16. Then a wise woman called from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come over here, so I can talk to him."
17. So Joab approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?""I am," he answered."Pay close attention to the words of your female servant," she said."I’m listening," Joab replied.
18. She said, "People used to say long ago: ‘Ask your question at Abel,’ and that settled the matter.
19. I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to kill a city that is one of Israel’s mothers! Why would you annihilate the Lord’s inheritance?"
20. Joab answered, "I would never, ever annihilate or destroy such a thing!