^{4 Ref} Then the king said to Amasa, Get all the men of Judah together, and in three days be here yourself.

^{5 Ref} So Amasa went to get all the men of Judah together, but he took longer than the time David had given him.

^{6 Ref} And David said to Abishai, Sheba, the son of Bichri, will do us more damage than Absalom did; so take some of your lord's servants and go after him, before he makes himself safe in the walled towns, and gets away before our eyes.

^{7 Ref} So there went after Abishai, Joab and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the fighting-men; they went out of Jerusalem to overtake Sheba, the son of Bichri.

^{8 Ref} When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came face to face with them. Now Joab had on his war-dress, and round him a band from which his sword was hanging in its cover; and while he was walking, it came out, falling to the earth.