Bean and Steak Soup

1 cup lima beans -- dried
1 rib steak
1 tablespoon oil
2 onions
3 cloves garlic -- diced
4 carrots -- diced
2 stalks celery -- sliced
5 cups cabbage -- chopped fine
3 potatoes -- diced
1/4 cup parsley -- fresh and chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 can beef broth
6 cups water
1 can tomatoes

Soak the beans overnight. Brown the steak well, remove from soup pot. Add the onions and garlic and cook for a few minutes. Add the cabbage, celery, carrots, tomatoes, water, beef broth and the spices. Put the steak back into soup mixture and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Meanwhile cook the beans in a seperate pot for 1/2 hour and drain. Add the potatoes, beans and the parsley to soup. Remove the steak and cut into small pieces and put back into the soup and simmer for another 45 minutes.