The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 18שמואל ב 18

וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֶת הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שָׂרֵ֥י אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י מֵאֽוֹת

And David numbered the people that with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח דָּוִ֜ד אֶת הָעָ֗ם הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית בְּיַד יוֹאָב֙ וְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּיַ֨ד אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן צְרוּיָה֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת בְּיַ֖ד אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל הָעָ֔ם יָצֹ֥א אֵצֵ֛א גַּם אֲנִ֖י עִמָּכֶֽם

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָעָ֜ם לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֗א כִּי֩ אִם נֹ֨ס נָנ֜וּס לֹא יָשִׂ֧ימוּ אֵלֵ֣ינוּ לֵ֗ב וְאִם יָמֻ֤תוּ חֶצְיֵ֨נוּ֙ לֹֽא יָשִׂ֤ימוּ אֵלֵ֨ינוּ֙ לֵ֔ב כִּֽי עַתָּ֥ה כָמֹ֖נוּ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה אֲלָפִ֑ים וְעַתָּ֣ה ט֔וֹב כִּי תִֽהְיֶה לָּ֥נוּ מֵעִ֖יר לעזיר לַעְזֽוֹר

But the people answered, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now worth ten thousand of us: therefore now better that you succour us out of the city.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יִיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְכָל הָעָם֙ יָֽצְא֔וּ לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִֽים

And the king said to them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת י֠וֹאָב וְאֶת אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאַט לִ֖י לַנַּ֣עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וְכָל הָעָ֣ם שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּצַוֺּ֥ת הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת כָּל הַשָּׂרִ֖ים עַל דְּבַ֥ר אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הָעָ֛ם הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה בְּיַ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

וַיִּנָּ֤גְפוּ שָׁם֙ עַ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַתְּהִי שָׁ֞ם הַמַּגֵּפָ֧ה גְדוֹלָ֛ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אָֽלֶף

Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand .

וַתְּהִי שָׁ֧ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה נפצית נָפֹ֖צֶת עַל פְּנֵ֣י כָל הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֶּ֤רֶב הַיַּ֨עַר֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בָּעָ֔ם מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָכְלָ֛ה הַחֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

וַיִּקָּרֵא֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹם רֹכֵ֣ב עַל הַפֶּ֗רֶד וַיָּבֹ֣א הַפֶּ֡רֶד תַּ֣חַת שׂוֹבֶךְ֩ הָאֵלָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה וַיֶּחֱזַ֧ק רֹאשׁ֣וֹ בָאֵלָ֗ה וַיֻּתַּן֙ בֵּ֤ין הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהַפֶּ֥רֶד אֲשֶׁר תַּחְתָּ֖יו עָבָֽר

And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that under him went away.

וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְיוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אֶת אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם תָּל֖וּי בָּאֵלָֽה

And a certain man saw , and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָאִישׁ֙ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ וּמַדּ֛וּעַ לֹֽא הִכִּית֥וֹ שָׁ֖ם אָ֑רְצָה וְעָלַ֗י לָ֤תֶת לְךָ֙ עֲשָׂ֣רָה כֶ֔סֶף וַחֲגֹרָ֖ה אֶחָֽת

And Joab said to the man that told him, And, behold, you sawest , and why didst you not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten of silver, and a girdle.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִישׁ֙ אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב ולא וְל֨וּא אָנֹכִ֜י שֹׁקֵ֤ל עַל כַּפַּי֙ אֶ֣לֶף כֶּ֔סֶף לֹֽא אֶשְׁלַ֥ח יָדִ֖י אֶל בֶּן הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י בְאָזְנֵ֜ינוּ צִוָּ֣ה הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֹ֠תְךָ וְאֶת אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שִׁמְרוּ מִ֕י בַּנַּ֖עַר בְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם

And the man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand of silver in mine hand, would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none the young man Absalom.

אֽוֹ עָשִׂ֤יתִי בנפשו בְנַפְשִׁי֙ שֶׁ֔קֶר וְכָל דָּבָ֖ר לֹא יִכָּחֵ֣ד מִן הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב מִנֶּֽגֶד

Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and you thyself wouldest have set thyself against .

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב לֹא כֵ֖ן אֹחִ֣ילָה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיִּקַּח֩ שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה שְׁבָטִ֜ים בְּכַפּ֗וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ בְּלֵ֣ב אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י בְּלֵ֥ב הָאֵלָֽה

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with you. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he yet alive in the midst of the oak.

וַיָּסֹ֨בּוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה נְעָרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י כְּלֵ֣י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם וַיְמִיתֻֽהוּ

And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

וַיִּתְקַ֤ע יוֹאָב֙ בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַיָּ֣שָׁב הָעָ֔ם מִרְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי חָשַׂ֥ךְ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת הָעָֽם

And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם וַיַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ אֹת֤וֹ בַיַּ֨עַר֙ אֶל הַפַּ֣חַת הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ עָלָ֛יו גַּל אֲבָנִ֖ים גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֑ד וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נָ֖סוּ אִ֥ישׁ לאהלו לְאֹהָלָֽיו

And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם לָקַ֗ח וַיַּצֶּב ל֤וֹ בחיו בְחַיָּיו֙ אֶת מַצֶּ֨בֶת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּעֵֽמֶק הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֤י אָמַר֙ אֵֽין לִ֣י בֵ֔ן בַּעֲב֖וּר הַזְכִּ֣יר שְׁמִ֑י וַיִּקְרָ֤א לַמַּצֶּ֨בֶת֙ עַל שְׁמ֔וֹ וַיִּקָּ֤רֵא לָהּ֙ יַ֣ד אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called to this day, Absalom's place.

וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן צָדוֹק֙ אָמַ֔ר אָר֣וּצָה נָּ֔א וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה אֶת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּי שְׁפָט֥וֹ יְהוָ֖ה מִיַּ֥ד אֹיְבָֽיו

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that YHWH has avenged him of his enemies.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יוֹאָ֗ב לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה אַתָּה֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ בְּי֣וֹם אַחֵ֑ר וְהַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר כִּֽי על עַל כֵּ֥ן בֶּן הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵֽת

And Joab said to him, You shall not bear tidings this day, but you shall bear tidings another day: but this day you shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַכּוּשִׁ֔י לֵ֛ךְ הַגֵּ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֑יתָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ כוּשִׁ֛י לְיוֹאָ֖ב וַיָּרֹֽץ

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what you have seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹד אֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן צָדוֹק֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב וִ֣יהִי מָ֔ה אָרֻֽצָה נָּ֥א גַם אָ֖נִי אַחֲרֵ֣י הַכּוּשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָֽמָּה זֶּ֞ה אַתָּ֥ה רָץ֙ בְּנִ֔י וּלְכָ֖ה אֵין בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה מֹצֵֽאת

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray you, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore will you run, my son, seeing that you have no tidings ready?

וִיהִי מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ר֑וּץ וַיָּ֤רָץ אֲחִימַ֨עַץ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת הַכּוּשִֽׁי

But howsoever, , let me run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

וְדָוִ֥ד יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בֵּין שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַצֹּפֶ֜ה אֶל גַּ֤ג הַשַּׁ֨עַר֙ אֶל הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂ֤א אֶת עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה אִ֖ישׁ רָ֥ץ לְבַדּֽוֹ

And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב

And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he alone, tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

וַיַּ֣רְא הַצֹּפֶה֮ אִישׁ אַחֵ֣ר רָץ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶל הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה אִ֖ישׁ רָ֣ץ לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ גַּם זֶ֥ה מְבַשֵּֽׂר

And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַצֹּפֶ֔ה אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת מְרוּצַ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת אֲחִימַ֣עַץ בֶּן צָד֑וֹק וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אִֽישׁ ט֣וֹב זֶ֔ה וְאֶל בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה יָבֽוֹא

And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

וַיִּקְרָ֣א אֲחִימַ֗עַץ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ שָׁל֔וֹם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָ֑רְצָה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּרוּךְ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר סִגַּר֙ אֶת הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר נָשְׂא֥וּ אֶת יָדָ֖ם בַּֽאדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed YHWH your God, which has delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחִימַ֡עַץ רָאִיתִי֩ הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּד֜וֹל לִ֠שְׁלֹחַ אֶת עֶ֨בֶד הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יוֹאָב֙ וְאֶת עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי מָֽה

And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what .

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ סֹ֖ב הִתְיַצֵּ֣ב כֹּ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֖ב וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד

And the king said , Turn aside, stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכּוּשִׁ֖י בָּ֑א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי שְׁפָטְךָ֤ יְהוָה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם מִיַּ֖ד כָּל הַקָּמִ֥ים עָלֶֽיךָ

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for YHWH has avenged you this day of all them that rose up against you.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל הַכּוּשִׁ֔י הֲשָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִהְי֤וּ כַנַּ֨עַר֙ אֹֽיְבֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר קָ֥מוּ עָלֶ֖יךָ לְרָעָֽה

And the king said to Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against you to do hurt, be as young man .