2 Samuel 20

Thomson^{(i) 1} men of Israel; and there happened to be there a turbulent man whose name was Sabee, son of Bochori, the chief of the Jeminites, and he sounded a trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jessai. Every man to his tent, Israel. ² Thereupon all Israel went up from following David, after Sabee, son of Bochori. But the men of Juda kept close by their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem. ³ And when David came to his house at Jerusalem, the king took the ten women, his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and sent them to a house of confinement, and fed them, but did not go in to them. So they were kept confined to the day of their death, living as widows. ⁴ Then the king said to Amessai, Assemble for me all the men of Juda, and be thou here in three days. ⁵ So Amessai went to assemble the men of Juda, but he tarried beyond the time which David set for him. ⁶ Thereupon David said to Abessa Now will Sabee, son of Bochori do us more harm than Abessalom. Now therefore take thou with thee the servants of thy lord, and pursue him, lest he secure for himself cities of defence, that he may escape our notice. ⁷ So there went out after him, Abessa's men, and Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Phelethites, and all the mighty men. And when they had marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sabee, son of Bochori, ⁸ and were come to the great heap of stones at Gabaon, Amessai came in before them. Now Joab had a military robe girded on for his dress, and over it he was girt with a sword on his thigh in its sheath, and the sword dropped out. ⁹ But as it dropped out and fell, therefore when Joab said to Amessai, art thou well my brother? and with his right hand took hold of Amessai's beard to kiss it, ¹⁰ Amessai did not attend to the sword which was in Joab's hand. So Joab smote him with it into the belly, and his bowels gushed out on the ground, so that he did not repeat the blow. And while he was dying, Joab and Abessa, his brother, pursued after Sabee, son of Bochori, ¹¹ and there stood by him one of the servants of Joab, who said, Whoever is for Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab. ¹² Now Amessai was weltering in his blood in the middle of the road. And when the man saw that all the people halted, he drew Amessai out of the road, into the field, and threw a mantle over him, because he saw that all the people who came up stood still. ¹³ And when he had removed him out of the road, then all the men of Israel proceeded on after Joab, in pursuit of Sabee, son of Bochori. ¹⁴ Now he had passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel and Bethmacha, and all the men at Charri had assembled and gone after him. ¹⁵ And when they came up with him they formed a siege against him in Abel and Bethmacha. And when they had levelled the bank before the city, and were got within the out works, and all the people who were with Joab, were labouring to throw down the wall, ¹⁶ a wise woman cried with a loud voice from the wall, and said, Hear! Hear! Say, I pray you, to Joab, Come near hither that I may speak to him. ¹⁷ And when he drew near to her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he said, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of thy servant. And when Joab said, I am hearkening, ¹⁸ then she continued her speech, and said, They used heretofore to state an accusation, saying, He who is examined hath been examined both in Abel and Dan. If the liege men of Israel have been guilty of what is laid to their charge, let the examiners in Abel inquire in like manner whether they have been guilty. ¹⁹ For my part I am for observing strictly the customs of Israel, which tend to peace; but thou art seeking to destroy a city; a mother city in Israel. Why wouldst thou swallow up an inheritance of the Lord? ²⁰ In answer to which Joab said, Mercy on me! Mercy on me! Am I for swallowing up? Am I for destroying? ²¹ Is not this the case? There is a man of mount Ephraim; his name is Sabee son of Bochori, who hath lifted up his hand against king David. Only deliver him up to me, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said, Behold his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. ²² So the woman went to all the people. And when she had spoken to the whole city in her wisdom, they cut off the head of Sabee son of Bochori. And having cut it off, they threw it to Joab; whereupon Joab sounded a trumpet, and all the people withdrew from the city, and dispersed, every man to his tent, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. ²³ Now Joab was over all the host of Israel, and Banaias son of Jodae was over the Cherethites and the Phelethites, ²⁴ and Adoniram was over the tribute, and Josaphat son of Achiluth was recorder, ²⁵ and Susa was scribe, and Sadok and Abiathar were priests, ²⁶ and Iras the son of Jarim was priest for David.