Absalom’s Conspiracy

1  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי (after) כֵ֔ן (this) וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (that prepared) לוֹ֙ (for himself) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom) מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה (a chariot) וְסֻסִ֑ים (and horses), וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים (and fifty) אִ֖ישׁ (men) רָצִ֥ים (to run) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before his face). 2  וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ (And would rise early) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom) וְעָמַ֕ד (and stand) עַל־ (by) יַ֖ד (the side) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (of the way) הַשָּׁ֑עַר (of the gate);

וַיְהִ֡י (and it came to pass) כָּל־ (every) הָאִ֣ישׁ (man) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (who) יִהְיֶה־ (has) לּוֹ־ (to him) רִיב֩ (a grievance) לָב֨וֹא (came) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט (for a decision), וַיִּקְרָ֨א (that would call) אַבְשָׁל֤וֹם (Absalom) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and say), אֵֽי־ (From where) מִזֶּ֥ה (this) עִיר֙ (city) אַ֔תָּה (are you)? וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he would say), מֵאַחַ֥ד (From one) שִׁבְטֵֽי־ (of the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (is your servant). 3  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And would say) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom), רְאֵ֥ה (Look), דְבָרֶ֖ךָ (your case is) טוֹבִ֣ים (good) וּנְכֹחִ֑ים (and right), וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ (and to hear) אֵין־ (and there is none) לְךָ֖ (to you) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

4  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And would say) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom), מִי־ (Who) יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי (will make me) שֹׁפֵ֖ט (judge) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (in the land), וְעָלַ֗י (and to me) יָב֥וֹא (would come) כָּל־ (every) אִ֛ישׁ (man) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (who) יִהְיֶה־ (has) לּוֹ־ (to him) רִ֥יב (a grievance) וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט (or dispute), וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃ (and I would give him justice)!

5  וְהָיָה֙ (And it came to pass), בִּקְרָב־ (whenever came near) אִ֔ישׁ (anyone) לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת (to bow down) ל֑וֹ (to him), וְשָׁלַ֧ח (that he would put out) אֶת־ (-) יָד֛וֹ (his hand) וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק (and take) ל֖וֹ (him) וְנָ֥שַׁק (and kiss) לֽוֹ׃ (him). 6  וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (And acted) אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם (Absalom) כַּדָּבָ֤ר (in the manner) הַזֶּה֙ (this) לְכָל־ (toward all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יָבֹ֥אוּ (came) לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט (for judgment) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king). וַיְגַנֵּב֙ (And stole) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom) אֶת־ (-) לֵ֖ב (the hearts) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (of the men) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel).

7  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass) מִקֵּ֖ץ (after) אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (forty) שָׁנָ֑ה (years) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (that said) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אֵ֣לֲכָה (Let me go) נָּ֗א (please), וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם (and pay) אֶת־ (-) נִדְרִ֛י (the vow) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָדַ֥רְתִּי (I made) לַֽיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃ (in Hebron). 8  כִּי־ (For) נֵ֙דֶר֙ (a vow) נָדַ֣ר (took) עַבְדְּךָ֔ (your servant) בְּשִׁבְתִּ֥י (while I dwelt) בִגְשׁ֛וּר (at Geshur) בַּאֲרָ֖ם (in Aram), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), אִם־ (If) יָשִׁיב (bringing) יְשִׁיבֵ֤נִי (does bring me back) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (to Jerusalem), וְעָבַדְתִּ֖י (and I will serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

9  וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ (And said) ל֥וֹ (to him) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), לֵ֣ךְ (Go) בְּשָׁל֑וֹם (in peace). וַיָּ֖קָם (And he arose) וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (and went) חֶבְרֽוֹנָה׃פ (to Hebron).

10  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom) מְרַגְּלִ֔ים (spies) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ (As soon as you⁺ hear) אֶת־ (-) ק֣וֹל (the voice) הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר (of the shofar), וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם (and you⁺ shall say), מָלַ֥ךְ (Reigns) אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (Absalom) בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃ (in Hebron).

11  וְאֶת־ (And with) אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם (Absalom) הָלְכ֞וּ (went) מָאתַ֤יִם (two hundred) אִישׁ֙ (men) מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (from Jerusalem). קְרֻאִ֖ים (Who were called) וְהֹלְכִ֣ים (and they went along) לְתֻמָּ֑ם (in their blamelessness), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָדְע֖וּ (did know) כָּל־ (the whole) דָּבָֽר׃ (matter). 12  וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (And sent) אַ֠בְשָׁלוֹם (Absalom) אֶת־ (for) אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל (Ahithophel) הַגִּֽילֹנִ֜י (the Gilonite), יוֹעֵ֣ץ (counselor) דָּוִ֗ד (of David), מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ (from his city), מִגִּלֹ֔ה (from Giloh), בְּזָבְח֖וֹ (while he offered) אֶת־ (-) הַזְּבָחִ֑ים (the sacrifices).

וַיְהִ֤י (And grew) הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ (the conspiracy) אַמִּ֔ץ (strong), וְהָעָ֛ם (and for the people) הוֹלֵ֥ךְ (continually) וָרָ֖ב (and increased in number) אֶת־ (with) אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (Absalom).

David Flees Jerusalem
(Psalm 3:1–8)

13  וַיָּבֹא֙ (And came) הַמַּגִּ֔יד (a messenger) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הָיָ֛ה (Are) לֶב־ (the hearts) אִ֥ישׁ (of the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) אַחֲרֵ֥י (with) אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (Absalom).

14  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּ֠וִד (David) לְכָל־ (to all) עֲבָדָ֨יו (his servants) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֤וֹ (with him) בִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (at Jerusalem), ק֣וּמוּ (Arise) וְנִבְרָ֔חָה (and let us flee), כִּ֛י (or) לֹא־ (not) תִֽהְיֶה־ (there will be) לָּ֥נוּ (we) פְלֵיטָ֖ה (an escape) מִפְּנֵ֣י (from) אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom). מַהֲר֣וּ (Hurry) לָלֶ֗כֶת (to depart), פֶּן־ (lest) יְמַהֵ֤ר (he hurry) וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ (and overtake us) וְהִדִּ֤יחַ (and swing) עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (upon us) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣רָעָ֔ה (a disaster) וְהִכָּ֥ה (and strike) הָעִ֖יר (the city) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חָֽרֶב׃ (of the sword).

15  וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (And said) עַבְדֵֽי־ (servants) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king), כְּכֹ֧ל (According to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יִבְחַ֛ר (chooses) אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), הִנֵּ֥ה (behold) עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃ (your servants).

16  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (And went out) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּית֖וֹ (his household) בְּרַגְלָ֑יו (at his feet), וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב (and left) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king) אֵ֣ת (-) עֶ֧שֶׂר (ten) נָשִׁ֛ים (women), פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים (concubines), לִשְׁמֹ֥ר (to keep) הַבָּֽיִת׃ (the house).

17  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (And went out) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) בְּרַגְלָ֑יו (after him), וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ (and they stood) בֵּ֥ית (at) הַמֶּרְחָֽק׃ (the last house). 18  וְכָל־ (And all) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants) עֹבְרִ֣ים (passed over) עַל־ (before) יָד֔וֹ (his hand), וְכָל־ (and all) הַכְּרֵתִ֖י (the Cherethite), וְכָל־ (and all) הַפְּלֵתִ֑י (the Pelethite), וְכָֽל־ (and all) הַגִּתִּ֞ים (the Gittite)— שֵׁשׁ־ (six) מֵא֣וֹת (hundred) אִ֗ישׁ (men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֤אוּ (had followed) בְרַגְלוֹ֙ (at his foot) מִגַּ֔ת (from Gath) עֹבְרִ֖ים (passed over) עַל־ (before) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

19  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) אִתַּ֣י (Ittai) הַגִּתִּ֔י (the Gittite), לָ֧מָּה (Why) תֵלֵ֛ךְ (are going) גַּם־ (also) אַתָּ֖ה (you) אִתָּ֑נוּ (with us)? שׁ֣וּב (Return) וְשֵׁ֤ב (and remain) עִם־ (with) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), כִּֽי־ (for) נָכְרִ֣י (a foreigner) אַ֔תָּה (you are), וְגַם־ (and also) גֹּלֶ֥ה (an exile) אַתָּ֖ה (you are) לִמְקוֹמֶֽךָ׃ (from your own place), 20  תְּמ֣וֹל׀ (only yesterday) בּוֹאֶ֗ךָ (you arrived), וְהַיּ֞וֹם (and today) אֲנוֹעֲךָ (should I make you) עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ (with us) לָלֶ֔כֶת (wander up and down), וַאֲנִ֣י (and since I) הוֹלֵ֔ךְ (go) עַ֥ל (on) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) אֲנִ֖י (I) הוֹלֵ֑ךְ (know not). שׁ֣וּב (Turn back) וְהָשֵׁ֧ב (and take back) אֶת־ (-) אַחֶ֛יךָ (your brothers). עִמָּ֖ךְ (With you be) חֶ֥סֶד (loving devotion) וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ (and faithfulness).

21  וַיַּ֧עַן (And answered) אִתַּ֛י (Ittai) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), וְחֵי֙ (and as lives) אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), כִּ֠י (surely) אִם־ (if) בִּמְק֞וֹם (in whatever place) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (where) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) שָּׁ֣ם׀ (there) אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), אִם־ (whether) לְמָ֙וֶת֙ (in death) אִם־ (or) לְחַיִּ֔ים (in life), כִּי־ (even) שָׁ֖ם (there also) יִהְיֶ֥ה (will be) עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (your servant).

22  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֛ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אִתַּ֖י (Ittai), לֵ֣ךְ (Go) וַעֲבֹ֑ר (and pass over). וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר (And passed over) אִתַּ֤י (Ittai) הַגִּתִּי֙ (the Gittite) וְכָל־ (and all) אֲנָשָׁ֔יו (his men) וְכָל־ (and all) הַטַּ֖ף (the little children) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

23  וְכָל־ (And all) הָאָ֗רֶץ (the country) בּוֹכִים֙ (wept) ק֣וֹל (with a voice) גָּד֔וֹל (loud), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) עֹֽבְרִ֑ים (passed over), וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (and the king himself) עֹבֵר֙ (also passed over) בְּנַ֣חַל (the Valley) קִדְר֔וֹן (Kidron), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָם֙ (the people) עֹבְרִ֔ים (passed over), עַל־ (by) פְּנֵי־ (the face) דֶ֖רֶךְ (of the way) אֶת־ (of) הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (the wilderness). 24  וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold) גַם־ (also) צָד֜וֹק (Zadok) וְכָֽל־ (and all) הַלְוִיִּ֣ם (the Levites) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him) נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ (bearing) אֶת־ (-) אֲרוֹן֙ (the ark) בְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ (and they set down) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God); וַיַּ֖עַל (and went up) אֶבְיָתָ֑ר (Abiathar) עַד־ (until) תֹּ֥ם (had finished) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) לַעֲב֥וֹר (passing over) מִן־ (from) הָעִֽיר׃ (the city).

25  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) לְצָד֔וֹק (to Zadok), הָשֵׁ֛ב (Carry back) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֥וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) הָעִ֑יר (into the city). אִם־ (If) אֶמְצָ֥א (I find) חֵן֙ (favor) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי (and He will bring me back) וְהִרְאַ֥נִי (and show me) אֹת֖וֹ (it) וְאֶת־ (and) נָוֵֽהוּ׃ (His dwelling place). 26  וְאִם֙ (But if) כֹּ֣ה (thus) יֹאמַ֔ר (He says), לֹ֥א (Not) חָפַ֖צְתִּי (I have delighted) בָּ֑ךְ (in you), הִנְנִ֕י (behold, it is I). יַֽעֲשֶׂה־ (Let Him do) לִּ֕י (to me) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (as) ט֖וֹב (is good) בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ס (in His eyes).

27  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) צָד֣וֹק (Zadok) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest), הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה (A seer) אַתָּ֔ה (are you)? שֻׁ֥בָה (Return) הָעִ֖יר (to the city) בְּשָׁל֑וֹם (in peace), וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ (and Ahimaaz) בִּנְךָ֜ (your son) וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן (and Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) אֶבְיָתָ֛ר (of Abiathar), שְׁנֵ֥י (two) בְנֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ sons) אִתְּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺). 28  רְאוּ֙ (See), אָנֹכִ֣י (I) מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ (will wait) בְּעַבְרוֹת (at the fords) הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר (of the wilderness), עַ֣ד (until) בּ֥וֹא (comes) דָבָ֛ר (word) מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם (from you⁺) לְהַגִּ֥יד (to inform) לִֽי׃ (me).

29  וַיָּ֨שֶׁב (And carried back) צָד֧וֹק (Zadok) וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר (and Abiathar) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֥וֹן (the ark) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (to Jerusalem), וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (and they remained) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

David Weeps at the Mount of Olives
(Psalm 63:1–11)

30  וְדָוִ֡ד (And David) עֹלֶה֩ (went up) בְמַעֲלֵ֨ה (by the Ascent) הַזֵּיתִ֜ים (of the Olives), עֹלֶ֣ה׀ (going up) וּבוֹכֶ֗ה (and weeping), וְרֹ֥אשׁ (and the head) לוֹ֙ (of him) חָפ֔וּי (was covered), וְה֖וּא (and he) הֹלֵ֣ךְ (went) יָחֵ֑ף (barefoot). וְכָל־ (And all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him) חָפוּ֙ (covered) אִ֣ישׁ (man) רֹאשׁ֔וֹ (their heads), וְעָל֥וּ (and have gone up), עָלֹ֖ה (going up) וּבָכֹֽה׃ (and weeping).

31  וְדָוִד֙ (And David), הִגִּ֣יד (was told), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל (Ahithophel is) בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים (among the conspirators) עִם־ (with) אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֔ד (David), סַכֶּל־ (Turn into foolishness), נָ֛א (please), אֶת־ (-) עֲצַ֥ת (the counsel) אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל (of Ahithophel), יְהוָֽה׃ (O YHWH).

32  וַיְהִ֤י (And it came to pass), דָוִד֙ (David) בָּ֣א (having come) עַד־ (to) הָרֹ֔אשׁ (the top), אֲשֶֽׁר־ (where) יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה (he had worshiped) שָׁ֖ם (in it) לֵאלֹהִ֑ים (God), וְהִנֵּ֤ה (and there was) לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ (coming to meet him) חוּשַׁ֣י (Hushai) הָאַרְכִּ֔י (the Archite), קָר֙וּעַ֙ (torn) כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ (with his tunic) וַאֲדָמָ֖ה (and dust) עַל־ (on) רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ (his head).

33  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) ל֖וֹ (to him) דָּוִ֑ד (David), אִ֚ם (If) עָבַ֣רְתָּ (you go on) אִתִּ֔י (with me), וְהָיִ֥תָ (and you will become) עָלַ֖י (to me) לְמַשָּֽׂא׃ (a burden). 34  וְאִם־ (But if) הָעִ֣יר (to the city) תָּשׁ֗וּב (you return) וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ (and say) לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (to Absalom), עַבְדְּךָ֨ (Your servant), אֲנִ֤י (I), הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (O king), אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה (will be) עֶ֣בֶד (servant) אָבִ֤יךָ (of your father), וַֽאֲנִי֙ (and as I was) מֵאָ֔ז (from then), וְעַתָּ֖ה (and now) וַאֲנִ֣י (and I will be) עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (your servant), וְהֵפַרְתָּ֣ה (then you will defeat) לִ֔י (for me) אֵ֖ת (-) עֲצַ֥ת (the counsel) אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃ (of Ahithophel).

35  וַהֲל֤וֹא (And is there not) עִמְּךָ֙ (with you) שָׁ֔ם (there) צָד֥וֹק (Zadok) וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר (and Abiathar) הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים (the priests)? וְהָיָ֗ה (And it will come to pass), כָּל־ (the whole) הַדָּבָר֙ (of the matter) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) תִּשְׁמַע֙ (you hear) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king), תַּגִּ֕יד (you shall tell) לְצָד֥וֹק (to Zadok) וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר (and Abiathar) הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ (the priests). 36  הִנֵּה־ (Behold), שָׁ֤ם (there) עִמָּם֙ (with them are) שְׁנֵ֣י (two) בְנֵיהֶ֔ם (their sons), אֲחִימַ֣עַץ (Ahimaaz) לְצָד֔וֹק (son of Zadok) וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן (and Jonathan) לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר (son of Abiathar), וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם (and you⁺ shall send) בְּיָדָם֙ (by their hand) אֵלַ֔י (to me) כָּל־ (every) דָּבָ֖ר (word) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃ (you⁺ hear).

37  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And went) חוּשַׁ֛י (Hushai) רֵעֶ֥ה (friend) דָוִ֖ד (of David) הָעִ֑יר (into the city), וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (and Absalom) יָבֹ֖א (came) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (into Jerusalem).