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2 Samuel 20:16

Joab
Wisdom

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.

15 And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it,

a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

17 When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.

18 Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”
KJV
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.
WEB
Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”
ASV
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.
DARBY
And a wise woman cried out of the city, Hear, hear: say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
BLB
and a wise woman cried out from the city, “Listen, listen! Say, please, to Joab, come nearby here, that I may speak with you.”
ÅB
Da ropte en klok kvinne fra byen: Hør, hør! Si til Joab: Kom nærmere, så jeg kan få tale med deg!
OTB
Da ropte en klok kvinne fra byen, "Hør, hør! Vennligst si til Joab, 'Kom hit så jeg kan snakke med deg.'"
B1930
Da ropte en klok kvinne fra byen: Hør, hør! Si til Joab: Kom nærmere, så jeg kan få tale med dig!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Samuel 14:2

    So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 9:14–18

    There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 25:3

    His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 25:32–33

    Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!

    Read in context