David and Ziba

1  וְדָוִ֗ד (And David) עָבַ֤ר (was past) מְעַט֙ (a little) מֵֽהָרֹ֔אשׁ (from the top), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), צִיבָ֛א (Ziba) נַ֥עַר (the servant) מְפִי־ (of Mephi-) בֹ֖שֶׁת (bosheth), לִקְרָאת֑וֹ (to meet him) וְצֶ֨מֶד (and a couple) חֲמֹרִ֜ים (of donkeys) חֲבֻשִׁ֗ים (were saddled), וַעֲלֵיהֶם֩ (and on them) מָאתַ֨יִם (two hundred loaves) לֶ֜חֶם (of bread), וּמֵאָ֧ה (and a hundred) צִמּוּקִ֛ים (clusters of raisins), וּמֵ֥אָה (and a hundred) קַ֖יִץ (summer fruits), וְנֵ֥בֶל (and a skin) יָֽיִן׃ (of wine).

2  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) אֶל־ (to) צִיבָ֖א (Ziba), מָה־ (What) אֵ֣לֶּה (are these) לָּ֑ךְ (to you)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) צִ֠יבָא (Ziba), הַחֲמוֹרִ֨ים (The donkeys are) לְבֵית־ (for house) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (of the king) לִרְכֹּ֗ב (to ride on), וּלְהַלֶּחֶם (and the bread) וְהַקַּ֙יִץ֙ (and summer fruit) לֶאֱכ֣וֹל (to eat) הַנְּעָרִ֔ים (for the young men), וְהַיַּ֕יִן (and the wine) לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת (for to drink) הַיָּעֵ֖ף (is for those who are faint) בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (in the wilderness).

3  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said), הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וְאַיֵּ֖ה (And where is) בֶּן־ (the son) אֲדֹנֶ֑יךָ (of your master)?

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) צִיבָ֜א (Ziba) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king), הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), יוֹשֵׁ֣ב (he is staying) בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (in Jerusalem), כִּ֣י (for) אָמַ֔ר (he said), הַיּ֗וֹם (Today) יָשִׁ֤יבוּ (will restore) לִי֙ (to me) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֵ֖ת (-) מַמְלְכ֥וּת (the kingdom) אָבִֽי׃ (of my father).

4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) לְצִבָ֔א (to Ziba), הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), לְךָ֔ (unto you is) כֹּ֖ל (all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that is) לִמְפִי־ (unto Mephi-) בֹ֑שֶׁת (bosheth).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) צִיבָא֙ (Ziba), הִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֔יתִי (I humbly bow before you) אֶמְצָא־ (that I may find) חֵ֥ן (favor) בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ (in your eyes), אֲדֹנִ֥י (my lord) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

Shimei Curses David

5  וּבָ֛א (And came) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (King) דָּוִ֖ד (David) עַד־ (to) בַּֽחוּרִ֑ים (Bahurim), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), מִשָּׁם֩ (from there) אִ֨ישׁ (a man) יוֹצֵ֜א (was going out) מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת (from the family) בֵּית־ (of the house) שָׁא֗וּל (of Saul), וּשְׁמוֹ֙ (and his name was) שִׁמְעִ֣י (Shimei) בֶן־ (son) גֵּרָ֔א (of Gera). יֹצֵ֥א (He came out), יָצ֖וֹא (coming out) וּמְקַלֵּֽל׃ (and cursing continuously). 6  וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל (And he stoned) בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ (with stones) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֔ד (David), וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) עַבְדֵ֖י (the servants) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) דָּוִ֑ד (David). וְכָל־ (And all) הָעָם֙ (the people) וְכָל־ (and all) הַגִּבֹּרִ֔ים (the mighty men were) מִימִינ֖וֹ (on his right hand) וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃ (and on his left).

7  וְכֹֽה־ (And thus) אָמַ֥ר (said) שִׁמְעִ֖י (Shimei) בְּקַֽלְל֑וֹ (when he cursed), צֵ֥א (Go out), צֵ֛א (go out), אִ֥ישׁ (man), הַדָּמִ֖ים (of bloodshed) וְאִ֥ישׁ (and man) הַבְּלִיָּֽעַל׃ (of worthlessness)! 8  הֵשִׁיב֩ (Has brought) עָלֶ֨יךָ (upon you) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) כֹּ֣ל׀ (all) דְּמֵ֣י (the blood) בֵית־ (of the house) שָׁא֗וּל (of Saul), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (in whose) מָלַ֙כְתָּ֙ (you have reigned) תַּחְתּוֹ (place). וַיִּתֵּ֤ן (And has delivered) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה (the kingdom) בְּיַ֖ד (into the hand) אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם (of Absalom) בְּנֶ֑ךָ (your son). וְהִנְּךָ֙ (And behold, you are) בְּרָ֣עָתֶ֔ךָ (in your own evil), כִּ֛י (because) אִ֥ישׁ (a man) דָּמִ֖ים (of blood) אָֽתָּה׃ (you are).

9  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) אֲבִישַׁ֤י (Abishai) בֶּן־ (son) צְרוּיָה֙ (of Zeruiah) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), לָ֣מָּה (Why) יְקַלֵּ֞ל (should curse) הַכֶּ֤לֶב (the dog) הַמֵּת֙ (dead) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) אֶת־ (-) אֲדֹנִ֖י (my lord) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king)? אֶעְבְּרָה־ (Let me go over), נָּ֖א (please), וְאָסִ֥ירָה (and I turn aside) אֶת־ (-) רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ס (his head).

10  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), מַה־ (What) לִּ֥י (have I) וְלָכֶ֖ם (and with you⁺), בְּנֵ֣י (O sons) צְרֻיָ֑ה (of Zeruiah)? כִּי (If) יְקַלֵּ֗ל (he curses) וְכִי (because) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אָ֤מַר (has said) לוֹ֙ (to him), קַלֵּ֣ל (Curse) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֔ד (David), וּמִ֣י (and who) יֹאמַ֔ר (shall say), מַדּ֖וּעַ (Why) עָשִׂ֥יתָה (have you done) כֵּֽן׃ס (so)?

11  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֤ד (David) אֶל־ (to) אֲבִישַׁי֙ (Abishai) וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) עֲבָדָ֔יו (his servants), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold) בְנִ֛י (my son), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) יָצָ֥א (came out) מִמֵּעַ֖י (of my bowels), מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ (is seeking) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשִׁ֑י (my life). וְאַ֨ף (And how much more) כִּֽי־ (that) עַתָּ֜ה (now) בֶּן־ (this Ben-) הַיְמִינִ֗י (jaminite)! הַנִּ֤חוּ (Leave alone) לוֹ֙ (him), וִֽיקַלֵּ֔ל (and let him curse), כִּ֥י (for so) אָֽמַר־ (has ordered) ל֖וֹ (him) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 12  אוּלַ֛י (Perhaps) יִרְאֶ֥ה (will look) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּעֲוֹנִי (on my affliction) וְהֵשִׁ֨יב (and will return) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) לִי֙ (me) טוֹבָ֔ה (with good) תַּ֥חַת (for) קִלְלָת֖וֹ (his cursing) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

13  וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ (And as went) דָּוִ֛ד (David) וַאֲנָשָׁ֖יו (and his men) בַּדָּ֑רֶךְס (along the road), וְשִׁמְעִ֡י (and Shimei) הֹלֵךְ֩ (went along) בְּצֵ֨לַע (at the side) הָהָ֜ר (of the hill) לְעֻמָּת֗וֹ (opposite him) הָלוֹךְ֙ (as he went), וַיְקַלֵּ֔ל (and he cursed), וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל (and stoned) בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ (with stones) לְעֻמָּת֔וֹ (at him), וְעִפַּ֖ר (and dusted) בֶּעָפָֽר׃פ (with dust). 14  וַיָּבֹ֥א (And arrived) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֥ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) עֲיֵפִ֑ים (weary), וַיִּנָּפֵ֖שׁ (and he refreshed himself) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

The Counsel of Ahithophel and Hushai

15  וְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם (And Absalom) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָם֙ (the people), אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), בָּ֖אוּ (came) יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (to Jerusalem), וַאֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל (and Ahithophel was) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him). 16  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ (when) בָּ֞א (came) חוּשַׁ֧י (Hushai) הָאַרְכִּ֛י (the Archite), רֵעֶ֥ה (friend) דָוִ֖ד (of David), אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) חוּשַׁי֙ (Hushai) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (Absalom), יְחִ֥י (May live) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), יְחִ֥י (may live) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

17  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom) אֶל־ (to) חוּשַׁ֔י (Hushai), זֶ֥ה (Is this) חַסְדְּךָ֖ (your loyalty) אֶת־ (to) רֵעֶ֑ךָ (your friend)? לָ֥מָּה (Why) לֹֽא־ (not) הָלַ֖כְתָּ (did you go) אֶת־ (with) רֵעֶֽךָ׃ (your friend)?

18  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) חוּשַׁי֮ (Hushai) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁלֹם֒ (Absalom), לֹ֕א (No), כִּי֩ (but) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (he whom) בָּחַ֧ר (has chosen) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) וְהָעָ֥ם (and the people) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) וְכָל־ (and all) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), לֹא (unto him) אֶהְיֶ֖ה (I will be), וְאִתּ֥וֹ (and with him) אֵשֵֽׁב׃ (I will remain). 19  וְהַשֵּׁנִ֗ית (And secondly), לְמִי֙ (whom) אֲנִ֣י (should I) אֶֽעֱבֹ֔ד (serve)? הֲל֖וֹא (Is it not) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) בְנ֑וֹ (of his son)? כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (As) עָבַ֙דְתִּי֙ (I have served) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) אָבִ֔יךָ (of your father), כֵּ֖ן (so) אֶהְיֶ֥ה (will I be) לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃פ (in your presence).

20  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (Absalom) אֶל־ (to) אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל (Ahithophel), הָב֥וּ (Give) לָכֶ֛ם (to us) עֵצָ֖ה (counsel) מַֽה־ (as to what) נַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (we should do).

21  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ (Ahithophel) אֶל־ (to) אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (Absalom), בּ֚וֹא (Go in) אֶל־ (to) פִּלַגְשֵׁ֣י (the concubines) אָבִ֔יךָ (of your father), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הִנִּ֖יחַ (he has left) לִשְׁמ֣וֹר (to keep) הַבָּ֑יִת (the house). וְשָׁמַ֤ע (And will hear) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) כִּֽי־ (that) נִבְאַ֣שְׁתָּ (you are abhorred) אֶת־ (by) אָבִ֔יךָ (your father), וְחָ֣זְק֔וּ (and will be strengthened) יְדֵ֖י (the hands) כָּל־ (of all) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who are) אִתָּֽךְ׃ (with you).

22  וַיַּטּ֧וּ (And they pitched) לְאַבְשָׁל֛וֹם (for Absalom) הָאֹ֖הֶל (a tent) עַל־ (on) הַגָּ֑ג (the roof), וַיָּבֹ֤א (and went in) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom) אֶל־ (to) פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י (the concubines) אָבִ֔יו (of his father) לְעֵינֵ֖י (before the eyes) כָּל־ (of all) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).

23  וַעֲצַ֣ת (And the counsel) אֲחִיתֹ֗פֶל (of Ahithophel), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) יָעַץ֙ (he counseled) בַּיָּמִ֣ים (in days) הָהֵ֔ם (those), כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (was as if) יִשְׁאַלִ֖־ (had inquired) בִּדְבַ֣ר (at the word) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God). כֵּ֚ן (So) כָּל־ (was all) עֲצַ֣ת (the counsel) אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל (of Ahithophel), גַּם־ (both) לְדָוִ֖ד (with David) גַּ֥ם (and) לְאַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃ס (with Absalom).