‏ 2 Samuel 20

1And there was a transgressorso called there, and his name was Sabee, a Benjamite, the son of Bochori: and he blew the trumpet,and said, We have no portion in David, neither have weany inheritance in the son of Jessae: to your tents, O Israel, every one. 2And all the men of Israel went up from following David after Sabee the son of Bochori:but the men of Juda adhered to their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3And David went into his house at Jerusalem: and the king took the ten women his concubines,whom he had left to keep the house, and he put them in a place of custody, and maintained them, and wentnot in to them; and they were kept living as widows, till the day of their death. 4And the king said to Amessai, Call to me the men of Juda for three days, and do you bepresent here. 5And Amessai went to call Juda, and delayed beyond the time which David appointed him. 6And David said to Amessai, Now shall Sabee the son of Bochori do us more harm than Abessalom:now then take you with you the servants of your lord, and follow after him, lest he find for himself strongcities, so will he blind our eyes. 7And there went out after him Amessai and the men of Joab, and the Cherethites, and thePhelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sabee the son ofBochori. 8And theywere by the great stone that is in Gabaon: and Amessai went in before them: and Joab had uponhim a military cloak over his apparel, and over it he was girded with a dagger fastened upon his loinsin its scabbard: and the dagger came out, it even came out and fell. 9And Joab said to Amessai, Are you in health,my brother? and the right hand of Joab took hold of the beard of Amessai to kiss him. 10And Amessai observed not the dagger that was in the hand of Joab: and Joab struck himwith it on the loins, and his bowels were shed out upon the ground, and he did not repeat the blow, andhe died: and Joab and Abessai his brother pursued after Sabee the son of Bochori. 11And there stood over him one of the servants of Joab, and said, Whois he that is for Joab, and whois on the side of David following Joab? 12And Amessaiwas weltering in blood in the midst of the way. And a man saw that all the people stood still;and he removed Amessai out of the path into a field, and he cast a garment upon him, because he saw everyone that came to him standing still. 13And when he was quickly removed from the road, every man of Israel passed after Joabto pursue after Sabee the son of Bochori. 14And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Bethmacha; and all in Charritoo were assembled, and followed after him. 15And they came and besieged him in Abel and Phermacha: and they raised a mound againstthe city and it stood close to the wall; and all the people with Joab proposed to throw down the wall. 16And a wise woman cried from the wall, and said, Hear, hear; say, I pray you⌃, to Joab,Draw near hither, and I will speak to him. 17And he drew near to her, and the woman said to him, Are you Joab? and he said, Iam. And she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid; and Joab said, I do hear. 18And she spoke, saying, Of old time they said thus, Surely one was asked in Abel, andDan, whether the faithful in Israel failed in what they purposed; they will surely ask in Abel, even inlike manner, whether they have failed. 19I am a peaceful one of the strong ones in Israel; but you seek to destroy a city anda mother city in Israel: why do you seek to ruin the inheritance of the Lord? 20And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should ruin or destroy. 21Is not the case thus, that a man of mount Ephraim, Sabee, son of Bochori by name, haseven lifted up his hand against king David? Give him only to me, and I will depart from the city. Andthe woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall. 22And the woman went in to all the people, and she spoke to all the city in her wisdom;and they took off the head of Sabee the son of Bochori; and took it away and threw it to Joab: and heblew the trumpet, and the people separated from the city away from him, every man to his tent: and Joabreturned to Jerusalem to the king. 23And Joabwas over all the forces of Israel: and Banaias the son of Jodaewas over the Cherethites and over the Phelethites. 24And Adoniramwas over the tribute: and Josaphath the son of Achiluthwas recorder. 25And Susawas scribe: and Sadoc and Abiatharwere priests. 26Moreover Iras theson of Iarin was priest to David.

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