The wise woman from Abel Beth Maakah

The Bible is full of different women whose wise counsel averted an otherwise dangerous situation. Abigail prevented David and his men from destroying Nabal and his household. The wise woman from Tekoa used wisdom to admonish king David to accept Absalom back to Jerusalem. In today’s post  we shall consider another woman whose wisdom prevented an entire city from being destroyed. We shall refer to her as the wise woman from Abel Beth Maakah. As a background to her story, when David was returning to Jerusalem after Absalom’s revolt, a troublemaker named Sheba, son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!” (2 Samuel 20:1). This act of Sheba caused all the men of Israel to desert David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. Only the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 20:2). David knew that if Sheba was allowed to roam and go free, he would end up doing more harm than Absalom did. Therefore, David told Abishai, a commander in his army, to pursue Abishai before he escaped (2 Samuel 20:6). a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he answered. She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” “I’m listening,” he said. (2 Samuel 20:16‭-‬17) The rebellious Sheba, passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah and through the entire region of the Bikrites, who gathered together and followed him (2 Samuel 20:14). The rebellion was gaining popularity and something needed to be done quickly. Thus, the army of David besieged the city of Abel Beth Maakah because of Sheba. The army built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications in an attempt to bring the city walls down (2 Samuel 20:15). The whole attack of Abel Beth Maakah was because of one person, Sheba. However, the words of the wise woman averted the doom upon the city. This woman was courageous enough to take a stand. She called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” (2 Samuel 20:16). She requested for the presence of the whole army commander, the general of Israel’s army. She was determined to bring peace. When Joab moved to her she asked, “Are you Joab?” And Joab answered, “I am.” She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.” Joab replied, “I’m listening.” (2 Samuel 20:17). The wise woman sought the attention of Joab, the man who had the authority to stop the battering of the city walls. Like the daughters of Zelophehad who sought for the hearing of the elders and Moses, this woman spoke with the right person. Speaking with the right person at the right time saves unnecessary delays. The woman presented her case this way: “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?” (2 Samuel 20:18‭-‬19). Joab replied that the sole purpose for battering the city walls was to arrest the rebellious Sheba, son of Bikri. Joab requested that if they hand over Sheba, the army will withdraw (2 Samuel 20:20-21). The wise woman did not delay, she quickly told Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” (2 Samuel 20:21b).  The wise woman knew that as influential as Sheba was, she would need to convince her people the need to get rid of him. She didn’t just force her opinion on them, “the woman presented her strategy to the whole city and they did it: They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri [Bikri] and tossed it down to Joab. He then blew a blast on the ram’s horn trumpet and the soldiers all went home. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 20:22 MSG). Knowing what to do at every moment requires wisdom. Imagine if the wise woman had not intervened, an entire city would have been destroyed for one man’s rebellion.  The wise woman from Abel Beth Maakah teaches important life lessons. First, she demonstrated courage. She also sought the attention of the right person. She was quick to let her strategy be known to her people. She was not clueless about the impact of Sheba’s actions. She knew that attacking the king was liable to death.  The book of Proverbs admonishes us that, “It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.” (Proverbs 24:3‭-‬4 MSG). Not knowing what to do, makes you liable to pain. 

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