Samuel's note_Chapter 20

There happened to be a bandit named Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew the horn and said, “We have no part with David, and we have no involvement with the son of Jesse.”. Go back to your homes, O Israelites.

So all the Israelites left David and followed Sheba, the son of Bichri. But the Jews closely followed their king from Jordan to Jerusalem.

King David came to Jerusalem and entered the palace. He imprisoned the ten concubines who had been left to guard the palace in a cold palace, feeding them and not getting close to them. They were imprisoned like widows until the day of death.

The king said to Amasa, “Gather the people of Judah within three days, and come back here.”.

Amasa went to gather the Jews, but he delayed the time set by the king.

David said to Abishai, “I’m afraid Sheba, the son of Bichri, will do us more harm than Absalom.”. Lead your lord’s servants to pursue him, so that he may not find a fortified city and avoid us.

The people of Joab, the Cherethites, the Berethites, and all the warriors followed Abishai and went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, the son of Bichri.

They arrived at the great rock in Gibeon, and Amasa came to meet them. At that time, Joab was wearing battle clothes, with a belt around his waist and a sword in its sheath. Joab walked forward and the sword fell out of its sheath.

Joab picked up his sword in his left hand and said to Amasa, “Hello, my brother.”. Grab Amasa’s beard with your right hand and kiss him.

Amasa was not prepared for the sword that Joab was holding in his hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach with a knife, and his intestines flowed to the ground. He did not stab him again, and he died. Joab and his brother Abishai chased after Sheba, the son of Bichri.

A young man from Joab stood beside the body of Amasa and said to the crowd, “Whoever delights in Joab or obeys David, let him follow Joab.”.

Amasa rolled in his own blood on the road. When the man saw all the people passing by and standing still, he moved Amasa’s body from the road to the field and covered it with clothes.

After the body was removed from the road, all the people followed Joab to pursue Sheba, the son of Bichri.

He traveled through all the tribes of Israel, as far as Abilah in Bethmachah and all the land of the Berites. People from those places also gathered to follow him.

Joab and his men arrived at Abilah in Bethmachah and besieged Sheba, building a fortress against the city. The people who followed Joab hammered the city to make it collapse.

A wise woman called out from the city, ‘Listen, listen, come near Joab so that I can speak to him.’.

Joab approached and the woman asked him, “Are you Joab?”. He said, I am. The woman said, “Please listen to the words of your maidservant.”. Joab said, I hear.

The woman said, It was said in ancient times that we should first inquire in Abilah, and then the matter shall be settled.

Our people in this city are peaceful and loyal among the Israelites. Why do you destroy the great cities in Israel and devour the inheritance of the Lord?

Joab replied, “I will not swallow or destroy.”,

Because Sheba, the son of Bichri, a man from the hill country of Ephraim, raised his hand and attacked King David. If you hand him over alone, I will leave the city. The woman said to Joab, “The head of that man will be thrown to you from the city wall.”.

The woman used her wisdom to persuade everyone. They then cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and threw it to Joab. When Joab blew the horn, everyone left the city and went back to their homes. Joab returned to Jerusalem and came to the king.

Joab served as the commander of the entire army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada ruled over the Cherethites and Berethites.

Adoram is in charge of the people who endure hardship. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahirod, served as a historian.

Shi Fa serves as the secretary. Zadok and Abiathar served as the chief priests.

Elah the Jair man became David’s prime minister.