Afterוַיְהִי מֵאַחֲרֵיthis,כֵןAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםgotוַיַּעַשׂhimselfלוֹa chariotמֶרְכָּבָהand horses,וְסֻסִיםand fiftyוַחֲמִשִּׁיםmenאִישׁrunningרָצִיםbefore him.לְפָנָיו
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםwould rise earlyוְהִשְׁכִּיםand standוְעָמַדbesideעַל יַדthe roadדֶּרֶךְof the gate;הַשָּׁעַרand wheneverוַיְהִיanyכָּלmanהָאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרhadיִהְיֶה לּוֹa disputeרִיבto comeלָבוֹאtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְfor judgment,לַמִּשְׁפָּטAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםwould callוַיִּקְרָאto himאֵלָיוand say,וַיֹּאמֶר“From whatאֵי מִזֶּהcityעִירare you?”אַתָּהAnd he would say,וַיֹּאמֶר“Your servantעַבְדֶּךָis from oneמֵאַחַדof the tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israel.”יִשְׂרָאֵל
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםwould sayוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Look,רְאֵהyour wordsדְבָרֶךָare goodטוֹבִיםand right,וּנְכֹחִיםbut you haveלְךָnoאֵיןone to hear youוְשֹׁמֵעַfromמֵאֵתthe king.”הַמֶּלֶךְ
And Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםwould say,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whoמִיwould make meיְשִׂמֵנִיjudgeשֹׁפֵטin the land!בָּאָרֶץThen to meוְעָלַיeveryכָּלmanאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרhadיִהְיֶה לּוֹa disputeרִיבor judgmentוּמִשְׁפָּטwould come,יָבוֹאand I would do him justice.”וְהִצְדַּקְתִּיו
And wheneverוְהָיָהa manאִישׁcame nearבִּקְרָבto bow downלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺתto him,לוֹhe would put outוְשָׁלַחhis handיָדוֹand take holdוְהֶחֱזִיקof himלוֹand kissוְנָשַׁקhim.לוֹ
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםdidוַיַּעַשׂthis wayכַּדָּבָר הַזֶּהto allלְכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלwhoאֲשֶׁרcameיָבֹאוּfor judgmentלַמִּשְׁפָּטtoאֶלthe king;הַמֶּלֶךְand Absalomוַ אַבְשָׁלוֹםstoleיְגַנֵּבthe heartלֵבof the menאַנְשֵׁיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
At the endוַיְהִי מִקֵּץof fortyאַרְבָּעִיםyearsשָׁנָהAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Pleaseנָּאlet me goאֵלֲכָהand payוַאֲשַׁלֵּםmy vowנִדְרִיthatאֲשֶׁרI vowedנָדַרְתִּיto YHWH,לַיהוָהin Hebron.בְּחֶבְרוֹן
Forכִּיyour servantעַבְדְּךָmadeנָדַרa vowנֵדֶרwhile I was livingבְּשִׁבְתִּיat Geshurבִגְשׁוּרin Aram,בַּאֲרָםsaying,לֵאמֹר‘IfאִםYHWHיְהוָהwill indeed bring me backיָשׁוֹב יְשִׁיבֵנִיto Jerusalem,יְרוּשָׁלִַםthen I will serveוְעָבַדְתִּיYHWH.’”יְהוָה
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Goלֵךְin peace.”בְּשָׁלוֹםSo he got upוַיָּקָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְto Hebron.חֶבְרוֹנָה
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsentוַיִּשְׁלַחspiesמְרַגְּלִיםthroughout allבְּכָלthe tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלsaying,לֵאמֹר“When you hearכְּשָׁמְעֲכֶםthe soundקוֹלof the horn,הַשֹּׁפָרthen say,וַאֲמַרְתֶּם‘Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםreignsמָלַךְin Hebron.’”בְּחֶבְרוֹן
WithוְאֶתAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםwentהָלְכוּtwo hundredמָאתַיִםmenאִישׁfrom Jerusalem,מִירוּשָׁלִַםinvited;קְרֻאִיםthey wentוְהֹלְכִיםin their integrityלְתֻמָּםand did notוְלֹאknowיָדְעוּanything.כָּל דָּבָר
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsentוַיִּשְׁלַחfor Ahithophelאֶת אֲחִיתֹפֶלthe Gilonite,הַגִּילֹנִיDavid’sדָּוִדcounselor,יוֹעֵץfrom his city,מֵעִירוֹfrom Giloh,מִגִּלֹהwhile he was offeringבְּזָבְחוֹthe sacrifices.אֶת הַזְּבָחִיםThe conspiracyוַיְהִי הַקֶּשֶׁרgrew strong,אַמִּץand the peopleוְהָעָםwithאֶתAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםkept increasing.הוֹלֵךְ וָרָב
The messengerהַמַּגִּידcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלDavid,דָּוִדsaying,לֵאמֹר“The heartלֶבof the menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhas goneהָיָהafterאַחֲרֵיAbsalom.”אַבְשָׁלוֹם
Davidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto allלְכָלhis servantsעֲבָדָיוwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹin Jerusalem,בִירוּשָׁלִַם“Get up,קוּמוּand let us flee,וְנִבְרָחָהforכִּיthere will beתִהְיֶהnoלֹאescapeפְלֵיטָהfor usלָּנוּfromמִפְּנֵיAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹםHurryמַהֲרוּto go,לָלֶכֶתor he will quicklyפֶּן יְמַהֵרovertake usוְהִשִּׂגָנוּand bringוְהִדִּיחַthe evilאֶת הָרָעָהdown on usעָלֵינוּand strikeוְהִכָּהthe cityהָעִירwith the edgeלְפִיof the sword.”חָרֶב
The king’sהַמֶּלֶךְservantsעַבְדֵיsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“According to allכְּכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְchooses,יִבְחַרlook,הִנֵּהhere are your servants.”עֲבָדֶיךָ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְwent out,וַיֵּצֵאand allוְכָלhis householdבֵּיתוֹafter him,בְּרַגְלָיוand the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְleftיַּעֲזֹבtenעֶשֶׂרwomen,נָשִׁיםconcubines,פִּלַגְשִׁיםto keepלִשְׁמֹרthe house.הַבָּיִת
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְwent out,וַיֵּצֵאand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםafter him,בְּרַגְלָיוand they stoppedוַיַּעַמְדוּat Beth-merhak.בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק
Allוְכָלhis servantsעֲבָדָיוwere passingעֹבְרִיםbeside him,עַל יָדוֹand allוְכָלthe Cherethitesהַכְּרֵתִיand allוְכָלthe Pelethitesהַפְּלֵתִיand allוְכָלthe Gittites,הַגִּתִּיםsixשֵׁשׁhundredמֵאוֹתmenאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרhad comeבָּאוּafter himבְרַגְלוֹfrom Gath,מִגַּתwere passingעֹבְרִיםbeforeעַל פְּנֵיthe king.הַמֶּלֶךְ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלIttaiאִתַּיthe Gittite,הַגִּתִּי“Whyלָמָּהwill youאַתָּהalsoגַּםgoתֵלֵךְwith us?אִתָּנוּGo backשׁוּבand stayוְשֵׁבwithעִםthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְforכִּיyouאַתָּהare a foreigner,נָכְרִיand alsoוְגַםan exileגֹּלֶהyou areאַתָּהfrom your place.לִמְקוֹמֶךָ
Yesterdayתְּמוֹלyou came,בּוֹאֶךָand todayוְהַיּוֹםshall I make you wanderאֲנִיעֲךָwith usעִמָּנוּin going,לָלֶכֶתwhile Iוַאֲנִיgoהוֹלֵךְwhereverעַל אֲשֶׁרIאֲנִיmay go?הוֹלֵךְGo back,שׁוּבand take backוְהָשֵׁבyour brothersאַחֶיךָwith you.עִמָּךְLoyal loveחֶסֶדand faithfulnessוֶאֱמֶתbe with you.”
Ittaiאִתַּיansweredוַיַּעַןthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand said,וַיֹּאמַר“As YHWHיְהוָהlives,חַיand as my lordוְ אֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְlives,חֵיwhereverכִּי אִם בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁרmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְmay be,יִהְיֶה שָּׁםwhetherאִםfor deathלְמָוֶתorאִםfor life,לְחַיִּיםthereכִּי שָׁםyour servantעַבְדֶּךָwill be.”יִהְיֶה
DavidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלIttai,אִתַּי“Goלֵךְand cross over.”וַעֲבֹרSo Ittaiיַּעֲבֹר אִתַּיthe Gittiteהַגִּתִּיcrossed over,וַand allוְכָלhis menאֲנָשָׁיוand allוְכָלthe little onesהַטַּףwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with him.אִתּוֹ
Allוְכָלthe landהָאָרֶץwas weepingבּוֹכִיםwith a loudגָּדוֹלvoiceקוֹלas allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםcrossed over;עֹבְרִיםand the kingוְהַמֶּלֶךְcrossed overעֹבֵרthe wadiבְּנַחַלKidron,קִדְרוֹןand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםcrossed overעֹבְרִיםtowardעַל פְּנֵיthe roadדֶרֶךְof the wilderness.הַמִּדְבָּר
And thereוְהִנֵּהwas Zadokצָדוֹקtoo,גַםand allוְכָלthe Levitesהַלְוִיִּםwith him,אִתּוֹcarryingנֹשְׂאִיםthe arkאֲרוֹןof the covenantבְּרִיתof Elohim;הָאֱלֹהִיםand they set downוַיַּצִּקוּthe arkאֲרוֹןof Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםand Abiatharוַ אֶבְיָתָרwent up,יַּעַלuntilעַדallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםhad finishedתֹּםcrossing overלַעֲבוֹרfromמִןthe city.הָעִיר
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto Zadok,לְצָדוֹק“Take backהָשֵׁבthe arkאֲרוֹןof Elohimהָאֱלֹהִיםto the city.הָעִירIfאִםI findאֶמְצָאfavorחֵןin the eyesבְּעֵינֵיof YHWH,יְהוָהhe will bring me backוֶהֱשִׁבַנִיand let me seeוְהִרְאַנִיitאֹתוֹand his dwelling.וְ נָוֵהוּ
But ifוְאִםhe saysיֹאמַרthis:כֹּה‘I have noלֹאdelightחָפַצְתִּיin you,’בָּךְhere I am;הִנְנִיlet him doיַעֲשֶׂהto meלִּיasכַּאֲשֶׁרseems goodטוֹבin his eyes.”בְּעֵינָיו
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלZadokצָדוֹקthe priest,הַכֹּהֵן“Do youהֲ אַתָּהsee?רוֹאֶהGo backשֻׁבָהto the cityהָעִירin peace,בְּשָׁלוֹםand Ahimaazוַאֲחִימַעַץyour sonבִּנְךָand Jonathanוִיהוֹנָתָןsonבֶּןof Abiathar,אֶבְיָתָרyour twoשְׁנֵי כֶםsons,בְנֵיwith you.אִתְּכֶם
Look,רְאוּIאָנֹכִיwill waitמִתְמַהְמֵהַּin the plainsבְּעַרְבוֹתof the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרuntilעַדwordדָבָרcomesבּוֹאfrom youמֵעִמָּכֶםto tellלְהַגִּידme.”לִי
So Zadokוַ צָדוֹקand Abiatharוְאֶבְיָתָרtook backיָּשֶׁבthe arkאֲרוֹןof Elohimהָאֱלֹהִיםto Jerusalem,יְרוּשָׁלִָםand they stayedוַיֵּשְׁבוּthere.שָׁם
Davidוְדָוִדwas going upעֹלֶהthe ascentבְמַעֲלֵהof the Olives,הַזֵּיתִיםweepingוּבוֹכֶהas he went up,עֹלֶהwith his headוְרֹאשׁ לוֹcovered,חָפוּיand heוְהוּאwas walkingהֹלֵךְbarefoot;יָחֵףand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹcovered,חָפוּeachאִישׁhis head,רֹאשׁוֹand they went up,וְעָלוּweepingוּבָכֹהas they went up.עָלֹה
Davidוְדָוִדwas told,הִגִּידsaying,לֵאמֹר“Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹפֶלis among the conspiratorsבַּקֹּשְׁרִיםwithעִםAbsalom.”אַבְשָׁלוֹםAnd Davidוַ דָּוִדsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Please,נָאYHWH,יְהוָהturn into follyסַכֶּלthe counselעֲצַתof Ahithophel.”אֲחִיתֹפֶל
WhenוַיְהִיDavidדָוִדcameבָּאtoעַדthe summit,הָרֹאשׁwhereאֲשֶׁרhe used to bow downיִשְׁתַּחֲוֶהthereשָׁםto Elohim,לֵאלֹהִיםthereוְהִנֵּהto meet himלִקְרָאתוֹcame Hushaiחוּשַׁיthe Archite,הָאַרְכִּיwith his tunicכֻּתָּנְתּוֹtornקָרוּעַand earthוַאֲדָמָהonעַלhis head.רֹאשׁוֹ
Davidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Ifאִםyou cross overעָבַרְתָּwith me,אִתִּיyou will beוְהָיִתָa burdenלְמַשָּׂאto me.עָלַי
But ifוְאִםyou go backתָּשׁוּבto the cityהָעִירand sayוְאָמַרְתָּto Absalom,לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם‘Iאֲנִיwill beאֶהְיֶהyour servant,עַבְדְּךָO king;הַמֶּלֶךְI wasוַאֲנִיyour father’sאָבִיךָservantעֶבֶדin the past,מֵאָזbut nowוְעַתָּהI amוַאֲנִיyour servant,’עַבְדֶּךָthen you will thwartוְהֵפַרְתָּהfor meלִיthe counselעֲצַתof Ahithophel.אֲחִיתֹפֶל
And are notוַהֲלוֹאZadokצָדוֹקand Abiatharוְאֶבְיָתָרthe priestsהַכֹּהֲנִיםthereשָׁםwith you?עִמְּךָSoוְהָיָהeveryכָּלwordהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרyou hearתִּשְׁמַעfrom the houseמִבֵּיתof the king,הַמֶּלֶךְyou shall tellתַּגִּידto Zadokלְצָדוֹקand to Abiatharוּלְאֶבְיָתָרthe priests.הַכֹּהֲנִים
Look,הִנֵּהtheir twoשְׁנֵי הֶםsonsבְנֵיare thereשָׁםwith them,עִמָּםAhimaazאֲחִימַעַץZadok’s sonלְצָדוֹקand JonathanוִיהוֹנָתָןAbiathar’s son;לְאֶבְיָתָרand you shall sendוּשְׁלַחְתֶּםto meאֵלַיby their handבְּיָדָםeveryכָּלwordדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרyou hear.”תִּשְׁמָעוּ
SoוַHushai,חוּשַׁיDavid’sדָוִדcompanion,רֵעֶהcameיָּבֹאto the city,הָעִירjust as Absalomוְאַבְשָׁלֹםwas comingיָבֹאinto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָם