12. Yet Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. So when the man saw that all the people stood still, he dragged Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone passing by him paused.
13. Once he removed him from the highway, everyone passed on, following Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
14. Now he went through all the tribes of Israel, to Abel and Beth-Maacah. All the Berites gathered together and indeed followed him.
15. They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-Maacah and cast up a siege ramp against the city. It stood against the outer fortification and all the people with Joab battered the wall in order to topple it.
16. Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come over here that I may speak with him.”
17. When he approached her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered. Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your handmaid.” “I’m listening,” he answered.
18. Then she spoke up saying, “They used to say in old time, ‘They shall surely seek counsel at Abel and that’s how they settled any dispute.
19. I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. Are you seeking to destroy a mother city in Israel? Why would you devour Adonai’s inheritance?”
20. Joab replied saying, “Never! Far be it from me that I would devour up or ruin.
21. The matter is not so; but a fellow from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba son of Bichri his name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give him up alone and I will withdraw from the city.” So the woman replied to Joab, “Look here, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22. Then the woman approached all the people wisely. So they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it over to Joab. He then blew the shofar and they were dismissed from the city, each to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
23. Now Joab remained over all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
24. Adoram was over the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;
25. Sheba was scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were kohanim;