¹⁴ Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to ^(A)Arioch, the ^(B)captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.

²⁴ Therefore Daniel went in to ^(A)Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

¹⁴ And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

The Temple Burned

^12 (A)In the fifth month, on ^(B)the tenth day of the month—that was ^(C)the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who ^(D)served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

⁹ Then ^(A)Nebuzaradan, the ^(B)captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, ^(C)those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained.

¹³ I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. ¹⁴ There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. ¹⁵ But there was found in it ^(A)a poor, wise man, and he by his ^(B)wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ But I say that ^(C)wisdom is better than might, though ^(D)the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in ^(E)quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. ^18 (F)Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but ^(G)one sinner destroys much good.

¹⁶ Then a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” ¹⁷ And he came near her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your servant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” ¹⁸ Then she said, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at ^(A)Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. ¹⁹ I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you ^(B)swallow up ^(C)the heritage of the Lord?” ²⁰ Joab answered, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should ^(D)swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not true. But a man of ^(E)the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” ²² Then the woman went to all the people ^(F)in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, ^(G)every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

³⁶ Meanwhile ^(A)the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, ^(B)the captain of the guard.