MLV(i)
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah and they cast up a mound against the city and it stood against the rampart. And all the men who were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
16 Then a wise woman out of the city cried out, Hear, hear. Say, I beseech you*, to Joab, Come near here, that I may speak with you. 17 And he came near to her and the woman said, Are you Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spoke, saying, They were accustomed to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel and so they ended the matter. 19 I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so, but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Deliver him only and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.
22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
16 Then a wise woman out of the city cried out, Hear, hear. Say, I beseech you*, to Joab, Come near here, that I may speak with you. 17 And he came near to her and the woman said, Are you Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spoke, saying, They were accustomed to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel and so they ended the matter. 19 I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?
20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so, but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Deliver him only and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.
22 Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.