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. 

The wise woman from Tekoa

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). The events in the household of king David did not just bring a family feud but enmity and dryness. David’s own son had raped his daughter, the brother of the raped daughter, another son of David, killed the rapist and fled. The atmosphere in David’s palace was not the best at this moment. Sometimes when situations such as these happen, it can literally crush one’s spirit. David’s cycle of misfortunes could be directly connected to his own sins (adultery and murder). After Absalom avenged his brother, he knew that he was liable to death as well. Absalom action was intentional. It took him two years to plan how to execute the vengeance against Amnon. According to the law, “If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet” (Numbers 35:20‭-‬21).Thus, Absalom was liable to death. The only way for this to be averted is a decree from the king. The woman for this post is a wise woman who was commissioned for the task of restoring Absalom. 

So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. (2 Samuel 14:2)

For three years, Absalom lived in Gerur. He fled from his father. But, David was comforted and longed for his son. To have Absalom back to Jerusalem, a word from the king would spare Absalom from the avenger of blood. David’s army commander,  Joab, took this task upon himself. “Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.” (2 Samuel 14:1‭-‬3). Of all the women in Jerusalem, Joab knew that for this task, a special woman is needed. Not any ordinary woman but one with a proven record of wisdom. Someone who could boldly stand in front of the king of Israel and request him to send for his son who had fled for committing murder. Joab knew that the wise woman from Tekoa was right for the task. Joab told the woman what to say to the king. 

King David was merciful to the woman and her plea for mercy for her son was accepted (2 Samuel 14:5-7). After setting the background for mercy, the woman then brought up the story of David’s own son Absalom. She said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.” (2 Samuel 14:13‭-‬14). David knew that this woman did not just walk to the palace with such a story. He knew someone would have tasked her to do what she did. The woman revealed that Joab tasked her to plead on behalf of Absalom. She told David, “Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My Lord has wisdom like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.” (2 Samuel 14:20).

The action of the woman did not just restore Absalom, it also healed David’s crushed spirit. 2 Samuel 13:39a indicates that David longed to go to Absalom. King David was consoled concerning the death of Amnon and yet, he allowed Absalom to live in exile until the woman from Tekoa came to him. The action of this woman restored the family of David. Absalom was forgiven and one more time peace was restored in David’s palace. Although the peace did not stay for long, momentary, David’s crushed spirit was revived and Absalom was given a second chance at life.

Not many people have a second chance at life. The wise woman’s plea gave Absalom another opportunity to make things right. 

Bethsheba: When plans go wrong

There are times that our bad actions trigger the ripple effects of other things. My father always says that if you tell one lie, you will probably need a thousand more lies to cover your tracks. This is so true. Whenever you do something wrong and you need to cover your tracks, you tend to do more wrong stuff to make sure that your first action is not seen. The only solution to this ripple effect of sin is to avoid the very first attempt to sin. If you overcome the first desire to do evil, there is no need to cover up your track. The temptation of Adam and Eve, and the temptation of Jesus were all based on similar levels. The devil was interested in the things that would make them desire other things other than God: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Eve succumbed to the sin, Adam followed suit and the result was a flawed humanity (Genesis 3). On the other hand, Jesus overcame his temptation and ultimately accomplished God’s purpose of salvation. 

Bethsheba had no intention to cheat on her husband until king David requested for her presence and ended up sleeping with her. The one night with the king began a cycle of sin. Bethsheba was pregnant for David while Uriah was still at war. David was informed about this and his first action was to send for Uriah. David sent word to Joab, the army commander: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.” (2 Samuel 11:6‭-‬8). David’s plan was for Uriah to go home and sleep with Bethsheba so the baby would be known as Uriah’s baby. Remember, there was no DNA test available then. However, Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house (2 Samuel 11:9). When David inquired of Uriah, this was Uriah’s response: “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my Lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” (2 Samuel 11:11). Such a loyalty was missing in David’s own life. Even when David got Uriah so drunk the next day, Uriah still didn’t go to sleep with his wife. David’s plan failed. 

In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11:15)

All this while, Bethsheba was home managing her predicament. She had no idea that the king was looking for ways to cover his sinful action. David initiated plan B. The second plan was barbaric. David sent a letter to Joab through Uriah. The letter was Uriah’s death sentence. The very loyal Uriah did not know that his own hands carried a decision to kill him. In the letter, David wrote this: “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11:14‭-‬15). David succeeded in this plan and Uriah was killed by the enemies he had risked his life and pleasure to fight against. Uriah was actually pushed into his own death by the plan of his own king. What an evil plan! Bethsheba’s one night with the king caused her the life of a very loyal husband. I am sure David did not plan to kill Uriah before he slept with Bethsheba. His one sin, generated a cycle of other sins. 

Imagine Bethsheba waiting at home to know what to tell Uriah about the pregnancy. They had no mobile phones so Bethsheba was not in communication with Uriah. The beautiful wife of Uriah carried the child of a king. The king who didn’t want to be shamed killed the husband of Bethsheba to cover his sinful action. The story is far from over. God hates sin and what David did was obnoxious to Him. 

Before you press that sin button, know that you will need a lifetime of lies to cover that single act. Be sober minded and be ready to weigh your actions with the word of God. The only solution to this ripple effect of sin is to avoid the very first attempt to sin.
God hates sin.