⁶ Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

⁵ “In Bethlehem^(A) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

1 The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa^(A)—the vision he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake,^(B) when Uzziah^(C) was king of Judah and Jeroboam^(D) son of Jehoash^[a] was king of Israel.^(E)

Jerusalem Under Siege

²⁷ Next to them, the men of Tekoa^(A) repaired another section, from the great projecting tower^(B) to the wall of Ophel.

⁵ The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa,^(A) but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.^[a]

²⁰ Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith^(A) in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.^(B)”

³² Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain,^(A) Rimmon, Token and Ashan^(B)—five towns—

² So Joab sent someone to Tekoa^(A) and had a wise woman^(B) brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions.^(C) Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead.