Revised Literal Translation

1 Chronicles 21

1And Satanשָׂטָ֖ןsa.TanH7854stood upוַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975against Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and provokedוַיָּ֙סֶת֙vai.Ya.setH5496Davidדָּוִ֔ידda.VidH1732to numberלִמְנ֖וֹתlim.NotH4487Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

2And Davidדָּוִ֤ידda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Joabיוֹאָב֙yo.'AvH3097and to the rulersשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971,GoH3212,numberסִפְרוּ֙sif.RuH5608Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478from Beer–shebaH884even to Danדָּ֑ןDanH1835;and bringוְהָבִ֣יאוּve.ha.Vi.'uH935the numberמִסְפָּרָֽם׃mis.pa.RamH4557of them to me, that I may knowוְאֵדְעָ֖הve.'e.de.'AhH3045it.

3And Joabיוֹאָ֗בyo.'AvH3097answeredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Yhwhיְהוָ֨הYah.wehH3068make his peopleעַמּ֤וֹ׀a.MoH5971an hundredמֵאָ֣הme.'AhH3967timesפְעָמִ֔יםfe.'a.MimH6471so many moreיוֹסֵף֩yo.SefH3254as theyH1992be:but, my lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, arethey not all my lord’sלַאדֹנִ֖יla.do.NiH113servantsלַעֲבָדִ֑יםla.'a.va.DimH5650?why then doth my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113requireיְבַקֵּ֥שׁye.va.KeshH1245this thing? why will he be a cause of trespassלְאַשְׁמָ֖הle.'ash.MahH819to Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃le.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

4Nevertheless the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wordוּדְבַר־u.de.var-H1697prevailedחָזַ֣קcha.ZakH2388against Joabיוֹאָ֑בyo.'AvH3097.Wherefore Joabיוֹאָ֗בyo.'AvH3097departedוַיֵּצֵ֣אvai.ye.Tze'H3318,and wentוַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙vai.yit.ha.leKhH1980throughout all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ye.ru.sha.LimH3389.

5And Joabיוֹאָ֛בyo.'AvH3097gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414the sumמִסְפַּ֥רmis.ParH4557of the numberמִפְקַד־mif.kad-H4662of the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971unto Davidדָּוִ֑ידda.VidH1732. And all they ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֡לYis.ra.'ElH3478were a thousandאֶ֣לֶף'E.lefH505thousandאֲלָפִים֩'a.la.FimH505and an hundredוּמֵאָ֨הu.me.'AhH3967thousandאֶ֤לֶף'E.lefH505menאִישׁ֙'ishH376that drewשֹׁ֣לֵֽףSho.lefH8025swordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719:and Judahוִֽיהוּדָ֕הvi.hu.DahH3063wasfourאַרְבַּע֩'ar.Ba'H702hundredמֵא֨וֹתme.'otH3967threescore and tenוְשִׁבְעִ֥יםve.shiv.'ImH7657thousandאֶ֛לֶף'E.lefH505menאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376that drewשֹׁ֥לֵֽףSho.lefH8025swordחָֽרֶב׃Cha.revH2719.

6But Leviוְלֵוִי֙ve.le.ViH3878and Benjaminוּבִנְיָמִ֔ןu.vin.ya.MinH1144countedפָקַ֖דfa.KadH6485he not amongבְּתוֹכָ֑םbe.to.KhamH8432them: for the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wordדְּבַר־de.var-H1697was abominableנִתְעַ֥בnit.'AvH8581to Joabיוֹאָֽב׃yo.'AvH3097.

7And Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430was displeasedבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869 H3415with this thingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697;therefore he smoteוַיַּ֖ךְvai.YakhH5221Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.

8And Davidדָּוִיד֙da.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Godהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,I have sinnedחָטָ֣אתִֽיcha.Ta.tiH2398greatlyמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966,because I have doneעָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213this thingהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697:but now, I beseech thee, do awayהַֽעֲבֶר־ha.'a.ver-H5674the iniquityעֲו֣וֹןa.VonH5771of thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֔'av.de.KhaH5650;for I have done veryמְאֹֽד׃ פme.'OdH3966foolishlyנִסְכַּ֖לְתִּיnis.Kal.tiH5528.

9And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֤רvay.da.BerH1696unto Gadגָּ֔דGadH1410,David’sדָוִ֖ידda.VidH1732seerחֹזֵ֥הcho.ZehH2374,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

10GoH3212and tellוְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ve.di.bar.TaH1696Davidדָּוִ֜ידda.VidH1732,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,I offerנֹטֶ֣הno.TehH5186thee threeשָׁל֕וֹשׁsha.Lo.oshH7969things:chooseבְּחַר־be.char-H977thee oneאַחַ֥ת'a.ChatH259of themH2007,that I may doוְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ve.'e.'e.seh-H6213it unto thee.

11So Gadגָ֖דgadH1410cameוַיָּ֥בֹאvai.Ya.vo'H935to Davidדָּוִ֑ידda.VidH1732,and saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Thus saithאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,Chooseקַבֶּל־ka.bel-H6901thee

12Either threeשָׁל֨וֹשׁsha.Lo.oshH7969years’שָׁנִ֜יםsha.NimH8141famineרָעָ֗בra.'AvH7458;or threeשְׁלֹשָׁ֨הshe.lo.ShahH7969monthsחֳדָשִׁ֜יםcho.da.ShimH2320to be destroyedנִסְפֶּ֥הnis.PehH5595beforeמִפְּנֵי־mi.pe.nei-H6440thy foesצָרֶיךָ֮tza.rei.KhaH6862,while that the swordוְחֶ֣רֶבve.Che.revH2719of thine enemiesאוֹיְבֶ֣ךָ׀'oy.Ve.khaH341overtakethלְמַשֶּׂגֶת֒le.ma.se.GetH5381thee;orH518else threeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָ֠מִיםYa.mimH3117the swordחֶ֣רֶבChe.revH2719of Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068,even the pestilenceוְדֶ֙בֶר֙ve.De.verH1698,in the landבָּאָ֔רֶץba.'A.retzH776,and the angelוּמַלְאַ֣ךְu.mal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068destroyingמַשְׁחִ֖יתmash.ChitH7843throughout all the coastsגְּב֣וּלge.VulH1366of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478.Now therefore adviseרְאֵ֔הre.'EhH7200thyself what wordדָּבָֽר׃ פda.VarH1697I shall bring againאָשִׁ֥יב'a.ShivH7725to him that sentשֹׁלְחִ֖יsho.le.ChiH7971me.

13And Davidדָּוִ֛ידda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Gadגָּ֖דgadH1410,I am in a greatמְאֹ֑דme.'OdH3966straitH6887:let me fallאֶפְּלָה־'e.pe.lah-H5307now into the handבְיַד־ve.yad-H3027of Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068;for veryמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966greatרַבִּ֤יםra.BimH7227arehis merciesרַחֲמָיו֙ra.cha.MavH7356:but let me not fallאֶפֹּֽל׃'e.PolH5307into the handוּבְיַד־u.ve.yad-H3027of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120.

14So Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068sentוַיִּתֵּ֧ןvai.yi.TenH5414pestilenceדֶּ֖בֶרDe.verH1698upon Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:and there fellוַיִּפֹּל֙vai.yi.PolH5307of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔לmi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478seventyשִׁבְעִ֥יםshiv.'ImH7657thousandאֶ֖לֶף'E.lefH505menאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

15And Godהָאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀ha.'E.lo.HimH430sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.LachH7971an angelמַלְאָ֥ךְ׀mal.'AkhH4397unto Jerusalemלִֽירוּשָׁלִַם֮li.ru.sha.LimH3389to destroyלְהַשְׁחִיתָהּ֒le.hash.chi.TahH7843it: and as he was destroyingוּכְהַשְׁחִ֗יתu.khe.hash.ChitH7843,Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068beheldרָאָ֤הra.'AhH7200,and he repentedוַיִּנָּ֣חֶםvai.yi.Na.chemH5162him of the evilהָֽרָעָ֔הha.ra.'AhH7451,and saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the angelלַמַּלְאָ֤ךְla.mal.'AkhH4397that destroyedהַמַּשְׁחִית֙ha.mash.ChitH7843,It is enoughרַ֔בRavH7227,stayהֶ֣רֶףHe.refH7503now thine handיָדֶ֑ךָya.De.khaH3027.And the angelוּמַלְאַ֤ךְu.mal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068stoodעֹמֵ֔ד'o.MedH5975by the threshingfloorגֹּ֖רֶןGo.renH1637of Ornanאָרְנָ֥ן'a.re.NanH771the Jebusiteהַיְבוּסִֽי׃ סhay.vu.SiH2983.

16And Davidדָוִ֜ידda.VidH1732lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֨אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his eyesעֵינָ֗יו'ei.NavH5869,and sawוַיַּ֞רְאvai.Yar'H7200the angelמַלְאַ֤ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068standעֹמֵ֗ד'o.MedH5975between the earthהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha.'A.retzH776and the heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,having a drawnשְׁלוּפָה֙she.lu.FahH8025swordוְחַרְבּ֤וֹve.char.BoH2719in his handבְּיָד֔וֹbe.ya.DoH3027stretched outנְטוּיָ֖הne.tu.YahH5186over Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389.Then Davidדָּוִ֧ידda.VidH1732and the eldersוְהַזְּקֵנִ֛יםve.ha.ze.ke.NimH2205of Israel, who wereclothedמְכֻסִּ֥יםme.khu.SimH3680in sackclothבַּשַּׂקִּ֖יםba.sa.KimH8242,fellוַיִּפֹּ֨לvai.yi.PolH5307upon their facesפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃pe.nei.HemH6440.

17And Davidדָּוִ֣ידda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Godהָאֱלֹהִ֡יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, Is it not I thatcommandedאָמַ֜רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559the peopleבָּעָ֗םba.'AmH5971to be numberedלִמְנ֣וֹתlim.NotH4487?even I it is that have sinnedחָטָ֙אתִי֙cha.Ta.tiH2398and done evilוְהָרֵ֣עַve.ha.Re.a'H7489indeedהֲרֵע֔וֹתִיha.re.'o.tiH7489; but as forthese sheepהַצֹּ֖אןha.TzonH6629,what have they doneעָשׂ֑וּ'a.SuH6213?let thine handיָֽדְךָ֙ya.de.KhaH3027,I pray thee, O Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068my Godאֱלֹהַ֗י'e.lo.HaiH430,be on me, and on my father’sאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1houseוּבְבֵ֣יתu.ve.VeitH1004;but not on thy peopleוּֽבְעַמְּךָ֖u.ve.'a.me.KhaH5971,that they should be plaguedלְמַגֵּפָֽה׃ סle.ma.ge.FahH4046.

18Then the angelוּמַלְאַ֧ךְu.mal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068commandedאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Gadגָּ֖דgadH1410to sayלֵאמֹ֣רle.MorH559to Davidלְדָוִ֑ידle.da.VidH1732,that Davidדָוִ֗ידda.VidH1732should go upיַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.LehH5927,and set upלְהָקִ֤יםle.ha.KimH6965an altarמִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙miz.Be.achH4196unto Yhwhלַיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068in the threshingfloorבְּגֹ֖רֶןbe.Go.renH1637of Ornanאָרְנָ֥ן'a.re.NanH771the Jebusiteהַיְבֻסִֽי׃hay.vu.SiH2983.

19And Davidדָּוִיד֙da.VidH1732went upוַיַּ֤עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927at the sayingבִּדְבַר־bid.var-H1697of Gadגָּ֔דGadH1410,which he spakeדִּבֶּ֖רdi.BerH1696in the nameבְּשֵׁ֥םbe.ShemH8034of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

20And Ornanאָרְנָ֗ן'a.re.NanH771turned backוַיָּ֣שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725,and sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200the angelהַמַּלְאָ֔ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397;and his fourוְאַרְבַּ֧עַתve.'ar.Ba.'atH702sonsבָּנָ֛יוba.NavH1121with him hidמִֽתְחַבְּאִ֑יםmit.cha.be.'ImH2244themselves, but Ornanוְאָרְנָ֖ןve.'a.re.NanH771continued threshingדָּ֥שׁdashH1758wheatחִטִּֽים׃chi.TimH2406.

21And as Davidדָוִ֖ידda.VidH1732cameוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Ornanאָרְנָ֑ן'a.re.NanH771,Ornanאָרְנָן֙'a.re.NanH771lookedוַיַּבֵּ֤טvai.ya.BetH5027and sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200Davidדָּוִ֔ידda.VidH1732,and went outוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318of the threshingfloorהַגֹּ֔רֶןha.Go.renH1637,and bowedוַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812himself to Davidלְדָוִ֛ידle.da.VidH1732with hisfaceאַפַּ֖יִם'a.Pa.yimH639to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776.

22Then Davidדָּוִ֜ידda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Ornanאָרְנָ֗ן'a.re.NanH771,Grantתְּנָה־te.nah-H5414me the placeמְק֣וֹםme.KomH4725of thisthreshingfloorהַגֹּ֔רֶןha.Go.renH1637,that I may buildוְאֶבְנֶה־ve.'ev.neh-H1129an altarמִזְבֵּ֖חַmiz.Be.achH4196therein unto Yhwhלַיהוָ֑הla.Yah.wehH3068:thou shalt grantתְּנֵ֣הוּte.Ne.huH5414it me for the fullמָלֵא֙ma.Le'H4392priceבְּכֶ֤סֶףbe.Khe.sefH3701:that the plagueהַמַּגֵּפָ֖הha.ma.ge.FahH4046may be stayedוְתֵעָצַ֥רve.te.'a.TzarH6113from the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

23And Ornanאָרְנָ֤ן'a.re.NanH771saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Davidדָּוִיד֙da.VidH1732,Takeקַֽח־kach-H3947itto thee, and let my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428doוְיַ֛עַשׂve.Ya.'asH6213that which isgoodהַטּ֣וֹבha.TovH2896in his eyesבְּעֵינָ֑יוbe.'ei.NavH5869:loרְאֵה֩re.'EhH7200,I giveנָתַ֨תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414theethe oxenהַבָּקָ֜רha.ba.KarH1241alsofor burnt offeringsלָֽעֹל֗וֹתla.'o.LotH5930,and the threshing instrumentsוְהַמּוֹרִגִּ֧יםve.ham.mo.ri.GimH4173for woodלָעֵצִ֛יםla.'e.TzimH6086,and the wheatוְהַחִטִּ֥יםve.ha.chi.TimH2406for the grain offeringלַמִּנְחָ֖הla.min.ChahH4503;I giveנָתָֽתִּי׃na.Ta.tiH5414it all.

24And kingהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Davidדָּוִיד֙da.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Ornanלְאָרְנָ֔ןle.'a.re.NanH771,Nay; but I will verilyקָנֹ֥הka.NohH7069buyאֶקְנֶ֖ה'ek.NehH7069it for the fullמָלֵ֑אma.Le'H4392priceבְּכֶ֣סֶףbe.Khe.sefH3701:for I will not takeאֶשָּׂ֤א'e.Sa'H5375that which isthine for Yhwhלַיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068,nor offerוְהַעֲל֥וֹתve.ha.'a.LotH5927burnt offeringsעוֹלָ֖הo.LahH5930without costחִנָּֽם׃chi.NamH2600.

25So Davidדָּוִ֛ידda.VidH1732gaveוַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.TenH5414to Ornanלְאָרְנָ֖ןle.'a.re.NanH771for the placeבַּמָּק֑וֹםba.ma.KomH4725sixשֵׁ֥שׁsheshH8337hundredמֵאֽוֹת׃me.'otH3967shekelsשִׁקְלֵ֣יshik.LeiH8255of goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091by weightמִשְׁקָ֖לmish.KalH4948.

26And Davidדָּוִ֤ידda.VidH1732builtוַיִּבֶן֩vai.yi.VenH1129there an altarמִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙miz.Be.achH4196unto Yhwhלַיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068,and offeredוַיַּ֥עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927burnt offeringsעֹל֖וֹתo.LotH5930and peace offeringsוּשְׁלָמִ֑יםu.she.la.MimH8002,and calledוַיִּקְרָא֙vai.yik.Ra'H7121upon Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;and he answeredוַיַּֽעֲנֵ֤הוּvai.ya.'a.Ne.huH6030him from heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064by fireבָאֵשׁ֙va.'EshH784upon the altarמִזְבַּ֥חmiz.BachH4196of burnt offeringהָעֹלָֽה׃ פha.'o.LahH5930.

27And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068commandedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the angelלַמַּלְאָ֔ךְla.mal.'AkhH4397;and he put upH7725his swordחַרְבּ֖וֹchar.BoH2719againH7725into the sheathנְדָנָֽהּ׃ne.da.NahH5084thereof.

28At that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256when Davidדָּוִיד֙da.VidH1732sawבִּרְא֤וֹתbir.'otH7200that Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068had answeredעָנָ֣הוּ'a.Na.huH6030him in the threshingfloorבְּגֹ֖רֶןbe.Go.renH1637of Ornanאָרְנָ֣ן'a.re.NanH771the Jebusiteהַיְבוּסִ֑יhay.vu.SiH2983,then he sacrificedוַיִּזְבַּ֖חvai.yiz.BachH2076there.

29For the tabernacleוּמִשְׁכַּ֣ןu.mish.KanH4908of Yhwhיְ֠הוָהYah.wehH3068,which Mosesמֹשֶׁ֧הmo.ShehH4872madeעָשָׂ֨ה'a.SahH6213in the wildernessבַמִּדְבָּ֛רva.mid.BarH4057,and the altarוּמִזְבַּ֥חu.miz.BachH4196of the burnt offeringהָעוֹלָ֖הha.'o.LahH5930, wereat that seasonבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256in the high placeבַּבָּמָ֖הba.ba.MahH1116at Gibeonבְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃be.giv.'onH1391.

30But Davidדָּוִ֛ידda.VidH1732couldיָכֹ֥לya.KholH3201not goH3212beforeלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440it to enquireלִדְרֹ֣שׁlid.RoshH1875of Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimH430:for he was afraidנִבְעַ֔תniv.'AtH1204becauseמִפְּנֵ֕יmi.pe.NeiH6440of the swordחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719of the angelמַלְאַ֥ךְmal.'AkhH4397of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 21