TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
II - Chapter 11
Translation and Transliteration of
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1At the turn of the year, the season when kings go out [to battle], David sent Yoav with his officers and all Yisrael with him, and they devastated Ammon and besieged Rabbah; David remained in Yerushalayim.
vai-HI l'-t'-shu-VAT ha-sha-NAH l'-AYT tze-AT ha-me-la-KHEEM, va-yish-LAKH da-VID et yo-AV v'-et a-va-DAV i-MO, v'-et-KOL yis-ra-AYL, va-yash-KHI-tu et b'-NAY a-MON, va-ya-tzu-ru al ra-BAH, v'-da-VID yo-SHEV bi-y'-ru-sha-LA-im. (S)
אוַיְהִי֩ לִתְשׁוּבַ֨ת הַשָּׁנָ֜ה לְעֵ֣ת ׀ צֵ֣את הַמְּלָאכִ֗ים וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח דָּוִ֡ד אֶת־יוֹאָב֩ וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֨יו עִמּ֜וֹ וְאֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיַּשְׁחִ֙תוּ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן וַיָּצֻ֖רוּ עַל־רַבָּ֑ה וְדָוִ֖ד יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
2Late one afternoon, David rose from his couch and strolled on the roof of the royal palace; and from the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
vai-HI, l'-AYT ha-E-retz, va-YA-kom da-VID me-aL mish-KA-vo, va-yit-ha-LEKH al-gag bayt-ha-ME-lekh, va-YAR ish-SHA ro-KHE-tzet me-aL ha-GAG, v'-ha-ish-SHA to-VAT mar-EH me-OD.
בוַיְהִ֣י ׀ לְעֵ֣ת הָעֶ֗רֶב וַיָּ֨קׇם דָּוִ֜ד מֵעַ֤ל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ וַיִּתְהַלֵּךְ֙ עַל־גַּ֣ג בֵּית־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אִשָּׁ֛ה רֹחֶ֖צֶת מֵעַ֣ל הַגָּ֑ג וְהָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃
3and the king sent someone to make inquiries about the woman. He reported, “She is Batsheva daughter of Eliam [and] wife of Uriya the Hittite.”
vai-YISH-lakh da-VID vai-YID-rosh la-i-SHA vai-YO-mer ha-LO-zot bat SHE-va bat e-li-AM e-SHET u-ri-YA ha-KHI-tee
גוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּדְרֹ֖שׁ לָאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲלוֹא־זֹאת֙ בַּת־שֶׁ֣בַע בַּת־אֱלִיעָ֔ם אֵ֖שֶׁת אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַֽחִתִּֽי׃
4David sent messengers to fetch her; she came to him and he lay with her—she had just purified herself after her period—and she went back home.
va-yish-LAKH da-VID mal-a-KHEEM va-yi-ka-KHE-ha va-ta-VO ay-LAV va-yish-KAV i-MAH v'-HEE mit-ka-DE-shet mi-tum-a-TAH va-TA-shov el bay-TAH
דוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ דָּוִ֨ד מַלְאָכִ֜ים וַיִּקָּחֶ֗הָ וַתָּב֤וֹא אֵלָיו֙ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עִמָּ֔הּ וְהִ֥יא מִתְקַדֶּ֖שֶׁת מִטֻּמְאָתָ֑הּ וַתָּ֖שׇׁב אֶל־בֵּיתָֽהּ׃
11:4 David sent messengers to fetch her
The incident of David and Batsheva is quite difficult to understand. How could such a righteous king seemingly succumb to such behavior? The Sages of the Talmud (Shabbat 56a) teach that while his actions were wrong, technically speaking, King David did not commit adultery. The soldiers of ancient Israel’s army were accustomed to grant their wives a conditional bill of divorce prior to going to battle, so that if they were captured or went missing, their wives could remarry. Therefore, at the time of the sin, Batsheva was technically not married. Yet, despite this technicality, the prophet Natan tells King David he has sinned, and King David indeed repents. We are all expected to rise above what may be technically permitted, and live completely moral lives.
5The woman conceived, and she sent word to David, “I am pregnant.”
va-ta-HAR ha-i-SHAH va-tish-LAKH va-ta-GED le-da-VID va-to-MER ha-RA a-NO-khi
הוַתַּ֖הַר הָאִשָּׁ֑ה וַתִּשְׁלַח֙ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֔ד וַתֹּ֖אמֶר הָרָ֥ה אָנֹֽכִי׃
6Thereupon David sent a message to Yoav, “Send Uriya the Hittite to me”; and Yoav sent Uriya to David.
vai-YISH-lakh da-VID el yo-AV, sh'-LAKH e-LAI et u-ri-YAH ha-KHI-tee, vai-YISH-lakh yo-AV et u-ri-YAH el da-VID
ווַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח דָּוִד֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב שְׁלַ֣ח אֵלַ֔י אֶת־אוּרִיָּ֖ה הַחִתִּ֑י וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־אוּרִיָּ֖ה אֶל־דָּוִֽד׃
7When Uriya came to him, David asked him how Yoav and the troops were faring and how the war was going.
vai-YA-vo u-ri-YA e-LA-yav, vai-YISH-al da-VID lish-LOM yo-AV, v'-lish-LOM ha-AHM, v'-lish-LOM ha-mil-KHA-mah
זוַיָּבֹ֥א אוּרִיָּ֖ה אֵלָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל דָּוִ֗ד לִשְׁל֤וֹם יוֹאָב֙ וְלִשְׁל֣וֹם הָעָ֔ם וְלִשְׁל֖וֹם הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
8Then David said to Uriya, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” When Uriya left the royal palace, a present from the king followed him.
vai-YO-mer da-VID l'-u-ri-YAH, RAYD l'-veet-KHA u-r'-KHATZ rag-LE-kha, vai-YAY-tzay u-ri-YAH mi-beet ha-ME-lekh, va-TAY-tzay a-kha-RAV mas-at ha-ME-lekh
חוַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לְא֣וּרִיָּ֔ה רֵ֥ד לְבֵיתְךָ֖ וּרְחַ֣ץ רַגְלֶ֑יךָ וַיֵּצֵ֤א אֽוּרִיָּה֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתֵּצֵ֥א אַחֲרָ֖יו מַשְׂאַ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
9But Uriya slept at the entrance of the royal palace, along with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
vai-YISH-kav u-ri-YAH pe-TAKH bayt ha-ME-lekh, AYT kol a-v'-DAY a-do-NAV, v'-LO ya-RAD el bay-TO
טוַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב אוּרִיָּ֗ה פֶּ֚תַח בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־עַבְדֵ֣י אֲדֹנָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יָרַ֖ד אֶל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃
10When David was told that Uriya had not gone down to his house, he said to Uriya, “You just came from a journey; why didn't you go down to your house?”
vai-YA-gi-DO l'-da-VID lay-MOR: lo ya-RAD u-ri-YAH el b'-TO, vai-YO-mer da-VID el u-ri-YAH: ha-LO mi-DE-rekh a-TAH va-A, ma-DU-a lo ya-RAD-ta el b'-TE-kha
יוַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לְדָוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹא־יָרַ֥ד אוּרִיָּ֖ה אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־אוּרִיָּ֗ה הֲל֤וֹא מִדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אַתָּ֣ה בָ֔א מַדּ֖וּעַ לֹא־יָרַ֥דְתָּ אֶל־בֵּיתֶֽךָ׃
11Uriya answered David, “The Aron and Yisrael and Yehuda are located at Succoth, and my master Yoav and Your Majesty's men are camped in the open; how can I go home and eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As you live, by your very life, I will not do this!”
vai-YO-mer u-ri-YA el da-VID ha-a-RON v'-yis-ra-AYL v'-yu-DA yo-SHE-vim ba-su-KOT va-a-do-NEE yo-AV v'-av-DAY a-do-NEE al p'-NAY ha-sa-DEH kho-NEEM va-a-NEE a-VO el b'-TEE le-e-KHOL v'-lish-TO v'-lish-KAV im i-sh'-TEE, kha-YE-kha v'-khe NA-f'-SHA-kha, im e-a-SEH et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH.
יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אוּרִיָּ֜ה אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד הָ֠אָר֠וֹן וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל וִיהוּדָ֜ה יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת וַאדֹנִ֨י יוֹאָ֜ב וְעַבְדֵ֤י אֲדֹנִי֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֤י הַשָּׂדֶה֙ חֹנִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֞י אָב֧וֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִ֛י לֶאֱכֹ֥ל וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת וְלִשְׁכַּ֣ב עִם־אִשְׁתִּ֑י חַיֶּ֙ךָ֙ וְחֵ֣י נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ אִֽם־אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
12David said to Uriya, “Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will send you off.” So Uriya remained in Yerushalayim that day. The next day,
vai-YO-mer da-VID el u-ri-YAH shev BA-zeh gam ha-YOM u-ma-KHAR a-sha-l'-KHE-kha, vai-YAY-shav u-ri-YAH bi-y'-ru-sha-LA-im ba-YOM ha-HU u-mi-mo-KHO-rat
יבוַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־אוּרִיָּ֗ה שֵׁ֥ב בָּזֶ֛ה גַּם־הַיּ֖וֹם וּמָחָ֣ר אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב אוּרִיָּ֧ה בִירוּשָׁלַ֛͏ִם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וּמִֽמׇּחֳרָֽת׃
13David summoned him, and he ate and drank with him until he got him drunk; but in the evening, [Uriya] went out to sleep in the same place, with his lord's officers; he did not go down to his home.
vai-yik-RA-lo da-VID va-yo-KHAL l'-fa-NAV va-yesh-TE va-y'-sha-k'-RE-hu va-ye-TZE va-a-REV lish-KAV b'-mish-KA-vo im a-v'-DAY a-do-NAV v'-el bai-TO lo ya-RAD
יגוַיִּקְרָא־ל֣וֹ דָוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֧אכַל לְפָנָ֛יו וַיֵּ֖שְׁתְּ וַֽיְשַׁכְּרֵ֑הוּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א בָעֶ֗רֶב לִשְׁכַּ֤ב בְּמִשְׁכָּבוֹ֙ עִם־עַבְדֵ֣י אֲדֹנָ֔יו וְאֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ לֹ֥א יָרָֽד׃
14In the morning, David wrote a letter to Yoav, which he sent with Uriya.
vai-HI va-BO-ker va-yik-TOV da-VID SE-fer el yo-AV va-yish-LAKH b'-yad u-ri-YAH
ידוַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב דָּוִ֛ד סֵ֖פֶר אֶל־יוֹאָ֑ב וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח בְּיַ֥ד אוּרִיָּֽה׃
15He wrote in the letter as follows: “Place Uriya in the front line where the fighting is fiercest; then fall back so that he may be killed.”
vai-YIKH-tov ba-SE-fer lay-MOR: ha-VO et u-ri-YAH el-MUL pe-NAY ha-mil-KHA-mah ha-cha-ZA-kah, v'-sha-TEM may-a-cha-RAV, v'-ni-KAH va-MET. {SE}
טווַיִּכְתֹּ֥ב בַּסֵּ֖פֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר הָב֣וּ אֶת־אוּרִיָּ֗ה אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ הַחֲזָקָ֔ה וְשַׁבְתֶּ֥ם מֵאַחֲרָ֖יו וְנִכָּ֥ה וָמֵֽת׃
16So when Yoav was besieging the city, he stationed Uriya at the point where he knew that there were able warriors.
vai-HI bish-MOR yo-AV el ha-IYR va-YI-ten et u-ri-YAH el ha-ma-KOM a-SHER ya-DA, KI an-shay-KHA-YIL sham
טזוַיְהִ֕י בִּשְׁמ֥וֹר יוֹאָ֖ב אֶל־הָעִ֑יר וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־א֣וּרִיָּ֔ה אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֖יִל שָֽׁם׃
17The men of the city sallied out and attacked Yoav, and some of David's officers among the troops fell; Uriya the Hittite was among those who died.
vai-YAY-tz'-U an-SHAY ha-IR va-yi-la-KHA-mu et yo-AV va-yi-POL min ha-AHM may-av-DAY da-VID va-YA-mot GAM u-ri-YA ha-KHI-tee
יזוַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הָעִיר֙ וַיִּלָּֽחֲמ֣וּ אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּפֹּ֥ל מִן־הָעָ֖ם מֵעַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַיָּ֕מׇת גַּ֖ם אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַחִתִּֽי׃
18Yoav sent a full report of the battle to David.
vai-YI-sh'-LAKH yo-AV, vai-YA-ged l'-da-VID et-KOL di-v'-RAY ha-mil-KHA-MAH
יחוַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח יוֹאָ֑ב וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֔ד אֶת־כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
19He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish reporting to the king all about the battle,
va-Y'-tsav et ha-mal-akh lay-MOR: k'-kha-lo-t'-KHA et kol di-v'-RAY ha-mil-kha-MAH l'-da-BAYR el ha-ME-lekh
יטוַיְצַ֥ו אֶת־הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּכַלּוֹתְךָ֗ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה לְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
20the king may get angry and say to you, ‘Why did you come so close to the city to attack it? Didn't you know that they would shoot from the wall?
v'-ha-YA, im ta-a-LEH kha-MAT ha-ME-lekh, va-a-MAR le-KHA, ma-DO-a ni-GASH-TEM el ha-IYR l'-hi-LA-khem, ha-LO ya-da-TEM AYT a-SHER yo-ROO may-AL ha-KHO-mah
כוְהָיָ֗ה אִֽם־תַּעֲלֶה֙ חֲמַ֣ת הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאָמַ֣ר לְךָ֔ מַדּ֛וּעַ נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם אֶל־הָעִ֖יר לְהִלָּחֵ֑ם הֲל֣וֹא יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יֹר֖וּ מֵעַ֥ל הַחוֹמָֽה׃
21Who struck down Avimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall at Thebez, from which he died? Why did you come so close to the wall?' Then say: ‘Your servant Uriya the Hittite was among those killed.'”
mi-hi-KA et a-vee-ME-lekh ben y'-ru-BE-shet ha-LO i-SHA hi-sh'-LI-kha a-LAV pe-LAKH re-KHEV me-al ha-KHO-ma va-YA-mat b'-TE-vets, la-MAH ni-GASH-TEM el ha-KHO-ma, va-a-MAR-ta, GAM av-d'-KHA u-ri-YA ha-KHI-tee mayt
כאמִֽי־הִכָּ֞ה אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֣לֶךְ בֶּן־יְרֻבֶּ֗שֶׁת הֲלֽוֹא־אִשָּׁ֡ה הִשְׁלִ֣יכָה עָלָיו֩ פֶּ֨לַח רֶ֜כֶב מֵעַ֤ל הַחוֹמָה֙ וַיָּ֣מׇת בְּתֵבֵ֔ץ לָ֥מָּה נִגַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם אֶל־הַחוֹמָ֑ה וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ גַּ֗ם עַבְדְּךָ֛ אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַחִתִּ֖י מֵֽת׃
22The messenger set out; he came and told David all that Yoav had sent him to say.
vai-YAY-lekh ha-mal-ACH va-ya-VO va-ya-GAYD le-da-VID AYT kol a-SHER she-LA-kho yo-AV
כבוַיֵּ֖לֶךְ הַמַּלְאָ֑ךְ וַיָּבֹא֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֔ד אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁלָח֖וֹ יוֹאָֽב׃
23The messenger said to David, “First the men prevailed against us and sallied out against us into the open; then we drove them back up to the entrance to the gate.
vai-YO-mer ha-mal-ACH el da-VID, kee-ga-VRU a-LE-nu ha-a-na-SHEEM, va-yei-tze-U e-lei-NU ha-sa-DEH, va-ni-h'-YEH a-LE-hem ad pe-TAKH ha-sha-AR
כגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד כִּֽי־גָבְר֤וּ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּצְא֥וּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַנִּהְיֶ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עַד־פֶּ֥תַח הַשָּֽׁעַר׃
24But the archers shot at your men from the wall and some of Your Majesty's men fell; your servant Uriya the Hittite also fell.”
vai-YO-ru ha-mo-REEM el a-va-DE-kha may-AL ha-KHO-ma, va-ya-MU-tu may-a-va-DEY ha-ME-lekh, v'-GAM a-va-DE-kha u-ri-YA ha-KHI-tee MAYT.
כדוַיֹּר֨אוּ הַמּוֹרִ֤אים אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵעַ֣ל הַחוֹמָ֔ה וַיָּמ֖וּתוּ מֵעַבְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְגַ֗ם עַבְדְּךָ֛ אוּרִיָּ֥ה הַחִתִּ֖י מֵֽת׃
25Whereupon David said to the messenger, “Give Yoav this message: ‘Do not be distressed about the matter. The sword always takes its toll. Press your attack on the city and destroy it!' Encourage him!”
vai-YO-mer da-VID el ha-mal-AKH, ko-to-MAR el yo-AV: al ya-RA b'-ay-NE-kha et ha-DA-var ha-ZEH, ke-KHO v'-ka-ZEH to-KHAL he-KHA-REV, ha-KHA-zek mil-kham-TE-kha el ha-IYR v'-ho-r'-SAH v'-kha-Z'-KE-hu
כהוַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־הַמַּלְאָ֗ךְ כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֤ר אֶל־יוֹאָב֙ אַל־יֵרַ֤ע בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־כָזֹ֥ה וְכָזֶ֖ה תֹּאכַ֣ל הֶחָ֑רֶב הַחֲזֵ֨ק מִלְחַמְתְּךָ֧ אֶל־הָעִ֛יר וְהׇרְסָ֖הּ וְחַזְּקֵֽהוּ׃
26When Uriya's wife heard that her husband Uriya was dead, she lamented over her husband.
va-tish-MA e-SHET u-ri-YAH ki-MET u-ri-YAH i-SHAH va-tis-POD al ba-a-LAH
כווַתִּשְׁמַע֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת אוּרִיָּ֔ה כִּי־מֵ֖ת אוּרִיָּ֣ה אִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּסְפֹּ֖ד עַל־בַּעְלָֽהּ׃
27After the period of mourning was over, David sent and had her brought into his palace; she became his wife and she bore him a son.
vai-ya-a-VOR ha-E-VEL va-yish-LAKH da-VID va-ya-a-SFAH el bai-TO va-TE-hee LO l'-i-SHAH va-TE-led LO ven va-YE-ra ha-DA-var a-SHER a-SA da-VID b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI.
כזוַיַּעֲבֹ֣ר הָאֵ֗בֶל וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח דָּוִ֜ד וַיַּאַסְפָ֤הּ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ֙ וַתְּהִי־ל֣וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד ל֖וֹ בֵּ֑ן וַיֵּ֧רַע הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה דָוִ֖ד בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃