10
But `Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Yo'av's hand: so he struck him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again; and he died. Yo'av and Avishai his brother pursued after Sheva the son of Bikhri.
11
There stood by him one of Yo'av's young men, and said, He who favors Yo'av, and he who is for David, let him follow Yo'av.
12
`Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried `Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
13
When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Yo'av, to pursue after Sheva the son of Bikhri.
14
He went through all the tribes of Yisra'el to Hevel, and to Beit-Ma`akha, and all the Beri`i: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
15
They came and besieged him in Hevel of Beit-Ma`akha, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Yo'av battered the wall, to throw it down.
16
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, "Hear, hear! Please say to Yo'av, 'Come near here, that I may speak with you.'"
17
He came near to her; and the woman said, Are you Yo'av? He answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. He answered, I do hear.
18
Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Hevel: and so they ended [the matter].
19
I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Yisra'el: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Yisra'el: why will you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
20
Yo'av answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.