Berean Standard Bible

2 Samuel 18:1-14

1Then Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732אֶת־'et-H853reviewedוַיִּפְקֹ֣דvai.yif.KodH6485his troopsהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834אִתּ֑וֹ'i.ToH854and appointedוַיָּ֣שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760over themעֲלֵיהֶ֔ם'a.lei.HemH5921commandersשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.FimH505and of hundredsוְשָׂרֵ֥י מֵאֽוֹת׃ve.sa.Rei me.'otH3967 H8269.

2Heדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732אֶת־'et-H853sent outוַיְשַׁלַּ֨חvay.sha.LachH7971the troopsהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971,a thirdהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית בְּיַד־ha.she.li.Shit be.yad-H7992 H3027under Joabיוֹאָב֙yo.'AvH3097,a thirdוְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּיַ֨דVe.ha.she.li.shit be.YadH7992 H3027under Joab’sיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097brotherאֲחִ֣י'a.ChiH251Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֤י'a.vi.ShaiH52sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרוּיָה֙tze.ru.YahH6870,and a thirdוְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת בְּיַ֖דve.Ha.she.li.Shit be.YadH7992 H3027under Ittaiאִתַּ֣י'i.TaiH863the Gittiteהַגִּתִּ֑י סha.gi.TiH1663.And the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413the troopsהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971, “Iאֲנִ֖י'a.NiH589will surely march outH3318with youעִמָּכֶֽם׃'i.ma.KhemH5973as wellגַּם־gam-H1571.”

3But the peopleהָעָ֜םha.'AmH5971pleadedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “You must notלֹ֣אlo'H3808go outתֵצֵ֗אte.Tze'H3318!Forכִּי֩kiH3588ifאִם־'im-H518we have to fleeH5127,they will not careלֹא־ יָשִׂ֧ימוּ לֵ֗בlo'- ya.Si.mu LevH3808 H7760 H3820about usאֵלֵ֣ינוּ'e.Lei.nuH413.Even ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518half of usחֶצְיֵ֙נוּ֙chetz.Ye.nuH2677dieיָמֻ֤תוּya.Mu.tuH4191,they will notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808careיָשִׂ֤ימוּ לֵ֔בya.Si.mu LevH7760 H3820אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.Lei.nuH413.Butכִּֽי־ki-H3588עַתָּ֥ה'a.TahH6258you areworthכָמֹ֖נוּkha.Mo.nuH3644tenעֲשָׂרָ֣ה'a.sa.RahH6235thousand of usאֲלָפִ֑ים'a.la.FimH505.It is betterט֔וֹבTovH2896nowוְעַתָּ֣הve.'a.TahH6258ifכִּי־ki-H3588youתִֽהְיֶה־tih.yeh-H1961supportלַעְזֽוֹר׃ סla'.zirH5826usfrom the cityמֵעִ֖ירme.'IrH5892.”

4“I will doאֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה'e.'e.SehH6213whateverאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834seems bestיִיטַ֥בyi.TavH3190to youבְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖םbe.'ei.nei.KhemH5869,”the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428repliedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559אֲלֵיהֶם֙'a.lei.HemH413.So heהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֤דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975besideאֶל־ יַ֣ד'el- yadH413 H3027the gateהַשַּׁ֔עַרha.Sha.'arH8179,while allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the troopsהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971marched outיָֽצְא֔וּya.tze.'UH3318by hundredsלְמֵא֖וֹתle.me.'otH3967and by thousandsוְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃ve.la.'a.la.FimH505.

5Now the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428אֶת־'et-H853had commandedוַיְצַ֣וvay.TzavH6680Joabי֠וֹאָבyo.'oH3097וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֤י'a.vi.ShaiH52וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,and Ittaiאִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר'i.Tai le.MorH863 H559, “Treat the young manלַנַּ֣עַרla.Na.'arH5288Absalomלְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹםle.'av.sha.LomH53gentlyלְאַט־le.'at-H328for my sake.”And allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֣םha.'AmH5971heardשָׁמְע֗וּsha.me.'UH8085the king’sהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428אֶת־'et-H853ordersבְּצַוֹּ֥תbe.tza.VotH6680to eachכָּל־kol-H3605of the commandersהַשָּׂרִ֖יםha.sa.RimH8269regardingעַל־ דְּבַ֥ר'al- de.VarH5921 H1697Absalomאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃'av.sha.LomH53.

6So David’s armyהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971marchedוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318into the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֖הha.sa.DehH7704to engageלִקְרַ֣אתlik.RatH7122Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and the battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֖הha.mil.cha.MahH4421took placeוַתְּהִ֥יva.te.HiH1961in the forestבְּיַ֥עַרbe.Ya.'arH3293of Ephraimאֶפְרָֽיִם׃'ef.Ra.yimH669.

7Thereשָׁם֙shamH8033the peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478were defeatedוַיִּנָּ֤גְפוּvai.yi.Na.ge.fuH5062byלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440David’sדָוִ֑דda.VidH1732servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650,and the slaughterהַמַּגֵּפָ֧הha.ma.ge.FahH4046wasוַתְּהִי־ שָׁ֞םva.te.hi- shamH1961 H8033greatגְדוֹלָ֛הge.do.LahH1419thatהַה֖וּאha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117—twentyעֶשְׂרִ֥ים'es.RimH6242thousandאָֽלֶף׃'A.lefH505men.

8וַתְּהִי־va.te.hi-H1961שָׁ֧םshamH8033The battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֛הha.mil.cha.MahH4421spreadנָפֹ֖צֶתna.fo.tzeitH6327overעַל־ פְּנֵ֣י'al- pe.NeiH5921 H6440the wholeכָל־khol-H3605countrysideהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and thatהַהֽוּא׃ha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117the forestהַיַּ֙עַר֙hai.Ya.'arH3293devouredלֶאֱכֹ֣לle.'e.KholH398moreוַיֶּ֤רֶבvai.Ye.revH7235peopleבָּעָ֔םba.'AmH5971thanמֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָכְלָ֛הme.'a.Sher 'a.khe.LahH834 H398the swordהַחֶ֖רֶבha.Che.revH2719.

9Now Absalomאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֖י'av.sha.Lom lif.NeiH53 H6440was ridingרֹכֵ֣בro.KhevH7392onעַל־'al-H5921his muleהַפֶּ֗רֶדha.Pe.redH6505when heוְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹםve.'av.sha.LomH53metוַיִּקָּרֵא֙vai.yi.ka.Re'H7122the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650of Davidדָוִ֑דda.VidH1732,and as the muleהַפֶּ֡רֶדha.Pe.redH6505wentוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the thick branchesשׂוֹבֶךְ֩soeKhH7730of a largeהַגְּדוֹלָ֜הha.ge.do.LahH1419oakהָאֵלָ֨הha.'e.LahH424,Absalom’s headרֹאשׁ֣וֹro.ShoH7218was caught fastוַיֶּחֱזַ֧קvai.ye.che.ZakH2388in the treeבָאֵלָ֗הva.'e.LahH424.The muleוְהַפֶּ֥רֶדve.ha.Pe.redH6505אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834under himתַּחְתָּ֖יוtach.TavH8478kept goingעָבָֽר׃'a.VarH5674,so that he was suspendedוַיֻּתַּן֙vai.yu.TanH5414in midairהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץha.sha.Ma.yim ha.'A.retzH996 H8064 H776.

10When oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259of the menאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376saw thisוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200,he toldוַיַּגֵּ֖דvai.ya.GedH5046Joabלְיוֹאָ֑בle.yo.'AvH3097וַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I justהִנֵּה֙hi.NehH2009sawרָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiH7200אֶת־'et-H853Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם'av.sha.LomH53hangingתָּל֖וּיta.LuiH8518in an oak treeבָּאֵלָֽה׃ba.'e.LahH424!”

11“You justוְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.NehH2009saw himרָאִ֔יתָra.'I.taH7200!”Joabיוֹאָ֗בyo.'AvH3097לָאִישׁ֙la.'IshH376הַמַּגִּ֣ידha.ma.GidH5046exclaimedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559. “Whyוּמַדּ֛וּעַu.ma.Du.a'H4069did you notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808strike himהִכִּית֥וֹhi.ki.ToH5221to the groundאָ֑רְצָה וְעָלַ֗י'A.re.tzah ve.'a.LaiH776 H5921right thereשָׁ֖םshamH8033?I would have givenלָ֤תֶתLa.tetH5414youtenעֲשָׂ֣רָה'a.Sa.rahH6235shekelsof silverכֶ֔סֶףKhe.sefH3701and aאֶחָֽת׃'e.ChatH259warrior’s beltוַחֲגֹרָ֖הva.cha.go.RahH2290!”

12The manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376repliedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559אֶל־'el-H413יוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097, “Even ifוְל֨וּאve.lo'H3863אָנֹכִ֜י'a.no.KhiH595a thousandאֶ֣לֶף'E.lefH505shekelsof silverכֶּ֔סֶףKe.sefH3701were weighed outשֹׁקֵ֤לsho.KelH8254intoעַל־'al-H5921my handsכַּפַּי֙ka.PaiH3709,I would notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808raiseאֶשְׁלַ֥ח'esh.LachH7971my handיָדִ֖יya.DiH3027againstאֶל־'el-H413the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428.Forכִּ֣יkiH3588we heardבְאָזְנֵ֜ינוּve.'a.ze.Nei.nuH241the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428אֹ֠תְךָ'O.te.khaH853וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853command youצִוָּ֣הtzi.VahH6680and Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֤י'a.vi.ShaiH52וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and Ittaiאִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר'i.Tai le.MorH863 H559, ‘Protectשִׁמְרוּ־shim.ru-H8104the young manבַּנַּ֖עַרba.Na.'arH5288Absalomבְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃be.'av.sha.LomH53for my sakeמִ֕יmiH4310.’

13Ifאֽוֹ־'o-H176I had jeopardizedעָשִׂ֤יתִי שֶׁ֔קֶר וְכָל־ דָּבָ֖ר'a.Si.ti She.ker ve.khol da.VarH6213 H8267 H3605 H1697my own lifeבְנַפְשִׁי֙ve.naf.shiH5315—and nothingלֹא־lo'-H3808is hiddenיִכָּחֵ֣דyi.ka.ChedH3582fromמִן־min-H4480the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428—youוְאַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH859would have abandonedתִּתְיַצֵּ֥בtit.ya.TzevH3320meמִנֶּֽגֶד׃mi.Ne.gedH5048.”

14But Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097declaredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I am notלֹא־lo'-H3808going to waitאֹחִ֣ילָה'o.Chi.lahH3176like thisכֵ֖ןkhenH3651with youלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440!”And he tookוַיִּקַּח֩vai.yi.KachH3947threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֨הshe.lo.ShahH7969spearsשְׁבָטִ֜יםshe.va.TimH7626in his handבְּכַפּ֗וֹbe.kha.PoH3709and thrust themוַיִּתְקָעֵם֙vai.yit.ka.'EmH8628through the heartבְּלֵ֣בbe.LevH3820of Absalomאַבְשָׁל֔וֹם'av.sha.LomH53while he was stillעוֹדֶ֥נּוּo.De.nuH5750aliveחַ֖י בְּלֵ֥בchai be.LevH2416 H3820in the oak treeהָאֵלָֽה׃ha.'e.LahH424.

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Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18