2 Samuel 20:20
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
2 Samuel 20:20 (KJV)
Context
David’s kingdom had just survived Absalom’s rebellion when Sheba the son of Bichri led another revolt. Joab pursued Sheba to Abel of Bethmaachah and began battering the city wall. A wise woman then spoke for the city, asking why Joab intended to destroy a place known for peace and counsel in Israel. She reminded him that Abel was a “mother in Israel,” a city of faithful and peaceable people, and that destroying it would mean swallowing up the LORD’s inheritance.
Meaning
Joab emphatically denied that he wished to “swallow up or destroy” the city. His purpose was not indiscriminate violence but the capture of Sheba, who had lifted his hand against King David. The repeated expression “Far be it” distinguishes the guilty rebel from the community sheltering him and prepares the way for a negotiated resolution. The repetition shows Joab’s strong moral aversion to unjust destruction, especially against a city that belonged to the LORD’s people.
Biblical connections
The wise woman’s intervention reflects the value Scripture places on wise counsel and peacemaking. Her question and Joab’s answer together show that justice must be directed toward the real offender, not toward the innocent community. This principle appears elsewhere in the Old Testament, where God’s people are called to protect the innocent and pursue righteousness without harming the blameless.
Application
Conflict can expand when people fail to distinguish the central wrong from everyone nearby. Joab’s answer and the woman’s response encourage believers to seek truth, restrain unnecessary harm, and pursue peace without protecting rebellion. Wise mediation does not ignore justice; it directs justice toward the real issue while preserving the innocent. When disputes arise, believers can ask what outcome truly serves God’s purposes and protects His people.
Reflection
Joab’s words remind us that even in the heat of conflict, it is possible to refuse destruction that goes beyond what is necessary. The wise woman’s courage and discernment saved an entire city. Her example invites believers to speak boldly and wisely in times of crisis, trusting that God can use measured words to turn away ruin and bring about a just peace.
