Chapter 20
1 Now a rebellious individual from Benjamin named Sheba, the son of Bichri, happened to be there. He sounded the horn and cried out,＂We have no portion in David, nor any share in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tent, O Israel!＂
当时，在那里有个败类，始名叫舍巴，是本雅明人彼革黎的儿子。他吹着号，喊说：＂我们和达味没有关系，对叶瑟儿子的产业没有分子。以色列人！各自回本家罢！
2 So all the Israelites left David for Sheba, son of Bichri. But from the Jordan to Jerusalem the Judahites remained loyal to their king.
因此，众以色列人离开达味，跟随了彼革黎的儿子舍巴；但犹大人仍然紧随他们的君王，由约旦河直到了耶路撒冷。
3 When King David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the palace and placed them in confinement. He provided for them, but had no further relations with them. And so they remained in confinement to the day of their death, lifelong widows.
达味王进了耶路撒冷的宫殿，就将他留下看守宫殿的十个个嫔妃，留在禁官里，养活她们，却不再亲近她们。她们被禁在冷官内，一直到死，终身守寡。
4 Then the king said to Amasa:＂Summon the Judahites for me within three days. Then present yourself here.＂
王对阿玛撒说：＂三天之内，你应给我召集犹大人，你亲自也该来到这里＂。
5 Accordingly Amasa set out to summon Judah, but delayed beyond the time set for him by David.
阿彼撒去召集犹大人，但他迟延耽搁，过了君王他所定的期限。
6 Then David said to Abishai:＂Sheba, son of Bichri, may now do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities and take shelter while we look on.＂
达味就对阿彼瑟说：＂现今彼革黎的儿子舍巴危害我们，恐怕甚于阿贝沙隆。你快领你主人的军队去追赶他，免得他占了设防的城，由我们眼前逃脱＂。
7 So Joab and the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the warriors marched out behind Abishai from Jerusalem to campaign in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri.
约阿布的部下，革肋提人和培肋提人，以及所有的勇士，都跟阿彼瑟去了。他们由耶路撒冷出发，追赶彼革黎的儿子舍巴。
8 1 They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa met them. Now Joab had a belt over his tunic, from which was slung, in its sheath near his thigh, a sword that could be drawn with a downward movement.
当他们来到基贝红的大石旁时，阿玛撒也迎面而来。约阿布身穿战袍，束着腰带，腰间挂着一把带鞘的刀。约阿布的刀出鞘落地。
9 And Joab asked Amasa,＂How are you, my brother?＂ With his right hand Joab held Amasa's beard as if to kiss him.
约阿布对阿玛撒说：＂吾兄，你好？＂约阿布遂用右手抓住阿玛撒的胡须，与他亲吻。
10 And since Amasa was not on his guard against the sword in Joab's other hand, Joab stabbed him in the abdomen with it, so that his entrails burst forth to the ground, and he died without receiving a second thrust. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri.
阿玛撒没有提防约阿布手中的刀；约阿布就用刀刺穿了他的肚腹，五脏倾流在地上，没有再刺第二下，他就死了。约阿布与自己的兄弟阿彼瑟，便往前追赶彼革黎的儿子舍巴。
11 One of Joab's attendants stood by Amasa and said,＂Let him who favors Joab and is for David follow Joab.＂
看守阿玛撒尸首的约阿布的一个兵士喊说：＂谁喜爱约阿布，谁属达味，就跟约阿布去！＂
12 Amasa lay covered with blood in the middle of the highroad, and the man noticed that all the soldiers were stopping. So he removed Amasa from the road to the field and placed a garment over him, because all who came up to him were stopping.
阿玛撒此时卧在路中血泊中，那人见众人停留不前，就将阿玛撒的尸首，由路上搬到田里，上面盖上一件衣服，因为他见军人到了那里，就停在尸首前。
13 When he had been removed from the road, everyone went on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri.
尸首由路上搬走后，军人就都过去，跟随约阿布追赶彼革黎的儿子舍巴。
14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth-maacah. Then all the Bichrites assembled and they too entered the city after him.
舍巴走遍了以色列各支派，人都不理他。随后到了贝特玛阿加的阿贝耳，众彼革黎人却聚集起来，跟随了他。
15 So David's servants came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah. They threw up a mound against the city, and all the soldiers who were with Joab began battering the wall to throw it down.
约阿布大军前来，把他包围在贝特玛阿加的阿贝耳内，兴筑攻城壁垒。跟随约阿布的大军遂下手挖城墙，使墙倒塌。
16 Then a wise woman from the city stood on the outworks and called out,＂Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here, that I may speak with him.＂
当时城中有个聪明的妇人，站在城墙上喊说：＂请听！请听！你们对约阿布说：来这里，我有话对你说＂。
17 When Joab had come near her, the woman said,＂Are you Joab?＂ And he replied,＂Yes.＂ She said to him,＂Listen to what your maidservant has to say.＂ He replied.＂I am listening.＂
约阿布来到她那里，妇人便问说：＂你是约阿布吗？＂他答说：＂我是＂。她便对他说：＂请你听你婢女一言！＂他答说：＂我听＂。
18 2 Then she went on to say:＂There is an ancient saying,‘Let them ask if they will in Abel
她说：＂从前有句话说：你去问问阿贝耳，事便可得解决。
19 or in Dan whether loyalty is finished or ended in Israel.' You are seeking to beat down a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you wish to destroy the inheritance of the LORD?＂
我在以色列算是一座和平忠厚的城，你却图谋消灭一座以色列的母城。为什么你要吞灭上主的产业？＂
20 Joab answered,＂Not at all, not at all! I do not wish to destroy or to ruin anything.
约阿布答说：＂决无此事，我决无意消灭或破坏。
21 That is not the case at all. A man named Sheba, son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim has rebelled against King David. Surrender him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.＂ Then the woman said to Joab,＂His head shall be thrown to you across the wall.＂
完全不是这么一回事；只因厄弗辣因山地的一人，即彼革黎的儿子名叫舍巴的，造反抗拒达味王；只要你们将他交出来，我即撤离这城＂。妇人对约阿布说：＂请看，他的头由城墙上拋给你＂。
22 She went to all the people with her advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He then sounded the horn, and they scattered from the city to their own tents, while Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
妇人就去凭自己的智慧劝说众百姓。他们便砍了彼革黎的儿子舍巴的头，拋给约阿布。约阿布遂吹起号角，撤兵离城，各自回了本家。约阿布也回了耶路撒冷君王那里。
23 Joab was in command of the whole army of Israel. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites.
约阿布统率以色列的众军队；约雅达的儿子贝纳雅管理革勒提人和培肋提人；
24 Adoram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the chancellor.
阿多兰管理奴役；阿希路得的儿子约沙法特作御史；
25 Shawsha was the scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
史沙作书记；匝多克和厄贝雅塔尔作司祭；
26 Ira the Jairite was also David's priest.
此外，雅提尔人依辣也也作达味的司祭。
Footnotes（注解）
1 [8] The text of this verse is quite uncertain.
2 [18-19] The proverbial expression here has been poorly transmitted, and its sense is doubtful.