2 Samuel 20:14-16

Contemporary English Version

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!”