2 Samuel 14:1-7 ▼

1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s mind was on Absalom.

2 Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner; put on mourning garments, do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.

3 Go to the king and speak to him as follows.” And Joab put the words into her mouth.

4 When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, “Help, O king!”

5 The king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.

6 Your servant had two sons, and they fought with one another in the field; there was no one to part them, and one struck the other and killed him.

7 Now the whole family has risen against your servant. They say, ‘Give up the man who struck his brother, so that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he murdered, even if we destroy the heir as well.’ Thus they would quench my one remaining ember, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”