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Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 20

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2 Samuel 20 NWT - New World Translation2 Samuel 20 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 20 of 2 Samuel—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ Now there happened to be there a good-for-nothing man,[a]1 whose name was Sheʹba,2 the son of Bichʹri a Benʹja·min·ite; and he proceeded to blow the horn3 and say: “We have no share in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesʹse.4 Every one to his gods,[b]5 O Israel!”
  2. At that all the men of Israel began to go up from following David to follow Sheʹba the son of Bichʹri;6 but as for the men of Judah, they stuck to their king from the Jordan to Jerusalem.7
  3. ¶ Eventually David came to his house at Jerusalem.8 Then the king took the ten women,9 the concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the house, and he put them in a house of confinement, but he kept on supplying food to them. And with them he did not have any relations,10 but they continued shut up closely until the day of their dying, in a widowhood with a living [husband].[c]
  4. ¶ The king now said to A·maʹsa:11 “Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and you yourself stand here.”
  5. So A·maʹsa went to call Judah together; but he came later than the fixed time that he had appointed for him.
  6. Then David said to A·bishʹai:12 “Now Sheʹba13 the son of Bichʹri will be worse for us than Abʹsa·lom.14 You yourself take the servants15 of your lord and chase after him, that he may not actually find for himself fortified cities and escape before our eyes.”[d]
  7. Accordingly the men of Joʹab16 and the Cherʹe·thites17 and the Pelʹe·thites18 and all the mighty men went out after him; and they went on out of Jerusalem to chase after Sheʹba the son of Bichʹri.
  8. They were close by the great stone that is in Gibʹe·on,19 and A·maʹsa20 himself came to meet them. Now Joʹab was girded, clothed with a garment; and upon him there was girded a sword attached to his hip, in its sheath. And he himself came forth, and so it[e] fell out.
  9. ¶ And Joʹab proceeded to say to A·maʹsa: “Is it all right with you, my brother?”21 Then Joʹab’s right hand took hold of A·maʹsa’s beard so as to kiss him.22
  10. As for A·maʹsa, he was not on guard against the sword that was in Joʹab’s hand; so that he struck him23 with it in the abdomen, and his intestines spilled out to the earth, and he did not have to do it to him again. So he died. And Joʹab and A·bishʹai his brother, for their part, chased after Sheʹba the son of Bichʹri.
  11. ¶ And a certain one of Joʹab’s young men stood over him and kept saying: “Whoever has found delight in Joʹab and whoever belongs to David,24 let him follow Joʹab!”
  12. All the while A·maʹsa was wallowing in the blood25 in the middle of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, then he moved A·maʹsa from the highway to the field. Finally he cast a garment over him, as he saw that everyone coming up to him stood still.26
  13. As soon as he had removed him from the highway, each man passed by following Joʹab to chase after Sheʹba27 the son of Bichʹri.
  14. ¶ And [Sheʹba] went passing through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maʹa·cah.28 As for all the Bichʹrites,[f] they then congregated together and also went in after him.
  15. ¶ And they proceeded to come and lay siege against him in Abel of Beth-maʹa·cah and cast up a siege rampart against the city,29 as it was standing within a rampart. And all the people that were with Joʹab were undermining the wall, to throw it down.
  16. And a wise woman30 began to call from the city: “Listen, men, listen! Say, please, to Joʹab, ‘Come near as far as here, and let me speak to you.’”
  17. So he went near to her, and the woman then said: “Are you Joʹab?” to which he said: “I am.” At this she said to him: “Listen to the words of your slave girl.”31 In turn he said: “I am listening.”
  18. And she went on to say: “Without exception they used to speak in former times, saying, ‘Let them but inquire in Abel, and thus they will certainly end the matter.’
  19. I represent the peaceable32 and faithful33 ones of Israel. You are seeking to put to death a city34 and a mother in Israel. Why should you swallow35 up the inheritance36 of Jehovah?”
  20. To this Joʹab answered and said: “It is altogether unthinkable on my part that I should swallow up and that I should bring to ruin.
  21. The matter is not that way, but a man from the mountainous region of Eʹphra·im,37 whose name is Sheʹba38 the son of Bichʹri, has lifted up his hand against King David.39 YOU people, give him over by himself,40 and I will withdraw from the city.”41 Then the woman said to Joʹab: “Look! His head42 [will be] pitched to you over the wall!”
  22. ¶ At once the woman went in her wisdom43 to all the people, and they proceeded to cut off the head of Sheʹba the son of Bichʹri and pitch it to Joʹab. Upon that he blew the horn,44 and so they were scattered from the city, each one to his home;[g] and Joʹab himself returned to Jerusalem to the king.
  23. ¶ And Joʹab was over all the army45 of Israel; and Be·naiʹah46 the son of Je·hoiʹa·da47 was over the Cherʹe·thites48 and over the Pelʹe·thites.49
  24. And A·doʹram50 was over those conscripted for forced labor; and Je·hoshʹa·phat51 the son of A·hiʹlud was the recorder.[h]
  25. And Sheʹva52 was secretary,53 and Zaʹdok54 and A·biʹa·thar55 were priests.
  26. And Iʹra the Jaʹir·ite also became a priest[i]56 of David.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Or, “a scoundrel.” Lit., “a man of belial (worthlessness).”
  2. ^ “To his gods.” Lit., “to his tents.” Heb., leʼo·ha·lavʹ. One of the Eighteen Emendations of the Sopherim, the original Heb. text being alleged to have read leʼ·lo·havʹ (from ʼelo·himʹ, “gods” or “God”). See App 2B.
  3. ^ Lit., “[in] a widowhood of livingness,” M; LXX, “living widows”; Vg, “living in widowhood.”
  4. ^ Lit., “and snatch away our eyes.”
  5. ^ “It,” in agreement with LXX, which reads, “the sword.”
  6. ^ Lit., “Berites.”
  7. ^ Lit., “tents.”
  8. ^ Or, “remembrancer.”
  9. ^ See 8:18 ftn, “Priests.”

REFERENCES

  1. ^ De 13:13; 1Sa 2:12
  2. ^ 2Sa 20:21
  3. ^ Jg 3:27; 2Sa 15:10
  4. ^ 2Sa 19:43
  5. ^ De 13:6, 9; 1Ki 12:16; 2Ch 10:16
  6. ^ 2Sa 15:12; Pr 6:19; 24:21; Ga 5:20
  7. ^ 2Sa 19:15, 42
  8. ^ 2Sa 5:11
  9. ^ 2Sa 15:16; 16:21
  10. ^ 2Sa 16:22
  11. ^ 2Sa 17:25; 19:13; 1Ch 2:17
  12. ^ 1Sa 26:6; 2Sa 10:10; 23:18; 1Ch 11:20; 18:12
  13. ^ 2Sa 20:1
  14. ^ 2Sa 15:12
  15. ^ 2Sa 11:11; 1Ki 1:33
  16. ^ 2Sa 8:16
  17. ^ 2Sa 8:18; 1Ch 18:17
  18. ^ 2Sa 15:18; 1Ki 1:38
  19. ^ Jos 18:25; 21:17
  20. ^ 2Sa 17:25; 19:13
  21. ^ Ps 55:21; Pr 26:24; Mc 7:2
  22. ^ Lu 22:47
  23. ^ Nu 35:16; 2Sa 3:27; 1Ki 2:5; Ps 55:23
  24. ^ 2Sa 20:2, 4
  25. ^ Ge 4:10; 9:5
  26. ^ 2Sa 2:23
  27. ^ 2Sa 20:1
  28. ^ 1Ki 15:20; 2Ki 15:29; 2Ch 16:4
  29. ^ Ec 9:14; Je 33:4; Lu 19:43
  30. ^ 1Sa 25:3; 2Sa 14:2
  31. ^ 1Sa 25:24
  32. ^ Pr 12:20
  33. ^ Ge 18:23
  34. ^ De 20:10
  35. ^ 2Sa 17:16; Ps 124:3
  36. ^ Ex 19:5; De 32:9; 2Sa 21:3
  37. ^ Jos 17:15; Jg 2:9
  38. ^ 2Sa 20:1
  39. ^ 2Sa 20:6
  40. ^ Nu 16:24; Jos 7:13; Pr 17:11
  41. ^ Nu 16:26
  42. ^ 1Sa 17:51; 31:9; 2Ki 10:7
  43. ^ Ec 9:15, 18
  44. ^ 2Sa 2:28; 18:16
  45. ^ 2Sa 8:16; 19:13; 1Ch 18:15
  46. ^ 2Sa 23:20; 1Ki 1:38; 1Ch 27:5
  47. ^ 1Ch 12:27
  48. ^ 2Sa 8:18
  49. ^ 2Sa 15:18; 1Ki 1:44
  50. ^ 1Ki 4:6; 12:18
  51. ^ 1Ki 4:3
  52. ^ 1Ch 18:16
  53. ^ 2Sa 8:17
  54. ^ 2Sa 15:27; 17:15; 1Ki 4:4
  55. ^ 2Sa 19:11
  56. ^ 1Ch 18:17

Read 2 Samuel Chapter 20 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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