2 Samuel 20
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1There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant: “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Come on, you men of Israel, back to your homes!”1וְשָׁ֨ם נִקְרָ֜א אִ֣ישׁ בְּלִיַּ֗עַל וּשְׁמ֛וֹ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִ֑י וַיִּתְקַ֣ע בַּשֹּׁפָ֗ר וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אֵֽין־ לָ֨נוּ חֵ֜לֶק בְּדָוִ֗ד וְלֹ֤א נַֽחֲלָה־ לָ֙נוּ֙ בְּבֶן־ יִשַׁ֔י אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֖יו יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
2So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.2וַיַּ֜עַל כָּל־ אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֣בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִ֑י וְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ דָּבְק֣וּ בְמַלְכָּ֔ם מִן־ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וְעַד־ יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
3When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace and placed them in seclusion. Their needs were provided for, but he no longer slept with them. So each of them lived like a widow until she died.3וַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֣ד אֶל־ בֵּיתוֹ֮ יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֒ וַיִּקַּ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶֽשֶׂר־ נָשִׁ֣ים ׀ פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּיחַ֩ לִשְׁמֹ֨ר הַבַּ֜יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֤ם בֵּית־ מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙ וַֽיְכַלְכְּלֵ֔ם וַאֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹא־ בָ֑א וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה צְרֻר֛וֹת עַד־ י֥וֹם מֻתָ֖ן אַלְמְנ֥וּת חַיּֽוּת׃ ס
4Then the king told Amasa, “Mobilize the army of Judah within three days, and report back at that time.”4וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ עֲמָשָׂ֔א הַזְעֶק־ לִ֥י אֶת־ אִישׁ־ יְהוּדָ֖ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וְאַתָּ֖ה פֹּ֥ה עֲמֹֽד׃
5So Amasa went out to notify Judah, but it took him longer than the time he had been given.5וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ עֲמָשָׂ֖א לְהַזְעִ֣יק אֶת־ יְהוּדָ֑ה [וייחר] (וַיּ֕וֹחֶר) מִן־ הַמּוֹעֵ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָדֽוֹ׃ ס
6Then David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us more than Absalom did. Quick, take my troops and chase after him before he gets into a fortified town where we can’t reach him.”6וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־ אֲבִישַׁ֔י עַתָּ֗ה יֵ֧רַֽע לָ֛נוּ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִ֖י מִן־ אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם אַ֠תָּה קַ֞ח אֶת־ עַבְדֵ֤י אֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְדֹ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו פֶּן־ מָ֥צָא ל֛וֹ עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻר֖וֹת וְהִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽנוּ׃
7So Abishai and Joab, together with the king’s bodyguard and all the mighty warriors, set out from Jerusalem to go after Sheba.7וַיֵּצְא֤וּ אַֽחֲרָיו֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֖י וְכָל־ הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִֽי׃
8As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.8הֵ֗ם עִם־ הָאֶ֤בֶן הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּגִבְע֔וֹן וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א בָּ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְיוֹאָ֞ב חָג֣וּר ׀ מִדּ֣וֹ לְבֻשׁ֗וּ [ועלו] (וְעָלָ֞יו) חֲג֥וֹר חֶ֙רֶב֙ מְצֻמֶּ֤דֶת עַל־ מָתְנָיו֙ בְּתַעְרָ֔הּ וְה֥וּא יָצָ֖א וַתִּפֹּֽל׃ ס
9“How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him.9וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד־ יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָׂ֖א לִנְשָׁק־ לֽוֹ׃
10Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.10וַעֲמָשָׂ֨א לֹֽא־ נִשְׁמַ֜ר בַּחֶ֣רֶב ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־ יוֹאָ֗ב וַיַּכֵּהוּ֩ בָ֨הּ אֶל־ הַחֹ֜מֶשׁ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ מֵעָ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וְלֹא־ שָׁ֥נָה ל֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת ס וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו רָדַ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִֽי׃
11One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.”11וְאִישׁ֙ עָמַ֣ד עָלָ֔יו מִֽנַּעֲרֵ֖י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָפֵ֧ץ בְּיוֹאָ֛ב וּמִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־ לְדָוִ֖ד אַחֲרֵ֥י יוֹאָֽב׃
12But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.12וַעֲמָשָׂ֛א מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל בַּדָּ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הַֽמְסִּלָּ֑ה וַיַּ֨רְא הָאִ֜ישׁ כִּֽי־ עָמַ֣ד כָּל־ הָעָ֗ם וַיַּסֵּב֩ אֶת־ עֲמָשָׂ֨א מִן־ הַֽמְסִלָּ֤ה הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עָלָיו֙ בֶּ֔גֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ה כָּל־ הַבָּ֥א עָלָ֖יו וְעָמָֽד׃
13With Amasa’s body out of the way, everyone went on with Joab to capture Sheba son of Bicri.13כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹגָ֖ה מִן־ הַֽמְסִלָּ֑ה עָבַ֤ר כָּל־ אִישׁ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִֽי׃
14Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town.14וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר בְּכָל־ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָבֵ֛לָה וּבֵ֥ית מַעֲכָ֖ה וְכָל־ הַבֵּרִ֑ים ס [ויקלהו] (וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַף־ אַחֲרָֽיו׃
15When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall.15וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ וַיָּצֻ֣רוּ עָלָ֗יו בְּאָבֵ֙לָה֙ בֵּ֣ית הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֤וּ סֹֽלְלָה֙ אֶל־ הָעִ֔יר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד בַּחֵ֑ל וְכָל־ הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶת־ יוֹאָ֔ב מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם לְהַפִּ֥יל הַחוֹמָֽה׃
16But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.”16וַתִּקְרָ֛א אִשָּׁ֥ה חֲכָמָ֖ה מִן־ הָעִ֑יר שִׁמְע֤וּ שִׁמְעוּ֙ אִמְרוּ־ נָ֣א אֶל־ יוֹאָ֔ב קְרַ֣ב עַד־ הֵ֔נָּה וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
17As he approached, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. So she said, “Listen carefully to your servant.” “I’m listening,” he said.17וַיִּקְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַאַתָּ֥ה יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָ֑נִי וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ שְׁמַע֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שֹׁמֵ֥עַ אָנֹֽכִי׃
18Then she continued, “There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’18וַתֹּ֖אמֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֨ר יְדַבְּר֤וּ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁאֹ֧ל יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ בְּאָבֵ֖ל וְכֵ֥ן הֵתַֽמּוּ׃
19I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the LORD?”19אָנֹכִ֕י שְׁלֻמֵ֖י אֱמוּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהָמִ֨ית עִ֤יר וְאֵם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֥מָּה תְבַלַּ֖ע נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהוָֽה׃ פ
20And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town!20וַיַּ֥עַן יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חָלִ֤ילָה חָלִ֙ילָה֙ לִ֔י אִם־ אֲבַלַּ֖ע וְאִם־ אַשְׁחִֽית׃
21That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.” “All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.”21לֹא־ כֵ֣ן הַדָּבָ֗ר כִּ֡י אִישׁ֩ מֵהַ֨ר אֶפְרַ֜יִם שֶׁ֧בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִ֣י שְׁמ֗וֹ נָשָׂ֤א יָדוֹ֙ בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ בְּדָוִ֔ד תְּנֽוּ־ אֹת֣וֹ לְבַדּ֔וֹ וְאֵלְכָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ל הָעִ֑יר וַתֹּ֤אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־ יוֹאָ֔ב הִנֵּ֥ה רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מֻשְׁלָ֥ךְ אֵלֶ֖יךָ בְּעַ֥ד הַחוֹמָֽה׃
22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack. They all returned to their homes, and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.22וַתָּבוֹא֩ הָאִשָּׁ֨ה אֶל־ כָּל־ הָעָ֜ם בְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּ וַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּ אֶת־ רֹ֨אשׁ שֶׁ֤בַע בֶּן־ בִּכְרִי֙ וַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּ אֶל־ יוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּתְקַע֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיָּפֻ֥צוּ מֵֽעַל־ הָעִ֖יר אִ֣ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֑יו וְיוֹאָ֛ב שָׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אֶל־ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס
23Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard.23וְיוֹאָ֕ב אֶ֥ל כָּל־ הַצָּבָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנָיָה֙ בֶּן־ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע עַל־ [הכרי] (הַכְּרֵתִ֖י) וְעַל־ הַפְּלֵתִֽי׃
24Adoniram was in charge of forced labor. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.24וַאֲדֹרָ֖ם עַל־ הַמַּ֑ס וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־ אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃
25Sheva was the court secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.25[ושיא] (וּשְׁוָ֖א) סֹפֵ֑ר וְצָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִֽים׃
26And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was David’s personal priest.26וְגַ֗ם עִירָא֙ הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י הָיָ֥ה כֹהֵ֖ן לְדָוִֽד׃ ס
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.
2 Samuel 19
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