Back to 2 Samuel 20

2 Samuel 20:14-22

He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him. 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. Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’ ” 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.”

Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel;’ and so they settled a matter. 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?”

Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 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.”

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.

World English Bible · Public Domain
Show the surrounding paragraph

2 Samuel 20:14-22 sits inside this longer paragraph.

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. When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him. 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. Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’ ” 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.”

Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel;’ and so they settled a matter. 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?”

Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 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.”

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. Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites, Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder, Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests, and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.

Read all of 2 Samuel 20 →

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites. They were gathered together, and went also after him.

    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.

    Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’ ”

    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.”

    Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel;’ and so they settled a matter.

    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?”

    Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

    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.”

    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.

  • KJV King James Version

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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?

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

    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.

    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.

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together, and went in also after him.

    And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood in the moat; and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

    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.'

    And he came near unto her; and the woman said: 'Art thou Joab?' And he answered: 'I am.' Then she said unto him: 'Hear the words of thy handmaid.' And he answered: 'I do hear.'

    Then she spoke, saying: 'They were wont to speak in old time, saying: They shall surely ask counsel at Abel; and so they ended the matter.

    We are of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel; seekest thou to destroy a city and a mother in Israel? why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?'

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

    The matter is not so; but a man of the hill-country of 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.'

    Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the horn, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

View more translations →

Cross-references (70)

  • 1 Samuel 26:19 (v19) Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that Yahweh has stirred you up against me, let him…
  • 2 Samuel 14:2 (v16) Joab sent to Tekoa, and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please,…
  • 2 Kings 19:32 (v15) “Therefore Yahweh says concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there. He will not come before it…
  • 2 Samuel 21:3 (v19) and David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And with what should I make atonement, that you may bless Yahweh’s…
  • Ecclesiastes 9:14-18 (v16) There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. Now a…
Show all 67 cross-references
  • 2 Samuel 20:1 (vv21–22) 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…
  • 2 Kings 15:29 (vv14–15) In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead,…
  • 1 Samuel 25:3 (v16) Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail. This woman was intelligent and had a beautiful face; but the man was…
  • 1 Samuel 25:32-33 (v16) David said to Abigail, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me! Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are…
  • 2 Samuel 17:16 (v19) Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest…
  • Ecclesiastes 7:19 (v22) Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
  • Jeremiah 32:24 (v15) “Behold, siege ramps have come to the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of…
  • 1 Timothy 2:2 (v19) for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.
  • 1 Kings 15:20 (vv14–15) Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth…
  • Genesis 18:23 (v19) Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked?
  • Exodus 19:5-6 (v19) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all…
  • Numbers 16:32 (v19) The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.
  • Numbers 21:16 (v14) From there they traveled to Beer; that is the well of which Yahweh said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”
  • Numbers 26:10 (v19) and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred…
  • Deuteronomy 20:10-11 (v18) When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it. It shall be, if it gives you answer of peace and opens to you,…
  • Deuteronomy 32:9 (v19) For Yahweh’s portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
  • Joshua 18:25 (v14) Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
  • Joshua 24:33 (v21) Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  • Judges 2:9 (v21) They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
  • Judges 5:7 (v19) The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.
  • Judges 7:24 (v21) Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against Midian and take the waters before them as far…
  • Judges 18:4-8 (v21) He said to them, “Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” They said to him, “Please ask…
  • 1 Samuel 24:6 (v21) He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he…
  • 1 Samuel 25:24 (v17) She fell at his feet, and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your…
  • 1 Samuel 26:9 (v21) David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
  • 2 Samuel 2:28 (v22) So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued Israel no more, and they fought no more.
  • 2 Samuel 3:28-39 (v22) Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. Let it…
  • 2 Samuel 11:6-21 (v22) David sent to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah had come to him, David asked him how Joab did, and…
  • 2 Samuel 14:12 (v17) Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.”
  • 2 Samuel 17:2-3 (v21) I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid. All the people who are with him will flee. I will strike the…
  • 2 Samuel 18:16 (v22) Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
  • 2 Samuel 20:10 (v20) 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,…
  • 2 Samuel 20:16 (v22) Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’ ”
  • 2 Samuel 23:17 (v20) He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he…
  • 2 Samuel 23:18 (v21) Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and…
  • 2 Kings 5:22 (v21) He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the…
  • 2 Kings 10:7 (v21) When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them…
  • 2 Chronicles 16:4 (v14) Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and…
  • Job 21:16 (v20) Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
  • Job 22:18 (v20) Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
  • Psalms 124:3 (v19) then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;
  • Proverbs 28:13 (v20) He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
  • Ecclesiastes 8:11 (v22) Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
  • Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 (v22) I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great…
  • Isaiah 37:33 (v15) “Therefore Yahweh says concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither will he come…
  • Jeremiah 4:15 (v21) For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes evil from the hills of Ephraim:
  • Jeremiah 6:6 (v15) For Yahweh of Armies said, “Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be visited. She is wholly oppression…
  • Jeremiah 17:9 (v20) The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
  • Jeremiah 33:4 (v15) For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says concerning the houses of this city and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken…
  • Jeremiah 50:19 (v21) I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. His soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in…
  • Jeremiah 51:34 (v19) “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed…
  • Jeremiah 51:44 (v19) I will execute judgment on Bel in Babylon, and I will bring out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up. The nations will not flow any…
  • Lamentations 2:2 (v19) The Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob without pity. He has thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of…
  • Lamentations 2:5 (v19) The Lord has become as an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces. He has destroyed his strongholds. He has…
  • Lamentations 2:16 (v19) All your enemies have opened their mouth wide against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, “We have swallowed her up. Certainly…
  • Ezekiel 4:2 (v15) Lay siege against it, build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it. Also set camps against it and plant battering rams against it…
  • Ezekiel 16:45-49 (v19) You are the daughter of your mother, who loathes her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their…
  • Luke 10:29 (v20) But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
  • Luke 19:43 (v15) For the days will come on you, when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, surround you, hem you in on every side,
  • Romans 13:3-4 (v19) For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and…
  • 1 Corinthians 15:54 (v19) But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will…
  • 2 Corinthians 5:4 (v19) For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened, not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that…

67 distinct cross-references across this passage (70 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (20 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22 Unto the city Abel, which was near to Beth…

Unto the city Abel, which was near to Beth Maachah.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv14–22 2Sa 20:14 And he went through all the tribes…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22 He went; either,
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v14 We have here the conclusion of Sheba's attempt.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv14–22 And he went through all the tribes of Israel,....…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22 He - Sheba, who marched from tribe to tribe…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21 Verse 14. Unto Abel] This is supposed to have…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 2Sa 20:14. He went through all the tribes —…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 18, 19, 20 Abel - More commonly called 2Sa 20:15 “Abel-Beth-maachah” to…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 Tribes, north-west of the Jordan. (Calmet) --- Abela and…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 18 JOAB PURSUES SHEBA UNTO ABEL. (Sa2 20:14-15)
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22 14. Through all the tribes — That is, all…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22 14–22. Sheba besieged in Abel-Beth-Maachah
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 18, 20, 21, 22 (14) Unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah.—Abel has been identified…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22 And he went through, etc. It was not Joab,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv16, 18 Then cried a wise woman out of the city.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v14 2Sa_20:14. “Abel.” Lit., meadow, and the name of several…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v14 The Death of Sheba
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv14, 17, 20 Sheba passed through
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv14, 15, 16, 18 20:14 Abel-beth-maacah was in the northernmost region of Israelite…
Share