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
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David was dealing with a rebellion led by Sheba, a troublemaker who rallied Israelites against David's rule after Absalom's revolt. Joab, as David's loyal military commander, pursued Sheba to the fortified city of Abel Beth Maakah, where he was preparing to besiege it to capture the rebel. In this verse, Joab responds to the city's wise woman, assuring her that his goal is not to destroy the innocent city but only to eliminate the threat posed by Sheba.
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