Wisdom Wednesday: The Wise Woman of Abel-beth-maacah
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“Then a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen, listen! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here that I may speak with you.” John 12:46 (NASB)
The book of Second Samuel records the reign of King David, beginning with his rise to power after Saul’s death and culminating in the final years of his rule. It highlights David’s military triumphs, the unification of Israel, and the establishment of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of the nation. In the middle of the book, it records the conspiracy and takeover by David’s son, Absalom, that forced David the King to flee Jerusalem, resulting in an eventual battle (Chapters 15-17) between the forces of David, and his son who was killed in the conflict (Chapter 18). David was restored as king in Jerusalem (Chapter 19), but there remained some that remained opposed to David, led by a man named Sheba. He formed a group and left Jerusalem to consolidate his opposition and David sent forces, led by the military commander Joab, to deal with them. Joab’s forces pursued Sheba and his men for almost 100 miles north beyond the Sea of Galilee to a fortified (walled) city named Abel-beth-maacah where they had taken refuge.
This sets the context for the wise woman that is the hero of the account. Joab besieged the city, attempting to batter the city walls and fight their way in to kill Sheba and his followers. But one wise woman intervened. She climbed the wall and called out for the Commander of the forces, Joab (20:16) and spoke to him in humility (calling herself a slave to Joab (20:17). She appealed to him:
Then she spoke, saying, “In the past they used to say, ‘They will undoubtedly ask advice at Abel,’ and that is how they ended a dispute. I am one of those who are ready for peace and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?” (2 Sam 20:18-19)
Her appeal reminded Joab of the need to settle a dispute as in previous days when they followed the Mosaic law – apparently this was a city where people came to peacefully reconcile disagreements. She asks Joab, “Why would you destroy us all, even a mother like me?” She apparently knew what ravished cities looked like after a military conquest, and she feared that Joab was about to (foolishly) apply his military might to destroy everything is his way to get at Sheba. But Joab then wisely listened to this woman. He explained:
Joab replied, “Far be it, far be it from me that I would consume or destroy! Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against King David. Only turn him over, and I will depart from the city.” (20:20-21a)
The wise woman skillfully negotiated a deal to save the city, and committed to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” (20:21b). The writer carefully recorded that she “wisely “went to the people of the city and explained the deal she made with Joab,
It was done. The people of the city found and executed Sheba for opposing the divinely appointed king David, and as proof, threw the head over the wall to Joab. Joab kept his part of the bargain and withdrew his forces back to Jerusalem (20:23).
What do we learn from this unnamed woman recognized as being wise? She was a peacemaker by seeking justice against the one who opposed God’s anointed (Sheba) yet avoiding and unnecessary bloodbath against innocent people. She humbled herself before Joab, appealed as a mother and faithful Hebrew, questioned why a slaughter was necessary, and sought a solution that was consistent with God’s law and did not “swallow up the inheritance of the Lord”.