16. There was a wise woman in the city who shouted from the wall, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here; I want to speak with him.”
17. Joab went, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”“Yes, I am,” he answered.“Listen to me, sir,” she said.“I'm listening,” he answered.
18. She said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Go and get your answer in the city of Abel’ — and that's just what they did.
19. Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the Lord?”
20. “Never!” Joab answered. “I will never ruin or destroy your city!