15. All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down,
16. a wise woman called from the city, ‘Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can speak to him.’
17. He went towards her, and she asked, ‘Are you Joab?’‘I am,’ he answered.She said, ‘Listen to what your servant has to say.’‘I’m listening,’ he said.
18. She continued, ‘Long ago they used to say, “Get your answer at Abel,” and that settled it.
19. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?’