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] Καὶ () ἐκεῖ () ἐπικαλούμενος () υἱὸς () παράνομος καὶ () ὄνομα () αὐτῷ () Σαβεε υἱὸς () Βοχορι ἀνὴρ () ὁ () Ιεμενι καὶ () ἐσάλπισεν () ἐν () τῇ () κερατίνῃ καὶ () εἶπεν () Οὐκ () ἔστιν () ἡμῖν () μερὶς () ἐν () Δαυιδ () οὐδὲ () κληρονομία () ἡμῖν () ἐν () τῷ () υἱῷ () Ιεσσαι· () ἀνὴρ () εἰς () τὰ () σκηνώματά () σου, () Ισραηλ. ()
[2] Καὶ () ἀνέβη () πᾶς () ἀνὴρ () Ισραηλ () ἀπὸ () ὄπισθεν () Δαυιδ () ὀπίσω () Σαβεε υἱοῦ () Βοχορι, καὶ () ἀνὴρ () Ιουδα ἐκολλήθη () τῷ () βασιλεῖ () αὐτῶν () ἀπὸ () τοῦ () Ιορδάνου () καὶ () ἕως () Ιερουσαλημ. ()
[3] Καὶ () εἰσῆλθεν () Δαυιδ () εἰς () τὸν () οἶκον () αὐτοῦ () εἰς () Ιερουσαλημ, () καὶ () ἔλαβεν () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () τὰς () δέκα () γυναῖκας () τὰς () παλλακὰς αὐτοῦ, () ἃς () ἀφῆκεν () φυλάσσειν () τὸν () οἶκον, () καὶ () ἔδωκεν () αὐτὰς () ἐν () οἴκῳ () φυλακῆς () καὶ () διέθρεψεν αὐτὰς () καὶ () πρὸς () αὐτὰς () οὐκ () εἰσῆλθεν, () καὶ () ἦσαν () συνεχόμεναι () ἕως () ἡμέρας () θανάτου () αὐτῶν, () χῆραι () ζῶσαι. ()—
[4] καὶ () εἶπεν () ὁ () βασιλεὺς () πρὸς () Αμεσσαι Βόησόν () μοι () τὸν () ἄνδρα () Ιουδα τρεῖς () ἡμέρας, () σὺ () δὲ () αὐτοῦ () στῆθι. ()
[5] Καὶ () ἐπορεύθη () Αμεσσαι τοῦ () βοῆσαι () τὸν () Ιουδαν () καὶ () ἐχρόνισεν () ἀπὸ () τοῦ () καιροῦ, () οὗ () ἐτάξατο () αὐτῷ () Δαυιδ. ()
[6] Καὶ () εἶπεν () Δαυιδ () πρὸς () Αβεσσα Νῦν () κακοποιήσει () ἡμᾶς () Σαβεε υἱὸς () Βοχορι ὑπὲρ () Αβεσσαλωμ, καὶ () νῦν () σὺ () λαβὲ () μετὰ () σεαυτοῦ () τοὺς () παῖδας () τοῦ () κυρίου () σου () καὶ () καταδίωξον () ὀπίσω () αὐτοῦ, () μήποτε () ἑαυτῷ () εὕρῃ () πόλεις () ὀχυρὰς καὶ () σκιάσει τοὺς () ὀφθαλμοὺς () ἡμῶν. ()
[7] Καὶ () ἐξῆλθον () ὀπίσω () αὐτοῦ () οἱ () ἄνδρες () Ιωαβ καὶ () ὁ () χερεθθι καὶ () ὁ () φελεθθι καὶ () πάντες () οἱ () δυνατοὶ () καὶ () ἐξῆλθαν () ἐξ () Ιερουσαλημ () διῶξαι () ὀπίσω () Σαβεε υἱοῦ () Βοχορι.—
[8] καὶ () αὐτοὶ () παρὰ () τῷ () λίθῳ () τῷ () μεγάλῳ () τῷ () ἐν () Γαβαων, καὶ () Αμεσσαι εἰσῆλθεν () ἔμπροσθεν () αὐτῶν. () Καὶ () Ιωαβ περιεζωσμένος () μανδύαν τὸ () ἔνδυμα () αὐτοῦ () καὶ () ἐπ’ () αὐτῷ () περιεζωσμένος () μάχαιραν () ἐζευγμένην ἐπὶ () τῆς () ὀσφύος () αὐτοῦ () ἐν () κολεῷ αὐτῆς, () καὶ () ἡ () μάχαιρα () ἐξῆλθεν () καὶ () ἔπεσεν. ()
[9] Καὶ () εἶπεν () Ιωαβ τῷ () Αμεσσαι Εἰ () ὑγιαίνεις () σύ, () ἀδελφέ; () Καὶ () ἐκράτησεν () ἡ () χεὶρ () ἡ () δεξιὰ () Ιωαβ τοῦ () πώγωνος Αμεσσαι τοῦ () καταφιλῆσαι () αὐτόν· ()
[10] καὶ () Αμεσσαι οὐκ () ἐφυλάξατο () τὴν () μάχαιραν () τὴν () ἐν () τῇ () χειρὶ () Ιωαβ, καὶ () ἔπαισεν () αὐτὸν () ἐν () αὐτῇ () Ιωαβ εἰς () τὴν () ψόαν, καὶ () ἐξεχύθη () ἡ () κοιλία () αὐτοῦ () εἰς () τὴν () γῆν, () καὶ () οὐκ () ἐδευτέρωσεν αὐτῷ, () καὶ () ἀπέθανεν. () Καὶ () Ιωαβ καὶ () Αβεσσα ὁ () ἀδελφὸς () αὐτοῦ () ἐδίωξεν () ὀπίσω () Σαβεε υἱοῦ () Βοχορι·
[11] καὶ () ἀνὴρ () ἔστη () ἐπ’ () αὐτὸν () τῶν () παιδαρίων () Ιωαβ καὶ () εἶπεν () Τίς () ὁ () βουλόμενος () Ιωαβ καὶ () τίς () τοῦ () Δαυιδ, () ὀπίσω () Ιωαβ·
[12] καὶ () Αμεσσαι πεφυρμένος ἐν () τῷ () αἵματι () ἐν () μέσῳ () τῆς () τρίβου, () καὶ () εἶδεν () ὁ () ἀνὴρ () ὅτι () εἱστήκει () πᾶς () ὁ () λαός, () καὶ () ἀπέστρεψεν () τὸν () Αμεσσαι ἐκ () τῆς () τρίβου () εἰς () ἀγρὸν () καὶ () ἐπέρριψεν () ἐπ’ () αὐτὸν () ἱμάτιον, () καθότι () εἶδεν () πάντα () τὸν () ἐρχόμενον () ἐπ’ () αὐτὸν () ἑστηκότα· ()
[13] ἡνίκα () δὲ () ἔφθασεν () ἐκ () τῆς () τρίβου, () παρῆλθεν () πᾶς () ἀνὴρ () Ισραηλ () ὀπίσω () Ιωαβ τοῦ () διῶξαι () ὀπίσω () Σαβεε υἱοῦ () Βοχορι.—
[14] καὶ () διῆλθεν () ἐν () πάσαις () φυλαῖς () Ισραηλ () εἰς () Αβελ () καὶ () εἰς () Βαιθμαχα καὶ () πάντες () ἐν () Χαρρι, καὶ () ἐξεκκλησιάσθησαν καὶ () ἦλθον () κατόπισθεν αὐτοῦ. ()
[15] Καὶ () παρεγενήθησαν () καὶ () ἐπολιόρκουν ἐπ’ () αὐτὸν () τὴν () Αβελ () καὶ () τὴν () Βαιθμαχα καὶ () ἐξέχεαν () πρόσχωμα πρὸς () τὴν () πόλιν, () καὶ () ἔστη () ἐν () τῷ () προτειχίσματι, καὶ () πᾶς () ὁ () λαὸς () ὁ () μετὰ () Ιωαβ ἐνοοῦσαν () καταβαλεῖν () τὸ () τεῖχος. ()
[16] Καὶ () ἐβόησεν () γυνὴ () σοφὴ () ἐκ () τοῦ () τείχους () καὶ () εἶπεν () Ἀκούσατε () ἀκούσατε, () εἴπατε () δὴ () πρὸς () Ιωαβ Ἔγγισον () ἕως () ὧδε, () καὶ () λαλήσω () πρὸς () αὐτόν. ()
[17] Καὶ () προσήγγισεν () πρὸς () αὐτήν, () καὶ () εἶπεν () ἡ () γυνή () Εἰ () σὺ () εἶ () Ιωαβ; Ὁ () δὲ () εἶπεν () Ἐγώ. () Εἶπεν () δὲ () αὐτῷ () Ἄκουσον () τοὺς () λόγους () τῆς () δούλης () σου. () Καὶ () εἶπεν () Ιωαβ Ἀκούω () ἐγώ () εἰμι. ()
[18] Καὶ () εἶπεν () λέγουσα () Λόγον () ἐλάλησαν () ἐν () πρώτοις () λέγοντες () Ἠρωτημένος () ἠρωτήθη () ἐν () τῇ () Αβελ () καὶ () ἐν () Δαν εἰ () ἐξέλιπον () ἃ () ἔθεντο () οἱ () πιστοὶ () τοῦ () Ισραηλ, () ἐρωτῶντες () ἐπερωτήσουσιν () ἐν () Αβελ () καὶ () οὕτως () εἰ () ἐξέλιπον. ()
[19] Ἐγώ () εἰμι () εἰρηνικὰ () τῶν () στηριγμάτων Ισραηλ, () σὺ () δὲ () ζητεῖς () θανατῶσαι () πόλιν () καὶ () μητρόπολιν ἐν () Ισραηλ· () ἵνα () τί () καταποντίζεις () κληρονομίαν () κυρίου; ()
[20] Καὶ () ἀπεκρίθη () Ιωαβ καὶ () εἶπεν () Ἵλεώς () μοι () ἵλεώς () μοι, () εἰ () καταποντιῶ () καὶ () εἰ () διαφθερῶ· ()
[21] οὐχ () οὗτος () ὁ () λόγος, () ὅτι () ἀνὴρ () ἐξ () ὄρους () Εφραιμ, () Σαβεε υἱὸς () Βοχορι ὄνομα () αὐτοῦ, () καὶ () ἐπῆρεν () τὴν () χεῖρα () αὐτοῦ () ἐπὶ () τὸν () βασιλέα () Δαυιδ· () δότε () αὐτόν () μοι () μόνον, () καὶ () ἀπελεύσομαι () ἀπάνωθεν τῆς () πόλεως. () Καὶ () εἶπεν () ἡ () γυνὴ () πρὸς () Ιωαβ Ἰδοὺ () ἡ () κεφαλὴ () αὐτοῦ () ῥιφήσεται () πρὸς () σὲ () διὰ () τοῦ () τείχους. ()
[22] Καὶ () εἰσῆλθεν () ἡ () γυνὴ () πρὸς () πάντα () τὸν () λαὸν () καὶ () ἐλάλησεν () πρὸς () πᾶσαν () τὴν () πόλιν () ἐν () τῇ () σοφίᾳ () αὐτῆς· () καὶ () ἀφεῖλεν () τὴν () κεφαλὴν () Σαβεε υἱοῦ () Βοχορι καὶ () ἔβαλεν () πρὸς () Ιωαβ. Καὶ () ἐσάλπισεν () ἐν () κερατίνῃ, καὶ () διεσπάρησαν () ἀπὸ () τῆς () πόλεως () ἀνὴρ () εἰς () τὰ () σκηνώματα () αὐτοῦ· () καὶ () Ιωαβ ἀπέστρεψεν () εἰς () Ιερουσαλημ () πρὸς () τὸν () βασιλέα. ()
[23] Καὶ () Ιωαβ πρὸς () πάσῃ () τῇ () δυνάμει () Ισραηλ, () καὶ () Βαναιας υἱὸς () Ιωδαε ἐπὶ () τοῦ () χερεθθι καὶ () ἐπὶ () τοῦ () φελεθθι,
[24] καὶ () Αδωνιραμ ἐπὶ () τοῦ () φόρου, () καὶ () Ιωσαφατ () υἱὸς () Αχιλουθ ἀναμιμνῄσκων, ()
[25] καὶ () Σουσα γραμματεύς, () καὶ () Σαδωκ () καὶ () Αβιαθαρ () ἱερεῖς, ()
[26] καί () γε () Ιρας ὁ () Ιαριν ἦν () ἱερεὺς () τοῦ () Δαυιδ. ()

Old Testament scripture quotations and versification from Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlfs (Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt, 1935). New Testament quotations are from the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, LLC, Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Both are in the public domain.