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.
4. And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.