1	And there happened# to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew# a trumpet, and said# , We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
			2	So every man of Israel went up# from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave# unto their king, from 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 fed# them, but went not in# unto them. So they were shut up# unto the day of their death# , living in widowhood. [ward: Heb. an house of ward] [shut...: Heb. bound] [living...: Heb. in widowhood of life]
			4	Then said# the king to Amasa, Assemble# me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present# . [Assemble: Heb. Call]
			5	So Amasa went# to assemble# the men of Judah: but he tarried longer# # # # than the set time which he had appointed# him. [Assemble: Heb. Call]
			6	And David said# to Abishai, Now shall 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 fenced# cities, and escape# us. [escape...: Heb. deliver himself from our eyes]
			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 went# before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded# unto him, and upon it 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, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took# Amasa by the beard with the 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 fifth rib , and shed out# his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again# ; and he died# . So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued# after Sheba the son of Bichri. [struck...: Heb. doubled not his stroke]
			11	And one of Joab's men stood# by him, and said# , He that favoureth# Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
			12	And Amasa wallowed# in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw# that all the people stood still# , he removed# Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast# a cloth upon 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 Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together# # # # , and went# also after him.
			15	And they came# and besieged# him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up# a bank against the city, and it stood# in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered# the wall, to throw it down# . [in the trench: or, against the outmost wall] [battered: Heb. marred to throw 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 when he was come near# unto her, the woman said# , Art thou Joab? And he answered# , I am he . Then she said# unto him, Hear# the words of thine 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 . [They were...: or, They plainly spake in the beginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end]
			19	I am one 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 the LORD?
			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 mount 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. [by name: Heb. by his name]
			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 cast# it out to Joab. And he blew# a trumpet, and they retired# from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned# to Jerusalem unto the king. [retired: Heb. were scattered]
			23	Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites# # and over the Pelethites:
			24	And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder# : [recorder: or, remembrancer]
			25	And Sheva# # was scribe# : and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
			26	And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. [a chief...: or, a prince]