1. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart went out to Absalom.
2. And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.
3. Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4. When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, “Save me, O king.”
5. And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.