2 Samuel 20:21-26

20:21 That’s not the way things are. There is a man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bicri. He has rebelled ¹  against King David. Give me just this one man, and I will leave the city.” The woman said to Joab, “This very minute ²  his head will be thrown over the wall to you!”

20:22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. Joab ³  blew the trumpet, and his men ⁴  dispersed from the city, each going to his own home. ⁵  Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

20:23 Now Joab was the general in command of all the army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites. 20:24 Adoniram ⁶  was supervisor of the work crews. ⁷  Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the secretary. 20:25 Sheva was the scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. 20:26 Ira the Jairite was David’s personal priest. ⁸ 

[20:21]  ¹ tn Heb “lifted his hand.”

[20:21]  ² tn Heb “Look!”

[20:22]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “they”; the referent (Joab’s men) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “his tents.”

[20:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “Adoram” (so KJV, NAB, NRSV, CEV), but see 1 Kgs 4:6; 5:14.

[20:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “was over the forced labor.”

[20:26]  ⁷ tn Heb “priest for David.” KJV (“a chief ruler about David”) and ASV (“chief minister unto David”) regarded this office as political.