From the Death of Saul to the Death of David - Flavius Josephus

obtain the chief command of the army, and be in equal dignity with himself
about the king; and for the same cause it was that he killed Abner. But as to
that former wicked action, the death of his brother Asahel, which he seemed
to revenge, afforded him a decent pretense, and made that crime a
pardonable one; but in this murder of Amasa there was no such covering for
it. Now when Joab had killed this general, he pursued after Sheba, having
left a man with the dead body, who was ordered to proclaim aloud to the
army, that Amasa was justly slain, and deservedly punished. "But," said he,
"if you be for the king, follow Joab his general, and Abishai, Joab's brother:"
but because the body lay on the road, and all the multitude came running to
it, and, as is usual with the multitude, stood wondering a great while at it, he
that guarded it removed it thence, and carried it to a certain place that was
very remote from the road, and there laid it, and covered it with his garment.
When this was done, all the people followed Joab. Now as he pursued Sheba
through all the country of Israel, one told him that he was in a strong city,
called Abelbeth-maachah. Hereupon Joab went thither, and set about it with
his army, and cast up a bank round it, and ordered his soldiers to undermine
the walls, and to overthrow them; and since the people in the city did not
admit him, he was greatly displeased at them.
8. Now there was a woman of small account, and yet both wise and
intelligent, who seeing her native city lying at the last extremity, ascended
upon the wall, and, by means of the armed men, called for Joab; and when he
came to her, she began to say, That "God ordained kings and generals of
armies, that they might cut off the enemies of the Hebrews, and introduce a
universal peace among them; but thou art endeavoring to overthrow and
depopulate a metropolis of the Israelites, which hath been guilty of no
offense." But he replied, "God continue to be merciful unto me: I am
disposed to avoid killing any one of the people, much less would I destroy
such a city as this; and if they will deliver me up Sheba, the son of Bichri,
who hath rebelled against the king, I will leave off the siege, and withdraw
the army from the place." Now as soon as the woman heard what Joab said,
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