Ii Samuelis 15

1 Igitur post haec fecit sibi Absalom currus, et equites, et quinquaginta viros, qui praecederent eum.

Some time later, Absalom acquired a chariot and horses [to pull it]. He [hired] 50 men to run in front of him [to honor him while he was riding around Jerusalem in the chariot].

2 Et mane consurgens Absalom, stabat iuxta introitum portae in via, et omnem virum, qui habebat negotium ut veniret ad regis iudicium, vocabat Absalom ad se, et dicebat: De qua civitate es tu? Qui respondens aiebat: Ex una tribu Israel ego sum servus tuus.

Furthermore, he always rose early [each morning] and stood by the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute/quarrel that he wanted the king to decide, Absalom would call out to him, asking “What city are you from?” When the person told him what [city and] tribe he was from,

3 Respondebatque ei Absalom: Videntur mihi sermones tui boni et iusti. Sed non est qui te audiat constitutus a rege. dicebatque Absalom:

Absalom would say to him, “Listen, [I am sure that] what you are saying/claiming is right. But there is no one whom the king has appointed/authorized to listen to [people like] you.”

4 Quis me constituat iudicem super terram, ut ad me veniant omnes, qui habent negotium, et iuste iudicem?

Absalom would then add, “I wish that I were a judge in this land. If I were a judge, anyone who had a dispute could come to me, and I would decide it fairly/justly.”

5 Sed et cum accederet ad eum homo ut salutaret illum, extendebat manum suam, et apprehendens, osculabatur eum.

And whenever anyone came near to Absalom to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and embrace him and kiss him.

6 Faciebatque hoc omni Israel venienti ad iudicium, ut audiretur a rege, et solicitabat corda virorum Israel.

Absalom did this to everyone in Israel who came to the king because of having a dispute with someone. In that way, Absalom persuaded all the Israeli people to be more pleased with him [IDM] [than they were pleased with David].

7 Post quattuor autem annos, dixit Absalom ad regem David: Vadam, et reddam vota mea quae vovi Domino in Hebron.

Four years later, Absalom [went to] the king and said, “Please allow me to go to Hebron [city], in order that I can do what I promised Yahweh that I would do.

8 Vovens enim vovit servus tuus, cum esset in Gessur Syriae, dicens: Si reduxerit me Dominus in Ierusalem, sacrificabo Domino.

When I was living in Geshur, in Syria, I promised Yahweh that if he brought me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him [in Hebron].”

9 Dixitque ei rex David: Vade in pace. Et surrexit, et abiit in Hebron.

The king replied, “You may go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.

10 Misit autem Absalom exploratores in universas tribus Israel, dicens: Statim ut audieritis clangorem buccinae, dicite: Regnabit Absalom in Hebron.

But [while he was there, ] he secretly sent messengers to all the tribes in Israel, to tell them, “When you hear the sound of the trumpets [being blown], shout ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”

11 Porro cum Absalom ierunt ducenti viri de Ierusalem vocati, euntes simplici corde, et causam penitus ignorantes.

Absalom had taken with him to Hebron 200 men from Jerusalem, but they did not know [what Absalom was planning to do].

12 Accersivit quoque Absalom Achitophel Gilonitem consiliarium David, de civitate sua Gilo. Cumque immolaret victimas, facta est coniuratio valida, populusque concurrens augebatur cum Absalom.

While Absalom was offering sacrifices [at Hebron], he sent a message to Ahithophel, from Giloh [town], requesting him to come. Ahithophel was one of the king’s advisors. So the number of people who joined Absalom and who were ready to rebel [against David] became larger.

13 Venit igitur nuncius ad David, dicens: Toto corde universus Israel sequitur Absalom.

Soon a messenger came to David and said to him, “All [HYP] the Israeli people [SYN] are joining Absalom to rebel against you!”

14 Et ait David servis suis, qui erant cum eo in Ierusalem: Surgite, fugiamus: neque enim erit nobis effugium a facie Absalom: festinate egredi, ne forte veniens occupet nos, et impleat super nos ruinam, et percutiat civitatem in ore gladii.

So David said to all his officials, “We must leave immediately if we want to escape from Absalom! We must go quickly, before he [and his men] arrive. If we do not do that, they will kill us and everyone else in the city!”

15 Dixeruntque servi regis ad eum: omnia quaecumque praeceperit dominus noster rex, libenter exequemur servi tui.

The king’s officials said, “Okay, your majesty, we are ready to do whatever you decide.”

16 Egressus est ergo rex, et universa domus eius pedibus suis: et reliquit rex decem mulieres concubinas ad custodiendam domum.

So the king left ten of his slave wives there to take care of the palace, but all the other people in his palace went with him.

17 Egressusque rex et omnis Israel pedibus suis, stetit procul a domo:

When they all were leaving [the city], they stopped at the last house.

18 et universi servi eius ambulabant iuxta eum, et legiones Cerethi, et Phelethi, et omnes Gethaei, pugnatores validi, sexcenti viri qui secuti eum fuerant de Geth pedites, praecedebant regem.

The king and his officials stood there while his bodyguards went by in front of him. 600 soldiers from Gath [city] also walked by in front of him.

19 Dixit autem rex ad Ethai Gethaeum: Cur venis nobiscum? revertere, et habita cum rege, quia peregrinus es, et egressus es de loco tuo.

Then David said to Ittai, [the leader of the soldiers] from Gath, “(Why are you going with us?/You should not be going with us.) [RHQ] Go back and stay with [Absalom] the [new] king. You are not an Israeli; you are living away from your own land.

20 Heri venisti, et hodie compelleris nobiscum egredi? ego autem vadam quo iturus sum: revertere, et reduc tecum fratres tuos, et Dominus faciet tecum misericordiam, et veritatem, quia ostendisti gratiam et fidem.

You have lived here [in Israel] for only a short time [HYP]. And we do not even know where we will be going. So it is not right [RHQ] for me to force you to wander around with us. And take your troops with you. And I hope/wish that Yahweh will faithfully love and be loyal to you.”

21 Et respondit Ethai regi, dicens: Vivit Dominus, et vivit dominus meus rex: quoniam in quocumque loco fueris domine mi rex, sive in morte, sive in vita, ibi erit servus tuus.

But Ittai replied, “Your Majesty, as surely as you live, wherever you go, I will go; I will stay with you, whether they kill me or allow me to live.”

22 Et ait David Ethai: Veni, et transi. Et transivit Ethai Gethaeus, et omnes viri, qui cum eo erant, et reliqua multitudo.

David replied to Ittai, “Okay, march with us!” So Ittai and all his troops and their families went [with David].

23 Omnesque flebant voce magna, et universus populus transibat: rex quoque transgrediebatur Torrentem Cedron, et cunctus populus incedebat contra viam olivae, quae respicit ad desertum.

All the people [along the road] cried when they saw them walking by. The king and all the others crossed the Kidron Valley and then they all went [up the hill] toward the desert.

24 Venit autem et Sadoc sacerdos, et universi Levitae cum eo, portantes arcam foederis Dei, et deposuerunt arcam Dei: et ascendit Abiathar, donec expletus esset omnis populus, qui egressus fuerat de civitate.

Abiathar and Zadok, [the priests, ] were walking with them. The descendants of Levi [who helped the priests] also went with them, carrying the sacred chest that contained the Ten Commandments. But they set it on the ground until all the others had left the city.

25 Et dixit rex ad Sadoc: Reporta arcam Dei in urbem: si invenero gratiam in oculis Domini, reducet me, et ostendet mihi eam, et tabernaculum suum.

Then the king said to Zadok, “You and Abiathar take the sacred chest back into the city. If Yahweh is pleased with me, he will some day allow me to return to see it and the place where it is kept.

26 Si autem dixerit mihi: Non places: praesto sum, faciat quod bonum est coram se.

But if he says that he is not pleased with me, then I am willing for him to do to me whatever he thinks is good.”

27 Et dixit rex ad Sadoc sacerdotem: O videns revertere in civitatem in pace: et Achimaas filius tuus, et Ionathas filius Abiathar duo filii vestri, sint vobiscum.

He also said to Zadok, “Listen [to what I suggest]. You and Abiathar return to the city peacefully/safely, and take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you.

28 Ecce ego abscondar in campestribus deserti, donec veniat sermo a vobis indicans mihi.

I will wait in the desert at the place where people can walk across the river, until you send a message to me.”

29 Reportaverunt ergo Sadoc, et Abiathar arcam Dei in Ierusalem: et manserunt ibi.

So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they stayed there.

30 Porro David ascendebat Clivum olivarum, scandens et flens, nudis pedibus incedens, et operto capite, sed et omnis populus, qui erat cum eo, operto capite ascendebat plorans.

David [and those with him] went up Olive [Tree] Hill. David was crying while he walked. He was walking barefoot and had something covering his head [to show that he was sorrowful]. All those who were going with him also covered their heads and were crying while they walked.

31 Nunciatum est autem David quod et Achitophel esset in coniuratione cum Absalom, dixitque David: Infatua, quaeso, Domine consilium Achitophel.

Someone told David that Ahithophel had joined with those who were rebelling against David. So David prayed, “Yahweh, cause whatever Ahithophel suggests to Absalom [that he should do to be considered] to be foolish!”

32 Cumque ascenderet David summitatem montis, in quo adoraturus erat Dominum, ecce occurrit ei Chusai Arachites, scissa veste, et terra pleno capite.

When they arrived at the top of the hill, where there was a place where the people worshiped [God], suddenly Hushai, from the Arki people-group, met David. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head [to show that he was very sad].

33 Et dixit ei David: Si veneris mecum, eris mihi oneri:

David said to him, “If you go with me, you will not be able to help me.

34 si autem in civitatem revertaris, et dixeris Absalom: Servus tuus sum, rex: patere me vivere sicut fui servus patris tui, sic ero servus tuus: dissipabis consilium Achitophel.

But if you return to the city, [you can help me by] saying to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will serve you as faithfully as I served your father.’ If you do that [and stay near Absalom], you will be able to oppose any advice that Ahithophel gives to Absalom.

35 Habes autem tecum Sadoc, et Abiathar sacerdotes: et omne verbum quodcumque audieris de domo regis, indicabis Sadoc, et Abiathar sacerdotibus.

Zadok and Abiathar the priests are already there [RHQ]. Whatever you hear people say in the king’s palace, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar.

36 Sunt enim cum eis duo filii eorum Achimaas filius Sadoc, et Ionathas filius Abiathar: et mittetis per eos ad me omne verbum quod audieritis.

Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are also there. You can tell them whatever you find out, and send them to report it to me.”

37 Veniente ergo Chusai amico David in civitatem, Absalom quoque ingressus est Ierusalem.

So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city, at the same time that Absalom was entering Jerusalem.