“‘That’s not how it is. Rather, a man from the hills of Efrayim, Sheva the son of Bikhri, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Just turn him over to me, and I will leave the city.’ The woman said to Yo’av, ‘All right, his head will be thrown to you over the […]

“‘We are among those in Israel who are peaceful and faithful. Why are you destroying a city and a mother in Israel? Why swallow up the inheritance of Adonai?‘  Yo’av answered, “Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that I should swallow or destroy anything!”-2 Samuel 20:19-20 The last time we left off, Joab was in the midst […]

“He approached her, and the woman asked, ‘Are you Yo’av?’ He answered, ‘I am.’ She said to him, ‘Listen to what your servant has to say.’ He answered, ‘I’m listening.’  Then she said, ‘In the old days they used to say, ‘They will ask advice at Avel’; and that would end the discussion.”-2 Samuel 20:17-18 […]

“Sheva went through all the tribes of Israel, to Avel and Beit-Ma‘akhah, and to all the Berim; they assembled and followed him. Yo’av’s troops came and put him under siege in Avel of Beit-Ma‘akhah — they put up a ramp in the moat against the city wall; and all the people with Yo’av battered the […]

“Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road; so that as the troops came up, they all halted there. When the man saw that all the people were standing still, he dragged ‘Amasa off the road into the field and threw a cloak over him.”-2 Samuel 20:12 Once Joab had disposed […]