1 It chanced also that there was there a man of Belial, named Seba, the son of Bochri, a man of Jemini: and he sounded the trumpet, and said: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Isai: Return into thy tabernacles Israel.
1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Seba, the son of Bochri, a man of Jemini: and he sounded the trumpet, and said: We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Isai: return to thy dwellings, O Israel.
2 And all Israel was separated from David, and followed Seba the son of Bochri: but the men of Juda struck to their king from Jordan unto Jerusalem.
2 And all Israel departed from David, and followed Seba the son of Bochri: but the men of Juda stuck to their king from the Jordan unto Jerusalem.
3 And when the king was come into his house to Jerusalem, he took the ten women his concubines, which he had left to keep the house, and he delivered them into custody, allowing them victuals: and he went not in unto them, but they were shut up until the day of their death living in widowhood. And the king said to Amasa:
3 And when the king was come into his house at Jerusalem, he took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them inward, allowing them provisions: and he went not in unto them, but they were shut up unto the day of their death living in widowhood.
4 Call me together all the men of Juda against the third day, and be thou present.
4 And the king said to Amasa: Assemble to me all the men of Juda against the third day, and be thou here present.
5 Amasa therefore went to call together Juda, and tarried beyond the time appointed which the king had assigned him.
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Juda, but he tarried beyond the set time which the king had appointed him.
6 And David said to Abisai: Now will Seba the son of Bochri more afflict us, than Absalom: take therefore the servants of thy lord, and pursue him, lest perhaps he find fenced cities, and escape us.
6 And David said to Abisai: Now will Seba the son of Bochri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou therefore the servants of thy lord, and pursue after him, lest he find fenced cities, and escape us.
7 There went forth therefore with him Joab's men, Cerethi also and Phelethi: and all the strong men issued forth of Jerusalem to pursue Seba the son of Bochri.
7 So Joab’s men went out with him, and the Cerethi and the Phelethi: and all the valiant men went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Seba the son of Bochri.
8 And when they were beside the great stone, which is in Gabaon, Amasa coming met them. Moreover Joab was clothed with a strait coat according to the measure of his stature, and upon it girded with a sword hanging down to the flank, in a scabbard, which being made for the purpose could with light moving come forth and strike.
8 And when they were at the great stone which is in Gabaon, Amasa coming met them. And Joab had on a close coat of equal length with his habit, and over it was girded with a sword hanging down to his flank, in a scabbard, made in such manner as to come out with the least motion and strike.
9 Joab therefore said to Amasa: God save thee my brother. And he held, with his right hand the chin of Amasa, as it were kissing him.
9 And Joab said to Amasa: God save thee, my brother. ¹And he took Amasa by the chin with his right hand to kiss him.
10 But Amasa marked not the sword, which Joab had, who struck him in the side, & poured out his bowels on the ground, neither added he the second wound, and he died. And Joab, and Abisai his brother pursued Seba the son of Bochri.
10 But Amasa did not take notice of the sword, which Joab had, and he struck him in the side, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and gave him not a second wound, and he died. And Joab, and Abisai his brother pursued after Seba the son of Bochri.
11 In the mean time certain men, when they stood by the carcass of Amasa, of Joab's company, said: Lo he that would have been for Joab the companion of David.
11 In the mean time some men of Joab’s company stopping at the dead body of Amasa, said: Behold he that would have been in Joab’s stead the companion of David.
12 And Amasa imbrued with blood, lay in the midst of the way. A certain man saw this, that all the people, stayed to see him, and he removed Amasa out of the way into the field, and covered him with a garment, that they which passed might not stay because of him.
12 And Amasa imbrued with blood, lay in the midst of the way. A certain man saw this that all the people stood still to look upon him, so he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and covered him with a garment, that they who passed might not stop on his account.
13 He therefore being removed out of the way, every man passed following Joab to pursue Seba the son of Bochri.
13 And when he was removed out of the way, all the people went on following Joab to pursue after Seba the son of Bochri.
14 Moreover he had passed through all the tribes of Israel unto Abela, & Bethmaaca: and all the chosen men were gathered together unto him.
14 Now he had passed through all the tribes of Israel unto Abela and Bethmaacha: and all the chosen men were gathered together unto him.
15 They therefore came, and assaulted him in Abela, and in Bethmaaca, & they compassed the city with munitions, & the city was besieged: and all the multitude, that was with Joab, laboured to destroy the walls.
15 And they came, and besieged him in Abela, and in Bethmaacha, and they cast up works round the city, and the city was besieged: and all the people that were with Joab, labored to throw down the walls.
16 And a wise woman cried out from the city: Hear ye, hear ye, tell Joab: Approach hither, and I will speak with thee.
16 And a wise woman cried out from the city: Hear, hear, and say to Joab: Come near hither, and I will speak with thee.
17 Who when he was come to her, she said to him: Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. To whom she spake thus: Hear the words of thy handmaid. Who answered: I do hear.
17 And when he was come near to her, she said to him: Art thou Joab? And he answered: I am. And she spoke thus to him: Hear the words of thy handmaid. He answered: I do hear.
18 And she again said: A saying was used in the old proverb: They that ask, let them ask in Abela: and so they prospered.
18 And she again said: A saying was used in the old proverb: They that inquire, let them inquire in Abela: and so they made an end.
19 Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest to subvert the city, and to overthrow a mother city in Israel? Why throwest thou down headlong the inheritance of our Lord?
19 Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest to destroy the city, and to overthrow a mother in Israel? Why wilt thou throw down the inheritance of the Lord?
20 And Joab answering, said: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I do not throw down, nor destroy.
20 And Joab answering said: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I do not throw down, nor destroy.
21 The matter is not so, but a man of mount Ephraim, Seba the son of Bochri by name, hath lifted up his hand against king David: Deliver him only, and we will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab: Behold his head shall be thrown to thee off the wall.
21 The matter is not so, but a man of mount Ephraim, Seba the son of Bochri by name, hath lifted up his hand against king David: deliver him only, and we will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab: Behold his head shall be thrown to thee from the wall.
22 She therefore went to all the people, and spake to them wisely: who threw the head of Seba the son of Bochri being cut off, to Joab. And he sounded the trumpet, and they departed from the city, every one into their tabernacles: and Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
22 So she went to all the people, and spoke to them wisely: and they cut off the head of Seba the son of Bochri, and cast it out to Joab. And he sounded the trumpet, and they departed from the city, everyone to their home: and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23 Joab therefore was over all the army of Israel: and Banaias the son of Joiada over the Ceretheites and Pheletheites.
23 ²So Joab was over all the army of Israel: and Banaias the son of Joiada was over the Cerethites and Phelethites,
24 But Aduram over the tributes: moreover Josaphat the son of Ahilud, was register.
24 But Aduram over the tributes: and Josaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.
25 And Siva, a scribe: and Sadoc and Abiathar, priests.
25 And Siva was scribe: and Sadoc and Abiathar, priests.
26 And Ira the Jairite was the priest of David.
26 And Ira the Jairite was the priest of David.