Revised Literal Translation

2 Samuel 20

1And there happenedנִקְרָ֜אnik.Ra'H7122to be there a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Belialבְּלִיַּ֗עַלbe.li.Ya.'alH1100,whose nameוּשְׁמ֛וֹu.she.MoH8034wasShebaשֶׁ֥בַעShe.va'H7652,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִ֖יbikh.RiH1075,a BenjamiteH1145:and he blewוַיִּתְקַ֣עvai.yit.Ka'H8628a trumpetבַּשֹּׁפָ֗רba.sho.FarH7782,and saidוַ֠יֹּאמֶרVai.yo.merH559,We have no partחֵ֜לֶקChe.lekH2506in Davidבְּדָוִ֗דbe.da.VidH1732,neither have we inheritanceנַֽחֲלָה־na.cha.lah-H5159in the sonבְּבֶן־be.ven-H1121of Jesseיִשַׁ֔יyi.ShaiH3448:everyאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376to his tentsלְאֹהָלָ֖יוle.'o.ha.LavH168,O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

2So every manאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478went upוַיַּ֜עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927from afterמֵאַחֲרֵ֣יme.'a.cha.ReiH310Davidדָוִ֔דda.VidH1732, andfollowedאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310Shebaשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִ֑יbikh.RiH1075:but the menוְאִ֤ישׁve.'IshH376of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063claveדָּבְק֣וּda.ve.KuH1692unto their kingבְמַלְכָּ֔םve.mal.KamH4428,from Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֖ןhai.yar.DenH3383even to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ye.ru.sha.LimH3389.

3And Davidדָוִ֣דda.VidH1732cameוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935to his houseH1004at Jerusalemיְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֒ye.ru.sha.LimH3389;and the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947the tenעֶֽשֶׂר־'e.ser-H6235womenנָשִׁ֣ים׀na.ShimH802hisconcubinesפִּלַגְשִׁ֡יםpi.lag.ShimH6370,whom he had leftH3240to keepלִשְׁמֹ֨רlish.MorH8104the houseH1004,and putוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֤םvai.yi.te.NemH5414them in wardמִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙mish.Me.retH4931,and fedוַֽיְכַלְכְּלֵ֔םvay.khal.ke.LemH3557them, but went not inבָ֑אVa'H935unto them. So they were shut upצְרֻר֛וֹתtze.ru.RotH6887unto the dayי֥וֹםYomH3117of their deathמֻתָ֖ןmu.TanH4191,livingחַיּֽוּת׃ סchai.YutH2424in widowhoodאַלְמְנ֥וּת'al.me.NutH491.

4Then saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428to Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֔א'a.ma.Sa'H6021,Assembleהַזְעֶק־haz.'ek-H2199me the menאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063within threeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִ֑יםya.MimH3117,and be thou here presentעֲמֹֽד׃'a.ModH5975.

5So Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֖א'a.ma.Sa'H6021wentH3212to assembleלְהַזְעִ֣יקle.haz.'IkH2199the men ofJudahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063:but he tarried longerוַיּ֕וֹחֶרvai.yi.cherH3186 H309than the set timeהַמּוֹעֵ֖דha.mo.'EdH4150which he had appointedיְעָדֽוֹ׃ סye.'a.DoH3259him.

6And Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֔י'a.vi.ShaiH52,Now shall Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִ֖יbikh.RiH1075do us more harmH3415than didAbsalomאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם'av.sha.LomH53:takeקַ֞חkachH3947thou thy lord’sאֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙'a.do.Nei.khaH113servantsעַבְדֵ֤י'av.DeiH5650,and pursueוּרְדֹ֣ףu.re.DofH7291afterאַחֲרָ֔יו'a.cha.RavH310him, lest he getמָ֥צָאMa.tza'H4672him fencedבְּצֻר֖וֹתbe.tzu.RotH1219citiesעָרִ֥ים'a.RimH5892,and escapeוְהִצִּ֥ילve.hi.TzilH5337usעֵינֵֽנוּ׃'ei.Ne.nuH5869.

7And there went outוַיֵּצְא֤וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318afterאַֽחֲרָיו֙'a.cha.RavH310him Joab’sיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097menאַנְשֵׁ֣י'an.SheiH582,and the Cherethitesוְהַכְּרֵתִ֥יve.ha.ke.re.TiH3774,and the Pelethitesוְהַפְּלֵתִ֖יve.ha.pe.le.TiH6432,and all the mighty menהַגִּבֹּרִ֑יםha.gi.bo.RimH1368:and they went outוַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙vai.ye.tze.'UH3318of Jerusalemמִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םmi.Ru.sha.LimH3389,to pursueלִרְדֹּ֕ףlir.DofH7291afterאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִֽי׃bikh.RiH1075.

8When they wereat the greatהַגְּדוֹלָה֙ha.ge.do.LahH1419stoneהָאֶ֤בֶןha.'E.venH68which isin Gibeonבְּגִבְע֔וֹןbe.giv.'onH1391,Amasaוַעֲמָשָׂ֖אva.'a.ma.Sa'H6021wentבָּ֣אba'H935beforeלִפְנֵיהֶ֑םlif.nei.HemH6440them. And Joab’sוְיוֹאָ֞בve.yo.'AvH3097garmentמִדּ֣וֹmi.DoH4055that he had put onלְבֻשׁ֗וּle.vu.ShuH3830was girdedחָג֣וּר׀cha.GurH2296unto him, and upon it a girdleH2289witha swordחֶ֙רֶב֙che.revH2719fastenedמְצֻמֶּ֤דֶתme.tzu.Me.detH6775upon his loinsמָתְנָיו֙ma.te.NavH4975in the sheathבְּתַעְרָ֔הּbe.ta'.RahH8593thereof; and as he went forthיָצָ֖אya.Tza'H3318it fell outוַתִּפֹּֽל׃ סva.ti.PolH5307.

9And Joabיוֹאָב֙yo.'AvH3097saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Amasaלַעֲמָשָׂ֔אla.'a.ma.Sa'H6021, Artthou in healthהֲשָׁל֥וֹםha.sha.LomH7965,my brotherאָחִ֑י'a.ChiH251?And Joabיוֹאָ֛בyo.'AvH3097tookוַתֹּ֜חֶזva.To.chezH270Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֖א'a.ma.Sa'H6021by the beardבִּזְקַ֥ןbiz.KanH2206with the rightיְמִ֥יןye.MinH3225handיַד־yad-H3027to kissלִנְשָׁק־lin.shok-H5401him.

10But Amasaוַעֲמָשָׂ֨אva.'a.ma.Sa'H6021took no heedנִשְׁמַ֜רnish.MarH8104to the swordבַּחֶ֣רֶב׀ba.Che.revH2719that wasin Joab’sיוֹאָ֗בyo.'AvH3097handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027:so he smoteוַיַּכֵּהוּ֩vai.ya.ke.HuH5221him therewith in the fifthהַחֹ֜מֶשׁha.Cho.meshH2570rib,and shed outוַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְvai.yish.PokhH8210his bowelsמֵעָ֥יוme.'AvH4578to the groundאַ֛רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776,and struck him not againשָׁ֥נָהSha.nahH8138;and he diedוַיָּמֹ֑ת סvai.ya.MotH4191.So Joabוְיוֹאָב֙ve.yo.'AvH3097and Abishaiוַאֲבִישַׁ֣יva.'a.vi.ShaiH52his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251pursuedרָדַ֕ףra.DafH7291afterאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִֽי׃bikh.RiH1075.

11And oneוְאִישׁ֙ve.'IshH376of Joab’sיוֹאָ֑בyo.'AvH3097menמִֽנַּעֲרֵ֖יmi.na.'a.ReiH5288stoodעָמַ֣ד'a.MadH5975by him, and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,HeH4310that favourethחָפֵ֧ץcha.FetzH2654Joabבְּיוֹאָ֛בbe.yo.'AvH3097, and he that isfor Davidלְדָוִ֖דle.da.VidH1732, let him goafterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310Joabיוֹאָֽב׃yo.'AvH3097.

12And Amasaוַעֲמָשָׂ֛אva.'a.ma.Sa'H6021wallowedמִתְגֹּלֵ֥לmit.go.LelH1556in bloodבַּדָּ֖םba.DamH1818in the midstבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the highwayהַֽמְסִלָּ֑הha.me.si.LahH4546.And when the manהָאִ֜ישׁha.'IshH376sawוַיַּ֨רְאvai.Yar'H7200that all the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971stood stillעָמַ֣ד'a.MadH5975,he removedוַיַּסֵּב֩vai.ya.SevH5437Amasaעֲמָשָׂ֨א'a.ma.Sa'H6021out of the highwayהַֽמְסִלָּ֤הham.si.LahH4546into the fieldהַשָּׂדֶה֙ha.sa.DehH7704,and castוַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְvai.yash.LekhH7993a clothבֶּ֔גֶדBe.gedH899upon him, when he sawרָאָ֔הra.'AhH7200that every one that cameהַבָּ֥אha.Ba'H935by him stood stillוְעָמָֽד׃ve.'a.MadH5975.

13When he was removedהֹגָ֖הho.GahH3014out of the highwayהַֽמְסִלָּ֑הham.si.LahH4546,all the peopleאִישׁ֙'ishH376went onעָבַ֤ר'a.VarH5674afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097,to pursueלִרְדֹּ֕ףlir.DofH7291afterאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310Shebaשֶׁ֥בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִֽי׃bikh.RiH1075.

14And he wentוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674through all the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֣יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478unto AbelH59,and to Beth–maachahH1038,and all the Beritesהַבֵּרִ֑ים סha.be.RimH1276:and they were gathered togetherוַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּvai.yik.le.huH7035 H6950,and wentוַיָּבֹ֖אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935also afterאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310him.

15And they cameוַיָּבֹ֜אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935and besiegedוַיָּצֻ֣רוּvai.ya.Tzu.ruH6696him in AbelH59of Beth–maachahH1038,and they cast upוַיִּשְׁפְּכ֤וּvai.yish.pe.KhuH8210a bankסֹֽלְלָה֙so.le.LahH5550against the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,and it stoodוַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖דva.ta.'a.ModH5975in the trenchבַּחֵ֑לba.ChelH2426:and all the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971that werewith Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097batteredמַשְׁחִיתִ֖םmash.chi.TimH7843the wallהַחוֹמָֽה׃ha.cho.MahH2346,to throw it downלְהַפִּ֥ילle.ha.PilH5307.

16Then criedוַתִּקְרָ֛אva.tik.Ra'H7121a wiseחֲכָמָ֖הcha.kha.MahH2450womanאִשָּׁ֥ה'i.ShahH802out of the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892,Hearשִׁמְע֤וּshim.'UH8085,hearשִׁמְעוּ֙shim.'UH8085;sayאִמְרוּ־'im.ru-H559,I pray you, unto Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097,Come nearקְרַ֣בke.RavH7126hither, that I may speakוַאֲדַבְּרָ֖הva.'a.da.be.RahH1696with thee.

17And when he was come nearוַיִּקְרַ֣בvai.yik.RavH7126unto her, the womanהָאִשָּׁ֛הha.'i.ShahH802saidוַתֹּ֧אמֶרva.To.merH559, Artthou Joabיוֹאָ֖בyo.'AvH3097?And he answeredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, I am he.Then she saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.merH559unto him, Hearשְׁמַע֙she.Ma'H8085the wordsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of thine handmaidאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ'a.ma.Te.khaH519.And he answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I do hearשֹׁמֵ֥עַsho.Me.a'H8085.

18Then she spakeוַתֹּ֖אמֶרva.To.merH559,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,They were wontדַּבֵּ֨רda.BerH1696to speakיְדַבְּר֤וּye.da.be.RuH1696in old timeבָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙va.ri.sho.NahH7223,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,They shall surelyשָׁאֹ֧לsha.'OlH7592askיְשָׁאֲל֛וּye.sha.'a.LuH7592counselat Abelבְּאָבֵ֖לbe.'a.VelH59:and so they endedהֵתַֽמּוּ׃he.Ta.muH8552the matter.

19I am one of them that arepeaceableשְׁלֻמֵ֖יshe.lu.MeiH7999andfaithfulH539in Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478:thou seekestמְבַקֵּ֗שׁme.va.KeshH1245to destroyלְהָמִ֨יתle.ha.MitH4191a cityעִ֤יר'irH5892and a motherוְאֵם֙ve.'EmH517in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478:why wilt thou swallow upתְבַלַּ֖עte.va.La'H1104the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna.cha.LatH5159of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068?

20And Joabיוֹאָ֖בyo.'AvH3097answeredוַיַּ֥עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Far be itחָלִ֤ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486,far be itחָלִ֙ילָה֙cha.Li.lahH2486from me, that I should swallow upאֲבַלַּ֖ע'a.va.La'H1104or destroyאַשְׁחִֽית׃'ash.ChitH7843.

21The matterהַדָּבָ֗רha.da.VarH1697isnot so: but a manאִישׁ֩'ishH376of mountמֵהַ֨רme.HarH2022Ephraimאֶפְרַ֜יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669,Shebaשֶׁ֧בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִ֣יbikh.RiH1075by nameשְׁמ֗וֹshe.MoH8034,hath lifted upנָשָׂ֤אna.Sa'H5375his handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027against the kingבַּמֶּ֣לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428, evenagainst Davidבְּדָוִ֔דbe.da.VidH1732:deliverתְּנֽוּ־te.nu-H5414him only, and I will departH3212from the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892.And the womanהָֽאִשָּׁה֙ha.'i.ShahH802saidוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559unto Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097,Behold, his headרֹאשׁ֛וֹro.ShoH7218shall be thrownמֻשְׁלָ֥ךְmush.LakhH7993to thee overבְּעַ֥דbe.'AdH1157the wallהַחוֹמָֽה׃ha.cho.MahH2346.

22Then the womanהָאִשָּׁ֨הha.'i.ShahH802wentוַתָּבוֹא֩va.ta.Vo'H935unto all the peopleהָעָ֜םha.'AmH5971in her wisdomבְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּbe.cha.khe.ma.TahH2451.And they cut offוַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּvai.yikh.re.TuH3772the headרֹ֨אשׁroshH7218of Shebaשֶׁ֤בַעShe.va'H7652the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Bichriבִּכְרִי֙bikh.RiH1075,and castוַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּvai.yash.Li.khuH7993itout to Joabיוֹאָ֔בyo.'AvH3097.And he blewוַיִּתְקַע֙vai.yit.Ka'H8628a trumpetבַּשּׁוֹפָ֔רba.sho.FarH7782,and they retiredוַיָּפֻ֥צוּvai.ya.Fu.tzuH6327from the cityהָעִ֖ירha.'IrH5892,every manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376to his tentלְאֹהָלָ֑יוle.'o.ha.LavH168.And Joabוְיוֹאָ֛בve.yo.'AvH3097returnedשָׁ֥בshavH7725to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389unto the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ סha.Me.lekhH4428.

23Now Joabוְיוֹאָ֕בve.yo.'AvH3097wasover all the armyהַצָּבָ֖אha.tza.Va'H6635of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478:and Benaiahוּבְנָיָה֙u.ve.na.YahH1141the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jehoiadaיְה֣וֹיָדָ֔עye.Ho.ya.Da'H3077wasover the Cherethitesהַכְּרֵתִ֖יha.ke.riH3746 H3774and over the Pelethitesהַפְּלֵתִֽי׃ha.pe.le.TiH6432:

24And Adoramוַאֲדֹרָ֖םva.'a.do.RamH151wasover the tributeהַמַּ֑סha.MasH4522:and Jehoshaphatוִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥טvi.ho.sha.FatH3092the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Ahiludאֲחִיל֖וּד'a.chi.LudH286wasrecorderהַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃ha.maz.KirH2142:

25And Shevaוּשְׁוָ֖אu.she.ya'H7724 H7864wasscribeסֹפֵ֑רso.FerH5608:and Zadokוְצָד֥וֹקve.tza.DokH6659and Abiatharוְאֶבְיָתָ֖רve.'ev.ya.TarH54werethe priestsכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ko.ha.NimH3548:

26And Iraעִירָא֙'i.Ra'H5896also the Jairiteהַיָּ֣אִרִ֔יhai.Ya.'i.RiH2972was a chief rulerכֹהֵ֖ןkho.HenH3548about Davidלְדָוִֽד׃ סle.da.VidH1732.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 20