1
So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was concerned about Absalom.
2
And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, "Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.
3
Go to the king and speak to him in this manner." So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4
And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, "Help, O king!"
5
Then the king said to her, "What troubles you?" And she answered, "Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead.
6
Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.