1. Now Joab, son of Zeruiah, knew how the king felt toward Absalom.
2. Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman, to whom he said: “Pretend to be in mourning. Put on mourning apparel and do not anoint yourself with oil, that you may appear to be a woman who has long been mourning someone dead.
3. Then go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” And Joab told her what to say.
4. So the woman of Tekoa went to the king and fell to the ground in homage, saying, “Help, O king!”
5. The king said to her, “What do you want?” She replied: “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.