Revised Literal Translation

1 Samuel 22

1Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732therefore departedH3212thence, and escapedוַיִּמָּלֵ֖טvai.yi.ma.LetH4422to the caveמְעָרַ֣תme.'a.RatH4631Adullamעֲדֻלָּ֑ם'a.du.LamH5725:and when his brethrenאֶחָיו֙'e.ChavH251and all his father’sאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004heardוַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085it,they went downוַיֵּרְד֥וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381thither to him.

2And every oneאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376that wasin distressמָצ֜וֹקma.TzokH4689,and every oneאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376that wasin debtנֹשֶׁא֙no.She'H5378,and every oneאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376that wasdiscontentedמַר־ נֶ֔פֶשׁmar- Ne.feshH5315 H4751,gatheredוַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֣וּvai.yit.ka.be.TzuH6908themselves unto him; and he became a captainלְשָׂ֑רle.SarH8269over them: and there were with him about fourכְּאַרְבַּ֥עke.'ar.Ba'H702hundredמֵא֖וֹתme.'otH3967menאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

3And Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732wentH3212thence to Mizpehמִצְפֵּ֣הmitz.PehH4708of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124:and he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559unto the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֗בmo.'AvH4124,Let my fatherאָבִ֤י'a.ViH1and my motherוְאִמִּי֙ve.'i.MiH517,I pray thee, come forthיֵֽצֵא־ye.tze'-H3318, and bewith you, till I knowאֵדַ֔ע'e.Da'H3045what Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430will doיַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213for me.

4And he broughtוַיַּנְחֵ֕םvai.yan.ChemH5148them beforeפְּנֵ֖יpe.NeiH6440the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmo.'AvH4124:and they dweltוַיֵּשְׁב֣וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427with him all the whileיְמֵ֥יye.MeiH3117that Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732was in the holdבַּמְּצוּדָֽה׃ סba.me.tzu.DahH4686.

5And the prophetהַנָּבִ֜יאha.na.Vi'H5030Gadגָּ֨דgadH1410saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559unto Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732,Abideתֵשֵׁב֙te.ShevH3427not in the holdבַּמְּצוּדָ֔הba.me.tzu.DahH4686;departH3212,and getוּבָֽאתָ־u.va.ta-H935thee into the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063.Then Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732departedH3212,and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935into the forestיַ֥עַרYa.'arH3293of Harethחָֽרֶת׃ סCha.retH2802.

6When Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'H8085that Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732was discoveredנוֹדַ֣עno.Da'H3045,and the menוַאֲנָשִׁ֖יםva.'a.na.ShimH582that werewith him, (now Saulוְשָׁאוּל֩ve.sha.'UlH7586abodeיוֹשֵׁ֨בyo.ShevH3427in Gibeahבַּגִּבְעָ֜הba.giv.'AhH1390under a treeהָאֶ֤שֶׁלha.'E.shelH815in RamahH7414,having his spearוַחֲנִית֣וֹva.cha.ni.ToH2595in his handבְיָד֔וֹve.ya.DoH3027,and all his servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו'a.va.DavH5650werestandingנִצָּבִ֥יםni.tza.VimH5324about him;)

7Then Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his servantsלַֽעֲבָדָיו֙la.'a.va.DavH5650that stoodהַנִּצָּבִ֣יםha.ni.tza.VimH5324about him, Hear nowשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085,ye BenjamitesH1145;will the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448giveיִתֵּ֤ןyi.TenH5414every one of you fieldsשָׂד֣וֹתsa.DotH7704and vineyardsוּכְרָמִ֔יםu.khe.ra.MimH3754, andmakeיָשִׂ֔יםya.SimH7760you all captainsשָׂרֵ֥יsa.ReiH8269of thousandsאֲלָפִ֖ים'a.la.FimH505,and captainsוְשָׂרֵ֥יve.sa.ReiH8269of hundredsמֵאֽוֹת׃me.'otH3967;

8That all of you have conspiredקְשַׁרְתֶּ֨םke.shar.TemH7194against me, and there isnone that shewethגֹּלֶ֤ה אָזְנִי֙go.Leh 'a.ze.NiH241 H1540me that my sonבְּנִ֣יbe.NiH1121hath made a leagueבִּכְרָת־bikh.rot-H3772with the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jesseיִשַׁ֔יyi.ShaiH3448, and there isnone of you that is sorryחֹלֶ֥הcho.LehH2470for me, or shewethוְגֹלֶ֣ה אָזְנִ֑יve.go.Leh 'a.ze.NiH241 H1540unto me that my sonבְּנִ֨יbe.NiH1121hath stirred upהֵקִים֩he.KimH6965my servantעַבְדִּ֥י'av.DiH5650against me, to lie in waitלְאֹרֵ֖בle.'o.RevH693,as at this dayכַּיּ֥וֹםkai.YomH3117?

9Then answeredוַיַּ֜עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030Doegדֹּאֵ֣גdo.'EgH1673the Edomiteהָאֲדֹמִ֗יha.'a.do.MiH130,which was setנִצָּ֥בni.TzavH5324over the servantsעַבְדֵֽי־'av.dei-H5650of Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,I sawרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jesseיִשַׁ֔יyi.ShaiH3448comingבָּ֣אba'H935to Nobנֹ֔בֶהNoehH5011,to Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhH288the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahitubאֲחִטֽוּב׃'a.chi.TuvH285.

10And he enquiredוַיִּשְׁאַל־vai.yish.'al-H7592of Yhwhבַּֽיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068for him, and gaveנָ֣תַןNa.tanH5414him victualsוְצֵידָ֖הve.tzei.DahH6720,and gaveנָ֥תַןNa.tanH5414him the swordחֶ֛רֶבChe.revH2719of Goliathגָּלְיָ֥תgal.YatH1555the Philistineהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יha.pe.lish.TiH6430.

11Then the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971to callלִקְרֹא֩lik.Ro'H7121Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhH288the priestהַכֹּהֵ֗ןha.ko.HenH3548,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahitubאֲחִיט֜וּב'a.chi.TuvH285,and all his father’sאָבִ֛יו'a.VivH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004,the priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםha.ko.ha.NimH3548that werein Nobבְּנֹ֑בbe.NoH5011:and they cameוַיָּבֹ֥אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935all of them to the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ סha.Me.lekhH4428.

12And Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Hearשְֽׁמַֽע־she.ma'-H8085now, thou sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahitubאֲחִיט֑וּב'a.chi.TuvH285.And he answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Here I am,my lordאֲדֹנִֽי׃'a.do.NiH113.

13And Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Why have ye conspiredקְשַׁרְתֶּ֣םke.shar.TemH7194against me, thou and the sonוּבֶן־u.ven-H1121of Jesseיִשָׁ֑יyi.ShaiH3448,in that thou hast givenבְּתִתְּךָ֨be.ti.te.KhaH5414him breadלֶ֣חֶםLe.chemH3899,and a swordוְחֶ֗רֶבve.Che.revH2719,and hast enquiredוְשָׁא֥וֹלve.sha.'olH7592of Godבֵּֽאלֹהִ֔יםbe.lo.HimH430for him, that he should riseלָק֥וּםla.KumH6965against me, to lie in waitלְאֹרֵ֖בle.'o.RevH693,as at this dayכַּיּ֥וֹםkai.YomH3117?

14Then Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhH288answeredוַיַּ֧עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, And who is sofaithfulנֶאֱמָ֔ןne.'e.ManH539among all thy servantsעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙'a.va.Dei.khaH5650as Davidכְּדָוִ֣דke.da.VidH1732,which is the king’sהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428son in lawוַחֲתַ֥ןva.cha.TanH2860,and goethוְסָ֥רve.SarH5493at thy biddingמִשְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ךָmish.ma'.Te.khaH4928,and is honourableוְנִכְבָּ֥דve.nikh.BadH3513in thine houseבְּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃be.vei.Te.khaH1004?

15Did I thenהַיּ֧וֹםhai.YomH3117beginהַחִלֹּ֛תִיha.chi.Lo.tiH2490to enquireלִשְׁאָלle.sha.'ol-H7592of Godבֵאלֹהִ֖יםve.lo.HimH430for him? be it far from meחָלִ֣ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486:let not the kingהַמֶּ֨לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428imputeיָשֵׂם֩ya.SemH7760anythingדָבָר֙da.VarH1697unto his servantבְּעַבְדּ֤וֹbe.'av.DoH5650, norto all the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of my fatherאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1:for thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.KhaH5650knewיָדַ֤עya.Da'H3045nothingדָּבָ֥רda.VarH1697of all this, lessקָטֹ֖ןka.TonH6996or moreגָדֽוֹל׃ga.DolH1419.

16And the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Thou shalt surelyמ֥וֹתMotH4191dieתָּמ֖וּתta.MutH4191,Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhH288,thou, and all thy father’sאָבִֽיךָ׃'a.Vi.khaH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

17And the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the footmenלָרָצִים֩la.ra.TzimH7323that stoodהַנִּצָּבִ֨יםha.ni.tza.VimH5324about him, Turnסֹ֥בּוּSo.buH5437,and slayוְהָמִ֣יתוּ׀ve.ha.Mi.tuH4191the priestsכֹּהֲנֵ֣יko.ha.NeiH3548of Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068;because their handיָדָם֙ya.DamH3027also iswith Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732,and because they knewיָֽדְעוּ֙ya.de.'UH3045when he fledבֹרֵ֣חַvo.Re.achH1272,and did not shewגָל֖וּ אָזְנִ֑יga.Lu 'a.ze.niH241 H1540it to me. But the servantsעַבְדֵ֤י'av.DeiH5650of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428wouldאָב֞וּ'a.VuH14not put forthלִשְׁלֹ֣חַlish.Lo.achH7971their handיָדָ֔םya.DamH3027to fallלִפְגֹ֖עַlif.Go.a'H6293upon the priestsבְּכֹהֲנֵ֥יbe.kho.ha.NeiH3548of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

18And the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Doegלְדוֹאֵ֔גle.do.yegH1673,Turnסֹ֣בsoH5437thou, and fallוּפְגַ֖עu.fe.Ga'H6293upon the priestsבַּכֹּהֲנִ֑יםba.ko.ha.NimH3548.And Doegדּוֹאֵ֣גdo.yegH1673the Edomiteהָאֲדֹמִ֗יha.'a.do.MiH130turnedוַיִּסֹּ֞בvai.yi.SoH5437,and he fellוַיִּפְגַּע־vai.yif.ga'-H6293upon the priestsבַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםba.Ko.ha.NimH3548,and slewוַיָּ֣מֶת׀vai.Ya.metH4191on that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117fourscoreשְׁמֹנִ֤יםshe.mo.NimH8084and fiveוַחֲמִשָּׁה֙va.cha.mi.ShahH2568personsאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376that did wearנֹשֵׂ֖אno.Se'H5375a linenבָּֽד׃BadH906ephodאֵפ֥וֹד'e.FodH646.

19And Nobנֹ֤בnoH5011,the cityעִיר־'ir-H5892of the priestsהַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ha.ko.ha.NimH3548,smoteהִכָּ֣הhi.KahH5221he with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719,both menמֵאִישׁ֙me.'IshH376and womenאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802,childrenמֵעוֹלֵ֖לme.'o.LelH5768and sucklingsיוֹנֵ֑קyo.NekH3243,and oxenוְשׁ֧וֹרve.ShorH7794,and donkeysוַחֲמ֛וֹרva.cha.MorH2543,and sheepוָשֶׂ֖הva.SehH7716,with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחָֽרֶב׃Cha.revH2719.

20And oneאֶחָ֗ד'e.ChadH259of the sonsבֵּן־ben-H1121of Ahimelechלַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙la.'a.chi.Me.lekhH288the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahitubאֲחִט֔וּב'a.chi.TuvH285,namedוּשְׁמ֖וֹu.she.MoH8034Abiatharאֶבְיָתָ֑ר'ev.ya.TarH54,escapedוַיִּמָּלֵ֣טvai.yi.ma.LetH4422,and fledוַיִּבְרַ֖חvai.yiv.RachH1272afterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310Davidדָוִֽד׃da.VidH1732.

21And Abiatharאֶבְיָתָ֖ר'ev.ya.TarH54shewedוַיַּגֵּ֥דvai.ya.GedH5046Davidלְדָוִ֑דle.da.VidH1732that Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586had slainהָרַ֣גha.RagH2026Yhwh'sיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068priestsכֹּהֲנֵ֥יko.ha.NeiH3548.

22And Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Abiatharלְאֶבְיָתָ֗רle.'ev.ya.TarH54,I knewיָדַ֜עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045itthat dayבַּיּ֤וֹםbai.YomH3117,when Doegדּוֹאֵ֣גdo.yegH1673the Edomiteהָאֲדֹמִ֔יha.'a.do.MiH130wasthere, that he would surelyהַגֵּ֥דha.GedH5046tellיַגִּ֖ידya.GidH5046Saulלְשָׁא֑וּלle.sha.'UlH7586:I have occasionedסַבֹּ֔תִיsa.Bo.tiH5437the deathof all the personsנֶ֖פֶשׁNe.feshH5315of thy father’sאָבִֽיךָ׃'a.Vi.khaH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

23Abideשְׁבָ֤הshe.VahH3427thou with me, fearתִּירָ֔אti.Ra'H3372not: for he that seekethיְבַקֵּ֥שׁye.va.KeshH1245my lifeנַפְשִׁ֖יnaf.ShiH5315seekethיְבַקֵּ֣שׁye.va.KeshH1245thy lifeנַפְשֶׁ֑ךָnaf.She.khaH5315: but with me thou shalt bein safeguardמִשְׁמֶ֥רֶתmish.Me.retH4931.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 22