1. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
2. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
3. And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.