Revised Literal Translation

2 Kings 6

1And the sonsבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of the prophetsהַנְּבִיאִ֖יםha.ne.vi.'ImH5030saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559untoלְפָנֶ֖יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֑ע'e.li.Sha'H477,Behold now, the placeהַמָּק֗וֹםha.ma.KomH4725where we dwellיֹשְׁבִ֥יםyo.she.VimH3427with thee is too straitצַ֥רtzarH6862for us.

2Let us goH3212,we pray thee, unto Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ןhai.yar.DenH3383,and takeוְנִקְחָ֤הve.nik.ChahH3947thence every manאִ֚ישׁ'ishH376aאֶחָ֔ת'e.ChatH259beamקוֹרָ֣הko.RahH6982,and let us makeוְנַעֲשֶׂה־ve.na.'a.seh-H6213us a placeמָק֖וֹםma.KomH4725there, where we may dwellלָשֶׁ֣בֶתla.She.vetH3427.And he answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,GoH3212ye.

3And oneהָֽאֶחָ֔דha.'e.ChadH259saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,Be contentה֥וֹאֶלHo.'elH2974,I pray thee, and goH3212with thy servantsעֲבָדֶ֑יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650.And he answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will goH3212.

4So he wentH3212with them. And when they cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935to Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָהhai.yar.De.nahH3383,they cut downוַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּvai.yig.ze.RuH1504woodהָעֵצִֽים׃ha.'e.TzimH6086.

5But as oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259was fellingמַפִּ֣ילma.PilH5307a beamהַקּוֹרָ֔הha.ko.RahH6982,the axe headהַבַּרְזֶ֖לha.bar.ZelH1270fellנָפַ֣לna.FalH5307into the waterהַמָּ֑יִםha.Ma.yimH4325:and he criedוַיִּצְעַ֥קvai.yitz.'AkH6817,and saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Alasאֲהָ֥הּ'a.HahH162,masterאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113!for it was borrowedשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7592.

6And the manאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Whereאָ֣נָה'A.nahH575fellנָפָ֑לna.FalH5307it? And he shewedוַיַּרְאֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yar.'E.huH7200him the placeהַמָּק֔וֹםha.ma.KomH4725.And he cut downוַיִּקְצָב־vai.yik.tzov-H7094a stickעֵץ֙'etzH6086,and castוַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־vai.yash.lekh-H7993itin thither; and the ironהַבַּרְזֶֽל׃ha.bar.ZelH1270did swimוַיָּ֖צֶףvai.Ya.tzefH6687.

7Therefore saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559he, Take itupהָ֣רֶםHa.remH7311to thee. And he put outוַיִּשְׁלַ֥חvai.yish.LachH7971his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027,and tookוַיִּקָּחֵֽהוּ׃ פvai.yi.ka.Che.huH3947it.

8Then the kingוּמֶ֣לֶךְu.Me.lekhH4428of Syriaאֲרָ֔ם'a.RamH758warredנִלְחָ֖םnil.ChamH3898against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and took counselוַיִּוָּעַץ֙vai.yi.va.'AtzH3289with his servantsעֲבָדָ֣יו'a.va.DavH5650,sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,In suchפְּלֹנִ֥יpe.lo.NiH6423and suchאַלְמֹנִ֖י'al.mo.NiH492a placeמְק֛וֹםme.KomH4725shall bemy campתַּחֲנֹתִֽי׃ta.cha.no.TiH8466.

9And the manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֗יםha.'E.lo.HimH430sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֞חvai.yish.LachH7971unto the kingמֶ֤לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Bewareהִשָּׁ֕מֶרhi.Sha.merH8104that thou passמֵעֲבֹ֖רme.'a.VorH5674not suchהַזֶּ֑הha.ZehH2088a placeהַמָּק֣וֹםha.ma.KomH4725;for thither the Syriansאֲרָ֥ם'a.RamH758are come downנְחִתִּֽים׃ne.chi.TimH5185.

10And the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֞חvai.yish.LachH7971to the placeהַמָּק֞וֹםha.ma.KomH4725which the manאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.HimH430toldאָֽמַר־'a.mar-H559him and warnedוְהִזְהִיר֖וֹve.hiz.hi.roH2094him of, and savedוְנִשְׁמַ֣רve.nish.MarH8104himself there, not onceאַחַ֖ת'a.ChatH259nor twiceשְׁתָּֽיִם׃she.Ta.yimH8147.

11Therefore the heartלֵ֣בlevH3820of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Syriaאֲרָ֔ם'a.RamH758was sore troubledוַיִּסָּעֵר֙vai.yi.sa.'ErH5590for this thingהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697;and he calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אvai.yik.Ra'H7121his servantsעֲבָדָיו֙'a.va.DavH5650,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Will ye not shewתַּגִּ֣ידוּta.Gi.duH5046me which of us isfor the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478?

12And oneאַחַ֣ד'a.ChadH259of his servantsמֵֽעֲבָדָ֔יוme.'a.va.DavH5650saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,None, my lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113,O kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428:but Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֤ע'e.li.Sha'H477,the prophetהַנָּבִיא֙ha.na.Vi'H5030that isin Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,tellethיַגִּיד֙ya.GidH5046the kingלְמֶ֣לֶךְle.Me.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478the wordsהַ֨דְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697that thou speakestתְּדַבֵּ֖רte.da.BerH1696in thy bedchamberבַּחֲדַ֥ר מִשְׁכָּבֶֽךָ׃ba.cha.Dar mish.ka.Ve.khaH4904 H2315.

13And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,GoH3212and spyוּרְאוּ֙u.re.'UH7200whereאֵיכֹ֣ה'ei.KhohH351he is,that I may sendוְאֶשְׁלַ֖חve.'esh.LachH7971and fetchוְאֶקָּחֵ֑הוּve.'e.ka.Che.huH3947him. And it was toldוַיֻּגַּד־vai.yu.gad-H5046him, sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559, Behold, he isin Dothanבְדֹתָֽן׃ve.do.TanH1886.

14Therefore sentוַיִּשְׁלַח־vai.yish.lach-H7971he thither horsesסוּסִ֥יםsu.SimH5483,and chariotsוְרֶ֖כֶבve.Re.khevH7393,and a greatכָּבֵ֑דka.VedH3515armyוְחַ֣יִלve.Cha.yilH2428:and they cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935by nightלַ֔יְלָהLay.lahH3915,and compassedH5362the cityהָעִֽיר׃ha.'IrH5892aboutH5362.

15And when the servantמְשָׁרֵ֨תme.sha.RetH8334of the manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֮ha.'E.lo.HimH430was risenלָקוּם֒la.KumH6965earlyוַ֠יַּשְׁכֵּםVai.yash.kemH7925,and gone forthוַיֵּצֵ֕אvai.ye.Tze'H3318,behold, an armyחַ֛יִלCha.yilH2428compassedסוֹבֵ֥בso.VevH5437the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892both with horsesוְס֣וּסve.SusH5483and chariotsוָרָ֑כֶבva.Ra.khevH7393.And his servantנַעֲר֥וֹna.'a.RoH5288saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Alasאֲהָ֥הּ'a.HahH162,my masterאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113!how shall we doנַֽעֲשֶֽׂה׃Na.'a.SehH6213?

16And he answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Fearתִּירָ֑אti.Ra'H3372not: for they that be with us aremoreרַבִּים֙ra.BimH7227than they that be with them.

17And Elishaאֱלִישָׁע֙'e.li.Sha'H477prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֤לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֔רvai.yo.MarH559,Yhwhיְהוָ֕הYah.wehH3068,I pray thee, openפְּקַח־pe.kach-H6491his eyesעֵינָ֖יו'ei.NavH5869,that he may seeוְיִרְאֶ֑הve.yir.'EhH7200.And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068openedוַיִּפְקַ֤חvai.yif.KachH6491the eyesעֵינֵ֣י'ei.NeiH5869of the young manהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288;and he sawוַיַּ֗רְאvai.Yar'H7200:and, behold, the mountainהָהָ֜רha.HarH2022wasfullמָלֵ֨אma.Le'H4390of horsesסוּסִ֥יםsu.SimH5483and chariotsוְרֶ֛כֶבve.Re.khevH7393of fireאֵ֖שׁ'eshH784round aboutסְבִיבֹ֥תse.vi.VotH5439Elishaאֱלִישָֽׁע׃'e.li.Sha'H477.

18And when they came downוַיֵּרְדוּ֮vai.ye.re.DuH3381to him, Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֤ע'e.li.Sha'H477prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419unto Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֔רvai.yo.MarH559,Smiteהַךְ־hakh-H5221this peopleהַגּוֹי־ha.goy-H1471,I pray thee, with blindnessבַּסַּנְוֵרִ֑יםba.san.ve.RimH5575.And he smoteוַיַּכֵּ֥םvai.ya.KemH5221them with blindnessבַּסַּנְוֵרִ֖יםba.san.ve.RimH5575according to the wordכִּדְבַ֥רkid.VarH1697of Elishaאֱלִישָֽׁע׃'e.li.Sha'H477.

19And Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֗ע'e.li.Sha'H477saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, This isnot the wayהַדֶּרֶךְ֮ha.de.reKhH1870, neither isthisזֹ֣הzohH2090the cityהָעִיר֒ha.'IrH5892:followאַחֲרַ֔י'a.cha.RaiH310 H3212me, and I will bringH3212you to the manהָאִ֖ישׁha.'IshH376whom ye seekתְּבַקֵּשׁ֑וּןte.va.ke.ShunH1245.But he ledH3212them to Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃sho.me.Ro.nahH8111.

20And it came to pass, when they were comeכְּבֹאָ֣םke.vo.'AmH935into Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹן֒sho.me.rOnH8111,that Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֔ע'e.li.Sha'H477saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Yhwhיְהוָ֕הYah.wehH3068,openפְּקַ֥חpe.KachH6491the eyesעֵינֵֽי־'ei.nei-H5869of these men,that they may seeוְיִרְא֑וּve.yir.'UH7200.And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068openedוַיִּפְקַ֤חvai.yif.KachH6491their eyesעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם'ei.nei.HemH5869,and they sawוַיִּרְא֕וּvai.yir.'UH7200; and, behold, they werein the midstבְּת֥וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃sho.me.RonH8111.

21And the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֔ע'e.li.Sha'H477,when he sawכִּרְאֹת֖וֹkir.'o.ToH7200them, My fatherאָבִֽי׃'a.ViH1,shall I smiteהַאַכֶּ֥הha.'a.KehH5221them?shall I smiteאַכֶּ֖ה'a.KehH5221them?

22And he answeredוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,Thou shalt not smiteתַכֶּ֔הta.KehH5221them:wouldest thou smiteמַכֶּ֑הma.KehH5221those whom thou hast taken captiveשָׁבִ֛יתָsha.Vi.taH7617with thy swordבְּחַרְבְּךָ֥be.char.be.KhaH2719and with thy bowוּֽבְקַשְׁתְּךָ֖u.ve.kash.te.ChaH7198?setשִׂים֩simH7760breadלֶ֨חֶםLe.chemH3899and waterוָמַ֜יִםva.Ma.yimH4325beforeלִפְנֵיהֶ֗םlif.nei.HemH6440them, that they may eatוְיֹֽאכְלוּ֙ve.yo.khe.LuH398and drinkוְיִשְׁתּ֔וּve.yish.TuH8354,and goH3212to their masterאֲדֹנֵיהֶֽם׃'a.do.nei.HemH113.

23And he preparedוַיִּכְרֶ֨הvai.yikh.RehH3739greatגְדוֹלָ֗הge.do.LahH1419provisionכֵּרָ֣הke.RahH3740for them: and when they had eatenוַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙vai.yo.khe.LuH398and drunkוַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּvai.yish.TuH8354,he sent them awayוַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֔םvay.sha.le.ChemH7971,and they wentH3212to their masterאֲדֹֽנֵיהֶ֑ם'a.do.nei.HemH113.So the bandsגְּדוּדֵ֣יge.du.DeiH1416of Syriaאֲרָ֔ם'a.RamH758cameלָב֖וֹאla.Vo'H935no moreיָ֤סְפוּYa.se.fuH3254into the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.

24And it came to pass after thisאַחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310,that Ben–hadadH1130kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Syriaאֲרָ֖ם'a.RamH758gatheredוַיִּקְבֹּ֛ץvai.yik.BotzH6908all his armyמַחֲנֵ֑הוּma.cha.Ne.huH4264,and went upוַיַּ֕עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927,and besiegedוַיָּ֖צַרvai.Ya.tzarH6696Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃sho.me.RonH8111.

25And there was a greatגָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlH1419famineרָעָ֤בra.'AvH7458in Samariaבְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹןbe.Sho.me.RonH8111:and, behold, they besiegedצָרִ֣יםtza.RimH6696it, until a donkey’sחֲמוֹר֙cha.mOrH2543headרֹאשׁ־rosh-H7218was soldfor fourscoreבִּשְׁמֹנִ֣יםbish.mo.NimH8084piecesof silverכֶּ֔סֶףKe.sefH3701,and the fourth partוְרֹ֛בַעve.Roa'H7255of a cabהַקַּ֥בha.KavH6894of dove’s dungדִּבְיוֹנִ֖יםcha.rei.yo.nimH2755 H3123 H1686for fiveבַּחֲמִשָּׁה־ba.cha.mi.shah-H2568piecesof silverכָֽסֶף׃Kha.sefH3701.

26And as the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478was passing byעֹבֵ֖ר'o.VerH5674upon the wallהַחֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346,there criedצָעֲקָ֤הtza.'a.KahH6817a womanוְאִשָּׁ֗הve.'i.ShahH802unto him, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Helpהוֹשִׁ֖יעָהho.Shi.'ahH3467,my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.NiH113,O kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

27And he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,If Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068do not helpיוֹשִׁעֵ֣ךְyo.shi.'EkhH3467thee, whenceמֵאַ֖יִןme.'A.yinH370shall I helpאֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ךְ'o.shi.'EkhH3467thee? out of the barnfloorהַגֹּ֖רֶןha.Go.renH1637,or out of the winepressהַיָּֽקֶב׃hai.Ya.kevH3342?

28And the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּֽאמֶר־vai.yo.mer-H559unto her, What aileth thee? And she answeredוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559,This womanהָאִשָּׁ֨הha.'i.ShahH802saidאָמְרָ֣ה'a.me.RahH559unto me, Giveתְּנִ֤יte.NiH5414thy sonבְּנֵךְ֙be.neKhH1121,that we may eatוְנֹאכְלֶ֣נּוּve.no.khe.Le.nuH398him to dayהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117,and we will eatנֹאכַ֥לno.KhalH398my sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121to morrowמָחָֽר׃ma.CharH4279.

29So we boiledוַנְּבַשֵּׁ֥לva.ne.va.ShelH1310my sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121,and did eatוַנֹּֽאכְלֵ֑הוּva.no.khe.Le.huH398him: and I saidוָאֹמַ֨רva.'o.MarH559unto her on the nextהָאַחֵ֗רha.'a.CherH312dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,Giveתְּנִ֤יte.NiH5414thy sonבְּנֵךְ֙be.neKhH1121,that we may eatוְנֹ֣אכְלֶ֔נּוּve.No.khe.Le.nuH398him: and she hath hidוַתַּחְבִּ֖אva.tach.Bi'H2244her sonבְּנָֽהּ׃be.NahH1121.

30And it came to pass, when the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428heardכִשְׁמֹ֨עַkhish.Mo.a'H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֤יdiv.ReiH1697of the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙ha.'i.ShahH802,that he rentוַיִּקְרַ֣עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesבְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.DavH899;and he passed byעֹבֵ֣ר'o.VerH5674upon the wallהַחֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346,and the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971lookedוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200, and, behold, he hadsackclothהַשַּׂ֛קha.SakH8242withinמִבָּֽיִת׃mi.Ba.yitH1004upon his fleshבְּשָׂר֖וֹbe.sa.RoH1320.

31Then he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430doיַעֲשֶׂה־ya.'a.seh-H6213so and moreיוֹסִ֑ףyo.SifH3254also to me, if the headרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218of Elishaאֱלִישָׁ֧ע'e.li.Sha'H477the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shaphatשָׁפָ֛טsha.FatH8202shall standיַעֲמֹ֞דya.'a.ModH5975on him this dayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.

32But Elishaוֶאֱלִישָׁע֙ve.'e.li.Sha'H477satיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427in his houseבְּבֵית֔וֹbe.vei.ToH1004,and the eldersוְהַזְּקֵנִ֖יםve.ha.ze.ke.NimH2205satיֹשְׁבִ֣יםyo.she.VimH3427with him; and the kingsentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376from beforeמִלְּפָנָ֗יוmi.le.fa.NavH6440him: but ere the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֨ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397cameיָבֹא֩ya.Vo'H935to him, he saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559to the eldersהַזְּקֵנִ֗יםha.ze.ke.NimH2205,Seeהַרְּאִיתֶם֙ha.re.'i.TemH7200ye how this sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of a murdererהַֽמְרַצֵּ֤חַham.ra.Tze.achH7523hath sentשָׁלַ֞חsha.LachH7971to take awayלְהָסִ֣ירle.ha.SirH5493mine headרֹאשִׁ֔יro.ShiH7218?lookרְא֣וּ׀re.'UH7200,when the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֗ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397comethכְּבֹ֣אke.Vo'H935,shutסִגְר֤וּsig.RuH5462the doorהַדֶּ֙לֶת֙ha.De.letH1817,and hold him fastוּלְחַצְתֶּ֤םu.le.chatz.TemH3905at the doorבַּדֶּ֔לֶתba.De.letH1817: isnot the soundק֛וֹלKolH6963of his master’sאֲדֹנָ֖יו'a.do.NavH113feetרַגְלֵ֥יrag.LeiH7272behindאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310him?

33And while he yet talkedמְדַבֵּ֣רme.da.BerH1696with them, behold, the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֖ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397came downיֹרֵ֣דyo.RedH3381unto him: and he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, this evilהָֽרָעָה֙ha.ra.'AhH7451isof Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;what should I waitאוֹחִ֥יל'o.ChilH3176for Yhwhלַיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068any longer?

Commentaries on 2 Kings 6