KJV ORIGINAL
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Joab replied, 'No way! Absolutely not! I would never swallow up or destroy anything.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Joab is strongly denying that he wants to cause destruction or harm to the city.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during a siege of the city of Abel Beth-maachah, where Joab was pursuing the rebel Sheba. A wise woman from the city had called out to Joab, questioning why he was trying to destroy a peaceful, important city in Israel. Joab is responding to clarify his intentions - he only wants the rebel Sheba, not to harm the innocent city.
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