2 Samuel

2 Samuel 20:15–22

15And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city.

As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it, 16a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

17When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he replied.

“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said.

“I am listening,” he answered.

18Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. 19I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

20“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.”

“Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

Read all of 2 Samuel 20

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Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

2 Samuel 20:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Joab’s troops cameוַיָּבֹ֜אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
and besiegedוַיָּצֻ֣רוּway·yā·ṣu·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6696 confine, bind, besiege
in Abel-beth-maacahבְּאָבֵ֙לָה֙bə·’ā·ḇê·lāhNoun - proper - feminine singularH59 meadow
and builtוַיִּשְׁפְּכ֤וּway·yiš·pə·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH8210 pour out, pour
a siege rampסֹֽלְלָה֙sō·lə·lāhNoun - feminine singularH5550 mound
against the outer rampartבַּחֵ֑לba·ḥêlPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH2426 rampart, fortress
of the cityהָעִ֔ירhā·‘îrArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
As allוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the troopsהָעָם֙hā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
withאֶת־’eṯ-PrepositionH854 with
Joabיוֹאָ֔בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
were batteringמַשְׁחִיתִ֖םmaš·ḥî·ṯimVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine pluralH7843 go to ruin (?)
the wallהַחוֹמָֽה׃ha·ḥō·w·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH2346 wall
to topple itלְהַפִּ֥ילlə·hap·pîlPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5307 fall, lie

2 Samuel 20:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
a wiseחֲכָמָ֖הḥă·ḵā·māhAdjective - feminine singularH2450 wise
womanאִשָּׁ֥ה’iš·šāhNoun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
called outוַתִּקְרָ֛אwat·tiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
fromמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the cityהָעִ֑ירhā·‘îrArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
Listenשִׁמְע֤וּšim·‘ūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH8085 hear
Listenשִׁמְעוּ֙šim·‘ūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH8085 hear
Pleaseנָ֣אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
tellאִמְרוּ־’im·rū-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH559 utter, say
Joabיוֹאָ֔בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
to comeקְרַ֣בqə·raḇVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH7126 come near, approach
hereהֵ֔נָּהhên·nāhAdverbH2008 hither
so that I may speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֖הwa·’ă·ḏab·bə·rāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH1696 speak
with himאֵלֶֽיךָ׃’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to

2 Samuel 20:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When he had come nearוַיִּקְרַ֣בway·yiq·raḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7126 come near, approach
to herאֵלֶ֔יהָ’ê·le·hāPreposition; third person feminine singularH413 motion to
the womanהָאִשָּׁ֛הhā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
askedוַתֹּ֧אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Are youהַאַתָּ֥הha·’at·tāhArticle; Pronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
Joabיוֹאָ֖בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
Iאָ֑נִי’ā·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
he repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Listenשְׁמַע֙šə·ma‘Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH8085 hear
to the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiḇ·rêNoun - masculine plural constructH1697 speech, word
of your servantאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ’ă·mā·ṯe·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH519 maid, handmaid
she saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
I amאָנֹֽכִי׃’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
listeningשֹׁמֵ֥עַšō·mê·a‘Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH8085 hear
he answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say

2 Samuel 20:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thenוַתֹּ֖אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
Long agoבָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ḇā·ri·šō·nāhPreposition-b, Article; Adjective - feminine singularH7223 former, first, chief
they used to sayדַּבֵּ֨רdab·bêrVerb - Piel - Infinitive absoluteH1696 speak
Seek counselשָׁאֹ֧לšā·’ōlVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteH7592 ask, inquire
at Abelבְּאָבֵ֖לbə·’ā·ḇêlPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH59 meadow
and that is howוְכֵ֥ןwə·ḵênConjunctive waw; AdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
disputes were settledהֵתַֽמּוּ׃hê·ṯam·mūVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralH8552 be complete, finished

2 Samuel 20:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Iאָנֹכִ֕י’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
peaceableשְׁלֻמֵ֖יšə·lu·mêVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural constructH7999 be complete, sound
faithfulאֱמוּנֵ֣י’ĕ·mū·nêAdjective - masculine plural constructH529 trusting, faithfulness
in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
but you areאַתָּ֣ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
tryingמְבַקֵּ֗שׁmə·ḇaq·qêšVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH1245 seek
to destroyלְהָמִ֨יתlə·hā·mîṯPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH4191 die
a cityעִ֤יר‘îrNoun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
that is a motherוְאֵם֙wə·’êmConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH517 mother
in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbə·yiś·rā·’êlPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
Whyלָ֥מָּהlām·māhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
would you swallow upתְבַלַּ֖עṯə·ḇal·la‘Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH1104 swallow down, swallow up, engulf
the LORD’sיְהוָֽה׃פYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna·ḥă·laṯNoun - feminine singular constructH5159 possession, property, inheritance

2 Samuel 20:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Far be itחָלִ֤ילָהḥā·lî·lāhInterjection; third person feminine singularH2486 far be it
Joabיוֹאָ֖בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
declaredוַיֹּאמַ֑רway·yō·marConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Far be itחָלִ֙ילָה֙ḥā·lî·lāhInterjection; third person feminine singularH2486 far be it
from meלִ֔יlîPreposition; first person common singular
toאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
swallow upאֲבַלַּ֖ע’ă·ḇal·la‘Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularH1104 swallow down, swallow up, engulf
orוְאִם־wə·’im-ConjunctionH518 if
destroyאַשְׁחִֽית׃’aš·ḥîṯVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularH7843 go to ruin (?)

2 Samuel 20:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thatהַדָּבָ֗רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
the caseכֵ֣ןḵênAdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
Butכִּ֡יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
a manאִישׁ֩’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
namedשְׁמ֗וֹšə·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH8034 name
Shebaשֶׁ֧בַעše·ḇa‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH7652 Sheba
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Bichriבִּכְרִ֣יbiḵ·rîNoun - proper - masculine singularH1075 Bikri
from the hill countryמֵהַ֨רmê·harPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֜יִם’ep̄·ra·yimNoun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
has liftedנָשָׂ֤אnā·śāVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5375 lift, take, carry
up his handיָדוֹ֙yā·ḏōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3027 hand
against the kingבַּמֶּ֣לֶךְbam·me·leḵPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
against Davidבְּדָוִ֔דbə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
Deliverתְּנֽוּ־tə·nū-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH5414 give, put, set
himאֹת֣וֹ’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
aloneלְבַדּ֔וֹlə·ḇad·dōwPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH905 separation
and I will departוְאֵלְכָ֖הwə·’ê·lə·ḵāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH1980 go, come, walk
fromמֵעַ֣לmê·‘alPreposition-mH5921 height
the cityהָעִ֑ירhā·‘îrArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
Lookהִנֵּ֥הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙hā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
repliedוַתֹּ֤אמֶרwat·tō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
his headרֹאשׁ֛וֹrō·šōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7218 head
will be thrownמֻשְׁלָ֥ךְmuš·lāḵVerb - Hofal - Participle - masculine singularH7993 throw, fling, cast
to youאֵלֶ֖יךָ’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to
overבְּעַ֥דbə·‘aḏPrepositionH1157 separation
the wallהַחוֹמָֽה׃ha·ḥō·w·māhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH2346 wall

2 Samuel 20:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then the womanהָאִשָּׁ֨הhā·’iš·šāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
wentוַתָּבוֹא֩wat·tā·ḇō·wConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the peopleהָעָ֜םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
with her wise counselבְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּbə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯāhPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singularH2451 wisdom
and they cut offוַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּway·yiḵ·rə·ṯūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3772 cut off, cut down
the headרֹ֨אשׁrōšNoun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
of Shebaשֶׁ֤בַעše·ḇa‘Noun - proper - masculine singularH7652 Sheba
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Bichriבִּכְרִי֙biḵ·rîNoun - proper - masculine singularH1075 Bikri
and threwוַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּway·yaš·li·ḵūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7993 throw, fling, cast
it toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Joabיוֹאָ֔בyō·w·’āḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
So he blewוַיִּתְקַע֙way·yiṯ·qa‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH8628 thrust, clap, give a blow, blast
the ram’s hornבַּשּׁוֹפָ֔רbaš·šō·w·p̄ārPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7782 horn
andוַיָּפֻ֥צוּway·yā·p̄u·ṣūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH6327 be dispersed, scattered
fromמֵֽעַל־mê·‘al-Preposition-mH5921 height
the cityהָעִ֖ירhā·‘îrArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
eachאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
to his own homeלְאֹהָלָ֑יוlə·’ō·hā·lāwPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH168 tent
And Joabוְיוֹאָ֛בwə·yō·w·’āḇConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3097 Joab
returnedשָׁ֥בšāḇVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃סham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םyə·rū·šā·limNoun - proper - feminine singularH3389 Jerusalem

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

2 Samuel 20:15 2 Kings 19:32 · Jeremiah 32:24

2 Samuel 20:16 2 Samuel 14:2 · Ecclesiastes 9:14–18 · 1 Samuel 25:32–33 · 1 Samuel 25:3

2 Samuel 20:19 1 Samuel 26:19 · 2 Samuel 21:3 · 1 Timothy 2:2 · 2 Samuel 17:16

2 Samuel 20:22 Ecclesiastes 7:19 · 2 Samuel 20:1

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.