The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 14שמואל ב 14

וַיֵּ֖דַע יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן צְרֻיָ֑ה כִּֽי לֵ֥ב הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart toward Absalom.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יוֹאָב֙ תְּק֔וֹעָה וַיִּקַּ֥ח מִשָּׁ֖ם אִשָּׁ֣ה חֲכָמָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לֶיהָ הִֽתְאַבְּלִי נָ֞א וְלִבְשִׁי נָ֣א בִגְדֵי אֵ֗בֶל וְאַל תָּס֨וּכִי֙ שֶׁ֔מֶן וְהָיִ֕ית כְּאִשָּׁ֗ה זֶ֚ה יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים מִתְאַבֶּ֖לֶת עַל מֵֽת

And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray you, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

וּבָאת֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְדִבַּ֥רְתְּ אֵלָ֖יו כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיָּ֧שֶׂם יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת הַדְּבָרִ֖ים בְּפִֽיהָ

And come to the king, and speak on this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

וַ֠תֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֤ה הַתְּקֹעִית֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתִּפֹּ֧ל עַל אַפֶּ֛יהָ אַ֖רְצָה וַתִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר הוֹשִׁ֥עָה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.

וַיֹּֽאמֶר לָ֥הּ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מַה לָּ֑ךְ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אֲבָ֛ל אִשָּֽׁה אַלְמָנָ֥ה אָ֖נִי וַיָּ֥מָת אִישִֽׁי

And the king said to her, What aileth you? And she answered, I indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

וּלְשִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים וַיִּנָּצ֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין מַצִּ֖יל בֵּֽינֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּכּ֧וֹ הָאֶחָ֛ד אֶת הָאֶחָ֖ד וַיָּ֥מֶת אֹתֽוֹ

And your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.

וְהִנֵּה֩ קָ֨מָה כָֽל הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֜ה עַל שִׁפְחָתֶ֗ךָ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ תְּנִ֣י אֶת מַכֵּ֣ה אָחִ֗יו וּנְמִתֵ֨הוּ֙ בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ אָחִיו֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָרָ֔ג וְנַשְׁמִ֖ידָה גַּ֣ם אֶת הַיּוֹרֵ֑שׁ וְכִבּ֗וּ אֶת גַּֽחַלְתִּי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁאָ֔רָה לְבִלְתִּ֧י שום שִׂים לְאִישִׁ֛י שֵׁ֥ם וּשְׁאֵרִ֖ית עַל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה

And, behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband name nor remainder upon the earth.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל הָאִשָּׁ֖ה לְכִ֣י לְבֵיתֵ֑ךְ וַאֲנִ֖י אֲצַוֶּ֥ה עָלָֽיִךְ

And the king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you.

וַתֹּ֜אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֤ה הַתְּקוֹעִית֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עָלַ֞י אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ הֶעָוֺ֖ן וְעַל בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ וְכִסְא֖וֹ נָקִֽי

And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne guiltless.

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ הַֽמְדַבֵּ֤ר אֵלַ֨יִךְ֙ וַֽהֲבֵאת֣וֹ אֵלַ֔י וְלֹֽא יֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לָגַ֥עַת בָּֽךְ

And the king said, Whosoever says to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more.

וַתֹּאמֶר֩ יִזְכָּר נָ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ מהרבית מֵהַרְבַּ֞ת גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ לְשַׁחֵ֔ת וְלֹ֥א יַשְׁמִ֖ידוּ אֶת בְּנִ֑י וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ חַי יְהוָ֔ה אִם יִפֹּ֛ל מִשַּׂעֲרַ֥ת בְּנֵ֖ךְ אָֽרְצָה

Then said she, I pray you, let the king remember YHWH your God, that you wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, YHWH liveth, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה תְּדַבֶּר נָ֧א שִׁפְחָתְךָ֛ אֶל אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ דָּבָ֑ר וַיֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽרִי

Then the woman said, Let your handmaid, I pray you, speak word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְלָ֧מָּה חָשַׁ֛בְתָּה כָּזֹ֖את עַל עַ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּמִדַּבֵּ֨ר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ הַדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ כְּאָשֵׁ֔ם לְבִלְתִּ֛י הָשִׁ֥יב הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶֽת נִדְּחֽוֹ

And the woman said, Wherefore then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king does speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king does not fetch home again his banished.

כִּי מ֣וֹת נָמ֔וּת וְכַמַּ֨יִם֙ הַנִּגָּרִ֣ים אַ֔רְצָה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֣א יֵאָסֵ֑פוּ וְלֹֽא יִשָּׂ֤א אֱלֹהִים֙ נֶ֔פֶשׁ וְחָשַׁב֙ מַֽחֲשָׁב֔וֹת לְבִלְתִּ֛י יִדַּ֥ח מִמֶּ֖נּוּ נִדָּֽח

For we must needs die, and as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither does God respect person: yet does he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

וְ֠עַתָּה אֲשֶׁר בָּ֜אתִי לְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲדֹנִי֙ אֶת הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֥י יֵֽרְאֻ֖נִי הָעָ֑ם וַתֹּ֤אמֶר שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ אֲדַבְּרָה נָּ֣א אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אוּלַ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת דְּבַ֥ר אֲמָתֽוֹ

Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

כִּ֚י יִשְׁמַ֣ע הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהַצִּ֥יל אֶת אֲמָת֖וֹ מִכַּ֣ף הָאִ֑ישׁ לְהַשְׁמִ֨יד אֹתִ֤י וְאֶת בְּנִי֙ יַ֔חַד מִֽנַּחֲלַ֖ת אֱלֹהִֽים

For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ שִׁפְחָ֣תְךָ֔ יִֽהְיֶה נָּ֛א דְּבַר אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לִמְנוּחָ֑ה כִּ֣י כְּמַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים כֵּ֣ן אֲדֹנִ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לִשְׁמֹ֨עַ֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהָרָ֔ע וַֽיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהִ֥י עִמָּֽךְ

Then your handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore YHWH your God will be with you.

וַיַּ֣עַן הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַל נָ֨א תְכַחֲדִ֤י מִמֶּ֨נִּי֙ דָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁאֵ֣ל אֹתָ֑ךְ וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה יְדַבֶּר נָ֖א אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

Then the king answered and said to the woman, Hide not from me, I pray you, the thing that I shall ask you. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הֲיַ֥ד יוֹאָ֛ב אִתָּ֖ךְ בְּכָל זֹ֑את וַתַּ֣עַן הָאִשָּׁ֣ה וַתֹּ֡אמֶר חֵֽי נַפְשְׁךָ֩ אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אִם אִ֣שׁ לְהֵמִ֣ין וּלְהַשְׂמִ֗יל מִכֹּ֤ל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי עַבְדְּךָ֤ יוֹאָב֙ ה֣וּא צִוָּ֔נִי וְה֗וּא שָׂ֚ם בְּפִ֣י שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֔ אֵ֥ת כָּל הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה

And the king said, the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman answered and said, your soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king has spoken: for your servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid:

לְבַעֲב֤וּר סַבֵּב֙ אֶת פְּנֵ֣י הַדָּבָ֔ר עָשָׂ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַאדֹנִ֣י חָכָ֗ם כְּחָכְמַת֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים לָדַ֖עַת אֶֽת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ

To fetch about this form of speech has your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that in the earth.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב הִנֵּה נָ֥א עָשִׂ֖יתִי אֶת הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֵ֛ךְ הָשֵׁ֥ב אֶת הַנַּ֖עַר אֶת אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

וַיִּפֹּל֩ יוֹאָ֨ב אֶל פָּנָ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֶת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֡ב הַיּוֹם֩ יָדַ֨ע עַבְדְּךָ֜ כִּי מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֨יךָ֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֥ה הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶת דְּבַ֥ר עבדו עַבְדֶּֽךָ

And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day your servant knoweth that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.

וַיָּ֥קָם יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גְּשׁ֑וּרָה וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ יִסֹּ֣ב אֶל בֵּית֔וֹ וּפָנַ֖י לֹ֣א יִרְאֶ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֤ב אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל בֵּית֔וֹ וּפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֹ֥א רָאָֽה

And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

וּכְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם לֹא הָיָ֧ה אִישׁ יָפֶ֛ה בְּכָל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַלֵּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד מִכַּ֤ף רַגְלוֹ֙ וְעַ֣ד קָדְקֳד֔וֹ לֹא הָ֥יָה ב֖וֹ מֽוּם

But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

וּֽבְגַלְּחוֹ֮ אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ֒ וְֽ֠הָיָה מִקֵּ֨ץ יָמִ֤ים לַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְגַלֵּ֔חַ כִּֽי כָבֵ֥ד עָלָ֖יו וְגִלְּח֑וֹ וְשָׁקַל֙ אֶת שְׂעַ֣ר רֹאשׁ֔וֹ מָאתַ֥יִם שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּאֶ֥בֶן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled : because was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

וַיִּֽוָּלְד֤וּ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ שְׁלוֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֔ים וּבַ֥ת אַחַ֖ת וּשְׁמָ֣הּ תָּמָ֑ר הִ֣יא הָיְתָ֔ה אִשָּׁ֖ה יְפַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה

And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם שְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֑ים וּפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֹ֥א רָאָֽה

So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם אֶל יוֹאָ֗ב לִשְׁלֹ֤חַ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לָב֣וֹא אֵלָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח עוֹד֙ שֵׁנִ֔ית וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה לָבֽוֹא

Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֶל עֲבָדָ֜יו רְאוּ֩ חֶלְקַ֨ת יוֹאָ֤ב אֶל יָדִי֙ וְלוֹ שָׁ֣ם שְׂעֹרִ֔ים לְכ֖וּ והוצתיה וְהַצִּית֣וּהָ בָאֵ֑שׁ וַיַּצִּ֜תוּ עַבְדֵ֧י אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם אֶת הַחֶלְקָ֖ה בָּאֵֽשׁ

Therefore he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

וַיָּ֣קָם יוֹאָ֔ב וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם הַבָּ֑יְתָה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו לָ֣מָּה הִצִּ֧יתוּ עֲבָדֶ֛ךָ אֶת הַחֶלְקָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר לִ֖י בָּאֵֽשׁ

Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to house, and said to him, Wherefore have your servants set my field on fire?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם אֶל יוֹאָ֡ב הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ לֵאמֹ֡ר בֹּ֣א הֵ֠נָּה וְאֶשְׁלְחָה֩ אֹתְךָ֨ אֶל הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֗ר לָ֤מָּה בָּ֨אתִי֙ מִגְּשׁ֔וּר ט֥וֹב לִ֖י עֹ֣ד אֲנִי שָׁ֑ם וְעַתָּ֗ה אֶרְאֶה֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאִם יֶשׁ בִּ֥י עָוֺ֖ן וֶהֱמִתָֽנִי

And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come hither, that I may send you to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? good for me there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.

וַיָּבֹ֨א יוֹאָ֣ב אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ וַיַּגֶּד לוֹ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֶל אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣א אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֨חוּ ל֧וֹ עַל אַפָּ֛יו אַ֖רְצָה לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לְאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.