Absalom’s Return to Jerusalem

1  וַיֵּ֖דַע (And knew) יוֹאָ֣ב (Joab) בֶּן־ (son) צְרֻיָ֑ה (of Zeruiah) כִּֽי־ (that) לֵ֥ב (the heart) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) עַל־ (was on) אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (Absalom). 2  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) תְּק֔וֹעָה (to Tekoa), וַיִּקַּ֥ח (and he brought) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) אִשָּׁ֣ה (a woman) חֲכָמָ֑ה (wise), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵ֠לֶיהָ (to her) הִֽתְאַבְּלִי־ (Pretend to be a mourner), נָ֞א (please), וְלִבְשִׁי־ (and put on) נָ֣א (now) בִגְדֵי־ (apparel) אֵ֗בֶל (mourning), וְאַל־ (and not) תָּס֙וּכִי֙ (do anoint yourself) שֶׁ֔מֶן (with oil), וְהָיִ֕ית (and act) כְּאִשָּׁ֗ה (like a woman) זֶ֚ה (these) יָמִ֣ים (days) רַבִּ֔ים (many) מִתְאַבֶּ֖לֶת (mourning) עַל־ (for) מֵֽת׃ (the dead). 3  וּבָאת֙ (And go) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וְדִבַּ֥רְתְּ (and speak) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) כַּדָּבָ֣ר (in manner) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). וַיָּ֧שֶׂם (And put) יוֹאָ֛ב (Joab) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the words) בְּפִֽיהָ׃ (in her mouth).

4  וַ֠תֹּאמֶר (And spoke) הָאִשָּׁ֤ה (the woman) הַתְּקֹעִית֙ (of Tekoa) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), וַתִּפֹּ֧ל (and she fell) עַל־ (on) אַפֶּ֛יהָ (her nose) אַ֖רְצָה (to the ground), וַתִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ (and bowed low) וַתֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), הוֹשִׁ֥עָה (Save me), הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ס (O king).

5  וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (And said) לָ֥הּ (to her) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), מַה־ (What) לָּ֑ךְ (troubles you).

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (And she answered), אֲבָ֛ל (Truly) אִשָּֽׁה־ (a woman), אַלְמָנָ֥ה (a widow) אָ֖נִי (I am). וַיָּ֥מָת (And is dead) אִישִֽׁי׃ (my husband). 6  וּלְשִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ (And your maidservant had) שְׁנֵ֣י (two) בָנִ֔ים (sons), וַיִּנָּצ֤וּ (and fought with each other) שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ (the two) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field), וְאֵ֥ין (and there was no one) מַצִּ֖יל (to part) בֵּֽינֵיהֶ֑ם (them), וַיַּכּ֧וֹ (and struck) הָאֶחָ֛ד (the one) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶחָ֖ד (the one) וַיָּ֥מֶת (and killed) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him). 7  וְהִנֵּה֩ (And behold), קָ֨מָה (has risen up) כָֽל־ (whole) הַמִּשְׁפָּחָ֜ה (the family) עַל־ (against) שִׁפְחָתֶ֗ךָ (your maidservant), וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and they said), תְּנִ֣י׀ (Give up) אֶת־ (-) מַכֵּ֣ה (him who struck) אָחִ֗יו (his brother), וּנְמִתֵ֙הוּ֙ (that we may kill him) בְּנֶ֤פֶשׁ (for the life) אָחִיו֙ (of his brother) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הָרָ֔ג (he has slain). וְנַשְׁמִ֖ידָה (And we will destroy) גַּ֣ם (also) אֶת־ (-) הַיּוֹרֵ֑שׁ (the heir). וְכִבּ֗וּ (And they would extinguish) אֶת־ (-) גַּֽחַלְתִּי֙ (my ember) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) נִשְׁאָ֔רָה (is left) לְבִלְתִּ֧י (and not) שׂוּם (leave) לְאִישִׁ֛י (to my husband) שֵׁ֥ם (a name) וּשְׁאֵרִ֖ית (and remnant) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הָאֲדָמָֽה׃פ (of the earth).

8  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman), לְכִ֣י (Go) לְבֵיתֵ֑ךְ (to your house), וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) אֲצַוֶּ֥ה (will give orders) עָלָֽיִךְ׃ (concerning you).

9  וַתֹּ֜אמֶר (And said) הָאִשָּׁ֤ה (the woman) הַתְּקוֹעִית֙ (of Tekoa) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), עָלַ֞י (On me) אֲדֹנִ֥י (My lord), הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (king), הֶעָוֺ֖ן (is the iniquity), וְעַל־ (and on) בֵּ֣ית (house) אָבִ֑י (of my father). וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (And the king) וְכִסְא֖וֹ (and his throne) נָקִֽי׃ס (be guiltless).

10  וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king), הַֽמְדַבֵּ֤ר (He who speaks) אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙ (to you), וַֽהֲבֵאת֣וֹ (and bring him) אֵלַ֔י (to me), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יֹסִ֥יף (he) ע֖וֹד (anymore) לָגַ֥עַת (shall touch) בָּֽךְ׃ (you).

11  וַתֹּאמֶר֩ (And she said), יִזְכָּר־ (Let remember) נָ֨א (please), הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king), אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ (your God), מֵהַרְבִּית (and do not let add) גֹּאֵ֤ל (the avenger) הַדָּם֙ (of blood) לְשַׁחֵ֔ת (to destroy). וְלֹ֥א (And not) יַשְׁמִ֖ידוּ (they destroy) אֶת־ (-) בְּנִ֑י (my son).

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), אִם־ (not) יִפֹּ֛ל (shall fall) מִשַּׂעֲרַ֥ת (one hair) בְּנֵ֖ךְ (of your son) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the ground).

12  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), תְּדַבֶּר־ (Let speak) נָ֧א (please) שִׁפְחָתְךָ֛ (your maidservant) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) דָּבָ֑ר (a word).

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), דַּבֵּֽרִי׃ס (Speak).

13  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), וְלָ֧מָּה (And why) חָשַׁ֛בְתָּה (have you schemed) כָּזֹ֖את (such as this) עַל־ (against) עַ֣ם (the people) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God)? וּמִדַּבֵּ֨ר (And for speaks) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) הַדָּבָ֤ר (the thing) הַזֶּה֙ (this) כְּאָשֵׁ֔ם (as one who is guilty), לְבִלְתִּ֛י (in that not) הָשִׁ֥יב (does bring home again) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֶֽת־ (-) נִדְּחֽוֹ׃ (his banished one). 14  כִּי־ (For) מ֣וֹת (dying) נָמ֔וּת (we will die), וְכַמַּ֙יִם֙ (and be like the water) הַנִּגָּרִ֣ים (spilled) אַ֔רְצָה (on the ground) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which) לֹ֣א (not) יֵאָסֵ֑פוּ (can be gathered up again). וְלֹֽא־ (And not) יִשָּׂ֤א (does take away) אֱלֹהִים֙ (God) נֶ֔פֶשׁ (a life), וְחָשַׁב֙ (and He devises) מַֽחֲשָׁב֔וֹת (means), לְבִלְתִּ֛י (so that not) יִדַּ֥ח (are expelled) מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (from Him) נִדָּֽח׃ (His banished ones).

15  וְ֠עַתָּה (And now) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּ֜אתִי (I have come) לְדַבֵּ֨ר (to speak) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (the king), אֲדֹנִי֙ (my lord of) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), כִּ֥י (because) יֵֽרְאֻ֖נִי (have made me afraid) הָעָ֑ם (the people), וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ (your maidservant), אֲדַבְּרָה־ (I will speak) נָּ֣א (now) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king). אוּלַ֛י (Perhaps) יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה (will perform) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֥ר (the request) אֲמָתֽוֹ׃ (of his maidservant). 16  כִּ֚י (For) יִשְׁמַ֣ע (will hear) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) לְהַצִּ֥יל (and deliver) אֶת־ (-) אֲמָת֖וֹ (his maidservant) מִכַּ֣ף (from the hand) הָאִ֑ישׁ (of the man) לְהַשְׁמִ֨יד (destroying) אֹתִ֤י (me) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנִי֙ (my son) יַ֔חַד (together) מִֽנַּחֲלַ֖ת (from the inheritance) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (of God).

17  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) שִׁפְחָ֣תְךָ֔ (Your maidservant), יִֽהְיֶה־ (Will be) נָּ֛א (now) דְּבַר־ (the word) אֲדֹנִ֥י (of my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) לִמְנוּחָ֑ה (comforting), כִּ֣י׀ (for) כְּמַלְאַ֣ךְ (like the angel) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God), כֵּ֣ן (so) אֲדֹנִ֤י (is my lord) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) לִשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ (in discerning) הַטּ֣וֹב (good) וְהָרָ֔ע (and evil). וַֽיהוָ֥ה (And YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God) יְהִ֥י (may be) עִמָּֽךְ׃פ (with you).

18  וַיַּ֣עַן (And answered) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), אַל־ (Not) נָ֨א (please) תְכַחֲדִ֤י (do hide) מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ (from me) דָּבָ֔ר (anything) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אָנֹכִ֖י (I) שֹׁאֵ֣ל (am asking) אֹתָ֑ךְ (you).

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), יְדַבֶּר־ (Let speak) נָ֖א (please) אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

19  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), הֲיַ֥ד (Is the hand) יוֹאָ֛ב (of Joab) אִתָּ֖ךְ (with you) בְּכָל־ (in all) זֹ֑את (this)?

וַתַּ֣עַן (And answered) הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (the woman) וַתֹּ֡אמֶר (and said), חֵֽי־ (As live) נַפְשְׁךָ֩ (you), אֲדֹנִ֨י (my lord) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king), אִם־ (no one) אִ֣שׁ׀ (there is) לְהֵמִ֣ין (turning to the right) וּלְהַשְׂמִ֗יל (or turning to the left) מִכֹּ֤ל (from anything) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) דִּבֶּר֙ (has spoken) אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king). כִּֽי־ (For) עַבְדְּךָ֤ (your servant) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab), ה֣וּא (he) צִוָּ֔נִי (commanded me) וְה֗וּא (and he) שָׂ֚ם (put) בְּפִ֣י (in the mouth) שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֔ (of your maidservant) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the words) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these). 20  לְבַעֲב֤וּר (In order to) סַבֵּב֙ (bring about) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (this change) הַדָּבָ֔ר (of the thing) עָשָׂ֛ה (has done) עַבְדְּךָ֥ (your servant) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). וַאדֹנִ֣י (And my lord is) חָכָ֗ם (wise), כְּחָכְמַת֙ (like the wisdom) מַלְאַ֣ךְ (of the angel) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), לָדַ֖עַת (to know) אֶֽת־ (-) כָּל־ (everything) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ס (in the land).

21  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), הִנֵּה־ (Behold) נָ֥א (now), עָשִׂ֖יתִי (I have granted) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֑ה (this). וְלֵ֛ךְ (And go), הָשֵׁ֥ב (bring back) אֶת־ (-) הַנַּ֖עַר (the young man) אֶת־ (-) אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (Absalom).

22  וַיִּפֹּל֩ (And fell) יוֹאָ֨ב (Joab) אֶל־ (on) פָּנָ֥יו (his face), אַ֛רְצָה (to the ground) וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ (and bowed low), וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ (and blessed) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֡ב (Joab), הַיּוֹם֩ (Today) יָדַ֨ע (knows) עַבְדְּךָ֜ (your servant) כִּי־ (that) מָצָ֨אתִי (I have found) חֵ֤ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (in your eyes), אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord), הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אֲשֶׁר־ (in that) עָשָׂ֥ה (has fulfilled) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֥ר (the request) עַבְדּוֹ׃ (his servant).

23  וַיָּ֥קָם (And arose) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab) וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (and went) גְּשׁ֑וּרָה (to Geshur), וַיָּבֵ֥א (and he brought) אֶת־ (-) אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (Absalom) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פ (to Jerusalem). 24  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), יִסֹּ֣ב (Let him return) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֔וֹ (his own house), וּפָנַ֖י (and my face) לֹ֣א (not) יִרְאֶ֑ה (do let him see). וַיִּסֹּ֤ב (And returned) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֔וֹ (his own house), וּפְנֵ֥י (and face) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) לֹ֥א (not) רָאָֽה׃ס (did he see).

25  וּכְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם (And Absalom) לֹא־ (not) הָיָ֧ה (there was) אִישׁ־ (man) יָפֶ֛ה (handsome) בְּכָל־ (in all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel), לְהַלֵּ֣ל (who was praised) מְאֹ֑ד (as much as) מִכַּ֤ף (from the sole) רַגְלוֹ֙ (of his foot) וְעַ֣ד (and to) קָדְקֳד֔וֹ (the crown of his head). לֹא־ (Not) הָ֥יָה (there was) ב֖וֹ (in him) מֽוּם׃ (blemish). 26  וּֽבְגַלְּחוֹ֮ (And he cut the hair of) אֶת־ (-) רֹאשׁוֹ֒ (his head), וְֽ֠הָיָה (and) מִקֵּ֨ץ (at the end) יָמִ֤ים׀ (of every) לַיָּמִים֙ (year) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יְגַלֵּ֔חַ (he cut it), כִּֽי־ (because) כָבֵ֥ד (it was heavy) עָלָ֖יו (on him), וְגִלְּח֑וֹ (and he cut it) וְשָׁקַל֙ (and he weighed) אֶת־ (-) שְׂעַ֣ר (the hair) רֹאשׁ֔וֹ (of his head) מָאתַ֥יִם (two hundred) שְׁקָלִ֖ים (at shekels), בְּאֶ֥בֶן (according to standard) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

27  וַיִּֽוָּלְד֤וּ (And were born) לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (to Absalom) שְׁלוֹשָׁ֣ה (three) בָנִ֔ים (sons) וּבַ֥ת (and daughter) אַחַ֖ת (one), וּשְׁמָ֣הּ (and his name was) תָּמָ֑ר (Tamar). הִ֣יא (She) הָיְתָ֔ה (was) אִשָּׁ֖ה (a woman) יְפַ֥ת (of beautiful) מַרְאֶֽה׃פ (appearance).

Absalom Reconciled to David

28  וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב (And dwelt) אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם (Absalom) בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (in Jerusalem) שְׁנָתַ֣יִם (two) יָמִ֑ים (full years), וּפְנֵ֥י (and the face) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) לֹ֥א (not) רָאָֽה׃ (did he see). 29  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם (Absalom) אֶל־ (for) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab), לִשְׁלֹ֤חַ (to send) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king). וְלֹ֥א (Not) אָבָ֖ה (he would) לָב֣וֹא (come) אֵלָ֑יו (to him).

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And he sent) עוֹד֙ (again) שֵׁנִ֔ית (the second time), וְלֹ֥א (and not) אָבָ֖ה (he would) לָבֽוֹא׃ (come).

30  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And he said) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדָ֜יו (his servants), רְאוּ֩ (See), חֶלְקַ֨ת (the portion) יוֹאָ֤ב (of Joab) אֶל־ (is near) יָדִי֙ (mine), וְלוֹ־ (and he has) שָׁ֣ם (there); שְׂעֹרִ֔ים (barley) לְכ֖וּ (go) וְהוֹצִתִּיהָ (and burn it) בָאֵ֑שׁ (with the fire).

וַיַּצִּ֜תוּ (And burned) עַבְדֵ֧י (the servants) אַבְשָׁל֛וֹם (of Absalom) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶלְקָ֖ה (the portion) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃פ (with the fire).

31  וַיָּ֣קָם (And arose) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab) וַיָּבֹ֥א (and came) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (Absalom’s) הַבָּ֑יְתָה (house), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), לָ֣מָּה (Why) הִצִּ֧יתוּ (have burned) עֲבָדֶ֛ךָ (your servants) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶלְקָ֥ה (the portion) אֲשֶׁר־ (that is) לִ֖י (to me) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire)?

32  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם (Absalom) אֶל־ (unto) יוֹאָ֡ב (Joab), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי (I sent) אֵלֶ֣יךָ׀ (to you), לֵאמֹ֡ר (saying), בֹּ֣א (Come) הֵ֠נָּה (here), וְאֶשְׁלְחָה֩ (so that I may send) אֹתְךָ֨ (you) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) לֵאמֹ֗ר (to say): לָ֤מָּה (Why) בָּ֙אתִי֙ (have I come) מִגְּשׁ֔וּר (from Geshur)? ט֥וֹב (It would be better) לִ֖י (for me) עֹ֣ד (still) אֲנִי־ (if I were) שָׁ֑ם (there). וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) אֶרְאֶה֙ (let me see) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king). וְאִם־ (But if) יֶשׁ־ (there is) בִּ֥י (in me) עָוֺ֖ן (iniquity), וֶהֱמִתָֽנִי׃ (and let him kill me).

33  וַיָּבֹ֨א (And went) יוֹאָ֣ב (Joab) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ (the king) וַיַּגֶּד־ (and told) לוֹ֒ (him), וַיִּקְרָ֤א (and he had called) אֶל־ (for) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom), וַיָּבֹ֣א (and he came) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וַיִּשְׁתַּ֨חוּ (and bowed) ל֧וֹ (himself) עַל־ (on) אַפָּ֛יו (his nose) אַ֖רְצָה (to the ground) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king). וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק (And kissed) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) לְאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃פ (Absalom).