1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1 וַֽיְהִי֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לֹו֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה וְסֻסִ֑ים וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו׃

2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

2 וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום וְעָמַ֕ד עַל־יַ֖ד דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיְהִ֡י כָּל־הָאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לֹּו־רִיב֩ לָבֹ֨וא אֶל־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְשָׁלֹ֤ום אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙ אַ֔תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֵאַחַ֥ד שִׁבְטֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

3 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום רְאֵ֥ה דְבָרֶ֖ךָ טֹובִ֣ים וּנְכֹחִ֑ים וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ אֵין־לְךָ֖ מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

4 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום מִי־יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָבֹ֥וא כָּל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לֹּו־רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו׃

5 And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

5 וְהָיָה֙ בִּקְרָב־אִ֔ישׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֖ת לֹ֑ו וְשָׁלַ֧ח אֶת־יָדֹ֛ו וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק לֹ֖ו וְנָ֥שַׁק לֹֽו׃

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

6 וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַבְשָׁלֹ֜ום כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֥אוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ום אֶת־לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

7 And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.

7 וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם אֶת־נִדְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־נָדַ֥רְתִּי לַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּחֶבְרֹֽון׃

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.

8 כִּי־נֵ֙דֶר֙ נָדַ֣ר עַבְדְּךָ֔ בְּשִׁבְתִּ֥י בִגְשׁ֛וּר בַּאֲרָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־ יְשִׁיב יָשֹׁ֨וב יְשִׁיבֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעָבַדְתִּ֖י אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

9 וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לֹ֥ו הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ חֶבְרֹֽונָה׃

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

10 וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלֹום֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־קֹ֣ול הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁלֹ֖ום בְּחֶבְרֹֽון׃

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.

11 וְאֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹ֗ום הָלְכ֞וּ מָאתַ֤יִם אִישׁ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קְרֻאִ֖ים וְהֹלְכִ֣ים לְתֻמָּ֑ם וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ כָּל־דָּבָֽר׃

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

12 וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אַ֠בְשָׁלֹום אֶת־אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל הַגִּֽילֹנִ֜י יֹועֵ֣ץ דָּוִ֗ד מֵֽעִירֹו֙ מִגִּלֹ֔ה בְּזָבְחֹ֖ו אֶת־הַזְּבָחִ֑ים וַיְהִ֤י הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ אַמִּ֔ץ וְהָעָ֛ם הֹולֵ֥ךְ וָרָ֖ב אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹֽום׃

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

13 וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמַּגִּ֔יד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הָיָ֛ה לֶב־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֹֽום׃

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

14 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּ֠וִד לְכָל־עֲבָדָ֨יו אֲשֶׁר־אִתֹּ֤ו בִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ ק֣וּמוּ וְנִבְרָ֔חָה כִּ֛י לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ פְלֵיטָ֖ה מִפְּנֵ֣י אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום מַהֲר֣וּ לָלֶ֗כֶת פֶּן־יְמַהֵ֤ר וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ וְהִדִּ֤יחַ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וְהִכָּ֥ה הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.

15 וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כְּכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֛ר אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶֽיךָ׃

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

16 וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־בֵּיתֹ֖ו בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת׃

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.

17 וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם בְּרַגְלָ֑יו וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּרְחָֽק׃

18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

18 וְכָל־עֲבָדָיו֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים עַל־יָדֹ֔ו וְכָל־הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְכָל־הַפְּלֵתִ֑י וְכָֽל־הַגִּתִּ֞ים שֵׁשׁ־מֵאֹ֣ות אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֤אוּ בְרַגְלֹו֙ מִגַּ֔ת עֹבְרִ֖ים עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; `return' to thine own place.

19 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֔י לָ֧מָּה תֵלֵ֛ךְ גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ שׁ֣וּב וְשֵׁ֤ב עִם־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כִּֽי־נָכְרִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וְגַם־גֹּלֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה לִמְקֹומֶֽךָ׃

20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.

20 תְּמֹ֣ול׀ בֹּואֶ֗ךָ וְהַיֹּ֞ום אֲנֹועֲךָ אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤ עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת וַאֲנִ֣י הֹולֵ֔ךְ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֖י הֹולֵ֑ךְ שׁ֣וּב וְהָשֵׁ֧ב אֶת־אַחֶ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.

21 וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חַי־יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם־בִּמְקֹ֞ום אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֣ם׀ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם־לְמָ֙וֶת֙ אִם־לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי־שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

22 וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־אִתַּ֖י לֵ֣ךְ וַעֲבֹ֑ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר אִתַּ֤י הַגִּתִּי֙ וְכָל־אֲנָשָׁ֔יו וְכָל־הַטַּ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתֹּֽו׃

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

23 וְכָל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בֹּוכִים֙ קֹ֣ול גָּדֹ֔ול וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם עֹֽבְרִ֑ים וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹבֵר֙ בְּנַ֣חַל קִדְרֹ֔ון וְכָל־הָעָם֙ עֹבְרִ֔ים עַל־פְּנֵי־דֶ֖רֶךְ אֶת־הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃

24 And, lo, Zadok also `came', and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

24 וְהִנֵּ֨ה גַם־צָדֹ֜וק וְכָֽל־הַלְוִיִּ֣ם אִתֹּ֗ו נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־אֲרֹון֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ אֶת־אֲרֹ֣ון הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּ֖עַל אֶבְיָתָ֑ר עַד־תֹּ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לַעֲבֹ֥ור מִן־הָעִֽיר׃

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

25 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְצָדֹ֔וק הָשֵׁ֛ב אֶת־אֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הָעִ֑יר אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי וְהִרְאַ֥נִי אֹתֹ֖ו וְאֶת־נָוֵֽהוּ׃

26 but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

26 וְאִם֙ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֔ר לֹ֥א חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּ֑ךְ הִנְנִ֕י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר טֹ֖וב בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou `not' a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

27 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־צָדֹ֣וק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הֲרֹואֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁלֹ֑ום וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהֹונָתָ֧ן בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם׃

28 See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

28 רְאוּ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ בְּעַבְרֹות בְּעַֽרְבֹ֖ות הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַ֣ד בֹּ֥וא דָבָ֛ר מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַגִּ֥יד לִֽי׃

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.

29 וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָדֹ֧וק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־אֲרֹ֥ון הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם׃

30 And David went up by the ascent of the `mount of' Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

30 וְדָוִ֡ד עֹלֶה֩ בְמַעֲלֵ֨ה הַזֵּיתִ֜ים עֹלֶ֣ה׀ וּבֹוכֶ֗ה וְרֹ֥אשׁ לֹו֙ חָפ֔וּי וְה֖וּא הֹלֵ֣ךְ יָחֵ֑ף וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתֹּ֗ו חָפוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ רֹאשֹׁ֔ו וְעָל֥וּ עָלֹ֖ה וּבָכֹֽה׃

31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

31 וְדָוִד֙ הִגִּ֣יד לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים עִם־אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ום וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד סַכֶּל־נָ֛א אֶת־עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל יְהוָֽה׃

32 And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top `of the ascent', where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

32 וַיְהִ֤י דָוִד֙ בָּ֣א עַד־הָרֹ֔אשׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֤ה לִקְרָאתֹו֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י קָר֙וּעַ֙ כֻּתָּנְתֹּ֔ו וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֹֽׁו׃

33 And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto me:

33 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לֹ֖ו דָּוִ֑ד אִ֚ם עָבַ֣רְתָּ אִתִּ֔י וְהָיִ֥תָ עָלַ֖י לְמַשָּֽׂא׃

34 but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

34 וְאִם־הָעִ֣יר תָּשׁ֗וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ לְאַבְשָׁלֹום֙ עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֲנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה עֶ֣בֶד אָבִ֤יךָ וַֽאֲנִי֙ מֵאָ֔ז וְעַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְהֵפַרְתָּ֣ה לִ֔י אֵ֖ת עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃

35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

35 וַהֲלֹ֤וא עִמְּךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם צָדֹ֥וק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמַע֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּגִּ֕יד לְצָדֹ֥וק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear.

36 הִנֵּה־שָׁ֤ם עִמָּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחִימַ֣עַץ לְצָדֹ֔וק וִיהֹונָתָ֖ן לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם בְּיָדָם֙ אֵלַ֔י כָּל־דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ׃

37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

37 וַיָּבֹ֥א חוּשַׁ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד הָעִ֑יר וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יָבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃