2 Samuel 20:14

A WISE WOMAN SAVES THE CITY OF ABEL

"And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah; and all the Bichrites assembled, and followed him in. And all the men who were with Joab came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah; they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and they were battering the wall to throw it down. Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear! Hear! Tell Joab, `Come here that I may speak to you.'" And he came near her; and the woman said, "Are you Joab"? He answered, "I am." Then she said to ... him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." Then she said, "They were wont to say in old time,' 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 which is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the Lord"? Joab answered, "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." And the woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall." Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king."

"And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel" (2 Samuel 20:14). Sheba succeeded in rallying no support except his kinsfolk; so there was nothing left for him to do except to enter the fortified city of Abel and try to hold out there against David. That place was located at the extreme northern boundary of Israel. "It is identified as the modern Tel Abil, twelve miles north of Lake Huleh and four miles west of Dan."[16] DeHoff also tells us that, "It is supposed to have been the capital of the district called Abilene in Luke 3:1."[17]

"Then a wise woman called from the city" (2 Samuel 20:16). "This woman was probably someone on the border line between a prophetess and a witch, two classes which were not always clearly distinguished."[18] She must be credited with ending the rebellion of Sheba and saving the city of Abel from destruction.