Sheba Goes Up Against David
Now aa vile fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of bBichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said,
“cWe have no portion in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in dthe son of Jesse;
eEvery man to his tents, O Israel!”
2 So all the men of Israel went up from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah clung to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3 Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and athe king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.
4 Then the king said to aAmasa, “Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and you yourself stand here.” 5 So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he adelayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to aAbishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; btake your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and deliver himself from our sight.” 7 So Joab’s men pursued him, aalong with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. 8 They were at the large stone which is in aGibeon, and Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he came out, it fell out. 9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And aJoab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.