10
but Amasa took no heed of the sword that was in Joab's hand; so Joab smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11
And one of Joab's men stood by him and said, "He that favoreth Joab and he that is for David, let him follow after Joab."
12
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one who came by him stood still.
13
When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14
And Sheba went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel and to Bethmaachah and all the Berites; and they were gathered together, and went also with him.
15
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah; and they cast up a siege bank against the city, and it stood in the trench; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
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.'"
17
And when he had come near unto her, the woman said, "Art thou Joab?" And he answered, "I am he." Then she said unto him, "Hear the words of thine handmaid." And he answered, "I do hear."
18
Then she spoke, saying, "They were wont to speak in olden times, saying, `They shall surely ask counsel at Abel'; and so they ended the matter.
19
I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. Thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"
20
And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy.