A wise woman of Tekoa
Joab uses a wise woman in disguise to convince David to return the exiled Absalom to Jerusalem
Joab the son of Zeruiah knew King David's heart went out to Absalom, so he sent to Tekoa and summoned a wise woman to pretend to talk to David. “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead. Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
She fell on her face before King David and claimed to be a widow with two sons, one of whom killed the other. The whole clan wants her to give up her surviving heir to put him to death. David told her to return home and await orders, but she insisted the guilt fall on herself. The king promised to protect her, but she wanted him to invoke the LORD that her son would not be killed, and David swore.
The woman then claimed his decision convicts himself, since he has not brought his banished one home. We must all die, but God devises means so that exiles will not remain an outcast. She knew the king would set her at rest for he is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. He asked if Joab sent her, and she confirmed he wants to change the course of things, but David has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.
A wise woman in Abel of Beth-maacah
Sheba led a rebellion against King David and holed up in Abel of Beth-maacah. Joab and Abishai pursued him, and all the men who were with Joab came and besieged him. They cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart, and they were battering the wall to throw it down.
A wise woman called out from the city, "Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, ‘Come here, that I may speak to you.’” Joab drew near, and she asked, "Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she told him, "Listen to the words of your servant.” He replied, “I am listening.” She said, "They used to say in former times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Abel,’ and so they settled a matter. I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord?” He said, “Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy! That is not true. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba the son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman said, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.” Then she threw the head out to Joab.
He blew the trumpet, and the soldiers dispersed.