2 Samuel 20:17

17 Joab went, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "Yes, I am," he answered. "Listen to me, sir," she said. "I'm listening," he answered.

2 Samuel 20:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 20:17

And when he was come near unto her
As he did, upon the information of his men, that a woman on the wall had something to say to him:

the woman said, [art] thou Joab?
she was willing to be satisfied that he was really the general, before she would impart her mind to him:

and he answered, I [am he];
the very person you ask after:

and she said unto him, hear the words of thine handmaid;
though a woman, vouchsafe to hear what I have to say:

and he answered, I do hear:
am ready to hear, and shall patiently and attentively hear whatever may be spoken; which was giving her leave and encouragement to proceed.

2 Samuel 20:17 In-Context

15 Joab's men heard that Sheba was there, and so they went and besieged the city. They built ramps of earth against the outer wall and also began to dig under the wall to make it fall down.

16 There was a wise woman in the city who shouted from the wall, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here; I want to speak with him."

17 Joab went, and she asked, "Are you Joab?" "Yes, I am," he answered. "Listen to me, sir," she said. "I'm listening," he answered.

18 She said, "Long ago they used to say, "Go and get your answer in the city of Abel' - and that's just what they did.

19 Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the Lord?"