belly|strong="H2570", and|strong="H1121" Amasa’s intestines|strong="H4578" spilled|strong="H8210" out|strong="H8210" on|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0834" ground|strong="H0776". There|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" no|strong="H3808" need for|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097" to|strong="H0413" stab him|strong="H0413" again|strong="H0310"; he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" already dead|strong="H4191".
11 One|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Joab’s|strong="H3097" young|strong="H5288" soldiers|strong="H0376" stood by|strong="H5921" Amasa’s body and|strong="H0376" said|strong="H0559", “All|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" you|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" support Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H0376" David|strong="H1732", let’s follow|strong="H0310" Joab|strong="H3097".”
12 Amasa|strong="H6021" was|strong="H0834" there|strong="H5975" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" middle|strong="H8432" of|strong="H0376" road, lying|strong="H7993" in|strong="H5921" his|strong="H3605" own|strong="H0376" blood|strong="H1818". The|strong="H3605" young soldier noticed|strong="H7200" that|strong="H0834" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" kept|strong="H5975" stopping to|strong="H0935" look|strong="H7200" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" body, so|strong="H4480" he|strong="H0834" rolled|strong="H1556" the|strong="H3605" body off|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" road and|strong="H0935" into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" field|strong="H7704" and|strong="H0935" covered it|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" a|strong="H3588" cloth|strong="H0899".
13 Once|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3605" body was|strong="H0834" out|strong="H4480" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" way|strong="H3605", the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0376" simply passed|strong="H5674" it|strong="H0834" by|strong="H3605" and|strong="H1121" joined up|strong="H1121" with|strong="H0376" Joab|strong="H3097" to|strong="H0376" go|strong="H5674" after|strong="H0310" Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri.
14 Sheba|strong="H5674" son of|strong="H7626" Bicri passed|strong="H5674" through|strong="H5674" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" tribes|strong="H7626" of|strong="H7626" Israel|strong="H3478" on|strong="H0935" his|strong="H3605" way|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0935" Abel|strong="H0059" Beth Maacah. All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Berites|strong="H1276" joined|strong="H0935" together and|strong="H0935" followed|strong="H0310" Sheba|strong="H5674".
15 When|strong="H0834" Joab|strong="H3097" and|strong="H0935" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H5971" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Abel|strong="H0059" Beth Maacah, they|strong="H0834" surrounded the|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892". They|strong="H0834" piled dirt up|strong="H5975" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" wall|strong="H2346" and|strong="H0935" began|strong="H0935" breaking stones out|strong="H8210" of|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" wall|strong="H2346" to|strong="H0413" make|strong="H5975" it|strong="H5921" fall|strong="H5307" down|strong="H5307".
16 But|strong="H1696" there|strong="H2008" was|strong="H0802" a|strong="H8085" very|strong="H5704" wise|strong="H2450" woman|strong="H0802" in|strong="H0413" that|strong="H8085" city|strong="H5892" who|strong="H0802" shouted|strong="H7121" out|strong="H4480" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413" and|strong="H0802" said|strong="H0559", “Listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413"! Tell|strong="H0559" Joab|strong="H3097" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H7126" here|strong="H2008". I|strong="H5704" want to|strong="H0413" talk|strong="H1696" with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413".”
17 Joab|strong="H3097" went|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" talk|strong="H1697" with|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" woman|strong="H0802". She asked|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0413", “Are|strong="H1697" you|strong="H0859" Joab|strong="H3097"?”
18 Then|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0559" woman said|strong="H0559", “In|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0559" past|strong="H7223" people|strong="H1696" would|strong="H0559" say|strong="H0559", ‘Ask|strong="H7592" for|strong="H7592" help in|strong="H1696" Abel|strong="H0059" and|strong="H1696" you|strong="H3651" will get what|strong="H3651" you|strong="H3651" need|strong="H3651".’
19 I|strong="H0595" am|strong="H0595" one|strong="H3068" of|strong="H3068" many|strong="H4100" peaceful, loyal|strong="H3068" people|strong="H5159" in|strong="H3068" this|strong="H3068" town|strong="H5892". You|strong="H0859" are|strong="H3478" trying to|strong="H4191" destroy|strong="H4191" an|strong="H1245" important city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478". Why|strong="H4100" do|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0859" want|strong="H1245" to|strong="H4191" destroy|strong="H4191" something that|strong="H3068" belongs to|strong="H4191" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068"?”
20 Joab|strong="H3097" answered|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0518" don’t want to|strong="H0559" destroy|strong="H7843" anything. I|strong="H0518" don’t want to|strong="H0559" ruin|strong="H7843" your|strong="H0518" city.
21 But|strong="H3588" there|strong="H2009" is|strong="H0376" a|strong="H3588" man|strong="H0376" in|strong="H5921" your|strong="H5414" city|strong="H5892" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" hill|strong="H2022" country|strong="H2022" of|strong="H1121" Ephraim|strong="H0669". He|strong="H3588" is|strong="H0376" named|strong="H8034" Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri. He|strong="H3588" rebelled against|strong="H5921" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H1732". Bring|strong="H5375" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413", and|strong="H1121" I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" leave the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" alone|strong="H0905".”
22 Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H3605" woman|strong="H0802" spoke|strong="H0413" very wisely|strong="H2451" to|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892". They|strong="H5921" cut|strong="H3772" off|strong="H3772" the|strong="H3605" head|strong="H7218" of|strong="H1121" Sheba|strong="H7652" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Bicri and|strong="H1121" threw|strong="H7993" it|strong="H5921" over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" wall to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097".
23 Joab|strong="H3097" was|strong="H3478" captain of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" whole|strong="H3605" army|strong="H6635" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478". Benaiah|strong="H1141" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Jehoiada|strong="H3077" led the|strong="H3605" Kerethites and|strong="H1121" Pelethites|strong="H6432".
24 Adoniram|strong="H0151" led the|strong="H5921" men|strong="H1121" who|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1121" forced|strong="H4522" to|strong="H5921" do hard work. Jehoshaphat|strong="H3092" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahilud|strong="H0286" was|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" historian.
25 Sheva was|strong="H3548" the|strong="H6659" secretary|strong="H5608". Zadok|strong="H6659" and|strong="H3548" Abiathar|strong="H0054" were|strong="H0054" the|strong="H6659" priests|strong="H3548".
26 And|strong="H3548" Ira|strong="H5896" from|strong="H1961" Jair was|strong="H1961" David’s|strong="H1732" personal priest|strong="H3548".