Omer 2016 Day 28: The clever woman of Abel of Beth-maacah

What is the Omer? | Go back to Day 27 | Skip to Day 29

Day 28: Malchut in Netzach, Leadership in Victory
During King David's reign, a man named Sheba son of Bichri rebelled and King David's commander, Joab, cornered him in Abel of Beth-maacah. Joab threatened to destroy to whole city in his pursuit of Sheba, but a clever woman talked him down. She said:

"'I am one of those who seek the welfare of the faithful in Israel. But you seek to bring death upon a mother city of Israel! Why should you destroy the Lord's possession?' Joab replied, 'Far be it from me to destroy or ruin! Not at all! But a certain man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Sheba son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. Just hand him alone over to us, and I will withdraw from the city.' The woman assured Joab, 'His head shall be thrown over the wall to you.' The woman came to all the people with her clever plan; and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it down to Joab." (2 Samuel 20:19-22)

The woman stepped up in a perilous situation, appealing to her common nationality with Joab and challenging his authority and moral right.