Revised Literal Translation

1 Samuel 26

1And the Ziphitesהַזִּפִים֙ha.zi.FimH2130cameוַיָּבֹ֤אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935unto Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586to Gibeahהַגִּבְעָ֖תָהha.giv.'A.tahH1390,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Doth not Davidדָוִ֤דda.VidH1732hideמִסְתַּתֵּר֙mis.ta.TerH5641himself in the hillבְּגִבְעַ֣תbe.giv.'AtH1389of Hachilahהַחֲכִילָ֔הha.cha.khi.LahH2444, which isbeforeפְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440Jeshimonהַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃hay.shi.MonH3452?

2Then Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586aroseוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965,and went downוַיֵּ֙רֶד֙vai.Ye.redH3381to the wildernessמִדְבַּר־mid.bar-H4057of Ziphזִ֔יףZifH2128,having threeשְׁלֹֽשֶׁת־she.lo.shet-H7969thousandאֲלָפִ֥ים'a.la.FimH505chosenבְּחוּרֵ֣יbe.chu.ReiH977menאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478with him, to seekלְבַקֵּ֥שׁle.va.KeshH1245Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732in the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּר־be.mid.bar-H4057of Ziphזִֽיף׃ZifH2128.

3And Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586pitchedוַיִּ֨חַןvai.Yi.chanH2583in the hillבְּגִבְעַ֣תbe.giv.'AtH1389of Hachilahהַחֲכִילָ֗הha.cha.khi.LahH2444, which isbeforeפְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440Jeshimonהַיְשִׁימֹ֖ןhay.shi.MonH3452,by the wayהַדָּ֑רֶךְha.Da.rekhH1870.But Davidוְדָוִד֙ve.da.VidH1732abodeיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רba.mid.BarH4057,and he sawוַיַּ֕רְאvai.Yar'H7200that Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586cameבָ֥אva'H935afterאַחֲרָ֖יו'a.cha.RavH310him into the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ha.mid.Ba.rahH4057.

4Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732therefore sent outוַיִּשְׁלַ֥חvai.yish.LachH7971spiesמְרַגְּלִ֑יםme.ra.ge.LimH7270,and understoodוַיֵּ֕דַעvai.Ye.da'H3045that Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586was comeבָ֥אva'H935in very deedנָכֽוֹן׃na.KhonH3559.

5And Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732aroseוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965,and cameוַיָּבֹא֮vai.ya.Vo'H935to the placeהַמָּקוֹם֮ha.ma.kOmH4725where Saulשָׁאוּל֒sha.'UlH7586had pitchedחָנָה־cha.nah-H2583:and Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732beheldוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200the placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725where Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586layשָֽׁכַב־sha.khav-H7901,and Abnerוְאַבְנֵ֥רve.'av.NerH74the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Nerנֵ֖רnerH5369,the captainשַׂר־sar-H8269of his armyצְבָא֑וֹtze.va.'OH6635:and Saulוְשָׁאוּל֙ve.sha.'UlH7586layשֹׁכֵ֣בsho.KhevH7901in the trenchבַּמַּעְגָּ֔לba.ma'.GalH4570,and the peopleוְהָעָ֖םve.ha.'AmH5971pitchedחֹנִ֥יםcho.NimH2583round aboutסְבִיבֹתָֽיו׃se.vi.vo.tovH5439him.

6Then answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559to Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhH288the Hittiteהַחִתִּ֗יha.chi.TiH2850,and to Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֨י'a.vi.ShaiH52the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרוּיָ֜הtze.ru.YahH6870,brotherאֲחִ֤י'a.ChiH251to Joabיוֹאָב֙yo.'AvH3097,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Who will go downיֵרֵ֥דye.RedH3381with me to Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586to the campהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑הha.ma.cha.NehH4264?And Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֔י'a.vi.ShaiH52saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will go downאֵרֵ֥ד'e.RedH3381with thee.

7So Davidדָוִ֨דda.VidH1732and Abishaiוַאֲבִישַׁ֥י׀va.'a.vi.ShaiH52cameוַיָּבֹא֩vai.ya.Vo'H935to the peopleהָעָם֮ha.'AmH5971by nightלַיְלָה֒lay.LahH3915:and, behold, Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586layשֹׁכֵ֤בsho.KhevH7901sleepingיָשֵׁן֙ya.ShenH3463within the trenchבַּמַּעְגָּ֔לba.ma'.GalH4570,and his spearוַחֲנִית֥וֹva.cha.ni.ToH2595stuckמְעוּכָֽה־me.'u.khah-H4600in the groundבָאָ֖רֶץva.'A.retzH776at his headמְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֑יוme.ra.'a.sho.tovH4763:but Abnerוְאַבְנֵ֣רve.'av.NerH74and the peopleוְהָעָ֔םve.ha.'AmH5971layשֹׁכְבִ֖יםsho.khe.VimH7901round aboutסְבִיבֹתָֽיו׃ סse.vi.vo.tovH5439him.

8Then saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי֙'a.vi.ShaiH52to Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732,Godאֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.HimH430hath deliveredסִגַּ֨רsi.GarH5462thine enemyאוֹיִבְךָ֖'o.yiv.KhaH341into thine handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027this dayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117:now therefore let me smiteאַכֶּ֨נּוּ'ak.Ke.nuH5221him, I pray thee, with the spearבַּחֲנִ֤יתba.cha.NitH2595even to the earthוּבָאָ֙רֶץ֙u.va.'A.retzH776at onceפַּ֣עַם אַחַ֔תPa.'am 'a.ChatH259 H6471, and I will not smitehim the second timeאֶשְׁנֶ֖ה'esh.NehH8138.

9And Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֖י'a.vi.ShaiH52,Destroyתַּשְׁחִיתֵ֑הוּtash.chi.Te.huH7843him not: for who can stretch forthשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971his handיָד֛וֹya.DoH3027against Yhwh'sיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068anointedבִּמְשִׁ֥יחַbim.Shi.achH4899,and be guiltlessוְנִקָּֽה׃ פve.ni.KahH5352?

10Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559furthermore, AsYhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068livethחַי־chai-H2416,Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068shall smiteיִגָּפֶ֑נּוּyi.ga.Fe.nuH5062him; or his dayיוֹמ֤וֹyo.MoH3117shall comeיָבוֹא֙ya.Vo'H935to dieוָמֵ֔תva.MetH4191;or he shall descendיֵרֵ֖דye.RedH3381into battleבַמִּלְחָמָ֛הva.mil.cha.MahH4421,and perishוְנִסְפָּֽה׃ve.nis.PahH5595.

11Yhwhמֵֽיהוָ֔הme.Yah.wehH3068forbidחָלִ֤ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486that I should stretch forthמִשְּׁלֹ֥חַmi.she.Lo.achH7971mine handיָדִ֖יya.DiH3027against Yhwh'sיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068anointedבִּמְשִׁ֣יחַbim.Shi.achH4899:but, I pray thee, takeקַח־kach-H3947thou now the spearהַחֲנִ֜יתha.cha.NitH2595that isat his headמְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֛יוme.ra.'a.sho.tovH4763,and the cruseצַפַּ֥חַתtza.Pa.chatH6835of waterהַמַּ֖יִםha.Ma.yimH4325,and let us goH3212.

12So Davidדָּוִ֨דda.VidH1732tookוַיִּקַּח֩vai.yi.KachH3947the spearהַחֲנִ֜יתha.cha.NitH2595and the cruseצַפַּ֤חַתtza.Pa.chatH6835of waterהַמַּ֙יִם֙ha.Ma.yimH4325from Saul’sשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586headמֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵ֣יme.ra.'a.sho.TeiH7226;and they gat them awayH3212,and no man sawרֹאֶה֩ro.'EhH7200it,nor knewיוֹדֵ֜עַyo.De.a'H3045it,neither awakedמֵקִ֗יץme.KitzH6974: for they wereall asleepיְשֵׁנִ֔יםye.she.NimH3463;because a deep sleepתַּרְדֵּמַ֣תtar.de.MatH8639from Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068was fallenנָפְלָ֖הna.fe.LahH5307upon them.

13Then Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732went overוַיַּעֲבֹ֤רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674to the other sideהָעֵ֔בֶרha.'E.verH5676,and stoodוַיַּעֲמֹ֥דvai.ya.'a.ModH5975on the topרֹאשׁ־rosh-H7218of an hillהָהָ֖רha.HarH2022afar offמֵֽרָחֹ֑קme.ra.ChokH7350;a greatרַ֥בravH7227spaceהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725being between them:

14And Davidדָוִ֜דda.VidH1732criedוַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'H7121to the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971,and to Abnerאַבְנֵ֤ר'av.NerH74the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Nerנֵר֙nerH5369,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Answerestתַעֲנֶ֖הta.'a.NehH6030thou not, Abnerאַבְנֵ֑ר'av.NerH74?Then Abnerאַבְנֵר֙'av.NerH74answeredוַיַּ֤עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֔אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Who art thou thatcriestקָרָ֥אתָka.Ra.taH7121to the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ פha.Me.lekhH4428?

15And Davidדָּוִ֨דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559to Abnerאַבְנֵ֜ר'av.NerH74, Art not thou a valiantmanאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376? and who islike to thee in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478?wherefore then hast thou not keptשָׁמַ֔רְתָּsha.Mar.taH8104thy lordאֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ'a.do.Nei.khaH113the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428?for there cameבָא֙va'H935oneאַחַ֣ד'a.ChadH259of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971in to destroyלְהַשְׁחִ֖יתle.hash.ChitH7843the kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428thy lordאֲדֹנֶֽיךָ׃'a.do.Nei.khaH113.

16This thingהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697isnot goodט֞וֹבTovH2896that thou hast doneעָשִׂיתָ֒'a.si.TaH6213. AsYhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068livethחַי־chai-H2416, ye areworthyבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121to dieמָ֙וֶת֙ma.vetH4194,because ye have not keptשְׁמַרְתֶּ֛םshe.mar.TemH8104your masterאֲדֹנֵיכֶ֖ם'a.do.nei.KhemH113,Yhwh'sיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068anointedמְשִׁ֣יחַme.Shi.achH4899.And now seeרְאֵ֗הre.'EhH7200where the king’sהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428spearחֲנִ֥יתcha.NitH2595is,and the cruseצַפַּ֥חַתtza.Pa.chatH6835of waterהַמַּ֖יִםha.Ma.yimH4325that wasat his headמְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃me.ra.'a.sho.tovH4763.

17And Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586knewוַיַּכֵּ֤רvai.ya.KerH5234David’sדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732voiceק֣וֹלKolH6963,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Isthis thy voiceהֲקוֹלְךָ֥ha.kol.ChaH6963,my sonבְּנִ֣יbe.NiH1121Davidדָוִ֑דda.VidH1732?And Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, It ismy voiceקוֹלִ֖יko.LiH6963,my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.NiH113,O kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

18And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Wherefore doth my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.NiH113thus pursueרֹדֵ֖ףro.DefH7291afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310his servantעַבְדּ֑וֹav.DoH5650?for what have I doneעָשִׂ֔יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213?or what evilרָעָֽה׃ra.'AhH7451isin mine handבְּיָדִ֖יbe.ya.DiH3027?

19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428hearיִֽשְׁמַֽע־yish.ma'-H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of his servantעַבְדּ֑וֹav.DoH5650.If Yhwhיְהוָ֞הYah.wehH3068have stirred thee upהֱסִֽיתְךָ֥he.si.te.KhaH5496against me, let him acceptיָרַ֣חya.RachH7306an offeringמִנְחָ֔הmin.ChahH4503: but if they bethe childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָ֗םha.'a.DamH120,cursedאֲרוּרִ֥ים'a.ru.RimH779bethey beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;for they have drivenגֵרְשׁ֣וּנִיge.re.Shu.niH1644me out this dayהַיּ֗וֹםhai.YomH3117from abidingמֵהִסְתַּפֵּ֜חַme.his.ta.Pe.achH5596in the inheritanceבְּנַחֲלַ֤תbe.na.cha.LatH5159of Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,GoH3212,serveעֲבֹ֖ד'a.VodH5647otherאֲחֵרִֽים׃'a.che.RimH312godsאֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.HimH430.

20Now therefore, let not my bloodדָּֽמִי֙da.MiH1818fallיִפֹּ֤לyi.PolH5307to the earthאַ֔רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776before the faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:for the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478is come outיָצָ֞אya.Tza'H3318to seekלְבַקֵּשׁ֙le.va.KeshH1245aאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259fleaפַּרְעֹ֣שׁpar.'OshH6550,as when one doth huntיִרְדֹּ֥ףyir.DofH7291a partridgeהַקֹּרֵ֖אha.ko.Re'H7124in the mountainsבֶּהָרִֽים׃be.ha.RimH2022.

21Then saidוַיֹּאמֶר֩vai.yo.MerH559Saulשָׁא֨וּלsha.'UlH7586,I have sinnedחָטָ֜אתִיcha.Ta.tiH2398:returnשׁ֣וּבshuvH7725,my sonבְּנִֽי־be.ni-H1121Davidדָוִ֗דda.VidH1732:for I will no more do thee harmאָרַ֤ע'a.Ra'H7489,because my soulנַפְשִׁ֛יnaf.ShiH5315was preciousיָקְרָ֥הya.ke.RahH3365in thine eyesבְּעֵינֶ֖יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869this dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117:behold, I have played the foolהִסְכַּ֛לְתִּיhis.Kal.tiH5528,and have erredוָאֶשְׁגֶּ֖הva.'esh.GehH7686exceedinglyהַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃har.Beh me.'OdH3966 H7235.

22And Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732answeredוַיַּ֤עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֔אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428spearחֲנִ֣יתha.cha.nitH2595!and let oneאֶחָ֥ד'e.ChadH259of the young menמֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֖יםme.ha.ne.'a.RimH5288come overוְיַעֲבֹ֛רve.ya.'a.VorH5674and fetchוְיִקָּחֶֽהָ׃ve.yi.ka.Che.haH3947it.

23Yhwhוַֽיהוָה֙va.Yah.wehH3068renderיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725to every manלָאִ֔ישׁla.'IshH376his righteousnessצִדְקָת֖וֹtzid.ka.ToH6666and his faithfulnessאֱמֻנָת֑וֹ'e.mu.na.ToH530:for Yhwhיְהוָ֤ה׀Yah.wehH3068deliveredנְתָנְךָ֨ne.ta.ne.KhaH5414thee into myhandבְּיָ֔דbe.YadH3027to dayהַיּוֹם֙hai.yOmH3117,but I wouldאָבִ֔יתִי'a.Vi.tiH14not stretch forthלִשְׁלֹ֥חַlish.Lo.achH7971mine handיָדִ֖יya.DiH3027against Yhwh'sיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068anointedבִּמְשִׁ֥יחַbim.Shi.achH4899.

24And, behold, as thy lifeנַפְשְׁךָ֛naf.she.KhaH5315was much set byגָּדְלָ֧הga.de.LahH1431this dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117in mine eyesבְּעֵינָ֑יbe.'ei.NaiH5869,so let my lifeנַפְשִׁי֙naf.ShiH5315be much set byתִּגְדַּ֤לtig.DalH1431in the eyesבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and let him deliverוְיַצִּלֵ֖נִיve.ya.tzi.Le.niH5337me out of all tribulationצָרָֽה׃ פtza.RahH6869.

25Then Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732,Blessedבָּר֤וּךְba.RukhH1288bethou, my sonבְּנִ֣יbe.NiH1121Davidדָוִ֔דda.VidH1732:thou shalt both doעָשֹׂ֣ה'a.SohH6213greatתַעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.SehH6213things,and also shalt stillיָכֹ֣לya.KholH3201prevailתּוּכָ֑לtu.KhalH3201.So Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732wentH3212on his wayלְדַרְכּ֔וֹle.dar.KoH1870,and Saulוְשָׁא֖וּלve.sha.'UlH7586returnedשָׁ֥בshavH7725to his placeלִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ פlim.ko.MoH4725.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 26