English Bible Presentation Sharing - 2-Samuel Book, chapter 20, verse 26 in Hcsb Version

2 Samuel 20 : 1 (HCSB)

Now a wicked man, a Benjaminite named Sheba son of Bichri, happened to be there. He blew the ram's horn and shouted: We have no portion in David, no inheritance in Jesse's son. Each man to his tent, Israel!

2 Samuel 20 : 2 (HCSB)

So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem remained loyal to their king.

2 Samuel 20 : 3 (HCSB)

When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the 10 concubines he had left to take care of the palace and placed them under guard. He provided for them, but he was not intimate with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

2 Samuel 20 : 4 (HCSB)

The king said to Amasa, "Summon the men of Judah to me within three days and be here yourself."

2 Samuel 20 : 5 (HCSB)

Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

2 Samuel 20 : 6 (HCSB)

So David said to Abishai, "Sheba son of Bichri will do more harm to us than Absalom. Take your lord's soldiers and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us."

2 Samuel 20 : 7 (HCSB)

So Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors marched out under Abishai's command; they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20 : 8 (HCSB)

They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa joined them. Joab was wearing his uniform and over it was a belt around his waist with a sword in its sheath. As he approached, *the sword fell out.

2 Samuel 20 : 9 (HCSB)

Joab asked Amasa, "Are you well, my brother?" Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20 : 10 (HCSB)

Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab's hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it and spilled his intestines out on the ground. Joab did not stab him again for Amasa was dead. Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20 : 11 (HCSB)

One of Joab's young men had stood over Amasa saying, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!"

2 Samuel 20 : 12 (HCSB)

Now Amasa was writhing in his blood in the middle of the highway, and the man had seen that all the people stopped. So he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him because he realized that all those who encountered Amasa were stopping.

2 Samuel 20 : 13 (HCSB)

When he was removed from the highway, all the men passed by and followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20 : 14 (HCSB)

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah. All the Berites came together and followed him.

2 Samuel 20 : 15 (HCSB)

Joab's troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They built an assault ramp against the outer wall of the city. While all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to make it collapse,

2 Samuel 20 : 16 (HCSB)

a wise woman called out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here and let me speak with him."

2 Samuel 20 : 17 (HCSB)

When he had come near her, the woman asked, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he replied. "Listen to the words of your servant," she said to him. He answered, "I'm listening."

2 Samuel 20 : 18 (HCSB)

She said, "In the past they used to say, 'Seek counsel in Abel,' and that's how they settled *disputes .

2 Samuel 20 : 19 (HCSB)

I am a peaceful person, one of the faithful in Israel, but you're trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the LORD's inheritance?"

2 Samuel 20 : 20 (HCSB)

Joab protested: "Never! I do not want to destroy!

2 Samuel 20 : 21 (HCSB)

That is not *my intention. There is a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, who has rebelled against King David. Deliver this one man, and I will withdraw from the city." The woman replied to Joab, "All right. His head will be thrown over the wall to you."

2 Samuel 20 : 22 (HCSB)

The woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram's horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his own tent. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 20 : 23 (HCSB)

Joab commanded the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;

2 Samuel 20 : 24 (HCSB)

Adoram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

2 Samuel 20 : 25 (HCSB)

Sheva was court secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

2 Samuel 20 : 26 (HCSB)

and in addition, Ira the Jairite was David's priest.