The trumpet's blast cut through the air like a blade. A troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, stood among the people. Lifting his voice, he shouted,"We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son!
Every man to his tent, O Israel!"
At once, the men of Israel turned away from David and followed Sheba. But the men of Judah remained loyal, escorting their king from the Jordan all the way back to Jerusalem.
When David entered his palace, the victory tasted bitter. He took the ten concubines he had left behind to care for the house and placed them under guard in another home. He provided for them, yet never went in to them again. They lived out their days confined—widows, though their husband still lived.
Then the king called Amasa.
"Summon the men of Judah," David ordered. "Give them three days. Be here yourself."
Amasa went, but the days passed and he did not return on time.
David turned to Abishai and said, "Sheba son of Bicri will harm us more than Absalom ever did. Take your master's men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape us."
So Joab's men went out—along with the Kerethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty warriors—marching from Jerusalem under Abishai's command to hunt down Sheba.
At the great rock in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them.
Joab approached him, dressed in his military tunic. A dagger hung at his waist. As he stepped forward, the blade slipped from its sheath.
Joab smiled and said,"How are you, my brother?" He reached for Amasa's beard with his right hand, as though to kiss him. Amasa did not see the dagger.
Joab struck.The blade plunged into Amasa's belly, and his insides spilled onto the ground. Joab did not strike again. Amasa fell and died where he stood. Without a word, Joab and his brother Abishai continued after Sheba.
One of Joab's men stood near the body and called out,"Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David—follow Joab!"
But Amasa lay in the middle of the road, soaked in blood, and every soldier who came upon him stopped. Seeing this, the man dragged Amasa from the road into a field and covered him with a garment. Only then did the troops move on.
Sheba fled through all the tribes of Israel, until he reached Abel Beth Maacah, and the Berites gathered around him. Joab's forces surrounded the city and built a siege ramp against it. They battered the wall, preparing to bring it down.
Then a woman's voice rang out from the city.
"Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here—I want to speak with him!" Joab stepped forward.
"Are you Joab?" she asked. "I am," he replied.
"Listen to your servant," she said.
"I'm listening," he answered.
She spoke firmly, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel? Why swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"
Joab answered quickly, "Far be it from me! Far be it from me to destroy or swallow up this city. That is not my purpose. A man named Sheba son of Bicri has rebelled against King David. Hand him over, and I will withdraw."
The woman nodded. "His head will be thrown to you from the wall."
She returned to the people and spoke with wisdom. They cut off Sheba's head and hurled it down to Joab.
Joab lifted the trumpet and sounded the call. The siege ended. The soldiers dispersed, each returning home, and Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
Joab remained commander of Israel's entire army. Benaiah son of Jehoiada led the Kerethites and Pelethites. Adoniram oversaw forced labor. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder. Sheva was secretary.
Zadok and Abiathar served as priests. And Ira the Jairite was David's priest. Thus ended the rebellion—by blood on the road, and by wisdom at the wall.