2 Samuel 20:14-26 - Wisdom From A Woman Under Siege
14 And he passed on throughout all the tribes of Israel, unto Abel and unto Beth-maachah, and all the Berites, - and they were called together, and came in, yea and followed him. 15 So they came, and laid siege against him, in Abel, Beth-maachah, and they cast up a mound against the city, so that it stood within a rampart, - and, all the people who were with Joab, were battering the wall to throw it down. 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, - Hear ye! hear ye! I pray you, say unto Joab, Come near hither, and let me speak unto thee.
17 So he came near unto her, and the woman said, - Art thou Joab? And he said, - I am. And she said unto him, - Hear thou the words of thy handmaid. And he said, I do hear.
18 Then spake she, saying, - They, used to speak, in former times, saying, Enquire, in Abel! And, so, they ended it. 19 I, am of the peaceable among the faithful in Israel, - thou, art seeking to put to death a city, and a mother in Israel, wherefore wouldst thou swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?
20 Then answered Joab and said, - Far be it! far be it from me! I will neither swallow up nor lay waste. 21 Not so, is the matter! but, a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri, his name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David, give up him alone, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Lo! his head, shall be cast unto thee, through the wall. 22 So the woman came unto all the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and cast it out unto Joab. And he blew with a horn, and they dispersed themselves from the city, every man to his home; but, Joab, returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
23 And, Joab, was restored unto all the army of Israel, - And, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites, 24 And, Adoniram, was over the tribute, - And, Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the remembrancer; 25 And, Sheva, was scribe, - And, Zadok and Abiathar, were priests; 26 Moreover also, Ira the Jairite, was chief ruler unto David.