²¹ That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”

The woman said to Joab, “His head^(A) will be thrown to you from the wall.”

⁷ When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy^(A) of them. They put their heads^(B) in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.

²² “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent^[a] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”^(A)

¹⁸ Abishai^(A) the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.^[a] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.

Sheba Rebels Against David

20 Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

² I would attack him while he is weary and weak.^(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king^{(B) 3} and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed^(A) and be guiltless?^(B)