15 “I’ve come to say this to you because the people have frightened me. So I thought, ‘I will speak to the king about this. Maybe the king will do something for me, his subject.
16 Maybe the king will listen and rescue me, his subject, from the man who wants to cut off both me and my son from ⌊our⌋ God-given inheritance.’
17 I thought that you would reassure me. You are like God’s Messenger, who is able to distinguish right from wrong. May the Lord your God be with you!”
18 The king said to the woman, “Please don’t refuse to answer the question I’m going to ask you.”The woman responded, “Please speak, Your Majesty.”
19 “Did Joab put you up to this?” the king asked.The woman answered, “I solemnly swear on your life, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Yes, your servant Joab ordered me ⌊to do this⌋. He told me to say exactly what I said.
20 Your servant Joab has done this to portray the matter in a different light. You are as wise as God’s Messenger, who knows everything on earth.”
21 Then the king told Joab, “This is what you’ll do. Bring back the young man Absalom.”