2 Samuel 20:16

16 a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”

2 Samuel 20:16 in Other Translations

16 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.

16 Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, that I may speak to you.'"

16 But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.”

16 But a shrewd woman called out from the city, "Listen, everybody! Please tell Joab to come close so I can talk to him."

16 a wise woman called out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here and let me speak with him."

2 Samuel 20:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:16

Then cried a wise woman out of the city
And such an one as the woman of Tekoah, supposed by some to be the governess of the city; but whoever she was, she well deserved the character of a wise woman; her conduct in this affair shows it: she cried with a loud voice, upon the wall of the city, to Joab's men, who were underneath battering it,

hear, hear;
which she repeated to make them hear:

say, I pray you, unto Joab, come near hither, that I may speak with
thee;
tell your general I desire to speak with him; which was wisely done, to have nothing to say but to the general himself.

2 Samuel 20:16 In-Context

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, who gathered together and followed him.

15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down,

16 a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”

17 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.

18 She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 14:2