1 Now Jo´ab the son of Zeru-i´ah perceived that the king's heart was toward Ab´salom.
2 And Jo´ab sent to Teko´a, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
3 and come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Jo´ab put the words in her mouth.
4 And when the woman of Teko´a spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.