1. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was towards Absalom.
2. Joab sent to Tekoa, and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
3. Go in to the king, and speak like this to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.