2 صَمُوئيل 3

١ 1 وَطَالَتِ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَ بَيْتِ شَاوُلَ وَبَيْتِ دَاوُدَ، وَكَانَ دَاوُدُ يَزْدَادُ قُوَّةً وَبْيتُ شَاوُلَ يَتَفَاقَمُ ضَعْفاً.

Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

٢ 2 وَأَنْجَبَ دَاوُدُ بَنِينَ فِي حَبْرُونَ، كَانَ أَكْبَرُهُمْ أَمْنُونَ مِنْ أَخِينُوعَمَ الْيَزْرَعِيلِيَّةِ.

And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

٣ 3 وَالثَّانِي كِيلآبُ مِنْ أَبِيجَايِلَ أَرْمَلَةِ نَابَالَ الْكَرْمَلِيِّ، وَالثَّالِثُ أَبْشَالُومُ ابْنُ مَعْكَةَ بِنْتِ تَلْمَايَ مَلِكِ جَشُورَ،

his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

٤ 4 وَالَّرابِعُ أَدُونِيَّا بْنُ حَجِّيثَ، وَالْخَامِسُ شَفْطِيَّا بْنُ أَبِيطَالَ،

his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

٥ 5 وَالسَّادِسُ يَثْرَعَامُ ابْنُ عَجْلَةَ امْرَأَةِ دَاوُدَ.

and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

٦ 6 وَفِي غُضُونِ الْحَرْبِ الَّتِي نَشَبَتْ بَيْنَ بَيْتِ شاوُلَ وَبَيْتِ دَاوُدَ قَوِيَ نُفُوذُ أَبْنَيْرَ فِي أَوْسَاطِ بَيْتِ شَاوُلَ.

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.

٧ 7 وَكَانَ لِشَاوُلَ مَحْظِيَّةٌ اسْمُهَا رِصْفَةُ بِنْتُ أَيَّةَ، فَقَالَ إِيشْبُوشَثُ لأَبْنَيْرَ: «لِمَاذَا ضَاجَعْتَ مَحْظِيَّةَ أَبِي؟»

Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

٨ 8 فَاسْتَشَاطَ أَبْنَيْرُ غَيْظاً مِنْ كَلامِ إِيشْبُوشَثَ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: «هَلْ أَنَا رَأْسُ كَلْبٍ لِيَهُوذَا! إِلَى هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَأَنَا أَبْذِلُ وَلائِي فِي سَبِيلِ بَيْتِ شَاوُلَ وَإِخْوَتِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، وَلَمْ أُسَلِّمْكَ لِيَدِ دَاوُدَ، والآنَ تَتَّهِمُنِي بِانْتِهَاكِ عِرْضِ الْمَرْأَةِ؟

Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!

٩ 9 لِيُعَاقِبِ الرَّبُّ أَبْنَيْرَ أَشَّدَ عِقَابٍ إِنْ لَمْ أُنَاصِرْ دَاوُدَ كَمَا وَعَدَه الرَّبُّ

May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:

١٠ 10 أَنْ يَنْقُلَ الْمَمْلَكَةَ مِنْ بَيْتِ شَاوُلَ وَيُوَلِّيَهُ عَلَى عَرْشِ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَيَهُوذَا مِنْ دَانَ إِلَى بِئْرِ سَبْعٍ».

to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

١١ 11 فَلَمْ يَنْبَسْ إِيشْبُوشَثُ بِحَرْفٍ خَوْفاً مِنْ أَبْنَيْرَ.

And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

١٢ 12 وَبَعَثَ أَبْنَيْرُ عَلَى الْفَوْرِ رُسُلاً إِلَى دَاوُدَ قَاِئلاً: «مَنْ هُوَ صَاحِبُ الْبِلادِ؟ أَبْرِمْ مَعِي مِيثَاقاً فَأُناصِرَكَ بِضَمِّ جَمِيعِ أَسْباطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَيْكَ».

Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

١٣ 13 فَأَجَابَهُ دَاوُدُ: «حَسَناً، أَنَا أُبْرِمُ مَعَكَ مِيثَاقاً، إِلّا أَنَّنِي أَشْتَرِطُ عَلَيْكَ أَمْراً وَاحِداً، هُوَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ أَوَّلاً بِمِيكَالَ بِنْتِ شَاوُلَ حِينَ تَأْتِي لِمُقَابَلَتِي، وَإلَّا فَلَنْ تَرَى وَجْهِي».

“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”

١٤ 14 وَبَعَثَ دَاوُدُ رُسُلاً إِلَى إيشْبُوشَثَ بْنِ شَاوُلَ قَائِلاً: «أَعْطِنِي امْرَأَتِي مِيكَالَ الَّتِي خَطَبْتُهَا بِمِئَةٍ مِنْ غُلَفِ الْفِلسْطِينِيِّينَ».

Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

١٥ 15 فَأَرْسَلَ إِيشْبُوشَثُ وَأَخَذَهَا مِنْ عِنْدِ رَجُلِهَا فَلْطِيئِيلَ بْنِ لايِشَ.

So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

١٦ 16 فَرَاحَ رَجُلُهَا يَسِيرُ مَعَهَا بَاكِياً وَرَاءَهَا حَتَّى مَدِينَةِ بَحُورِيمَ، إِلَى أَنْ أَمَرَهُ أَبْنَيْرُ: «امْضِ. ارْجِعْ». فَرَجَعَ.

Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

١٧ 17 وَقَالَ أَبْنَيْرُ لِشُيُوخِ إِسْرَائِيلَ: «مُنْذُ زَمَنٍ وَأَنْتُمْ تُطَالِبُونَ أَنْ يَكُونَ دَاوُدُ عَلَيْكُمْ مَلِكاً.

Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.

١٨ 18 فَالآنَ افْعَلُوا، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ وَعَدَ دَاوُدَ قَائِلاً: بِقِيَادَةِ دَاوُدَ عَبْدِي أُنْقِذُ شَعْبِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنَ الْفِلِسْطِينِيِّينَ وَمِنْ سَاِئرِ أَعْدَائِهِمْ».

Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”

١٩ 19 ثُمَّ تَدَاوَلَ أَبْنَيْرُ الأَمْرَ مَعَ شُيُوخِ سِبْطِ بِنْيَامِينَ، وَبَعْدَ ذَلِكَ تَوَجَّهَ إِلَى حَبْرُونَ لِيُبَلِّغَ دَاوُدَ مَا تَمَّ الاتِّفَاقُ عَلَيْهِ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ رُؤُسَاءِ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

٢٠ 20 وَجَاءَ أَبْنَيْرُ إِلَى دَاوُدَ فِي حَبْرُونَ بِصُحْبَةِ عِشْرِينَ رَجُلاً، فَأَقَامَ دَاوُدُ مَأْدُبَةً لَهُمْ،

When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

٢١ 21 ثُمَّ قَالَ ابْنَيْرُ لِدَاوُدَ: «دَعْنِي أَذْهَبُ عَلَى الْفَوْرِ لأَجْمَعَ لِسَيِّدِي الْمَلِكِ جَمِيعَ أَسْبَاطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ لِيُبَايِعُوكَ مَلِكاً عَلَيْهِمْ فَيَتَحَقَّقَ مَا تَصْبُو إِلَيْهِ». فَشَيَّعَهُ دَاوُدُ وَمَضَى بِسَلامٍ.

Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

٢٢ 22 وَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ وَصَلَ يُوآبُ مَعَ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ قَادِمِينَ مِنْ غَزْوَةٍ أَصَابُوا فِيهَا غَنِيمَةً عَظِيمَةً. وكَانَ أَبْنَيْرُ آنَئِذٍ قَدْ غَادَرَ حَبْرُونَ بَعْدَ أنْ شَيَّعَهُ دَاوُدُ بِسَلامٍ.

Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace.

٢٣ 23 فَقِيلَ لِيُوآبَ: «قَدْ وَفَدَ أَبْنَيْرُ بْنُ نَيْرٍ عَلَى الْمَلِكِ، فَأَطْلَقَهُ الْمَلِكُ مُشَيَّعاً بِالسَّلامَةِ».

When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”

٢٤ 24 فَمَثُلَ يُوآبُ فِي حَضْرَةِ الْمَلِكِ وَقَالَ: «مَاذَا فَعَلْتَ؟ لَقَدْ أَقْبَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَبْنَيْرُ، فَلِمَاذَا تَرَكْتَهُ يَمْضِي بِسَلامٍ؟

So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!

٢٥ 25 أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَبْنَيْرَ بْنَ نَيْرَ لَمْ يَأْتِ إِلّا لِيَتَمَلَّقَكَ وَيَتَجَسَّسَ عَلَيْكَ وَيَطَّلِعَ عَلَى كُلِّ مَا تَصْنَعُ».

Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

٢٦ 26 ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يُوآبُ مِنْ لَدُنِ دَاوُدَ وَأَرْسَلَ رُسُلاً وَرَاءَ أَبْنَيْرَ فَرَدُّوهُ مِنْ بِئْرِ السِّيرَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلْمِ دَاوُدَ.

As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.

٢٧ 27 وَعِنْدَمَا رَجَعَ أَبْنَيْرُ إِلَى حَبْرُونَ انْتَحَى بِهِ يُوآبُ جَانِباً عِنْدَ مُنْتَصَفِ بَوَّابَةِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَكَأَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُسِرَّ إِلَيْهِ بِشَيْءٍ، وَطَعَنَهُ فِي بَطْنِهِ فَمَاتَ انْتِقَاماً لِدَمِ عَسَائِيلَ.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

٢٨ 28 وَمَا إِنْ عَلِمَ دَاوُدُ بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَالَ: «بَرِيءٌ أَنَا وَمَمْلَكَتِي أَمَامَ الرَّبِّ إِلَى الأَبَدِ مِنْ دَمِ أَبْنَيْرَ بْنِ نَيْرٍ.

Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.

٢٩ 29 وَلْيَنْصَبَّ دَمُهُ عَلَى رَأْسِ يُوآبَ وَعَلَى كُلِّ بَيْتِ أَبِيهِ، وَلا يَنْقَطِعُ مِنْ بَيْتِ يُوآبَ مُصَابٌ بِالسَّيَلانِ وَبِالْبَرَصِ وَبِالْعَرَجِ، وَصَرِيعٌ بِالسَّيْفِ وَمُفْتَقِرٌ إِلَى الْخُبْزِ».

May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”

٣٠ 30 وَهَكَذَا قَتَلَ يُوآبُ وَأَبِيشَايُ أَخُوهُ أَبْنَيْرَ ثَأْراً لِسَفْكِهِ دَمِ عَسَائِيلَ أَخِيهِمَا فِي جِبْعُونَ فِي الْحَرْبِ.

(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

٣١ 31 وَأَمَرَ دَاوُدُ يُوآبَ وَسَائِرَ الشَّعْبِ الَّذِي مَعَهُ قَاِئلاً: «مَزِّقُوا ثِيَابَكُمْ وَارْتَدُوا الْمُسُوحَ، وَالْطِمُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ نَوْحاً عَلَى أَبْنَيْرَ». وَكَانَ دَاوُدُ الْمَلِكُ يَمْشِي خَلْفَ النَّعْشِ.

Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

٣٢ 32 وَتَمَّ دَفْنُ أَبْنَيْرَ فِي حَبْرُونَ، وَنَاحَ الْمَلِكُ بِصَوْتٍ مُرْتَفِعٍ عَلَى قَبْرِ أَبْنَيْرَ وَبَكَاهُ جَمِيعُ الشَّعْبِ.

When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.

٣٣ 33 وَرَثَا الْمَلِكُ أَبْنَيْرَ قَائِلاً: «أَهَكَذَا يَمُوتُ أَبْنَيْرُ كَمَوْتِ أَحْمَقَ؟

And the king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner die the death of a fool?

٣٤ 34 يَدَاكَ لَمْ تَكُونَا مَغْلُولَتَيْنِ، وَرِجْلاكَ لَمْ تَكُونَا مُصَفَّدَتَيْنِ بِسَلاسِلِ النُّحَاسِ. مُتَّ كَمَنْ يَصْرَعُهُ الأَشْرَارُ». وَعَادَ جَمِيعُ الشَّعبِ يَنْدُبُونَهُ مِنْ جَدِيدٍ.

Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people wept over him even more.

٣٥ 35 وَعِنْدَمَا جَاءَ مَنْ يُقَدِّمُ لِدَاوُدَ طَعَاماً فِي أَثْنَاءِ النَّهَارِ، أَقْسَمَ دَاوُدُ قَائِلاً: «لِيُعَاقِبْنِي الرَّبُّ أَشَدَّ عِقَابٍ وَيَزِدْ، إِنْ كُنْتُ أَذُوقُ خُبْزاً أَوْ أَيَّ شَيْءٍ آخَرَ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ».

Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

٣٦ 36 فَذَاعَ الأَمْرُ بَيْنَ الشَّعْبِ وَحَظِيَ دَاوُدُ بِرِضَاهُمْ مِثْلَمَا حَظِيَ بِرِضَاهُمْ بِمَآثِرِهِ السَّابِقَةِ.

All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.

٣٧ 37 وَأَدْرَكَ كُلُّ شَعْبِ إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْمَلِكِ يَدٌ فِي مَقْتَلِ أَبْنَيْرَ بْنِ نَيْرٍ.

So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

٣٨ 38 وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِحَاشِيَتِهِ: «أَلا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ قَائِداً وَرَجُلاً عَظِيماً قَدْ سَقَطَ الْيَوْمَ فِي إِسْرَائِيلَ؟

Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel?

٣٩ 39 وَهَا أَنَا، عَلَى الرَّغْمِ مِنْ أَنَّنِي الْمَلِكُ الْمَمْسُوحُ، فَإِنَّنِي أَضْعَفُ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ صُرُوِيَّةَ؟ إنَّهُمْ أَقْوَى مِنِّي. لِيُجَازِ الرَّبُّ مُرْتَكِبَ الشَّرِّ بِمُوْجِبِ شَرِّهِ».

And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”