Whenוַיְהִי בְּDavidדָוִדand his menוַאֲנָשָׁיוcameבֹאto Ziklagצִקְלַגon the thirdבַּ הַשְּׁלִישִׁיday,יּוֹםthe Amalekitesוַעֲמָלֵקִיhad raidedפָשְׁטוּagainst the Negevאֶל נֶגֶבand againstוְאֶלZiklag,צִקְלַגand they had struckוַיַּכּוּZiklagצִקְלַגand burnedוַיִּשְׂרְפוּitאֹתָהּwith fire.בָּאֵשׁ
They had taken captiveוַיִּשְׁבּוּthe womenהַנָּשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere in it,בָּהּfrom smallמִקָּטֹןtoוְעַדgreat;גָּדוֹלthey had notלֹאput to deathהֵמִיתוּanyone,אִישׁbut carried them offוַיִּנְהֲגוּand wentוַיֵּלְכוּon their way.לְדַרְכָּם
Davidדָוִדand his menוַאֲנָשָׁיוcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe town,הָעִירand look,וְהִנֵּהit was burnedשְׂרוּפָהwith fire,בָּאֵשׁand their wivesוּנְשֵׁיהֶםand their sonsוּבְנֵיהֶםand their daughtersוּבְנֹתֵיהֶםhad been taken captive.נִשְׁבּוּ
Davidדָוִדand the peopleוְהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹlifted upוַיִּשָּׂאtheir voiceקוֹלָםand weptוַיִּבְכּוּuntilעַד אֲשֶׁרthere was noאֵיןstrengthכֹּחַin themבָּהֶםto weep.לִבְכּוֹת
David’sדָוִדtwoשְׁתֵּיwivesנְשֵׁיhad also been taken captive,וּ נִשְׁבּוּAhinoamאֲחִינֹעַםof Jezreelהַיִּזְרְעֵלִיתand Abigail,וַאֲבִיגַיִלthe wifeאֵשֶׁתof Nabalנָבָלof Carmel.הַכַּרְמְלִי
Davidלְדָוִדwas greatlyמְאֹדdistressed,וַתֵּצֶרforכִּיthe peopleהָעָםspokeאָמְרוּof stoning him,לְסָקְלוֹbecauseכִּיthe soulנֶפֶשׁof allכָּלthe peopleהָעָםwas bitter,מָרָהeachאִישׁforעַלhis sonsבָּנָיוand forוְעַלhis daughters.בְּנֹתָיוBut Davidוַ דָּוִדstrengthened himselfיִּתְחַזֵּקin YHWHבַּיהוָהhis Elohim.אֱלֹהָיו
DavidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלAbiatharאֶבְיָתָרthe priest,הַכֹּהֵןsonבֶּןof Ahimelech,אֲחִימֶלֶךְ“Pleaseנָּאbring nearהַגִּישָׁהto meלִיthe ephod.”הָאֵפֹדAnd Abiatharוַ אֶבְיָתָרbroughtיַּגֵּשׁthe ephodהָאֵפֹדtoאֶלDavid.דָּוִד
Davidדָּוִדinquiredוַיִּשְׁאַלof YHWH,בַּיהוָהsaying,לֵאמֹר“Shall I pursueאֶרְדֹּףafterאַחֲרֵיthisהַזֶּהband?הַגְּדוּדWillהַI overtake them?”אַשִּׂגֶנּוּHe saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Pursue,רְדֹףforכִּיyou will surely overtakeהַשֵּׂג תַּשִּׂיגand you will surely rescue.”וְהַצֵּל תַּצִּיל
Davidדָּוִדwent,וַיֵּלֶךְheהוּאand the sixוְשֵׁשׁhundredמֵאוֹתmenאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with him,אִתּוֹand they cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoעַדthe brookנַחַלBesor,הַבְּשׂוֹרwhere those who were left behindוְהַנּוֹתָרִיםstayed.עָמָדוּ
Davidדָּוִדpursued,וַיִּרְדֹּףheהוּאand fourוְאַרְבַּעhundredמֵאוֹתmen,אִישׁwhile two hundredוַ מָאתַיִםmenאִישׁstayed behind,יַּעַמְדוּwhoאֲשֶׁרwere too exhaustedפִּגְּרוּto crossמֵעֲבֹרthe brookנַחַלBesor.הַבְּשׂוֹר
They foundוַיִּמְצְאוּan Egyptianמִצְרִיmanאִישׁin the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶהand broughtוַיִּקְחוּhimאֹתוֹtoאֶלDavid;דָּוִדthey gaveוַיִּתְּנוּhimלוֹbread,לֶחֶםand he ate,וַיֹּאכַלand they gave himוַיַּשְׁקֻהוּwater to drink.מָיִם
They gaveוַיִּתְּנוּhimלוֹa pieceפֶלַחof fig cakeדְּבֵלָהand twoוּשְׁנֵיclusters of raisins,צִמֻּקִיםand he ate,וַיֹּאכַלand his spiritרוּחוֹreturnedוַתָּשָׁבto him,אֵלָיוforכִּיhe had notלֹאeatenאָכַלbreadלֶחֶםorוְלֹאdrunkשָׁתָהwaterמַיִםfor threeשְׁלֹשָׁהdaysיָמִיםand threeוּשְׁלֹשָׁהnights.לֵילוֹת
Davidדָוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“To whomלְמִיdo you belong,אַתָּהand whereוְאֵיare youאָתָּהfrom?”מִזֶּהHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Iאָנֹכִיam an Egyptianמִצְרִיyoung man,נַעַרslaveעֶבֶדof an Amalekiteעֲמָלֵקִיman;לְאִישׁmy masterאֲדֹנִיleft meוַיַּעַזְבֵנִיbecauseכִּיI fell sickחָלִיתִיthree days ago.הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה
Weאֲנַחְנוּraidedפָּשַׁטְנוּthe Negevנֶגֶבof the Cherethites,הַכְּרֵתִיand againstוְעַלwhatאֲשֶׁרbelongs to Judah,לִיהוּדָהand againstוְעַלthe Negevנֶגֶבof Caleb;כָּלֵבand Ziklagוְ צִקְלַגwe burnedשָׂרַפְנוּwith fire.”בָאֵשׁ
Davidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Willהֲyou bring me downתוֹרִדֵנִיtoאֶלthisהַזֶּהband?”הַגְּדוּדHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Swearהִשָּׁבְעָהto meלִּיby Elohimבֵאלֹהִיםthat you will notאִםkill meתְּמִיתֵנִיand that you will notוְאִםdeliver meתַּסְגִּרֵנִיinto the handבְּיַדof my master,אֲדֹנִיand I will bring you downוְאוֹרִדְךָtoאֶלthisהַזֶּהband.”הַגְּדוּד
He brought him down,וַיֹּרִדֵהוּand look,וְהִנֵּהthey were spread outנְטֻשִׁיםoverעַלthe faceפְּנֵיof allכָלthe land,הָאָרֶץeatingאֹכְלִיםand drinkingוְשֹׁתִיםand celebratingוְחֹגְגִיםbecause of allבְּכֹלthe greatהַגָּדוֹלspoilהַשָּׁלָלthatאֲשֶׁרthey had takenלָקְחוּfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםand from the landוּמֵאֶרֶץof Judah.יְהוּדָה
Davidדָּוִדstruck themוַיַּכֵּםfromמֵtwilightהַנֶּשֶׁףuntilוְעַדthe eveningהָעֶרֶבof the next day;לְמָחֳרָתָםand notוְלֹאa manאִישׁof themמֵהֶםescaped,נִמְלַטexceptכִּי אִםfourאַרְבַּעhundredמֵאוֹתyoungנַעַרmenאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרrodeרָכְבוּonעַלthe camelsהַגְּמַלִּיםand fled.וַיָּנֻסוּ
DavidדָּוִדrescuedוַיַּצֵּלallכָּלthatאֲשֶׁרAmalekעֲמָלֵקhad taken,לָקְחוּandוְhis twoשְׁתֵּיwivesנָשָׁיוDavidדָּוִדrescued.הִצִּיל
Nothingוְלֹאof theirsלָהֶםwas missing,נֶעְדַּרfromמִןthe smallהַקָּטֹןtoוְעַדthe great,הַגָּדוֹלtoוְעַדsonsבָּנִיםand daughters,וּבָנוֹתand from the spoilוּמִשָּׁלָלtoוְעַדallכָּלthatאֲשֶׁרthey had takenלָקְחוּfor themselves;לָהֶםDavidדָּוִדbrought backהֵשִׁיבeverything.הַכֹּל
Davidדָּוִדtookוַיִּקַּחallכָּלthe sheep and goatsהַצֹּאןand the cattle;וְהַבָּקָרthey droveנָהֲגוּbeforeלִפְנֵיthoseהַהוּאlivestockהַמִּקְנֶהand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Thisזֶהis David’sדָּוִדspoil.”שְׁלַל
Davidדָוִדcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe two hundredמָאתַיִםmenהָאֲנָשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרhad been too exhaustedפִּגְּרוּto goמִלֶּכֶתafterאַחֲרֵיDavid,דָוִדand whom they had made stayוַיֹּשִׁיבֻםat the brookבְּנַחַלBesor;הַבְּשׂוֹרand they went outוַיֵּצְאוּto meetלִקְרַאתDavidדָּוִדand to meetוְלִקְרַאתthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with him.אִתּוֹWhen Davidוַ דָּוִדcame nearיִּגַּשׁto the people,אֶת הָעָםhe askedוַיִּשְׁאַלthemלָהֶםabout their welfare.לְשָׁלוֹם
Everyכָּלevilרָעand wickedוּבְלִיַּעַלmanאִישׁamongמֵthe menהָאֲנָשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרhad goneהָלְכוּwithעִםDavidדָּוִדansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Becauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרthey did notלֹאgoהָלְכוּwith me,עִמִּיwe will notלֹאgiveנִתֵּןthemלָהֶםany of the spoilמֵהַשָּׁלָלthatאֲשֶׁרwe have rescued,הִצַּלְנוּexceptכִּי אִםto each manאִישׁhis wifeאֶת אִשְׁתּוֹand his children,וְאֶת בָּנָיוthat they may lead them awayוְיִנְהֲגוּand go.”וְיֵלֵכוּ
Davidדָּוִדsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“You shall notלֹאdoתַעֲשׂוּso,כֵןmy brothers,אֶחָיwith whatאֵת אֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhas givenנָתַןus;לָנוּhe has keptוַיִּשְׁמֹרusאֹתָנוּand givenוַיִּתֵּןthe bandהַגְּדוּדthat cameהַבָּאagainst usעָלֵינוּinto our hand.בְּיָדֵנוּ
Whoוּמִיwill listenיִשְׁמַעto youלָכֶםin thisלַ הַזֶּהmatter?דָּבָרForכִּיas the shareכְּחֵלֶקof him who goes downהַיֹּרֵדinto battle,בַּמִּלְחָמָהso shall be the shareוּכְחֵלֶקof him who staysהַיֹּשֵׁבbyעַלthe baggage;הַכֵּלִיםthey shall shareיַחֲלֹקוּalike.”יַחְדָּו
And so it wasוַיְהִיfromמֵthatהַ הַהוּאdayיּוֹםforward:וָמָעְלָהhe made itוַיְשִׂמֶהָa statuteלְחֹקand a ruleוּלְמִשְׁפָּטfor Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵלtoעַדthisהַ הַזֶּהday.יּוֹם
DavidדָוִדcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלZiklag,צִקְלַגand he sentוַיְשַׁלַּחsome of the spoilמֵהַשָּׁלָלto the eldersלְזִקְנֵיof Judah,יְהוּדָהto his companions,לְרֵעֵהוּsaying,לֵאמֹר“Here isהִנֵּהfor youלָכֶםa blessingבְּרָכָהfrom the spoilמִשְּׁלַלof the enemiesאֹיְבֵיof YHWH”:יְהוָה
to thoseלַאֲשֶׁרin Bethel,בְּבֵית אֵלto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Ramothבְּרָמוֹתof the Negeb,נֶגֶבto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Jattir,בְּיַתִּר
to thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Aroer,בַּעֲרֹעֵרto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Siphmoth,בְּשִׂפְמוֹתto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Eshtemoa,בְּאֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ
to thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Racal,בְּרָכָלto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin the townsבְּעָרֵיof the Jerahmeelites,הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִיto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin the townsבְּעָרֵיof the Kenites,הַקֵּינִי
to thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Hormah,בְּחָרְמָהto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Bor-ashan,בְּבוֹר עָשָׁןto thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Athach,בַּעֲתָךְ
to thoseוְלַאֲשֶׁרin Hebron,בְּחֶבְרוֹןand to allוּלְכָלthe placesהַמְּקֹמוֹתwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםDavidדָּוִדhad gone about,הִתְהַלֶּךְheהוּאand his men.וַאֲנָשָׁיו