¹⁸ And again she said, A word was said in (an) eld proverb, They that ask, ask in Abel; and so they profited.

¹⁹ Whether I am not, that answer truth to Israel? and seekest thou to destroy a city, and to do away a mother city in Israel?^[a] why castedest thou down/why throwest thou down the heritage of the Lord? (My city is one of the most peaceful, and faithful, in all of Israel; so why seekest thou to destroy such a city, and to do away such a mother in Israel? why throwest thou down the Lord’s inheritance?)

²⁰ And Joab answered, and said, Far be (this), far be this from me; I cast not down, neither I destroy (I do not want to destroy this city).