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Sheba Hides Out in the Town of Abel

14 Sheba had gone through all of the tribes of Israel when he came to the town of Abel Beth-Maacah. All of his best soldiers[a] met him there and followed him into the town.

15 Joab and his troops came and surrounded Abel, so that no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp up to the town wall and then started to use a battering ram to knock the wall down.

A Wise Woman Saves the Town

16 A wise woman shouted from the top of the wall,[b] “Listen to me! Listen to me! I have to talk to Joab! Tell him to come here!”

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Footnotes

  1. 20.14 best soldiers: One ancient translation; the difficult Hebrew text may mean either “Berites” or “Bichrites,” Sheba's relatives.
  2. 20.16 the top of the wall: Or “the town.”

14 Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites,[a](A) who gathered together and followed him. 15 All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah.(B) They built a siege ramp(C) up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, 16 a wise woman(D) called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 20:14 See Septuagint and Vulgate; Hebrew Berites.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that 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.

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