Definition: And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than [did] Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from 2 Samuel 20:6. It's a pretty dramatic and tense part of the story of David and Absalom. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: This verse is about a serious threat to David's kingdom – Absalom, his son, is plotting to defy him and become powerful enough to take over everything. David is warning Abishai (a trusted advisor) to be extremely careful. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And David said to Abishai…” : This tells us the situation is happening within the context of David's rule and his concerns for his kingdom. “…Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom:” This is the crucial part. "Sheba" is a name that sounds like “Bichri,” which is a place in Israel. So, it means Absalom will cause greater harm to David than Absalom ever did. This is a strong statement of intent. “…take thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get fenced cities…” : This is the warning about Absalom's plan. David is telling Abishai not to just ignore Absalom – he needs to actively track him. “Fenced cities” means he wants to build a strong, fortified kingdom that could completely dominate Israel. “…lest he get them fenced cities…” : This reinforces the idea of a massive expansion and domination. Putting it all together: David is deeply worried about Absalom’s ambition. He believes Absalom will become so powerful and influential that he will threaten his own kingdom, potentially to the point of completely controlling everything. He’s instructing Abishai to be vigilant and prevent Absalom from gaining enough power to cause significant damage. Overall Meaning: This verse highlights a serious threat – Absalom's ambition is dangerous and could lead to chaos and destruction for David and his kingdom. It emphasizes the need for careful leadership and proactive defense. Important Note: This passage is complex, and there are different interpretations of its meaning over time. However, it’s generally understood as a warning about the potential dangers of unchecked ambition and rebellion. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to other parts of the Bible? Give you a summary of the story behind this verse?