2 Samuel 20read 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 H7122 (8738) to be there a man H376 of Belial H1100, whose name H8034 [was] Sheba H7652, the son H1121 of Bichri H1075, a Benjamite H1145: and he blew H8628 (8799) a trumpet H7782, and said H559 (8799), We have no part H2506 in David H1732, neither have we inheritance H5159 in the son H1121 of Jesse H3448: every H376 man H376 to his tents H168, O Israel H3478.
[2] So every man H376 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 (8799) from after H310 David H1732, [and] followed H310 Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075: but the men H376 of Judah H3063 clave H1692 (8804) unto their king H4428, from Jordan H3383 even to Jerusalem H3389.
[3] And David H1732 came H935 (8799) to his house H1004 at Jerusalem H3389; and the king H4428 took H3947 (8799) the ten H6235 women H802 [his] concubines H6370, whom he had left H3240 (8689) to keep H8104 (8800) the house H1004, and put H5414 (8799) them in ward H4931, and fed H3557 (8770) them, but went not in H935 (8804) unto them. So they were shut up H6887 (8803) unto the day H3117 of their death H4191 (8800), living H2424 in widowhood H491.
[4] Then said H559 (8799) the king H4428 to Amasa H6021, Assemble H2199 (8685) me the men H376 of Judah H3063 within three H7969 days H3117, and be thou here present H5975 (8798).
[5] So Amasa H6021 went H3212 (8799) to assemble H2199 (8687) [the men of] Judah H3063: but he tarried longer H309 (8799) (8675) H3186 (8799) than the set time H4150 which he had appointed H3259 (8804) him.
[6] And David H1732 said H559 (8799) to Abishai H52, Now shall Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075 do us more harm H3415 (8799) than [did] Absalom H53: take H3947 (8798) thou thy lord’s H113 servants H5650, and pursue H7291 (8798) after H310 him, lest he get H4672 (8804) him fenced H1219 (8803) cities H5892, and escape H5337 (8689) us H5869.
[7] And there went out H3318 (8799) after H310 him Joab’s H3097 men H582, and the Cherethites H3774, and the Pelethites H6432, and all the mighty men H1368: and they went out H3318 (8799) of Jerusalem H3389, to pursue H7291 (8800) after H310 Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075.
[8] When they [were] at the great H1419 stone H68 which [is] in Gibeon H1391, Amasa H6021 went H935 (8804) before H6440 them. And Joab’s H3097 garment H4055 that he had put on H3830 was girded H2296 (8803) unto him, and upon it a girdle H2289 [with] a sword H2719 fastened H6775 (8794) upon his loins H4975 in the sheath H8593 thereof; and as he went forth H3318 (8804) it fell out H5307 (8799).
[9] And Joab H3097 said H559 (8799) to Amasa H6021, [Art] thou in health H7965, my brother H251? And Joab H3097 took H270 (8799) Amasa H6021 by the beard H2206 with the right H3225 hand H3027 to kiss H5401 (8800) him.
[10] But Amasa H6021 took no heed H8104 (8738) to the sword H2719 that [was] in Joab’s H3097 hand H3027: so he smote H5221 (8686) him therewith in the fifth H2570 [rib], and shed out H8210 (8799) his bowels H4578 to the ground H776, and struck him not again H8138 (8804); and he died H4191 (8799). So Joab H3097 and Abishai H52 his brother H251 pursued H7291 (8804) after H310 Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075.
[11] And one H376 of Joab’s H3097 men H5288 stood H5975 (8804) by him, and said H559 (8799), He H4310 that favoureth H2654 (8804) Joab H3097, and he that [is] for David H1732, [let him go] after H310 Joab H3097.
[12] And Amasa H6021 wallowed H1556 (8706) in blood H1818 in the midst H8432 of the highway H4546. And when the man H376 saw H7200 (8799) that all the people H5971 stood still H5975 (8804), he removed H5437 (8686) Amasa H6021 out of the highway H4546 into the field H7704, and cast H7993 (8686) a cloth H899 upon him, when he saw H7200 (8804) that every one that came H935 (8802) by him stood still H5975 (8804).
[13] When he was removed H3014 (8689) out of the highway H4546, all the people H376 went on H5674 (8804) after H310 Joab H3097, to pursue H7291 (8800) after H310 Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075.
[14] And he went H5674 (8799) through all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 unto Abel H59, and to Bethmaachah H1038, and all the Berites H1276: and they were gathered together H6950 (8735) (8675) H7035 (8735), and went H935 (8799) also after H310 him.
[15] And they came H935 (8799) and besieged H6696 (8799) him in Abel H59 of Bethmaachah H1038, and they cast up H8210 (8799) a bank H5550 against the city H5892, and it stood H5975 (8799) in the trench H2426: and all the people H5971 that [were] with Joab H3097 battered H7843 (8688) the wall H2346, to throw it down H5307 (8687).
[16] Then cried H7121 (8799) a wise H2450 woman H802 out of the city H5892, Hear H8085 (8798), hear H8085 (8798); say H559 (8798), I pray you, unto Joab H3097, Come near H7126 (8798) hither, that I may speak H1696 (8762) with thee.
[17] And when he was come near H7126 (8799) unto her, the woman H802 said H559 (8799), [Art] thou Joab H3097? And he answered H559 (8799), I [am he]. Then she said H559 (8799) unto him, Hear H8085 (8798) the words H1697 of thine handmaid H519. And he answered H559 (8799), I do hear H8085 (8802).
[18] Then she spake H559 (8799), saying H559 (8800), They were wont H1696 (8763) to speak H1696 (8762) in old time H7223, saying H559 (8800), They shall surely H7592 (8800) ask H7592 (8762) [counsel] at Abel H59: and so they ended H8552 (8689) [the matter].
[19] I [am one of them that are] peaceable H7999 (8803) [and] faithful H539 (8803) in Israel H3478: thou seekest H1245 (8764) to destroy H4191 (8687) a city H5892 and a mother H517 in Israel H3478: why wilt thou swallow up H1104 (8762) the inheritance H5159 of the LORD H3068?
[20] And Joab H3097 answered H6030 (8799) and said H559 (8799), Far be it H2486, far be it H2486 from me, that I should swallow up H1104 (8762) or destroy H7843 (8686).
[21] The matter H1697 [is] not so: but a man H376 of mount H2022 Ephraim H669, Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075 by name H8034, hath lifted up H5375 (8804) his hand H3027 against the king H4428, [even] against David H1732: deliver H5414 (8798) him only, and I will depart H3212 (8799) from the city H5892. And the woman H802 said H559 (8799) unto Joab H3097, Behold, his head H7218 shall be thrown H7993 (8716) to thee over H1157 the wall H2346.
[22] Then the woman H802 went H935 (8799) unto all the people H5971 in her wisdom H2451. And they cut off H3772 (8799) the head H7218 of Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075, and cast H7993 (8686) [it] out to Joab H3097. And he blew H8628 (8799) a trumpet H7782, and they retired H6327 (8799) from the city H5892, every man H376 to his tent H168. And Joab H3097 returned H7725 (8804) to Jerusalem H3389 unto the king H4428.
[23] Now Joab H3097 [was] over all the host H6635 of Israel H3478: and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada H3077 [was] over the Cherethites H3774 (8675) H3746 and over the Pelethites H6432:
[24] And Adoram H151 [was] over the tribute H4522: and Jehoshaphat H3092 the son H1121 of Ahilud H286 [was] recorder H2142 (8688):
[25] And Sheva H7864 (8675) H7724 [was] scribe H5608 (8802): and Zadok H6659 and Abiathar H54 [were] the priests H3548:
[26] And Ira H5896 also the Jairite H2972 was a chief ruler H3548 about David H1732.
Young’s Literal Translation
2 Samuel 20 (YLT)
[1] And there hath been called there a man of worthlessness, and his name is Sheba, son of Bichri, a Benjamite, and he bloweth with a trumpet, and saith, ‘We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; each to his tents, O Israel.’
[2] And every man of Israel goeth up from after David, after Sheba son of Bichri, and the men of Judah have cleaved to their king, from the Jordan even unto Jerusalem.
[3] And David cometh in unto his house at Jerusalem, and the king taketh the ten women-concubines-whom he had left to keep the house, and putteth them in a house of ward, and sustaineth them, and unto them he hath not gone in, and they are shut up unto the day of their death, in widowhood living.
[4] And the king saith unto Amasa, ‘Call for me the men of Judah in three days, and thou, stand here,’
[5] and Amasa goeth to call Judah, and tarrieth beyond the appointed time that he had appointed him;
[6] and David saith unto Abishai, ‘Now doth Sheba son of Bichri do evil to us more than Absalom; thou, take the servants of thy lord, and pursue after him, lest he have found for himself fenced cities, and delivered himself from our eye.’
[7] And the men of Joab go out after him, and the Cherethite, and the Pelethite, and all the mighty men, and they go out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri;
[8] they are near the great stone that is in Gibeon, and Amasa hath gone before them, and Joab is girded; his long robe he hath put on him, and upon it a girdle-a sword is fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and he hath gone out, and it falleth.
[9] And Joab saith to Amasa, ‘Art thou in peace, my brother?’ and the right hand of Joab layeth hold on the beard of Amasa to give a kiss to him;
[10] and Amasa hath not been watchful of the sword that is in the hand of Joab, and he smiteth him with it unto the fifth rib, and sheddeth out his bowels to the earth, and he hath not repeated it to him, and he dieth; and Joab and Abishai his brother have pursued after Sheba son of Bichri.
[11] And a man hath stood by him, of the young men of Joab, and saith, ‘He who hath delight in Joab, and he who is for David-after Joab!’
[12] And Amasa is rolling himself in blood, in the midst of the highway, and the man seeth that all the people have stood still, and he bringeth round Amasa out of the highway to the field, and casteth over him a garment, when he hath seen that every one who hath come by him-hath stood still.
[13] When he hath been removed out of the highway, every man hath passed on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri.
[14] And he passeth over through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-Maachah, and to all the Berites, and they are assembled, and go in also after him,
[15] and they go in and lay siege against him, in Abel of Beth-Maachah, and cast up a mount against the city, and it standeth in a trench, and all the people who are are with Joab are destroying, to cause the wall to fall.
[16] And a wise woman calleth out of the city, ‘Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, and I speak unto thee.’
[17] And he cometh near unto her, and the woman saith, ‘Art thou Joab?’ and he saith, ‘I am.’ And she saith to him, ‘Hear the words of thy handmaid;’ and he saith, ‘I am hearing.’
[18] And she speaketh, saying, ‘They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.
[19] I am of the peaceable-faithful ones of Israel; thou art seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel; why dost thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
[20] And Joab answereth and saith, ‘Far be it-far be it from me; I do not swallow up nor destroy.
[21] The matter is not so; for a man of the hill-country of Ephraim-Sheba son of Bichri his name-hath lifted up his hand against the king, against David; give ye up him by himself, and I go away from the city.’ And the woman saith unto Joab, ‘Lo, his head is cast unto thee over the wall.’
[22] And the woman cometh unto all the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and cast it unto Joab, and he bloweth with a trumpet, and they are scattered from the city, each to his tents, and Joab hath turned back to Jerusalem unto the king.
[23] And Joab is over all the host of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada is over the Cherethite, and over the Pelethite,
[24] and Adoram is over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud is the remembrancer,
[25] and Sheva is scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar are priests,
[26] and also, Ira the Jairite hath been minister to David.