1. Joab son of Zeruiah knew that King David missed Absalom very much.
2. So Joab sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He said to her, “Pretend to be very sad. Put on funeral clothes and don’t put lotion on yourself. Act like a woman who has been crying many days for someone who died.
3. Then go to the king and say these words.” Then Joab told her what to say.
4. So the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect and said, “My king, help me!”
5. King David asked her, “What is the matter?”The woman said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead.
6. I had two sons. They were out in the field fighting, and no one was there to stop them. So one son killed the other son.
7. Now all the family group is against me. They said to me, ‘Bring the son who killed his brother so we may kill him for killing his brother. That way we will also get rid of the one who would receive what belonged to his father.’ My son is like the last spark of a fire. He is all I have left. If they kill him, my husband’s name and property will be gone from the earth.”
8. Then the king said to the woman, “Go home. I will take care of this for you.”
9. The woman of Tekoa said to him, “Let the blame be on me and my father’s family. My master and king, you and your throne are innocent.”
10. King David said, “Bring me anyone who says anything bad to you. Then he won’t bother you again.”