1. Now Joab, the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
2. And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought an astute woman from there and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner and put on mourning apparel and do not anoint thyself with oil, but be as a woman that has mourned for a long time for someone who is dead
3. and come to the king and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4. And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance and said, Save me, O king.
5. And the king said unto her, What ails thee? And she answered, I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead.