2 Samuel 20:16–22

¹⁶Then a wise woman from the city called out, “Listen, listen! Please speak to Joab to come near here so that I may speak to you.” ¹⁷Then he came near to her, and the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” And he said, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” He said, “I am listening.” ¹⁸Then she said, “In former times, they would always say,^f ‘By all means, let them inquire in Abel,’ and so they settled things. ¹⁹I am one of the faithful representatives of Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow the inheritance of Yahweh?” ²⁰Then Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow or I should destroy. ²¹That is not the matter. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, whose name is Sheba the son Bicri, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Give only him to us, and I will depart from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “Look, his head is being thrown down to you over the wall.” ²²The woman went to all of the people with her wise plan, so they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. Then he blew the horn and dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.