But the menof Israelansweredthe menof Judahand said,"We have tenpartsin the king,therefore we alsohave more[claim] on Davidthanyou. Whythen did you treatus with contempt?Was it not our advicefirstto bringbackour king?"Yet the wordsof the menof Judahwere harsherthanthe wordsof the menof Israel.
Thus he turnedthe heartsof allthe menof Judahas oneman,so that they sent[word] to the king,[saying], "Return,you and allyour servants."
Allthe peoplewere quarrelingthroughout allthe tribesof Israel,saying,"The kingdeliveredus from the handof our enemiesand savedus from the handof the Philistines,but nowhe has fledout of the landfrom Absalom.
Now a worthlessfellowhappenedto be therewhose namewas Sheba,the sonof Bichri,a Benjamite;and he blewthe trumpetand said,"We havenoportionin David,Nordo we have inheritancein the sonof Jesse;Everymanto his tents,O Israel!"
And Davidsaidto Abishai,"NowShebathe sonof Bichriwill dous moreharmthanAbsalom;takeyour lord'sservantsand pursuehim, sothat he does not findfor himself fortifiedcitiesand escapefrom our sight."
Then allthe tribesof Israelcameto Davidat Hebronand said,"Behold,we are your boneand your flesh.
When allIsrael[saw] that the kingdid not listento them, the peopleansweredthe king,saying,"Whatportiondo we have in David?[We have] noinheritancein the sonof Jesse;To your tents,O Israel!Nowlookafter your own house,David!"So Israeldepartedto their tents.
Through insolencecomesnothingbut strife,But wisdomis with those who receivecounsel.
A gentleanswerturnsawaywrath,But a harshwordstirsup anger.
The beginningof strifeis [like] lettingout water,So abandonthe quarrelbeforeit breaksout.
A brotheroffended[is harder to be won] thana strongcity,And contentionsare like the barsof a citadel.
Do not be overcomeby evil,but overcomeevilwith good.
But ifyou biteand devouroneanother,take carethat you are not consumedby one another.
idolatry,sorcery,enmities,strife,jealousy,outbursts of anger,disputes,dissensions,factions,
Let us not becomeboastful,challengingoneanother,envyingone another.
Do nothingfrom selfishnessorempty conceit,but with humility of mindregardone anotheras more importantthan yourselves;
for the angerof mandoes not achievethe righteousnessof God.
Then the menof Ephraimsaidto him, "Whatis thisthingyou have doneto us, not callingus whenyou wentto fightagainst Midian?"And they contendedwith him vigorously.
Then Godsentan evilspiritbetweenAbimelechand the menof Shechem;and the menof Shechemdealttreacherouslywith Abimelech,
