2 Samuel 17 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

17:1Moreover Achitofel (Ahithophel) said unto Avshalom (Absalom), “Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night;

Vayomer Aḥitofel el-Avshalom evḥarah na sheneim-asar elef ish ve'akumah ve'erdefah aḥarei-David halayelah.

אוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם אֶבְחֲרָ֣ה נָּ֗א שְׁנֵים־עָשָֹ֥ר אֶ֙לֶף֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְאָק֛וּמָה וְאֶרְדְּפָ֥ה אַחֲרֵי־דָוִ֖ד הַלָּֽיְלָה׃

17:2and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king alone;

Ve'avo alav vehu yagea urefeh yadayim vehaḥaradti oto venas kol-ha'am asher-ito vehikeiti et-hameleḥ levado.

בוְאָב֣וֹא עָלָ֗יו וְה֚וּא יָגֵ֙עַ֙ וּרְפֵ֣ה יָדַ֔יִם וְהַֽחֲרַדְתִּ֣י אֹת֔וֹ וְנָ֖ס כָּל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֑וֹ וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

17:3and I will bring back all the people unto you; the man whom you seek is as if all returned; so all the people shall be at peace.”

Ve'ashivah ḥol-ha'am eleḥa keshuv hakol ha'ish asher atah mevakesh kol-ha'am yihyeh shalom.

גוְאָשִׁ֥יבָה כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֵלֶ֑יךָ כְּשׁ֣וּב הַכֹּ֔ל הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֔שׁ כָּל־הָעָ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה שָׁלֽוֹם׃

17:4And the saying pleased Avshalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

Vayishar hadavar be'einei Avshalom uve'einei kol-ziknei Yisra'el.

דוַיִּישַׁ֥ר הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

17:5Then said Avshalom, “Call now Chushai (Hushai) the Arki (Archite) also, and let us hear likewise what he says.”

Vayomer Avshalom kera na gam leḤushai ha'Arki venishme'ah mah-befiv gam-hu.

הוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם קְרָ֣א נָ֔א גַּ֖ם לְחוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֑י וְנִשְׁמְעָ֥ה מַה־בְּפִ֖יו גַּם־הֽוּא׃

17:6And when Chushai had come to Avshalom, Avshalom spoke unto him, saying, “Achitofel has spoken after this manner; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.”

Vayavo Ḥushai el-Avshalom vayomer Avshalom elav lemor kadavar hazeh diber Aḥitofel hana'aseh et-devaro im-ayin atah daber.

ווַיָּבֹ֣א חוּשַׁי֘ אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם֒ וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כַּדָּבָ֚ר הַזֶּה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל הֲנַעֲשֶֹ֖ה אֶת־דְּבָר֑וֹ אִם־אַ֖יִן אַתָּ֥ה דַבֵּֽר׃

17:7And Chushai said unto Avshalom, “The counsel that Achitofel has given is not good this time.”

Vayomer Ḥushai el-Avshalom lo-tovah ha'etzah asher-ya'atz Aḥitofel bapa'am hazot.

זוַיֹּ֥אמֶר חוּשַׁ֖י אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם לֹֽא־טוֹבָ֧ה הָעֵצָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־יָעַ֥ץ אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל בַּפַּ֥עַם הַזֹּֽאת׃

17:8And Chushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are bitter in their souls, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Vayomer Ḥushai atah yada'ta et-aviḥa ve'et-anashav ki giborim hemah umarei nefesh hemah kedov shakul basadeh ve'aviḥa ish milḥamah velo yalin et-ha'am.

חוַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁ֗י אַתָּ֣ה יָ֠דַעְתָּ אֶת־אָבִ֨יךָ וְאֶת־אֲנָשָׁ֜יו כִּ֧י גִבֹּרִ֣ים הֵ֗מָּה וּמָרֵ֥י נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ הֵ֔מָּה כְּדֹ֥ב שַׁכּ֖וּל בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְאָבִ֙יךָ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יָלִ֖ין אֶת־הָעָֽם׃

17:9Behold, he is hidden now in some pit, or in some other place; and it will come to pass, when some of them fall at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Avshalom.’

Hineh atah hu-neḥba be'aḥat hapeḥatim o be'aḥad hamekomot vehayah kinfol bahem bateḥilah veshama hashomea ve'amar hayetah magefah ba'am asher aḥarei Avshalom.

טהִנֵּ֨ה עַתָּ֚ה הֽוּא־נֶחְבָּא֙ בְּאַחַ֣ת הַפְּחָתִ֔ים א֖וֹ בְּאַחַ֣ד הַמְּקוֹמֹ֑ת וְהָיָ֗ה כִּנְפֹ֚ל בָּהֶם֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה וְשָׁמַ֚ע הַשֹּׁמֵ֙עַ֙ וְאָמַ֔ר הָֽיְתָה֙ מַגֵּפָ֔ה בָּעָ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃

17:10And even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.

Vehu gam-ben-ḥayil asher libo kelev ha'aryeh himes yimas ki-yodea kol-Yisra'el ki-gibor aviḥa uvenei-ḥayil asher ito.

יוְה֣וּא גַם־בֶּן־חַ֗יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִבּ֛וֹ כְּלֵ֥ב הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הִמֵּ֣ס יִמָּ֑ס כִּֽי־יֹדֵ֚עַ כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּי־גִבּ֣וֹר אָבִ֔יךָ וּבְנֵי־חַ֖יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

17:11Therefore I counsel that all Israel be gathered unto you, from Dan even to Be’er-Sheva (Beer-sheba), as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.

Ki ya'atzti he'asof ye'asef aleḥa ḥol-Yisra'el miDan ve'ad-Be'er Sheva kaḥol asher-al-hayam larov ufaneḥa holeḥim bakrav.

יאכִּ֣י יָעַ֗צְתִּי הֵ֠אָסֹף יֵאָסֵ֨ף עָלֶ֚יךָ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע כַּח֥וֹל אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַיָּ֖ם לָרֹ֑ב וּפָנֶ֥יךָ הֹלְכִ֖ים בַּקְרָֽב׃

17:12So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

Uvanu elav be'aḥad hamekomot asher nimtza sham venaḥnu alav ka'asher yipol hatal al-ha'adamah velo-notar bo uveḥol-ha'anashim asher-ito gam-eḥad.

יבוּבָ֣אנוּ אֵלָ֗יו בְּאַחַ֚ד (כתיב בְּאַחַ֚ת) הַמְּקוֹמֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצָ֣א שָׁ֔ם וְנַ֣חְנוּ עָלָ֔יו כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִפֹּ֥ל הַטַּ֖ל עַל־הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־נ֥וֹתַר בּ֛וֹ וּבְכָל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ גַּם־אֶחָֽד׃

17:13Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

Ve'im-el-ir ye'asef vehisi'u ḥol-Yisra'el el-ha'ir hahi ḥavalim vesaḥavnu oto ad-hanaḥal ad asher-lo-nimtza sham gam-tzeror.

יגוְאִם־אֶל־עִיר֙ יֵֽאָסֵ֔ף וְהִשִּׂ֧יאוּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַהִ֖יא חֲבָלִ֑ים וְסָחַ֚בְנוּ אֹתוֹ֙ עַד־הַנַּ֔חַל עַ֛ד אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹא־נִמְצָ֥א שָׁ֖ם גַּם־צְרֽוֹר׃

17:14And Avshalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Chushai the Arki is better than the counsel of Achitofel.” For Hashem had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Achitofel, to the intent that Hashem might bring evil upon Avshalom.

Vayomer Avshalom veḥol-ish Yisra'el tovah atzat Ḥushai ha'Arki me'atzat Aḥitofel va-Adonai tzivah lehafer et-atzat Aḥitofel hatovah leva'avur havi Adonai el-Avshalom et-hara'ah.

ידוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל טוֹבָ֗ה עֲצַת֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י מֵעֲצַ֖ת אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל וַיהֹוָ֣ה צִוָּ֗ה לְהָפֵ֞ר אֶת־עֲצַ֚ת אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה לְבַעֲב֗וּר הָבִ֧יא יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶת־הָרָעָֽה׃

17:15Then said Chushai unto Tzadok (Zadok) and to Evyatar (Abiathar) the priests, “Thus and thus did Achitofel counsel Avshalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.

Vayomer Ḥushai el-Tzadok ve'el-Evyatar hakohanim kazot veḥazot ya'atz Aḥitofel et-Avshalom ve'et ziknei Yisra'el veḥazot veḥazot ya'atzti ani.

טווַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁ֗י אֶל־צָד֚וֹק וְאֶל־אֶבְיָתָר֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים כָּזֹ֣את וְכָזֹ֗את יָעַ֚ץ אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכָזֹ֥את וְכָזֹ֖את יָעַ֥צְתִּי אָֽנִי׃

17:16Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Do not lodge this night in the plains of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’”

Ve'atah shilḥu meherah vehagidu leDavid lemor al-talen halaylah be'arvot hamidbar vegam avor ta'avor pen yevula lameleḥ uleḥol-ha'am asher ito.

טזוְעַתָּ֡ה שִׁלְח֣וּ מְהֵרָה֩ וְהַגִּ֨ידוּ לְדָוִ֜ד לֵאמֹ֗ר אַל־תָּ֚לֶן הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְגַ֖ם עָב֣וֹר תַּעֲב֑וֹר פֶּ֚ן יְבֻלַּ֣ע לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וּלְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

17:17Now Yehonatan (Jonathan) and Achima’atz (Ahimaaz) were staying by Ein Rogel (En-rogel), for they could not be seen to come into the city; and a maidservant went and told them; and they went and told King David.

ViYhonatan va'Aḥima'atz omedim be'Ein-Rogel vehaleḥah hashifḥah vehigidah lahem vehem yeleḥu vehigidu lameleḥ David ki lo yuḥelu lehera'ot lavo ha'irah.

יזוִיהוֹנָתָ֨ן וַאֲחִימַ֜עַץ עֹמְדִ֣ים בְּעֵין־רֹגֵ֗ל וְהָלְכָ֚ה הַשִּׁפְחָה֙ וְהִגִּ֣ידָה לָהֶ֔ם וְהֵם֙ יֵֽלְכ֔וּ וְהִגִּ֖ידוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יוּכְל֛וּ לְהֵרָא֖וֹת לָב֥וֹא הָעִֽירָה׃

17:18Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Avshalom; but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bachurim (Bahurim), who had a well in his courtyard; and they went down into it.

Vayar otam na'ar vayaged le'Avshalom vayeleḥu sheneihem meherah vayavo'u el-beit-ish beVaḥurim velo ve'er baḥatzero vayeredu sham.

יחוַיַּ֚רְא אֹתָם֙ נַ֔עַר וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיֵּלְכוּ֩ שְׁנֵיהֶ֨ם מְהֵרָ֜ה וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ ׀ אֶל־בֵּֽית־אִ֣ישׁ בְּבַחֻרִ֗ים וְל֥וֹ בְאֵ֛ר בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ וַיֵּ֥רְדוּ שָֽׁם׃

17:19And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.

Vatikaḥ ha'ishah vatifros et-hamasaḥ al-penei habe'er vatishtaḥ alav harifot velo noda davar.

יטוַתִּקַּ֣ח הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וַתִּפְרֹ֚שׂ אֶת־הַמָּסָךְ֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח עָלָ֖יו הָֽרִפ֑וֹת וְלֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖ע דָּבָֽר׃

17:20And when Avshalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Achima’atz and Yehonatan?” And the woman said unto them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).

Vayavo'u avdei Avshalom el-ha'ishah habaytah vayomeru ayeh Aḥima'atz viYhonatan vatomer lahem ha'ishah averu miḥal hamayim vayevakshu velo matza'u vayashuvu Yerushalayim.

כוַיָּבֹ֣אוּ עַבְדֵי֩ אַבְשָׁל֨וֹם אֶֽל־הָאִשָּׁ֜ה הַבַּ֗יְתָה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֗ה אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ וִיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַתֹּ֚אמֶר לָהֶם֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה עָבְר֖וּ מִיכַ֣ל הַמָּ֑יִם וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֔אוּ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ׃

17:21And it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told King David, and said unto David, “Arise, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Achitofel counseled against you.”

Vayehi aḥarei leḥtam vaya'alu mehabe'er vayeleḥu vayagidu lameleḥ David vayomeru el-David kumu ve'ivru meherah et-hamayim ki-ḥaḥah ya'atz aleiḥem Aḥitofel.

כאוַיְהִ֣י ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י לֶכְתָּ֗ם וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ מֵֽהַבְּאֵ֔ר וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד ק֣וּמוּ וְעִבְר֚וּ מְהֵרָה֙ אֶת־הַמַּ֔יִם כִּי־כָ֛כָה יָעַ֥ץ עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל׃

17:22Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Yarden (Jordan); by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Yarden.

Vayakom David veḥol-ha'am asher ito vaya'avru et-haYarden ad-or haboker ad-aḥad lo ne'dar asher lo-avar et-haYarden.

כבוַיָּ֣קָם דָּוִ֗ד וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן עַד־א֣וֹר הַבֹּ֗קֶר עַד־אַחַד֙ לֹ֣א נֶעְדָּ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־עָבַ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃

17:23And when Achitofel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and set his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.

Va'Aḥitofel ra'ah ki lo ne'estah atzato vayaḥavosh et-haḥamor vayakom vayeleḥ el-beito el-iro vayetzav el-beito vayeḥanak vayamot vayikaver bekever aviv.

כגוַאֲחִיתֹ֣פֶל רָאָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֣א נֶעֶשְׂתָה֘ עֲצָתוֹ֒ וַיַּחֲב֣שׁ אֶֽת־הַחֲמ֗וֹר וַיָּ֜קָם וַיֵּ֚לֶךְ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אֶל־עִיר֔וֹ וַיְצַ֥ו אֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ וַיֵּחָנַ֑ק וַיָּ֕מָת וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּקֶ֥בֶר אָבִֽיו׃

17:24Then David came to Machanayim (Mahanaim). And Avshalom passed over the Yarden, he and all the men of Israel with him.

VeDavid ba Maḥanaymah ve'Avshalom avar et-haYarden hu veḥol-ish Yisra'el imo.

כדוְדָוִ֖ד בָּ֣א מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֗ם עָבַר֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן ה֕וּא וְכָל־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִמּֽוֹ׃

17:25And Avshalom set Amasa over the army in place of Yo’av (Joab). Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Yitra (Ithra) the Israelite, who went in to Avigayil (Abigail) the daughter of Nachash (Nahash), sister to Tzeruyah (Zeruiah), Yo’av’s mother.

Ve'et-Amasa sam Avshalom taḥat Yo'av al-hatzava va'Amasa ven-ish ushemo Yitra haYisre'eli asher-ba el-Avigal bat-Naḥash aḥot Tzeruyah em Yo'av.

כהוְאֶת־עֲמָשָֹ֗א שָֹ֧ם אַבְשָׁלֹ֛ם תַּ֥חַת יוֹאָ֖ב עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א וַעֲמָשָֹ֣א בֶן־אִ֗ישׁ וּשְׁמוֹ֙ יִתְרָ֣א הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־בָּא֙ אֶל־אֲבִיגַ֣ל בַּת־נָחָ֔שׁ אֲח֥וֹת צְרוּיָ֖ה אֵ֥ם יוֹאָֽב׃

17:26So Israel and Avshalom encamped in the land of Gil’ad (Gilead).

Vayiḥan Yisra'el ve'Avshalom eretz haGil'ad.

כווַיִּ֚חַן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם אֶ֖רֶץ הַגִּלְעָֽד׃

17:27And it came to pass, when David had come to Machanayim, that Shovi (Shobi) the son of Nachash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-Devar (Lo-debar), and Barzillai the Gil’adi (Gileadite) of Rogelim,

Vayehi kevo David Maḥanaymah veShovi ven-Naḥash meRabat benei-Amon uMaḥir ben-Ami'el miLo Devar uVarzilai haGil'adi meRogelim.

כזוַיְהִ֕י כְּב֥וֹא דָוִ֖ד מַחֲנָ֑יְמָה וְשֹׁבִ֨י בֶן־נָחָ֜שׁ מֵרַבַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֗וֹן וּמָכִ֚יר בֶּן־עַמִּיאֵל֙ מִלֹּ֣א דְבָ֔ר וּבַרְזִלַּ֥י הַגִּלְעָדִ֖י מֵרֹגְלִֽים׃

17:28brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched grain, and beans, and lentils, and parched seeds,

Mishkav vesapot uḥeli yotzer veḥitim use'orim vekemaḥ vekali ufol va'adashim vekali.

כחמִשְׁכָּ֚ב וְסַפּוֹת֙ וּכְלִ֣י יוֹצֵ֔ר וְחִטִּ֥ים וּשְׂעֹרִ֖ים וְקֶ֣מַח וְקָלִ֑י וּפ֥וֹל וַעֲדָשִׁ֖ים וְקָלִֽי׃

17:29and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.”

Udevash veḥem'ah vetzon ushefot bakar higishu leDavid vela'am asher-ito le'eḥol ki ameru ha'am ra'ev ve'ayef vetzame bamidbar.

כטוּדְבַ֣שׁ וְחֶמְאָ֗ה וְצֹאן֙ וּשְׁפ֣וֹת בָּקָ֔ר הִגִּ֧ישׁוּ לְדָוִ֛ד וְלָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ לֶאֱכ֑וֹל כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ הָעָ֗ם רָעֵ֛ב וְעָיֵ֥ף וְצָמֵ֖א בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃