2Samuel 17

 

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲחִיתֹפֶל אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹם אֶבְחֲרָה נָּא שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר אֶלֶף אִישׁ וְאָקוּמָה וְאֶרְדְּפָה אַחֲרֵי־דָוִד   17:1 הַלָּיְלָה׃

2Sam. 17:1   And Achithophel said to Absalom, “I will now choose twelve thousand men and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.”

וְאָבוֹא עָלָיו וְהוּא יָגֵעַ וּרְפֵה יָדַיִם וְהַחֲרַדְתִּי אֹתוֹ וְנָס כָּל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ לְבַדּוֹ׃   17:2

2Sam. 17:2   “And I will come upon him when he is weary and weak handed, and I will make him afraid, and all the people who are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king by himself.”

וְאָשִׁיבָה כָל־הָעָם אֵלֶיךָ כְּשׁוּב הַכֹּל הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ כָּל־הָעָם יִהְיֶה שָׁלוֹם׃   17:3

2Sam. 17:3   “Then I will bring back all the people to you.  Like every man whom you are seeking returning, all the people will be peaceable.”

וַיִּישַׁר הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי אַבְשָׁלֹם וּבְעֵינֵי כָּל־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃   17:4

2Sam. 17:4   And the matter was pleasant in the eyes of Absalom and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם קְרָא נָא גַּם לְחוּשַׁי הָאַרְכִּי וְנִשְׁמְעָה מַה־בְּפִיו גַּם־הוּא׃   17:5

2Sam. 17:5   And Absalom said, “Call now also for Hushai, the Archite, and let us hear what is in his mouth, even he.

וַיָּבֹא חוּשַׁי אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה דִּבֶּר אֲחִיתֹפֶל הֲנַעֲשֶׂה   17:6

אֶת־דְּבָרֹו אִם־אַיִן אַתָּה דַבֵּר׃

2Sam. 17:6   When Hushai came to Absalom, then Absalom spoke to him saying, “Achithophel has spoken after this matter.  Shall we follow his advice?  If no, you speak.”

וַיֹּאמֶר חוּשַׁי אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם לֹא־טוֹבָה הָעֵצָה אֲשֶׁר־יָעַץ אֲחִיתֹפֶל בַּפַּעַם הַזֹּאת׃   17:7

2Sam. 17:7   Then Hushai said to Absalom, “The advice that Achithophel has counseled at this time is not good.”

וַיֹּאמֶר חוּשַׁי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת־אָבִיךָ וְאֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו כִּי גִבֹּרִים הֵמָּה וּמָרֵי נֶפֶשׁ הֵמָּה כְּדֹב שַׁכּוּל בַּשָּׂדֶה   17:8 וְאָבִיךָ אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה וְלֹא יָלִין אֶת־הָעָם׃

2Sam. 17:8   And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty, and they are embittered of soul like a bear robbed of whelps in the field.  And your father is a man of war and will not let the people tarry.”

הִנֵּה עַתָּה הוּא־נֶחְבָּא בְּאַחַת הַפְּחָתִים אוֹ בְּאַחַד הַמְּקוֹמֹת וְהָיָה כִּנְפֹל בָּהֶם בַּתְּחִלָּה וְשָׁמַע   17:9 הַשֹּׁמֵעַ וְאָמַר הָיְתָה מַגֵּפָה בָּעָם אֲשֶׁר אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלֹם׃

2Sam. 17:9   “Behold, now he is hiding in one of the pits or in one of the places, and it will be, when those among them fall at first, he who hears will proclaim and say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’”

וְהוּא גַם־בֶּן־חַיִל אֲשֶׁר לִבּוֹ כְּלֵב הָאַרְיֵה הִמֵּס יִמָּס כִּי־יֹדֵעַ כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי־גִבּוֹר אָבִיךָ וּבְנֵי־חַיִל   17:10 אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ׃

2Sam. 17:10   “Then he, even a son of the valiant whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will be utterly discouraged, for everyone of Israel knows that your father is mighty, and sons of the valiant who are with him.”

כִּי יָעַצְתִּי הֵאָסֹף יֵאָסֵף עָלֶיךָ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִדָּן וְעַד־בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע כַּחוֹל אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַיָּם לָרֹב וּפָנֶיךָ   17:11 הֹלְכִים בַּקְרָב׃

2Sam. 17:11   “Therefore I advise gathering together all Israel to you, from Dan all the way to Beer-sheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, with your presence marching into battle.”

וּבָאנוּ אֵלָיו (בְּאַחַת) [בְּאַחַד] הַמְּקוֹמֹת אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא שָׁם וְנַחְנוּ עָלָיו כַּאֲשֶׁר יִפֹּל הַטַּל   17:12

  עַל־הָאֲדָמָה וְלֹא־נוֹתַר בּוֹ וּבְכָל־הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ גַּם־אֶחָד׃

2Sam. 17:12   “And in our coming to him in one of the places where he is found, then we shall settle down on him as the dew falls on the ground, and we shall not leave even one with him or among the men who are with him.”

A tav in place of a daled makes the adjective in the parentheses feminine in form while the word it refers to, places,  is masculine.  The correction is in the bracket.

וְאִם־אֶל־עִיר יֵאָסֵף וְהִשִּׂיאוּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־הָעִיר הַהִיא חֲבָלִים וְסָחַבְנוּ אֹתוֹ עַד־הַנַּחַל עַד   17:13 אֲשֶׁר־לֹא־נִמְצָא שָׁם גַּם־צְרוֹר׃

2Sam. 17:13   “And if he withdraws to a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes up to that city and we shall draw him all the way to the valley until when we will not find there even a small stone.”

וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם וְכָל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל טוֹבָה עֲצַת חוּשַׁי הָאַרְכִּי מֵעֲצַת אֲחִיתֹפֶל וַיהוָה צִוָּה לְהָפֵר   17:14 אֶת־עֲצַת אֲחִיתֹפֶל הַטּוֹבָה לְבַעֲבוּר הָבִיא יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת־הָרָעָה׃

2Sam. 17:14   Then Absalom said, and all the men of Israel, “The counsel of Hushai, the Archite, is better than the counsel of Achithophel,” as the Lord had ordained to defeat the counsel of Achithophel in order for the Lord to better bring grief to Absalom.

וַיֹּאמֶר חוּשַׁי אֶל־צָדוֹק וְאֶל־אֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֲנִים כָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאת יָעַץ אֲחִיתֹפֶל אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹם וְאֵת זִקְנֵי   17:15 יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָזֹאת וְכָזֹאת יָעַצְתִּי אָנִי׃

2Sam. 17:15   Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Like this and like that Achithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and I advised like this and like that.”

וְעַתָּה שִׁלְחוּ מְהֵרָה וְהַגִּידוּ לְדָוִד לֵאמֹר אַל־תָּלֶן הַלַּיְלָה בְּעַרְבוֹת הַמִּדְבָּר וְגַם עָבוֹר תַּעֲבוֹר פֶּן   17:16 יְבֻלַּע לַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְכָל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ׃

2Sam. 17:16   “So now send quickly and tell to David saying, “Do not tarry all night in the plains of the wilderness and also speedily go beyond, lest it be the end for the king and for all the people who are with him.”

וִיהוֹנָתָן וַאֲחִימַעַץ עֹמְדִים בְּעֵין־רֹגֵל וְהָלְכָה הַשִּׁפְחָה וְהִגִּידָה לָהֶם וְהֵם יֵלְכוּ וְהִגִּידוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד כִּי   17:17 לֹא יוּכְלוּ לְהֵרָאוֹת לָבוֹא הָעִירָה׃

2Sam. 17:17   Now Jonathan and Achimaaz were dwelling in En-rogel, and a handmaid would go and tell to them, and they would go and tell to king David, that they would not be able to be seen leaving the city.

וַיַּרְא אֹתָם נַעַר וַיַּגֵּד לְאַבְשָׁלֹם וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם מְהֵרָה וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־בֵּית־אִישׁ בְּבַחוּרִים וְלוֹ בְאֵר   17:18 בַּחֲצֵרוֹ וַיֵּרְדוּ שָׁם׃

2Sam. 17:18   But a lad saw them, and told to Absalom, so both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bachurim who had a well in its courtyard, and they went down there.

וַתִּקַּח הָאִשָּׁה וַתִּפְרֹשׂ אֶת־הַמָּסָךְ עַל־פְּנֵי הַבְּאֵר וַתִּשְׁטַח עָלָיו הָרִפוֹת וְלֹא נוֹדַע דָּבָר׃   17:19

2Sam. 17:19   And the woman took and spread the covering over the surface of the well and spread the wheat over it that a thing would not be known.

וַיָּבֹאוּ עַבְדֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה הַבַּיְתָה וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַיֵּה אֲחִימַעַץ וִיהוֹנָתָן וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הָאִשָּׁה   17:20 עָבְרוּ מִיכַל הַמָּיִם וַיְבַקְשׁוּ וְלֹא מָצָאוּ וַיָּשֻׁבוּ יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃

2Sam. 17:20   And servants of Absalom came to the woman of the house and said, “Where are Achimaaz and Jonathan?”  And the woman said to them, “They crossed the brook of water.”  And they searched and did not find, so they returned to Jerusalem.

וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי לֶכְתָּם וַיַּעֲלוּ מֵהַבְּאֵר וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּגִּדוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־דָּוִד קוּמוּ וְעִבְרוּ מְהֵרָה אֶת־   17:21 הַמַּיִם כִּי־כָכָה יָעַץ עֲלֵיכֶם אֲחִיתֹפֶל׃

2Sam. 17:21   And it was after their departure that they came up out of the well and went and told to king David.  And they said to David, “Arise and quickly cross over the water, for Achithophel has advised about you like so.”

וַיָּקָם דָּוִד וְכָל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן עַד־אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר עַד־אַחַד לֹא נֶעְדָּר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־   17:22 עָבַר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן׃

2Sam. 17:22   So David arose with all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan.  By the light of morning even one was not lacking who had not crossed the Jordan.

וַאֲחִיתֹפֶל רָאָה כִּי לֹא נֶעֶשְׂתָה עֲצָתוֹ וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת־הַחֲמוֹר וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ אֶל־עִירוֹ וַיְצַו אֶל־   17:23 בֵּיתוֹ וַיֵּחָנַק וַיָּמָת וַיִּקָּבֵר בְּקֶבֶר אָבִיו׃

2Sam. 17:23   When Achithophel realized that his counsel was not being followed, then he saddled the ass and mounted and went to his house to his city and set order to his house.  Then he hanged himself and died, and he was buried in the sepulcher of his father.

וְדָוִד בָּא מַחֲנָיְמָה וְאַבְשָׁלֹם עָבַר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן הוּא וְכָל־אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ׃   17:24

2Sam. 17:24   And David came to Machanaim.  Then Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

וְאֶת־עֲמָשָׂא שָׂם אַבְשָׁלֹם תַּחַת יוֹאָב עַל־הַצָּבָא וַעֲמָשָׂא בֶן־אִישׁ וּשְׁמוֹ יִתְרָא הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי   17:25

  אֲשֶׁר־בָּא אֶל־אֲבִיגַל בַּת־נָחָשׁ אֲחוֹת צְרוּיָה אֵם יוֹאָב׃

2Sam. 17:25   And Absalom had put Amasa in place of Joab over the host.  And Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra, the Jesraelite, who went in to Abigal daughter of Nachash, sister of Zeruiah, mother of Joab.

וַיִּחַן יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאַבְשָׁלֹם אֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד׃   17:26

2Sam. 17:26   And Israel encamped, and Absalom, in the land of Gilead.

וַיְהִי כְּבוֹא דָוִד מַחֲנָיְמָה וְשֹׁבִי בֶן־נָחָשׁ מֵרַבַּת בְּנֵי־עַמּוֹן וּמָכִיר בֶּן־עַמִּיאֵל מִלֹּא דְבָר וּבַרְזִלַּי   17:27 הַגִּלְעָדִי מֵרֹגְלִים׃

2Sam. 17:27   And it happened when David was coming to Machanaim, that Shobi son of Nachash from Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai, the Gileadite, from Rogelim,

מִשְׁכָּב וְסַפּוֹת וּכְלִי יוֹצֵר וְחִטִּים וּשְׂעֹרִים וְקֶמַח וְקָלִי וּפוֹל וַעֲדָשִׁים וְקָלִי׃   17:28

2Sam. 17:28   bed and basins and earthen vessel and wheat and barley and meal and parched corn and beans and lentils and roasted ears of grain

וּדְבַשׁ וְחֶמְאָה וְצֹאן וּשְׁפוֹת בָּקָר הִגִּישׁוּ לְדָוִד וְלָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ לֶאֱכוֹל כִּי אָמְרוּ הָעָם רָעֵב וְעָיֵף   17:29 וְצָמֵא בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

2Sam. 17:29   and honey and curd and sheep and cheeses of kine they brought to David and to the people who were with him to eat, for they said, “The people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Verses 17:27 to 17:29 present a rare spectacle in prose.  It happens occasionally in poetry but rarely in prose.  It turns out that the verb [they] brought, which should appear in v. 17:27 (or at the start of v. 17:28) actually is delayed until v. 17:29.  To  exhibit correct English, the translation of the three verses should be -- the word for brought (in red below) being moved from v. 29 back to v. 27:

    (27) And it happened when David was coming to Machanaim, that Shobi son of Nachash from Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai, the Gileadite, from Rogelim, brought  (28) bed and basins and earthen vessel and wheat and barley and meal and parched corn and beans and lentils and roasted ears of grain  (29) and honey and curd and sheep and cheeses of kine to David and to the people who were with him to eat, for they said, “The people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

 

 

      

 

 

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