◄ 2 Samuel 18 ►
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1Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands. 1וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שָׂרֵ֥י אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י מֵאֽוֹת׃
2He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.” 2וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח דָּוִ֜ד אֶת־ הָעָ֗ם הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית בְּיַד־ יוֹאָב֙ וְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּיַ֨ד אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־ צְרוּיָה֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת בְּיַ֖ד אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֑י ס וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ הָעָ֔ם יָצֹ֥א אֵצֵ֛א גַּם־ אֲנִ֖י עִמָּכֶֽם׃
3But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.” 3וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָעָ֜ם לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֗א כִּי֩ אִם־ נֹ֨ס נָנ֜וּס לֹא־ יָשִׂ֧ימוּ אֵלֵ֣ינוּ לֵ֗ב וְאִם־ יָמֻ֤תוּ חֶצְיֵ֙נוּ֙ לֹֽא־ יָשִׂ֤ימוּ אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ לֵ֔ב כִּֽי־ עַתָּ֥ה כָמֹ֖נוּ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה אֲלָפִ֑ים וְעַתָּ֣ה ט֔וֹב כִּי־ תִֽהְיֶה־ לָּ֥נוּ מֵעִ֖יר [לעזיר] (לַעְזֽוֹר׃) ס
4“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands. 4וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־ יִיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְכָל־ הָעָם֙ יָֽצְא֔וּ לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃
5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom. 5וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־ י֠וֹאָב וְאֶת־ אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת־ אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאַט־ לִ֖י לַנַּ֣עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וְכָל־ הָעָ֣ם שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּצַוֺּ֥ת הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַשָּׂרִ֖ים עַל־ דְּבַ֥ר אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
6So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. 6וַיֵּצֵ֥א הָעָ֛ם הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה בְּיַ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
7There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day— twenty thousand [men]. 7וַיִּנָּ֤גְפוּ שָׁם֙ עַ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַתְּהִי־ שָׁ֞ם הַמַּגֵּפָ֧ה גְדוֹלָ֛ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃
8The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword. 8וַתְּהִי־ שָׁ֧ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה [נפצית] (נָפֹ֖צֶת‪‬) עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י כָל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֶּ֤רֶב הַיַּ֙עַר֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בָּעָ֔ם מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָכְלָ֛ה הַחֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃
9Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair. 9וַיִּקָּרֵא֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹם רֹכֵ֣ב עַל־ הַפֶּ֗רֶד וַיָּבֹ֣א הַפֶּ֡רֶד תַּ֣חַת שׂוֹבֶךְ֩ הָאֵלָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה וַיֶּחֱזַ֧ק רֹאשׁ֣וֹ בָאֵלָ֗ה וַיֻּתַּן֙ בֵּ֤ין הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהַפֶּ֥רֶד אֲשֶׁר־ תַּחְתָּ֖יו עָבָֽר׃
10When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!” 10וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְיוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אֶת־ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם תָּל֖וּי בָּאֵלָֽה׃
11“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten [shekels] of silver and a warrior's belt!” 11וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָאִישׁ֙ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ וּמַדּ֛וּעַ לֹֽא־ הִכִּית֥וֹ שָׁ֖ם אָ֑רְצָה וְעָלַ֗י לָ֤תֶת לְךָ֙ עֲשָׂ֣רָה כֶ֔סֶף וַחֲגֹרָ֖ה אֶחָֽת׃
12The man replied, “Even if a thousand [shekels] of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 12וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִישׁ֙ אֶל־ יוֹאָ֔ב [ולא] (וְל֨וּא‪‬) אָנֹכִ֜י שֹׁקֵ֤ל עַל־ כַּפַּי֙ אֶ֣לֶף כֶּ֔סֶף לֹֽא־ אֶשְׁלַ֥ח יָדִ֖י אֶל־ בֶּן־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י בְאָזְנֵ֜ינוּ צִוָּ֣ה הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֹ֠תְךָ וְאֶת־ אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת־ אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שִׁמְרוּ־ מִ֕י בַּנַּ֖עַר בְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
13If I had jeopardized my own life— and nothing is hidden from the king— you would have abandoned me.” 13אֽוֹ־ עָשִׂ֤יתִי [בנפשו] (בְנַפְשִׁי֙) שֶׁ֔קֶר וְכָל־ דָּבָ֖ר לֹא־ יִכָּחֵ֣ד מִן־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב מִנֶּֽגֶד׃
14But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. 14וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב לֹא־ כֵ֖ן אֹחִ֣ילָה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיִּקַּח֩ שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה שְׁבָטִ֜ים בְּכַפּ֗וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ בְּלֵ֣ב אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י בְּלֵ֥ב הָאֵלָֽה׃
15And ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. 15וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה נְעָרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י כְּלֵ֣י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם וַיְמִיתֻֽהוּ׃
16Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them. 16וַיִּתְקַ֤ע יוֹאָב֙ בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַיָּ֣שָׁב הָעָ֔ם מִרְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ חָשַׂ֥ךְ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת־ הָעָֽם׃
17They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home. 17וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־ אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם וַיַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ אֹת֤וֹ בַיַּ֙עַר֙ אֶל־ הַפַּ֣חַת הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ עָלָ֛יו גַּל־ אֲבָנִ֖ים גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֑ד וְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נָ֖סוּ אִ֥ישׁ [לאהלו] (לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃) ס
18During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom's Monument. 18וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם לָקַ֗ח וַיַּצֶּב־ ל֤וֹ [בחיו] (בְחַיָּיו֙) אֶת־ מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּעֵֽמֶק־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֤י אָמַר֙ אֵֽין־ לִ֣י בֵ֔ן בַּעֲב֖וּר הַזְכִּ֣יר שְׁמִ֑י וַיִּקְרָ֤א לַמַּצֶּ֙בֶת֙ עַל־ שְׁמ֔וֹ וַיִּקָּ֤רֵא לָהּ֙ יַ֣ד אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ ס
19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.” 19וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־ צָדוֹק֙ אָמַ֔ר אָר֣וּצָה נָּ֔א וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה אֶת־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּי־ שְׁפָט֥וֹ יְהוָ֖ה מִיַּ֥ד אֹיְבָֽיו׃
20But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not [do so] today, because the king’s son is dead.” 20וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יוֹאָ֗ב לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה אַתָּה֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ בְּי֣וֹם אַחֵ֑ר וְהַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר כִּֽי־ [על] (עַל־) (כֵּ֥ן‪‬) בֶּן־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵֽת׃
21So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running. 21וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַכּוּשִׁ֔י לֵ֛ךְ הַגֵּ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֑יתָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ כוּשִׁ֛י לְיוֹאָ֖ב וַיָּרֹֽץ׃
22Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?” 22וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹד אֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־ צָדוֹק֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־ יוֹאָ֔ב וִ֣יהִי מָ֔ה אָרֻֽצָה־ נָּ֥א גַם־ אָ֖נִי אַחֲרֵ֣י הַכּוּשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָֽמָּה־ זֶּ֞ה אַתָּ֥ה רָץ֙ בְּנִ֔י וּלְכָ֖ה אֵין־ בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה מֹצֵֽאת׃
23“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. “Then run!” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite. 23וִיהִי־ מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ר֑וּץ וַיָּ֤רָץ אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־ הַכּוּשִֽׁי׃
24Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone. 24וְדָוִ֥ד יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בֵּין־ שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַצֹּפֶ֜ה אֶל־ גַּ֤ג הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ אֶל־ הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂ֤א אֶת־ עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה־ אִ֖ישׁ רָ֥ץ לְבַדּֽוֹ׃
25So [he] called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near, 25וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־ לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃
26the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This [one] also brings news,” said the king. 26וַיַּ֣רְא הַצֹּפֶה֮ אִישׁ־ אַחֵ֣ר רָץ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶל־ הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־ אִ֖ישׁ רָ֣ץ לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ גַּם־ זֶ֥ה מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃
27The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.” 27וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַצֹּפֶ֔ה אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־ מְרוּצַ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת אֲחִימַ֣עַץ בֶּן־ צָד֑וֹק וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אִֽישׁ־ ט֣וֹב זֶ֔ה וְאֶל־ בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה יָבֽוֹא׃
28Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed down facedown before the king. He continued, “Blessed [be] the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 28וַיִּקְרָ֣א אֲחִימַ֗עַץ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שָׁל֔וֹם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָ֑רְצָה ס וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּרוּךְ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר סִגַּר֙ אֶת־ הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־ נָשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־ יָדָ֖ם בַּֽאדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
29The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.” 29וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחִימַ֡עַץ רָאִיתִי֩ הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּד֜וֹל לִ֠שְׁלֹחַ אֶת־ עֶ֨בֶד הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יוֹאָב֙ וְאֶת־ עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי מָֽה׃
30“Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” So he stepped aside. 30וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ סֹ֖ב הִתְיַצֵּ֣ב כֹּ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֖ב וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד׃
31Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!” 31וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכּוּשִׁ֖י בָּ֑א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־ שְׁפָטְךָ֤ יְהוָה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם מִיַּ֖ד כָּל־ הַקָּמִ֥ים עָלֶֽיךָ׃ ס
32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.” 32וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ הַכּוּשִׁ֔י הֲשָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִהְי֤וּ כַנַּ֙עַר֙ אֹֽיְבֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ קָ֥מוּ עָלֶ֖יךָ לְרָעָֽה׃ ס
33The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 33וַיִּרְגַּ֣ז הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיַּ֛עַל עַל־ עֲלִיַּ֥ת הַשַּׁ֖עַר וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וְכֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר בְּלֶכְתּ֗וֹ בְּנִ֤י אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ בְּנִ֣י בְנִ֣י אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִֽי־ יִתֵּ֤ן מוּתִי֙ אֲנִ֣י תַחְתֶּ֔יךָ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּנִ֥י בְנִֽי׃
Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.

Westminster Leningrad Codex text courtesy of www.tanach.us
Hebrew Transliteration Via ALittleHebrew.com
Strong's Tagging via Open Scriptures, David Troidl and Christopher Kimball
Morphology in partnership with Helps Bible

Section Headings Courtesy INT Bible © 2012, Used by Permission

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2 Samuel 17
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