The Wise Woman of Avel aka Abel

Her character: Rather than passively waiting for someone else to save her city, she had the wisdom and courage to act quickly and decisively.
Her sorrow: That her city, though faithful to King David, was besieged by his army because it had been infiltrated by a rebellious leader.
Her joy: That she was able to successfully intercede for the town, thus averting disaster for many innocent people.
Key Scriptures: 2 Samuel 20:14-22

Her Story

Many women in Scripture stand out for their wisdom. One woman, who lived in a town at Israel’s northern border, is identified solely as “a wise woman” (2 Samuel 20:16), acting quickly to save her city.

A certain rabble-rouser by the name of Sheva, from the tribe of Benjamin (Saul’s tribe), attempted still another revolt. But Yoab, the commander of David’s army, chased Sheva all the way to Avel Beth Maacah, in the north.

Yoab had constructed siege ramps to assault the walls of Avel and squelch the rebellion. It was evident that the entire city would be destroyed unless someone acted quickly to preserve the peace.

Suddenly, a woman stood on the walls of Avel and shouted: “Listen! Listen! Tell Yoab to come here so I can speak to him.

We are among those in Israel who are peaceful and faithful. “You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Yehovah’s inheritance?” she challenged Yoab. “Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that I should swallow or destroy anything!  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.”

“His head will be thrown to you from the wall,” she shouted back. The woman turned to her fellow citizens, urging them to act. In just moments, a man’s head came careening over the wall. Disaster was averted.

But the Wise Woman looked for another solution. Gruesome as it was, it kept the peace and spared lives on both sides. Through her intercession on behalf of her people, innocent lives on both sides of the city walls were spared.

Her Promise

The wise woman of Abel saw a need for immediate action, and she acted. She recognized that this was not a time to passively wait for someone else to take the reins of leadership, not a time for a play on words, just a time to do what needed to be done. Through this woman, Yehovah God saved the innocent inhabitants of her city. There are times when quick action is required of us as well. We may hesitate, we may wish to go another way, we may dodge and confuse, but in the end we must act. When we’re living in obedience and close relationship with Yehovah God, we can trust that we don’t go alone. Yah is there, giving us the help and assurance we require.