2 Samuel 20:16

16 But a wise woman shouted out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk to 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 went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah. All the Berites also came together and followed him.

15 So Joab and his men came to Abel Beth Maacah and surrounded it. They piled dirt up against the city wall, and they began hacking at the walls to bring them down.

16 But a wise woman shouted out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk to him!"

17 So Joab came near her. She asked him, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "Yes, I am." Then she said, "Listen to what I say." Joab said, "I'm listening."

18 Then the woman said, "In the past people would say, 'Ask for advice at Abel,' and the problem would be solved.