The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 17שמואל ב 17

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל אֶל אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם אֶבְחֲרָ֣ה נָּ֗א שְׁנֵים עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֨לֶף֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְאָק֛וּמָה וְאֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אַחֲרֵי דָוִ֖ד הַלָּֽיְלָה

Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

וְאָב֣וֹא עָלָ֗יו וְה֤וּא יָגֵ֨עַ֙ וּרְפֵ֣ה יָדַ֔יִם וְהַֽחֲרַדְתִּ֣י אֹת֔וֹ וְנָ֖ס כָּל הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֑וֹ וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י אֶת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לְבַדּֽוֹ

And I will come upon him while he weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

וְאָשִׁ֥יבָה כָל הָעָ֖ם אֵלֶ֑יךָ כְּשׁ֣וּב הַכֹּ֔ל הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֔שׁ כָּל הָעָ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה שָׁלֽוֹם

And I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seekest as if all returned: all the people shall be in peace.

וַיִּישַׁ֥ר הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם קְרָ֣א נָ֔א גַּ֖ם לְחוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֑י וְנִשְׁמְעָ֥ה מַה בְּפִ֖יו גַּם הֽוּא

Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says.

וַיָּבֹ֣א חוּשַׁי֮ אֶל אַבְשָׁלוֹם֒ וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל הֲנַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת דְּבָר֑וֹ אִם אַ֖יִן אַתָּ֥ה דַבֵּֽר

And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do his saying? if not; speak you.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר חוּשַׁ֖י אֶל אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם לֹֽא טוֹבָ֧ה הָעֵצָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר יָעַ֥ץ אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל בַּפַּ֥עַם הַזֹּֽאת

And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given not good at this time.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁ֗י אַתָּ֣ה יָ֠דַעְתָּ אֶת אָבִ֨יךָ וְאֶת אֲנָשָׁ֜יו כִּ֧י גִבֹּרִ֣ים הֵ֗מָּה וּמָרֵ֥י נֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ הֵ֔מָּה כְּדֹ֥ב שַׁכּ֖וּל בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְאָבִ֨יךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יָלִ֖ין אֶת הָעָֽם

For, said Hushai, you knowest your father and his men, that they mighty men, and they chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and your father a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

הִנֵּ֨ה עַתָּ֤ה הֽוּא נֶחְבָּא֙ בְּאַחַ֣ת הַפְּחָתִ֔ים א֖וֹ בְּאַחַ֣ד הַמְּקוֹמֹ֑ת וְהָיָ֗ה כִּנְפֹ֤ל בָּהֶם֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה וְשָׁמַ֤ע הַשֹּׁמֵ֨עַ֙ וְאָמַ֔ר הָֽיְתָה֙ מַגֵּפָ֔ה בָּעָ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֹֽם

Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

וְה֣וּא גַם בֶּן חַ֗יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִבּ֛וֹ כְּלֵ֥ב הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הִמֵּ֣ס יִמָּ֑ס כִּֽי יֹדֵ֤עַ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּי גִבּ֣וֹר אָבִ֔יךָ וּבְנֵי חַ֖יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ

And he also valiant, whose heart as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that your father a mighty man, and which with him valiant men.

כִּ֣י יָעַ֗צְתִּי הֵ֠אָסֹף יֵאָסֵ֨ף עָלֶ֤יךָ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִדָּן֙ וְעַד בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע כַּח֥וֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל הַיָּ֖ם לָרֹ֑ב וּפָנֶ֥יךָ הֹלְכִ֖ים בַּקְרָֽב

Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.

וּבָ֣אנוּ אֵלָ֗יו באחת בְּאַחַ֤ד הַמְּקוֹמֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם וְנַ֣חְנוּ עָלָ֔יו כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִפֹּ֥ל הַטַּ֖ל עַל הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְלֹֽא נ֥וֹתַר בּ֛וֹ וּבְכָל הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֖וֹ גַּם אֶחָֽד

So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that with him there shall not be left so much as one.

וְאִם אֶל עִיר֙ יֵֽאָסֵ֔ף וְהִשִּׂ֧יאוּ כָֽל יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל הָעִ֥יר הַהִ֖יא חֲבָלִ֑ים וְסָחַ֤בְנוּ אֹתוֹ֙ עַד הַנַּ֔חַל עַ֛ד אֲשֶֽׁר לֹא נִמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם גַּם צְרֽוֹר

Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ וְכָל אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל טוֹבָ֗ה עֲצַת֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י מֵעֲצַ֖ת אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל וַיהוָ֣ה צִוָּ֗ה לְהָפֵ֞ר אֶת עֲצַ֤ת אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה לְבַעֲב֗וּר הָבִ֧יא יְהוָ֛ה אֶל אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶת הָרָעָֽה

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For YHWH had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that YHWH might bring evil upon Absalom.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁ֗י אֶל צָד֤וֹק וְאֶל אֶבְיָתָר֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים כָּזֹ֣את וְכָזֹ֗את יָעַ֤ץ אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל֙ אֶת אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכָזֹ֥את וְכָזֹ֖את יָעַ֥צְתִּי אָֽנִי

Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

וְעַתָּ֡ה שִׁלְח֣וּ מְהֵרָה֩ וְהַגִּ֨ידוּ לְדָוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר אַל תָּ֤לֶן הַלַּ֨יְלָה֙ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְגַ֖ם עָב֣וֹר תַּעֲב֑וֹר פֶּ֚ן יְבֻלַּ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְכָל הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ

Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that with him.

וִיהוֹנָתָ֨ן וַאֲחִימַ֜עַץ עֹמְדִ֣ים בְּעֵין רֹגֵ֗ל וְהָלְכָ֤ה הַשִּׁפְחָה֙ וְהִגִּ֣ידָה לָהֶ֔ם וְהֵם֙ יֵֽלְכ֔וּ וְהִגִּ֖ידוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יוּכְל֛וּ לְהֵרָא֖וֹת לָב֥וֹא הָעִֽירָה

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

וַיַּ֤רְא אֹתָם֙ נַ֔עַר וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ שְׁנֵיהֶ֨ם מְהֵרָ֜ה וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל בֵּֽית אִ֣ישׁ בְּבַחוּרִ֗ים וְל֥וֹ בְאֵ֛ר בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥רְדוּ שָֽׁם

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

וַתִּקַּ֣ח הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וַתִּפְרֹ֤שׂ אֶת הַמָּסָךְ֙ עַל פְּנֵ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח עָלָ֖יו הָֽרִפ֑וֹת וְלֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖ע דָּבָֽר

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ עַבְדֵי֩ אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם אֶֽל הָאִשָּׁ֜ה הַבַּ֗יְתָה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֗ה אֲחִימַ֨עַץ֙ וִיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה עָבְר֖וּ מִיכַ֣ל הַמָּ֑יִם וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֔אוּ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find , they returned to Jerusalem.

וַיְהִ֣י אַחֲרֵ֣י לֶכְתָּ֗ם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ מֵֽהַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֶל דָּוִ֗ד ק֣וּמוּ וְעִבְר֤וּ מְהֵרָה֙ אֶת הַמַּ֔יִם כִּי כָ֛כָה יָעַ֥ץ עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said to David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.

וַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֗ד וְכָל הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן עַד א֣וֹר הַבֹּ֗קֶר עַד אַחַד֙ לֹ֣א נֶעְדָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא עָבַ֖ר אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּֽן

Then David arose, and all the people that with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

וַאֲחִיתֹ֣פֶל רָאָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֣א נֶעֶשְׂתָה֮ עֲצָתוֹ֒ וַיַּחֲבֹ֣שׁ אֶֽת הַחֲמ֗וֹר וַיָּ֜קָם וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ אֶל בֵּיתוֹ֙ אֶל עִיר֔וֹ וַיְצַ֥ו אֶל בֵּית֖וֹ וַיֵּחָנַ֑ק וַיָּ֕מָת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקֶ֥בֶר אָבִֽיו

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

וְדָוִ֖ד בָּ֣א מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֗ם עָבַר֙ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן ה֕וּא וְכָל אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִמּֽוֹ

Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

וְאֶת עֲמָשָׂ֗א שָׂ֧ם אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ם תַּ֥חַת יוֹאָ֖ב עַל הַצָּבָ֑א וַעֲמָשָׂ֣א בֶן אִ֗ישׁ וּשְׁמוֹ֙ יִתְרָ֣א הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔י אֲשֶׁר בָּא֙ אֶל אֲבִיגַ֣ל בַּת נָחָ֔שׁ אֲח֥וֹת צְרוּיָ֖ה אֵ֥ם יוֹאָֽב

And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa a man's son, whose name Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

וַיִּ֤חַן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם אֶ֖רֶץ הַגִּלְעָֽד

So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

וַיְהִ֕י כְּב֥וֹא דָוִ֖ד מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה וְשֹׁבִ֨י בֶן נָחָ֜שׁ מֵרַבַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי עַמּ֗וֹן וּמָכִ֤יר בֶּן עַמִּיאֵל֙ מִלֹּ֣א דְבָ֔ר וּבַרְזִלַּ֥י הַגִּלְעָדִ֖י מֵרֹגְלִֽים

And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

מִשְׁכָּ֤ב וְסַפּוֹת֙ וּכְלִ֣י יוֹצֵ֔ר וְחִטִּ֥ים וּשְׂעֹרִ֖ים וְקֶ֣מַח וְקָלִ֑י וּפ֥וֹל וַעֲדָשִׁ֖ים וְקָלִֽי

Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched , and beans, and lentiles, and parched ,

וּדְבַ֣שׁ וְחֶמְאָ֗ה וְצֹאן֙ וּשְׁפ֣וֹת בָּקָ֔ר הִגִּ֧ישׁוּ לְדָוִ֛ד וְלָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֖וֹ לֶאֱכ֑וֹל כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ הָעָ֗ם רָעֵ֛ב וְעָיֵ֥ף וְצָמֵ֖א בַּמִּדְבָּֽר

And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that with him, to eat: for they said, The people hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.