Ben-hadadוּבֶן הֲדַדkingמֶלֶךְof Aramאֲרָםgatheredקָבַץallכָּלhis troops;חֵילוֹthirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁיםand twoוּשְׁנַיִםkingsמֶלֶךְwere with him,אִתּוֹand horsesוְסוּסand chariots.וָרָכֶבHe went upוַיַּעַלand besiegedוַיָּצַר עַלSamariaשֹׁמְרוֹןand foughtוַיִּלָּחֶםagainst it.בָּהּ
He sentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלAhabאַחְאָבkingמֶלֶךְof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלinto the city,הָעִירָה
and saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרBen-hadad:בֶּן הֲדַד‘Your silverכַּסְפְּךָand your goldוּזְהָבְךָare mine,לִי הוּאand your wivesוְנָשֶׁיךָand your sons,וּבָנֶיךָthe best ones,הַטּוֹבִיםare mine.’”לִי הֵם
The kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“As you say,כִּדְבָרְךָmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king:הַמֶּלֶךְyoursלְךָam I,אֲנִיand allוְכָלthatאֲשֶׁרI have.”לִי
The messengersהַמַּלְאָכִיםcame backוַיָּשֻׁבוּand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרBen-hadad,בֶּן הֲדַדsaying,לֵאמֹר‘IndeedכִּיI sentשָׁלַחְתִּיto you,אֵלֶיךָsaying,לֵאמֹר“Your silverכַּסְפְּךָand your gold,וּזְהָבְךָand your wivesוְנָשֶׁיךָand your sonsוּבָנֶיךָyou shall giveתִתֵּןto me.”לִי
Butכִּי אִםabout this timeכָּעֵתtomorrowמָחָרI will sendאֶשְׁלַחmy servantsעֲבָדַיto you,אֵלֶיךָand they will searchוְחִפְּשׂוּyour houseבֵּיתְךָandוְthe housesבָּתֵּיof your servants;עֲבָדֶיךָand it will beוְהָיָהthat everythingכָּלdesirableמַחְמַדin your eyesעֵינֶיךָthey will putיָשִׂימוּin their handבְיָדָםand take it away.’”וְלָקָחוּ
The kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcalledוַיִּקְרָאallלְכָלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof the landהָאָרֶץand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Know,דְּעוּplease,נָאand seeוּרְאוּthatכִּיthis manזֶהis seekingמְבַקֵּשׁevil;רָעָהforכִּיhe sentשָׁלַחto meאֵלַיfor my wivesלְנָשַׁיand for my sons,וּלְבָנַיand for my silverוּלְכַסְפִּיand for my gold,וְלִזְהָבִיandוְI did notלֹאrefuseמָנַעְתִּיhim.”מִמֶּנּוּ
Allכָּלthe eldersהַזְּקֵנִיםand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּto him,אֵלָיו“Do notאַלlisten,תִּשְׁמַעand do notוְלוֹאconsent.”תֹאבֶה
So he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto the messengersלְמַלְאֲכֵיof Ben-hadad,בֶן הֲדַד“Sayאִמְרוּto my lordלַאדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ‘Allכֹּלthatאֲשֶׁרyou sent to askשָׁלַחְתָּofאֶלyour servantעַבְדְּךָthe first time,בָרִאשֹׁנָהI will do;אֶעֱשֶׂהbutוְthisהַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרI cannotלֹא אוּכַלdo.’”לַעֲשׂוֹתThe messengersהַמַּלְאָכִיםwent awayוַיֵּלְכוּand brought him backוַיְשִׁבֻהוּword.דָּבָר
Ben-hadadבֶּן הֲדַדsentוַיִּשְׁלַחto himאֵלָיוand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Soכֹּהmay the godsאֱלֹהִיםdoיַעֲשׂוּןto me,לִיand soוְכֹהmay they add,יוֹסִפוּifאִםthe dustעֲפַרof Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹןis enoughיִשְׂפֹּקfor handfulsלִשְׁעָלִיםfor allלְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרfollow me.”בְּרַגְלָי
The kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Tell him,דַּבְּרוּ‘Let notאַלthe one who girds on his armorחֹגֵרboastיִתְהַלֵּלlike the one who takes it off.’”כִּמְפַתֵּחַ
And it happened,וַיְהִיwhen he heardכִּשְׁמֹעַthisהַזֶּהword,הַדָּבָרas heוְהוּאwas drinking,שֹׁתֶהheהוּאand the kings,וְהַמְּלָכִיםin the booths,בַּסֻּכּוֹתthat he saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלhis servants,עֲבָדָיו“Take your positions.”שִׂימוּAnd they took their positionsוַיָּשִׂימוּagainstעַלthe city.הָעִיר
And there,וְהִנֵּהaאֶחָדprophetנָבִיאcame nearנִגַּשׁtoאֶלAhabאַחְאָבkingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה‘Have you seenהְרָאִיתָallכָּלthisהַזֶּהgreatהַגָּדוֹלmultitude?הֶהָמוֹןLook,הִנְנִיI am giving itנֹתְנוֹinto your handבְיָדְךָtoday,הַיּוֹםand you will knowוְיָדַעְתָּthatכִּיIאֲנִיam YHWH.’”יְהוָה
Ahabאַחְאָבsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Byבְּwhom?”מִיHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה‘By the young menבְּנַעֲרֵיof the commandersשָׂרֵיof the provinces.’”הַמְּדִינוֹתAnd he said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whoמִיwill startיֶאְסֹרthe battle?”הַמִּלְחָמָהHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“You.”אָתָּה
He countedוַיִּפְקֹדthe young menנַעֲרֵיof the commandersשָׂרֵיof the provinces,הַמְּדִינוֹתand they wereוַיִּהְיוּtwo hundredמָאתַיִםand thirty-two;שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁיםand afterוְאַחֲרֵיthemהֶםhe countedפָּקַדallכָּלthe people,הָעָםallכָּלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלsevenשִׁבְעַתthousand.אֲלָפִים
They went outוַיֵּצְאוּat noon,בַּצָּהֳרָיִםwhile Ben-hadadוּבֶן הֲדַדwas drinkingשֹׁתֶהand drunkשִׁכּוֹרin the booths,בַּסֻּכּוֹתheהוּאand the kings,וְהַמְּלָכִיםthe thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםand twoוּשְׁנַיִםkingsמֶלֶךְhelpingעֹזֵרhim.אֹתוֹ
The young menנַעֲרֵיof the commandersשָׂרֵיof the provincesהַמְּדִינוֹתwent outוַיֵּצְאוּfirst.בָּרִאשֹׁנָהBen-hadadבֶּן הֲדַדsent out,וַיִּשְׁלַחand they toldוַיַּגִּידוּhim,לוֹsaying,לֵאמֹר“Menאֲנָשִׁיםhave come outיָצְאוּfrom Samaria.”מִשֹּׁמְרוֹן
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Ifאִםthey have come outיָצָאוּfor peace,לְשָׁלוֹםseize themתִּפְשׂוּםalive;חַיִּיםand ifוְאִםthey have come outיָצָאוּfor war,לְמִלְחָמָהaliveחַיִּיםseize them.”תִּפְשׂוּם
So theseוְאֵלֶּהwent outיָצְאוּfromמִןthe city,הָעִירthe young menנַעֲרֵיof the commandersשָׂרֵיof the provinces,הַמְּדִינוֹתand the troopsוְהַחַיִלthatאֲשֶׁרwere after them.אַחֲרֵיהֶם
They struck downוַיַּכּוּeach oneאִישׁ אִישׁhis man;וֹand Aramוַ אֲרָםfled,יָּנֻסוּand Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלpursued them;יִּרְדְּפֵםand Ben-hadadוַ בֶּן הֲדַדkingמֶלֶךְof Aramאֲרָםescapedיִּמָּלֵטonעַלa horseסוּסwith horsemen.וּפָרָשִׁים
The kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwent outוַיֵּצֵאand struckוַיַּךְthe horsesהַסּוּסandוְthe chariots,הָרָכֶבand struckוְהִכָּהAramבַאֲרָםwith a greatגְדוֹלָהblow.מַכָּה
The prophetהַנָּבִיאcame nearוַיִּגַּשׁtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Go,לֵךְstrengthen yourself,הִתְחַזַּקand knowוְדַעand seeוּרְאֵהwhatאֲשֶׁרyou must do,תַּעֲשֶׂהforכִּיat the turnלִתְשׁוּבַתof the yearהַשָּׁנָהthe kingמֶלֶךְof Aramאֲרָםwill come upעֹלֶהagainst you.”עָלֶיךָ
The servantsוְעַבְדֵיof the kingמֶלֶךְof Aramאֲרָםsaidאָמְרוּto him,אֵלָיו“Godsאֱלֹהֵיof mountainsהָרִיםare their gods;אֱלֹהֵיהֶםthat is whyעַל כֵּןthey were strongerחָזְקוּthan we.מִמֶּנּוּButוְאוּלָםlet us fightנִלָּחֵםagainst themאִתָּםon the plateau,בַּמִּישׁוֹרand surelyאִם לֹאwe will be strongerנֶחֱזַקthan they.מֵהֶם
And doוְ עֲשֵׂהthisהַזֶּהthing:הַדָּבָרremoveהָסֵרthe kings,הַמְּלָכִיםeachאִישׁfrom his place,מִמְּקֹמוֹand putוְשִׂיםgovernorsפַּחוֹתin their place.תַּחְתֵּיהֶם
And you,וְאַתָּהcountתִמְנֶהfor yourselfלְךָtroopsחַיִלlike the troopsכַּחַיִלthat fellהַנֹּפֵלfrom you,מֵאוֹתָךְhorseוְסוּסfor horseכַּסּוּסand chariotוְרֶכֶבfor chariot;כָּרֶכֶבand let us fightוְנִלָּחֲמָהagainst themאוֹתָםon the plateau,בַּמִּישׁוֹרand surelyאִם לֹאwe will be strongerנֶחֱזַקthan they.”מֵהֶםHe listenedוַיִּשְׁמַעto their voiceלְקֹלָםand didוַיַּעַשׂso.כֵּן
And it happened,וַיְהִיat the turnלִתְשׁוּבַתof the year,הַשָּׁנָהthat Ben-hadadוַ בֶּן הֲדַדcountedיִּפְקֹדAramאֲרָםand went upוַיַּעַלto Aphekאֲפֵקָהfor warלַמִּלְחָמָהagainstעִםIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵל
The sonsוּבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwere countedהָתְפָּקְדוּand provisioned,וְכָלְכְּלוּand wentוַיֵּלְכוּto meet them;לִקְרָאתָםand the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלencampedיַּחֲנוּopposite themנֶגְדָּםlike twoכִּשְׁנֵיlittle flocksחֲשִׂפֵיof goats,עִזִּיםwhile Aramוַאֲרָםfilledמִלְאוּthe land.הָאָרֶץ
The manוַ אִישׁof Elohimהָאֱלֹהִיםcame nearיִּגַּשׁand spokeוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה‘Becauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרAramאֲרָםhas said,אָמְרוּ“YHWHיְהוָהis an Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof mountains,הָרִיםandוְheהוּאis notלֹאan Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof valleys,”עֲמָקִיםI will giveוְנָתַתִּיallכָּלthisהַזֶּהgreatהַגָּדוֹלmultitudeהֶהָמוֹןinto your hand,בְּיָדֶךָand you will knowוִידַעְתֶּםthatכִּיIאֲנִיam YHWH.’”יְהוָה
They encampedוַיַּחֲנוּtheseאֵלֶּהoppositeנֹכַחthoseאֵלֶּהsevenשִׁבְעַתdays.יָמִיםAnd it happenedוַיְהִיon the seventhבַּ הַשְּׁבִיעִיdayיּוֹםthat the battleוַ הַמִּלְחָמָהwas joined;תִּקְרַבand the sonsוַ בְנֵיof IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלstruckיַּכּוּAram,אֲרָםa hundredמֵאָהthousandאֶלֶףfoot soldiersרַגְלִיin oneבְּ אֶחָדday.יוֹם
Those who were leftהַנּוֹתָרִיםfledוַיָּנֻסוּto Aphek,אֲפֵקָהintoאֶלthe city;הָעִירand the wallוַ הַחוֹמָהfellתִּפֹּלonעַלtwentyעֶשְׂרִיםand sevenוְשִׁבְעָהthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁwho were left.הַנּוֹתָרִיםAnd Ben-hadadוּבֶן הֲדַדfledנָסand cameוַיָּבֹאintoאֶלthe city,הָעִירinto a roomחֶדֶרwithinבְּa room.חָדֶר
His servantsעֲבָדָיוsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּto him,אֵלָיו“Look,הִנֵּהplease,נָאwe have heardשָׁמַעְנוּthatכִּיthe kingsמַלְכֵיof the houseבֵּיתof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלareכִּי הֵםkingsמַלְכֵיof loyal love.חֶסֶדLet us put,נָשִׂימָהplease,נָּאsackclothשַׂקִּיםon our waistsבְּמָתְנֵינוּand ropesוַחֲבָלִיםon our heads,בְּרֹאשֵׁנוּand let us go outוְנֵצֵאtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Israel;יִשְׂרָאֵלperhapsאוּלַיhe will spareיְחַיֶּהyour life.”נַפְשֶׁךָ
They girdedוַיַּחְגְּרוּsackclothשַׂקִּיםon their waistsבְּמָתְנֵיהֶםand ropesוַחֲבָלִיםon their heads,בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶםand cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Your servantעַבְדְּךָBen-hadadבֶן הֲדַדsays,אָמַר‘Please,נָאlet my soulנַפְשִׁיlive.’”תְּחִיHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Is he stillהַעוֹדֶנּוּalive?חַיHeהוּאis my brother.”אָחִי
The menוְהָאֲנָשִׁיםtook it as an omen,יְנַחֲשׁוּand quicklyוַיְמַהֲרוּcaught it upוַיַּחְלְטוּwhether it came from him,הֲמִמֶּנּוּand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Your brotherאָחִיךָBen-hadad.”בֶן הֲדַדHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Go,בֹּאוּbring him.”קָחֻהוּBen-hadadבֶּן הֲדַדcame outוַיֵּצֵאto him,אֵלָיוand he had him come upוַיַּעֲלֵהוּintoעַלthe chariot.הַמֶּרְכָּבָה
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“The citiesהֶעָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרmy fatherאָבִיtookלָקַחfromמֵאֵתyour fatherאָבִיךָI will give back;אָשִׁיבand you shall set upוְ תָּשִׂיםstreetsחוּצוֹתfor yourselfלְךָin Damascus,בְדַמֶּשֶׂקasכַּאֲשֶׁרmy fatherאָבִיdidשָׂםin Samaria.”בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן“And I,וַאֲנִיsaid Ahab,on this covenantבַּבְּרִיתwill let you go.”אֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּSo he madeוַיִּכְרָתwith himלוֹa covenantבְרִיתand let him go.וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ
A certainוְ אֶחָדmanאִישׁof the sonsמִבְּנֵיof the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִיםsaidאָמַרtoאֶלhis companionרֵעֵהוּby the wordבִּדְבַרof YHWH,יְהוָה“Strike me,הַכֵּינִיplease.”נָאBut the manוַ הָאִישׁrefusedיְמָאֵןto strike him.לְהַכֹּתוֹ
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Becauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרyou have notלֹאlistenedשָׁמַעְתָּto the voiceבְּקוֹלof YHWH,יְהוָהlook,הִנְּךָas you goהוֹלֵךְfrom me,מֵאִתִּיthe lionהָאַרְיֵהwill strike you.”וְהִכְּךָHe went awayוַיֵּלֶךְfrom beside him,מֵאֶצְלוֹand the lionהָאַרְיֵהfound himוַיִּמְצָאֵהוּand struck him.וַיַּכֵּהוּ
He foundוַיִּמְצָאanotherאַחֵרmanאִישׁand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Strike me,הַכֵּינִיplease.”נָאAnd the manוַ הָאִישׁstruck him,יַּכֵּהוּstrikingהַכֵּה וּand wounding him.פָצֹעַ
The prophetהַנָּבִיאwentוַיֵּלֶךְand waitedוַיַּעֲמֹדfor the kingלַמֶּלֶךְbyעַלthe road,הַדָּרֶךְand disguised himselfוַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂwith a bandageבָּאֲפֵרoverעַלhis eyes.עֵינָיו
And it happened,וַיְהִיas the kingהַמֶּלֶךְwas passing by,עֹבֵרthat heוְהוּאcried outצָעַקtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Your servantעַבְדְּךָwent outיָצָאinto the midstבְקֶרֶבof the battle;הַמִּלְחָמָהand there,וְהִנֵּהa manאִישׁturned asideסָרand broughtוַיָּבֵאa manאִישׁto meאֵלַיand said,וַיֹּאמֶר‘Guardשְׁמֹרthisהַזֶּהman;הָאִישׁifאִםhe is missing at all,הִפָּקֵד יִפָּקֵדyour lifeוְהָיְתָה נַפְשְׁךָwill be forתַּחַתhis life,נַפְשׁוֹorאוֹyou will weigh outתִּשְׁקוֹלa talentכִכַּרof silver.’כֶּסֶף
And it happenedוַיְהִיwhile your servantעַבְדְּךָwas busyעֹשֵׂהhereהֵנָּהand there,וָהֵנָּהthat heוְהוּאwas gone.”אֵינֶנּוּThe kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Soכֵּןis your judgment;מִשְׁפָּטֶךָyou yourselfאַתָּהhave decided it.”חָרָצְתָּ
He hurriedוַיְמַהֵרand removedוַיָּסַרthe bandageהָאֲפֵרfrom overמֵעֲלֵיhis eyes,עֵינָיוand the kingוַ מֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלrecognizedיַּכֵּרhim,אֹתוֹthatכִּיheהוּאwas one of the prophets.מֵהַנְּבִאִים
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָה‘Becauseיַעַןyou have let goשִׁלַּחְתָּfrom your handמִיָּדthe manאִישׁwhom I had devoted to destruction,חֶרְמִיyour lifeוְהָיְתָה נַפְשְׁךָwill be forתַּחַתhis life,נַפְשׁוֹand your peopleוְעַמְּךָforתַּחַתhis people.’”עַמּוֹ
The kingמֶלֶךְof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwentוַיֵּלֶךְtoעַלhis houseבֵּיתוֹresentfulסַרand angry,וְזָעֵףand cameוַיָּבֹאto Samaria.שֹׁמְרוֹנָה