The warוַ הַמִּלְחָמָהbetweenבֵּיןthe houseבֵּיתof Saulשָׁאוּלand the houseוּבֵין בֵּיתof Davidדָּוִדwasתְּהִיlong;אֲרֻכָּהand Davidוְדָוִדgrew steadilyהֹלֵךְstronger,וְחָזֵקwhile the houseוּבֵיתof Saulשָׁאוּלgrew steadilyהֹלְכִיםweaker.וְדַלִּים
Sonsבָּנִיםwere bornוַיִּוָּלְדוּto Davidלְדָוִדin Hebron:בְּחֶבְרוֹןhis firstbornבְכוֹרוֹwasוַיְהִיAmnon,אַמְנוֹןof Ahinoamלַאֲחִינֹעַםthe Jezreelite;הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִת
and his second,וּמִשְׁנֵהוּChileab,כִלְאָבof Abigailלַאֲבִיגַיִלthe wifeאֵשֶׁתof Nabalנָבָלthe Carmelite;הַכַּרְמְלִיand the third,וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁיAbsalomאַבְשָׁלוֹםthe sonבֶּןof Maacahמַעֲכָהthe daughterבַּתof Talmaiתַּלְמַיkingמֶלֶךְof Geshur;גְּשׁוּר
and the fourth,וְהָרְבִיעִיAdonijahאֲדֹנִיָּהthe sonבֶןof Haggith;חַגִּיתand the fifth,וְהַחֲמִישִׁיShephatiahשְׁפַטְיָהthe sonבֶןof Abital;אֲבִיטָל
and the sixth,וְהַשִּׁשִּׁיIthream,יִתְרְעָםof Eglahלְעֶגְלָהthe wifeאֵשֶׁתof David.דָּוִדTheseאֵלֶּהwere bornיֻלְּדוּto Davidלְדָוִדin Hebron.בְּחֶבְרוֹן
And it happened,וַיְהִיwhile there wasבִּהְיוֹתwarהַמִּלְחָמָהbetweenבֵּיןthe houseבֵּיתof Saulשָׁאוּלand the houseוּבֵין בֵּיתof David,דָּוִדthat Abnerוְאַבְנֵרwas making himself strongהָיָה מִתְחַזֵּקin the houseבְּבֵיתof Saul.שָׁאוּל
Now Saulוּ שָׁאוּלhadלְa concubineפִּלֶגֶשׁwhose nameוּשְׁמָהּwasRizpah,רִצְפָּהthe daughterבַתof Aiah;אַיָּהand Ish-boshethוַsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלAbner,אַבְנֵר“Whyמַדּוּעַhave you gone inבָּאתָהtoאֶלmy father’sאָבִיconcubine?”פִּילֶגֶשׁ
Abnerוַ לְאַבְנֵרwas veryמְאֹדangryיִּחַרoverעַלthe wordsדִּבְרֵיof Ish-bosheth,אִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתand he said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Am Iהֲ אָנֹכִיa dog’sכֶּלֶבheadרֹאשׁthatאֲשֶׁרbelongs to Judah?לִיהוּדָהTodayהַיּוֹםI am doingאֶעֱשֶׂהloyal loveחֶסֶדwithעִםthe houseבֵּיתof Saulשָׁאוּלyour father,אָבִיךָwithאֶלhis brothersאֶחָיוand withוְאֶלhis companions,מֵרֵעֵהוּand I have notוְלֹאhanded you overהִמְצִיתִךָinto the handבְּיַדof David;דָּוִדand you call me to accountוַתִּפְקֹד עָלַיtodayהַיּוֹםfor the iniquityעֲוֺןof the woman?הָאִשָּׁה
Soכֹּהmay Elohimאֱלֹהִיםdoיַעֲשֶׂהto Abner,לְאַבְנֵרand soוְכֹהmay he addיֹסִיףto him,לוֹifכִּיI do notdoאֶעֱשֶׂהfor himלּוֹjustכֵןasכַּאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהsworeנִשְׁבַּעto David:לְדָוִד
to transferלְהַעֲבִירthe kingdomהַמַּמְלָכָהfrom the houseמִבֵּיתof Saulשָׁאוּלand to establishוּלְהָקִיםthe throneכִּסֵּאof DavidדָוִדoverעַלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלand overוְעַלJudah,יְהוּדָהfrom DanמִדָּןtoוְעַדBeersheba.”בְּאֵר שָׁבַע
And he could notוְלֹא יָכֹלany longerעוֹדanswerלְהָשִׁיבAbnerאַבְנֵרa word,דָּבָרbecause of his fearמִיִּרְאָתוֹof him.אֹתוֹ
AbnerאַבְנֵרsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלDavidדָּוִדon his behalf,תַּחְתָּיוsaying,לֵאמֹר“Whoseלְמִיis the land?”אָרֶץsaying,לֵאמֹר“Makeכָּרְתָהyour covenantבְרִיתְךָwith me,אִתִּיand look,וְהִנֵּהmy handיָדִיwill bewith youעִמָּךְto turnלְהָסֵבto youאֵלֶיךָallכָּלIsrael.”יִשְׂרָאֵל
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Good;טוֹבIאֲנִיwill makeאֶכְרֹתa covenantבְּרִיתwith you.אִתְּךָOnlyאַךְoneאֶחָדthingדָּבָרIאָנֹכִיaskשֹׁאֵלof you,מֵאִתְּךָnamely:לֵאמֹרyou will notלֹאseeתִרְאֶהmy faceפָּנַיunlessכִּי אִםyou firstלִפְנֵיbringהֱבִיאֲךָMichalמִיכַלthe daughterבַּתof Saulשָׁאוּלwhen you comeבְּבֹאֲךָto seeלִרְאוֹתmy face.”פָּנָי
DavidדָּוִדsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלIsh-boshethאִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתsonבֶּןof Saul,שָׁאוּלsaying,לֵאמֹר“Give meתְּנָהmy wife,אִשְׁתִּיMichal,מִיכַלwhomאֲשֶׁרI betrothedאֵרַשְׂתִּיto myselfלִיfor a hundredבְּמֵאָהforeskinsעָרְלוֹתof the Philistines.”פְּלִשְׁתִּים
Ish-boshethאִישׁ בֹּשֶׁתsentוַיִּשְׁלַחand took herוַיִּקָּחֶהָfromמֵעִםher husband,אִישׁfromמֵעִםPaltielפַּלְטִיאֵלsonבֶּןof Laish.לָיִשׁ
Her husbandאִישָׁהּwentוַיֵּלֶךְwith her,אִתָּהּweepingוּבָכֹהas he wentהָלוֹךְbehind herאַחֲרֶיהָas far asעַדBahurim.בַּחֻרִיםThen Abnerוַ אַבְנֵרsaidיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Go,לֵךְreturn.”שׁוּבAnd he returned.וַיָּשֹׁב
Abner’sאַבְנֵרwordוּדְבַרhad beenהָיָהwithעִםthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלsaying,לֵאמֹר“For some time nowגַּם תְּמוֹל גַּם שִׁלְשֹׁםyou have beenהֱיִיתֶםseekingמְבַקְשִׁיםDavidדָּוִדas kingלְמֶלֶךְover you.עֲלֵיכֶם
Now then,וְעַתָּהact,עֲשׂוּforכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhas saidאָמַרofאֶלDavid,דָּוִד‘By the handבְּיַדof Davidדָּוִדmy servantעַבְדִּיI will saveהוֹשִׁיעַmy peopleעַמִּיIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלfrom the handמִיַּדof the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםand from the handוּמִיַּדof allכָּלtheir enemies.’”אֹיְבֵיהֶם
Abnerאַבְנֵרalsoגַּםspokeוַיְדַבֵּרin the hearingבְּאָזְנֵיof Benjamin;בִנְיָמִיןand Abnerאַבְנֵרalsoגַּםwentוַיֵּלֶךְto speakלְדַבֵּרin the hearingבְּאָזְנֵיof Davidדָוִדat Hebronבְּחֶבְרוֹןallכָּלthatאֲשֶׁרwasgoodטוֹבin the eyesבְּעֵינֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand in the eyesוּבְעֵינֵיof the wholeכָּלhouseבֵּיתof Benjamin.בִּנְיָמִן
When Abnerוַ אַבְנֵרcameיָּבֹאtoאֶלDavidדָּוִדat Hebron,חֶבְרוֹןand with himוְאִתּוֹtwentyעֶשְׂרִיםmen,אֲנָשִׁיםDavidדָּוִדmadeוַיַּעַשׂa feastמִשְׁתֶּהfor Abnerלְאַבְנֵרand for the menוְלַאֲנָשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרwerewith him.אִתּוֹ
AbnerאַבְנֵרsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלDavid,דָּוִד“Let me ariseאָקוּמָהand goוְאֵלֵכָהand gatherוְאֶקְבְּצָהtoאֶלmy lordאֲדֹנִיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְallכָּלIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלthat they may makeוְיִכְרְתוּa covenantבְּרִיתwith you,אִתְּךָand you will reignוּמָלַכְתָּover allבְּכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרyour soulנַפְשֶׁךָdesires.”תְּאַוֶּהSo Davidוַ דָּוִדsent Abner away,יְּשַׁלַּח אַבְנֵרand he wentוַיֵּלֶךְin peace.בְּשָׁלוֹם
And look,וְהִנֵּהthe servantsעַבְדֵיof Davidדָוִדand Joabוְיוֹאָבcameבָּאfromמֵthe raid,הַגְּדוּדand they broughtהֵבִיאוּmuchרָבspoilוְשָׁלָלwith them;עִמָּםbut Abnerוְאַבְנֵרwas notאֵינֶנּוּwithעִםDavidדָּוִדin Hebron,בְּחֶבְרוֹןforכִּיhe had sent him away,שִׁלְּחוֹand he had goneוַיֵּלֶךְin peace.בְּשָׁלוֹם
When Joabוְיוֹאָבand allוְכָלthe armyהַצָּבָאthatאֲשֶׁרwaswith himאִתּוֹcame,בָּאוּthey reportedוַיַּגִּדוּto Joab,לְיוֹאָבsaying,לֵאמֹר“Abnerאַבְנֵרsonבֶּןof Nerנֵרcameבָּאtoאֶלthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְand he sent him away,וַיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּand he has goneוַיֵּלֶךְin peace.”בְּשָׁלוֹם
Joabיוֹאָבcameוַיָּבֹאtoאֶלthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whatמֶהhave you done?עָשִׂיתָהLook,הִנֵּהAbnerאַבְנֵרcameבָאto you;אֵלֶיךָwhyלָמָּה זֶּהdid you send him away,שִׁלַּחְתּוֹand he isוַcompletelyהָלוֹךְgone?יֵּלֶךְ
You knowיָדַעְתָּAbnerאַבְנֵרsonבֶּןof Ner,נֵרthatכִּיhe cameבָּאto deceive youלְפַתֹּתְךָand to knowוְלָדַעַתyour going outמוֹצָאֲךָand your coming in,וְ מוֹבָאֶךָand to knowוְלָדַעַתallכָּלthatאֲשֶׁרyouאַתָּהare doing.”עֹשֶׂה
Joabיוֹאָבwent outוַיֵּצֵאfromמֵעִםDavidדָּוִדand sentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםafterאַחֲרֵיAbner,אַבְנֵרand they brought him backוַיָּשִׁבוּ אֹתוֹfrom the cisternמִבּוֹרof Sirah;הַסִּרָהbut Davidוְדָוִדdid notלֹאknow.יָדָע
When Abnerוַ אַבְנֵרreturnedיָּשָׁבto Hebron,חֶבְרוֹןJoabיוֹאָבtook him asideוַיַּטֵּהוּintoאֶלthe middleתּוֹךְof the gateהַשַּׁעַרto speakלְדַבֵּרwith himאִתּוֹprivately,בַּשֶּׁלִיand thereשָׁםhe struck himוַיַּכֵּהוּin the belly,הַחֹמֶשׁand he died,וַיָּמָתfor the bloodבְּדַםof Asahelעֲשָׂה אֵלhis brother.אָחִיו
Afterwardמֵאַחֲרֵי כֵןDavidדָּוִדheard of itוַיִּשְׁמַעand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Iאָנֹכִיand my kingdomוּמַמְלַכְתִּיareinnocentנָקִיbeforeמֵעִםYHWHיְהוָהforeverעַד עוֹלָםof the bloodמִדְּמֵיof Abnerאַבְנֵרsonבֶּןof Ner.נֵר
May it fallיָחֻלוּonעַלthe headרֹאשׁof Joabיוֹאָבand onוְאֶלallכָּלhis father’sאָבִיוhouse;בֵּיתand may there notוְאַלbe cut offיִכָּרֵתfrom the houseמִבֵּיתof Joabיוֹאָבone who has a dischargeזָבorוּa leperמְצֹרָעorוּone who leansמַחֲזִיקon a staffבַּפֶּלֶךְorוְone who fallsנֹפֵלby the swordבַּחֶרֶבorוַone who lacksחֲסַרbread.”לָחֶם
So Joabוְיוֹאָבand Abishaiוַאֲבִישַׁיhis brotherאָחִיוkilledהָרְגוּAbner,לְאַבְנֵרbecauseעַל אֲשֶׁרhe had put to deathהֵמִיתAsahelעֲשָׂהאֵלtheir brotherאֲחִיהֶםat Gibeonבְּגִבְעוֹןin the battle.בַּמִּלְחָמָה
DavidדָּוִדsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJoabיוֹאָבand toוְאֶלallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwerewith him,אִתּוֹ“Tearקִרְעוּyour clothes,בִגְדֵיכֶםgird onוְחִגְרוּsackcloth,שַׂקִּיםand lamentוְסִפְדוּbeforeלִפְנֵיAbner.”אַבְנֵרAnd KingוְהַמֶּלֶךְDavidדָּוִדwalkedהֹלֵךְbehindאַחֲרֵיthe bed.הַמִּטָּה
They buriedוַיִּקְבְּרוּAbnerאַבְנֵרin Hebron;בְּחֶבְרוֹןand the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְlifted upיִשָּׂאhis voiceקוֹלוֹand weptוַיֵּבְךְּatאֶלthe tombקֶבֶרof Abner,אַבְנֵרand allוַ כָּלthe peopleהָעָםwept.יִּבְכּוּ
And the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְchanted a dirgeיְקֹנֵןoverאֶלAbnerאַבְנֵרand said,וַיֹּאמַר“Should Abnerהַ אַבְנֵרdieיָמוּתasכְּa foolנָבָלdies?מוֹת
Your handsיָדֶךָwere notלֹאbound,אֲסֻרוֹתand your feetוְרַגְלֶיךָwere notלֹאputהֻגָּשׁוּintoלִfetters of bronze;נְחֻשְׁתַּיִםas one fallsכִּנְפוֹלbeforeלִפְנֵיunjust men,בְנֵי עַוְלָהyou fell.”נָפָלְתָּAnd allוַ כָלthe peopleהָעָםweptלִבְכּוֹתagainיֹּסִפוּover him.עָלָיו
Then allוַ כָלthe peopleהָעָםcameיָּבֹאto make David eatלְהַבְרוֹת דָּוִדbreadלֶחֶםwhile it was stillבְּעוֹדday;הַיּוֹםbut Davidוַ דָּוִדswore,יִּשָּׁבַעsaying,לֵאמֹר“Soכֹּהmay Elohimאֱלֹהִיםdoיַעֲשֶׂהto me,לִּיand soוְכֹהmay he add,יֹסִיףifכִּי אִםbeforeלִפְנֵיthe sunהַשֶּׁמֶשׁgoes downבוֹאI tasteאֶטְעַםbreadלֶחֶםorאוֹanything at all.”כָל מְאוּמָה
Allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםtook note,הִכִּירוּand it was goodוַיִּיטַבin their eyes,בְּעֵינֵיהֶםasכְּeverythingכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְdidעָשָׂהwas goodטוֹבin the eyesבְּעֵינֵיof allכָלthe people.הָעָם
So allוַ כָלthe peopleהָעָםand allוְכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלknewיֵּדְעוּon thatבַּ הַהוּאdayיּוֹםthatכִּיit had notלֹא הָיְתָהbeen fromמֵthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְto put to deathלְהָמִיתAbnerאַבְנֵרsonבֶּןof Ner.נֵר
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלhis servants,עֲבָדָיו“Do you notהֲלוֹאknowתֵדְעוּthatכִּיa commanderשַׂרand a great manוְגָדוֹלhas fallenנָפַלthisהַזֶּהdayהַיּוֹםin Israel?בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
And Iוְאָנֹכִיamsoftרַךְtoday,הַיּוֹםthough anointedוּמָשׁוּחַking,מֶלֶךְand theseוְ הָאֵלֶּהmen,הָאֲנָשִׁיםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Zeruiah,צְרוּיָהareharderקָשִׁיםthan I.מִמֶּנִּיMay YHWHיְהוָהrepayיְשַׁלֵּםthe one who doesלְעֹשֵׂהevilהָרָעָהaccording toכְּhis evil!”רָעָתוֹ