Sheba son of Bichri

Illustration from theMorgan BibleofJoabapproachingAbel-beth-maachahand Sheba's head being thrown down (2 Samuel 20).

In theOld Testament,Shebawas aBenjaminiteleader who revolted againstKing David,recounted in2 Samuel.

In the Bible

Woodcut byJohann Christoph Weigel,1695, depicting the events of2 Samuel20. In the top of the picture, Sheba's head is thrown down over the wall, while the corpse ofAmasalies in the foreground.

Sheba was a son of Bichri, of the family ofBecher,the son ofBenjamin,and thus of the tribe of KingSaul.

WhenDavidreturned toJerusalemafter the defeat ofAbsalom,strife arose between the ten tribes and theTribe of Judah,because the latter took the lead in bringing back the king. Sheba took advantage of this state of things, and raised the standard of revolt, proclaiming, "We have no part in David." With his followers he proceeded northward. David seeing it necessary to check this revolt, orderedAmasato summon the army. When Amasa delayed his task, David appointedAbishaiandJoabto take thegibborim( "mighty men" ) and the body-guard and such troops as he could gather, and pursue Sheba. Joab took the opportunity to kill Amasa. Then Joab and Abishai arrived at the city ofAbel-beth-maachah,where they knew Sheba to be hiding. They besieged the city. An unnamedwise woman from the cityconvinced Joab not to destroy Abel Beth-Maacah, because the people did not want Sheba hiding there. She told the people of the city to kill Sheba, and his head was thrown over the wall to Joab.

In the Talmud

InToseftaTerumot 7:19, the rabbis debate whether it was proper under Jewish law to give up Sheba in order to save the city from Joab's army. RabbiSimeon bar Yochaisaid giving up Sheba is forbidden. RabbiJudah bar Ilaisaid the wise woman acted properly because Joab had the city surrounded. Everyone in the city would be killed including Sheba so it was better to give up Sheba and save everyone else.

This story served as the source for the subsequenthalachicdiscussion whether it is permissible for a group or community to save itself by sacrificing an individual. TheToseftaestablishes the principle that we may not save a community by sacrificing an individual, unless the original demand was for a specified individual.R. Shimon b. Lakishadds the condition that the specified individual be deserving of death because of a crime he committed.This view has been codified by Maimonides in his code of Jewish Law.

Sanhedrin 101b identified Sheba with two other men:

"A Tanna taught:Nebat,Micah,and Sheba the son of Bichri are one and the same. "The three interpreted signs and portents to mean that they would reign." Three beheld but did not see. "