The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 2שמואל ב 2

וַיְהִ֣י אַֽחֲרֵי כֵ֗ן וַיִּשְׁאַל֩ דָּוִ֨ד בַּֽיהוָ֤ה לֵאמֹר֙ הַאֶעֱלֶ֗ה בְּאַחַת֙ עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלָ֖יו עֲלֵ֑ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אָ֥נָה אֶעֱלֶ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר חֶבְרֹֽנָה

And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of YHWH, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And YHWH said to him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, To Hebron.

וַיַּ֤עַל שָׁם֙ דָּוִ֔ד וְגַ֖ם שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשָׁ֑יו אֲחִינֹ֨עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֥ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי

So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

וַאֲנָשָׁ֧יו אֲשֶׁר עִמּ֛וֹ הֶעֱלָ֥ה דָוִ֖ד אִ֣ישׁ וּבֵית֑וֹ וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ בְּעָרֵ֥י חֶבְרֽוֹן

And his men that with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ שָׁ֧ם אֶת דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לְדָוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַנְשֵׁי֙ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר קָבְר֖וּ אֶת שָׁאֽוּל

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, the men of Jabeshgilead that buried Saul.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל אַנְשֵׁ֖י יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם בְּרֻכִ֤ים אַתֶּם֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֜ם הַחֶ֣סֶד הַזֶּ֗ה עִם אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶם֙ עִם שָׁא֔וּל וַֽתִּקְבְּר֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ

And David sent messengers to the men of Jabeshgilead, and said to them, Blessed you of YHWH, that you have shewed this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.

וְעַתָּ֕ה יַֽעַשׂ יְהוָ֥ה עִמָּכֶ֖ם חֶ֣סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֑ת וְגַ֣ם אָנֹכִ֗י אֶעֱשֶׂ֤ה אִתְּכֶם֙ הַטּוֹבָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה

And now YHWH shew kindness and truth to you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing.

וְעַתָּ֣ה תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה יְדֵיכֶ֗ם וִֽהְיוּ֙ לִבְנֵי חַ֔יִל כִּי מֵ֖ת אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֣ם שָׁא֑וּל וְגַם אֹתִ֗י מָשְׁח֧וּ בֵית יְהוּדָ֛ה לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם

Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be you valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

וְאַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן נֵ֔ר שַׂר צָבָ֖א אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְשָׁא֑וּל לָקַ֗ח אֶת אִ֥ישׁ בֹּ֨שֶׁת֙ בֶּן שָׁא֔וּל וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ מַחֲנָֽיִם

But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

וַיַּמְלִכֵ֨הוּ֙ אֶל הַגִּלְעָ֔ד וְאֶל הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י וְאֶֽל יִזְרְעֶ֑אל וְעַל אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ וְעַל בִּנְיָמִ֔ן וְעַל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כֻּלֹּֽה

And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

בֶּן אַרְבָּעִ֨ים שָׁנָ֜ה אִֽישׁ בֹּ֣שֶׁת בֶּן שָׁא֗וּל בְּמָלְכוֹ֙ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּשְׁתַּ֥יִם שָׁנִ֖ים מָלָ֑ךְ אַ֚ךְ בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה הָי֖וּ אַחֲרֵ֥י דָוִֽד

Ishbosheth Saul's son forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

וַֽיְהִי֙ מִסְפַּ֣ר הַיָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר֩ הָיָ֨ה דָוִ֥ד מֶ֛לֶךְ בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן עַל בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה חֳדָשִֽׁים

And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

וַיֵּצֵא֙ אַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן נֵ֔ר וְעַבְדֵ֖י אִֽישׁ בֹּ֣שֶׁת בֶּן שָׁא֑וּל מִֽמַּחֲנַ֖יִם גִּבְעֽוֹנָה

And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

וְיוֹאָ֨ב בֶּן צְרוּיָ֜ה וְעַבְדֵ֤י דָוִד֙ יָֽצְא֔וּ וַֽיִּפְגְּשׁ֛וּם עַל בְּרֵכַ֥ת גִּבְע֖וֹן יַחְדָּ֑ו וַיֵּ֨שְׁב֜וּ אֵ֤לֶּה עַל הַבְּרֵכָה֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וְאֵ֥לֶּה עַל הַבְּרֵכָ֖ה מִזֶּֽה

And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְנֵר֙ אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב יָק֤וּמוּ נָא֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וִֽישַׂחֲק֖וּ לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יוֹאָ֖ב יָקֻֽמוּ

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

וַיָּקֻ֖מוּ וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ בְמִסְפָּ֑ר שְׁנֵ֧ים עָשָׂ֣ר לְבִנְיָמִ֗ן וּלְאִ֥ישׁ בֹּ֨שֶׁת֙ בֶּן שָׁא֔וּל וּשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר מֵעַבְדֵ֥י דָוִֽד

Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

וַֽיַּחֲזִ֜קוּ אִ֣ישׁ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ רֵעֵ֗הוּ וְחַרְבּוֹ֙ בְּצַ֣ד רֵעֵ֔הוּ וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו וַיִּקְרָא֙ לַמָּק֣וֹם הַה֔וּא חֶלְקַ֥ת הַצֻּרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּגִבְעֽוֹן

And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which in Gibeon.

וַתְּהִ֧י הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה קָשָׁ֥ה עַד מְאֹ֖ד בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף אַבְנֵר֙ וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֥י דָוִֽד

And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

וַיִּֽהְיוּ שָׁ֗ם שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ בְּנֵ֣י צְרוּיָ֔ה יוֹאָ֥ב וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל וַעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ קַ֣ל בְּרַגְלָ֔יו כְּאַחַ֥ד הַצְּבָיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּׂדֶֽה

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel light of foot as a wild roe.

וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף עֲשָׂהאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְלֹֽא נָטָ֣ה לָלֶ֗כֶת עַל הַיָּמִין֙ וְעַֽל הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י אַבְנֵֽר

And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

וַיִּ֤פֶן אַבְנֵר֙ אַֽחֲרָ֔יו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַאַתָּ֥ה זֶ֖ה עֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָנֹֽכִי

Then Abner looked behind him, and said, you Asahel? And he answered, I .

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ אַבְנֵ֗ר נְטֵ֤ה לְךָ֙ עַל יְמִֽינְךָ֙ א֣וֹ עַל שְׂמֹאלֶ֔ךָ וֶאֱחֹ֣ז לְךָ֗ אֶחָד֙ מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים וְקַח לְךָ֖ אֶת חֲלִצָת֑וֹ וְלֹֽא אָבָ֣ה עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל לָס֖וּר מֵאַחֲרָֽיו

And Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

וַיֹּ֧סֶף ע֣וֹד אַבְנֵ֗ר לֵאמֹר֙ אֶל עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל ס֥וּר לְךָ֖ מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑י לָ֤מָּה אַכֶּ֨כָּה֙ אַ֔רְצָה וְאֵיךְ֙ אֶשָּׂ֣א פָנַ֔י אֶל יוֹאָ֖ב אָחִֽיךָ

And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me: wherefore should I smite you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?

וַיְמָאֵ֣ן לָס֗וּר וַיַּכֵּ֣הוּ אַבְנֵר֩ בְּאַחֲרֵ֨י הַחֲנִ֜ית אֶל הַחֹ֗מֶשׁ וַתֵּצֵ֤א הַֽחֲנִית֙ מֵאַחֲרָ֔יו וַיִּפָּל שָׁ֖ם וַיָּ֣מָת תחתו תַּחְתָּ֑יו וַיְהִ֡י כָּל הַבָּ֣א אֶֽל הַמָּקוֹם֩ אֲשֶׁר נָ֨פַל שָׁ֧ם עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל וַיָּמֹ֖ת וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽדוּ

Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth , that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֛וּ יוֹאָ֥ב וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְהַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ בָּ֔אָה וְהֵ֗מָּה בָּ֚אוּ עַד גִּבְעַ֣ת אַמָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל פְּנֵי גִ֔יחַ דֶּ֖רֶךְ מִדְבַּ֥ר גִּבְעֽוֹן

Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּ בְנֵֽי בִנְיָמִן֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיִּהְי֖וּ לַאֲגֻדָּ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּ עַ֥ל רֹאשׁ גִּבְעָ֖ה אֶחָֽת

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְנֵ֜ר אֶל יוֹאָ֗ב וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הֲלָנֶ֨צַח֙ תֹּ֣אכַל חֶ֔רֶב הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֔עְתָּה כִּֽי מָרָ֥ה תִהְיֶ֖ה בָּאַחֲרוֹנָ֑ה וְעַד מָתַי֙ לֹֽא תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֔ם לָשׁ֖וּב מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י אֲחֵיהֶֽם

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest you not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere you bid the people return from following their brethren?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב חַ֚י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֥י לוּלֵ֖א דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ כִּ֣י אָ֤ז מֵֽהַבֹּ֨קֶר֙ נַעֲלָ֣ה הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י אָחִֽיו

And Joab said, God liveth, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

וַיִּתְקַ֤ע יוֹאָב֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ כָּל הָעָ֔ם וְלֹֽא יִרְדְּפ֥וּ ע֖וֹד אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹֽא יָסְפ֥וּ ע֖וֹד לְהִלָּחֵֽם

So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

וְאַבְנֵ֣ר וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֗יו הָֽלְכוּ֙ בָּֽעֲרָבָ֔ה כֹּ֖ל הַלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ כָּל הַבִּתְר֔וֹן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ מַחֲנָֽיִם

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

וְיוֹאָ֗ב שָׁ֚ב מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיִּקְבֹּ֖ץ אֶת כָּל הָעָ֑ם וַיִּפָּ֨קְד֜וּ מֵעַבְדֵ֥י דָוִ֛ד תִּשְׁעָֽה עָשָׂ֥ר אִ֖ישׁ וַעֲשָׂה אֵֽל

And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

וְעַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד הִכּוּ֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן וּבְאַנְשֵׁ֖י אַבְנֵ֑ר שְׁלֹשׁ מֵא֧וֹת וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים אִ֖ישׁ מֵֽתוּ

But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, three hundred and threescore men died.

וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֨הוּ֙ בְּקֶ֣בֶר אָבִ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ כָל הַלַּ֗יְלָה יוֹאָב֙ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו וַיֵּאֹ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן

And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.