שמואל ב, פרק כ׳, פסוק י״ז

A tense encounter unfolds between a wise woman and the senior commander of the Israelite army. What begins as a seemingly simple exchange to confirm the commander's identity actually carries profound weight. On the surface, the woman's request to verify his identity and her plea for his attention appear to be nothing more than basic politeness [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, beneath this courteous greeting lies a sharp challenge. By questioning who he is, she is asking whether he is indeed the great military leader of Israel, a man renowned for his wisdom and greatness in Torah study [רש״י, אלשיך].

Tradition identifies this wise woman as Serah the daughter of Asher, a historical figure who lived a remarkably long life, dating back to when the Israelites first went down to Egypt, and who shared in the secret of the redemption led by Moses. Her inquiry serves as a severe critique of Joab's military tactics. She challenges him by asking how he and King David, both considered men of Torah, could build a siege mound and attack the city without first following the explicit Commandment to offer terms of peace before engaging in battle. In this moment, the woman's deep Torah wisdom directly confronts Joab's weapons of war [אלשיך].

After she establishes her enduring loyalty to the people of Israel, Joab is horrified by the thought that he is acting against the Torah. He quickly explains the extreme severity of the situation. The rebellion of Sheba the son of Bichri is not a standard event that allows for moderate procedures. The rebel has committed a grave offense by raising his hand against both the king and David. This double offense is explained by a profound principle. Opposing a great Torah scholar and leader of the generation like David is equivalent to rebelling against the king himself. Furthermore, anyone who dares to rebel against the king of Israel is considered to have rebelled against God [אלשיך].