11. One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.”
12. But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.
13. With Amasa’s body out of the way, everyone went on with Joab to capture Sheba son of Bicri.
14. Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town.
15. When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall.
16. But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.”
17. As he approached, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”“I am,” he replied.So she said, “Listen carefully to your servant.”“I’m listening,” he said.
18. Then she continued, “There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’
19. I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the lord?”
20. And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town!
21. That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.”“All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.”