2 Samuel

Focuses on King David's reign, his troubles, successes, and the promise of his dynasty.

Chapter 20

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.

*There was a man named Sheba, who didn't like David or his family. He told everyone to go back to their own tribes, saying they had no place with David or his son, Jesse.

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.

*All men of Israel left David and joined Sheba, son of Bichri. However, the people of Judah stayed loyal to their king, from the Jordan River 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.

*David returned to his home in Jerusalem. He took the ten women who used to take care of the house when he was gone and kept them safe. He gave them food but didn't have a relationship with them. They stayed like this until they passed away, never remarrying.

4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

*Then the king told Amasa, "Gather the people of Judah in three days, and you come here too."

5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

*Amasa gathered Judah's men but took too long, past the time he planned for it.

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.

*David told Abishai, "Sheba, son of Bichri, could hurt us even more than Absalom did. Go, take the servants, and chase after him so he can't reach fortified cities and escape from 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.

*Joab's soldiers, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites—all strong fighters—left Jerusalem to chase after Sheba, who was Bichri's son.

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.

*At the big rock in Gibeon, Amasa went first. Joab wore a belt with a sword attached. It accidentally came loose as he walked.

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.

*Joab asked Amasa, "Are you doing well?" and then he grabbed Amasa's beard with his right hand to give him a kiss.

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.

*But Amasa didn't pay attention to the sword Joab had. So, Joab used it to hurt Amasa in his side, spilling his insides on the ground, and didn't hurt him again; and Amasa died. Then, Joab and his brother Abishai chased after Sheba, who was Bichri's son.

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.

*A man with Joab said, "Anyone who supports Joab or prefers David should follow 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.

*And Amasa was covered in blood on the road. When the man noticed everyone stopped, he moved Amasa from the road to a field and put a cloth over him, as he saw people kept stopping.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

*When he left the main road, everyone followed Joab to chase Sheba, who was Bichri's son.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

*He traveled to all of Israel's tribes, reaching Abel, Bethmaachah, and the Berites. They all came together and followed him too.

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, 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.

*They arrived at Abel of Bethmaachah and surrounded him. They built a mound next to the city which stayed in place. Everyone with Joab hit the city walls to knock them 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.

*Then a smart lady from the city shouted, Listen, listen! Please come closer, Joab, so we can talk.

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.

*When Joab got close to the woman, she asked, "Are you Joab?" He replied, "Yes, I am." Then she said, "Listen to my message." He responded, "I'm listening."

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.

*Then she said, "In the past, people used to say that they would seek advice from Abel. So, they concluded the issue."

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?

*I'm one of the peaceful, loyal people in Israel. You want to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why are you taking over the Lord's inheritance?

20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

*Joab replied, "I don't want and won't do that; it's not my intention to completely eliminate or annihilate."

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.

*It's not that big of a deal. A man from Mount Ephraim, named Sheba, son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. If you save David, I will leave the city. The woman told Joab, "I'll throw his head over the wall to you."

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.

*Then the wise woman spoke to everyone. They killed Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw his head to Joab. Joab sounded a horn, so people left the city and went back to their homes. Then, Joab went back to King David in Jerusalem.

23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

*Now, Joab led all of Israel's army. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, managed the Cherethites and Pelethites.

24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

*And Adoram was in charge of the taxes: and Jehoshaphat, Ahilud's son, kept the records.

25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

*Sheva wrote things down, and Zadok and Abiathar were the ones who led religious ceremonies.

26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

*Ira, a leader from the tribe of Jairites, was an important ruler over David.

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