AhithophelאֲחִיתֹפֶלsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלAbsalom,אַבְשָׁלֹם“Pleaseנָּאlet me chooseאֶבְחֲרָהtwelveשְׁנֵים עָשָׂרthousandאֶלֶףmen,אִישׁand I will get upוְאָקוּמָהand pursueוְאֶרְדְּפָהafterאַחֲרֵיDavidדָוִדtonight.הַלָּיְלָה
I will comeוְאָבוֹאupon himעָלָיוwhile heוְהוּאis wearyיָגֵעַand weakוּרְפֵהof hands,יָדַיִםand I will make him tremble,וְהַחֲרַדְתִּי אֹתוֹand allוְ כָּלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרare with himאִתּוֹwill flee,נָסand I will strikeוְהִכֵּיתִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְalone.לְבַדּוֹ
And I will bring backוְאָשִׁיבָהallכָלthe peopleהָעָםto you;אֵלֶיךָlike the returnכְּשׁוּבof allהַכֹּלis the manהָאִישׁwhomאֲשֶׁרyouאַתָּהseek;מְבַקֵּשׁallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםwill beיִהְיֶהat peace.”שָׁלוֹם
The thingהַדָּבָרwas rightוַיִּישַׁרin the eyesבְּעֵינֵיof Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹםand in the eyesוּבְעֵינֵיof allכָּלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“PleaseנָאcallקְרָאHushaiלְחוּשַׁיthe Architeהָאַרְכִּיtoo,גַּםand let us hearוְנִשְׁמְעָהwhatמַהis in his mouth,בְּפִיוhisהוּאtoo.”גַּם
HushaiחוּשַׁיcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלAbsalom,אַבְשָׁלוֹםand Absalomוַ אַבְשָׁלוֹםsaidיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיוsaying,לֵאמֹר“According to thisכַּ הַזֶּהwordדָּבָרAhithophelאֲחִיתֹפֶלhas spoken.דִּבֶּרShall we doהֲנַעֲשֶׂהhis word?דְּבָרוֹIfאִםnot,אַיִןyouאַתָּהspeak.”דַבֵּר
HushaiחוּשַׁיsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלAbsalom,אַבְשָׁלוֹם“The counselהָעֵצָהthatאֲשֶׁרAhithophelאֲחִיתֹפֶלhas counseledיָעַץis notלֹאgoodטוֹבָהthisהַזֹּאתtime.”בַּפַּעַם
And Hushaiוַ חוּשַׁיsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Youאַתָּהknowיָדַעְתָּyour fatherאָבִיךָandוְhis men,אֲנָשָׁיוthatכִּיtheyהֵמָּהare mighty men,גִבֹּרִיםand theyוּ הֵמָּהare bitterמָרֵיof soul,נֶפֶשׁlike a bearכְּדֹבrobbed of her cubsשַׁכּוּלin the field.בַּשָּׂדֶהAnd your fatherוְאָבִיךָis a manאִישׁof war,מִלְחָמָהand he will notוְלֹאspend the nightיָלִיןwithאֶתthe people.הָעָם
Look,הִנֵּהnowעַתָּהheהוּאis hiddenנֶחְבָּאin oneבְּאַחַתof the pitsהַפְּחָתִיםorאוֹin oneבְּאַחַדof the places;הַמְּקוֹמֹתand it will be,וְהָיָהwhen some fallכִּנְפֹלamong themבָּהֶםat the first,בַּתְּחִלָּהthat whoever hearsוְשָׁמַע הַשֹּׁמֵעַwill say,וְאָמַר‘There has beenהָיְתָהa slaughterמַגֵּפָהamong the peopleבָּעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרfollow afterאַחֲרֵיAbsalom.’אַבְשָׁלֹם
And evenוְ גַםhe,הוּאthe valiant manבֶּן חַיִלwhoseאֲשֶׁרheartלִבּוֹis like the heartכְּלֵבof a lion,הָאַרְיֵהwill utterly melt;הִמֵּס יִמָּסforכִּיallכָּלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלknowsיֹדֵעַthatכִּיyour fatherאָבִיךָis a mighty man,גִבּוֹרand valiant menוּבְנֵי חַיִלare those whoאֲשֶׁרare with him.אִתּוֹ
SoכִּיI counselיָעַצְתִּיthat allכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלbe surely gatheredהֵאָסֹף יֵאָסֵףto you,עָלֶיךָfrom DanמִדָּןtoוְעַדBeersheba,בְּאֵר שֶׁבַעlike the sandכַּחוֹלthatאֲשֶׁרis byעַלthe seaהַיָּםin multitude,לָרֹבand that you in personוּפָנֶיךָgoהֹלְכִיםinto battle.בַּקְרָב
So we will comeוּבָאנוּupon himאֵלָיוin oneבְּאַחַדof the placesהַמְּקוֹמֹתwhereאֲשֶׁרhe is foundנִמְצָאthere,שָׁםand we will settleוְנַחְנוּon himעָלָיוasכַּאֲשֶׁרthe dewהַטַּלfallsיִפֹּלonעַלthe ground;הָאֲדָמָהand notוְלֹאevenגַּםoneאֶחָדwill be leftנוֹתַרof himבּוֹand of allוּבְכָלthe menהָאֲנָשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרare with him.אִתּוֹ
And ifוְאִםhe withdrawsיֵאָסֵףintoאֶלa city,עִירthen allוְ כָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלwill bringהִשִּׂיאוּropesחֲבָלִיםtoאֶלthatהַהִיאcity,הָעִירand we will dragוְסָחַבְנוּitאֹתוֹtoעַדthe wadi,הַנַּחַלuntilעַד אֲשֶׁרnotלֹאevenגַּםa pebbleצְרוֹרis foundנִמְצָאthere.”שָׁם
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםand allוְכָלthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“The counselעֲצַתof Hushaiחוּשַׁיthe Architeהָאַרְכִּיis betterטוֹבָהthan the counselמֵעֲצַתof Ahithophel.”אֲחִיתֹפֶלFor YHWHוַיהוָהhad commandedצִוָּהto thwartלְהָפֵרthe goodהַטּוֹבָהcounselעֲצַתof Ahithophel,אֲחִיתֹפֶלso thatלְבַעֲבוּרYHWHיְהוָהmight bringהָבִיאthe evilהָרָעָהonאֶלAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹם
HushaiחוּשַׁיsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלZadokצָדוֹקand toוְאֶלAbiatharאֶבְיָתָרthe priests,הַכֹּהֲנִים“Such and suchכָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאתAhithophelאֲחִיתֹפֶלcounseledיָעַץAbsalomאַבְשָׁלֹםandוְthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand such and suchוְכָזֹאת וְכָזֹאתIאָנִיhave counseled.יָעַצְתִּי
Now then,וְעַתָּהsendשִׁלְחוּquicklyמְהֵרָהand tellוְהַגִּידוּDavid,לְדָוִדsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Do notאַלspend the nightתָּלֶןtonightהַלַּיְלָהin the plainsבְּעַרְבוֹתof the wilderness,הַמִּדְבָּרbutוְגַםbe sure to cross over,עָבוֹר תַּעֲבוֹרorפֶּןthe kingלַמֶּלֶךְand allוּלְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרare with himאִתּוֹwill be swallowed up.’”יְבֻלַּע
Jonathanוִיהוֹנָתָןand Ahimaazוַאֲחִימַעַץwere stayingעֹמְדִיםat En-rogel;בְּעֵין רֹגֵלa slave girlהַשִּׁפְחָהwould goוְהָלְכָהand tellוְהִגִּידָהthem,לָהֶםand theyוְהֵםwould goיֵלְכוּand tellוְהִגִּידוּKingלַמֶּלֶךְDavid;דָּוִדforכִּיthey could notלֹא יוּכְלוּbe seenלְהֵרָאוֹתcomingלָבוֹאinto the city.הָעִירָה
But a young manנַעַרsawוַיַּרְאthemאֹתָםand toldוַיַּגֵּדAbsalom.לְאַבְשָׁלֹםSo the two of themוַ שְׁנֵיהֶםwentיֵּלְכוּquicklyמְהֵרָהand cameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלthe houseבֵּיתof a manאִישׁin Bahurim,בְּבַחוּרִיםwho hadוְלוֹa wellבְאֵרin his courtyard,בַּחֲצֵרוֹand they went downוַיֵּרְדוּthere.שָׁם
The womanהָאִשָּׁהtookוַתִּקַּחand spreadוַתִּפְרֹשׂthe coveringהַמָּסָךְoverעַלthe mouthפְּנֵיof the wellהַבְּאֵרand scatteredוַתִּשְׁטַחgrainהָרִפוֹתon it,עָלָיוand nothingוְלֹא דָּבָרwas known.נוֹדַע
Absalom’sאַבְשָׁלוֹםservantsעַבְדֵיcameוַיָּבֹאוּtoאֶלthe womanהָאִשָּׁהat the houseהַבַּיְתָהand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Whereאַיֵּהare Ahimaazאֲחִימַעַץand Jonathan?”וִיהוֹנָתָןThe womanהָאִשָּׁהsaidוַתֹּאמֶרto them,לָהֶם“They have crossedעָבְרוּthe brookמִיכַלof water.”הַמָּיִםThey searchedוַיְבַקְשׁוּand did notוְלֹאfind them,מָצָאוּand they returnedוַיָּשֻׁבוּto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָם
Afterוַיְהִי אַחֲרֵיthey had gone,לֶכְתָּםthey came upוַיַּעֲלוּout ofמֵthe wellהַבְּאֵרand wentוַיֵּלְכוּand toldוַיַּגִּדוּKingלַמֶּלֶךְDavid;דָּוִדthey saidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלDavid,דָּוִד“Get upקוּמוּand crossוְעִבְרוּthe waterהַמַּיִםquickly,מְהֵרָהforכִּיthusכָכָהAhithophelאֲחִיתֹפֶלhas counseledיָעַץagainst you.”עֲלֵיכֶם
Davidדָּוִדgot up,וַיָּקָםand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with him,אִתּוֹand they crossedוַיַּעַבְרוּthe Jordan;הַיַּרְדֵּןbyעַדthe lightאוֹרof morningהַבֹּקֶרnot evenעַד לֹאoneאַחַדwas missingנֶעְדָּרwhoאֲשֶׁרhad notלֹאcrossedעָבַרthe Jordan.הַיַּרְדֵּן
When Ahithophelוַאֲחִיתֹפֶלsawרָאָהthatכִּיhis counselעֲצָתוֹwas notלֹאfollowed,נֶעֶשְׂתָהhe saddledוַיַּחֲבֹשׁthe donkeyהַחֲמוֹרand got upוַיָּקָםand wentוַיֵּלֶךְtoאֶלhis house,בֵּיתוֹtoאֶלhis city.עִירוֹHe gave ordersוַיְצַוtoאֶלhis houseבֵּיתוֹand hanged himselfוַיֵּחָנַקand died,וַיָּמָתand he was buriedוַיִּקָּבֵרin the tombבְּקֶבֶרof his father.אָבִיו
Davidוְדָוִדcameבָּאto Mahanaim,מַחֲנָיְמָהand Absalomוְאַבְשָׁלֹםcrossedעָבַרthe Jordan,הַיַּרְדֵּןheהוּאand allוְכָלthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwith him.עִמּוֹ
Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹםhad setשָׂםAmasaעֲמָשָׂאoverעַלthe armyהַצָּבָאin place ofתַּחַתJoab.יוֹאָבAmasaוַעֲמָשָׂאwas the sonבֶןof a manאִישׁwhose name wasוּשְׁמוֹIthraיִתְרָאthe Israelite,הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִיwhoאֲשֶׁרhad gone inבָּאtoאֶלAbigailאֲבִיגַלdaughterבַּתof Nahash,נָחָשׁsisterאֲחוֹתof Zeruiah,צְרוּיָהthe motherאֵםof Joab.יוֹאָב
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand Absalomוְאַבְשָׁלֹםcampedוַיִּחַןin the landאֶרֶץof Gilead.הַגִּלְעָד
Whenוַיְהִי כְּDavidדָוִדcameבוֹאto Mahanaim,מַחֲנָיְמָהShobiוְשֹׁבִיsonבֶןof Nahashנָחָשׁfrom Rabbahמֵרַבַּתof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon,עַמּוֹןand Machirוּמָכִירsonבֶּןof Ammielעַמִּיאֵלfrom Lo-debar,מִלֹּא דְבָרand Barzillaiוּבַרְזִלַּיthe Gileaditeהַגִּלְעָדִיfrom Rogelimמֵרֹגְלִים
brought beds,מִשְׁכָּבbasins,וְסַפּוֹתand potter’sיוֹצֵרvessels,וּכְלִיwheat,וְחִטִּיםbarley,וּשְׂעֹרִיםflour,וְקֶמַחroasted grain,וְקָלִיbeans,וּפוֹלlentils,וַעֲדָשִׁיםand roasted grain,וְקָלִי
honey,וּדְבַשׁcurds,וְחֶמְאָהsheep,וְצֹאןand cheeseוּשְׁפוֹתfrom the herd;בָּקָרthey brought them nearהִגִּישׁוּto Davidלְדָוִדand to the peopleוְלָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹto eat,לֶאֱכוֹלforכִּיthey said,אָמְרוּ“The peopleהָעָםare hungry,רָעֵבexhausted,וְעָיֵףand thirstyוְצָמֵאin the wilderness.”בַּמִּדְבָּר