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[289]
Now there was a woman of small account, and yet both wise and intelligent,
who seeing her native city lying at the last extremity, ascended upon the
wall, and, by means of the armed men, called for Joab; and when he came
to her, she began to say, That "God ordained kings and generals
of armies, that they might cut off the enemies of the Hebrews, and introduce
a universal peace among them; but thou art endeavoring to overthrow and
depopulate a metropolis of the Israelites, which hath been guilty of no
offense." But he replied, "God continue to be merciful unto me:
I am disposed to avoid killing any one of the people, much less would I
destroy such a city as this; and if they will deliver me up Sheba, the
son of Bichri, who hath rebelled against the king, I will leave off the
siege, and withdraw the army from the place." Now as soon as the woman
heard what Joab said, she desired him to intermit the siege for a little
while, for that he should have the head of his enemy thrown out to him
presently. So she went down to the citizens, and said to them, "Will
you be so wicked as to perish miserably, with your children and wives,
for the sake of a vile fellow, and one whom nobody knows who he is? And
will you have him for your king instead of David, who hath been so great
a benefactor to you, and oppose your city alone to such a mighty and strong
army?" So she prevailed with them, and they cut off the head of Sheba,
and threw it into Joab's army. When this was done, the king's general sounded
a retreat, and raised the siege. And when he was come to Jerusalem, he
was again appointed to be general of all the people. The king also constituted
Benaiah captain of the guards, and of the six hundred men. He also set
Adoram over the tribute, and Sabathes and Achilaus over the records. He
made Sheva the scribe, and appointed Zadok and Abiathar the high priests.
1
1 HOW THE HEBREWS WERE DELIVERED FROM A FAMINE WHEN THE GIBEONITES HAD CAUSED PUNISHMENT TO BE INFLICTED FOR THOSE OF THEM THAT HAD BEEN SLAIN: AS ALSO, WHAT GREAT ACTIONS WERE PERFORMED AGAINST THE PHILISTINES BY DAVID, AND THE MEN OF VALOR ABOUT HIM.
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