Jeroboam’s Hand Withers
(2 Kings 23:4–20; 2 Chronicles 34:3–7)

1  וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ (And behold), אִ֣ישׁ (a man) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God) בָּ֧א (went) מִיהוּדָ֛ה (from Judah) בִּדְבַ֥ר (by the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) בֵּֽית־ (Beth-) אֵ֑ל (el). וְיָרָבְעָ֛ם (And Jeroboam) עֹמֵ֥ד (stood) עַל־ (by) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (the altar) לְהַקְטִֽיר׃ (to burn incense). 2  וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And he cried out) עַל־ (against) הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (the altar) בִּדְבַ֣ר (by the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said), מִזְבֵּ֣חַ (O altar), מִזְבֵּ֔חַ (O altar), כֹּ֖ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH): הִנֵּֽה־ (Behold), בֵ֞ן (a child) נוֹלָ֤ד (shall be born) לְבֵית־ (to the house) דָּוִד֙ (of David), יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ (Josiah) שְׁמ֔וֹ (by name), וְזָבַ֣ח (and he shall sacrifice) עָלֶ֗יךָ (on you) אֶת־ (-) כֹּהֲנֵ֤י (the priests) הַבָּמוֹת֙ (of the high places) הַמַּקְטִרִ֣ים (who burn incense) עָלֶ֔יךָ (on you), וְעַצְמ֥וֹת (and bones) אָדָ֖ם (of man) יִשְׂרְפ֥וּ (shall be burned) עָלֶֽיךָ׃ (on you).

3  וְנָתַן֩ (And he gave) בַּיּ֨וֹם (day) הַה֤וּא (that) מוֹפֵת֙ (a sign), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), זֶ֣ה (This is) הַמּוֹפֵ֔ת (the sign) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that) דִּבֶּ֣ר (has spoken) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH): הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (the altar) נִקְרָ֔ע (shall be split apart), וְנִשְׁפַּ֖ךְ (and shall poured out) הַדֶּ֥שֶׁן (the ashes) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָלָֽיו׃ (are on it).

4  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ (when heard) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֣ר (the saying) אִישׁ־ (of the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) קָרָ֤א (cried out) עַל־ (against) הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (the altar) בְּבֵֽית־ (in Beth-) אֵ֔ל (el), וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (that stretched out) יָרָבְעָ֧ם (Jeroboam) אֶת־ (-) יָד֛וֹ (his hand) מֵעַ֥ל (from) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (the altar), לֵאמֹ֣ר׀ (saying), תִּפְשֻׂ֑הוּ (Seize him)! וַתִּיבַ֤שׁ (And withered) יָדוֹ֙ (his hand) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָׁלַ֣ח (he stretched out) עָלָ֔יו (toward him), וְלֹ֥א (so that not) יָכֹ֖ל (he could) לַהֲשִׁיבָ֥הּ (pull it back) אֵלָֽיו׃ (to himself). 5  וְהַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ (And the altar) נִקְרָ֔ע (was split apart) וַיִּשָּׁפֵ֥ךְ (and poured out) הַדֶּ֖שֶׁן (the ashes) מִן־ (from) הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (the altar), כַּמּוֹפֵ֗ת (according to the sign) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נָתַ֛ן (had given) אִ֥ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) בִּדְבַ֥ר (by the word) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

6  וַיַּ֨עַן (And answered) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (the king) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ (and said) אֶל־ (to) אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God), חַל־ (Entreat) נָ֞א (please) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֨י (the favor) יְהוָ֤ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your God) וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל (and pray) בַּעֲדִ֔י (for me), וְתָשֹׁ֥ב (that may be restored) יָדִ֖י (my hand) אֵלָ֑י (to me).

וַיְחַ֤ל (And entreated) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (of God) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (before the face) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַתָּ֤שָׁב (and was restored) יַד־ (the hand) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), וַתְּהִ֖י (and it was) כְּבָרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה׃ (as at first).

7  וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), בֹּאָה־ (Come in) אִתִּ֥י (with me) הַבַּ֖יְתָה (to the house) וּֽסְעָ֑דָה (and refresh yourself), וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה (and I will give) לְךָ֖ (to you) מַתָּֽת׃ (a reward).

8  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ (of God) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אִם־ (If) תִּתֶּן־ (you were to give) לִי֙ (to me) אֶת־ (-) חֲצִ֣י (half) בֵיתֶ֔ךָ (of your house), לֹ֥א (not) אָבֹ֖א (I would go in) עִמָּ֑ךְ (with you) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אֹ֤כַל (would I eat) לֶ֙חֶם֙ (bread) וְלֹ֣א (and not) אֶשְׁתֶּה־ (drink) מַּ֔יִם (water) בַּמָּק֖וֹם (in the place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 9  כִּֽי־ (For) כֵ֣ן׀ (so) צִוָּ֣ה (it was commanded) אֹתִ֗י (me) בִּדְבַ֤ר (by the word) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לֹא־ (Not) תֹ֥אכַל (you shall eat) לֶ֖חֶם (bread), וְלֹ֣א (and not) תִשְׁתֶּה־ (drink) מָּ֑יִם (water), וְלֹ֣א (and not) תָשׁ֔וּב (return) בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (by the same way) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) הָלָֽכְתָּ׃ (you came).

10  וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (And he went) בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (way) אַחֵ֑ר (another), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) שָׁ֣ב (did return) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (by the way) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (that) בָּ֥א (he had come) בָ֖הּ (in) אֶל־ (to) בֵּֽית־ (Beth-) אֵֽל׃פ (el).

The Old Prophet and the Man of God

11  וְנָבִ֤יא (And prophet) אֶחָד֙ (an) זָקֵ֔ן (old) יֹשֵׁ֖ב (dwelt) בְּבֵֽית־ (in Beth-) אֵ֑ל (el), וַיָּב֣וֹא (and came in) בְנ֡וֹ (his son) וַיְסַפֶּר־ (and told) ל֣וֹ (him) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה (the works) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂה֩ (had done) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀ (of God) הַיּ֜וֹם (that day) בְּבֵֽית־ (in Beth-) אֵ֗ל (el)— אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִים֙ (the words) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) דִּבֶּ֣ר (he had spoken) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king). וַֽיְסַפְּר֖וּם (And they told) לַאֲבִיהֶֽם׃ (their father).

12  וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (And said) אֲלֵהֶם֙ (to them) אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (their father) אֵֽי־ (Where) זֶ֥ה (is this)— הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way) הָלָ֑ךְ (he has gone)?

וַיִּרְא֣וּ (And had seen) בָנָ֗יו (his sons) אֶת־ (-) הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the way) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) הָלַךְ֙ (had gone) אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֖א (came) מִיהוּדָֽה׃ (from Judah). 13  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And he said) אֶל־ (to) בָּנָ֔יו (his sons), חִבְשׁוּ־ (Saddle) לִ֖י (for me) הַחֲמ֑וֹר (the donkey).

וַיַּחְבְּשׁוּ־ (And they saddled) ל֣וֹ (for him) הַחֲמ֔וֹר (the donkey), וַיִּרְכַּ֖ב (and he rode) עָלָֽיו׃ (on it), 14  וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (and he went) אַֽחֲרֵי֙ (after) אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God), וַיִּ֨מְצָאֵ֔הוּ (and found him) יֹשֵׁ֖ב (sitting) תַּ֣חַת (under) הָאֵלָ֑ה (the oak). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), הַאַתָּ֧ה (Are you) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים (of God) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֥אתָ (came) מִֽיהוּדָ֖ה (from Judah)?

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said), אָֽנִי׃ (I am).

15  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), לֵ֥ךְ (Come) אִתִּ֖י (with me) הַבָּ֑יְתָה (to the house) וֶאֱכֹ֖ל (and eat) לָֽחֶם׃ (bread).

16  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), לֹ֥א (Not) אוּכַ֛ל (I can) לָשׁ֥וּב (return) אִתָּ֖ךְ (with you) וְלָב֣וֹא (or go in) אִתָּ֑ךְ (with you), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אֹ֣כַל (can I eat) לֶ֗חֶם (bread) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אֶשְׁתֶּ֤ה (drink) אִתְּךָ֙ (with you) מַ֔יִם (water) בַּמָּק֖וֹם (in the place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 17  כִּֽי־ (For) דָבָ֤ר (have been told) אֵלַי֙ (I) בִּדְבַ֣ר (by the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), לֹֽא־ (Not) תֹאכַ֣ל (you shall eat) לֶ֔חֶם (bread), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) תִשְׁתֶּ֥ה (drink) שָׁ֖ם (there) מָ֑יִם (water), לֹא־ (and not) תָשׁ֣וּב (return) לָלֶ֔כֶת (by going) בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (the way) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הָלַ֥כְתָּ (you came) בָּֽהּ׃ (in).

18  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And He said) ל֗וֹ (to him), גַּם־ (Also) אֲנִ֣י (I am) נָבִיא֮ (a prophet) כָּמוֹךָ֒ (as you are), וּמַלְאָ֡ךְ (and an angel) דִּבֶּ֣ר (spoke) אֵלַי֩ (to me) בִּדְבַ֨ר (by the word) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), הֲשִׁבֵ֤הוּ (Bring him back) אִתְּךָ֙ (with you) אֶל־ (to) בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ (your house), וְיֹ֥אכַל (that he may eat) לֶ֖חֶם (bread) וְיֵ֣שְׁתְּ (and drink) מָ֑יִם (water).

כִּחֵ֖שׁ (He was lying) לֽוֹ׃ (to him). 19  וַיָּ֣שָׁב (And he went back) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him) וַיֹּ֥אכַל (and ate) לֶ֛חֶם (bread) בְּבֵית֖וֹ (in his house), וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ (and he drank) מָֽיִם׃ (water).

20  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass) הֵ֥ם (as they) יֹשְׁבִ֖ים (sat) אֶל־ (at) הַשֻּׁלְחָ֑ן פ (the table), וַֽיְהִי֙ (that came) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) הַנָּבִ֖יא (the prophet) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) הֱשִׁיבֽוֹ׃ (had brought him back), 21  וַיִּקְרָ֞א (and he cried out) אֶל־ (to) אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (of God) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֤א (came) מִֽיהוּדָה֙ (from Judah), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), כֹּ֖ה (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH): יַ֗עַן (Because) כִּ֤י (that) מָרִ֙יתָ֙ (you have disobeyed) פִּ֣י (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) וְלֹ֤א (and not) שָׁמַ֙רְתָּ֙ (have kept) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּצְוָ֔ה (the commandment) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) צִוְּךָ֖ (commanded you) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (your God)— 22  וַתָּ֗שָׁב (and you returned) וַתֹּ֤אכַל (and ate) לֶ֙חֶם֙ (bread) וַתֵּ֣שְׁתְּ (and drank) מַ֔יִם (water) בַּמָּקוֹם֙ (in the place) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (of which) דִּבֶּ֣ר (He said) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you): אַל־ (Not) תֹּ֥אכַל (shall you eat) לֶ֖חֶם (bread), וְאַל־ (and not) תֵּ֣שְׁתְּ (shall you drink) מָ֑יִם (water)— לֹֽא־ (not) תָב֥וֹא (shall come) נִבְלָתְךָ֖ (your corpse) אֶל־ (to) קֶ֥בֶר (the tomb) אֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (of your fathers).

23  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), אַחֲרֵ֛י (after) אָכְל֥וֹ (he had eaten) לֶ֖חֶם (bread) וְאַחֲרֵ֣י (and after) שְׁתוֹת֑וֹ (he had drunk), וַיַּחֲבָשׁ־ (that he saddled) ל֣וֹ (for him) הַחֲמ֔וֹר (the donkey), לַנָּבִ֖יא (for the prophet) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֱשִׁיבֽוֹ׃ (he had brought back). 24  וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ (And he went), וַיִּמְצָאֵ֧הוּ (and met him) אַרְיֵ֛ה (a lion) בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (on the road) וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ (and killed him), וַתְּהִ֤י (and was) נִבְלָתוֹ֙ (his corpse) מֻשְׁלֶ֣כֶת (thrown) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (on the road). וְהַחֲמוֹר֙ (And the donkey) עֹמֵ֣ד (stood) אֶצְלָ֔הּ (by it), וְהָ֣אַרְיֵ֔ה (and the lion) עֹמֵ֖ד (stood) אֵ֥צֶל (by) הַנְּבֵלָֽה׃ (the corpse).

25  וְהִנֵּ֧ה (And behold) אֲנָשִׁ֣ים (men) עֹבְרִ֗ים (passed by) וַיִּרְא֤וּ (and saw) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּבֵלָה֙ (the corpse) מֻשְׁלֶ֣כֶת (thrown) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (on the road) וְאֶת־ (and) הָ֣אַרְיֵ֔ה (the lion) עֹמֵ֖ד (standing) אֵ֣צֶל (by) הַנְּבֵלָ֑ה (the corpse). וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And they went) וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ (and told it) בָעִ֔יר (in the city) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (that) הַנָּבִ֥יא (the prophet) הַזָּקֵ֖ן (old) יֹשֵׁ֥ב (dwelt) בָּֽהּ׃ (in it).

26  וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (And heard it) הַנָּבִיא֮ (the prophet) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) הֱשִׁיב֣וֹ (had brought him back) מִן־ (from) הַדֶּרֶךְ֒ (the way), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said), אִ֣ישׁ (The man) הָאֱלֹהִ֣ים (of God) ה֔וּא (it is), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) מָרָ֖ה (was disobedient) אֶת־ (to) פִּ֣י (the word) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וַיִּתְּנֵ֨הוּ (And has delivered him) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) לָאַרְיֵ֗ה (to the lion), וַֽיִּשְׁבְּרֵ֙הוּ֙ (and it has torn him) וַיְמִתֵ֔הוּ (and killed him) כִּדְבַ֥ר (according to the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבֶּר־ (He spoke) לֽוֹ׃ (to him).

27  וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר (And he spoke) אֶל־ (to) בָּנָיו֙ (his sons), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), חִבְשׁוּ־ (Saddle) לִ֖י (for me) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲמ֑וֹר (the donkey). וַֽיַּחֲבֹֽשׁוּ׃ (And they saddled it). 28  וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ (And he went) וַיִּמְצָ֤א (and found) אֶת־ (-) נִבְלָתוֹ֙ (his corpse) מֻשְׁלֶ֣כֶת (thrown) בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ (on the road), וַֽחֲמוֹר֙ (and the donkey) וְהָ֣אַרְיֵ֔ה (and the lion) עֹמְדִ֖ים (standing) אֵ֣צֶל (by) הַנְּבֵלָ֑ה (the corpse). לֹֽא־ (Not) אָכַ֤ל (had eaten) הָֽאַרְיֵה֙ (the lion) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּבֵלָ֔ה (the corpse), וְלֹ֥א (and not) שָׁבַ֖ר (torn into pieces) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲמֽוֹר׃ (the donkey). 29  וַיִּשָּׂ֨א (And took up) הַנָּבִ֜יא (the prophet) אֶת־ (-) נִבְלַ֧ת (the corpse) אִישׁ־ (of the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים (of God), וַיַּנִּחֵ֥הוּ (and laid it) אֶֽל־ (on) הַחֲמ֖וֹר (the donkey), וַיְשִׁיבֵ֑הוּ (and he brought it back). וַיָּבֹ֗א (And came) אֶל־ (to) עִיר֙ (the city) הַנָּבִ֣יא (the prophet) הַזָּקֵ֔ן (old) לִסְפֹּ֖ד (to mourn) וּלְקָבְרֽוֹ׃ (and to bury him). 30  וַיַּנַּ֥ח (And he laid) אֶת־ (-) נִבְלָת֖וֹ (the corpse) בְּקִבְר֑וֹ (in his own tomb), וַיִּסְפְּד֥וּ (and they mourned) עָלָ֖יו (over him): ה֥וֹי (Alas), אָחִֽי׃ (my brother)!

31  וַיְהִי֮ (And it was) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) קָבְר֣וֹ (he had buried) אֹתוֹ֒ (him), וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (that he spoke) אֶל־ (to) בָּנָיו֙ (his sons), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), בְּמוֹתִי֙ (When I am dead), וּקְבַרְתֶּ֣ם (and bury) אֹתִ֔י (me) בַּקֶּ֕בֶר (in the tomb) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (where) אִ֥ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) קָב֣וּר (is buried) בּ֑וֹ (in it). אֵ֚צֶל (Beside) עַצְמֹתָ֔יו (his bones) הַנִּ֖יחוּ (lay) אֶת־ (-) עַצְמֹתָֽי׃ (my bones). 32  כִּי֩ (For) הָיֹ֨ה (will come to pass) יִהְיֶ֜ה (being) הַדָּבָ֗ר (the word) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) קָרָא֙ (he cried out) בִּדְבַ֣ר (by the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) עַל־ (against) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (the altar) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) בְּבֵֽית־ (is in Beth-) אֵ֑ל (el), וְעַל֙ (and against) כָּל־ (all) בָּתֵּ֣י (the shrines on) הַבָּמ֔וֹת (the high places) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which are) בְּעָרֵ֥י (in the cities) שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃פ (of Samaria).

33  אַחַר֙ (After) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the matter) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) לֹֽא־ (not) שָׁ֥ב (did turn) יָרָבְעָ֖ם (Jeroboam) מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ (from his way) הָרָעָ֑ה (evil), וַ֠יָּשָׁב (and he turned back) וַיַּ֜עַשׂ (and made) מִקְצ֤וֹת (from the ends) הָעָם֙ (of the people) כֹּהֲנֵ֣י (priests for) בָמ֔וֹת (the high places). הֶֽחָפֵץ֙ (The desiring one), יְמַלֵּ֣א (would fill) אֶת־ (-) יָד֔וֹ (his hand), וִיהִ֖י (and he would become) כֹּהֲנֵ֥י (one of the priests) בָמֽוֹת׃ (of the high places). 34  וַיְהִי֙ (And became) בַּדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) לְחַטַּ֖את (sin) בֵּ֣ית (of the house) יָרָבְעָ֑ם (of Jeroboam), וּלְהַכְחִיד֙ (even to cut it off) וּלְהַשְׁמִ֔יד (and destroy it) מֵעַ֖ל (from) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) הָאֲדָמָֽה׃פ (of the earth).