CINXE.COM

<!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" /><title>2 Samuel 20 NIV</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="../topmenuchap/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">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NIV</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 International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/2_samuel/20.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="sectionhead">Sheba Rebels Against David</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line1">“We have no share in David,</p><p class="line2">no part in Jesse’s son!</p><p class="line1">Every man to his tent, Israel!”</p></div> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but had no sexual relations with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Or and do us serious injury">a</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>So Joab’s men and the Kerethites and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>While they were at the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikri.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>After Amasa had been removed from the road, everyone went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="See Septuagint and Vulgate; Hebrew Berites.">b</a></sup></span> who gathered together and followed him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”</p><p class="reg">“I am,” he answered.</p><p class="reg">She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”</p><p class="reg">“I’m listening,” he said.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s inheritance?”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>“Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”</p><p class="reg">The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.</p> <p class="sectionhead">David’s Officials</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Adoniram <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Kings 4:6 and 5:14); Hebrew Adoram">c</a></sup></span> was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>and Ira the Jairite <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 23:38) Ithrite">d</a></sup></span> was David’s priest.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">6</span> <span class="footnotebot">Or <i>and do us serious injury</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">b</span> <span class="fnverse">14</span> <span class="footnotebot">See Septuagint and Vulgate; Hebrew <i>Berites</i>.</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">c</span> <span class="fnverse">24</span> <span class="footnotebot">Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Kings 4:6 and 5:14); Hebrew <i>Adoram</i></span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">d</span> <span class="fnverse">26</span> <span class="footnotebot">Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 23:38) <i>Ithrite</i></span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.</p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../2_samuel/19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../2_samuel/21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/2_samuel/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenubib2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>