Let the King Invoke the Lord Your God, That the Avenger of Blood Shall Never Touch You Again

The woman of takoa said to the king, on me be the guilt, my lord the king. And your handmaid had two sons, and they quarrelled with one another in the field. One struck the other and killed him; now the whole family is risen against your handmaid. They say, give up the man who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother, whom he slew. Inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one again, we must all die. We are like water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But god will not take away the life of him who devises means