Davidדָּוִדcountedוַיִּפְקֹדthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere with himאִתּוֹand setוַיָּשֶׂםover themעֲלֵיהֶםcommandersשָׂרֵיof thousandsאֲלָפִיםand commandersוְשָׂרֵיof hundreds.מֵאוֹת
Davidדָּוִדsent outוַיְשַׁלַּחthe people,הָעָםa thirdהַשְּׁלִשִׁיתunder the commandבְּיַדof Joab,יוֹאָבa thirdוְהַשְּׁלִשִׁיתunder the commandבְּיַדof Abishaiאֲבִישַׁיsonבֶּןof Zeruiah,צְרוּיָהJoab’sיוֹאָבbrother,אֲחִיand a thirdוְהַשְּׁלִשִׁתunder the commandבְּיַדof Ittaiאִתַּיthe Gittite.הַגִּתִּיThe kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe people,הָעָם“Iאֲנִיwill surelyיָצֹאgo outאֵצֵאwith youעִמָּכֶםmyself too.”גַּם
But the peopleוַ הָעָםsaid,יֹּאמֶר“You shall notלֹאgo out;תֵצֵאforכִּיifאִםwe indeedנֹסflee,נָנוּסthey will notלֹאsetיָשִׂימוּtheir heartלֵבon us;אֵלֵינוּand ifוְאִםhalf of usחֶצְיֵנוּdie,יָמֻתוּthey will notלֹאsetיָשִׂימוּtheir heartלֵבon us;אֵלֵינוּforכִּיnowעַתָּהthere are tenעֲשָׂרָהthousandאֲלָפִיםlike us.כָמֹנוּSo nowוְעַתָּהit is betterטוֹבthatכִּיyou beתִהְיֶהfor usלָּנוּfrom the cityמֵעִירa help.”לַעְזוֹר
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Whateverאֲשֶׁרseems bestיִיטַבin your eyesבְּעֵינֵיכֶםI will do.”אֶעֱשֶׂהSo the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְstoodיַּעֲמֹדbesideאֶל יַדthe gate,הַשַּׁעַרand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwent outיָצְאוּby hundredsלְמֵאוֹתand by thousands.וְלַאֲלָפִים
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְcommandedוַיְצַוJoabיוֹאָבandוְAbishaiאֲבִישַׁיandוְIttai,אִתַּיsaying,לֵאמֹר“Gently,לְאַטfor my sake,לִיwith the young man,לַנַּעַרwith Absalom.”לְאַבְשָׁלוֹםAnd allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםheardשָׁמְעוּwhen the kingבְּ הַמֶּלֶךְcommandedצַוֺּתallכָּלthe commandersהַשָּׂרִיםaboutעַל דְּבַרAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹם
The peopleהָעָםwent outוַיֵּצֵאinto the fieldהַשָּׂדֶהto meetלִקְרַאתIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלand the battleוַ הַמִּלְחָמָהwasתְּהִיin the forestבְּיַעַרof Ephraim.אֶפְרָיִם
The peopleעַםof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwere struck downוַיִּנָּגְפוּthereשָׁםbeforeלִפְנֵיthe servantsעַבְדֵיof David,דָוִדand the slaughterוַ הַמַּגֵּפָהthereשָׁםwasתְּהִיgreatגְדוֹלָהon thatהַהוּאday:בַּיּוֹםtwentyעֶשְׂרִיםthousand.אָלֶף
The battleהַמִּלְחָמָהthereשָׁםwasוַתְּהִיspreadנָפֹצֶתoverעַלthe faceפְּנֵיof allכָלthe land,הָאָרֶץand the forestוַ הַיַּעַרdevouredלֶאֱכֹלmoreיֶּרֶבof the peopleבָּעָםthanמֵאֲשֶׁרthe swordהַחֶרֶבdevouredאָכְלָהon thatהַהוּאday.בַּיּוֹם
Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםhappened to beוַיִּקָּרֵאbeforeלִפְנֵיthe servantsעַבְדֵיof David.דָוִדAbsalomוְאַבְשָׁלוֹםwas ridingרֹכֵבonעַלthe mule,הַפֶּרֶדand the muleוַ הַפֶּרֶדwentיָּבֹאunderתַּחַתthe thick branchesשׂוֹבֶךְof the greatהַגְּדוֹלָהoak,הָאֵלָהand his headוַ רֹאשׁוֹcaught fastיֶּחֱזַקin the oak,בָאֵלָהand he was left hangingוַיֻּתַּןbetweenבֵּיןthe heavensהַשָּׁמַיִםandוּבֵיןthe earth,הָאָרֶץwhile the muleוְהַפֶּרֶדthatאֲשֶׁרwas under himתַּחְתָּיוwent on.עָבָר
A certainאֶחָדmanאִישׁsaw itוַיַּרְאand toldוַיַּגֵּדJoab,לְיוֹאָבand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Look,הִנֵּהI sawרָאִיתִיAbsalomאַבְשָׁלֹםhangingתָּלוּיin the oak.”בָּאֵלָה
Joabיוֹאָבsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto the manלָאִישׁwho toldהַמַּגִּידhim,לוֹ“And look,וְהִנֵּהyou saw him!רָאִיתָWhy thenוּמַדּוּעַdid you notלֹאstrike himהִכִּיתוֹthereשָׁםand bring him to the ground?אָרְצָהAnd it would have been for meוְעָלַיto giveלָתֶתyouלְךָtenעֲשָׂרָהshekels of silverכֶסֶףand oneוַ אֶחָתbelt.”חֲגֹרָה
The manהָאִישׁsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoab,יוֹאָב“Even ifוְלוּאIאָנֹכִיwere weighingשֹׁקֵלonעַלmy palmsכַּפַּיa thousandאֶלֶףshekels of silver,כֶּסֶףI would notלֹאput outאֶשְׁלַחmy handיָדִיagainstאֶלthe sonבֶּןof the king;הַמֶּלֶךְforכִּיin our earsבְאָזְנֵינוּthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְcommandedצִוָּהyouאֹתְךָandוְAbishaiאֲבִישַׁיandוְIttai,אִתַּיsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Protect,שִׁמְרוּwhoever you are,מִיthe young man,בַּנַּעַרAbsalom.’בְּאַבְשָׁלוֹם
Or ifאוֹI had dealtעָשִׂיתִיfalselyשֶׁקֶרagainst my lifeבְנַפְשִׁי—and nothingוְכָל דָּבָר לֹאis hiddenיִכָּחֵדfromמִןthe king—הַמֶּלֶךְyouוְאַתָּהwould have stoodתִּתְיַצֵּבaloof.”מִנֶּגֶד
Joabיוֹאָבsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“I will notלֹאwaitאֹחִילָהlike thisכֵןbefore you.”לְפָנֶיךָHe tookוַיִּקַּחthreeשְׁלֹשָׁהdartsשְׁבָטִיםin his handבְּכַפּוֹand thrust themוַיִּתְקָעֵםinto the heartבְּלֵבof Absalom,אַבְשָׁלוֹםwhile he was stillעוֹדֶנּוּaliveחַיin the heartבְּלֵבof the oak.הָאֵלָה
Tenעֲשָׂרָהyoung men,נְעָרִיםwho carriedנֹשְׂאֵיJoab’sיוֹאָבarmor,כְּלֵיsurrounded himוַיָּסֹבּוּand struckוַיַּכּוּAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםand put him to death.וַיְמִיתֻהוּ
Joabיוֹאָבblewוַיִּתְקַעthe horn,בַּשֹּׁפָרand the peopleוַ הָעָםturned backיָּשָׁבfrom pursuingמִרְדֹףafterאַחֲרֵיIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלforכִּיJoabיוֹאָבheld backחָשַׂךְthe people.הָעָם
They tookוַיִּקְחוּAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםand threwוַיַּשְׁלִיכוּhimאֹתוֹinto the forest,בַיַּעַרintoאֶלthe greatהַגָּדוֹלpit,הַפַּחַתand they raisedוַיַּצִּבוּover himעָלָיוa veryמְאֹדgreatגָּדוֹלheapגַּלof stones;אֲבָנִיםand allוְכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלfled,נָסוּeachאִישׁto his tents.לְאֹהָלָיו
Now Absalomוְאַבְשָׁלֹםin his lifetimeבְחַיָּיוhad takenלָקַחand set upוַיַּצֶּבfor himselfלוֹthe standing stoneמַצֶּבֶתthatאֲשֶׁרis in the Valleyבְּעֵמֶקof the King,הַמֶּלֶךְforכִּיhe said,אָמַר“I haveלִיnoאֵיןsonבֵןtoבַּעֲבוּרcause people to rememberהַזְכִּירmy name.”שְׁמִיHe calledוַיִּקְרָאthe standing stoneלַמַּצֶּבֶתbyעַלhis own name,שְׁמוֹand it is calledוַיִּקָּרֵא“Absalom’sאַבְשָׁלֹםMonument”לָהּ יַדtoעַדthisהַזֶּהday.הַיּוֹם
Ahimaazוַאֲחִימַעַץsonבֶּןof Zadokצָדוֹקsaid,אָמַר“Pleaseנָּאlet me runאָרוּצָהand bring newsוַאֲבַשְּׂרָהto the kingהַמֶּלֶךְthatכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhas done him justiceשְׁפָטוֹfrom the handמִיַּדof his enemies.”אֹיְבָיו
Joabיוֹאָבsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Youאַתָּהare notלֹאa manאִישׁof newsבְּשֹׂרָהthisהַזֶּהday;הַיּוֹםyou may bring newsוּבִשַּׂרְתָּanotherאַחֵרday,בְּיוֹםbut thisוְהַ הַזֶּהdayיּוֹםyou shall notלֹאbring news,תְבַשֵּׂרbecauseכִּי עַל כֵּןthe king’sהַמֶּלֶךְsonבֶּןis dead.”מֵת
Joabיוֹאָבsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto the Cushite,לַכּוּשִׁי“Go,לֵךְtellהַגֵּדthe kingלַמֶּלֶךְwhatאֲשֶׁרyou have seen.”רָאִיתָהThe Cushiteכוּשִׁיbowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּto Joabלְיוֹאָבand ran.וַיָּרֹץ
Ahimaazאֲחִימַעַץsonבֶּןof Zadokצָדוֹקspokeוַיֹּאמֶרagainוַיֹּסֶף עוֹדtoאֶלJoab,יוֹאָב“Whateverוִיהִי מָהhappens, pleaseנָּאlet meאָנִיalsoגַםrunאָרֻצָהafterאַחֲרֵיthe Cushite.”הַכּוּשִׁיJoabיוֹאָבsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whyלָמָּהwillזֶּהyouאַתָּהrun,רָץmy son,בְּנִיwhenוּyou haveלְכָהnoאֵיןnewsבְּשׂוֹרָהthat finds reward?”מֹצֵאת
He said, “Whateverוִיהִי מָהhappens, I will run.”אָרוּץHe saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Run.”רוּץSo Ahimaazוַ אֲחִימַעַץranיָּרָץby the roadדֶּרֶךְof the plainהַכִּכָּרand passedוַיַּעֲבֹרthe Cushite.הַכּוּשִׁי
Davidוְדָוִדwas sittingיוֹשֵׁבbetweenבֵּיןthe twoשְׁנֵיgates.הַשְּׁעָרִיםThe watchmanהַצֹּפֶהwentוַיֵּלֶךְtoאֶלthe roofגַּגof the gateהַשַּׁעַרbyאֶלthe wall,הַחוֹמָהand he lifted upוַיִּשָּׂאhis eyesעֵינָיוand looked,וַיַּרְאand thereוְהִנֵּהwas a manאִישׁrunningרָץalone.לְבַדּוֹ
The watchmanהַצֹּפֶהcalled outוַיִּקְרָאand toldוַיַּגֵּדthe king.לַמֶּלֶךְThe kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Ifאִםhe is alone,לְבַדּוֹthere is newsבְּשׂוֹרָהin his mouth.”בְּפִיוAnd he cameוַיֵּלֶךְcloser and closer.הָלוֹךְ וְקָרֵב
The watchmanהַצֹּפֶהsawוַיַּרְאanotherאַחֵרmanאִישׁrunning,רָץand the watchmanוַ הַצֹּפֶהcalledיִּקְרָאtoאֶלthe gatekeeperהַשֹּׁעֵרand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Look,הִנֵּהa manאִישׁrunningרָץalone!”לְבַדּוֹThe kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“This oneזֶהtooגַּםis bringing news.”מְבַשֵּׂר
The watchmanהַצֹּפֶהsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Iאֲנִיseeרֹאֶהthat the runningמְרוּצַתof the firstהָרִאשׁוֹןis like the runningכִּמְרֻצַתof Ahimaazאֲחִימַעַץsonבֶּןof Zadok.”צָדוֹקThe kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Heזֶהis a goodטוֹבman,אִישׁand withוְאֶלgoodטוֹבָהnewsבְּשׂוֹרָהhe comes.”יָבוֹא
Ahimaazאֲחִימַעַץcalled outוַיִּקְרָאand saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Peace!”שָׁלוֹםAnd he bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּto the kingלַמֶּלֶךְwith his faceלְאַפָּיוto the ground,אָרְצָהand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Blessed beבָּרוּךְYHWHיְהוָהyour Elohim,אֱלֹהֶיךָwhoאֲשֶׁרhas delivered upסִגַּרthe menהָאֲנָשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרliftedנָשְׂאוּtheir handיָדָםagainst my lordבַּאדֹנִיthe king.”הַמֶּלֶךְ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Is it wellשָׁלוֹםwith the young man,לַנַּעַרwith Absalom?”לְאַבְשָׁלוֹםAhimaazאֲחִימַעַץsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“I sawרָאִיתִיthe greatהַגָּדוֹלcommotionהֶהָמוֹןwhenלִJoabיוֹאָבsentשְׁלֹחַthe king’sהַמֶּלֶךְservantעֶבֶדandוְyour servant,עַבְדֶּךָbut I did notוְלֹאknowיָדַעְתִּיwhat it was.”מָה
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Turn aside;סֹבstandהִתְיַצֵּבhere.”כֹּהSo he turned asideוַיִּסֹּבand stood.וַיַּעֲמֹד
And thereוְהִנֵּהthe Cushiteהַכּוּשִׁיcame,בָּאand the Cushiteוַ הַכּוּשִׁיsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Receive the news,יִתְבַּשֵּׂרmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְthatכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhas done you justiceשְׁפָטְךָtodayהַיּוֹםfrom the handמִיַּדof allכָּלwho rise upהַקָּמִיםagainst you.”עָלֶיךָ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe Cushite,הַכּוּשִׁי“Is it wellהֲשָׁלוֹםwith the young man,לַנַּעַרwith Absalom?”לְאַבְשָׁלוֹםThe Cushiteהַכּוּשִׁיsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“May the enemiesאֹיְבֵיof my lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand allוְכֹלwhoאֲשֶׁרrose upקָמוּagainst youעָלֶיךָfor evilלְרָעָהbeיִהְיוּlike the young man.”כַנַּעַר
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְwas shaken,וַיִּרְגַּזand he went upוַיַּעַלtoעַלthe upper roomעֲלִיַּתof the gateהַשַּׁעַרand wept;וַיֵּבְךְּand thusוְכֹהhe saidאָמַרas he went:בְּלֶכְתּוֹ“My sonבְּנִיAbsalom,אַבְשָׁלוֹםmy son,בְּנִיmy sonבְנִיAbsalom!אַבְשָׁלוֹםIf onlyמִי יִתֵּןIאֲנִיhad diedמוּתִיin your place,תַחְתֶּיךָAbsalom,אַבְשָׁלוֹםmy son,בְּנִיmy son!”בְנִי