The answer is: His head thrown from the city wall

2 Sam 20:1-2,14-22

Ah, the saga of Sheba, a figure who played a daring yet short-lived role in the tumultuous reign of King David! In 2 Samuel 20, we dive into a narrative filled with intrigue, rebellion, and a rather grim fate for Sheba, son of Bicri. After Absalom’s revolt, popping up like a bad penny in a royal mess, Sheba pursues his own insurrection quite boldly. His call to rebel resonates with his claim that the kingdom shouldn’t continue under David, effectively masking self-ambition as a political move.

Now imagine this: he captures not just David's attention but the tumult of politics going on in the land. David sends Amasa to assemble the troops, but interestingly, Sheba uses this moment to leverage anger and dissatisfaction amongst the Israelites, leading to fierce divisions.

The desperate measures that follow — when Joab outwits Sheba in a twist of fate filled with drama — draw our attention to the extreme lengths to which parts of ancient cultures went to assert authority. Throwing Sheba's head from the city wall wasn't merely a brutal tactic; it was a statement. It was about asserting power and sending a clear message that rebellion does not pay off.

Fun fact: this sight must have been shocking, as city walls were often places of mischief and lawlessness, yet also trade and governance. The echoes of this story can remind us that ancient conflicts are often reflective of the complexities still seen in political matters today. In every society, leaders must balance power, trust, and the urgent needs of their people, or risk rebellion quickly turning dire.