9
Joab asked Amasa, "Brother, is everything all right with you?" Then with his right hand he took Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
10
Amasa was not watching the sword in Joab's hand. So Joab pushed the sword into Amasa's stomach, causing Amasa's insides to spill onto the ground. Joab did not have to stab Amasa again; he was already dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued to chase Sheba son of Bicri.
11
One of Joab's young men stood by Amasa's body and said, "Everyone who is for Joab and David should follow Joab!"
12
Amasa lay in the middle of the road, covered with his own blood. When the young man saw that everyone was stopping to look at the body, he dragged it from the road, laid it in a field, and put a cloth over it.
13
After Amasa's body was taken off the road, all the men followed Joab to chase Sheba son of Bicri.
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.
19
I am one of the peaceful, loyal people of Israel. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why must you destroy what belongs to the Lord?"