The Axe Head Floats

1  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (And said) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים (of the prophets) אֶל־ (to) אֱלִישָׁ֑ע (Elisha), הִנֵּֽה־ (Behold) נָ֣א (now), הַמָּק֗וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (where) אֲנַ֜חְנוּ (we) יֹשְׁבִ֥ים (are dwelling) שָׁ֛ם (there) לְפָנֶ֖יךָ (to your face) צַ֥ר (is too tight) מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ (for us). 2  נֵֽלֲכָה־ (Let us go), נָּ֣א (please), עַד־ (to) הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן (the Jordan), וְנִקְחָ֤ה (and let take) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) אִ֚ישׁ (each man) קוֹרָ֣ה (beam) אֶחָ֔ת (one), וְנַעֲשֶׂה־ (and let us make) לָּ֥נוּ (to us) שָׁ֛ם (there) מָק֖וֹם (a place) לָשֶׁ֣בֶת (where we may dwell) שָׁ֑ם (there).

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he answered), לֵֽכוּ׃ (Go).

3  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הָֽאֶחָ֔ד (the one), ה֥וֹאֶל (Be resolved), נָ֖א (please), וְלֵ֣ךְ (and go) אֶת־ (with) עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ (your servants).

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he answered), אֲנִ֥י (I) אֵלֵֽךְ׃ (will go).

4  וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (And he went) אִתָּ֑ם (with them), וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and they came) הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה (to the Jordan), וַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּ (and they cut down) הָעֵצִֽים׃ (the trees). 5  וַיְהִ֤י (And it came to pass), הָֽאֶחָד֙ (the one) מַפִּ֣יל (was cutting down) הַקּוֹרָ֔ה (a tree) וְאֶת־ (and) הַבַּרְזֶ֖ל (the iron) נָפַ֣ל (fell) אֶל־ (into) הַמָּ֑יִם (the water). וַיִּצְעַ֥ק (And he cried out) וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (and said), אֲהָ֥הּ (Alas), אֲדֹנִ֖י (master)! וְה֥וּא (And it) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (was borrowed).

6  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God), אָ֣נָה (Where) נָפָ֑ל (did it fall).

וַיַּרְאֵ֙הוּ֙ (And he showed him) אֶת־ (-) הַמָּק֔וֹם (the place), וַיִּקְצָב־ (and he cut off) עֵץ֙ (a stick) וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־ (and threw it) שָׁ֔מָּה (in there); וַיָּ֖צֶף (and he made float) הַבַּרְזֶֽל׃ (the iron).

7  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said) הָ֣רֶם (Pick it up) לָ֑ךְ (for yourself). וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And he stretched out) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) וַיִּקָּחֵֽהוּ׃פ (and he took it).

Elisha Captures the Blinded Arameans

8  וּמֶ֣לֶךְ (And the king) אֲרָ֔ם (of Aram) הָיָ֥ה (had been) נִלְחָ֖ם (making war) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (against Israel), וַיִּוָּעַץ֙ (and he counseled) אֶל־ (with) עֲבָדָ֣יו (his servants), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), אֶל־ (In) מְק֛וֹם (a place) פְּלֹנִ֥י (such) אַלְמֹנִ֖י (and such) תַּחֲנֹתִֽי׃ (My camp will be).

9  וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (And sent) אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֤לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הִשָּׁ֕מֶר (Beware) מֵעֲבֹ֖ר (of passing over) הַמָּק֣וֹם (the place) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). כִּֽי־ (For) שָׁ֖ם (there) אֲרָ֥ם (Aram) נְחִתִּֽים׃ (is coming down).

10  וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (And sent one) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) אֶֽל־ (to) הַמָּק֞וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (of which) אָֽמַר־ (had told) ל֧וֹ (him) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים (of God); וְהִזְהִירָהּ (and he warned him), וְנִשְׁמַ֣ר (and he was watchful) שָׁ֑ם (there)— לֹ֥א (not) אַחַ֖ת (once) וְלֹ֥א (and not) שְׁתָּֽיִם׃ (twice). 11  וַיִּסָּעֵר֙ (And was greatly troubled) לֵ֣ב (the heart) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) אֲרָ֔ם (of Aram) עַל־ (by) הַדָּבָ֖ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), וַיִּקְרָ֤א (and he called) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them), הֲלוֹא֙ (Will not) תַּגִּ֣ידוּ (you⁺ show) לִ֔י (to me) מִ֥י (who) מִשֶּׁלָּ֖נוּ (of us) אֶל־ (is for) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel)?

12  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) אַחַ֣ד (one) מֵֽעֲבָדָ֔יו (of his servants), ל֖וֹא (None), אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king), כִּֽי־ (but) אֱלִישָׁ֤ע (Elisha) הַנָּבִיא֙ (the prophet), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who is) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (in Israel), יַגִּיד֙ (tells) לְמֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶת־ (-) הַ֨דְּבָרִ֔ים (the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) תְּדַבֵּ֖ר (you speak) בַּחֲדַ֥ר (in) מִשְׁכָּבֶֽךָ׃ (your bedroom).

13  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), לְכ֤וּ (Go) וּרְאוּ֙ (and see) אֵיכֹ֣ה (where) ה֔וּא (he is), וְאֶשְׁלַ֖ח (that I may send) וְאֶקָּחֵ֑הוּ (and get him).

וַיֻּגַּד־ (And it was told) ל֥וֹ (to him), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), בְדֹתָֽן׃ (in Dothan). 14  וַיִּשְׁלַח־ (And he sent) שָׁ֛מָּה (there) סוּסִ֥ים (horses) וְרֶ֖כֶב (and chariot) וְחַ֣יִל (and an army) כָּבֵ֑ד (great), וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (and they came) לַ֔יְלָה (by night) וַיַּקִּ֖פוּ (and went around) עַל־ (against) הָעִֽיר׃ (the city).

15  וַ֠יַּשְׁכֵּם (And arose early) מְשָׁרֵ֨ת (the servant) אִ֥ישׁ (of the man) הָֽאֱלֹהִים֮ (of God), לָקוּם֒ (rising), וַיֵּצֵ֕א (and he went out), וְהִנֵּה־ (and there was) חַ֛יִל (an army) סוֹבֵ֥ב (surrounding) אֶת־ (-) הָעִ֖יר (the city), וְס֣וּס (and horse) וָרָ֑כֶב (and chariot). וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) נַעֲר֥וֹ (his servant) אֵלָ֛יו (to him), אֲהָ֥הּ (Alas), אֲדֹנִ֖י (my master)! אֵיכָ֥ה (What) נַֽעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (shall we do)?

16  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he answered), אַל־ (Not) תִּירָ֑א (do fear), כִּ֤י (for) רַבִּים֙ (more are) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (those who are) אִתָּ֔נוּ (with us) מֵאֲשֶׁ֖ר (than those who are) אוֹתָֽם׃ (with them).

17  וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל (And prayed) אֱלִישָׁע֙ (Elisha) וַיֹּאמַ֔ר (and said), יְהוָ֕ה (O YHWH), פְּקַח־ (open), נָ֥א (please), אֶת־ (-) עֵינָ֖יו (his eyes), וְיִרְאֶ֑ה (that he may see).

וַיִּפְקַ֤ח (And opened) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) עֵינֵ֣י (the eyes) הַנַּ֔עַר (of the young man), וַיַּ֗רְא (and he saw). וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold), הָהָ֜ר (the mountain was) מָלֵ֨א (full) סוּסִ֥ים (of horses) וְרֶ֛כֶב (and chariots) אֵ֖שׁ (of fire) סְבִיבֹ֥ת (all around) אֱלִישָֽׁע׃ (Elisha).

18  וַיֵּרְדוּ֮ (And they came down) אֵלָיו֒ (to him), וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל (and prayed) אֱלִישָׁ֤ע (Elisha) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) וַיֹּאמַ֔ר (and said), הַךְ־ (Strike), נָ֥א (please), אֶת־ (-) הַגּוֹי־ (the people) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֑ים (with blindness). וַיַּכֵּ֥ם (And He struck them) בַּסַּנְוֵרִ֖ים (with blindness) כִּדְבַ֥ר (according to the word) אֱלִישָֽׁע׃ (of Elisha).

19  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (to them) אֱלִישָׁ֗ע (Elisha), לֹ֣א (Not) זֶ֣ה (this is) הַדֶּרֶךְ֮ (the way), וְלֹ֣א (and not) זֹ֣ה (this is) הָעִיר֒ (the city). לְכ֣וּ (Follow) אַחֲרַ֔י (me), וְאוֹלִ֣יכָה (and I will bring) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (to) הָאִ֖ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) תְּבַקֵּשׁ֑וּן (you⁺ seek). וַיֹּ֥לֶךְ (And he led) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃ (to Samaria).

20  וַיְהִי֮ (And it came to pass), כְּבֹאָ֣ם (when they came) שֹׁמְרוֹן֒ (to Samaria), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (that said) אֱלִישָׁ֔ע (Elisha) יְהוָ֕ה (O YHWH), פְּקַ֥ח (open) אֶת־ (-) עֵינֵֽי־ (the eyes) אֵ֖לֶּה (of these men), וְיִרְא֑וּ (that they may see).

וַיִּפְקַ֤ח (And opened) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (their eyes), וַיִּרְא֕וּ (and they saw). וְהִנֵּ֖ה (And behold), בְּת֥וֹךְ (they were in the midst) שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (of Samaria).

21  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) אֱלִישָׁ֔ע (Elisha) כִּרְאֹת֖וֹ (at his seeing) אוֹתָ֑ם (them) הַאַכֶּ֥ה (Shall I strike)? אַכֶּ֖ה (Shall I strike), אָבִֽי׃ (My father)?

22  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he answered), לֹ֣א (Not) תַכֶּ֔ה (you shall strike). הַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (Those whom) שָׁבִ֛יתָ (you have taken captive) בְּחַרְבְּךָ֥ (with your sword) וּֽבְקַשְׁתְּךָ֖ (and your bow) אַתָּ֣ה (you) מַכֶּ֑ה (would kill)? שִׂים֩ (Set) לֶ֨חֶם (food) וָמַ֜יִם (and water) לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם (before their faces), וְיֹֽאכְלוּ֙ (that they may eat) וְיִשְׁתּ֔וּ (and drink), וְיֵלְכ֖וּ (and go) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנֵיהֶֽם׃ (their master).

23  וַיִּכְרֶ֨ה (And he prepared) לָהֶ֜ם (for them) כֵּרָ֣ה (a feast) גְדוֹלָ֗ה (great), וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ (and they ate) וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ (and drank), וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֔ם (and he sent them away), וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and they went) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֑ם (their master). וְלֹֽא־ (And not) יָ֤סְפוּ (added) עוֹד֙ (again) גְּדוּדֵ֣י (the bands) אֲרָ֔ם (from Aram) לָב֖וֹא (to come in) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (to the land) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel).

The Siege and Famine of Samaria

24  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) אַחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֔ן (this), וַיִּקְבֹּ֛ץ (that gathered) בֶּן־ (Ben-) הֲדַ֥ד (hadad) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) אֲרָ֖ם (of Aram) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ (his camp), וַיַּ֕עַל (and he went up) וַיָּ֖צַר (and laid siege) עַל־ (against) שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (Samaria).

25  וַיְהִ֨י (And there was) רָעָ֤ב (a famine) גָּדוֹל֙ (great) בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן (in Samaria). וְהִנֵּ֖ה (And behold), צָרִ֣ים (they lay siege) עָלֶ֑יהָ (against it) עַ֣ד (until) הֱי֤וֹת (was sold) רֹאשׁ־ (a head) חֲמוֹר֙ (of donkey) בִּשְׁמֹנִ֣ים (for eighty) כֶּ֔סֶף (shekels of silver), וְרֹ֛בַע (and a forth) הַקַּ֥ב (of a cab) חֲרֵייוֹנִים (of dove’s dung) בַּחֲמִשָּׁה־ (for five) כָֽסֶף׃ (shekels of silver).

26  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass that) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) עֹבֵ֖ר (passing by) עַל־ (on) הַחֹמָ֑ה (the wall), וְאִשָּׁ֗ה (and a woman) צָעֲקָ֤ה (cried out) אֵלָיו֙ (to him), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הוֹשִׁ֖יעָה (Save me), אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

27  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said), אַל־ (Not) יוֹשִׁעֵ֣ךְ (does save you) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH)— מֵאַ֖יִן (from where) אֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ךְ (do I save you)? הֲמִן־ (From) הַגֹּ֖רֶן (the threshing floor) א֥וֹ (or) מִן־ (from) הַיָּֽקֶב׃ (the winepress)? 28  וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (And said) לָ֥הּ (to her) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), מַה־ (What) לָּ֑ךְ (is troubling you)?

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (And she answered), הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (The woman) הַזֹּ֜את (this) אָמְרָ֣ה (said) אֵלַ֗י (to me), תְּנִ֤י (Give up) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵךְ֙ (your son), וְנֹאכְלֶ֣נּוּ (that we may eat him) הַיּ֔וֹם (today), וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנִ֖י (my son) נֹאכַ֥ל (we will eat) מָחָֽר׃ (tomorrow). 29  וַנְּבַשֵּׁ֥ל (And we boiled) אֶת־ (-) בְּנִ֖י (my son) וַנֹּֽאכְלֵ֑הוּ (and ate him), וָאֹמַ֨ר (and I said) אֵלֶ֜יהָ (to her) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הָאַחֵ֗ר (next), תְּנִ֤י (Give up) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵךְ֙ (your son), וְנֹ֣אכְלֶ֔נּוּ (that we may eat him). וַתַּחְבִּ֖א (And she has hidden) אֶת־ (-) בְּנָֽהּ׃ (her son).

30  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ (when heard) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֤י (the words) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (of the woman), וַיִּקְרַ֣ע (that he tore) אֶת־ (-) בְּגָדָ֔יו (his clothes); וְה֖וּא (and as he) עֹבֵ֣ר (passed by) עַל־ (on) הַחֹמָ֑ה (the wall), וַיַּ֣רְא (and looked) הָעָ֔ם (the people), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), הַשַּׂ֛ק (sackcloth) עַל־ (was on) בְּשָׂר֖וֹ (his flesh) מִבָּֽיִת׃ (within). 31  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) יַעֲשֶׂה־ (may do) לִּ֥י (to me) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God), וְכֹ֣ה (and thus) יוֹסִ֑ף (He does add) אִֽם־ (if) יַעֲמֹ֞ד (remains) רֹ֣אשׁ (the head) אֱלִישָׁ֧ע (of Elisha) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָ֛ט (of Shaphat) עָלָ֖יו (on him) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (today).

32  וֶאֱלִישָׁע֙ (And Elisha) יֹשֵׁ֣ב (was sitting) בְּבֵית֔וֹ (in his house), וְהַזְּקֵנִ֖ים (and the elders) יֹשְׁבִ֣ים (were sitting) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him). וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And he sent) אִ֜ישׁ (a man) מִלְּפָנָ֗יו (ahead of him), בְּטֶ֣רֶם (but before) יָבֹא֩ (came) הַמַּלְאָ֨ךְ (the messenger) אֵלָ֜יו (to him), וְה֣וּא׀ (and he) אָמַ֣ר (said) אֶל־ (to) הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים (the elders), הַרְּאִיתֶם֙ (Do you⁺ see) כִּֽי־ (how) שָׁלַ֞ח (has sent someone) בֶּן־ (son) הַֽמְרַצֵּ֤חַ (of a murderer) הַזֶּה֙ (this) לְהָסִ֣יר (to take away) אֶת־ (-) רֹאשִׁ֔י (my head)? רְא֣וּ׀ (Look), כְּבֹ֣א (at the coming in) הַמַּלְאָ֗ךְ (of the messenger) סִגְר֤וּ (shut) הַדֶּ֙לֶת֙ (the door) וּלְחַצְתֶּ֤ם (and hold fast) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) בַּדֶּ֔לֶת (at the door). הֲל֗וֹא (Is there not) ק֛וֹל (the sound) רַגְלֵ֥י (of the feet) אֲדֹנָ֖יו (of his master) אַחֲרָֽיו׃ (behind him).

33  עוֹדֶ֙נּוּ֙ (And while) מְדַבֵּ֣ר (he was speaking) עִמָּ֔ם (with them), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ (the messenger) יֹרֵ֣ד (was coming down) אֵלָ֑יו (to him), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), הִנֵּֽה־ (Behold), זֹ֤את (this) הָֽרָעָה֙ (evil is) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). מָֽה־ (Why) אוֹחִ֥יל (should I wait) לַיהוָ֖ה (for YHWH) עֽוֹד׃ס (any longer)?