It was toldוַיֻּגַּדto Joab,לְיוֹאָב“Look,הִנֵּהthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְis weepingבֹּכֶהand mourningוַיִּתְאַבֵּלforעַלAbsalom.”אַבְשָׁלֹם
So the salvationוַ הַתְּשֻׁעָהon thatהַהוּאdayבַּיּוֹםbecameתְּהִיmourningלְאֵבֶלfor allלְכָלthe people,הָעָםforכִּיthe peopleהָעָםheardשָׁמַעon thatהַהוּאday,בַּיּוֹםsaying,לֵאמֹר“The kingהַמֶּלֶךְis grievedנֶעֱצַבforעַלhis son.”בְּנוֹ
The peopleהָעָםstoleוַיִּתְגַּנֵּבthatהַהוּאdayבַּיּוֹםintoלָבוֹאthe city,הָעִירasכַּאֲשֶׁרpeopleהָעָםwho are ashamedהַנִּכְלָמִיםsteal awayיִתְגַּנֵּבwhen they fleeבְּנוּסָםin battle.בַּמִּלְחָמָה
The kingוְהַמֶּלֶךְhad coveredלָאַטhis face,פָּנָיוand the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְcried outיִּזְעַקwith a loudגָּדוֹלvoice,קוֹל“My sonבְּנִיAbsalom!אַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalom,אַבְשָׁלוֹםmy son,בְּנִיmy son!”בְנִי
Joabיוֹאָבcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְin the houseהַבָּיִתand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Todayהַיּוֹםyou have shamedהֹבַשְׁתָּthe facesפְּנֵיof allכָלyour servants,עֲבָדֶיךָwhoהַtodayהַיּוֹםhave savedמְמַלְּטִיםyour lifeנַפְשְׁךָand the lifeוְ נֶפֶשׁof your sonsבָּנֶיךָand your daughters,וּבְנֹתֶיךָand the lifeוְנֶפֶשׁof your wivesנָשֶׁיךָand the lifeוְנֶפֶשׁof your concubines,פִּלַגְשֶׁיךָ
by lovingלְאַהֲבָהthose who hate youשֹׂנְאֶיךָand hatingוְלִשְׂנֹאthose who love you.אֹהֲבֶיךָForכִּיyou have made knownהִגַּדְתָּtodayהַיּוֹםthatכִּיcommandersשָׂרִיםand servantsוַעֲבָדִיםare nothingאֵיןto you;לְךָforכִּיI knowיָדַעְתִּיtodayהַיּוֹםthatכִּיifלוּAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםwere aliveחַיand all of usוְכֻלָּנוּdeadמֵתִיםtoday,הַיּוֹםthenכִּי אָזit would be rightיָשָׁרin your eyes.בְּעֵינֶיךָ
Now then,וְעַתָּהget up,קוּםgo out,צֵאand speakוְדַבֵּרtoעַלthe heartלֵבof your servants;עֲבָדֶיךָforכִּיby YHWHבַיהוָהI swearנִשְׁבַּעְתִּיthatכִּיif you do notאֵינְךָgo out,יוֹצֵאnotאִםa manאִישׁwill spend the nightיָלִיןwith youאִתְּךָtonight;הַלַּיְלָהand thisוְ זֹאתwill be worseרָעָהfor youלְךָthan allמִכָּלthe evilהָרָעָהthatאֲשֶׁרhas comeבָּאָהupon youעָלֶיךָfrom your youthמִנְּעֻרֶיךָuntilעַדnow.”עָתָּה
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְgot upוַיָּקָםand satוַיֵּשֶׁבin the gate.בַּשָּׁעַרAnd to allוּלְכָלthe peopleהָעָםthey told,הִגִּידוּsaying,לֵאמֹר“Look,הִנֵּהthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְis sittingיוֹשֵׁבin the gate.”בַּשַּׁעַרAnd allוַ כָלthe peopleהָעָםcameיָּבֹאbeforeלִפְנֵיthe king.הַמֶּלֶךְNow Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵלhad fled,נָסeachאִישׁto his tents.לְאֹהָלָיו
Allוַ כָלthe peopleהָעָםwere arguingיְהִי נָדוֹןthroughout allבְּכָלthe tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלsaying,לֵאמֹר“The kingהַמֶּלֶךְdelivered usהִצִּילָנוּfrom the handמִכַּףof our enemies,אֹיְבֵינוּand heוְהוּאrescued usמִלְּטָנוּfrom the handמִכַּףof the Philistines;פְּלִשְׁתִּיםand nowוְעַתָּהhe has fledבָּרַחfromמִןthe landהָאָרֶץbecause ofמֵעַלAbsalom.אַבְשָׁלוֹם
And Absalom,וְאַבְשָׁלוֹםwhomאֲשֶׁרwe anointedמָשַׁחְנוּover us,עָלֵינוּhas diedמֵתin battle.בַּמִּלְחָמָהNow then,וְעַתָּהwhyלָמָהare youאַתֶּםsilentמַחֲרִשִׁיםabout bringing backלְהָשִׁיבthe king?”הַמֶּלֶךְ
KingהַמֶּלֶךְDavidוְ דָּוִדsentשָׁלַחtoאֶלZadokצָדוֹקand toוְאֶלAbiatharאֶבְיָתָרthe priests,הַכֹּהֲנִיםsaying,לֵאמֹר“Speakדַּבְּרוּtoאֶלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Judah,יְהוּדָהsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Whyלָמָּהshould you beתִהְיוּthe lastאַחֲרֹנִיםto bring backלְהָשִׁיבthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְtoאֶלhis house,בֵּיתוֹwhen the wordוּדְבַרof allכָּלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלhas comeבָּאtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְtoאֶלhis house?בֵּיתוֹ
You areאַתֶּםmy brothers;אַחַיyou areאַתֶּםmy boneעַצְמִיand my flesh.וּבְשָׂרִיWhy thenוְלָמָּהshould you beתִהְיוּthe lastאַחֲרֹנִיםto bring backלְהָשִׁיבthe king?’הַמֶּלֶךְ
And to Amasaוְלַעֲמָשָׂאsay,תֹּמְרוּ‘Are you notהֲלוֹא אָתָּהmy boneעַצְמִיand my flesh?וּבְשָׂרִיSoכֹּהmay Elohimאֱלֹהִיםdoיַעֲשֶׂהto me,לִּיand soוְכֹהmay he add,יוֹסִיףifאִםyou do notלֹאbecomeתִּהְיֶהcommanderשַׂרof the armyצָבָאbefore meלְפָנַיallכָּלthe daysהַיָּמִיםin place ofתַּחַתJoab.’”יוֹאָב
So he inclinedוַיַּטthe heartלְבַבof allכָּלthe menאִישׁof Judahיְהוּדָהasכְּoneאֶחָדman,אִישׁand they sentוַיִּשְׁלְחוּword toאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Return,שׁוּבyouאַתָּהand allוְכָלyour servants.”עֲבָדֶיךָ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְreturnedוַיָּשָׁבand cameוַיָּבֹאtoעַדthe Jordan,הַיַּרְדֵּןand Judahוִיהוּדָהcameבָּאto Gilgalהַגִּלְגָּלָהto goלָלֶכֶתto meetלִקְרַאתthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְto bringלְהַעֲבִירthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְacross the Jordan.הַיַּרְדֵּן
Shimeiשִׁמְעִיsonבֶןof Gera,גֵּרָאthe Benjaminite,בֶּן הַיְמִינִיwhoאֲשֶׁרwas from Bahurim,מִבַּחוּרִיםhurriedוַיְמַהֵרand came downוַיֵּרֶדwithעִםthe menאִישׁof Judahיְהוּדָהto meetלִקְרַאתKingהַמֶּלֶךְDavid.דָּוִד
With himעִמּוֹwere a thousandוְאֶלֶףmenאִישׁfrom Benjamin,מִבִּנְיָמִןand Ziba,וְצִיבָאthe young manנַעַרof the houseבֵּיתof Saul,שָׁאוּלand his fifteenוַחֲמֵשֶׁת עָשָׂרsonsבָּנָיוand his twentyוְעֶשְׂרִיםservantsעֲבָדָיוwith him;אִתּוֹand they rushed intoוְצָלְחוּthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּןbeforeלִפְנֵיthe king.הַמֶּלֶךְ
The ferryהָעֲבָרָהwas crossingוְעָבְרָהto bring acrossלַעֲבִירthe king’sהַמֶּלֶךְhouseholdבֵּיתand to doוְלַעֲשׂוֹתwhat was goodהַטּוֹבin his eyes.בְּעֵינָיוAnd Shimeiוְשִׁמְעִיsonבֶןof Geraגֵּרָאfell downנָפַלbeforeלִפְנֵיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְas he was crossingבְּעָבְרוֹthe Jordan,בַּיַּרְדֵּן
and he saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Let notאַלmy lordאֲדֹנִיholdיַחֲשָׁבiniquityעָוֺןagainst me,לִיand do notוְאַלrememberתִּזְכֹּרwhatאֲשֶׁרyour servantעַבְדְּךָdid with iniquityהֶעֱוָהon the dayבַּיּוֹםthatאֲשֶׁרmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְwent outיָׄצָׄאׄfrom Jerusalem,מִירוּשָׁלִָםso that the kingלָ הַמֶּלֶךְwould take itשׂוּםtoאֶלheart.לִבּוֹ
Forכִּיyour servantעַבְדְּךָknowsיָדַעthatכִּיIאֲנִיhave sinned;חָטָאתִיand look,וְהִנֵּהI have comeבָאתִיtoday,הַיּוֹםthe firstרִאשׁוֹןof allלְכָלthe houseבֵּיתof Joseph,יוֹסֵףto come downלָרֶדֶתto meetלִקְרַאתmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king.”הַמֶּלֶךְ
Abishaiאֲבִישַׁיsonבֶּןof Zeruiahצְרוּיָהansweredוַיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Forהֲתַחַתthis,זֹאתshall notלֹאShimeiשִׁמְעִיbe put to death,יוּמַתbecauseכִּיhe cursedקִלֵּלthe anointedמְשִׁיחַof YHWH?”יְהוָה
Davidדָּוִדsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“What have Iמַה לִּיto do with you,וְלָכֶםsonsבְּנֵיof Zeruiah,צְרוּיָהthatכִּיyou should beתִהְיוּto meלִיtodayהַיּוֹםan opponent?לְשָׂטָןShould anyoneאִישׁbe put to deathיוּמַתtodayהַיּוֹםin Israel?בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלForכִּיdo I notהֲלוֹאknowיָדַעְתִּיthatכִּיtodayהַיּוֹםIאֲנִיam kingמֶלֶךְoverעַלIsrael?”יִשְׂרָאֵל
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלShimei,שִׁמְעִי“You shall notלֹאdie.”תָמוּתAnd the kingהַמֶּלֶךְsworeוַיִּשָּׁבַעto him.לוֹ
Mephibosheth,וּמְפִבֹשֶׁתsonבֶּןof Saul,שָׁאוּלcame downיָרַדto meetלִקְרַאתthe king.הַמֶּלֶךְHe had notוְלֹאcared forעָשָׂהhis feetרַגְלָיוorוְלֹאtrimmedעָשָׂהhis mustache,שְׂפָמוֹand his clothesוְ בְּגָדָיוhe had notלֹאwashedכִבֵּסfromלְמִןthe dayהַיּוֹםthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְwent awayלֶכֶתuntilעַדthe dayהַיּוֹםthatאֲשֶׁרhe cameבָּאin peace.בְשָׁלוֹם
Whenוַיְהִי כִּיhe cameבָאto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַםto meetלִקְרַאתthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Whyלָמָּהdid you notלֹאgoהָלַכְתָּwith me,עִמִּיMephibosheth?”מְפִיבֹשֶׁת
He said,וַיֹּאמַר“My lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְmy servantעַבְדִּיdeceived me;רִמָּנִיforכִּיyour servantעַבְדְּךָsaid,אָמַר‘Let me saddleאֶחְבְּשָׁהfor myselfלִּיthe donkey,הַחֲמוֹרand I will rideוְאֶרְכַּבon itעָלֶיהָand goוְאֵלֵךְwithאֶתthe king,’הַמֶּלֶךְforכִּיyour servantעַבְדֶּךָis lame.פִסֵּחַ
And he has slanderedוַיְרַגֵּלyour servantבְּעַבְדְּךָtoאֶלmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king.הַמֶּלֶךְBut my lordוַאדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְis like an angelכְּמַלְאַךְof Elohim;הָאֱלֹהִיםso doוַעֲשֵׂהwhat is goodהַטּוֹבin your eyes.בְּעֵינֶיךָ
Forכִּיallכָּלmy father’sאָבִיhouseבֵּיתwereלֹא הָיָהnothingכִּיbutאִםmenאַנְשֵׁיdeserving deathמָוֶתbefore my lordלַאדֹנִיthe king;הַמֶּלֶךְyet you setוַתָּשֶׁתyour servantעַבְדְּךָamong those who eatבְּאֹכְלֵיat your table.שֻׁלְחָנֶךָWhatוּמַהrightצְדָקָהdo I stillעוֹדhaveיֶּשׁ לִיto cry outוְלִזְעֹקany moreעוֹדtoאֶלthe king?”הַמֶּלֶךְ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Whyלָמָּהdo you speakתְּדַבֵּרany moreעוֹדof your affairs?דְּבָרֶיךָI have said:אָמַרְתִּיyouאַתָּהand Zibaוְצִיבָאshall divideתַּחְלְקוּthe land.”הַשָּׂדֶה
Mephiboshethמְפִיבֹשֶׁתsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Let him takeיִקָּחevenגַּםall of it,הַכֹּלsinceאַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁרmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךhas comeבָּאin peaceבְּשָׁלוֹםtoאֶלhis house.”בֵּיתוֹ
Barzillaiוּבַרְזִלַּיthe Gileaditeהַגִּלְעָדִיcame downיָרַדfrom Rogelimמֵרֹגְלִיםand crossedוַיַּעֲבֹרthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּןwith the king,אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְto send him offלְשַׁלְּחוֹat the Jordan.אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן
Barzillaiוּבַרְזִלַּיwas veryמְאֹדold,זָקֵןeightyשְׁמֹנִיםyearsשָׁנָהold,בֶּןand heוְהוּאhad provided forכִלְכַּלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְwhile he stayedבְּשִׁיבָתוֹat Mahanaim,בְמַחֲנַיִםforכִּיheהוּאwas a veryמְאֹדrichגָּדוֹלman.אִישׁ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלBarzillai,בַּרְזִלָּי“Youאַתָּהcross overעֲבֹרwith me,אִתִּיand I will provide forוְכִלְכַּלְתִּיyouאֹתְךָwith meעִמָּדִיin Jerusalem.”בִּירוּשָׁלִָם
Barzillaiבַּרְזִלַּיsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“How manyכַּמָּהare the daysיְמֵיof the yearsשְׁנֵיof my life,חַיַּיthatכִּיI should go upאֶעֱלֶהwith the kingהַמֶּלֶךְto Jerusalem?יְרוּשָׁלִָם
Iאָנֹכִיam eightyבֶּן שְׁמֹנִיםyears oldשָׁנָהtoday.הַיּוֹםCan I distinguishהַאֵדַעbetweenבֵּיןgoodטוֹבand bad?לְרָעCanאִםyour servantעַבְדְּךָtasteיִטְעַםwhatאֲשֶׁרI eatאֹכַלorוְwhatאֲשֶׁרI drink?אֶשְׁתֶּהCanאִםI stillעוֹדhearאֶשְׁמַעthe voiceבְּקוֹלof singing menשָׁרִיםand singing women?וְשָׁרוֹתWhy thenוְלָמָּהshould your servantעַבְדְּךָbeיִהְיֶהstillעוֹדa burdenלְמַשָּׂאtoאֶלmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king?הַמֶּלֶךְ
Your servantעַבְדְּךָwill crossיַעֲבֹרthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּןwith the kingאֶת הַמֶּלֶךְjust a little way;כִּמְעַטand whyוְלָמָּהshould the kingהַמֶּלֶךְrepay meיִגְמְלֵנִיwith thisהַזֹּאתreward?הַגְּמוּלָה
Pleaseנָאlet your servantעַבְדְּךָreturn,יָשָׁבand let me dieוְאָמֻתin my own city,בְּעִירִיnearעִםthe graveקֶבֶרof my fatherאָבִיand my mother.וְאִמִּיBut look,וְהִנֵּהyour servantעַבְדְּךָChimham;כִמְהָםlet him cross overיַעֲבֹרwithעִםmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְand doוַעֲשֵׂהfor himלוֹwhatאֲשֶׁרseems goodטוֹבin your eyes.”בְּעֵינֶיךָ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Chimhamכִּמְהָםshall cross overיַעֲבֹרwith me,אִתִּיand Iוַאֲנִיwill doאֶעֱשֶׂהfor himלּוֹwhat is goodהַטּוֹבin your eyes;בְּעֵינֶיךָand allוְכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרyou chooseתִּבְחַרof meעָלַיI will doאֶעֱשֶׂהfor you.”לָּךְ
Allכָּלthe peopleהָעָםcrossedוַיַּעֲבֹרthe Jordan,הַיַּרְדֵּןand the kingוְהַמֶּלֶךְcrossed over;עָבָרand the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְkissedיִּשַּׁקBarzillaiלְבַרְזִלַּיand blessed him,וַיְבָרֲכֵהוּand he returnedוַיָּשָׁבto his place.לִמְקֹמוֹ
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְcrossed overוַיַּעֲבֹרto Gilgal,הַגִּלְגָּלָהand Chimhanוְכִמְהָןcrossed overעָבַרwith him;עִמּוֹand allוְכָלthe peopleעַםof Judahיְהוּדָהbrought acrossהֶעֱבִירוּthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְand alsoוְגַםhalfחֲצִיthe peopleעַםof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
And thereוְהִנֵּהallכָּלthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwere comingבָּאִיםtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְand they saidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְ“Whyמַדּוּעַhave our brothers,אַחֵינוּthe menאִישׁof Judah,יְהוּדָהstolen youגְּנָבוּךָand broughtוַיַּעֲבִרוּthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְandוְhis householdבֵּיתוֹacross the Jordan,הַיַּרְדֵּןand allוְכָלDavid’sדָוִדmenאַנְשֵׁיwith him?”עִמּוֹ
Allכָּלthe menאִישׁof Judahיְהוּדָהansweredוַיַּעַןthe menעַל אִישׁof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵל“Becauseכִּיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְis nearקָרוֹבto me.אֵלַיWhyוְלָמָּהthenזֶּהare you angryחָרָה לְךָoverעַלthisהַזֶּהmatter?הַדָּבָרHave we really eatenהֶאָכוֹל אָכַלְנוּanything fromמִןthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְorאִםhas any gift been givenנִשֵּׂאת נִשָּׂאto us?”לָנוּ
The menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלansweredוַיַּעַןthe menאִישׁof Judahיְהוּדָהand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“I haveלִיtenעֶשֶׂרsharesיָדוֹתin the king,בַמֶּלֶךְand in Davidוְגַם בְּדָוִדtoo Iאֲנִיhave more than you.מִמְּךָWhy thenוּמַדּוּעַhave you despised me?הֱקִלֹּתַנִיWas notוְלֹא הָיָהmy wordדְבָרִיthe firstרִאשׁוֹןfor meלִיto bring backלְהָשִׁיבmy king?”מַלְכִּיBut the wordוַ דְּבַרof the menאִישׁof Judahיְהוּדָהwas harsherיִּקֶשׁthan the wordמִדְּבַרof the menאִישׁof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל