Revised Literal Translation

2 Samuel 16

1And when Davidוְדָוִ֗דve.da.VidH1732was a littleמְעַט֙me.'AtH4592pastעָבַ֤ר'a.VarH5674the topמֵֽהָרֹ֔אשׁme.ha.RoshH7218of the hill,behold, Zibaצִיבָ֛אtzi.Va'H6717the servantנַ֥עַרNa.'arH5288of MephiboshethH4648metH7125him, with a coupleוְצֶ֨מֶדve.Tze.medH6776of donkeysחֲמֹרִ֜יםcha.mo.RimH2543saddledחֲבֻשִׁ֗יםcha.vu.ShimH2280,and upon them two hundredמָאתַ֨יִםma.Ta.yimH3967loavesof breadלֶ֜חֶםLe.chemH3899,and an hundredוּמֵאָ֧הu.me.'AhH3967bunches of raisinsצִמּוּקִ֛יםtzi.mu.KimH6778,and an hundredוּמֵ֥אָהu.Me.'ahH3967of summer fruitsקַ֖יִץKa.yitzH7019,and a skinוְנֵ֥בֶלve.Ne.velH5035of wineיָֽיִן׃Ya.yinH3196.

2And the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Zibaצִיבָ֖אtzi.Va'H6717,What meanest thou by these? And Zibaצִ֠יבָאTzi.va'H6717saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,The donkeysהַחֲמוֹרִ֨יםha.cha.mo.RimH2543befor the king’sהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428householdלְבֵית־le.veit-H1004to ride onלִרְכֹּ֗בlir.KoH7392;and the breadוְהַלֶּ֤חֶםu.ha.le.chemH3899and summer fruitוְהַקַּ֙יִץ֙ve.ha.Ka.yitzH7019for the young menהַנְּעָרִ֔יםha.ne.'a.RimH5288to eatלֶאֱכ֣וֹלle.'e.KholH398;and the wineוְהַיַּ֕יִןve.hai.Ya.yinH3196,that such as be faintהַיָּעֵ֖ףhai.ya.'EfH3287in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ba.mid.BarH4057may drinkלִשְׁתּ֥וֹתlish.TotH8354.

3And the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, And where isthy master’sאֲדֹנֶ֑יךָ'a.do.Nei.khaH113sonבֶּן־ben-H1121?And Zibaצִיבָ֜אtzi.Va'H6717saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,Behold, he abidethיוֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427at Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִַ֔םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389:for he saidאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559,To dayהַיּ֗וֹםhai.YomH3117shall the houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478restoreיָשִׁ֤יבוּya.Shi.vuH7725me the kingdomמַמְלְכ֥וּתmam.le.KhutH4468of my fatherאָבִֽי׃'a.ViH1.

4Then saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428to Zibaלְצִבָ֔אle.tzi.Va'H6717, Behold, thine are all that pertainedunto MephiboshethH4648.And Zibaצִיבָא֙tzi.Va'H6717saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I humblyהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֔יתִיhish.ta.cha.Vei.tiH7812beseech thee thatI may findאֶמְצָא־'em.tza'-H4672graceחֵ֥ןchenH2580in thy sightבְּעֵינֶ֖יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869,my lordאֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.NiH113,O kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

5And when kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732cameוּבָ֛אu.Va'H935to Bahurimבַּֽחוּרִ֑יםba.chu.RimH980,behold, thence came outיוֹצֵ֜אyo.Tze'H3318a manאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376of the familyמִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַתmi.mish.Pa.chatH4940of the houseבֵּית־beit-H1004of Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586,whose nameוּשְׁמוֹ֙u.she.MoH8034wasShimeiשִׁמְעִ֣יshim.'IH8096,the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Geraגֵּרָ֔אge.Ra'H1617:he came forthיֹצֵ֥אyo.Tze'H3318,and cursedוּמְקַלֵּֽל׃u.me.ka.LelH7043still as he cameיָצ֖וֹאya.Tzo'H3318.

6And he castוַיְסַקֵּ֤לvay.sa.KelH5619stonesבָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ba.'a.va.NimH68at Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732,and at all the servantsעַבְדֵ֖י'av.DeiH5650of kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Davidדָּוִ֑דda.VidH1732:and all the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971and all the mighty menהַגִּבֹּרִ֔יםha.gi.bo.RimH1368wereon his right handמִימִינ֖וֹmi.mi.NoH3225and on his leftוּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃u.mi.se.mo.LoH8040.

7And thus saidאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559Shimeiשִׁמְעִ֖יshim.'IH8096when he cursedבְּקַֽלְל֑וֹbe.ka.LoH7043,Come outצֵ֥אtze'H3318,come outצֵ֛אtze'H3318,thou bloodyהַדָּמִ֖יםha.da.MimH1818manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376,and thou manוְאִ֥ישׁve.'IshH376of Belialהַבְּלִיָּֽעַל׃ha.be.li.Ya.'alH1100:

8Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068hath returnedהֵשִׁיב֩he.ShivH7725upon thee all the bloodדְּמֵ֣יde.MeiH1818of the houseבֵית־veit-H1004of Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586,in whose stead thou hast reignedמָלַ֙כְתָּ֙ma.Lakh.taH4427;And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath deliveredוַיִּתֵּ֤ןvai.yi.TenH5414the kingdomהַמְּלוּכָ֔הha.me.lu.KhahH4410into the handבְּיַ֖דbe.YadH3027of Absalomאַבְשָׁל֣וֹם'av.sha.LomH53thy sonבְּנֶ֑ךָbe.Ne.khaH1121: and, behold, thou art takenin thy mischiefבְּרָ֣עָתֶ֔ךָbe.Ra.'a.Te.khaH7451, because thou arta bloodyדָּמִ֖יםda.MimH1818manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376.

9Then saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֤י'a.vi.ShaiH52the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרוּיָה֙tze.ru.YahH6870unto the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,Why should this deadהַמֵּת֙ha.MetH4191dogהַכֶּ֤לֶבha.Ke.levH3611curseיְקַלֵּ֞לye.ka.LelH7043my lordאֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428?let me go overאֶעְבְּרָה־'e'.be.rah-H5674,I pray thee, and take offוְאָסִ֥ירָהve.'a.Si.rahH5493his headרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ סro.ShoH7218.

10And the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,What have I to do with you, ye sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Zeruiahצְרֻיָ֑הtze.ru.YahH6870?so let him curseיְקַלֵּ֗לye.ka.LelH7043,because Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068hath saidאָ֤מַר'A.marH559unto him, Curseקַלֵּ֣לka.LelH7043Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732.Who shall then sayיֹאמַ֔רyo.MarH559,Wherefore hast thou done soעָשִׂ֥יתָה'a.Si.tahH6213?

11And Davidדָּוִ֤דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Abishaiאֲבִישַׁי֙'a.vi.ShaiH52,and to all his servantsעֲבָדָ֔יו'a.va.DavH5650,Behold, my sonבְנִ֛יve.NiH1121,which came forthיָצָ֥אya.Tza'H3318of my bowelsמִמֵּעַ֖יmi.me.'AiH4578,seekethמְבַקֵּ֣שׁme.va.KeshH1245my lifeנַפְשִׁ֑יnaf.ShiH5315: how much more now may thisBenjamiteH1145do it?let him aloneH3240,and let him curseוִֽיקַלֵּ֔לvi.ka.LelH7043;for Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068hath biddenאָֽמַר־'a.mar-H559him.

12It may be that Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068will lookיִרְאֶ֥הyir.'EhH7200on mine afflictionבְּעֵינִ֑יbe.'o.niH6040 H5869,and that Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068will requiteוְהֵשִׁ֨יבve.he.ShivH7725me goodטוֹבָ֔הto.VahH2896for his cursingקִלְלָת֖וֹki.la.ToH7045this dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117.

13And as Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732and his menוַאֲנָשָׁ֖יוva.'a.na.ShavH582wentH3212by the wayבַּדָּ֑רֶךְ סba.Da.rekhH1870,Shimeiוְשִׁמְעִ֡יve.shim.'IH8096went alongH1980on the hill’sהָהָ֜רha.HarH2022sideבְּצֵ֨לַעbe.Tze.la'H6763over againstלְעֻמָּת֗וֹle.'u.ma.ToH5980him, and cursedוַיְקַלֵּ֔לvay.ka.LelH7043as he wentH1980,and threwוַיְסַקֵּ֤לvay.sa.KelH5619stonesבָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ba.'a.va.NimH68atלְעֻמָּת֔וֹle.'u.ma.ToH5980him, and castוְעִפַּ֖רve.'i.ParH6080dustבֶּעָפָֽר׃ פbe.'a.FarH6083.

14And the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,and all the peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971that werewith him, cameוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935wearyעֲיֵפִ֑ים'a.ye.FimH5889,and refreshedוַיִּנָּפֵ֖שׁvai.yi.na.FeshH5314themselves there.

15And Absalomוְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹםve.'av.sha.LomH53,and all the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971the menאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,cameבָּ֖אוּBa.'uH935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,and Ahithophelוַאֲחִיתֹ֖פֶלva.'a.chi.To.felH302with him.

16And it came to pass, when Hushaiחוּשַׁ֧יchu.ShaiH2365the Architeהָאַרְכִּ֛יha.'ar.KiH757,David’sדָוִ֖דda.VidH1732friendרֵעֶ֥הre.'EhH7463,was comeבָּ֞אba'H935unto Absalomאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם'av.sha.LomH53,that Hushaiחוּשַׁי֙chu.ShaiH2365saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם'av.sha.LomH53,God saveיְחִ֥יye.ChiH2421the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,God saveיְחִ֥יye.ChiH2421the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

17And Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙'av.sha.lOmH53saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Hushaiחוּשַׁ֔יchu.ShaiH2365, Isthis thy kindnessחַסְדְּךָ֖chas.de.KhaH2617to thy friendרֵעֶ֑ךָre.'E.khaH7453?why wentestהָלַ֖כְתָּha.Lakh.taH1980thou not with thy friendרֵעֶֽךָ׃re.'E.khaH7453?

18And Hushaiחוּשַׁי֮chu.ShaiH2365saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹם֒'av.sha.LomH53,Nay; but whom Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068,and this peopleוְהָעָ֥םve.ha.'AmH5971,and all the menאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,chooseבָּחַ֧רba.CharH977,his will I be, and with him will I abideאֵשֵֽׁב׃'e.ShevH3427.

19And againוְהַשֵּׁנִ֗יתve.ha.she.NitH8145,whom should I serveאֶֽעֱבֹ֔ד'e.'e.VodH5647? should I not servein the presenceלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440of his sonבְנ֑וֹve.NoH1121?as I have servedעָבַ֙דְתִּי֙'a.Vad.tiH5647in thy father’sאָבִ֔יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1presenceלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440,so will I be in thy presenceלְפָנֶֽיךָ׃ פli.fa.Nei.khaH6440.

20Then saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Absalomאַבְשָׁל֖וֹם'av.sha.LomH53to Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל'a.chi.To.felH302,Giveהָב֥וּha.VuH3051counselעֵצָ֖ה'e.TzahH6098among you what we shall doנַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃na.'a.SehH6213.

21And Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙'a.chi.To.felH302saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Absalomאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם'av.sha.LomH53,Go inבּ֚וֹאBo'H935unto thy father’sאָבִ֔יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1concubinesפִּלַגְשֵׁ֣יpi.lag.SheiH6370,which he hath leftH3240to keepלִשְׁמ֣וֹרlish.MorH8104the houseהַבָּ֑יִתha.Ba.yitH1004;and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478shall hearוְשָׁמַ֤עve.sha.Ma'H8085that thou art abhorredנִבְאַ֣שְׁתָּniv.'Ash.taH887of thy fatherאָבִ֔יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1:then shall the handsיְדֵ֖יye.DeiH3027of all that arewith thee be strongוְחָ֣זְק֔וּve.Cha.ze.KuH2388.

22So they spreadוַיַּטּ֧וּvai.ya.TuH5186Absalomלְאַבְשָׁל֛וֹםle.'av.sha.LomH53a tentהָאֹ֖הֶלha.'O.helH168upon the top of the houseהַגָּ֑גha.GagH1406;and Absalomאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙'av.sha.lOmH53went inוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto his father’sאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1concubinesפִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣יpi.lag.SheiH6370in the sightלְעֵינֵ֖יle.'ei.NeiH5869of all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

23And the counselוַעֲצַ֣תva.'a.TzatH6098of Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֗פֶל'a.chi.To.felH302,which he counselledיָעַץ֙ya.'AtzH3289in those daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117, wasas if a manיִשְׁאַל־אִ֖ישׁyish.'al-Ish-H376had enquiredיִשְׁאַל־אִ֖ישׁyish.'al-Ish-H7592at the oracleבִּדְבַ֣רbid.VarH1697of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430: so wasall the counselעֲצַ֣ת'a.TzatH6098of Ahithophelאֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל'a.chi.To.felH302both with Davidלְדָוִ֖דle.da.VidH1732and with Absalomלְאַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃ סle.'av.sha.LomH53.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 16