1Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, 'We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!'
1在那裡恰巧有一個匪徒，名叫示巴，是便雅憫人比基利的兒子。他吹角，說：我們與大衛無分，與耶西的兒子無涉。以色列人哪，你們各回各家去罷！
2So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David [and] followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
2於是以色列人都離開大衛，跟隨比基利的兒子示巴。但猶大人從約但河直到耶路撒冷，都緊緊跟隨他們的王。
3Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.
3大衛王來到耶路撒冷，進了宮殿，就把從前留下看守宮殿的十個妃嬪禁閉在冷宮，養活他們，不與他們親近。他們如同寡婦被禁，直到死的日子。
4Then the king said to Amasa, 'Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.'
4王對亞瑪撒說：你要在三日之內將猶大人招聚了來，你也回到這裡來。
5So Amasa went to call out [the men of] Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
5亞瑪撒就去招聚猶大人，卻耽延過了王所限的日期。
6And David said to Abishai, 'Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord's servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.'
6大衛對亞比篩說：現在恐怕比基利的兒子示巴加害於我們比押沙龍更甚。你要帶領你主的僕人追趕他，免得他得了堅固城，躲避我們。
7So Joab's men went out after him, along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
7約押的人和基利提人、比利提人，並所有的勇士，都跟著亞比篩，從耶路撒冷出去追趕比基利的兒子示巴。
8When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out.
8他們到了基遍的大磐石那裡，亞瑪撒來迎接他們。那時約押穿著戰衣，腰束佩刀的帶子，刀在鞘內；約押前行，刀從鞘內掉出來。
9Joab said to Amasa, 'Is it well with you, my brother?' And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
9約押左手拾起刀來，對亞瑪撒說：我兄弟，你好啊！就用右手抓住亞瑪撒的鬍子，要與他親嘴。
10But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab's hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not [strike] him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
10亞瑪撒沒有防備約押手裡所拿的刀；約押用刀刺入他的肚腹，他的腸子流在地上，沒有再刺他，就死了。約押和他兄弟亞比篩往前追趕比基利的兒子示巴。
11Now there stood by him one of Joab's young men, and said, 'Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, [let him] follow Joab.'
11有約押的一個少年人站在亞瑪撒屍身旁邊，對眾人說：誰喜悅約押，誰歸順大衛，就當跟隨約押去。
12But Amasa lay wallowing in [his] blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
12亞瑪撒在道路上滾在自己的血裡。那人見眾民經過都站住，就把亞瑪撒的屍身從路上挪到田間，用衣服遮蓋。
13As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
13屍身從路上挪移之後，眾民就都跟隨約押去追趕比基利的兒子示巴。
14Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him.
14他走遍以色列各支派，直到伯瑪迦的亞比拉，並比利人的全地；那些地方的人也都聚集跟隨他。
15They came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall.
15約押和跟隨的人到了伯瑪迦的亞比拉，圍困示巴，就對著城築壘；跟隨約押的眾民用錘撞城，要使城塌陷。
16Then a wise woman called from the city, 'Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here that I may speak with you.''
16有一個聰明婦人從城上呼叫說：聽啊，聽啊，請約押近前來，我好與他說話。
17So he approached her, and the woman said, 'Are you Joab?' And he answered, 'I am.' Then she said to him, 'Listen to the words of your maidservant.' And he answered, 'I am listening.'
17約押就近前來，婦人問他說：你是約押不是？他說：我是。婦人說：求你聽婢女的話。約押說：我聽。
18Then she spoke, saying, 'Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask [advice] at Abel,' and thus they ended [the dispute].
18婦人說：古時有話說，當先在亞比拉求問，然後事就定妥。
19'I am of those who are peaceable [and] faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?'
19我們這城的人在以色列人中是和平、忠厚的。你為何要毀壞以色列中的大城，吞滅耶和華的產業呢？
20Joab replied, 'Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
20約押回答說：我決不吞滅毀壞，
21'Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.' And the woman said to Joab, 'Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.'
21乃因以法蓮山地的一個人─比基利的兒子示巴─舉手攻擊大衛王，你們若將他一人交出來，我便離城而去。婦人對約押說：那人的首級必從城牆上丟給你。
22Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.
22婦人就憑他的智慧去勸眾人。他們便割下比基利的兒子示巴的首級，丟給約押。約押吹角，眾人就離城而散，各歸各家去了。約押回耶路撒冷，到王那裡。
23Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
23約押作以色列全軍的元帥；耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人；
24and Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;
24亞多蘭掌管服苦的人；亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官；
25and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
25示法作書記；撒督和亞比亞他作祭司長；
26and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.
26睚珥人以拉作大衛的宰相。