13When he hath been removed out of the highway, every man hath passed on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba son of Bichri.
14And he passeth over through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth-Maachah, and to all the Berites, and they are assembled, and go in also after him,
15and they go in and lay siege against him, in Abel of Beth-Maachah, and cast up a mount against the city, and it standeth in a trench, and all the people who are [are] with Joab are destroying, to cause the wall to fall.
16And a wise woman calleth out of the city, `Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, and I speak unto thee.`
17And he cometh near unto her, and the woman saith, `Art thou Joab?` and he saith, `I [am].` And she saith to him, `Hear the words of thy handmaid;` and he saith, `I am hearing.`
18and she speaketh, saying, `They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.
19I [am] of the peaceable -- faithful ones of Israel; thou art seeking to destroy a city, and a mother in Israel; why dost thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
