^{5 Ref} And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

^{6 Ref} And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

^{7 Ref} And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

^{8 Ref} And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

^{9 Ref} And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.

¹⁰ And the king said, Whoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

^{11 Ref} Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.