1 And there was found a man of worthlessness {beliyaʿal: utter lawlessness}, and his name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. And he blew the horn and said, “We have no share in David, nor inheritance {nachalah: family inheritance} for us in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, Israel!”
2 So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David to follow Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah remained loyal {davqu: stuck firmly} to their king {malkam: rightful ruler} from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
3 And David came to his house in Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, concubines whom he had left to guard the house, and placed them in a house of custody {beit-mishmeret: detention quarters}. He provided for them, but to them he did not come. And they remained confined until the day of their death, living in widowhood {almanut: bereavement condition}.
4 And the king said to Amasa {amasah: commander appointed by David}, “Summon for me the men of Judah within three {sheloshet: construct numeral} days, and you stand here.”
5 And Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the appointed time {moed: designated period} that the king had set for him {yaado: assigned deadline}.
6 And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikhri will do us more harm {yera: bring us trouble} than did Absalom. Take your master’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities {betsurot: strongholds} and escape our notice.”
7 Joab’s men, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, with all the mighty men {gibborim: elite combatants}, went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son {ben: direct descendant} of Bichri.
8 They were at the great stone {even: significant landmark} which is in Gibeon when Amasa came before them. Joab was girded with his garment—his outer robe—and had a sword fastened {metzummedet: securely strapped} on his loins in its sheath; and as he went out, the sword fell.
9 Joab said to Amasa, “Is it peace {shalom: wholeness and harmony} with you, my brother?” And Joab grasped Amasa’s beard {zakan: symbol of dignity} with his right hand to kiss him.
10 And Amasa was not alert to the sword {cherev: short stabbing weapon} in Joab’s hand, and Joab struck him with it in the abdomen {chomesh: vital center}, and his intestines spilled to the ground; he did not strike him again, and Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bikhri.
11 And a man from the young men {naarei: Joab’s soldiers} of Joab stood by him and said, “Whoever delights {chafetz: shows loyalty} in Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!”
12 And Amasa was wallowing {mitgolel: continuous helpless motion} in blood in the middle of the roadway, and the man saw that all the people stood still; so he turned Amasa off the roadway into the field and threw a garment {beged: garment used to cover a body} over him.
13 When he had been removed{hoga: passively driven away} from the road, every man followed Joab to pursue{lirdof: intent to chase} Sheba son of Bichri.
14 And he passed through {abar: sequential progression} all the tribes of Israel to Abel and to Beth Maakah, and all the Bikrites {Bikrites: local inhabitants} were gathered to him, and they came after him.
15 And they came and besieged him at Abel Beth Maakah, and they built up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood at the outer defenses. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to break it down {wall: chomah, fortified barrier} {siege ramp: solelah, attacking embankment}.
16 And a wise {chachamah: skillful in counsel} woman called out from the city, “Hear! Hear! Say {imru-na: polite entreaty} to Joab, ‘Come near here, and let me speak to you.’”
17 And he approached {vayikrav: drawing near} her, and the woman {ha’ishah: unnamed speaker} said, “Are you Joab?” And he said, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he said, “I am listening.”
18 And she said, “They used to say at the beginning {barishonah: original custom}, ‘Surely one should ask at Abel {bAvel: city of arbitration},’ and so they concluded the matter.”
19 I am one of the peaceable {shelumei: living in harmony} and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Protector}?
20 And Joab answered, “Far from me, far from me—to swallow up {aballa: consume completely} or to destroy {ashchit: cause to ruin}.”
21 The matter {davar: disputed point} is not so. For a man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Sheba son of Bichri, has lifted his hand {yad: act of hostility} against the king, against David. “Hand him over alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22 And the woman came to all the people with her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. Then he blew the trumpet {shofar: war signal}, and they scattered from the city, each man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king {melech: ruling monarch}.
23 And Joab {yo’av: principal commander} was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah {bənayah: chief officer} son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and over the Pelethites.
24 And Adoram was over the forced labor {mas: conscripted service}, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder {mazkir: official chronicler}.
25 And Sheva was scribe {sofer: official record keeper}, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests {kohanim: ordained religious officials}.
26 And also Ira {Ira: watchful man} the Jairite {yairi: descendant of Jair} was priest to David.