And it happenedוַיְהִיafterאַחֲרֵיthisכֵןthat Davidוַ דָּוִדinquiredיִּשְׁאַלof YHWH,בַּיהוָהsaying,לֵאמֹר“Shall I go upהַאֶעֱלֶהintoבְּoneאַחַתof the citiesעָרֵיof Judah?”יְהוּדָהYHWHיְהוָהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Go up.”עֲלֵהDavidדָּוִדsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whereאָנָהshall I go up?”אֶעֱלֶהHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“To Hebron.”חֶבְרֹנָה
So Davidוַ דָּוִדwent upיַּעַלthere,שָׁםand alsoוְגַםhis twoשְׁתֵּי וwives,נָשָׁיAhinoamאֲחִינֹעַםthe Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵלִיתand Abigailוַאֲבִיגַיִלthe wifeאֵשֶׁתof Nabalנָבָלthe Carmelite.הַכַּרְמְלִי
And his menוַאֲנָשָׁיוwhoאֲשֶׁרwerewith himעִמּוֹDavidדָוִדbrought up,הֶעֱלָהeachאִישׁwith his household,וּבֵיתוֹand they livedוַיֵּשְׁבוּin the citiesבְּעָרֵיof Hebron.חֶבְרוֹן
Then the menוַ אַנְשֵׁיof Judahיְהוּדָהcameיָּבֹאוּand anointedוַיִּמְשְׁחוּDavidדָּוִדthereשָׁםas kingלְמֶלֶךְoverעַלthe houseבֵּיתof Judah.יְהוּדָהAnd they reportedוַיַּגִּדוּto David,לְדָוִדsaying,לֵאמֹר“It wasthe menאַנְשֵׁיof Jabesh-gileadיָבֵישׁ גִּלְעָדwhoאֲשֶׁרburiedקָבְרוּSaul.”שָׁאוּל
Davidדָּוִדsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלthe menאַנְשֵׁיof Jabesh-gileadיָבֵישׁ גִּלְעָדand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Blessedבְּרֻכִיםareyouאַתֶּםby YHWH,לַיהוָהforאֲשֶׁרyou have doneעֲשִׂיתֶםthisהַזֶּהloyal loveהַחֶסֶדwithעִםyour lord,אֲדֹנֵיכֶםwithעִםSaul,שָׁאוּלand buriedוַתִּקְבְּרוּhim.אֹתוֹ
And nowוְעַתָּהmay YHWHיְהוָהdoיַעַשׂloyal loveחֶסֶדand faithfulnessוֶאֱמֶתwith you;עִמָּכֶםand Iוְ אָנֹכִיalsoגַםwill doאֶעֱשֶׂהthisהַזֹּאתgoodהַטּוֹבָהwith you,אִתְּכֶםbecauseאֲשֶׁרyou have doneעֲשִׂיתֶםthisהַזֶּהthing.הַדָּבָר
And nowוְעַתָּהlet your handsיְדֵיכֶםbe strongתֶּחֱזַקְנָהand beוִהְיוּvaliant men,לִבְנֵי חַיִלforכִּיyour lordאֲדֹנֵיכֶםSaulשָׁאוּלis dead,מֵתand alsoוְגַםthe houseבֵיתof Judahיְהוּדָהhas anointedמָשְׁחוּmeאֹתִיas kingלְמֶלֶךְover them.”עֲלֵיהֶם
But Abnerוְאַבְנֵרsonבֶּןof Ner,נֵרthe commanderשַׂרof Saul’sאֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּלarmy,צָבָאhad takenלָקַחIsh-boshethאִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתsonבֶּןof Saulשָׁאוּלand brought him overוַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּto Mahanaim,מַחֲנָיִם
and made him kingוַיַּמְלִכֵהוּoverאֶלGilead,הַגִּלְעָדand overוְאֶלthe Ashurites,הָאֲשׁוּרִיand overוְאֶלJezreel,יִזְרְעֶאלand overוְעַלEphraim,אֶפְרַיִםand overוְעַלBenjamin,בִּנְיָמִןand over allוְעַל כֻּלֹּהIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵל
Ish-boshethאִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתsonבֶּןof Saulשָׁאוּלwasfortyאַרְבָּעִיםyearsשָׁנָהoldבֶּןwhen he began to reignבְּמָלְכוֹoverעַלIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלand he reignedוּ מָלָךְtwoשְׁתַּיִםyears.שָׁנִיםOnlyאַךְthe houseבֵּיתof Judahיְהוּדָהfollowedהָיוּ אַחֲרֵיDavid.דָוִד
And the numberוַ מִסְפַּרof the daysהַיָּמִיםthatאֲשֶׁרDavidדָוִדwasהָיָהkingמֶלֶךְin Hebronבְּחֶבְרוֹןoverעַלthe houseבֵּיתof Judahיְהוּדָהwasיְהִיsevenשֶׁבַעyearsשָׁנִיםand sixוְשִׁשָּׁהmonths.חֳדָשִׁים
Abnerאַבְנֵרsonבֶּןof Nerנֵרand the servantsוְעַבְדֵיof Ish-boshethאִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתsonבֶּןof Saulשָׁאוּלwent outוַיֵּצֵאfrom Mahanaimמִמַּחֲנַיִםto Gibeon.גִּבְעוֹנָה
And Joabוְיוֹאָבsonבֶּןof Zeruiahצְרוּיָהand the servantsוְעַבְדֵיof Davidדָוִדwent outיָצְאוּand metוַיִּפְגְּשׁוּthemםatעַלthe poolבְּרֵכַתof Gibeonגִּבְעוֹןtogether;יַחְדָּוand they sat down,וַיֵּשְׁבוּtheseאֵלֶּהonעַלthis sideמִזֶּהof the poolהַבְּרֵכָהand thoseוְאֵלֶּהonעַלthat sideמִזֶּהof the pool.הַבְּרֵכָה
AbnerאַבְנֵרsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoab,יוֹאָב“Let the young menהַנְּעָרִיםarise,יָקוּמוּplease,נָאand playוִישַׂחֲקוּbefore us.”לְפָנֵינוּJoabיוֹאָבsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Let them arise.”יָקֻמוּ
So they aroseוַיָּקֻמוּand crossed overוַיַּעַבְרוּby number:בְמִסְפָּרtwelveשְׁנֵים עָשָׂרfor Benjaminלְבִנְיָמִןand for Ish-boshethוּלְאִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתsonבֶּןof Saul,שָׁאוּלand twelveוּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂרof the servantsמֵעַבְדֵיof David.דָוִד
And each oneוַ אִישׁseizedיַּחֲזִקוּhis companionרֵעֵהוּby the headבְּרֹאשׁand thrustוְhis swordחַרְבּוֹintoבְּthe sideצַדof his companion,רֵעֵהוּand they fellוַיִּפְּלוּtogether.יַחְדָּוAnd they calledוַיִּקְרָאthatהַהוּאplaceלַמָּקוֹםHelkath-hazzurim,חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִיםwhichאֲשֶׁרisin Gibeon.בְּגִבְעוֹן
The battleוַ הַמִּלְחָמָהwasתְּהִיextremelyעַד מְאֹדhardקָשָׁהonבַּthatהַהוּאday,יּוֹםand Abnerוַ אַבְנֵרand the menוְאַנְשֵׁיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwere struck downיִּנָּגֶףbeforeלִפְנֵיthe servantsעַבְדֵיof David.דָוִד
The threeשְׁלֹשָׁהsonsבְּנֵיof Zeruiahצְרוּיָהwereוַיִּהְיוּthere:שָׁםJoab,יוֹאָבAbishai,וַאֲבִישַׁיand Asahel.וַעֲשָׂהאֵלNow Asahelוַעֲשָׂהאֵלwasswiftקַלof footבְּרַגְלָיוlikeכְּoneאַחַדof the gazellesהַצְּבָיִםthatאֲשֶׁרarein the field.בַּשָּׂדֶה
Asahelעֲשָׂהאֵלpursuedוַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרֵיAbner,אַבְנֵרand he did notוְלֹאturn asideנָטָהto goלָלֶכֶתtoעַלthe rightהַיָּמִיןorוְtoעַלthe leftהַשְּׂמֹאולfrom followingמֵאַחֲרֵיAbner.אַבְנֵר
Abnerאַבְנֵרturnedוַיִּפֶןbackאַחֲרָיוand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Isהַthatזֶהyou,אַתָּהAsahel?”עֲשָׂהאֵלHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“It is I.”אָנֹכִי
Abnerאַבְנֵרsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,לוֹ“Turn asideנְטֵה לְךָtoעַלyour rightיְמִינְךָorאוֹtoעַלyour left,שְׂמֹאלֶךָand seizeוֶאֱחֹזfor yourselfלְךָoneאֶחָדofמֵthe young menהַנְּעָרִיםand takeוְקַחfor yourselfלְךָwhat he is wearing.”חֲלִצָתוֹBut Asahelוְ עֲשָׂהאֵלwould notלֹא אָבָהturn awayלָסוּרfrom following him.מֵאַחֲרָיו
Abnerאַבְנֵרagainוַיֹּסֶף עוֹדsaidלֵאמֹרtoאֶלAsahel,עֲשָׂהאֵל“Turn awayסוּר לְךָfrom following me.מֵאַחֲרָיWhyלָמָּהshould I strike youאַכֶּכָּהto the ground?אַרְצָהAnd howוְאֵיךְcould I liftאֶשָּׂאmy faceפָנַיtoאֶלJoabיוֹאָבyour brother?”אָחִיךָ
But he refusedוַיְמָאֵןto turn away;לָסוּרso Abnerוַ אַבְנֵרstruck himיַּכֵּהוּwith the buttבְּאַחֲרֵיof the spearהַחֲנִיתinאֶלthe belly,הַחֹמֶשׁand the spearוַ הַחֲנִיתcame outתֵּצֵאbehind him;מֵאַחֲרָיוand he fellוַיִּפָּלthereשָׁםand diedוַיָּמָתin his place.תַּחְתָּיוAnd it happened thatוַיְהִיallכָּלwho cameהַבָּאtoאֶלthe placeהַמָּקוֹםwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםAsahelעֲשָׂהאֵלhad fallenנָפַלand diedוַיָּמֹתstood still.וַיַּעֲמֹדוּ
Joabיוֹאָבand Abishaiוַאֲבִישַׁיpursuedוַיִּרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵיAbner;אַבְנֵרand the sunוְהַשֶּׁמֶשׁwas going downבָּאָהwhen theyוְהֵמָּהcameבָּאוּas far asעַדthe hillגִּבְעַתof Ammah,אַמָּהwhichאֲשֶׁרisoppositeעַל פְּנֵיGiahגִיחַon the wayדֶּרֶךְto the wildernessמִדְבַּרof Gibeon.גִּבְעוֹן
The sonsבְנֵיof BenjaminבִנְיָמִןgatheredוַיִּתְקַבְּצוּbehindאַחֲרֵיAbnerאַבְנֵרand becameוַיִּהְיוּoneאֶחָתband,לַאֲגֻדָּהand they stoodוַיַּעַמְדוּonעַלthe topרֹאשׁof aאֶחָתhill.גִּבְעָה
AbnerאַבְנֵרcalledוַיִּקְרָאtoאֶלJoabיוֹאָבand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Shallהֲthe swordחֶרֶבdevourתֹּאכַלforever?לָנֶצַחDo you notהֲלוֹאknowיָדַעְתָּהthatכִּיit will beתִהְיֶהbitternessמָרָהin the end?בָּאַחֲרוֹנָהAnd how longוְעַד מָתַיwill you notלֹאtellתֹאמַרthe peopleלָעָםto turn backלָשׁוּבfrom followingמֵאַחֲרֵיtheir brothers?”אֲחֵיהֶם
Joabיוֹאָבsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“As Elohimהָאֱלֹהִיםlives,חַיif you had notכִּי לוּלֵאspoken,דִּבַּרְתָּsurelyכִּיthenאָזfromמֵthe morningהַבֹּקֶרthe peopleהָעָםwould have withdrawn,נַעֲלָהeachאִישׁfrom followingמֵאַחֲרֵיhis brother.”אָחִיו
Joabיוֹאָבblewוַיִּתְקַעthe horn,בַּשּׁוֹפָרand allוַ כָּלthe peopleהָעָםstood still,יַּעַמְדוּand they did notוְלֹאpursueיִרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵיIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלany longer,עוֹדand they did notוְלֹאcontinueיָסְפוּto fightלְהִלָּחֵםanymore.עוֹד
And Abnerוְאַבְנֵרand his menוַאֲנָשָׁיוwentהָלְכוּthrough the Arabahבָּעֲרָבָהallכֹּלthatהַהוּאnight;הַלַּיְלָהthey crossedוַיַּעַבְרוּthe Jordan,הַיַּרְדֵּןwentוַיֵּלְכוּthrough the wholeכָּלBithron,הַבִּתְרוֹןand cameוַיָּבֹאוּto Mahanaim.מַחֲנָיִם
And Joabוְיוֹאָבreturnedשָׁבfrom followingמֵאַחֲרֵיAbnerאַבְנֵרand gatheredוַיִּקְבֹּץallכָּלthe people;הָעָםand ofמֵthe servantsעַבְדֵיof Davidדָוִדnineteenתִּשְׁעָה עָשָׂרmenאִישׁwere missing,וַיִּפָּקְדוּand Asahel.וַעֲשָׂה אֵל
But the servantsוְעַבְדֵיof Davidדָוִדhad struckהִכּוּof Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִןand of the menוּבְאַנְשֵׁיof Abnerאַבְנֵרthree hundredשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹתand sixtyוְשִׁשִּׁיםmen;אִישׁthey died.מֵתוּ
They carriedוַיִּשְׂאוּAsahelעֲשָׂהאֵלand buried himוַיִּקְבְּרֻהוּin the tombבְּקֶבֶרof his father,אָבִיוwhichאֲשֶׁרwas inBethlehem.בֵּית לָחֶםJoabיוֹאָבand his menוַאֲנָשָׁיוwentוַיֵּלְכוּallכָלnight,הַלַּיְלָהand day dawnedוַיֵּאֹרfor themלָהֶםat Hebron.בְּחֶבְרוֹן