The Wise Woman of Abel

All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down,

~II Samuel 20:15

In your own words, describe what you think it might have been like for a mother with several small children within the city wall of Abel.

• Life must have been pretty scary for both the mother and the children.  The mother probably would not let her children go outside.

While it is unlikely that you are your family have been in this same situation, there are many households today that are under a siege of some sort.  Abuse, financial misfortune, grief, illness - whether physical or mental - all can hold a family captive.  Do you know someone in such a situation?  A child?  Another woman?  A teen?  What can you do to help?

• At the current moment, I can't think of anyone close that is being held captive by these above things.  But, if I did, the thing I would do to help is pray for them and become an even closer friend to them.

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.

    ~II Samuel 20:16-17

What do Joab's terse words reveal about his reaction to this brave woman?

• I'm not exactly sure how his words are terse but I guess he is intrigued by what the woman has to say

Have you ever been in a situation where the wise thing to do also required bravery?  Did you do it?  Why or why not?

• I think I have been.  A while ago I had to tell a guy to stop pushing me to do things and eventually ti came to be too much that I had to tell him off.  I'm generally a nice person and don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but that was the wise thing to do and it did take some bravery because I dont' usually tell people off

She continued, “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?”

 ~II Samuel 20:18-19

What might have given the town of Abel the reputation described here?  What does this tell you about its inhabitants?

• I am not sure if I will answer this question correctly or not, but I'm going to say that the Lord gave them the reputation that was described above
• I believe that the people of Abel are very trustworthy and get along wtih each other

Where do you go when you need answers?

• Anytime I need answers, I usually pray to God, and soon - if not right away - he will give me the answer I need to hear at teh right time

“Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!  That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”

The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.”

  Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

~II Samuel 20:20-22

What is your reaction to what the town of Abel did with Sheba?  Do you think the bargain they struck with Joab was a good one?  Why or why not?

• I am a little suprised because the wise woman had just said that they were a peaceful people, so I assumed they were not violent like this
• I suppose they made a good bargain because then they woudl not have to unwillingly fight their enemy

The facts of this story are physically brutal and disturbing, but the facts of life for many today in our society are just as brutal.  How can you be a wise woman in your corner of the world?

• by being there for my close friends who need me