The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 15שמואל ב 15

וַֽיְהִי֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לוֹ֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה וְסֻסִ֑ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם וְעָמַ֕ד עַל יַ֖ד דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיְהִ֡י כָּל הָאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר יִהְיֶה לּוֹ רִיב֩ לָב֨וֹא אֶל הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְשָׁל֤וֹם אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙ אַ֔תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֵאַחַ֥ד שִׁבְטֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was , that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city you? And he said, Your servant of one of the tribes of Israel.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם רְאֵ֥ה דְבָרֶ֖ךָ טוֹבִ֣ים וּנְכֹחִ֑ים וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ אֵין לְךָ֖ מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And Absalom said to him, See, your matters good and right; but no man of the king to hear you.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִי יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָב֥וֹא כָּל אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר יִהְיֶה לּוֹ רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

וְהָיָה֙ בִּקְרָב אִ֔ישׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת ל֑וֹ וְשָׁלַ֧ח אֶת יָד֛וֹ וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק ל֖וֹ וְנָ֥שַׁק לֽוֹ

And it was , that when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר יָבֹ֥אוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֶל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶת לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם אֶת נִדְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר נָדַ֥רְתִּי לַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to YHWH, in Hebron.

כִּי נֵ֨דֶר֙ נָדַ֣ר עַבְדְּךָ֔ בְּשִׁבְתִּ֥י בִגְשׁ֛וּר בַּאֲרָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם ישיב יָשׁ֨וֹב יְשִׁיבֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעָבַדְתִּ֖י אֶת יְהוָֽה

For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If YHWH shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve YHWH.

וַיֹּֽאמֶר ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ חֶבְרֽוֹנָה

And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכָל שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

וְאֶת אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם הָלְכ֞וּ מָאתַ֤יִם אִישׁ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קְרֻאִ֖ים וְהֹלְכִ֣ים לְתֻמָּ֑ם וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ כָּל דָּבָֽר

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אַ֠בְשָׁלוֹם אֶת אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל הַגִּֽילֹנִ֜י יוֹעֵ֣ץ דָּוִ֗ד מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ מִגִּלֹ֔ה בְּזָבְח֖וֹ אֶת הַזְּבָחִ֑ים וַיְהִ֤י הַקֶּ֨שֶׁר֙ אַמִּ֔ץ וְהָעָ֛ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָרָ֖ב אֶת אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמַּגִּ֔יד אֶל דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הָיָ֛ה לֶב אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּ֠וִד לְכָל עֲבָדָ֨יו אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֤וֹ בִירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ ק֣וּמוּ וְנִבְרָ֔חָה כִּ֛י לֹא תִֽהְיֶה לָּ֥נוּ פְלֵיטָ֖ה מִפְּנֵ֣י אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם מַהֲר֣וּ לָלֶ֗כֶת פֶּן יְמַהֵ֤ר וְהִשִּׂגָ֨נוּ֙ וְהִדִּ֤יחַ עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ אֶת הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וְהִכָּ֥ה הָעִ֖יר לְפִי חָֽרֶב

And David said to all his servants that with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כְּכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַ֛ר אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶֽיךָ

And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל בֵּית֖וֹ בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל הָעָ֖ם בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּרְחָֽק

And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

וְכָל עֲבָדָיו֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים עַל יָד֔וֹ וְכָל הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְכָל הַפְּלֵתִ֑י וְכָֽל הַגִּתִּ֞ים שֵׁשׁ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּ֤אוּ בְרַגְלוֹ֙ מִגַּ֔ת עֹבְרִ֖ים עַל פְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֔י לָ֧מָּה תֵלֵ֛ךְ גַּם אַתָּ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ שׁ֣וּב וְשֵׁ֤ב עִם הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ כִּֽי נָכְרִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וְגַם גֹּלֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה לִמְקוֹמֶֽךָ

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest you also with us? return to your place, and abide with the king: for you a stranger, and also an exile.

תְּמ֣וֹל בּוֹאֶ֗ךָ וְהַיּ֞וֹם אנועך אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤ עִמָּ֨נוּ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת וַאֲנִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִ֖י הוֹלֵ֑ךְ שׁ֣וּב וְהָשֵׁ֧ב אֶת אַחֶ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת

Whereas you camest yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return you, and take back your brethren: mercy and truth with you.

וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם בִּמְק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה שָּׁ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם לְמָ֨וֶת֙ אִם לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ

And Ittai answered the king, and said, YHWH liveth, and my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל אִתַּ֖י לֵ֣ךְ וַעֲבֹ֑ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר אִתַּ֤י הַגִּתִּי֙ וְכָל אֲנָשָׁ֔יו וְכָל הַטַּ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ

And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that with him.

וְכָל הָאָ֗רֶץ בּוֹכִים֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְכָל הָעָ֖ם עֹֽבְרִ֑ים וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹבֵר֙ בְּנַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן וְכָל הָעָם֙ עֹבְרִ֔ים עַל פְּנֵי דֶ֖רֶךְ אֶת הַמִּדְבָּֽר

And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

וְהִנֵּ֨ה גַם צָד֜וֹק וְכָֽל הַלְוִיִּ֣ם אִתּ֗וֹ נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּצִּ֨קוּ֙ אֶת אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּ֖עַל אֶבְיָתָ֑ר עַד תֹּ֥ם כָּל הָעָ֖ם לַעֲב֥וֹר מִן הָעִֽיר

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לְצָד֔וֹק הָשֵׁ֛ב אֶת אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הָעִ֑יר אִם אֶמְצָ֥א חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי וְהִרְאַ֥נִי אֹת֖וֹ וְאֶת נָוֵֽהוּ

And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of YHWH, he will bring me again, and shew me it, and his habitation:

וְאִם֙ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֔ר לֹ֥א חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּ֑ךְ הִנְנִ֕י יַֽעֲשֶׂה לִּ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר ט֖וֹב בְּעֵינָֽיו

But if he thus say, I have no delight in you; behold, I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל צָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם

The king said also to Zadok the priest, you a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

רְאוּ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ בעברות בְּעַֽרְב֖וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַ֣ד בּ֥וֹא דָבָ֛ר מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַגִּ֥יד לִֽי

See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָד֧וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

וְדָוִ֡ד עֹלֶה֩ בְמַעֲלֵ֨ה הַזֵּיתִ֜ים עֹלֶ֣ה וּבוֹכֶ֗ה וְרֹ֥אשׁ לוֹ֙ חָפ֔וּי וְה֖וּא הֹלֵ֣ךְ יָחֵ֑ף וְכָל הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֗וֹ חָפוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְעָל֥וּ עָלֹ֖ה וּבָכֹֽה

And David went up by the ascent of Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

וְדָוִד֙ הִגִּ֣יד לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים עִם אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד סַכֶּל נָ֛א אֶת עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל יְהוָֽה

And told David, saying, Ahithophel among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O YHWH, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

וַיְהִ֤י דָוִד֙ בָּ֣א עַד הָרֹ֔אשׁ אֲשֶֽׁר יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֤ה לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י קָר֨וּעַ֙ כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל רֹאשֽׁוֹ

And it came to pass, that David was come to the top , where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑ד אִ֚ם עָבַ֣רְתָּ אִתִּ֔י וְהָיִ֥תָ עָלַ֖י לְמַשָּֽׂא

To whom David said, If you passest on with me, then you shall be a burden to me:

וְאִם הָעִ֣יר תָּשׁ֗וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ עַבְדְּךָ֨ אֲנִ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה עֶ֣בֶד אָבִ֤יךָ וַֽאֲנִי֙ מֵאָ֔ז וְעַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְהֵפַרְתָּ֣ה לִ֔י אֵ֖ת עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל

But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; I your father's servant hitherto, so I now also your servant: then mayest you for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

וַהֲל֤וֹא עִמְּךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם צָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמַע֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּגִּ֕יד לְצָד֥וֹק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִֽים

And not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, what thing soever you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

הִנֵּה שָׁ֤ם עִמָּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחִימַ֣עַץ לְצָד֔וֹק וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם בְּיָדָם֙ אֵלַ֔י כָּל דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ

Behold, there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's , and Jonathan Abiathar's ; and by them you shall send to me every thing that you can hear.

וַיָּבֹ֥א חוּשַׁ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד הָעִ֑יר וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יָבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.