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of Jerusalem with him； and accompany him during his flight。 He
replied； that this piece of injustice was owing to Ziba； because；
when he was ordered to get things ready for his going out with
him； he took no care of it； but regarded him no more than if he
had been a slave； 〃and； indeed； had I had my feet sound and
strong； I had not deserted thee； for I could then have made use
of them in my flight： but this is not all the injury that Ziba
has done me； as to my duty to thee； my lord and master； but he
hath calumniated me besides； and told lies about me of his own
invention； but I know thy mind will not admit of such calumnies；
but is righteously disposed； and a lover of truth； which it is
also the will of God should prevail。 For when thou wast in the
greatest danger of suffering by my grandfather； and when； on that
account； our whole family might justly have been destroyed； thou
wast moderate and merciful； and didst then especially forget all
those injuries； when； if thou hadst remembered them； thou hadst
the power of punishing us for them； but thou hast judged me to be
thy friend； and hast set me every day at thine own table； nor
have I wanted any thing which one of thine own kinsmen； of
greatest esteem with thee； could have expected。〃 When he had said
this； David resolved neither to punish Mephibosheth； nor to
condemn Ziba； as having belied his master； but said to him； that
as he had ＇before＇ granted all his estate to Ziba； because he did
not come along with him； so he ＇now＇ promised to forgive him； and
ordered that the one half of his estate should be restored to
him。 （20） Whereupon Mephibosheth said； 〃Nay； let Ziba take all；
it suffices me that thou hast recovered thy kingdom。〃
4。 But David desired Barzillai the Gileadite； that great and good
man； and one that had made a plentiful provision for him at
Mahanaim； and had conducted him as far as Jordan； to accompany
him to Jerusalem； for he promised to treat him in his old age
with all manner of respect … to take care of him； and provide for
him。 But Barzillai was so desirous to live at home； that he
entreated him to excuse him from attendance on him； and said that
his age was too great to enjoy the pleasures ＇of a court；＇ since
he was fourscore years old； and was therefore making provision
for his death and burial： so he desired him to gratify him in
this request； and dismiss him； for he had no relish of his meat；
or his drink； by reason of his age； and that his ears were too
much shut up to hear the sound of pipes； or the melody of other
musical instruments； such as all those that live with kings
delight in。 When he entreated for this so earnestly； the king
said； 〃I dismiss thee； but thou shalt grant me thy son Chimham；
and upon him I will bestow all sorts of good things。〃 So
Barzillai left his son with him； and worshipped the king； and
wished him a prosperous conclusion of all his affairs according
to his own mind； and then returned home； but David came to
Gilgal； having about him half the people ＇of Israel＇； and the
＇whole＇ tribe of Judah。
5。 Now the principal men of the country came to Gilgal to him
with a great multitude； and complained of the tribe of Judah；
that they had come to him in a private manner； whereas they ought
all conjointly； and with one and the same intention； to have
given him the meeting。 But the rulers of the tribe of Judah
desired them not to be displeased； if they had been prevented by
them； for； said they； 〃We are David's kinsmen； and on that
account we the rather took care of him； and loved him； and。 so
came first to him；〃 yet had they not； by their early coming；
received any gifts from him； which might give them who came last
any uneasiness。 When the rulers of the tribe of Judah had said
this； the rulers of the other tribes were not quiet； but said
further； 〃O brethren； we cannot but wonder at you when you call
the king your kinsman alone； whereas he that hath received from
God the power over all of us in common ought to be esteemed a
kinsman to us all； for which reason the whole people have eleven
parts in him； and you but one part （21） we are also elder than
you； wherefore you have not done justly in coming to the king in
this private and concealed manner。〃
6。 While these rulers were thus disputing one with another；。 a
certain wicked man； who took a pleasure in seditious practices；
（his name was Sheba； the son of Bichri； of the tribe of
Benjamin；） stood up in the midst of the multitude； and cried
aloud； and spake thus to them： 〃We have no part in David； nor
inheritance in the son of Jesse。〃 And when he had used those
words； he blew with a trumpet； and declared war against the king；
and they all left David； and followed him； the tribe of Judah
alone staid with him； and settled him in his royal palace at
Jerusalem。 But as for his concubines； with whom Absalom his son
had accompanied； truly he removed them to another house； and
ordered those that had the care of them to make a plentiful
provision for them； but he came not near them any more。 He also
appointed Amass for the captain of his forces； and gave him the
same high office which Joab before had； and he commanded him to
gather together； out of the tribe of Judah； as great an army as
he could； and come to him within three days； that he might
deliver to him his entire army； and might send him to fight
against ＇Sheba＇ the son of Bichri。 Now while Amass was gone out；
and made some delay in gathering the army together； and so was
not yet returned； on the third day the king said to Joab； 〃It is
not fit we should make any delay in this affair of Sheba； lest he
get a numerous army about him； and be the occasion of greater
mischief； and hurt our affairs more than did Absalom himself； do
not thou therefore wait any longer； but take such forces as thou
hast at hand； and that ＇old＇ body of six hundred men； and thy
brother Abishai； with thee； and pursue after our enemy； and
endeavor to fight him wheresoever thou canst overtake him。 Make
haste to prevent him； lest he seize upon some fenced cities； and
cause us great labor and pains before we take him。〃
7。 So Joab resolved to make no delay； but taking with him his
brother； and those six hundred men； and giving orders that the
rest of the army which was at Jerusalem should follow him； he
marched with great speed against Sheba； and when he was come to
Gibeon； which is a village forty furlongs distant from Jerusalem；
Amasa brought a great army with him； and met Joab。 Now Joab was
girded with a sword； and his breastplate on； and when Amasa came
near him to salute him； he took particular care that his sword
should fall out； as it were； of its own accord： so he took it up
from the ground； and while he approached Amasa； who was then near
him； as though he would kiss him； he took hold of Amasa's beard
with his other hand； and he smote him in his belly when he did
not foresee it； and slew him。 This impious and altogether profane
action Joab did to a good young man； and his kinsman； and one
that had done him no injury； and this out of jealousy that he
would obtain the chief command of the army； and be in equal
dignity with himself about the king； and for the same cause it
was that he killed Abner。 But as to that former wicked action；
the death of his brother Asahel； which he seemed to revenge；
afforded him a decent pretense； and made that crime a pardonable
one； but in this murder of Amasa there was no such covering for
it。 Now when Joab had killed this general； he pursued after
Sheba； having left a man with the dead body； who was ordered to
proclaim aloud to the army； that Amasa was justly slain； and
deservedly punished。 〃But；〃 said he； 〃if you be for the king；
follow Joab his general； and Abishai； Joab's brother：〃 but
because the body lay on the road； and all the multitude came
running to it； and； as is usual with the multitude； stood
wondering a great while at it； he that guarded it removed it
thence； and carried it to a certain place that was very remote
from the road； and there laid it； and covered it with his
garment。 When this was done； all the people followed Joab。 Now as
he pursued Sheba through all the country of Israel； one told him
that he was in a strong city； called Abelbeth…maachah。 Hereupon
Joab went thither； and set about it with his army； and cast up a
bank round it； and ordered his soldiers to undermine the walls；
and to overthrow them； and since the people in the city did not
admit him； he was greatly displeased at them。
8。 Now there was a woman of small account； and yet both wise and
intelligent； who seeing her native city lying at the last
extremity； ascended upon the wall； and； by means of the armed
men； called for Joab； and when he came to her； she began to say；
That 〃God ordained kings and generals of armies； that they might
cut off the enemies of the Hebrews； and introduce a universal
peace among them； but thou art endeavoring to overthrow and
depopulate a metropolis of the Israelites； which hath been guilty
of no offense。〃 But he replied； 〃God continue to be merciful unto
me： I am disposed to avoid killing any one of the people； much
less would I destroy such a city as this； and if they will
deliver