2 Samuel 20 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

2 Samuel 20 (WEBP)

[1] There happened to be there a wicked fellow, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, 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 joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
[3] David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
[4] Then the king said to Amasa, “Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.”
[5] So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together, but he stayed longer than the set time which had been appointed to him.
[6] David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he get himself fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.”
[7] Joab’s men went out after him with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
[8] When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was clothed in his apparel of war that he had put on, and on it was a sash with a sword fastened on his waist in its sheath; and as he went along it fell out.
[9] Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
[10] But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So he struck him with it in the body and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
[11] One of Joab’s young men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab!”
[12] Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
[13] When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
[14] He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.
[15] They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
[16] Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’ ”
[17] He came near to her; and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your servant.” He answered, “I’m listening.”
[18] Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter.
[19] I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up Yahweh’s inheritance?”
[20] Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
[21] The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Just deliver him, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
[22] Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
[23] Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
[24] Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder,
[25] Sheva was scribe, Zadok and Abiathar were priests,
[26] and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

2 Samuel 20 (KJVS)

[1] And there happened () to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew () a trumpet, and said, () We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
[2] So every man of Israel went up () from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave () unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
[3] And David came () to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took () the ten women his concubines, whom he had left () to keep () the house, and put () them in ward, and fed () them, but went not in () unto them. So they were shut up () unto the day of their death, () living in widowhood.
[4] Then said () the king to Amasa, Assemble () me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. ()
[5] So Amasa went () to assemble () the men of Judah: but he tarried longer () () () than the set time which he had appointed () him.
[6] And David said () to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm () than did Absalom: take () thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue () after him, lest he get () him fenced () cities, and escape () us.
[7] And there went out () after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out () of Jerusalem, to pursue () after Sheba the son of Bichri.
[8] When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went () before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on was girded () unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened () upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth () it fell out. ()
[9] And Joab said () to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took () Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss () him.
[10] But Amasa took no heed () to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote () him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out () his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; () and he died. () So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued () after Sheba the son of Bichri.
[11] And one of Joab’s men stood () by him, and said, () He that favoureth () Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
[12] And Amasa wallowed () in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw () that all the people stood still, () he removed () Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast () a cloth upon him, when he saw () that every one that came () by him stood still. ()
[13] When he was removed () out of the highway, all the people went on () after Joab, to pursue () after Sheba the son of Bichri.
[14] And he went () through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, () () () and went () also after him.
[15] And they came () and besieged () him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up () a bank against the city, and it stood () in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered () the wall, to throw it down. ()
[16] Then cried () a wise woman out of the city, Hear, () hear; () say, () I pray you, unto Joab, Come near () hither, that I may speak () with thee.
[17] And when he was come near () unto her, the woman said, () Art thou Joab? And he answered, () I am he. Then she said () unto him, Hear () the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, () I do hear. ()
[18] Then she spake, () saying, () They were wont () to speak () in old time, saying, () They shall surely () ask () counsel at Abel: and so they ended () the matter.
[19] I am one of them that are peaceable () and faithful () in Israel: thou seekest () to destroy () a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up () the inheritance of the Lord?
[20] And Joab answered () and said, () Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up () or destroy. ()
[21] The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up () his hand against the king, even against David: deliver () him only, and I will depart () from the city. And the woman said () unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown () to thee over the wall.
[22] Then the woman went () unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off () the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast () it out to Joab. And he blew () a trumpet, and they retired () from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned () to Jerusalem unto the king.
[23] Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites () and over the Pelethites:
[24] and Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: ()
[25] and Sheva () was scribe: () and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
[26] and Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

2 Samuel 20:3a Heb. a house of ward
2 Samuel 20:3b Heb. bound
2 Samuel 20:3c Heb. in widowhood of life
2 Samuel 20:4 Heb. call
2 Samuel 20:6 Heb. deliver himself from our eyes
2 Samuel 20:10 Heb. doubled not his stroke
2 Samuel 20:15a Or, it stood against the outmost wall
2 Samuel 20:15b Heb. marred to throw down
2 Samuel 20:18 and so they ended the matter: Or, they plainly spake in the beginning, saying, surely they will ask of Abel; and so make an end
2 Samuel 20:21 Heb. by his name
2 Samuel 20:22 Heb. were scattered
2 Samuel 20:24 Or, remembrancer
2 Samuel 20:26 Or, a prince

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

2 Samuel 20 (BYZ)

[1] και εκει επικαλουμενος υιος παρανομος και ονομα αυτω σαβεε υιος βοχορι ανηρ ο ιεμενι και εσαλπισεν εν τη κερατινη και ειπεν ουκ εστιν ημιν μερις εν δαυιδ ουδε κληρονομια ημιν εν τω υιω ιεσσαι ανηρ εις τα σκηνωματα σου ισραηλ
[2] και ανεβη πας ανηρ ισραηλ απο οπισθεν δαυιδ οπισω σαβεε υιου βοχορι και ανηρ ιουδα εκολληθη τω βασιλει αυτων απο του ιορδανου και εως ιερουσαλημ
[3] και εισηλθεν δαυιδ εις τον οικον αυτου εις ιερουσαλημ και ελαβεν ο βασιλευς τας δεκα γυναικας τας παλλακας αυτου ας αφηκεν φυλασσειν τον οικον και εδωκεν αυτας εν οικω φυλακης και διεθρεψεν αυτας και προς αυτας ουκ εισηλθεν και ησαν συνεχομεναι εως ημερας θανατου αυτων χηραι ζωσαι
[4] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς προς αμεσσαι βοησον μοι τον ανδρα ιουδα τρεις ημερας συ δε αυτου στηθι
[5] και επορευθη αμεσσαι του βοησαι τον ιουδαν και εχρονισεν απο του καιρου ου εταξατο αυτω δαυιδ
[6] και ειπεν δαυιδ προς αβεσσα νυν κακοποιησει ημας σαβεε υιος βοχορι υπερ αβεσσαλωμ και νυν συ λαβε μετα σεαυτου τους παιδας του κυριου σου και καταδιωξον οπισω αυτου μηποτε εαυτω ευρη πολεις οχυρας και σκιασει τους οφθαλμους ημων
[7] και εξηλθον οπισω αυτου οι ανδρες ιωαβ και ο χερεθθι και ο φελεθθι και παντες οι δυνατοι και εξηλθαν εξ ιερουσαλημ διωξαι οπισω σαβεε υιου βοχορι
[8] και αυτοι παρα τω λιθω τω μεγαλω τω εν γαβαων και αμεσσαι εισηλθεν εμπροσθεν αυτων και ιωαβ περιεζωσμενος μανδυαν το ενδυμα αυτου και επ αυτω περιεζωσμενος μαχαιραν εζευγμενην επι της οσφυος αυτου εν κολεω αυτης και η μαχαιρα εξηλθεν και επεσεν
[9] και ειπεν ιωαβ τω αμεσσαι ει υγιαινεις συ αδελφε και εκρατησεν η χειρ η δεξια ιωαβ του πωγωνος αμεσσαι του καταφιλησαι αυτον
[10] και αμεσσαι ουκ εφυλαξατο την μαχαιραν την εν τη χειρι ιωαβ και επαισεν αυτον εν αυτη ιωαβ εις την ψοαν και εξεχυθη η κοιλια αυτου εις την γην και ουκ εδευτερωσεν αυτω και απεθανεν και ιωαβ και αβεσσα ο αδελφος αυτου εδιωξεν οπισω σαβεε υιου βοχορι
[11] και ανηρ εστη επ αυτον των παιδαριων ιωαβ και ειπεν τις ο βουλομενος ιωαβ και τις του δαυιδ οπισω ιωαβ
[12] και αμεσσαι πεφυρμενος εν τω αιματι εν μεσω της τριβου και ειδεν ο ανηρ οτι ειστηκει πας ο λαος και απεστρεψεν τον αμεσσαι εκ της τριβου εις αγρον και επερριψεν επ αυτον ιματιον καθοτι ειδεν παντα τον ερχομενον επ αυτον εστηκοτα
[13] ηνικα δε εφθασεν εκ της τριβου παρηλθεν πας ανηρ ισραηλ οπισω ιωαβ του διωξαι οπισω σαβεε υιου βοχορι
[14] και διηλθεν εν πασαις φυλαις ισραηλ εις αβελ και εις βαιθμαχα και παντες εν χαρρι και εξεκκλησιασθησαν και ηλθον κατοπισθεν αυτου
[15] και παρεγενηθησαν και επολιορκουν επ αυτον την αβελ και την βαιθμαχα και εξεχεαν προσχωμα προς την πολιν και εστη εν τω προτειχισματι και πας ο λαος ο μετα ιωαβ ενοουσαν καταβαλειν το τειχος
[16] και εβοησεν γυνη σοφη εκ του τειχους και ειπεν ακουσατε ακουσατε ειπατε δη προς ιωαβ εγγισον εως ωδε και λαλησω προς αυτον
[17] και προσηγγισεν προς αυτην και ειπεν η γυνη ει συ ει ιωαβ ο δε ειπεν εγω ειπεν δε αυτω ακουσον τους λογους της δουλης σου και ειπεν ιωαβ ακουω εγω ειμι
[18] και ειπεν λεγουσα λογον ελαλησαν εν πρωτοις λεγοντες ηρωτημενος ηρωτηθη εν τη αβελ και εν δαν ει εξελιπον α εθεντο οι πιστοι του ισραηλ ερωτωντες επερωτησουσιν εν αβελ και ουτως ει εξελιπον
[19] εγω ειμι ειρηνικα των στηριγματων ισραηλ συ δε ζητεις θανατωσαι πολιν και μητροπολιν εν ισραηλ ινα τι καταποντιζεις κληρονομιαν κυριου
[20] και απεκριθη ιωαβ και ειπεν ιλεως μοι ιλεως μοι ει καταποντιω και ει διαφθερω
[21] ουχ ουτος ο λογος οτι ανηρ εξ ορους εφραιμ σαβεε υιος βοχορι ονομα αυτου και επηρεν την χειρα αυτου επι τον βασιλεα δαυιδ δοτε αυτον μοι μονον και απελευσομαι απανωθεν της πολεως και ειπεν η γυνη προς ιωαβ ιδου η κεφαλη αυτου ριφησεται προς σε δια του τειχους
[22] και εισηλθεν η γυνη προς παντα τον λαον και ελαλησεν προς πασαν την πολιν εν τη σοφια αυτης και αφειλεν την κεφαλην σαβεε υιου βοχορι και εβαλεν προς ιωαβ και εσαλπισεν εν κερατινη και διεσπαρησαν απο της πολεως ανηρ εις τα σκηνωματα αυτου και ιωαβ απεστρεψεν εις ιερουσαλημ προς τον βασιλεα
[23] και ιωαβ προς παση τη δυναμει ισραηλ και βαναιας υιος ιωδαε επι του χερεθθι και επι του φελεθθι
[24] και αδωνιραμ επι του φορου και ιωσαφατ υιος αχιλουθ αναμιμνησκων
[25] και σουσα γραμματευς και σαδωκ και αβιαθαρ ιερεις
[26] και γε ιρας ο ιαριν ην ιερευς του δαυιδ