¹⁶ While that was going on, a wise woman called out from the city. She shouted, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here. I want to speak to him.” ¹⁷ So Joab went toward her. She asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

She said, “Listen to what I have to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

¹⁸ She continued, “Long ago people used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel.’ And that would settle the matter.