Absalom Killed

1  וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד (And numbered) דָּוִ֔ד (David) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him), וַיָּ֣שֶׂם (and he set) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (over them) שָׂרֵ֥י (captains) אֲלָפִ֖ים (of thousands) וְשָׂרֵ֥י (and captains) מֵאֽוֹת׃ (of hundreds). 2  וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח (And sent out) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אֶת־ (of) הָעָ֗ם (the people) הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית (a third) בְּיַד־ (under the hand) יוֹאָב֙ (of Joab), וְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁית (and a third) בְּיַ֨ד (under the hand) אֲבִישַׁ֤י (Abishai) בֶּן־ (of son) צְרוּיָה֙ (of Zeruiah) אֲחִ֣י (the brother) יוֹאָ֔ב (of Joab), וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת (and a third) בְּיַ֖ד (under the hand) אִתַּ֣י (of Ittai) הַגִּתִּ֑יס (the Gittite). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֔ם (the people), יָצֹ֥א (Going out) אֵצֵ֛א (I will go out) גַּם־ (also)— אֲנִ֖י (I) עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺).

3  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And answered) הָעָ֜ם (the people), לֹ֣א (Not) תֵצֵ֗א (you shall go out), כִּי֩ (for) אִם־ (if) נֹ֨ס (fleeing) נָנ֜וּס (we flee), לֹא־ (not) יָשִׂ֧ימוּ (they will set) אֵלֵ֣ינוּ (on us) לֵ֗ב (the heart). וְאִם־ (If) יָמֻ֤תוּ (die) חֶצְיֵ֙נוּ֙ (half of us), לֹֽא־ (not) יָשִׂ֤ימוּ (they will set) אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ (on us) לֵ֔ב (the heart), כִּֽי־ (but) עַתָּ֥ה (now) כָמֹ֖נוּ (like us are) עֲשָׂרָ֣ה (ten) אֲלָפִ֑ים (thousand), וְעַתָּ֣ה (and for now) ט֔וֹב (more) כִּי־ (that) תִֽהְיֶה־ (you are) לָּ֥נוּ (to us) מֵעִ֖יר (in the city) לַעְזִיר׃ס (for a helper).

4  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (to them) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אֲשֶׁר־ (That which) יִיטַ֥ב (seems best) בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם (in your⁺ eyes) אֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה (I will do). וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד (And stood) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (at) יַ֣ד (the side) הַשַּׁ֔עַר (of the gate), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָם֙ (the people) יָֽצְא֔וּ (went out) לְמֵא֖וֹת (by hundreds) וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃ (and by thousands).

5  וַיְצַ֣ו (And had commanded) הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) י֠וֹאָב (Joab) וְאֶת־ (and) אֲבִישַׁ֤י (Abishai) וְאֶת־ (and) אִתַּי֙ (Ittai), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לְאַט־ (Be gentle)— לִ֖י (for my sake) לַנַּ֣עַר (with the young man), לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom). וְכָל־ (And all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) שָׁמְע֗וּ (heard) בְּצַוֺּ֥ת (when gave orders) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הַשָּׂרִ֖ים (the captains) עַל־ (concerning) דְּבַ֥ר (-) אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (Absalom).

6  וַיֵּצֵ֥א (And went out) הָעָ֛ם (the people) הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (into the field) לִקְרַ֣את (to meet) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וַתְּהִ֥י (and was) הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (the battle) בְּיַ֥עַר (in the forest) אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ (of Ephraim). 7  וַיִּנָּ֤גְפוּ (And were struck) שָׁם֙ (there) עַ֣ם (the people) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the faces) עַבְדֵ֣י (of the servants) דָוִ֑ד (of David), וַתְּהִי־ (and took place) שָׁ֞ם (there) הַמַּגֵּפָ֧ה (a slaughter) גְדוֹלָ֛ה (great) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַה֖וּא (that) עֶשְׂרִ֥ים (of twenty) אָֽלֶף׃ (thousand). 8  וַתְּהִי־ (And for was) שָׁ֧ם (there) הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (the battle) נָפֹצֵית (scattered) עַל־ (over) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) כָל־ (of all) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), וַיֶּ֤רֶב (and multiplied) הַיַּ֙עַר֙ (the forest) לֶאֱכֹ֣ל (to devour) בָּעָ֔ם (the people) מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר (more than) אָכְלָ֛ה (devoured) הַחֶ֖רֶב (the sword) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַהֽוּא׃ (that).

9  וַיִּקָּרֵא֙ (And met) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face) עַבְדֵ֣י (of the servants) דָוִ֑ד (of David). וְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹם (And Absalom) רֹכֵ֣ב (rode) עַל־ (on) הַפֶּ֗רֶד (a mule). וַיָּבֹ֣א (And went) הַפֶּ֡רֶד (the mule) תַּ֣חַת (under) שׂוֹבֶךְ֩ (the thick boughs) הָאֵלָ֨ה (of an oak) הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה (great) וַיֶּחֱזַ֧ק (and caught) רֹאשׁ֣וֹ (his head) בָאֵלָ֗ה (in the oak). וַיֻּתַּן֙ (And he was left hanging) בֵּ֤ין (between) הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (the heavens) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) הָאָ֔רֶץ (earth), וְהַפֶּ֥רֶד (and the mule) אֲשֶׁר־ (that was) תַּחְתָּ֖יו (under him) עָבָֽר׃ (went on). 10  וַיַּרְא֙ (And saw it) אִ֣ישׁ (man) אֶחָ֔ד (a) וַיַּגֵּ֖ד (and told) לְיוֹאָ֑ב (Joab), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), רָאִ֣יתִי (I saw) אֶת־ (-) אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (Absalom) תָּל֖וּי (hanging) בָּאֵלָֽה׃ (in an oak tree).

11  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab) לָאִישׁ֙ (to the man) הַמַּגִּ֣יד (who told) ל֔וֹ (him), וְהִנֵּ֣ה (And behold) רָאִ֔יתָ (you saw him), וּמַדּ֛וּעַ (and why) לֹֽא־ (not) הִכִּית֥וֹ (did you strike him) שָׁ֖ם (there) אָ֑רְצָה (to the ground)? וְעָלַ֗י (And I) לָ֤תֶת (would have given) לְךָ֙ (to you) עֲשָׂ֣רָה (ten) כֶ֔סֶף (shekels of silver) וַחֲגֹרָ֖ה (and belt) אֶחָֽת׃ (one).

12  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הָאִישׁ֙ (the man) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), וְלֹא (Even if) אָנֹכִ֜י (I) שֹׁקֵ֤ל (was weighing) עַל־ (in) כַּפַּי֙ (my hands) אֶ֣לֶף (a thousand) כֶּ֔סֶף (shekels of silver), לֹֽא־ (not) אֶשְׁלַ֥ח (I would have sent out) יָדִ֖י (my hand) אֶל־ (against) בֶּן־ (the son) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). כִּ֣י (For) בְאָזְנֵ֜ינוּ (in our hearing) צִוָּ֣ה (commanded) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king) אֹ֠תְךָ (you) וְאֶת־ (and) אֲבִישַׁ֤י (Abishai) וְאֶת־ (and) אִתַּי֙ (Ittai), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), שִׁמְרוּ־ (Protect) מִ֕י (whoever you are) בַּנַּ֖עַר (the young man) בְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (Absalom). 13  אֽוֹ־ (And if) עָשִׂ֤יתִי (I had done) בְנַפְשׁוֹ (against my soul) שֶׁ֔קֶר (a falsehood). וְכָל־ (And for) דָּבָ֖ר (matter) לֹא־ (not) יִכָּחֵ֣ד (is hidden) מִן־ (from) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king), וְאַתָּ֖ה (then you) תִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב (would have set yourself) מִנֶּֽגֶד׃ (against me).

14  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), לֹא־ (Not) כֵ֖ן (thus) אֹחִ֣ילָה (will I wait) לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (to your face). וַיִּקַּח֩ (And he took) שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה (three) שְׁבָטִ֜ים (spears) בְּכַפּ֗וֹ (in his hand) וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ (and thrust them) בְּלֵ֣ב (into the heart) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (of Absalom) עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ (while he was still) חַ֖י (alive) בְּלֵ֥ב (in the heart) הָאֵלָֽה׃ (of the oak tree). 15  וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ (And surrounded) עֲשָׂרָ֣ה (ten) נְעָרִ֔ים (young men) נֹשְׂאֵ֖י (who bore) כְּלֵ֣י (weapons) יוֹאָ֑ב (of Joab), וַיַּכּ֥וּ (and they struck) אֶת־ (-) אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (Absalom), וַיְמִיתֻֽהוּ׃ (and killed him).

16  וַיִּתְקַ֤ע (And blew) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר (in the shofar), וַיָּ֣שָׁב (and returned) הָעָ֔ם (the people) מִרְדֹ֖ף (from pursuing) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), כִּֽי־ (for) חָשַׂ֥ךְ (held back) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab) אֶת־ (-) הָעָֽם׃ (the people). 17  וַיִּקְח֣וּ (And they took) אֶת־ (-) אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם (Absalom) וַיַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ (and cast) אֹת֤וֹ (him) בַיַּ֙עַר֙ (in the woods), אֶל־ (into) הַפַּ֣חַת (a pit) הַגָּד֔וֹל (large), וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ (and laid) עָלָ֛יו (over him) גַּל־ (a heap) אֲבָנִ֖ים (of stones) גָּד֣וֹל (large) מְאֹ֑ד (very). וְכָל־ (And all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) נָ֖סוּ (fled), אִ֥ישׁ (each man) לְאָהֳלוֹ׃ס (to his tent)

18  וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם (and Absalom) לָקַ֗ח (had taken) וַיַּצֶּב־ (and set up) ל֤וֹ (for himself) בְחַיָּו (when he was living) אֶת־ (-) מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙ (a pillar) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which is) בְּעֵֽמֶק־ (in Valley) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the King’s), כִּ֤י (for) אָמַר֙ (he said), אֵֽין־ (Not) לִ֣י (unto me) בֵ֔ן (iss a son) בַּעֲב֖וּר (to) הַזְכִּ֣יר (keep in remembrance) שְׁמִ֑י (my name). וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And He called) לַמַּצֶּ֙בֶת֙ (the pillar) עַל־ (after) שְׁמ֔וֹ (his own name), וַיִּקָּ֤רֵא (and is called) לָהּ֙ (it) יַ֣ד (the Hand) אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם (of Absalom) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this).

David Mourns for Absalom

19  וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ (And Ahimaaz) בֶּן־ (son) צָדוֹק֙ (of Zadok) אָמַ֔ר (said), אָר֣וּצָה (Let me run) נָּ֔א (now) וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה (and take the news) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (to the king), כִּי־ (how) שְׁפָט֥וֹ (has avenged him) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) מִיַּ֥ד (of) אֹיְבָֽיו׃ (his enemies).

20  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) ל֣וֹ (to him) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab), לֹא֩ (Not) אִ֨ישׁ (the man) בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה (to take the news) אַתָּה֙ (are you) הַיּ֣וֹם (day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ (and for you shall take the news) בְּי֣וֹם (day) אַחֵ֑ר (another). וְהַיּ֤וֹם (And day) הַזֶּה֙ (this) לֹ֣א (not) תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר (you shall take news), כִּֽי־ (that) עַל (upon) בֶּן־ (the son) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of the king) מֵֽת׃ (is dead).

21  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) לַכּוּשִׁ֔י (to the Cushite), לֵ֛ךְ (Go), הַגֵּ֥ד (tell) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) רָאִ֑יתָה (you have seen). וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ (And bowed low) כוּשִׁ֛י (the Cushite) לְיוֹאָ֖ב (to Joab), וַיָּרֹֽץ׃ (and he ran).

22  וַיֹּ֨סֶף (And added) ע֜וֹד (again) אֲחִימַ֤עַץ (Ahimaaz) בֶּן־ (son) צָדוֹק֙ (of Zadok) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), וִ֣יהִי (And it was), מָ֔ה (what) אָרֻֽצָה־ (will run) נָּ֥א (please) גַם־ (also) אָ֖נִי (I) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) הַכּוּשִׁ֑י (the Cushite)!

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab), לָֽמָּה־ (Why) זֶּ֞ה (is this that) אַתָּ֥ה (you) רָץ֙ (will run), בְּנִ֔י (my son), וּלְכָ֖ה (and since there are) אֵין־ (there is no) בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה (news) מֹצֵֽאת׃ (found from you)?

23  וִיהִי־ (And it will be), מָ֣ה (what) אָר֔וּץ (let me run).

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And he said) ל֖וֹ (to him), ר֑וּץ (Run).

וַיָּ֤רָץ (And ran) אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ (Ahimaaz) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (by way) הַכִּכָּ֔ר (of the plain) וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר (and outran) אֶת־ (-) הַכּוּשִֽׁי׃ (the Cushite).

24  וְדָוִ֥ד (And David) יוֹשֵׁ֖ב (was sitting) בֵּין־ (between) שְׁנֵ֣י (two) הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים (the gates), וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (and went up) הַצֹּפֶ֜ה (the watchman) אֶל־ (to) גַּ֤ג (the roof) הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ (of the gate) אֶל־ (to) הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה (the wall), וַיִּשָּׂ֤א (and he lifted up) אֶת־ (-) עֵינָיו֙ (his eyes), וַיַּ֔רְא (and looked), וְהִנֵּה־ (and behold), אִ֖ישׁ (a man) רָ֥ץ (was running) לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ (by himself). 25  וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And cried out) הַצֹּפֶה֙ (the watchman) וַיַּגֵּ֣ד (and told) לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king),

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), אִם־ (If) לְבַדּ֖וֹ (he is by himself), בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה (news) בְּפִ֑יו (is in his mouth).

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And he came), הָל֖וֹךְ (coming on) וְקָרֵֽב׃ (and drawing near). 26  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) הַצֹּפֶה֮ (the watchman) אִישׁ־ (man) אַחֵ֣ר (another) רָץ֒ (running), וַיִּקְרָ֤א (and called) הַצֹּפֶה֙ (the watchman) אֶל־ (to) הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר (the gatekeeper), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הִנֵּה־ (Behold), אִ֖ישׁ (a man) רָ֣ץ (is running) לְבַדּ֑וֹ (by himself).

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), גַּם־ (Also) זֶ֥ה (this one) מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃ (brings news).

27  וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הַצֹּפֶ֔ה (the watchman), אֲנִ֤י (I) רֹאֶה֙ (think) אֶת־ (-) מְרוּצַ֣ת (the running) הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן (of the first) כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת (is like the running) אֲחִימַ֣עַץ (of Ahimaaz) בֶּן־ (son) צָד֑וֹק (of Zadok).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), אִֽישׁ־ (A man) ט֣וֹב (good) זֶ֔ה (this one is), וְאֶל־ (and with) בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה (news) טוֹבָ֖ה (good) יָבֽוֹא׃ (he comes).

28  וַיִּקְרָ֣א (And called out) אֲחִימַ֗עַץ (Ahimaaz) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), שָׁל֔וֹם (All is well). וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ (And he bowed down) לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (before the king) לְאַפָּ֖יו (with his face) אָ֑רְצָהס (to the earth).

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), בָּרוּךְ֙ (Blessed be) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (your God), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) סִגַּר֙ (has delivered up) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) נָשְׂא֥וּ (raised) אֶת־ (-) יָדָ֖ם (their hands) בַּֽאדֹנִ֥י (against my lord) הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (the king).

29  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), שָׁל֥וֹם (Is safe) לַנַּ֖עַר (the young man) לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) אֲחִימַ֡עַץ (Ahimaaz), רָאִיתִי֩ (I saw) הֶהָמ֨וֹן (a tumult) הַגָּד֜וֹל (great) לִ֠שְׁלֹחַ (when sent) אֶת־ (-) עֶ֨בֶד (servant) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (of the king) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) וְאֶת־ (and me) עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ (your servant), וְלֹ֥א (not) יָדַ֖עְתִּי (I did know) מָֽה׃ (why).

30  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) סֹ֖ב (Turn aside) הִתְיַצֵּ֣ב (and stand) כֹּ֑ה (here).

וַיִּסֹּ֖ב (And he turned aside) וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד׃ (and stood still).

31  וְהִנֵּ֥ה (And just then) הַכּוּשִׁ֖י (the Cushite) בָּ֑א (came), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) הַכּוּשִׁ֗י (the Cushite), יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ (There is good news), אֲדֹנִ֣י (my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), כִּֽי־ (for) שְׁפָטְךָ֤ (has avenged you) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) הַיּ֔וֹם (this day) מִיַּ֖ד (against the hand) כָּל־ (of all) הַקָּמִ֥ים (those who rose up) עָלֶֽיךָ׃ס (against you).

32  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֶל־ (to) הַכּוּשִׁ֔י (the Cushite), הֲשָׁל֥וֹם (Is it all well) לַנַּ֖עַר (for the young man) לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם (Absalom)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) הַכּוּשִׁ֗י (the Cushite), יִהְי֤וּ (May be) כַנַּ֙עַר֙ (like that young the man) אֹֽיְבֵי֙ (the enemies) אֲדֹנִ֣י (of my lord) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), וְכֹ֛ל (and all) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) קָ֥מוּ (rise) עָלֶ֖יךָ (against you) לְרָעָֽה׃ס (to do harm).

33  וַיִּרְגַּ֣ז (And was deeply moved) הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (the king) וַיַּ֛עַל (and went up) עַל־ (to) עֲלִיַּ֥ת (the chamber over) הַשַּׁ֖עַר (the gate) וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ (and wept). וְכֹ֣ה׀ (And thus) אָמַ֣ר (he said) בְּלֶכְתּ֗וֹ (as he went), בְּנִ֤י (O my son) אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ (Absalom), בְּנִ֣י (my son), בְנִ֣י (my son) אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם (Absalom)! מִֽי־ (Oh that) יִתֵּ֤ן (was given) מוּתִי֙ (to die) אֲנִ֣י (I) תַחְתֶּ֔יךָ (in your place), אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם (O Absalom), בְּנִ֥י (my son), בְנִֽי׃ (my son)!