2 Samuel 20 - American Standard Version (ASV)

20 And there happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and provided them with sustenance, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, [a]living in widowhood.

4 Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be thou here present. 5 So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and escape out of our sight. 7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with thee, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died.

And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow Joab. 12 And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. 13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maacah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him. 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people that were with Joab [b]battered the wall, to throw it down. 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. 17 And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. 19 I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah? 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so: but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the [c]Cherethites and over the Pelethites; 24 and Adoram was over the men subject to taskwork; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the [d]recorder; 25 and Sheva was [e]scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 26 and also Ira the Jairite was [f]chief minister unto David.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 20:3 Hebrew in widowhood of life.
  2. 2 Samuel 20:15 Or, undermined
  3. 2 Samuel 20:23 Another reading is, Carites. See 2 Kin. 11:4.
  4. 2 Samuel 20:24 Or, chronicler
  5. 2 Samuel 20:25 Or, secretary
  6. 2 Samuel 20:26 Or, priest. See 1 Chr. 18:17.

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 20 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

20 And there hath been called there a man of worthlessness, and his name [is] Sheba, son of Bichri, a Benjamite, and he bloweth with a trumpet, and saith, `We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; each to his tents, O Israel.' 2 And every man of Israel goeth up fr...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

20 Also it befelled, that a man of Belial was there, Sheba by name, the son of Bichri, a man of the generation of Benjamin; and he sounded with a trump, and said, No part is to us in David, neither heritage in the son of Jesse; thou Israel, turn again into thy tabernacles. (And it befell, that a man...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - World English Bible (WEB)

20 There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel went up from following Da...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - The Voice (VOICE)

20 A worthless troublemaker, Sheba the Benjaminite, the son of Bichri, blasted a trumpet and silenced everyone.Sheba: We don’t have any share in David, no interest in the son of Jesse! Israel, let’s go back to our tents and show loyalty to only our own tribes! 2 So the people of Israel stopped follo...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Joab the Terminator20 Now a worthless fellow happened to be there, a Benjamite named Sheba son of Bichri. He blew the shofar and said, “We have no portion in David, no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, O Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and fo...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Rebellion of Sheba20 Now there happened to be there a worthless fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and 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!” 2 So all the men of I...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Rebellion of Sheba20 Now there happened to be there a worthless fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and 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!” 2 So all the men of I...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Rebellion of Sheba20 Now a scoundrel named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and cried out,‘We have no portion in David,no share in the son of Jesse!Everyone to your tents, O Israel!’ 2 So all the people of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sh...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Rebellion of Sheba20 Now a scoundrel named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and cried out,“We have no portion in David,no share in the son of Jesse!Everyone to your tents, O Israel!”(A)2 So all the people of Israel withdrew from David and followed ...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Revolt of Sheba20 There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant: “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse.Come on, you men of Israel, back to your homes!” 2 So all t...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New Life Version (NLV)

David’s Men Follow Sheba20 A man of no worth happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He sounded the horn and said, “We have no share in David! We have no share in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, O Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel stopped following Dav...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Rebellion of Sheba20 And there happened to be there a [a]rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said:(A)“We have no share in David,Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;(B)Every man to his tents, O Israel!” 2 So every man of Israel deserte...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Sheba rebels against David20 Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,‘We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son!Every man to his tent, Israel!’ 2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri....
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New International Version (NIV)

Sheba Rebels Against David20 Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,“We have no share(A) in David,(B) no part in Jesse’s son!(C)Every man to his tent, Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Sheba Urges Israel Not to Follow David20 An evil man who always stirred up trouble happened to be in Gilgal. His name was Sheba, the son of Bikri. Sheba was from the tribe of Benjamin. He blew his trumpet. Then he shouted,“We don’t have any share in David’s kingdom! Jesse’s son is not our king! Men ...
Read More

2 Samuel 20 - New English Translation (NET)

Sheba’s Rebellion20 Now a wicked man[a] named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjaminite,[b] happened to be there. He blew the trumpet[c] and said,“We have no share in David;we have no inheritance in this son of Jesse!Every man go home,[d] O Israel!” 2 So all the men of Israel deserted[e] David and followed...
Read More