The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 20שמואל ב 20

וְשָׁ֨ם נִקְרָ֜א אִ֣ישׁ בְּלִיַּ֗עַל וּשְׁמ֛וֹ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִ֑י וַיִּתְקַ֣ע בַּשֹּׁפָ֗ר וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אֵֽין לָ֨נוּ חֵ֜לֶק בְּדָוִ֗ד וְלֹ֤א נַֽחֲלָה לָ֨נוּ֙ בְּבֶן יִשַׁ֔י אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֖יו יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

וַיַּ֜עַל כָּל אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֣בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִ֑י וְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ דָּבְק֣וּ בְמַלְכָּ֔ם מִן הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וְעַד יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

So every man of Israel went up from after David, followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave to their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

וַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֣ד אֶל בֵּיתוֹ֮ יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֒ וַיִּקַּ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶֽשֶׂר נָשִׁ֣ים פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּיחַ֩ לִשְׁמֹ֨ר הַבַּ֜יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֤ם בֵּית מִשְׁמֶ֨רֶת֙ וַֽיְכַלְכְּלֵ֔ם וַאֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹא בָ֑א וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה צְרֻר֛וֹת עַד י֥וֹם מֻתָ֖ן אַלְמְנ֥וּת חַיּֽוּת

And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֶל עֲמָשָׂ֔א הַזְעֶק לִ֥י אֶת אִישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וְאַתָּ֖ה פֹּ֥ה עֲמֹֽד

Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be you here present.

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ עֲמָשָׂ֖א לְהַזְעִ֣יק אֶת יְהוּדָ֑ה וייחר וַיּ֕וֹחֶר מִן הַמּוֹעֵ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָדֽוֹ

So Amasa went to assemble Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל אֲבִישַׁ֔י עַתָּ֗ה יֵ֧רַֽע לָ֛נוּ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִ֖י מִן אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם אַ֠תָּה קַ֞ח אֶת עַבְדֵ֤י אֲדֹנֶ֨יךָ֙ וּרְדֹ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו פֶּן מָ֥צָא ל֛וֹ עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻר֖וֹת וְהִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽנוּ

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom: take you your lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

וַיֵּצְא֤וּ אַֽחֲרָיו֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֖י וְכָל הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִֽי

And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

הֵ֗ם עִם הָאֶ֤בֶן הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּגִבְע֔וֹן וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א בָּ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְיוֹאָ֞ב חָג֣וּר מִדּ֣וֹ לְבֻשׁ֗וּ ועלו וְעָלָ֞יו חֲג֥וֹר חֶ֨רֶב֙ מְצֻמֶּ֤דֶת עַל מָתְנָיו֙ בְּתַעְרָ֔הּ וְה֥וּא יָצָ֖א וַתִּפֹּֽל

When they at the great stone which in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded to him, and upon it a girdle a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָׂ֖א לִנְשָׁק לֽוֹ

And Joab said to Amasa, you in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

וַעֲמָשָׂ֨א לֹֽא נִשְׁמַ֜ר בַּחֶ֣רֶב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד יוֹאָ֗ב וַיַּכֵּהוּ֩ בָ֨הּ אֶל הַחֹ֜מֶשׁ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ מֵעָ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וְלֹא שָׁ֥נָה ל֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו רָדַ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִֽי

But Amasa took no heed to the sword that in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth , and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

וְאִישׁ֙ עָמַ֣ד עָלָ֔יו מִֽנַּעֲרֵ֖י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָפֵ֧ץ בְּיוֹאָ֛ב וּמִ֥י אֲשֶׁר לְדָוִ֖ד אַחֲרֵ֥י יוֹאָֽב

And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that for David, after Joab.

וַעֲמָשָׂ֛א מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל בַּדָּ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הַֽמְסִּלָּ֑ה וַיַּ֨רְא הָאִ֜ישׁ כִּֽי עָמַ֣ד כָּל הָעָ֗ם וַיַּסֵּב֩ אֶת עֲמָשָׂ֨א מִן הַֽמְסִלָּ֤ה הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עָלָיו֙ בֶּ֔גֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ה כָּל הַבָּ֥א עָלָ֖יו וְעָמָֽד

And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹגָ֖ה מִן הַֽמְסִלָּ֑ה עָבַ֤ר כָּל אִישׁ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִֽי

When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר בְּכָל שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָבֵ֛לָה וּבֵ֥ית מַעֲכָ֖ה וְכָל הַבֵּרִ֑ים ויקלהו וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַף אַחֲרָֽיו

And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ וַיָּצֻ֣רוּ עָלָ֗יו בְּאָבֵ֨לָה֙ בֵּ֣ית הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֤וּ סֹֽלְלָה֙ אֶל הָעִ֔יר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד בַּחֵ֑ל וְכָל הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶת יוֹאָ֔ב מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם לְהַפִּ֥יל הַחוֹמָֽה

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

וַתִּקְרָ֛א אִשָּׁ֥ה חֲכָמָ֖ה מִן הָעִ֑יר שִׁמְע֤וּ שִׁמְעוּ֙ אִמְרוּ נָ֣א אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב קְרַ֣ב עַד הֵ֔נָּה וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אֵלֶֽיךָ

Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, to Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with you.

וַיִּקְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַאַתָּ֥ה יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָ֑נִי וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ שְׁמַע֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שֹׁמֵ֥עַ אָנֹֽכִי

And when he was come near to her, the woman said, you Joab? And he answered, I . Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

וַתֹּ֖אמֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֨ר יְדַבְּר֤וּ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁאֹ֧ל יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ בְּאָבֵ֖ל וְכֵ֥ן הֵתַֽמּוּ

Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask at Abel: and so they ended .

אָנֹכִ֕י שְׁלֻמֵ֖י אֱמוּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהָמִ֨ית עִ֤יר וְאֵם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֥מָּה תְבַלַּ֖ע נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהוָֽה

I peaceable faithful in Israel: you seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why will you swallow up the inheritance of YHWH?

וַיַּ֥עַן יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חָלִ֤ילָה חָלִ֨ילָה֙ לִ֔י אִם אֲבַלַּ֖ע וְאִם אַשְׁחִֽית

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

לֹא כֵ֣ן הַדָּבָ֗ר כִּ֡י אִישׁ֩ מֵהַ֨ר אֶפְרַ֜יִם שֶׁ֧בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִ֣י שְׁמ֗וֹ נָשָׂ֤א יָדוֹ֙ בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ בְּדָוִ֔ד תְּנֽוּ אֹת֣וֹ לְבַדּ֔וֹ וְאֵלְכָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ל הָעִ֑יר וַתֹּ֤אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב הִנֵּ֥ה רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מֻשְׁלָ֥ךְ אֵלֶ֖יךָ בְּעַ֥ד הַחוֹמָֽה

The matter not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.

וַתָּבוֹא֩ הָאִשָּׁ֨ה אֶל כָּל הָעָ֜ם בְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּ וַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּ אֶת רֹ֨אשׁ שֶׁ֤בַע בֶּן בִּכְרִי֙ וַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּ אֶל יוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּתְקַע֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיָּפֻ֥צוּ מֵֽעַל הָעִ֖יר אִ֣ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֑יו וְיוֹאָ֛ב שָׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אֶל הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

וְיוֹאָ֕ב אֶ֥ל כָּל הַצָּבָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנָיָה֙ בֶּן יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע עַל הכרי הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְעַל הַפְּלֵתִֽי

Now Joab over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

וַאֲדֹרָ֖ם עַל הַמַּ֑ס וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר

And Adoram over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud recorder:

ושיא וּשְׁוָ֖א סֹפֵ֑ר וְצָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִֽים

And Sheva scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar the priests:

וְגַ֗ם עִירָא֙ הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י הָיָ֥ה כֹהֵ֖ן לְדָוִֽד

And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.