1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart went out toward Absalom.
2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought from there a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray you, pretend to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not yourself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
3 And come to the king, and speak in this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and paid him honor, and said, Help, O king.