3and go in to the king, and speak on this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
5The king said to her, What ails you? She answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
6Your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one struck the other, and killed him.
7Behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth.
8The king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you.
9The woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father`s house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.
