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And the king said unto her, “What aileth thee?” And she answered, “I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

And thy handmaid had two sons, and the two strove together in the field; and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.

And behold, the whole family has risen against thine handmaid, and they said, ‘Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also.’ And so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall leave to my husband neither name nor remnant upon the earth.”

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The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”

She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death(A) for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir(B) as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left,(C) leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”

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