“I’ll take all responsibility for what happens,” the woman of Tekoa said. “I don’t want to compromise the king and his reputation.”
“If it comes to that,” said his mother, “I’ll take the curse on myself. Now, just do what I say. Go and get the goats.”
“Bring the man who has been harassing you,” the king continued. “I’ll see to it that he doesn’t bother you anymore.”
The king said, “Go home, and I’ll take care of this for you.”
“Don’t pollute the land in which you live. Murder pollutes the land. The land can’t be cleaned up of the blood of murder except through the blood of the murderer.
The crowd answered, “We’ll take the blame, we and our children after us.”