Bichri

Bichri is a Benjamite known only as the father of Sheba, the leader of the northern revolt against David that follows immediately on the heels of Absalom's defeat. The name appears seven times in the chapter, always in the patronymic "Sheba the son of Bichri."

Father of the Rebel Sheba

The opening of the revolt fixes Bichri as Sheba's lineage and tribe: "And there happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel" (2 Sam 20:1). The northern tribes follow Sheba; Judah stays with David: "So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah stuck to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem" (2 Sam 20:2).

The Pursuit

David weighs the threat in patronymic terms: "Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than did Absalom" (2 Sam 20:6). Joab's men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the mighty men set out "to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri" (2 Sam 20:7). After Joab kills Amasa at Gibeon, the same patronymic is repeated as the chase resumes: "And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri" (2 Sam 20:10), and again, "all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri" (2 Sam 20:13).

End at Abel of Beth-maacah

The pursuit closes at the city of Abel of Beth-maacah, where a wise woman negotiates with Joab. He frames his demand by the same name: "but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city" (2 Sam 20:21). The city complies: "Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent" (2 Sam 20:22).