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Hebrew Study Bible

1Sometime later, Absalom acquired a chariot equipped with horses and recruited 50 men to accompany him.

1וַֽיְהִי֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לוֹ֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה וְסֻסִ֑ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃

2Then he would get up early, stand near the passageway to the palace gate, and when anyone arrived to file a legal complaint for a hearing before the king, Absalom would call to him and ask, "You're from what city?" If he replied, "Your servant is from one of Israel's tribes,"

2וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם וְעָמַ֕ד עַל־ יַ֖ד דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיְהִ֡י כָּל־ הָאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־ יִהְיֶה־ לּוֹ־ רִיב֩ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְשָׁל֤וֹם אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי־ מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙ אַ֔תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֵאַחַ֥ד שִׁבְטֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

3Absalom would respond, "Look, your claims are valid and defensible, but nobody will listen to you on behalf of the king.

3וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם רְאֵ֥ה דְבָרֶ֖ךָ טוֹבִ֣ים וּנְכֹחִ֑ים וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ אֵין־ לְךָ֖ מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

4Who will appoint me to be a judge in the land? When anyone arrived to file a legal complaint or other cause, he could approach me for justice and I would settle it!"

4וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִי־ יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָב֥וֹא כָּל־ אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־ יִהְיֶה־ לּוֹ־ רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃

5Furthermore, if a man approached him to bow down in front of him, he would put out his hand, grab him, and embrace him.

5וְהָיָה֙ בִּקְרָב־ אִ֔ישׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת ל֑וֹ וְשָׁלַ֧ח אֶת־ יָד֛וֹ וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק ל֖וֹ וְנָ֥שַׁק לֽוֹ׃

6By doing all of this to anyone who came to the king for a hearing, Absalom stole the loyalty of the men of Israel.

6וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ לְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־ יָבֹ֥אוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶת־ לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פ

7And so it was that forty years after Israel had demanded a king, Absalom asked the king, "Please let me go to Hebron so I can pay my vow that I made to the LORD,

7וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם אֶת־ נִדְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־ נָדַ֥רְתִּי לַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃

8because when I was living at Geshur in Aram, your servant made this solemn promise: 'If the LORD ever brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.'"

8כִּי־ נֵ֙דֶר֙ נָדַ֣ר עַבְדְּךָ֔ בְּשִׁבְתִּ֥י בִגְשׁ֛וּר בַּאֲרָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־ [ישיב] (יָשׁ֨וֹב) יְשִׁיבֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעָבַדְתִּ֖י אֶת־ יְהוָֽה׃

9The king replied to him, "Go in peace!" So Absalom got up and left for Hebron.

9וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ חֶבְרֽוֹנָה׃ פ

10But Absalom sent agents throughout all of the tribes of Israel, telling them, "When you hear the sound of the battle trumpet, you're to announce that Absalom is king in Hebron."

10וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכָל־ שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־ ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃

11Meanwhile, 200 men left Jerusalem with Absalom. They had been invited to go along, but were innocent, not knowing anything about what was happening.

11וְאֶת־ אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם הָלְכ֞וּ מָאתַ֤יִם אִישׁ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קְרֻאִ֖ים וְהֹלְכִ֣ים לְתֻמָּ֑ם וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ כָּל־ דָּבָֽר׃

12Absalom also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from his home town of Giloh while Absalom was presenting the sacrificial offerings. And so the conspiracy widened, because the common people increasingly sided with Absalom.

12וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אַ֠בְשָׁלוֹם אֶת־ אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל הַגִּֽילֹנִ֜י יוֹעֵ֣ץ דָּוִ֗ד מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ מִגִּלֹ֔ה בְּזָבְח֖וֹ אֶת־ הַזְּבָחִ֑ים וַיְהִ֤י הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ אַמִּ֔ץ וְהָעָ֛ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָרָ֖ב אֶת־ אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

13Then a messenger arrived to inform David, "The loyalties of the men of Israel have shifted to Absalom."

13וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמַּגִּ֔יד אֶל־ דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הָיָ֛ה לֶב־ אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

14So David told all of his staff who were with him in Jerusalem, "Let's get up and get out of here! Otherwise, none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry, or he'll overtake us quickly, bring disaster on all of us, and execute the inhabitants of the city!"

14וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּ֠וִד לְכָל־ עֲבָדָ֨יו אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֤וֹ בִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ ק֣וּמוּ וְנִבְרָ֔חָה כִּ֛י לֹא־ תִֽהְיֶה־ לָּ֥נוּ פְלֵיטָ֖ה מִפְּנֵ֣י אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם מַהֲר֣וּ לָלֶ֗כֶת פֶּן־ יְמַהֵ֤ר וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ וְהִדִּ֤יחַ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־ הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וְהִכָּ֥ה הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־ חָֽרֶב׃

15"Look!" the king's staff replied. "Your servants will do whatever the king chooses."

15וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כְּכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־ יִבְחַ֛ר אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

16So the king left, taking his entire household with him except for ten mistresses, who were to keep the palace in order.

16וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־ בֵּית֖וֹ בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת׃

17The king left, along with all of his people with him, and they paused at the last house.

17וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־ הָעָ֖ם בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּרְחָֽק׃

18All of his staff were going on ahead of him—that is, all of the special forces and mercenaries, all of the Gittites, and 600 men who had come to serve him from Gath, went on ahead of the king.

18וְכָל־ עֲבָדָיו֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים עַל־ יָד֔וֹ וְכָל־ הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְכָל־ הַפְּלֵתִ֑י וְכָֽל־ הַגִּתִּ֞ים שֵׁשׁ־ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֤אוּ בְרַגְלוֹ֙ מִגַּ֔ת עֹבְרִ֖ים עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

19Then the king suggested to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you have to go with us? Return and stay with the new king, since you're a foreigner and exile. Stay where you want to stay.

19וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֔י לָ֧מָּה תֵלֵ֛ךְ גַּם־ אַתָּ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ שׁ֣וּב וְשֵׁ֤ב עִם־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כִּֽי־ נָכְרִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וְגַם־ גֹּלֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה לִמְקוֹמֶֽךָ׃

20It seems only yesterday that you arrived, so should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your brothers with you. May gracious love and truth accompany you!"

20תְּמ֣וֹל ׀ בּוֹאֶ֗ךָ וְהַיּ֞וֹם [אנועך] (אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤) עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת וַאֲנִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ אֲנִ֖י הוֹלֵ֑ךְ שׁ֣וּב וְהָשֵׁ֧ב אֶת־ אַחֶ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃

21"As the LORD lives," Ittai answered in reply, "and as your majesty the king lives, wherever your majesty my king may be—whether living or dying—that's where your servant will be!"

21וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי־ יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם־ בִּמְק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה־ שָּׁ֣ם ׀ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם־ לְמָ֙וֶת֙ אִם־ לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי־ שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

22So David replied, "Come along, then!" So Ittai the Gittite went along also, accompanied by all of his men and all of his little ones.

22וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־ אִתַּ֖י לֵ֣ךְ וַעֲבֹ֑ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר אִתַּ֤י הַגִּתִּי֙ וְכָל־ אֲנָשָׁ֔יו וְכָל־ הַטַּ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

23With all of the people in the territory crying loudly, everybody passed over the Kidron brook, along with the king. Then everyone headed out toward the road that leads to the wilderness.

23וְכָל־ הָאָ֗רֶץ בּוֹכִים֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְכָל־ הָעָ֖ם עֹֽבְרִ֑ים וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹבֵר֙ בְּנַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן וְכָל־ הָעָם֙ עֹבְרִ֔ים עַל־ פְּנֵי־ דֶ֖רֶךְ אֶת־ הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃

24Meanwhile, Zadok showed up also, along with all of the descendants of Levi with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God and Abiathar approached while all the people finished abandoning the city.

24וְהִנֵּ֨ה גַם־ צָד֜וֹק וְכָֽל־ הַלְוִיִּ֣ם אִתּ֗וֹ נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־ אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ אֶת־ אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּ֖עַל אֶבְיָתָ֑ר עַד־ תֹּ֥ם כָּל־ הָעָ֖ם לַעֲב֥וֹר מִן־ הָעִֽיר׃

25The king told Zadok, "Take the Ark of God back to the city. If I'm shown favor in the LORD's sight, then he'll bring me back again and show me both it and the place where it rests.

25וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְצָד֔וֹק הָשֵׁ֛ב אֶת־ אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הָעִ֑יר אִם־ אֶמְצָ֥א חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי וְהִרְאַ֥נִי אֹת֖וֹ וְאֶת־ נָוֵֽהוּ׃

26But if he should say something like 'I'm not pleased with you,' well then, here I am—let him do to me whatever seems right to him."

26וְאִם֙ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֔ר לֹ֥א חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּ֑ךְ הִנְנִ֕י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־ לִּ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר ט֖וֹב בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ ס

27The king also asked Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer, too? Go back to the city in comfort, along with your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.

27וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ צָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־ אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃

28Look! I'll camp at the wilderness fords until you send word to inform me."

28רְאוּ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ [בעברות] (בְּעַֽרְב֖וֹת) הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַ֣ד בּ֥וֹא דָבָ֛ר מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַגִּ֥יד לִֽי׃

29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the Ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

29וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָד֧וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־ אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃

30David then left, going up the Mount of Olives, crying as he went, with his head covered and his feet bare. All of the people who were with him covered their own heads and climbed up the Mount of Olives, crying as they went along.

30וְדָוִ֡ד עֹלֶה֩ בְמַעֲלֵ֨ה הַזֵּיתִ֜ים עֹלֶ֣ה ׀ וּבוֹכֶ֗ה וְרֹ֥אשׁ לוֹ֙ חָפ֔וּי וְה֖וּא הֹלֵ֣ךְ יָחֵ֑ף וְכָל־ הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֗וֹ חָפוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְעָל֥וּ עָלֹ֖ה וּבָכֹֽה׃

31Just then, someone told David, "Ahithophel is one of Absalom's conspirators!" So David prayed, "LORD, please turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness."

31וְדָוִד֙ הִגִּ֣יד לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים עִם־ אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד סַכֶּל־ נָ֛א אֶת־ עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל יְהוָֽה׃

32Just as David was coming to the top of the Mount of Olives where God was being worshipped, there was Hushai the Archite to meet him, with his coat ripped and dust all over his head!

32וַיְהִ֤י דָוִד֙ בָּ֣א עַד־ הָרֹ֔אשׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־ יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֤ה לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י קָר֙וּעַ֙ כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־ רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃

33David greeted him, "If you come along with me, you'll be a burden to me.

33וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑ד אִ֚ם עָבַ֣רְתָּ אִתִּ֔י וְהָיִ֥תָ עָלַ֖י לְמַשָּֽׂא׃

34So go back to the city and tell Absalom, 'I'll be your servant, your majesty! Just as I served your father in the past, I can be your servant now.' That way you can manipulate Ahithophel's advice to my benefit.

34וְאִם־ הָעִ֣יר תָּשׁ֗וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ עַבְדְּךָ֨ אֲנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה עֶ֣בֶד אָבִ֤יךָ וַֽאֲנִי֙ מֵאָ֔ז וְעַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְהֵפַרְתָּ֣ה לִ֔י אֵ֖ת עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃

35Won't Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? So whatever you hear from the king's palace, you're to report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

35וַהֲל֤וֹא עִמְּךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם צָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל־ הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמַע֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּגִּ֕יד לְצָד֥וֹק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

36Their two sons—Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan—are with them there. You'll be sending me everything that you hear through them."

36הִנֵּה־ שָׁ֤ם עִמָּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחִימַ֣עַץ לְצָד֔וֹק וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם בְּיָדָם֙ אֵלַ֔י כָּל־ דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃

37So David's friend Hushai went back to the city just as Absalom was arriving in Jerusalem.

37וַיָּבֹ֥א חוּשַׁ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד הָעִ֑יר וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יָבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.