1. Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart went out toward Absalom.
2. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought from there a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray you, pretend to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not yourself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
3. And come to the king, and speak in this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4. And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and paid him honor, and said, Help, O king.
5. And the king said unto her, What ails you? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
6. And your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one struck the other, and slew him.