2 Samuel 15

1 Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him.

וַֽיְהִי֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לֹו֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה וְסֻסִ֑ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃

2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”

וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום וְעָמַ֕ד עַל־יַ֖ד דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיְהִ֡י כָּל־הָאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לֹּו־רִיב֩ לָבֹ֨וא אֶל־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְשָׁלֹ֤ום אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙ אַ֔תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֵאַחַ֥ד שִׁבְטֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום רְאֵ֥ה דְבָרֶ֖ךָ טֹובִ֣ים וּנְכֹחִ֑ים וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ אֵין־לְךָ֖ מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

4 And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום מִי־יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָבֹ֥וא כָּל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לֹּו־רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃

5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

וְהָיָה֙ בִּקְרָב־אִ֔ישׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֖ת לֹ֑ו וְשָׁלַ֧ח אֶת־יָדֹ֛ו וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק לֹ֖ו וְנָ֥שַׁק לֹֽו׃

6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַבְשָׁלֹ֜ום כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֥אוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום אֶת־לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

7 After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.

וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם אֶת־נִדְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־נָדַ֥רְתִּי לַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּחֶבְרֹֽון׃

8 For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’”

כִּי־נֵ֙דֶר֙ נָדַ֣ר עַבְדְּךָ֔ בְּשִׁבְתִּ֥י בִגְשׁ֛וּר בַּאֲרָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יְשִׁיב (יָשֹׁ֨וב) יְשִׁיבֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וְעָבַדְתִּ֖י אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃

9 “Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.

וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לֹ֥ו הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ חֶבְרֹֽונָה׃ פ

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־קֹ֣ול הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁלֹ֖ום בְּחֶבְרֹֽון׃

11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter.

וְאֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹ֗ום הָלְכ֞וּ מָאתַ֤יִם אִישׁ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם קְרֻאִ֖ים וְהֹלְכִ֣ים לְתֻמָּ֑ם וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ כָּל־דָּבָֽר׃

12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אַ֠בְשָׁלֹום אֶת־אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל הַגִּֽילֹנִ֜י יֹועֵ֣ץ דָּוִ֗ד מֵֽעִירֹו֙ מִגִּלֹ֔ה בְּזָבְחֹ֖ו אֶת־הַזְּבָחִ֑ים וַיְהִ֤י הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ אַמִּ֔ץ וְהָעָ֛ם הֹולֵ֥ךְ וָרָ֖ב אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹֽום׃

13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמַּגִּ֔יד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הָיָ֛ה לֶב־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֹֽום׃

14 And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּ֠וִד לְכָל־עֲבָדָ֨יו אֲשֶׁר־אִתֹּ֤ו בִירוּשָׁלַ֙͏ִם֙ ק֣וּמוּ וְנִבְרָ֔חָה כִּ֛י לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ פְלֵיטָ֖ה מִפְּנֵ֣י אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום מַהֲר֣וּ לָלֶ֗כֶת פֶּן־יְמַהֵ֤ר וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ וְהִדִּ֤יחַ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וְהִכָּ֥ה הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

15 The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כְּכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֛ר אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

16 Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־בֵּיתֹ֖ו בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת׃

17 So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house,

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּרְחָֽק׃

18 and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath.

וְכָל־עֲבָדָיו֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים עַל־יָדֹ֔ו וְכָל־הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְכָל־הַפְּלֵתִ֑י וְכָֽל־הַגִּתִּ֞ים שֵׁשׁ־מֵאֹ֣ות אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֤אוּ בְרַגְלֹו֙ מִגַּ֔ת עֹבְרִ֖ים עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֔י לָ֧מָּה תֵלֵ֛ךְ גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ שׁ֣וּב וְשֵׁ֤ב עִם־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כִּֽי־נָכְרִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וְגַם־גֹּלֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה לִמְקֹומֶֽךָ׃

20 In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”

תְּמֹ֣ול ׀ בֹּואֶ֗ךָ וְהַיֹּ֞ום אֲנֹועֲךָ (אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤) עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת וַאֲנִ֣י הֹולֵ֔ךְ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֖י הֹולֵ֑ךְ שׁ֣וּב וְהָשֵׁ֧ב אֶת־אַחֶ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃

21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”

וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי־יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם־בִּמְקֹ֞ום אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֣ם ׀ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם־לְמָ֙וֶת֙ אִם־לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי־שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

22 “March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־אִתַּ֖י לֵ֣ךְ וַעֲבֹ֑ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר אִתַּ֤י הַגִּתִּי֙ וְכָל־אֲנָשָׁ֔יו וְכָל־הַטַּ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתֹּֽו׃

23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.

וְכָל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בֹּוכִים֙ קֹ֣ול גָּדֹ֔ול וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם עֹֽבְרִ֑ים וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹבֵר֙ בְּנַ֣חַל קִדְרֹ֔ון וְכָל־הָעָם֙ עֹבְרִ֔ים עַל־פְּנֵי־דֶ֖רֶךְ אֶת־הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃

24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had passed out of the city.

וְהִנֵּ֨ה גַם־צָדֹ֜וק וְכָֽל־הַלְוִיִּ֣ם אִתֹּ֗ו נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־אֲרֹון֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ אֶת־אֲרֹ֣ון הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּ֖עַל אֶבְיָתָ֑ר עַד־תֹּ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לַעֲבֹ֥ור מִן־הָעִֽיר׃

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְצָדֹ֔וק הָשֵׁ֛ב אֶת־אֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הָעִ֑יר אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי וְהִרְאַ֥נִי אֹתֹ֖ו וְאֶת־נָוֵֽהוּ׃

26 But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”

וְאִם֙ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֔ר לֹ֥א חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּ֑ךְ הִנְנִ֕י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר טֹ֖וב בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ ס

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־צָדֹ֣וק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הֲרֹואֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁלֹ֑ום וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהֹונָתָ֧ן בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃

28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

רְאוּ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ בְּעַבְרֹות (בְּעַֽרְבֹ֖ות) הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַ֣ד בֹּ֥וא דָבָ֛ר מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַגִּ֥יד לִֽי׃

29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָדֹ֧וק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־אֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

וְדָוִ֡ד עֹלֶה֩ בְמַעֲלֵ֨ה הַזֵּיתִ֜ים עֹלֶ֣ה ׀ וּבֹוכֶ֗ה וְרֹ֥אשׁ לֹו֙ חָפ֔וּי וְה֖וּא הֹלֵ֣ךְ יָחֵ֑ף וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתֹּ֗ו חָפוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ רֹאשֹׁ֔ו וְעָל֥וּ עָלֹ֖ה וּבָכֹֽה׃

31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

וְדָוִד֙ הִגִּ֣יד לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים עִם־אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד סַכֶּל־נָ֛א אֶת־עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל יְהוָֽה׃

32 When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

וַיְהִ֤י דָוִד֙ בָּ֣א עַד־הָרֹ֔אשׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֤ה לִקְרָאתֹו֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י קָר֙וּעַ֙ כֻּתָּנְתֹּ֔ו וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֹֽׁו׃

33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לֹ֖ו דָּוִ֑ד אִ֚ם עָבַ֣רְתָּ אִתִּ֔י וְהָיִ֥תָ עָלַ֖י לְמַשָּֽׂא׃

34 But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’

וְאִם־הָעִ֣יר תָּשׁ֗וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ לְאַבְשָׁלֹום֙ עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֲנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה עֶ֣בֶד אָבִ֤יךָ וַֽאֲנִי֙ מֵאָ֔ז וְעַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְהֵפַרְתָּ֣ה לִ֔י אֵ֖ת עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃

35 Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.

וַהֲלֹ֤וא עִמְּךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם צָדֹ֥וק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמַע֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּגִּ֕יד לְצָדֹ֥וק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”

הִנֵּה־שָׁ֤ם עִמָּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחִימַ֣עַץ לְצָדֹ֔וק וִיהֹונָתָ֖ן לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם בְּיָדָם֙ אֵלַ֔י כָּל־דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃

37 So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

וַיָּבֹ֥א חוּשַׁ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד הָעִ֑יר וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יָבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃