¶ And there happened to be an unthrifty fellow named Seba the son of Bochri a man of Gemini which blew a trumpet and said: we have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Isai, o Israel,
let us depart therefore every man to his tent. And all Israel went from David and followed Seba the son of Bochri. But the men of Iuda clave fast unto the king, from Iordan to Ierusalem.
And when David was come to his house to Ierusalem, he took the ten wives his concubines that he had left behind him to keep the house, and put them in ward and ministered all things unto them: but lay no more with them. And so they were enclosed unto the day of the death of them, and lived a widow's life.
¶ Then said the king to Amasa: call me the men of Iuda together within three days and present thyself here.
And Amasa went to gather the men of Iuda together: but tarried longer than the time which was appointed him.
Wherefore the king said to Abisai: now shall Seba the son of Bochri be worse to us than Absalom. Take thou therefore thy lord's servants and follow after him: lest he get him walled cities and escape us.
And there went out after him Ioab's men and the Cerethites and the Phelethites and the men of might. And they departed out of Ierusalem to follow after Seba the son of Bochri.
And when they were come to the great stone in Gabaon, Amasa met them. And Ioab had his garment that he had about him, gird unto him, and had girded there on a knife joined fast to his loins, in such a sheath that as he went it fell sometimes out.
And Ioab said to Amasa: are all things in rest and peace my brother? And Ioab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him.
And Amasa took no heed to the knife that was in Ioab's hand, with which Ioab smote him in the short ribs, and shed out his bowels to the ground and smote him but one stroke, and he died. And then Ioab and Amisai his brother followed after Seba the son of Bochri.
And one of Ioab's men that stood by him said: what is he that he would be as Ioab, and what is he that would be unto David instead of Ioab?
And Amasa lay wallowing in blood in the midst of the way. And there was a man that saw all the people stond still. And when he saw that all that came by him stood still, he rolled Amasa out of the way into the field and cast a cloth upon him.
And as soon as he was tumbled out of the way, all the people went after Ioab to follow after Seba the son of Bochri.
¶ And he went thorow all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, Bethmaacah and all Barim. And the people gathered unto him and went also after him.
And they came and besieged him in Abel Bethmaacah. And they cast up a bank against the city. And it was besieged. All the people that was with Ioab laboured busily to overthrow the wall.
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, hear hear, bid I pray you Ioab that he come hither, that I may speak with him.
When Ioab was come the woman said: art thou Ioab? And Ioab answered that am I. And she said to him: hear the words of thy handmaid? And he said: I am ready to hear.
And she said: it hath been a common saying in the old time, men must ask of Abel, and then go and finish the work.
Abel is one of the quietest and faithfullest cities that are in Israel. And thou goest about to destroy a city that is as a mother in Israel. Why devourest thou the inheritance of the LORD?
And Ioab answered and said: God forbid, God forbid it me, that I should either devour or destroy it.
The matter is not so: But there is a man of mount Ephraim, Seba the son of Bochri by name, which hath lifted up his hand against king David. Deliver us him onely, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Ioab: Behold, his head shall be thrown thorow the wall to thee.
And then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they smote off the head of Seba son of Bochri, and cast it to Ioab. And he blew a trumpet, and they scattered from the city every man to his tent, and Ioab returned to Ierusalem unto the king.
¶ And Ioab was over all the host of Israel. And Banaiah the son of Iehoiada was over the Cerethites and the Phelethites.
And Aduram was over the tribute. And Iehosaphat the son of Ahilud was Recorder.
Sema was scribe. And Sadock and Abiathar were priests.
And Ira the Iairite was likewise David's priest.
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Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.