- a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him."
- He went toward her, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "I am," he answered. She said, "Listen to what your servant has to say." "I'm listening," he said.
- She continued, "Long ago they used to say, 'Get your answer at Abel,' and that settled it.
- We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD's inheritance?"
- "Far be it from me!" Joab replied, "Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
|
- Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
- And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
- Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
- I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
- And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
|