Bichri בִּכְרִי
Benjamite, father of the rebel Sheba
Who is Bichri in the Bible?
Bichri was a Benjamite who appears in 2 Samuel 20 as the father of Sheba, a rebel who challenged King David's authority. After Absalom's rebellion was crushed, Sheba son of Bichri rallied the northern tribes against David, declaring "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son!" (2 Samuel 20:1). David sent Joab to pursue the rebel, who eventually took refuge in the city of Abel-beth-maacah, where a wise woman negotiated his death to save her city (2 Samuel 20:14-22). Though Bichri himself is not a major character, his son's rebellion illustrates the ongoing instability and tribal tensions that threatened David's unified kingdom in the years following his greatest military victories.
Biography
Bichri was a Benjamite mentioned as the father of Sheba, a man who led a rebellion against King David (2 Sa. 20). After the death of Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem and faced a new challenge when Sheba, son of Bichri, rallied the Israelites against the king, saying, "We have no share in David, no part in Jesse's son!" (2 Sa. 20:1). Sheba's rebellion posed a significant threat to David's reign, prompting the king to send his forces, led by Joab, to pursue the rebel. Joab's army besieged the city of Abel-beth-maacah, where Sheba had taken refuge. The city was spared when a wise woman negotiated with Joab and convinced the inhabitants to behead Sheba, thus ending the rebellion (2 Sa. 20:14-22). The incident involving Sheba, son of Bichri, highlights the tensions and challenges faced by David in consolidating his rule over all Israel.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 20:1
"Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”"
- 2 Samuel 20:2
"So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem."
- 2 Samuel 20:6
"And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”"
- 2 Samuel 20:7
"So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri."
- 2 Samuel 20:10
"Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בִּכְרִי |
| Group | Hebrew | בֵּרִים |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)