Joabיוֹאָבsonבֶּןof Zeruiahצְרֻיָהknewוַיֵּדַעthatכִּיthe heartלֵבof the kingהַמֶּלֶךְwas onעַלAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹם
Joabיוֹאָבsentוַיִּשְׁלַחto Tekoaתְּקוֹעָהand broughtוַיִּקַּחfrom thereמִשָּׁםa wiseחֲכָמָהwoman,אִשָּׁהand he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,אֵלֶיהָ“Pleaseנָאmourn;הִתְאַבְּלִיput on,וְלִבְשִׁיplease,נָאmourningאֵבֶלclothesבִגְדֵיand do notוְאַלanoint yourselfתָּסוּכִיwith oil,שֶׁמֶןand beוְהָיִיתlike a womanכְּאִשָּׁהwho has been mourningמִתְאַבֶּלֶתforעַלthe deadמֵתfor theseזֶהmanyרַבִּיםdays.יָמִים
Then goוּבָאתtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand speakוְדִבַּרְתְּto himאֵלָיוaccording to thisכַּ הַזֶּהword.”דָּבָרAnd Joabוַ יוֹאָבputיָּשֶׂםthe wordsהַדְּבָרִיםin her mouth.בְּפִיהָ
The Tekoiteהַתְּקֹעִיתwomanהָאִשָּׁהspokeוַתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king;הַמֶּלֶךְshe fellוַתִּפֹּלonעַלher faceאַפֶּיהָto the groundאַרְצָהand bowed down,וַתִּשְׁתָּחוּand said,וַתֹּאמֶר“Save,הוֹשִׁעָהO king!”הַמֶּלֶךְ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,לָהּ“What is the matterמַהwith you?”לָּךְShe said,וַתֹּאמֶר“TrulyאֲבָלI amאָנִיa widowאַלְמָנָהwoman;אִשָּׁהmy husbandוַ אִישִׁיdied.יָּמָת
Your servantוּלְשִׁפְחָתְךָhad twoשְׁנֵיsons,בָנִיםand the two of themשְׁנֵיהֶםfoughtוַיִּנָּצוּin the field,בַּשָּׂדֶהand there was noוְאֵיןdelivererמַצִּילbetween them;בֵּינֵיהֶםand the oneהָאֶחָדstruckוַיַּכּוֹthe otherאֶת הָאֶחָדand put him to death.וַיָּמֶת אֹתוֹ
And look,וְהִנֵּהthe wholeכָלfamilyהַמִּשְׁפָּחָהhas risenקָמָהagainstעַלyour servant,שִׁפְחָתֶךָand they have said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ‘Hand overתְּנִיthe one who struckמַכֵּהhis brother,אָחִיוso that we may put him to deathוּנְמִתֵהוּfor the lifeבְּנֶפֶשׁof his brotherאָחִיוwhomאֲשֶׁרhe killed,הָרָגand we will destroyוְנַשְׁמִידָהthe heirהַיּוֹרֵשׁtoo.’גַּםSo they will quenchוְכִבּוּmy coalגַּחַלְתִּיthatאֲשֶׁרis left,נִשְׁאָרָהso as notלְבִלְתִּיto leaveשִׂיםto my husbandלְאִישִׁיnameשֵׁםor remnantוּשְׁאֵרִיתonעַלthe faceפְּנֵיof the ground.”הָאֲדָמָה
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe woman,הָאִשָּׁה“Goלְכִיto your house,לְבֵיתֵךְand Iוַאֲנִיwill give ordersאֲצַוֶּהabout you.”עָלָיִךְ
The Tekoiteהַתְּקוֹעִיתwomanהָאִשָּׁהsaidוַתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“On me,עָלַיmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְbe the iniquity,הֶעָוֺןand onוְעַלthe houseבֵּיתof my father;אָבִיand the kingוְהַמֶּלֶךְand his throneוְכִסְאוֹbe innocent.”נָקִי
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whoever speaksהַמְדַבֵּרto you,אֵלַיִךְbring himוַהֲבֵאתוֹto me,אֵלַיand he will notוְלֹאtouchלָגַעַתyouבָּךְagain.”יֹסִיף עוֹד
She said,וַתֹּאמֶר“Pleaseנָאlet the kingהַמֶּלֶךְrememberיִזְכָּרYHWHיְהוָהyour Elohim,אֱלֹהֶיךָso that the avengerמֵ גֹּאֵלof bloodהַדָּםmay not destroyלְשַׁחֵתany more,הַרְבַּתand they may notוְלֹאdestroyיַשְׁמִידוּmy son.”בְּנִיHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“As YHWHיְהוָהlives,חַיnotאִםone hairמִשַּׂעֲרַתof your sonבְּנֵךְshall fallיִפֹּלto the ground.”אָרְצָה
The womanהָאִשָּׁהsaid,וַתֹּאמֶר“Pleaseנָאlet your servantשִׁפְחָתְךָspeakתְּדַבֶּרa wordדָּבָרtoאֶלmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king.”הַמֶּלֶךְHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Speak.”דַּבֵּרִי
The womanהָאִשָּׁהsaid,וַתֹּאמֶר“Why thenוְלָמָּהhave you thoughtחָשַׁבְתָּהsuch a thingכָּזֹאתagainstעַלthe peopleעַםof Elohim?אֱלֹהִיםFor in speakingוּמִדַּבֵּרthisהַזֶּהword,הַדָּבָרthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְis like one guilty,כְּאָשֵׁםin that the kingלְ הַמֶּלֶךְdoes notבִלְתִּיbring backהָשִׁיבhis banished one.נִדְּחוֹ
Forכִּיwe will surelyמוֹתdie,נָמוּתand we are like waterוְכַמַּיִםpoured outהַנִּגָּרִיםon the ground,אַרְצָהwhichאֲשֶׁרcannotלֹאbe gathered up;יֵאָסֵפוּbut Elohimוְ אֱלֹהִיםdoes notלֹאtake awayיִשָּׂאlife,נֶפֶשׁand he devisesוְחָשַׁבplansמַחֲשָׁבוֹתso thatלְthe banished oneנִדָּחmay notבִלְתִּיremain banishedיִדַּחfrom him.מִמֶּנּוּ
Now then,וְעַתָּהthatאֲשֶׁרI have comeבָּאתִיto speakלְדַבֵּרthisהַזֶּהwordהַדָּבָרtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְmy lordאֲדֹנִיis becauseכִּיthe peopleהָעָםmade me afraid;יֵרְאֻנִיand your servantוַ שִׁפְחָתְךָsaid,תֹּאמֶר‘Let me speak,אֲדַבְּרָהplease,נָּאtoאֶלthe king;הַמֶּלֶךְperhapsאוּלַיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְwill doיַעֲשֶׂהthe wordדְּבַרof his servant.אֲמָתוֹ
Forכִּיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְwill listen,יִשְׁמַעto deliverלְהַצִּילhis servantאֲמָתוֹfrom the handמִכַּףof the manהָאִישׁwho seeks to destroyלְהַשְׁמִידmeאֹתִיandוְmy sonבְּנִיtogetherיַחַדfrom the inheritanceמִנַּחֲלַתof Elohim.’אֱלֹהִים
And your servantוַ שִׁפְחָתְךָsaid,תֹּאמֶר‘Pleaseנָּאlet the wordדְּבַרof my lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְbeיִהְיֶהfor rest,לִמְנוּחָהforכִּיlike an angelכְּמַלְאַךְof Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםsoכֵּןis my lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְin hearingלִשְׁמֹעַthe goodהַטּוֹבand the bad.’וְהָרָעAnd may YHWHוַיהוָהyour Elohimאֱלֹהֶיךָbeיְהִיwith you.”עִמָּךְ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְansweredוַיַּעַןand saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe woman,הָאִשָּׁה“Pleaseנָאdo notאַלhideתְכַחֲדִיfrom meמִמֶּנִּיanythingדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרIאָנֹכִיaskשֹׁאֵלyou.”אֹתָךְThe womanהָאִשָּׁהsaid,וַתֹּאמֶר“Pleaseנָאlet my lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְspeak.”יְדַבֶּר
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Is the handהֲיַדof Joabיוֹאָבwith youאִתָּךְin allבְּכָלthis?”זֹאתThe womanהָאִשָּׁהansweredוַתַּעַןand said,וַתֹּאמֶר“As your soulנַפְשְׁךָlives,חֵיmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְno oneאִם אִשׁcan turn to the rightלְהֵמִיןor to the leftוּלְהַשְׂמִילfrom anythingמִכֹּלthatאֲשֶׁרmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְhas said;דִּבֶּרforכִּיyour servantעַבְדְּךָJoab,יוֹאָבheהוּאcommanded me,צִוָּנִיand heוְהוּאputשָׂםin the mouthבְּפִיof your servantשִׁפְחָתְךָallכָּלtheseהָאֵלֶּהwords.הַדְּבָרִים
Toלְבַעֲבוּרchangeסַבֵּבthe faceפְּנֵיof the matterהַדָּבָרyour servantעַבְדְּךָJoabיוֹאָבhas doneעָשָׂהthisהַזֶּהthing;הַדָּבָרbut my lordוַאדֹנִיis wise,חָכָםaccording to the wisdomכְּחָכְמַתof an angelמַלְאַךְof Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםto knowלָדַעַתallכָּלthatאֲשֶׁרis on the earth.”בָּאָרֶץ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoab,יוֹאָב“Look,הִנֵּהplease,נָאI have doneעָשִׂיתִיthisהַזֶּהthing;הַדָּבָרgo,וְלֵךְbring backהָשֵׁבthe young man,הַנַּעַרAbsalom.”אַבְשָׁלוֹם
Joabיוֹאָבfellוַיִּפֹּלonאֶלhis faceפָּנָיוto the groundאַרְצָהand bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּand blessedוַיְבָרֶךְthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְand Joabוַ יוֹאָבsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Todayהַיּוֹםyour servantעַבְדְּךָknowsיָדַעthatכִּיI have foundמָצָאתִיfavorחֵןin your eyes,בְּעֵינֶיךָmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְin thatאֲשֶׁרthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְhas doneעָשָׂהthe wordדְּבַרof your servant.”עַבְדֶּךָ
Joabיוֹאָבgot upוַיָּקָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְto Geshurגְּשׁוּרָהand broughtוַיָּבֵאAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָם
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Let him turn asideיִסֹּבtoאֶלhis house,בֵּיתוֹand my faceוּפָנַיhe shall notלֹאsee.”יִרְאֶהSo Absalomוַ אַבְשָׁלוֹםturned asideיִּסֹּבtoאֶלhis house,בֵּיתוֹand the faceוּפְנֵיof the kingהַמֶּלֶךְhe did notלֹאsee.רָאָה
In allבְּכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלthere wasהָיָהnoלֹאmanאִישׁas handsomeיָפֶהas Absalom,וּכְאַבְשָׁלוֹםto be praisedלְהַלֵּלso greatly;מְאֹדfrom the soleמִכַּףof his footרַגְלוֹtoוְעַדthe crown of his headקָדְקֳדוֹthere wasהָיָהnoלֹאdefectמוּםin him.בוֹ
When he shavedוּבְגַלְּחוֹhis headרֹאשׁוֹ—and it wasוְהָיָהat the endמִקֵּץof every yearיָמִים לַיָּמִיםthatאֲשֶׁרhe shaved it,יְגַלֵּחַforכִּיit was heavyכָבֵדon him,עָלָיוand he shaved itוְגִלְּחוֹ—he weighedוְשָׁקַלthe hairשְׂעַרof his head:רֹאשׁוֹtwo hundredמָאתַיִםshekelsשְׁקָלִיםby the weightבְּאֶבֶןof the king.הַמֶּלֶךְ
There were bornוַיִּוָּלְדוּto Absalomלְאַבְשָׁלוֹםthreeשְׁלוֹשָׁהsonsבָנִיםand oneוּ אַחַתdaughter,בַתwhose name wasוּשְׁמָהּTamar;תָּמָרsheהִיאwasהָיְתָהa womanאִשָּׁהbeautifulיְפַתin appearance.מַרְאֶה
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםlivedוַיֵּשֶׁבin Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִַםtwo full yearsשְׁנָתַיִם יָמִיםand did notוּ לֹאseeרָאָהthe faceפְנֵיof the king.הַמֶּלֶךְ
AbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsentוַיִּשְׁלַחforאֶלJoab,יוֹאָבto sendלִשְׁלֹחַhimאֹתוֹtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְbut he was notוְלֹאwillingאָבָהto comeלָבוֹאto him.אֵלָיוHe sentוַיִּשְׁלַחagain,עוֹדa second time,שֵׁנִיתbut he was notוְלֹאwillingאָבָהto come.לָבוֹא
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלhis servants,עֲבָדָיו“See,רְאוּJoab’sיוֹאָבplotחֶלְקַתis next toאֶלmine,יָדִיand he hasוְלוֹbarleyשְׂעֹרִיםthere;שָׁםgoלְכוּand setוְהַצִּיתוּitהָon fire.”בָאֵשׁSo the servantsוַ עַבְדֵיof Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsetיַּצִּתוּthe plotהַחֶלְקָהon fire.בָּאֵשׁ
Joabיוֹאָבgot upוַיָּקָםand cameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםat the houseהַבָּיְתָהand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Whyלָמָּהhave your servantsעֲבָדֶךָsetהִצִּיתוּthe plotהַחֶלְקָהthatאֲשֶׁרis mineלִיon fire?”בָּאֵשׁ
AbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoab,יוֹאָב“Look,הִנֵּהI sentשָׁלַחְתִּיto you,אֵלֶיךָsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Comeבֹּאhere,הֵנָּהso that I may sendוְאֶשְׁלְחָהyouאֹתְךָtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְto say,לֵאמֹר“Whyלָמָּהhave I comeבָּאתִיfrom Geshur?מִגְּשׁוּרIt would be betterטוֹבfor meלִיif I wereאֲנִיstillעֹדthere.”’שָׁםNow then,וְעַתָּהlet me seeאֶרְאֶהthe faceפְּנֵיof the king;הַמֶּלֶךְand ifוְאִםthere isיֶשׁiniquityעָוֺןin me,בִּיlet him put me to death.”וֶהֱמִתָנִי
Joabיוֹאָבcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand toldוַיַּגֶּדhim,לוֹand he calledוַיִּקְרָאforאֶלAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹםHe cameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּto himלוֹonעַלhis faceאַפָּיוto the groundאַרְצָהbeforeלִפְנֵיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְand the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְkissedיִּשַּׁקAbsalom.לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם