2 Samuel 20:16–22

¹⁶Then a clever woman called from the city, “Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here so that I can talk to him.” 

¹⁷He came near, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” 

“I am,” he answered. 

“Listen to what I have to say,” she told him. 

“I’m listening,” he answered. 

¹⁸So she said, “There’s an old saying: ‘Be sure to ask at Abel ⸤before doing anything⸥. That’s the way they settle matters.’ ¹⁹We are peaceful and faithful Israelites. Are you trying to destroy a mother city in Israel? Why should you swallow up what belongs to the Lord?” 

²⁰Joab answered, “That’s unthinkable! I don’t wish to swallow ⸤it⸥ up or destroy ⸤it⸥. ²¹That isn’t the case. A man from the mountains of Ephraim by the name of Sheba, son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. Give him to me, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” 

“That’s fine,” the woman told Joab. “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” ²²Then the woman went to all the people with her clever plan. They cut off Sheba’s head and threw it to Joab. He blew the ram’s horn, and everyone scattered and withdrew from the city and went home. Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.