2 Samuel 20:14-22

14Sheba travelled through the land of all Israel's tribes. He arrived at Abel Beth Maakah. All the people of Bicri's clan also came to the city. They joined Sheba there.

15Then Joab's soldiers arrived and they started to attack Abel Beth Maakah. They made their camp all around the city. They built heaps of earth against the city's walls. They started to dig holes through the walls to cause them to fall down.

16Then a wise woman stood on the wall and she shouted to them, ‘Listen! Listen to me! Tell Joab to come near so that I can speak to him!’

17So Joab went towards her. The woman asked him, ‘Are you Joab?’ He answered, ‘Yes, I am.’ She said to him, ‘Please listen to what I have to say.’ ‘I am listening, so tell me,’ he replied.

18Then she said, ‘A long time ago, people said, “If you want an answer to your problem, go to Abel city.” So that is what people did when they had problems.

19The people of this city like to live in peace. We are faithful to our nation, Israel. Have you decided to destroy such an important city in Israel? Why do you want to destroy a city that belongs to the Lord?’

20Joab answered her, ‘That is stupid! I would never do that! I am not trying to destroy anything.

21That is not what we want. But there is a man in your city whose name is Sheba. He is Bicri's son and he comes from the hill country of Ephraim. He has turned against King David. If you will give me this one man, I will go away from your city. I will not destroy it.’ The woman said to Joab, ‘Wait there! I will throw his head to you from the wall.’

22Then the woman spoke to all the people in the city. She told them her wise advice. So they cut off Sheba's head and they threw it off the wall to Joab. Then Joab made a loud noise with his trumpet. So his soldiers went away from the city. Each of them went to his own home. Joab returned to King David in Jerusalem.