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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Samuel 20 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/2_samuel/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/2_samuel/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NRSVCE</a> > 2 Samuel 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_samuel/19.htm" title="2 Samuel 19">◄</a> 2 Samuel 20 <a href="../2_samuel/21.htm" title="2 Samuel 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="text-html"> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Rebellion of Sheba</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><span class="text"><span class="versenum">1</span>Now a scoundrel named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and cried out,</span></p><div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span class="text">“We have no portion in David,</span><br /><span class="text">no share in the son of Jesse!</span><br /><span class="text">Everyone to your tents, O Israel!”</span></p></div> <p class="first-line-none"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">2</span>So all the people of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba son of Bichri; but the people of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">3</span>David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to look after the house, and put them in a house under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">4</span>Then the king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and be here yourself.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">5</span>So Amasa went to summon Judah; but he delayed beyond the set time that had been appointed him. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">6</span>David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities for himself, and escape from us.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">7</span>Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">8</span>When they were at the large stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing a soldier’s garment and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; as he went forward it fell out. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">9</span>Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">10</span>But Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab’s hand; Joab struck him in the belly so that his entrails poured out on the ground, and he died. He did not strike a second blow.</span></p><p><span class="text">Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">11</span>And one of Joab’s men took his stand by Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">12</span>Amasa lay wallowing in his blood on the highway, and the man saw that all the people were stopping. Since he saw that all who came by him were stopping, he carried Amasa from the highway into a field, and threw a garment over him. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">13</span>Once he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">14</span>Sheba<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8569a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah;<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8569b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> and all the Bichrites<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8569c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> assembled, and followed him inside. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">15</span>Joab’s forces<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8570d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah; they threw up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the rampart. Joab’s forces were battering the wall to break it down. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">16</span>Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, I want to speak to you.’” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">17</span>He came near her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He answered, “I am listening.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">18</span>Then she said, “They used to say in the old days, ‘Let them inquire at Abel’; and so they would settle a matter. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">19</span>I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">20</span>Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">21</span>That is not the case! But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David; give him up alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head shall be thrown over the wall to you.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">22</span>Then the woman went to all the people with her wise plan. And they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, and all went to their homes, while Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">23</span>Now Joab was in command of all the army of Israel;<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-8578e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote e">e</a>]</span> Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">24</span>Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">25</span>Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">26</span>and Ira the Jairite was also David’s priest.</span></p> <A name="fen"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes</h4><ol><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 2 Samuel 20:14">2 Samuel 20:14</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Heb <i>He</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 2 Samuel 20:14">2 Samuel 20:14</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Compare 20.15: Heb <i>and Beth-maacah</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 2 Samuel 20:14">2 Samuel 20:14</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Compare Gk Vg: Heb <i>Berites</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 2 Samuel 20:15">2 Samuel 20:15</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Heb <i>They</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 2 Samuel 20:23">2 Samuel 20:23</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Cn: Heb <i>Joab to all the army, Israel</i></span></li></ol></div> </div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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