16. Perhaps he'll agree to save me from the man who is trying to cut off me and my son from the property God gave us.'
17. "So now I'm saying, 'May what you have told me bring me peace and rest. You are like an angel of God. You know what is good and what is evil. May the Lord your God be with you.' "
18. Then the king said to the woman, "I'm going to ask you a question. I want you to tell me the truth." "Please ask me anything you want to," the woman said.
19. The king asked, "Joab told you to say all of this, didn't he?" The woman answered, "What you have told me is exactly right. And that's just as sure as you are alive. It's true that Joab directed me to do this. He told me everything he wanted me to say.
20. He did it to change the way things now are. You are as wise as an angel of God. You know everything that happens in the land."
21. Later the king said to Joab, "All right. I'll do what you want. Go. Bring the young man Absalom back."
22. Joab bowed down with his face toward the ground. He did it to honor the king. And he asked God to bless the king. He said, "You are my king and master. Today I know that you are pleased with me. You have given me what I asked for."
23. Then Joab went to Geshur. He brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
24. But the king said, "He must go to his own house. I don't want him to come and see me." So Absalom went to his own house. He didn't go to see the king.