Revised Literal Translation

2 Samuel 11

1And it came to pass, after the yearהַשָּׁנָ֜הha.sha.NahH8141was expiredלִתְשׁוּבַ֨תlit.shu.VatH8666,at the timeלְעֵ֣ת׀le.'EtH6256when kingsהַמַּלְאֿכִ֗יםha.mali'.KhimH4397 H4428go forthצֵ֣אתtzetH3318to battle,that Davidדָּוִ֡דda.VidH1732sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971Joabיוֹאָב֩yo.'AvH3097,and his servantsעֲבָדָ֨יו'a.va.DavH5650with him, and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478;and they destroyedוַיַּשְׁחִ֙תוּ֙vai.yash.Chi.tuH7843the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Ammonעַמּ֔וֹןa.MonH5983,and besiegedוַיָּצֻ֖רוּvai.ya.Tzu.ruH6696Rabbahרַבָּ֑הra.BahH7237.But Davidוְדָוִ֖דve.da.VidH1732tarried stillיוֹשֵׁ֥בyo.ShevH3427at Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ סbi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

2And it came to pass in an eveningtideלְעֵ֣ת הָעֶ֗רֶבle.'Et ha.'E.revH6256 H6153,that Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732aroseוַיָּ֨קָםvai.Ya.komH6965from off his bedמִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙mish.ka.VoH4904,and walkedוַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙vai.yit.ha.leKhH1980upon the roofגַּ֣גgagH1406of the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseבֵּית־beit-H1004:and from the roofהַגָּ֑גha.GagH1406he sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200a womanאִשָּׁ֛ה'i.ShahH802washingרֹחֶ֖צֶתro.Che.tzetH7364herself; and the womanוְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔הve.Ha.'i.ShahH802wasveryמְאֹֽד׃me.'OdH3966beautifulטוֹבַ֥תto.VatH2896to look uponמַרְאֶ֖הmar.'EhH4758.

3And Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971and enquiredוַיִּדְרֹ֖שׁvai.yid.RoshH1875after the womanלָֽאִשָּׁ֑הla.'i.ShahH802. And onesaidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Isnot this Bath–shebaH1339,the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Eliamאֱלִיעָ֔ם'e.li.'AmH463,the wifeאֵ֖שֶׁת'E.shetH802of Uriahאוּרִיָּ֥ה'u.ri.YahH223the Hittiteהַחִתִּֽי׃ha.chi.TiH2850?

4And Davidדָּוִ֨דda.VidH1732sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֜יםmal.'a.KhimH4397,and tookוַיִּקָּחֶ֗הָvai.yi.ka.Che.haH3947her; and she came inוַתָּב֤וֹאva.ta.Vo'H935unto him, and he layוַיִּשְׁכַּ֣בvai.yish.KavH7901with her; for she was purifiedמִתְקַדֶּ֖שֶׁתmit.ka.De.shetH6942from her uncleannessמִטֻּמְאָתָ֑הּmi.tum.'a.TahH2932:and she returnedוַתָּ֖שָׁבva.Ta.shovH7725unto her houseבֵּיתָֽהּ׃bei.TahH1004.

5And the womanהָֽאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802conceivedוַתַּ֖הַרva.Ta.harH2029,and sentוַתִּשְׁלַח֙va.tish.LachH7971and toldוַתַּגֵּ֣דva.ta.GedH5046Davidלְדָוִ֔דle.da.VidH1732,and saidוַתֹּ֖אמֶרva.To.merH559, I amwith childהָרָ֥הha.RahH2030.

6And Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971to Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097, saying,Sendשְׁלַ֣חshe.LachH7971me Uriahאֽוּרִיָּ֖ה'u.ri.YahH223the Hittiteהַחִתִּ֑יha.chi.TiH2850.And Joabיוֹאָ֛בyo.'AvH3097sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֥חvai.yish.LachH7971Uriahאֽוּרִיָּ֖ה'u.ri.YahH223to Davidדָּוִֽד׃da.VidH1732.

7And when Uriahאוּרִיָּ֖ה'u.ri.YahH223was comeוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto him, Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732demandedוַיִּשְׁאַ֣לvai.yish.'AlH7592of himhow Joabיוֹאָב֙yo.'AvH3097didלִשְׁל֤וֹםlish.LomH7965,and how the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971didוְלִשְׁל֣וֹםve.lish.LomH7965,and how the warהַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ha.mil.cha.MahH4421prosperedוְלִשְׁל֖וֹםve.lish.LomH7965.

8And Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Uriahלְא֣וּרִיָּ֔הle.'U.ri.YahH223,Go downרֵ֥דredH3381to thy houseלְבֵיתְךָ֖le.vei.te.KhaH1004,and washוּרְחַ֣ץu.re.ChatzH7364thy feetרַגְלֶ֑יךָrag.Lei.khaH7272.And Uriahאֽוּרִיָּה֙'u.ri.YahH223departed outH3318of the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004,and there followedאַחֲרָ֖יו'a.cha.RavH310him a messמַשְׂאַ֥תmas.'AtH4864of meatfrom the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

9But Uriahאוּרִיָּ֗ה'u.ri.YahH223sleptוַיִּשְׁכַּ֣בvai.yish.KavH7901at the doorפֶּ֚תַחPe.tachH6607of the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004with all the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650of his lordאֲדֹנָ֑יו'a.do.NavH113,and went not downיָרַ֖דya.RadH3381to his houseבֵּיתֽוֹ׃bei.ToH1004.

10And when they had toldוַיַּגִּ֤דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Davidלְדָוִד֙le.da.VidH1732,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Uriahאוּרִיָּ֖ה'u.ri.YahH223went not downיָרַ֥דya.RadH3381unto his houseבֵּית֑וֹbei.ToH1004,Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Uriahאוּרִיָּ֗ה'u.ri.YahH223,Camestבָ֔אVa'H935thou not from thyjourneyמִדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙mi.De.rekhH1870? why thendidst thou not go downיָרַ֥דְתָּya.Rad.taH3381unto thine houseבֵּיתֶֽךָ׃bei.Te.khaH1004?

11And Uriahאוּרִיָּ֜ה'u.ri.YahH223saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732,The arkהָ֠אָרוֹןHa.'a.ronH727,and Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֨לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and Judahוִֽיהוּדָ֜הvi.hu.DahH3063,abideיֹשְׁבִ֣יםyo.she.VimH3427in tentsבַּסֻּכּ֗וֹתba.su.KotH5521;and my lordוַאדֹנִ֨יva.do.NiH113Joabיוֹאָ֜בyo.'AvH3097,and the servantsוְעַבְדֵ֤יve.'av.DeiH5650of my lordאֲדֹנִ֨י'a.do.NiH113,are encampedחֹנִ֔יםcho.NimH2583in the openפְּנֵ֤יpe.NeiH6440fieldsהַשָּׂדֶה֙ha.sa.DehH7704;shall Iוַאֲנִ֞יva.'a.NiH589then goאָב֧וֹא'a.Vo'H935into mine houseבֵּיתִ֛יbei.TiH1004,to eatלֶאֱכֹ֥לle.'e.KholH398and to drinkוְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹתve.lish.TotH8354,and to lieוְלִשְׁכַּ֣בve.lish.KavH7901with my wifeאִשְׁתִּ֑י'ish.TiH802? asthou livestחַיֶּ֙ךָ֙chai.Ye.khaH2416, and asthy soulנַפְשֶׁ֔ךָnaf.She.khaH5315livethוְחֵ֣יve.CheiH2416,I will not doאֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה'e.'e.SehH6213this thingהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697.

12And Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Uriahאוּרִיָּ֗ה'u.ri.YahH223,Tarryשֵׁ֥בshevH3427here to dayהַיּ֖וֹםhai.YomH3117also, and to morrowוּמָחָ֣רu.ma.CharH4279I will let thee departאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ'a.sha.le.Che.kaH7971.So Uriahאוּרִיָּ֧ה'u.ri.YahH223abodeוַיֵּ֨שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in Jerusalemבִירוּשָׁלִַ֛םvi.ru.sha.LimH3389that dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117,and the morrowוּמִֽמָּחֳרָֽת׃u.Mi.mo.cho.RatH4283.

13And when Davidדָוִ֗דda.VidH1732had calledוַיִּקְרָא־vai.yik.ra'-H7121him, he did eatוַיֹּ֧אכַלvai.Yo.khalH398and drinkוַיֵּ֖שְׁתְּvai.Ye.shetH8354beforeלְפָנָ֛יוle.fa.NavH6440him; and he made him drunkוַֽיְשַׁכְּרֵ֑הוּvay.sha.ke.Re.huH7937:and at evenבָעֶ֗רֶבva.'E.revH6153he went outוַיֵּצֵ֣אvai.ye.Tze'H3318to lieלִשְׁכַּ֤בlish.KavH7901on his bedבְּמִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙be.mish.ka.VoH4904with the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650of his lordאֲדֹנָ֔יו'a.do.NavH113,but went not downיָרָֽד׃ya.RadH3381to his houseבֵּית֖וֹbei.ToH1004.

14And it came to pass in the morningבַבֹּ֔קֶרva.Bo.kerH1242,that Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732wroteוַיִּכְתֹּ֥בvai.yikh.ToH3789a letterסֵ֖פֶרSe.ferH5612to Joabיוֹאָ֑בyo.'AvH3097,and sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֖חvai.yish.LachH7971itby the handבְּיַ֥דbe.YadH3027of Uriahאוּרִיָּֽה׃'u.ri.YahH223.

15And he wroteוַיִּכְתֹּ֥בvai.yikh.ToH3789in the letterבַּסֵּ֖פֶרba.Se.ferH5612,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Setהָב֣וּha.VuH3051ye Uriahאֽוּרִיָּ֗ה'u.ri.YahH223in the forefrontמוּל֙ פְּנֵ֤יmul pe.NeiH4136 H6440of the hottestהַֽחֲזָקָ֔הha.cha.za.KahH2389battleהַמִּלְחָמָה֙ha.mil.cha.MahH4421,and retireוְשַׁבְתֶּ֥םve.shav.TemH7725ye from himמֵאַחֲרָ֖יוme.'a.cha.RavH310,that he may be smittenוְנִכָּ֥הve.ni.KahH5221,and dieוָמֵֽת׃ סva.MetH4191.

16And it came to pass, when Joabיוֹאָ֖בyo.'AvH3097observedבִּשְׁמ֥וֹרbish.MorH8104the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892,that he assignedוַיִּתֵּן֙vai.yi.TenH5414Uriahא֣וּרִיָּ֔ה'u.ri.YahH223unto a placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725where he knewיָדַ֔עya.Da'H3045that valiantחַ֖יִלCha.yilH2428menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582were.

17And the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892went outוַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּvai.Ye.tze.'UH3318,and foughtוַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּvai.yi.la.cha.MuH3898with Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097:and there fellוַיִּפֹּ֥לvai.yi.PolH5307someof the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971of the servantsמֵעַבְדֵ֣יme.'av.DeiH5650of Davidדָוִ֑דda.VidH1732;and Uriahאוּרִיָּ֥ה'u.ri.YahH223the Hittiteהַחִתִּֽי׃ha.chi.TiH2850diedוַיָּ֕מָתvai.Ya.motH4191also.

18Then Joabיוֹאָ֑בyo.'AvH3097sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֖חvai.yish.LachH7971and toldוַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.GedH5046Davidלְדָוִ֔דle.da.VidH1732all the thingsדִּבְרֵ֖יdiv.ReiH1697concerning the warהַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ha.mil.cha.MahH4421;

19And chargedוַיְצַ֥וvay.TzavH6680the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֖ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,When thou hast made an endכְּכַלּוֹתְךָ֗ke.kha.lot.KhaH3615of tellingלְדַבֵּ֥רle.da.BerH1696the mattersדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697of the warהַמִּלְחָמָ֖הha.mil.cha.MahH4421unto the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428,

20And if so be that the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428wrathחֲמַ֣תcha.MatH2534ariseתַּעֲלֶה֙ta.'a.LehH5927,and he sayוְאָמַ֣רve.'a.MarH559unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nighנִגַּשְׁתֶּ֥םni.gash.TemH5066unto the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892when ye did fightלְהִלָּחֵ֑םle.hi.la.ChemH3898?knewיְדַעְתֶּ֔םye.da'.TemH3045ye not that they would shootיֹר֖וּyo.RuH3384from the wallהַחוֹמָֽה׃ha.cho.MahH2346?

21Who smoteהִכָּ֞הhi.KahH5221Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֣לֶךְ'a.vi.Me.lekhH40the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jerubbeshethיְרֻבֶּ֗שֶׁתye.ru.Be.shetH3380?did not a womanאִשָּׁ֡ה'i.ShahH802castהִשְׁלִ֣יכָהhish.Li.khahH7993a pieceפֶּ֨לַחPe.lachH6400of a millstoneרֶ֜כֶבRe.khevH7393upon him from the wallהַֽחוֹמָה֙ha.cho.MahH2346,that he diedוַיָּ֣מָתvai.Ya.motH4191in Thebezבְּתֵבֵ֔ץbe.te.VetzH8405?why went ye nighנִגַּשְׁתֶּ֖םni.gash.TemH5066the wallהַֽחוֹמָ֑הha.cho.MahH2346?then sayוְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve.'A.mar.taH559thou, Thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֛'av.de.KhaH5650Uriahאוּרִיָּ֥ה'u.ri.YahH223the Hittiteהַחִתִּ֖יha.chi.TiH2850is deadמֵֽת׃MetH4191also.

22So the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֑ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397wentH3212,and cameוַיָּבֹא֙vai.ya.Vo'H935and shewedוַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.GedH5046Davidלְדָוִ֔דle.da.VidH1732all that Joabיוֹאָֽב׃yo.'AvH3097had sentשְׁלָח֖וֹshe.la.ChoH7971him for.

23And the messengerהַמַּלְאָךְ֙ha.mal.'oKhH4397saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732,Surely the menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔יםha.'a.na.ShimH582prevailedגָבְר֤וּga.ve.RuH1396against us, and came outוַיֵּצְא֥וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318unto us into the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֑הha.sa.DehH7704,and we were upon them even unto the enteringפֶּ֥תַחPe.tachH6607of the gateהַשָּֽׁעַר׃ha.Sha.'arH8179.

24And the shootersוַיֹּר֨וּvai.yo.re.'uH3384shotהַמּוֹרִ֤יםha.mor.'imH3384from off the wallהַחוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346upon thy servantsעֲבָדֶ֙ךָ֙'a.va.De.khaH5650; and someof the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428servantsמֵעַבְדֵ֣יme.'av.DeiH5650be deadוַיָּמ֖וּתוּvai.ya.Mu.tuH4191,and thy servantעַבְדְּךָ֛'av.de.KhaH5650Uriahאוּרִיָּ֥ה'u.ri.YahH223the Hittiteהַחִתִּ֖יha.chi.TiH2850is deadמֵֽת׃ סMetH4191also.

25Then Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the messengerהַמַּלְאָ֗ךְha.mal.'AkhH4397,Thus shalt thou sayתֹאמַ֤רto.MarH559unto Joabיוֹאָב֙yo.'AvH3097,Let not this thingהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697displeaseבְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙be.'ei.Nei.khaH5869 H3415thee, for the swordהֶחָ֑רֶבhe.Cha.revH2719devourethתֹּאכַ֣לto.KhalH398one as well as anotherכָזֹ֥הkha.ZohH2090:make thy battleמִלְחַמְתְּךָ֧mil.cham.te.KhaH4421more strongהַחֲזֵ֨קha.cha.ZekH2388against the cityהָעִ֛ירha.'IrH5892,and overthrowוְהָרְסָ֖הּve.ha.re.SahH2040it: and encourageוְחַזְּקֵֽהוּ׃ve.cha.ze.Ke.huH2388thou him.

26And when the wifeאֵ֣שֶׁת'E.shetH802of Uriahאֽוּרִיָּ֔ה'u.ri.YahH223heardוַתִּשְׁמַע֙va.tish.Ma'H8085that Uriahאוּרִיָּ֣ה'u.ri.YahH223her husbandאִישָׁ֑הּ'i.ShahH376was deadמֵ֖תmetH4191,she mournedוַתִּסְפֹּ֖דva.tis.PodH5594for her husbandבַּעְלָֽהּ׃ba'.LahH1167.

27And when the mourningהָאֵ֗בֶלha.'E.velH60was pastוַיַּעֲבֹ֣רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674,Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971and fetchedוַיַּאַסְפָ֤הּvai.ya.'as.FahH622her to his houseבֵּיתוֹ֙bei.ToH1004,and she became his wifeלְאִשָּׁ֔הle.'i.ShahH802,and bareוַתֵּ֥לֶדva.Te.ledH3205him a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121.But the thingהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697that Davidדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732had doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213displeasedבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869 H3415Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 11