The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 3שמואל ב 3

וַתְּהִ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ אֲרֻכָּ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְדָוִד֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ וְחָזֵ֔ק וּבֵ֥ית שָׁא֖וּל הֹלְכִ֥ים וְדַלִּֽים

Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

וילדו וַיִּוָּלְד֧וּ לְדָוִ֛ד בָּנִ֖ים בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיְהִ֤י בְכוֹרוֹ֙ אַמְנ֔וֹן לַאֲחִינֹ֖עַם הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽת

And to David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

וּמִשְׁנֵ֣הוּ כִלְאָ֔ב לאביגל לַאֲֽבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֣ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִ֑י וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁי֙ אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בֶּֽן מַעֲכָ֔ה בַּת תַּלְמַ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ גְּשֽׁוּר

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

וְהָרְבִיעִ֖י אֲדֹנִיָּ֣ה בֶן חַגִּ֑ית וְהַחֲמִישִׁ֖י שְׁפַטְיָ֥ה בֶן אֲבִיטָֽל

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

וְהַשִּׁשִּׁ֣י יִתְרְעָ֔ם לְעֶגְלָ֖ה אֵ֣שֶׁת דָּוִ֑ד אֵ֛לֶּה יֻלְּד֥וּ לְדָוִ֖ד בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

וַיְהִ֗י בִּֽהְיוֹת֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וּבֵ֖ין בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְאַבְנֵ֛ר הָיָ֥ה מִתְחַזֵּ֖ק בְּבֵ֥ית שָׁאֽוּל

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

וּלְשָׁא֣וּל פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה בַת אַיָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל אַבְנֵ֔ר מַדּ֥וּעַ בָּ֖אתָה אֶל פִּילֶ֥גֶשׁ אָבִֽי

And Saul had a concubine, whose name Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and said to Abner, Wherefore have you gone in to my father's concubine?

וַיִּחַר֩ לְאַבְנֵ֨ר מְאֹ֜ד עַל דִּבְרֵ֣י אִֽישׁ בֹּ֗שֶׁת וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הֲרֹ֨אשׁ כֶּ֥לֶב אָנֹ֘כִי֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָה֒ הַיּ֨וֹם אֶֽעֱשֶׂה חֶ֜סֶד עִם בֵּ֣ית שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֗יךָ אֶל אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל מֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ וְלֹ֥א הִמְצִיתִ֖ךָ בְּיַד דָּוִ֑ד וַתִּפְקֹ֥ד עָלַ֛י עֲוֺ֥ן הָאִשָּׁ֖ה הַיּֽוֹם

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

כֹּֽה יַעֲשֶׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְאַבְנֵ֔ר וְכֹ֖ה יֹסִ֣יף ל֑וֹ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֤ע יְהוָה֙ לְדָוִ֔ד כִּֽי כֵ֖ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂה לּֽוֹ

So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as YHWH has sworn to David, even so I do to him;

לְהַֽעֲבִ֥יר הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה מִבֵּ֣ית שָׁא֑וּל וּלְהָקִ֞ים אֶת כִּסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְעַל יְהוּדָ֔ה מִדָּ֖ן וְעַד בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע

To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

וְלֹֽא יָכֹ֣ל ע֔וֹד לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת אַבְנֵ֖ר דָּבָ֑ר מִיִּרְאָת֖וֹ אֹתֽוֹ

And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ אַבְנֵ֨ר מַלְאָכִ֧ים אֶל דָּוִ֛ד תחתו תַּחְתָּ֥יו לֵאמֹ֖ר לְמִי אָ֑רֶץ לֵאמֹ֗ר כָּרְתָ֤ה בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ אִתִּ֔י וְהִנֵּה֙ יָדִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לְהָסֵ֥ב אֵלֶ֖יךָ אֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose the land? saying , Make your league with me, and, behold, my hand with you, to bring about all Israel to you.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ט֔וֹב אֲנִ֕י אֶכְרֹ֥ת אִתְּךָ֖ בְּרִ֑ית אַ֣ךְ דָּבָ֣ר אֶחָ֡ד אָנֹכִי֩ שֹׁאֵ֨ל מֵאִתְּךָ֤ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא תִרְאֶ֣ה אֶת פָּנַ֔י כִּ֣י אִם לִפְנֵ֣י הֱבִיאֲךָ֗ אֵ֚ת מִיכַ֣ל בַּת שָׁא֔וּל בְּבֹאֲךָ֖ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת פָּנָֽי

And he said, Well; I will make a league with you: but one thing I require of you, that is, You shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when you comest to see my face.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל אִֽישׁ בֹּ֥שֶׁת בֶּן שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר תְּנָ֤ה אֶת אִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶת מִיכַ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ אֵרַ֣שְׂתִּי לִ֔י בְּמֵאָ֖ה עָרְל֥וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ אִ֣ישׁ בֹּ֔שֶׁת וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ מֵ֣עִֽם אִ֑ישׁ מֵעִ֖ם פַּלְטִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן לוש לָֽיִשׁ

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ אִתָּ֜הּ אִישָׁ֗הּ הָל֧וֹךְ וּבָכֹ֛ה אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ עַד בַּֽחֻרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֥יו אַבְנֵ֛ר לֵ֥ךְ שׁ֖וּב וַיָּשֹֽׁב

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.

וּדְבַר אַבְנֵ֣ר הָיָ֔ה עִם זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר גַּם תְּמוֹל֙ גַּם שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם הֱיִיתֶ֞ם מְבַקְשִׁ֧ים אֶת דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶֽם

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, You sought for David in times past king over you:

וְעַתָּ֖ה עֲשׂ֑וּ כִּ֣י יְהוָ֗ה אָמַ֤ר אֶל דָּוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּיַ֣ד דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֗י הוֹשִׁ֜יעַ אֶת עַמִּ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמִיַּ֖ד כָּל אֹיְבֵיהֶֽם

Now then do : for YHWH has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר גַּם אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּאָזְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ גַּם אַבְנֵ֗ר לְדַבֵּ֞ר בְּאָזְנֵ֤י דָוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן אֵ֤ת כָּל אֲשֶׁר טוֹב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל בֵּ֥ית בִּנְיָמִֽן

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

וַיָּבֹ֨א אַבְנֵ֤ר אֶל דָּוִד֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וְאִתּ֖וֹ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּ֨עַשׂ דָּוִ֧ד לְאַבְנֵ֛ר וְלַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֖וֹ מִשְׁתֶּֽה

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that with him a feast.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְנֵ֣ר אֶל דָּוִ֡ד אָק֣וּמָה וְֽאֵלֵ֡כָה וְאֶקְבְּצָה֩ אֶל אֲדֹנִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִכְרְת֤וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּרִ֔ית וּמָ֣לַכְתָּ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר תְּאַוֶּ֖ה נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיְּשַׁלַּ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם

And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a league with you, and that you mayest reign over all that your heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

וְהִנֵּה֩ עַבְדֵ֨י דָוִ֤ד וְיוֹאָב֙ בָּ֣א מֵֽהַגְּד֔וּד וְשָׁלָ֥ל רָ֖ב עִמָּ֣ם הֵבִ֑יאוּ וְאַבְנֵ֗ר אֵינֶ֤נּוּ עִם דָּוִד֙ בְּחֶבְר֔וֹן כִּ֥י שִׁלְּח֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

וְיוֹאָ֛ב וְכָל הַצָּבָ֥א אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֖וֹ בָּ֑אוּ וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לְיוֹאָב֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא אַבְנֵ֤ר בֶּן נֵר֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֖הוּ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם

When Joab and all the host that with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

וַיָּבֹ֤א יוֹאָב֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָה הִנֵּה בָ֤א אַבְנֵר֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ לָמָּה זֶּ֥ה שִׁלַּחְתּ֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָלֽוֹךְ

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? behold, Abner came to you; why it you have sent him away, and he is quite gone?

יָדַ֨עְתָּ֙ אֶת אַבְנֵ֣ר בֶּן נֵ֔ר כִּ֥י לְפַתֹּתְךָ֖ בָּ֑א וְלָדַ֜עַת אֶת מוֹצָֽאֲךָ֙ וְאֶת מבואך מ֣וֹבָאֶ֔ךָ וְלָדַ֕עַת אֵ֛ת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה

You knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you doest.

וַיֵּצֵ֤א יוֹאָב֙ מֵעִ֣ם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכִים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ מִבּ֣וֹר הַסִּרָ֑ה וְדָוִ֖ד לֹ֥א יָדָֽע

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew not.

וַיָּ֤שָׁב אַבְנֵר֙ חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיַּטֵּ֤הוּ יוֹאָב֙ אֶל תּ֣וֹךְ הַשַּׁ֔עַר לְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּשֶּׁ֑לִי וַיַּכֵּ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ הַחֹ֔מֶשׁ וַיָּ֕מָת בְּדַ֖ם עֲשָׂה אֵ֥ל אָחִֽיו

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth , that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע דָּוִד֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָקִ֨י אָנֹכִ֧י וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י מֵעִ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַד עוֹלָ֑ם מִדְּמֵ֖י אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן נֵֽר

And afterward when David heard , he said, I and my kingdom guiltless before YHWH for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

יָחֻ֨לוּ֙ עַל רֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶ֖ל כָּל בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו וְֽאַל יִכָּרֵ֣ת מִבֵּ֣ית יוֹאָ֡ב זָ֠ב וּמְצֹרָ֞ע וּמַחֲזִ֥יק בַּפֶּ֛לֶךְ וְנֹפֵ֥ל בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַחֲסַר לָֽחֶם

Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו הָרְג֖וּ לְאַבְנֵ֑ר עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵמִ֜ית אֶת עֲשָׂהאֵ֧ל אֲחִיהֶ֛ם בְּגִבְע֖וֹן בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל יוֹאָ֜ב וְאֶל כָּל הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר אִתּ֗וֹ קִרְע֤וּ בִגְדֵיכֶם֙ וְחִגְר֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים וְסִפְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י אַבְנֵ֑ר וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔ד הֹלֵ֖ךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמִּטָּֽה

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.

וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֶת אַבְנֵ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִשָּׂ֧א הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֶת קוֹל֗וֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ֙ אֶל קֶ֣בֶר אַבְנֵ֔ר וַיִּבְכּ֖וּ כָּל הָעָֽם

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

וַיְקֹנֵ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל אַבְנֵ֖ר וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַכְּמ֥וֹת נָבָ֖ל יָמ֥וּת אַבְנֵֽר

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

יָדֶ֣ךָ לֹֽא אֲסֻר֗וֹת וְרַגְלֶ֨יךָ֙ לֹא לִנְחֻשְׁתַּ֣יִם הֻגָּ֔שׁוּ כִּנְפ֛וֹל לִפְנֵ֥י בְנֵֽי עַוְלָ֖ה נָפָ֑לְתָּ וַיֹּסִ֥פוּ כָל הָעָ֖ם לִבְכּ֥וֹת עָלָֽיו

Your hands not bound, nor your feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, fellest you. And all the people wept again over him.

וַיָּבֹ֣א כָל הָעָ֗ם לְהַבְר֧וֹת אֶת דָּוִ֛ד לֶ֖חֶם בְּע֣וֹד הַיּ֑וֹם וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע דָּוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה לִּ֤י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י אִם לִפְנֵ֧י בֽוֹא הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ אֶטְעַם לֶ֖חֶם א֥וֹ כָל מְאֽוּמָה

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

וְכָל הָעָ֣ם הִכִּ֔ירוּ וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּעֵינֵ֥י כָל הָעָ֖ם טֽוֹב

And all the people took notice , and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

וַיֵּדְע֧וּ כָל הָעָ֛ם וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א הָיְתָה֙ מֵֽהַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהָמִ֖ית אֶת אַבְנֵ֥ר בֶּן נֵֽר

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל עֲבָדָ֑יו הֲל֣וֹא תֵדְע֔וּ כִּי שַׂ֣ר וְגָד֗וֹל נָפַ֛ל הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And the king said to his servants, Know you not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

וְאָנֹכִ֨י הַיּ֥וֹם רַךְ֙ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ מֶ֔לֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י צְרוּיָ֖ה קָשִׁ֣ים מִמֶּ֑נִּי יְשַׁלֵּ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה לְעֹשֵׂ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה כְּרָעָתֽוֹ

And I this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah too hard for me: YHWH shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.