Revised Literal Translation

2 Samuel 21

1Then there was a famineרָעָב֩ra.'AvH7458in the daysבִּימֵ֨יbi.MeiH3117of Davidדָוִ֜דda.VidH1732threeשָׁלֹ֣שׁsha.LoshH7969yearsשָׁנִ֗יםsha.NimH8141,yearשָׁנָה֙sha.NahH8141afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310yearשָׁנָ֔הsha.NahH8141;and Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732enquiredוַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁvay.va.KeshH1245ofפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֑ה סYah.wehH3068.And Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068answeredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, It isfor Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586, and for hisbloodyהַדָּמִ֔יםha.da.MimH1818houseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004,because he slewהֵמִ֖יתhe.MitH4191the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִֽים׃ha.giv.'o.NimH1393.

2And the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121the Gibeonitesלַגִּבְעֹנִ֖יםla.giv.'o.NimH1393,and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them; (now the Gibeonitesוְהַגִּבְעֹנִ֞יםve.ha.giv.'o.NimH1393werenot of the childrenמִבְּנֵ֧יmi.be.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לYis.ra.'ElH3478,but of the remnantמִיֶּ֣תֶרmi.Ye.terH3499of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֔יha.'e.mo.RiH567;and the childrenוּבְנֵ֤יu.ve.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478had swornנִשְׁבְּע֣וּnish.be.'UH7650unto them: and Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁvay.va.KeshH1245to slayלְהַכֹּתָ֔םle.ha.ko.TamH5221them in his zealבְּקַנֹּאת֥וֹbe.ka.no.ToH7065to the childrenלִבְנֵֽי־liv.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478and Judahוִיהוּדָֽה׃vi.hu.DahH3063.)

3Wherefore Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֔יםha.giv.'o.NimH1393,What shall I doאֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה'e.'e.SehH6213for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonementאֲכַפֵּ֔ר'a.kha.PerH3722,that ye may blessוּבָרְכ֖וּu.va.re.KhuH1288the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna.cha.LatH5159of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068?

4And the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֗יםha.giv.'o.NimH1393saidוַיֹּ֧אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559unto him, We will have no silverכֶּ֤סֶףKe.sefH3701nor goldוְזָהָב֙ve.za.HavH2091ofH5973Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586,nor of his houseבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004;neither for us shalt thou killלְהָמִ֣יתle.ha.MitH4191any manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.And he saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,What ye shall sayאֹמְרִ֖ים'o.me.RimH559, thatwill I doאֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה'e.'e.SehH6213for you.

5And they answeredוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,The manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376that consumedכִּלָּ֔נוּki.La.nuH3615us, and that devisedדִּמָּה־di.mah-H1819against us thatwe should be destroyedנִשְׁמַ֕דְנוּnish.Mad.nuH8045from remainingמֵֽהִתְיַצֵּ֖בme.hit.ya.TzevH3320in any of the coastsגְּבֻ֥לge.VulH1366of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

6Let sevenשִׁבְעָ֤הshiv.'AhH7651menאֲנָשִׁים֙'a.na.ShimH582of his sonsמִבָּנָ֔יוmi.ba.NavH1121be deliveredיֻתַּןye.na.ton-H5414unto us, and we will hang them upוְהוֹקַֽעֲנוּם֙ve.ho.ka.'a.NumH3363unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068in Gibeahבְּגִבְעַ֥תbe.giv.'AtH1390of Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586, whomYhwhיְהוָ֑ה סYah.wehH3068did chooseבְּחִ֣ירbe.ChirH972.And the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will giveאֶתֵּֽן׃'e.TenH5414them.

7But the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428sparedוַיַּחְמֹ֣לvai.yach.MolH2550MephiboshethH4648,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanH3083the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586,because of Yhwh'sיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068oathשְׁבֻעַ֤תshe.vu.'AtH7621that wasbetween them, between Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732and Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֥ןye.ho.na.TanH3083the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586.

8But the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947the twoשְׁ֠נֵיShe.neiH8147sonsבְּנֵ֨יbe.NeiH1121of Rizpahרִצְפָּ֤הritz.PahH7532the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Aiahאַיָּה֙'ai.YahH345,whom she bareיָלְדָ֣הYal.dahH3205unto Saulלְשָׁא֔וּלle.sha.'UlH7586,Armoniאַרְמֹנִ֖י'ar.mo.NiH764and Mephiboshethמְפִבֹ֑שֶׁתme.fi.Vo.shetH4648;and the fiveחֲמֵ֗שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568sonsבְּנֵי֙be.NeiH1121of Michalמִיכַ֣לmi.KhalH4324the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586,whom she brought upיָלְדָ֛הYal.dahH3205for Adrielלְעַדְרִיאֵ֥לle.'ad.ri.'ElH5741the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Barzillaiבַּרְזִלַּ֖יbar.zi.LaiH1271the Meholathiteהַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃ha.me.cho.la.TiH4259:

9And he deliveredוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֞םvai.yi.te.NemH5414them into the handsבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֗יםha.giv.'o.NimH1393,and they hangedוַיֹּקִיעֻ֤םvai.yo.ki.'UmH3363them in the hillבָּהָר֙ba.HarH2022beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068:and they fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307allsevenשְׁבַעְתָּ֖םshi.va'.ta.yimH7659 H7651togetherיָ֑חַדYa.chadH3162,and were put to deathהֻמְת֜וּhum.TuH4191in the daysבִּימֵ֤יbi.MeiH3117of harvestקָצִיר֙ka.TzirH7105,in the firstבָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔יםba.Ri.sho.NimH7223days,in the beginningבִּתְחִלַּ֖תbi.te.chi.latH8462of barleyשְׂעֹרִֽים׃se.'o.RimH8184harvestקְצִ֥ירke.TzirH7105.

10And Rizpahרִצְפָּה֩ritz.PahH7532the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Aiahאַיָּ֨ה'ai.YahH345tookוַתִּקַּ֣חva.ti.KachH3947sackclothהַשַּׂ֜קha.SakH8242,and spreadוַתַּטֵּ֨הוּva.ta.Te.huH5186it for her upon the rockהַצּוּר֙ha.TzurH6697,from the beginningמִתְּחִלַּ֣תmi.te.chi.LatH8462of harvestקָצִ֔ירka.TzirH7105until waterמַ֥יִםMa.yimH4325droppedנִתַּךְ־ni.takh-H5413upon them out of heavenהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,and sufferedנָתְנָה֩na.te.NahH5414neither the birdsע֨וֹףofH5775of the airהַשָּׁמַ֜יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064to restלָנ֤וּחַla.Nu.achH5117on them by dayיוֹמָ֔םyo.MamH3119,nor the beastsחַיַּ֥תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֖הha.sa.DehH7704by nightלָֽיְלָה׃La.ye.lahH3915.

11And it was toldוַיֻּגַּ֖דvai.yu.GadH5046Davidלְדָוִ֑דle.da.VidH1732what Rizpahרִצְפָּ֥הritz.PahH7532the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Aiahאַיָּ֖ה'ai.YahH345,the concubineפִּלֶ֥גֶשׁpi.Le.geshH6370of Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586,had doneעָשְׂתָ֛ה'a.se.TahH6213.

12And Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732wentH3212and tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947the bonesעַצְמ֤וֹתatz.MotH6106of Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586and the bonesעַצְמוֹת֙'atz.mOtH6106of Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanH3083his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121from the menבַּעֲלֵ֖יba.'a.LeiH1167of Jabesh–gileadיָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑דya.Veish gil.'AdH1568 H3003,which had stolenגָּנְב֨וּga.ne.VuH1589them from the streetמֵרְחֹ֣בme.re.ChoH7339of Beth–shanH1052,where the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםha.pe.lish.timH6430had hangedתְּלָא֥וּםte.lumH8518 H8511them, whenבְּי֨וֹםbe.YomH3117the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛יםpe.lish.TimH6430had slainהַכּ֧וֹתha.KotH5221Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586in Gilboaבַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃ba.gil.Bo.a'H1533:

13And he brought upוַיַּ֤עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927from thence the bonesעַצְמ֣וֹתatz.MotH6106of Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586and the bonesעַצְמ֖וֹתatz.MotH6106of Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanH3083his sonבְּנ֑וֹbe.NoH1121;and they gatheredוַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּvai.Ya.'as.FuH622the bonesעַצְמ֖וֹתatz.MotH6106of them that were hangedהַמּוּקָעִֽים׃ha.mu.ka.'ImH3363.

14And the bonesעַצְמוֹת־'atz.mot-H6106of Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586and Jonathanוִיהוֹנָֽתָן־vi.ho.na.ton-H3083his sonבְּ֠נוֹbe.noH1121buriedוַיִּקְבְּר֣וּvai.yik.be.RuH6912they in the countryבְּאֶ֨רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֜ןbin.ya.MinH1144in Zelahבְּצֵלָ֗עbe.tze.La'H6762,in the sepulchreבְּקֶ֙בֶר֙be.Ke.verH6913of Kishקִ֣ישׁkishH7027his fatherאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1:and they performedוַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213all that the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandedצִוָּ֖הtzi.VahH6680.And afterאַֽחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310that Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430was intreatedוַיֵּעָתֵ֧רvai.ye.'a.TerH6279for the landלָאָ֖רֶץla.'A.retzH776.

15Moreover the Philistinesלַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםla.pe.lish.TimH6430had yet warמִלְחָמָ֛הmil.cha.MahH4421again with Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478;and Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732went downוַיֵּ֨רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381,and his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֥יוva.'a.va.DavH5650with him, and foughtוַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּvai.yi.la.cha.MuH3898against the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430:and Davidדָּוִֽד׃da.VidH1732waxed faintH5774.

16And Ishbi–benobH3430, which wasof the sonsבִּילִידֵ֣יbi.li.DeiH3211of the giantהָרָפָ֗הha.ra.FahH7497,the weightוּמִשְׁקַ֤לu.mish.KalH4948of whose spearקֵינוֹ֙kei.NoH7013weighedthreeשְׁלֹ֤שׁshe.LoshH7969hundredמֵאוֹת֙me.'OtH3967shekelsof brassנְחֹ֔שֶׁתne.Cho.shetH5178in weightמִשְׁקַ֣לmish.KalH4948,he being girdedחָג֣וּרcha.GurH2296with a newחֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.ShahH2319sword,thoughtוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to have slainלְהַכּ֥וֹתle.ha.KotH5221Davidדָּוִֽד׃da.VidH1732.

17But Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֣י'a.vi.ShaiH52the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרוּיָ֔הtze.ru.YahH6870succouredוַיַּֽעֲזָר־vai.ya.'a.zor-H5826him, and smoteוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221the Philistineהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יha.pe.lish.TiH6430,and killedוַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּvay.mi.Te.huH4191him. Then the menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582of Davidדָוִ֨דda.VidH1732swareנִשְׁבְּעוּ֩nish.be.'UH7650unto him, sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Thou shalt goתֵצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318no more out with us to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֔הla.mil.cha.MahH4421,that thou quenchתְכַבֶּ֖הte.kha.BehH3518not the lightנֵ֥רnerH5216of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478.

18And it came to pass after thisאַֽחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310,that there was again a battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֛הha.mil.cha.MahH4421with the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430at Gobבְּג֖וֹבbe.GovH1359:then Sibbechaiסִבְּכַי֙si.be.KhaiH5444the Hushathiteהַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔יha.Chu.sha.TiH2843slewהִכָּ֗הhi.KahH5221Saphסַ֕ףsafH5593, which wasof the sonsבִּילִדֵ֥יbi.li.DeiH3211of the giantהָרָפָֽה׃ פha.ra.FahH7497.

19And there was again a battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֛הha.mil.cha.MahH4421in Gobבְּג֖וֹבbe.GovH1359with the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430,where Elhananאֶלְחָנָן֩'el.cha.NanH445the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jaare–oregimH3296,a Beth–lehemiteH1022,slewוַיַּ֡ךְvai.YakhH5221the brother ofGoliathגָּלְיָ֣תgal.YatH1555the Gittiteהַגִּתִּ֔יha.gi.TiH1663,the staffוְעֵ֣ץve.'EtzH6086of whose spearחֲנִית֔וֹcha.ni.ToH2595waslike a weaver’sאֹרְגִֽים׃ ס'o.re.GimH707beamכִּמְנ֖וֹרkim.NorH4500.

20And there was yet a battleמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421in Gathבְּגַ֑תbe.GatH1661,where was a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of greatstatureמָד֗וֹןma.dinH4055 H4067,that had on every handיָדָיו֩ya.DavH3027sixשֵׁ֣שׁsheshH8337fingersוְאֶצְבְּעֹ֣תve.'etz.be.'OtH676,and on every footרַגְלָ֜יוrag.LavH7272sixוָשֵׁ֗שׁva.SheshH8337toesוְאֶצְבְּעֹ֨תve.'etz.be.'OtH676,fourוְאַרְבַּע֙ve.'ar.Ba'H702and twentyעֶשְׂרִ֤ים'es.RimH6242in numberמִסְפָּ֔רmis.ParH4557;and he also was bornיֻלַּ֥דyu.LadH3205to the giantלְהָרָפָֽה׃le.ha.ra.FahH7497.

21And when he defiedוַיְחָרֵ֖ףvay.cha.RefH2778Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Jonathanיְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןye.Ho.na.TanH3083the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of ShimeaH8092the brotherאֲחִ֥י'a.ChiH251of Davidדָוִֽד׃da.VidH1732slewוַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.Ke.huH5221him.

22These fourאַרְבַּ֥עַת'ar.Ba.'atH702were bornיֻלְּד֥וּyu.le.DuH3205to the giantלְהָרָפָ֖הle.ha.ra.FahH7497in Gathבְּגַ֑תbe.GatH1661,and fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307by the handבְיַד־ve.yad-H3027of Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732,and by the handוּבְיַ֥דu.ve.YadH3027of his servantsעֲבָדָֽיו׃ פ'a.va.DavH5650.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 21