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Hebrew Study Bible

1David mustered his forces and appointed officers in charge of regiments and companies.

1וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שָׂרֵ֥י אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י מֵאֽוֹת׃

2Dividing his forces into three groups, he set Joab as commander of one third of his army, Zeruiah's son Abishai, Joab's brother, as commander of another third, and Ittai from Gath as commander of another third. The king informed the army, "I'm going out to battle with you, too."

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׃

3"No way!" his army responded. "If we have to retreat from the battle, Absalom's men won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care about us. But you are worth 10,000 of us. The best thing you can do for us is to remain in 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

4So David responded, "I'll do what you think best." Then he stood alongside the city gate as the army went out in battle array by hundreds and thousands.

4וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־ יִיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְכָל־ הָעָם֙ יָֽצְא֔וּ לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃

5As they were going out, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, "Treat young Absalom gently for my sake." Everyone heard what the king had ordered his commanders about 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׃

6David's army left for the battlefield to fight Absalom and his Israeli followers, and they also fought in the Ephraim forest,

6וַיֵּצֵ֥א הָעָ֛ם הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה בְּיַ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

7where David's army of servants defeated the Israelis. Many died that day—20,000 men.

7וַיִּנָּ֤גְפוּ שָׁם֙ עַ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַתְּהִי־ שָׁ֞ם הַמַּגֵּפָ֧ה גְדוֹלָ֛ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃

8The battle spread throughout the entire countryside, and the forest claimed more casualties that day than did the sword fighting.

8וַתְּהִי־ שָׁ֧ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה [נפצית] (נָפֹ֖צֶת‪‬) עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י כָל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֶּ֤רֶב הַיַּ֙עַר֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בָּעָ֔ם מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָכְלָ֛ה הַחֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃

9Absalom happened to run into David's soldiers. While Absalom was trying to get away on his mule, it ran under the thick branches of a giant oak tree, and Absalom's head got caught in the tree! As his mule ran out from under him, Absalom was left hanging above the ground.

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 soldiers saw what had happened, he told Joab, "I saw Absalom stuck in an oak tree!"

10וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְיוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אֶת־ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם תָּל֖וּי בָּאֵלָֽה׃

11Joab asked the man who was reporting to him, "What! You saw him? Why didn't you kill him right then and there? I would've given you ten pieces of silver and a warrior's sash!"

11וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָאִישׁ֙ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ וּמַדּ֛וּעַ לֹֽא־ הִכִּית֥וֹ שָׁ֖ם אָ֑רְצָה וְעָלַ֗י לָ֤תֶת לְךָ֙ עֲשָׂ֣רָה כֶ֔סֶף וַחֲגֹרָ֖ה אֶחָֽת׃

12But the soldier replied to Joab, "I wouldn't have touched the king's son even if you dropped 1,000 pieces of silver right into my hands, because we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, 'Watch how you treat the young man Absalom!'

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 taken his life, the king would have uncovered everything about it, and you would never have protected me!"

13אֽוֹ־ עָשִׂ֤יתִי [בנפשו] (בְנַפְשִׁי֙) שֶׁ֔קֶר וְכָל־ דָּבָ֖ר לֹא־ יִכָּחֵ֣ד מִן־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב מִנֶּֽגֶד׃

14"There's no reason to wait for you!" Joab retorted. Then he took three spears in his hand and stabbed Absalom in the heart while he was still alive, dangling from the branches of the oak tree.

14וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב לֹא־ כֵ֖ן אֹחִ֣ילָה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיִּקַּח֩ שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה שְׁבָטִ֜ים בְּכַפּ֗וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ בְּלֵ֣ב אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י בְּלֵ֥ב הָאֵלָֽה׃

15Ten young men who served as Joab's personal assistants then surrounded Absalom, striking him repeatedly and killing him.

15וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה נְעָרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י כְּלֵ֣י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם וַיְמִיתֻֽהוּ׃

16At this, Joab sounded his battle trumpet and his troops stopped pursuing the other Israelis.

16וַיִּתְקַ֤ע יוֹאָב֙ בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַיָּ֣שָׁב הָעָ֔ם מִרְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ חָשַׂ֥ךְ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת־ הָעָֽם׃

17Meanwhile, Joab's army grabbed Absalom's body, tossed it into a large pit in the forest, and filled it up with a huge pile of rocks. Then the Israelis ran away back to their homes.

17וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־ אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם וַיַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ אֹת֤וֹ בַיַּ֙עַר֙ אֶל־ הַפַּ֣חַת הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ עָלָ֛יו גַּל־ אֲבָנִ֖ים גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֑ד וְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נָ֖סוּ אִ֥ישׁ [לאהלו] (לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃) ס

18While Absalom had been living, he had erected a pillar as a monument to himself in King's Valley because he had been telling himself, "I don't have a son to carry on my family name." So he named the pillar after himself—it's called Absalom's Monument even today.

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

19Zadok's son Ahimaaz told Joab, "Let me run over to King David and take him the news. I'll mention that the LORD has delivered him from his enemies."

19וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־ צָדוֹק֙ אָמַ֔ר אָר֣וּצָה נָּ֔א וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה אֶת־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּי־ שְׁפָט֥וֹ יְהוָ֖ה מִיַּ֥ד אֹיְבָֽיו׃

20But Joab answered Ahimaaz, "You're not the man to deliver news today. Do it any other time, but not 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 ordered a man from Ethiopia, "Go tell the king what you've seen." So the Ethiopian saluted Joab and then ran to tell David.

21וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַכּוּשִׁ֔י לֵ֛ךְ הַגֵּ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֑יתָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ כוּשִׁ֛י לְיוֹאָ֖ב וַיָּרֹֽץ׃

22"Please," Zadok's son Ahimaaz continued, "No matter what happens, let me follow the Ethiopian!" Joab asked him, "Why this request to run, my son? There's no reward in it for you."

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'm running," Ahimaaz replied. So Joab told Ahimaaz, "Run!" And Ahimaaz ran, taking the Jordan Valley road, passing the Ethiopian.

23וִיהִי־ מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ר֑וּץ וַיָּ֤רָץ אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־ הַכּוּשִֽׁי׃

24Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself!

24וְדָוִ֥ד יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בֵּין־ שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַצֹּפֶ֜ה אֶל־ גַּ֤ג הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ אֶל־ הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂ֤א אֶת־ עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה־ אִ֖ישׁ רָ֥ץ לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

25So the watchman called out his news to the king. The king responded, "If he's alone, he's bringing some news to report." As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace,

25וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־ לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃

26the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, "There's another man running by himself!" The king replied, "He's also bringing some news to report!"

26וַיַּ֣רְא הַצֹּפֶה֮ אִישׁ־ אַחֵ֣ר רָץ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶל־ הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־ אִ֖ישׁ רָ֣ץ לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ גַּם־ זֶ֥ה מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃

27Then the watchman observed, "It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok's son Ahimaaz!" The king replied, "This is a good man bearing good news!"

27וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַצֹּפֶ֔ה אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־ מְרוּצַ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת אֲחִימַ֣עַץ בֶּן־ צָד֑וֹק וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אִֽישׁ־ ט֣וֹב זֶ֔ה וְאֶל־ בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה יָבֽוֹא׃

28"Everything's fine!" Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground before the king and said, "Praise be to the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty 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׃

29"Are things fine with respect to the young man Absalom?" the king asked. Ahimaaz answered, "I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king's courier and me, your servant, but I'm not sure what was going on."

29וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחִימַ֡עַץ רָאִיתִי֩ הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּד֜וֹל לִ֠שְׁלֹחַ אֶת־ עֶ֨בֶד הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יוֹאָב֙ וְאֶת־ עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי מָֽה׃

30The king replied, "Stand here at attention and wait." So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting.

30וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ סֹ֖ב הִתְיַצֵּ֣ב כֹּ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֖ב וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד׃

31Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He reported, "Good news, your majesty the king! The LORD has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!"

31וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכּוּשִׁ֖י בָּ֑א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־ שְׁפָטְךָ֤ יְהוָה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם מִיַּ֖ד כָּל־ הַקָּמִ֥ים עָלֶֽיךָ׃ ס

32The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is the young man safe?" The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of your majesty the king—including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you—become like that young man…."

32וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ הַכּוּשִׁ֔י הֲשָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִהְי֤וּ כַנַּ֙עַר֙ אֹֽיְבֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ קָ֥מוּ עָלֶ֖יךָ לְרָעָֽה׃ ס

33 Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, "My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, 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׃

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.