2 Samuel 15

1 And after this Absalom began to furnish himself with a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

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

2 And Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road. Then when anyone had a dispute which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom would call out to him and say, "What city are you from?" When he said, "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 then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your matters are good and right; but there is no one from the king to hear you."

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

4 And Absalom would say, "Oh that I were made judge in the land, then anyone who had a 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 It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he would extend his hand and embrace him, and kiss him.

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

6 Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom 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 It happened at the end of four years, that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

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

8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Aram, saying, 'If the LORD will bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD in Hebron.'"

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

9 The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he arose, and went to Hebron.

וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לֹ֥ו הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ חֶבְרֹֽונָה׃ פ

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"

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

11 Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they did not know anything.

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

12 And he sent and invited Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh, where he was offering sacrifice. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

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

13 A messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom."

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

14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee, otherwise none of us shall escape from Absalom. Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring down the city on top of us, and strike the city with the edge of 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 Then the king's servants said to him, "Look, your servants are ready to do whatever the king chooses."

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

16 And the king went out with all his household following him. But the king left ten women, who were secondary wives, to take care of the palace.

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

17 So the king went out with all his servants following him, and they stopped at the last house.

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּרְחָֽק׃

18 And all the people passed on before him. And all those with him, all the officers and warriors, were six hundred men, and they passed on before him. And when all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites who followed him from Gath passed on before the king.

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 do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and you also are an exile from your place.

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

20 You came only yesterday. Should I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back, and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD show you kindness and truth."

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

21 Ittai answered the king, and said, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also 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 So David said to Ittai, "Go and pass over." Then Ittai passed over, and 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 And all the land wept aloud as all the people crossed over. And the king crossed the Wadi Kidron, and all the people passed before him on the Olive road into the wilderness.

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

24 And look, Zadok also came (and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD) and Abiathar. And they set down the ark of God until all the people finished passing by from 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 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 show me both it and his dwelling place;

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 have no delight in you;' look, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him."

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

27 And the king said also to Zadok the priest, "Look, you return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

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

28 Look, 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 carried the ark to Jerusalem and returned it there.

וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָדֹ֧וק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־אֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃

30 And David went up by the Ascent of the Olives, and wept as he went, and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they 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 And it had been told to David, saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." David said, "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 It happened that when David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, look, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth 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 pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לֹ֖ו דָּוִ֑ד אִ֚ם עָבַ֣רְתָּ אִתִּ֔י וְהָיִ֥תָ עָלַ֖י לְמַשָּֽׂא׃

34 but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, 'Your brothers have left, O king, after your father left, and now I am your servant, O king. Allow me to live. As I have been your father's servant in the past, so now I am your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

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

35 And look, Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. So whatever you hear from the king's house you must tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

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

36 Look, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. And by them you must send to me everything that you hear."

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

37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

וַיָּבֹ֥א חוּשַׁ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד הָעִ֑יר וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יָבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃