2 Samuel 20 in Hebrew, English & Transliteration

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Tenakh Study · 2 Samuel 20:1–26

2 Samuel, Chapter 20

שמואל ב כ

Sheva son of Bichri blows the shofar, “We have no portion in David,” and Israel follows him. David shuts up the ten concubines. Yo’av kills Amasa with a kiss at Giv’on and pursues Sheva to Avel Beit Ma’achah, where a wise woman makes peace and Sheva’s head is thrown over the wall. The chapter ends with David’s officers.

20:1And there happened to be there a worthless man, whose name was Sheva (Sheba) the son of Bichri, a Binyamini (Benjamite); and he blew the shofar (trumpet), and said, “We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Yishai (Jesse); every man to his tents, O Israel!”

Vesham nikra ish beliya'al ushemo Sheva ben-Biḥri ish yemini vayitka bashofar vayomer ein-lanu ḥelek beDavid velo naḥalah-lanu beven-Yishai ish le'ohalav Yisra'el.

אוְשָׁ֨ם נִקְרָ֜א אִ֣ישׁ בְּלִיַּ֗עַל וּשְׁמ֛וֹ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִ֑י וַיִּתְקַ֣ע בַּשּׁוֹפָ֗ר וַ֠יֹּאמֶר אֵֽין־לָ֨נוּ חֵ֜לֶק בְּדָוִ֗ד וְלֹ֚א נַֽחֲלָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ בְּבֶן־יִשַׁ֔י אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֖יו יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

20:2So every man of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheva the son of Bichri; but the men of Yehudah (Judah) clung unto their king, from the Yarden (Jordan) even to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).

Vaya'al kol-ish Yisra'el me'aḥarei David aḥarei Sheva ben-Biḥri ve'ish Yehudah daveku vemalkam min-haYarden ve'ad-Yerushalayim.

בוַיַּ֜עַל כָּל־אִ֚ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֣בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֑י וְאִ֚ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ דָּבְק֣וּ בְמַלְכָּ֔ם מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וְעַד־יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ׃

20:3And David came to his house at Yerushalayim; and the king took the ten women, his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in a house under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

Vayavo David el-beito Yerushalayim vayikaḥ hameleḥ et eser-nashim pilagshim asher hiniaḥ lishmor habayit vayitenem beit-mishmeret vayeḥalkelem va'aleihem lo-va vatihyenah tzerurot ad-yom mutan almenut ḥayut.

גוַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֣ד אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ֘ יְרֽוּשָׁלִַם֒ וַיִּקַּ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶֽשֶׂר־נָשִׁ֣ים ׀ פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּיחַ֩ לִשְׁמֹ֨ר הַבַּ֜יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֚ם בֵּית־מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙ וַֽיְכַלְכְּלֵ֔ם וַאֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹא־בָ֑א וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה צְרֻר֛וֹת עַד־י֥וֹם מֻתָ֖ן אַלְמְנ֥וּת חַיּֽוּת׃

Commentary · 20:1–3

“We have no portion in David”

Sheva’s cry will come back word for word when the kingdom splits under Rechav’am: “What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel” (1 Kings 12:16). A baraita even says Sheva ben Bichri was Nevat, Yarov’am’s father (Sanhedrin 101b). The Sages saw that the split began here, in the quarrel at the Yarden. Hebrew lesson: chelek, “portion.” David sang, “Hashem is the portion of mine inheritance” (Psalm 16:5), and the Mishnah teaches, “All Israel have a portion in the world to come” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 10:1). To say “we have no chelek in David” is to cut oneself off from the king Hashem chose; Paul tells Gentile believers that those once “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” are “made nigh by the blood of Messiah” (Ephesians 2:12–13).

David puts the ten concubines Avshalom had taken under guard for life, “living in widowhood.” The Yerushalmi gives two views: Rabbi Yehuda bar Pazi in Rabbi Yochanan’s name says they were permitted to David but he refused them to master his desire; the Rabbis of Caesarea say they were truly forbidden (Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 2:3; Radak on 20:3). Natan’s word in 12:11 still had a cost.

A kiss at Giv’on

20:4Then said the king to Amasa, “Call together for me the men of Yehudah within three days, and be here yourself.”

Vayomer hameleḥ el-Amasa haz'ek-li et-ish-Yehudah sheloshet yamim ve'atah poh amod.

דוַיֹּ֚אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־עֲמָשָֹ֔א הַזְעֶק־לִ֥י אֶת־אִישׁ־יְהוּדָ֖ה שְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וְאַתָּ֖ה פֹּ֥ה עֲמֹֽד׃

20:5So Amasa went to call together the men of Yehudah; but he delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

Vayeleḥ Amasa lehaz'ik et-Yehudah vayoḥer min-hamo'ed asher ye'ado.

הוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ עֲמָשָֹ֖א לְהַזְעִ֣יק אֶת־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיּ֕וֹחֶר (כתיב וַיֹּ֕יחֶר) מִן־הַמּוֹעֵ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָדֽוֹ׃

20:6And David said to Avishai (Abishai), “Now Sheva the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Avshalom (Absalom) did; take your lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape from our sight.”

Vayomer David el-Avishai atah yera lanu Sheva ben-Biḥri min-Avshalom atah kaḥ et-avdei adoneḥa uredof aḥarav pen-matza lo arim betzurot vehitzil einenu.

ווַיֹּ֚אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־אֲבִישַׁ֔י עַתָּ֗ה יֵ֧רַֽע לָ֛נוּ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֖י מִן־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם אַ֠תָּה קַ֞ח אֶת־עַבְדֵ֚י אֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְדֹ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו פֶּן־מָ֥צָא ל֛וֹ עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻר֖וֹת וְהִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽנוּ׃

20:7And there went out after him Yo’av’s (Joab’s) men, and the Kereti (Cherethites), and the Peleti (Pelethites), and all the mighty men; and they went out of Yerushalayim, to pursue after Sheva the son of Bichri.

Vayetze'u aḥarav anshei Yo'av vehaKereti vehaPeleti veḥol-hagiborim vayetze'u miRushalayim lirdof aḥarei Sheva ben-Biḥri.

זוַיֵּצְא֚וּ אַֽחֲרָיו֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֖י וְכָל־הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃

20:8When they were at the great stone which is in Giv’on (Gibeon), Amasa came before them. And Yo’av was girded with his garment that he had put on, and upon it a belt with a sword fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.

Hem im-ha'even hagedolah asher beGiv'on va'Amasa ba lifneihem veYo'av ḥagur mido levushu ve'alav ḥagor ḥerev metzumedet al-motnav beta'rah vehu yatza vatipol.

חהֵ֗ם עִם־הָאֶ֚בֶן הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּגִבְע֔וֹן וַעֲמָשָֹ֖א בָּ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְיוֹאָ֞ב חָג֣וּר ׀ מִדּ֣וֹ לְבֻשׁ֗וּ וְעָלָ֞יו (כתיב וְעָלָ֞ו) חֲג֥וֹר חֶ֙רֶב֙ מְצֻמֶּ֚דֶת עַל־מָתְנָיו֙ בְּתַעְרָ֔הּ וְה֥וּא יָצָ֖א וַתִּפֹּֽל׃

20:9And Yo’av said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Yo’av took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Vayomer Yo'av la'Amasa hashalom atah aḥi vatoḥez yad-yemin Yo'av bizkan Amasa linshak-lo.

טוַיֹּ֚אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָֹ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד־יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָֹ֖א לִנְשָׁק־לֽוֹ׃

20:10But Amasa took no heed of the sword that was in Yo’av’s hand; so he struck him with it in the fifth rib, and poured out his bowels to the ground, and did not strike him again; and he died. And Yo’av and Avishai his brother pursued after Sheva the son of Bichri.

Va'Amasa lo-nishmar baḥerev asher beyad-Yo'av vayakehu vah el-haḥomesh vayishpoḥ me'av artzah velo-shanah lo vayamot veYo'av va'Avishai aḥiv radaf aḥarei Sheva ben-Biḥri.

יוַעֲמָשָֹ֨א לֹֽא־נִשְׁמַ֜ר בַּחֶ֣רֶב ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־יוֹאָ֗ב וַיַּכֵּהוּ֩ בָ֨הּ אֶל־הַחֹ֜מֶשׁ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ מֵעָ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וְלֹא־שָׁ֥נָה ל֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו רָדַ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃

20:11And one of Yo’av’s young men stood by him, and said, “Whoever favors Yo’av, and whoever is for David, let him follow Yo’av!”

Ve'ish amad alav mina'arei Yo'av vayomer mi asher ḥafetz beYo'av umi asher-leDavid aḥarei Yo'av.

יאוְאִישׁ֙ עָמַ֣ד עָלָ֔יו מִֽנַּעֲרֵ֖י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָפֵ֧ץ בְּיוֹאָ֛ב וּמִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־לְדָוִ֖ד אַחֲרֵ֥י יוֹאָֽב׃

20:12And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

Va'Amasa mitgolel badam betoḥ hamesilah vayar ha'ish ki-amad kol-ha'am vayasev et-Amasa min-hamesilah hasadeh vayashleḥ alav beged ka'asher ra'ah kol-haba alav ve'amad.

יבוַעֲמָשָֹ֛א מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל בַּדָּ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הַֽמְּסִלָּ֑ה וַיַּ֨רְא הָאִ֜ישׁ כִּֽי־עָמַ֣ד כָּל־הָעָ֗ם וַיַּסֵּב֩ אֶת־עֲמָשָֹ֨א מִן־הַֽמְסִלָּ֚ה הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַיַּשְׁלֵ֚ךְ עָלָיו֙ בֶּ֔גֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ה כָּל־הַבָּ֥א עָלָ֖יו וְעָמָֽד׃

20:13When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Yo’av, to pursue after Sheva the son of Bichri.

Ka'asher hogah min-hamesilah avar kol-ish aḥarei Yo'av lirdof aḥarei Sheva ben-Biḥri.

יגכַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹגָּ֖ה מִן־הַֽמְסִלָּ֑ה עָבַ֚ר כָּל־אִישׁ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃

Commentary · 20:4–13

A kiss at the great stone in Giv’on

Amasa is late, and Yo’av meets him at Giv’on: “Is it well with you, my brother?” With his right hand he takes Amasa’s beard to kiss him, and with the sword that “fell out,” caught as if by accident (Rashi on 20:8; Radak says he held it in his left hand), he strikes him in the fifth rib. Why was Amasa late? The Talmud tries Yo’av before Shlomo. Yo’av: “Amasa was a rebel against the kingdom.” Shlomo: Amasa found the men beginning a tractate and would not interrupt their Torah study, reasoning from rak in Joshua 1:18; it was Yo’av who rebelled, when he followed Adoniyahu (Sanhedrin 49a; Rashi on 20:5). David later told Shlomo that Yo’av “shed the blood of war in peace” (1 Kings 2:5), and Ariel Cohen Alloro has taught us how that chapter ends: “upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Hashem” (1 Kings 2:33).

Hashalom atah: the word shalom again, from the man who just killed the king’s son. “The kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). Messianic reading. On the Mount of Olives another man came with a crowd and said, “Hail, master; and kissed him” (Matthew 26:49). “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48). And as Amasa lay in the road, “everyone who came by him stood still.”

The wise woman of Avel

20:14And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Avel (Abel), and to Beit Ma’achah (Beth-maachah), and all the Berim (Berites); and they gathered together, and went also after him.

Vaya'avor beḥol-shivtei Yisra'el Avelah uVeit Ma'aḥah veḥol-haBerim vayikahalu vayavo'u af-aḥarav.

ידוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָבֵ֛לָה וּבֵ֥ית מַעֲכָ֖ה וְכָל־הַבֵּרִ֑ים וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ (כתיב וַיִּקָּ֣לֲה֔וּ) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַף־אַחֲרָֽיו׃

20:15And they came and besieged him in Avel of Beit Ma’achah, and they cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Yo’av were battering the wall, to throw it down.

Vayavo'u vayatzuru alav be'Avelah Beit haMa'aḥah vayishpeḥu solelah el-ha'ir vata'amod baḥel veḥol-ha'am asher et-Yo'av mashḥitim lehapil haḥomah.

טווַיָּבֹ֜אוּ וַיָּצֻ֣רוּ עָלָ֗יו בְּאָבֵ֙לָה֙ בֵּ֣ית הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֚וּ סֹֽלְלָה֙ אֶל־הָעִ֔יר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד בַּחֵ֑ל וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם לְהַפִּ֥יל הַחוֹמָֽה׃

20:16Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Say, I pray you, unto Yo’av, ‘Come near here, that I may speak with you.’”

Vatikra ishah ḥaḥamah min-ha'ir shim'u shim'u imru-na el-Yo'av kerav ad-henah va'adaberah eleḥa.

טזוַתִּקְרָ֛א אִשָּׁ֥ה חֲכָמָ֖ה מִן־הָעִ֑יר שִׁמְע֚וּ שִׁמְעוּ֙ אִמְרוּ־נָ֣א אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב קְרַ֣ב עַד־הֵ֔נָּה וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

20:17And when he had come near unto her, the woman said, “Are you Yo’av?” And he answered, “I am.” Then she said unto him, “Hear the words of your handmaid.” And he answered, “I am listening.”

Vayikrav eleha vatomer ha'ishah ha'atah Yo'av vayomer ani vatomer lo shema divrei amateḥa vayomer shomea anoḥi.

יזוַיִּקְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַאַתָּ֥ה יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָ֑נִי וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ שְׁמַע֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שֹׁמֵ֥עַ אָנֹֽכִי׃

20:18Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in old times, ‘Let them but ask counsel at Avel’; and so they settled the matter.

Vatomer lemor daber yedaberu varishonah lemor sha'ol yesha'alu be'Avel veḥen hetamu.

יחוַתֹּ֖אמֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֨ר יְדַבְּר֚וּ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁא֧וֹל יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ בְּאָבֵ֖ל וְכֵ֥ן הֵתַֽמוּ׃

20:19I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Hashem?”

Anoḥi shelumei emunei Yisra'el atah mevakesh lehamit ir ve'em beYisra'el lamah tevala naḥalat Adonai.

יטאָנֹכִ֕י שְׁלֻמֵ֖י אֱמוּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהָמִ֨ית עִ֚יר וְאֵם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֥מָּה תְבַלַּ֖ע נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃

20:20And Yo’av answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy!

Vaya'an Yo'av vayomar ḥalilah ḥalilah li im-avala ve'im-ashḥit.

כוַיַּ֥עַן יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חָלִ֚ילָה חָלִ֙ילָה֙ לִ֔י אִם־אֲבַלַּ֖ע וְאִם־אַשְׁחִֽית׃

20:21The matter is not so; but a man of the hill country of Efrayim (Ephraim), Sheva the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said unto Yo’av, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.”

Lo-ḥen hadavar ki ish mehar Efrayim Sheva ben-Biḥri shemo nasa yado bameleḥ beDavid tenu-oto levado ve'eleḥah me'al ha'ir vatomer ha'ishah el-Yo'av hineh rosho mushlaḥ eleḥa be'ad haḥomah.

כאלֹא־כֵ֣ן הַדָּבָ֗ר כִּ֡י אִישׁ֩ מֵהַ֨ר אֶפְרַ֜יִם שֶׁ֧בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֣י שְׁמ֗וֹ נָשָֹ֚א יָדוֹ֙ בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ בְּדָוִ֔ד תְּנֽוּ־אֹת֣וֹ לְבַדּ֔וֹ וְאֵלְכָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ל הָעִ֑יר וַתֹּ֚אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב הִנֵּ֥ה רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מֻשְׁלָ֥ךְ אֵלֶ֖יךָ בְּעַ֥ד הַחוֹמָֽה׃

20:22Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheva the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Yo’av. And he blew the shofar, and they dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Yo’av returned to Yerushalayim unto the king.

Vatavo ha'ishah el-kol-ha'am beḥoḥmatah vayiḥretu et-rosh Sheva ben-Biḥri vayashliḥu el-Yo'av vayitka bashofar vayafutzu me'al-ha'ir ish le'ohalav veYo'av shav Yerushalayim el-hameleḥ.

כבוַתָּבוֹא֩ הָאִשָּׁ֨ה אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֜ם בְּחָכְמָתָ֗הּ וַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּ אֶת־רֹ֨אשׁ שֶׁ֚בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִי֙ וַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּתְקַע֙ בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַיָּפֻ֥צוּ מֵֽעַל־הָעִ֖יר אִ֣ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֑יו וְיוֹאָ֛ב שָׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֖םִ אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Commentary · 20:14–22

The wise woman of Avel

The ramp is up and the wall is falling when a woman calls from Avel: “Let them but ask counsel at Avel… I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel.” The Targum and Rashi hear a rebuke: the Torah says to call to a city for peace first (Targum and Rashi on 20:18), and the Midrash names the verse, Deuteronomy 20:10. The Midrash also names the woman: Serach bat Asher, who reads shelumei emunei Yisrael as “I am the one who completed the number of Israel,” the seventieth soul who went down to Egypt (Bereshit Rabbah 94:9; Kohelet Rabbah 9:18; Rashi on 20:19). Rabbi Palvanov taught us her story this year: the woman who sang to Yaakov that Yosef was alive, showed Moshe Yosef’s coffin, and “also helped King David… to end this revolution without harming the people.”

One head over the wall saves the city. The Sages made a law of it: if enemies demand “one of you, or we kill you all,” no one is handed over; but if they name a man “like Sheva ben Bichri,” he may be; Reish Lakish adds, only if he is liable to death like Sheva (Yerushalmi Terumot 8:4; Rambam, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 5:5). Messianic reading. A thousand years later Kayafa said, “it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people” (John 11:50), and John says he prophesied that Yeshua would die “not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52). Sheva was guilty and divided the tribes; Yeshua was innocent and died to gather them.

David’s officers

20:23Now Yo’av was over all the army of Israel; and Benayah (Benaiah) the son of Yehoyada (Jehoiada) was over the Kereti and over the Peleti;

VeYo'av el kol-hatzava Yisra'el uVenayah ben-Yehoyada al-haKereti ve'al-haPeleti.

כגוְיוֹאָ֕ב אֶ֥ל כָּל־הַצָּבָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנָיָה֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע עַל־הַכְּרֵתִ֖י (כתיב הַכְּרֵיִ֖) וְעַל־הַפְּלֵתִֽי׃

20:24and Adoram was over the forced labor; and Yehoshafat (Jehoshaphat) the son of Achilud (Ahilud) was the recorder;

Va'Adoram al-hamas Vihoshafat ben-Aḥilud hamazkir.

כדוַאֲדֹרָ֖ם עַל־הַמַּ֑ס וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃

20:25and Sheva was scribe; and Tzadok (Zadok) and Evyatar (Abiathar) were the priests;

USheva sofer veTzadok ve'Evyatar kohanim.

כהוּשְׁוָ֖א (כתיב וּשְׁיָ֖א) סֹפֵ֑ר וְצָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִֽים׃

20:26and also Ira the Ya’iri (Jairite) was a kohen (chief minister) unto David.

Vegam Ira haYa'iri hayah ḥohen leDavid.

כווְגַ֗ם עִירָא֙ הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י הָיָ֥ה כֹהֵ֖ן לְדָוִֽד׃

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), as published on Chabad.org. Every verse was checked character by character against Chabad’s Tenakh. Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Shaul (Saul)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible.
Transliteration: Produced from the Hebrew with the open-source hebrew-transliteration library, adapted to Sephardic/Israeli pronunciation and reviewed by hand: ḥ for Chet and Chaf, tz for Tzadi, k for Kuf, and the Divine Name read “Adonai.” Names are capitalized.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Metzudat David, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. It is shown by default; tap Commentary to hide it.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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2 Samuel 20 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

2 Samuel, Chapter 20

Sources & method