2 Samuel 20:16–22

¹⁶But a wise woman shouted out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk to him!”

¹⁷So Joab came near her. She asked him, “Are you Joab?”

He answered, “Yes, I am.”

Then she said, “Listen to what I say.”

Joab said, “I’m listening.”

¹⁸Then the woman said, “In the past people would say, ‘Ask for advice at Abel,’ and the problem would be solved. ¹⁹I am one of the peaceful, loyal people of Israel. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why must you destroy what belongs to the Lord?”

²⁰Joab answered, “I would prefer not to destroy or ruin anything! ²¹That is not what I want. But there is a man here from the mountains of Ephraim, who is named Sheba son of Bicri. He has turned against King David. If you bring him to me, I will leave the city alone.”

The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown over the wall to you.”

²²Then the woman spoke very wisely to all the people of the city. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it over the wall to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and the army left the city. Every man returned home, and Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.