2-3. and he sent someone to bring in the wise woman who lived in Tekoa. Joab told her, “Put on funeral clothes and don't use any make up. Go to the king and pretend you have spent a long time mourning the death of a loved one.” Then he told her what to say.
4. The woman from Tekoa went to David. She bowed very low and said, “Your Majesty, please help me!”
5. David asked, “What's the matter?”She replied:My husband is dead, and I'm a widow.
6. I had two sons, but they got into a fight out in a field where there was no one to pull them apart, and one of them killed the other.
7. Now all my relatives have come to me and said, “Hand over your son! We're going to put him to death for killing his brother.” But what they really want is to get rid of him, so they can take over our land.Please don't let them put out my only flame of hope! There won't be anyone left on this earth to carry on my husband's name.
8. “Go home,” David told her. “I'll take care of this matter for you.”
9. The woman said, “I hope your decision doesn't cause any problems for you. But if it does, you can blame me.”
10. He said, “If anyone gives you any trouble, bring them to me, and it won't happen again!”
11. “Please,” she replied, “swear by the Lord your God that no one will be allowed to kill my son!”He said, “I swear by the living Lord that no one will touch even a hair on his head!”
12. Then she asked, “Your Majesty, may I say something?”“Yes,” he answered.
13. The woman said:Haven't you been hurting God's people? Your own son had to leave the country. And when you judged in my favour, it was the same as admitting that you should have let him come back.
14. We each must die and disappear like water poured out on the ground. But God doesn't take our lives. Instead, he finds ways of bringing us back when we run away.
15. Your Majesty, I came here to tell you about my problem, because I was afraid of what someone might do to me. I decided to come to you, because I thought you could help.
16. In fact, I knew that you would listen and save my son and me from those who want to take the land that God gave us.