
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
II - Chapter 16
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1David had passed a little beyond the summit when Ziba the servant of Mefiboshet came toward him with a pair of saddled asses carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred cakes of raisin, one hundred cakes of figs, and a jar of wine.
v'-da-VID a-VAR m'-AT me-ha-ROSH v'-hi-NEH tzi-VA na-ar m'-fi-BOSH-et lik-RA-to v'-tze-MED cha-mo-REEM cha-vo-SHEEM va-a-LE-hem ma-a-TA-yim le-CHEM u-m'-a Tzi-MU-KEEM u-m'-a KAY-itz v'-NE-vel ya-YIN
אוְדָוִ֗ד עָבַ֤ר מְעַט֙ מֵֽהָרֹ֔אשׁ וְהִנֵּ֥ה צִיבָ֛א נַ֥עַר מְפִיבֹ֖שֶׁת לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וְצֶ֨מֶד חֲמֹרִ֜ים חֲבֻשִׁ֗ים וַעֲלֵיהֶם֩ מָאתַ֨יִם לֶ֜חֶם וּמֵאָ֧ה צִמּוּקִ֛ים וּמֵ֥אָה קַ֖יִץ וְנֵ֥בֶל יָֽיִן׃
2The king asked Ziba, “What are you doing with these?” Ziba answered, “The asses are for Your Majesty's family to ride on, the bread and figs are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is to be drunk by any who are exhausted in the wilderness.”
vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh el tzi-VAH ma-E-leh LAKH, vai-YO-mer tzi-VAH ha-kha-MO-reem l'-veit ha-ME-lekh, lir-KOV (u-l'-hi-LA-khem) [v'-ha-l'-khem] v'-ha-ka-YITZ le-e-KHOL ha-ne-a-REEM, v'-ha-YA-yin lish-TOHT ha-ya-AYF ba-mid-BAR
בוַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־צִיבָ֖א מָה־אֵ֣לֶּה לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר צִ֠יבָ֠א הַחֲמוֹרִ֨ים לְבֵית־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לִרְכֹּ֗ב (ולהלחם) [וְהַלֶּ֤חֶם] וְהַקַּ֙יִץ֙ לֶאֱכ֣וֹל הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וְהַיַּ֕יִן לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת הַיָּעֵ֖ף בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
3“And where is your master's son?” the king asked. “He is staying in Yerushalayim,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he thinks that the House of Yisrael will now give him back the throne of his grandfather.”
va-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh v'-a-YAY ben a-do-NE-kha va-YO-mer tzee-VA el ha-ME-lekh hi-NAY yo-SHAYV bee-ru-sha-LA-yim KEE a-MAR ha-YOM ya-SHEE-vu LEE BAYT yis-ra-AYL AYT mam-l'-KHUT a-VEE
גוַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאַיֵּ֖ה בֶּן־אֲדֹנֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר צִיבָ֜א אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הִנֵּה֙ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בִּירֽוּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר הַיּ֗וֹם יָשִׁ֤יבוּ לִי֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת מַמְלְכ֥וּת אָבִֽי׃
16:3 He is staying in Yerushalayim
Yerushalayim is to be both the political and spiritual capital of Israel. It is to be the seat of the monarchy, from where the king and his officers will rule the nation. But it is also to be the location of the Holy Temple and the Supreme Court known as the Sanhedrin (סנהדרין). Thus, Yerushalayim serves a double function, which allows the People of Israel to be a free and holy nation in the Land of Israel. The prophet Yeshayahu (2:3) expresses this when he says, “For instruction shall come forth from Tzion, the word of Hashem from Yerushalayim.” Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook explained that the name Tzion refers to the political and national aspects of the city, while Yerushalayim refers to its spiritual aspects. Both are essential elements of Yerushalayim; together, they allow the Jewish people to fulfill its holy mission.
4The king said to Ziba, “Then all that belongs to Mefiboshet is now yours!” And Ziba replied, “I bow low. Your Majesty is most gracious to me.”
vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh l'-tzi-VA, hi-NEH LE-kha KOL a-SHER lim-fi-BOSH-et, vai-YO-mer tzi-VA, hish-ta-cha-VEE-tee em-tza-KHEYN b'-ei-NE-kha a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh
דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְצִבָ֔א הִנֵּ֣ה לְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִמְפִיבֹ֑שֶׁת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר צִיבָא֙ הִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֔יתִי אֶמְצָא־חֵ֥ן בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
5As King David was approaching Bahurim, a member of Shaul's clan—a man named Shim'i son of Gera—came out from there, hurling insults as he came.
u-VA ha-ME-lekh da-VID ad-ba-KHU-reem, v'-hi-NEH mi-SHAM, EESH yo-TZE mi-mish-PA-khat BEYT-sha-Ul, u-SHE-mo shi-MI ben-ge-RA, yo-TZE ya-TZO u-m'-ka-LEL
הוּבָ֛א הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד עַד־בַּחוּרִ֑ים וְהִנֵּ֣ה מִשָּׁם֩ אִ֨ישׁ יוֹצֵ֜א מִמִּשְׁפַּ֣חַת בֵּית־שָׁא֗וּל וּשְׁמוֹ֙ שִׁמְעִ֣י בֶן־גֵּרָ֔א יֹצֵ֥א יָצ֖וֹא וּמְקַלֵּֽל׃
6He threw stones at David and all King David's courtiers, while all the troops and all the warriors were at his right and his left.
vai-sa-KEL ba-a-va-NEEM et da-VID v'-et-KOL a-v'-DAY ha-m'-LEKH da-VID, v'-KOL ha-AHM v'-KOL ha-gi-BO-reem mi-mi-NO u-mi-s'-mo-LO
ווַיְסַקֵּ֤ל בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וְאֶת־כׇּל־עַבְדֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וְכׇל־הָעָם֙ וְכׇל־הַגִּבֹּרִ֔ים מִימִינ֖וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃
7And these are the insults that Shim'i hurled: “Get out, get out, you criminal, you villain!
v'-ko-a-MAR shi-mi b'-kal-LO, tzei tzei eesh ha-da-MEEM v'-eesh ha-bee-lee-YA-al
זוְכֹה־אָמַ֥ר שִׁמְעִ֖י בְּקַֽלְל֑וֹ צֵ֥א צֵ֛א אִ֥ישׁ הַדָּמִ֖ים וְאִ֥ישׁ הַבְּלִיָּֽעַל׃
8Hashem is paying you back for all your crimes against the family of Shaul, whose throne you seized. Hashem is handing over the throne to your son Avshalom; you are in trouble because you are a criminal!”
he-SHEEV a-LE-kha a-do-NAI KOL d'-MEI vayt-SHA-uL a-SHER ma-LAKH-ta TA-kha-TAV va-YI-ten a-do-NAI et ha-m'-LU-kha b'-YAD av-SHA-lom b'-NE-kha v'-hi-NE-kha b'-ra-A-te-KHA KEE eesh da-MEEM a-TA
חהֵשִׁיב֩ עָלֶ֨יךָ יְהֹוָ֜ה כֹּ֣ל ׀ דְּמֵ֣י בֵית־שָׁא֗וּל אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָלַ֙כְתָּ֙ תַּחְתָּ֔ו וַיִּתֵּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד אַבְשָׁל֣וֹם בְּנֶ֑ךָ וְהִנְּךָ֙ בְּרָ֣עָתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ דָּמִ֖ים אָֽתָּה׃
9Avishai son of Tzeruya said to the king, “Why let that dead dog abuse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”
vai-YO-mer a-vee-SHAI ben t'-ru-YA el ha-ME-lekh, la-MA y'-ka-LAYL ha-KE-lev ha-MAYT ha-ZEH et a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh, e-a-B'-ra-na v'-a-see-RAH et RO-sho. (S)
טוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֣מָּה יְקַלֵּ֞ל הַכֶּ֤לֶב הַמֵּת֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֖א וְאָסִ֥ירָה אֶת־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃
10But the king said, “What has this to do with you, you sons of Tzeruya? He is abusing [me] only because Hashem told him to abuse David; and who is to say, ‘Why did You do that?'”
vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh, mah-LEE v'-la-KHEM b'-NAY t'-zu-REE-yah, (ki) [ko] y'-ka-LAYL (v'-ki) [ki] a-do-NAI a-MAR LO, ka-LAYL et da-VEED, u-MI yo-MAR, ma-DO-a a-SEE-tah KEN. {SELAH}
יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַה־לִּ֥י וְלָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י צְרֻיָ֑ה (כי) [כֹּ֣ה] יְקַלֵּ֗ל (וכי) [כִּ֤י] יְהֹוָה֙ אָ֤מַר לוֹ֙ קַלֵּ֣ל אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד וּמִ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר מַדּ֖וּעַ עָשִׂ֥יתָה כֵּֽן׃
11David said further to Avishai and all the courtiers, “If my son, my own issue, seeks to kill me, how much more the Benjaminite! Let him go on hurling abuse, for Hashem has told him to.
vai-YO-mer da-VID el a-vee-SHAI v'-el kol a-va-DAV, hi-NEH ve-NEE a-SHER ya-TZA mi-ME-a-i me-va-KAYSH et naf-SHEE, v'-AF kee-a-TAH ben ha-ye-mi-NEE ha-NI-khu LO vee-ka-LEL, kee a-MAR-lo a-do-NAI
יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֤ד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁי֙ וְאֶל־כׇּל־עֲבָדָ֔יו הִנֵּ֥ה בְנִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥א מִמֵּעַ֖י מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֑י וְאַ֨ף כִּֽי־עַתָּ֜ה בֶּן־הַיְמִינִ֗י הַנִּ֤חוּ לוֹ֙ וִֽיקַלֵּ֔ל כִּ֥י אָמַר־ל֖וֹ יְהֹוָֽה׃
12Perhaps Hashem will look upon my punishment and recompense me for the abuse [Shim'i] has uttered today.”
u-LAI yir-EH a-do-NAI (b'-o-NEE) [b'-ay-NEE] v'-he-SHEEV a-do-NAI lee to-VAH ta-KHAT kil-LA-to ha-YOM ha-ZEH
יבאוּלַ֛י יִרְאֶ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה (בעוני) [בְּעֵינִ֑י] וְהֵשִׁ֨יב יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֥חַת קִלְלָת֖וֹ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
13David and his men continued on their way, while Shim'i walked alongside on the slope of the hill, insulting him as he walked, and throwing stones at him and flinging dirt.
vai-YAY-lekh da-VID va-a-NA-shav ba-da-REKH, v'-shi-MI ho-LEKH b'-tze-LA ha-HAR l'-u-MAT-o, ha-LOKH vai-ye-KA-lel vai-ye-SA-kel ba-a-va-NEEM l'-u-MAT-o, v'-ee-PAR b'-a-FAr.
יגוַיֵּ֧לֶךְ דָּוִ֛ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֖יו בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְשִׁמְעִ֡י הֹלֵךְ֩ בְּצֵ֨לַע הָהָ֜ר לְעֻמָּת֗וֹ הָלוֹךְ֙ וַיְקַלֵּ֔ל וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל בָּאֲבָנִים֙ לְעֻמָּת֔וֹ וְעִפַּ֖ר בֶּעָפָֽר׃
14The king and all who accompanied him arrived exhausted, and he rested there.
vai-YA-voh ha-ME-lekh v'-kol-ha-AM a-SHER i-TO a-YAY-feem va-yi-NA-fesh SHAM
ידוַיָּבֹ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכׇל־הָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֖וֹ עֲיֵפִ֑ים וַיִּנָּפֵ֖שׁ שָֽׁם׃
15Meanwhile Avshalom and all the people, the men of Yisrael, arrived in Yerushalayim, together with Achitofel.
v'-av-SHA-lom v'-kol-ha-aM, eesh yis-ra-AYL ba-U ye-ru-sha-LA-im, va-a-khee-TO-fel i-TO.
טווְאַבְשָׁל֗וֹם וְכׇל־הָעָם֙ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּ֖אוּ יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וַאֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל אִתּֽוֹ׃
16When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came before Avshalom, Hushai said to Avshalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
vai-HI ka-a-SHER-BA a-KHA-shai ha-ar-KI ray-EH da-VID el av-sha-LOM va-YO-mer a-KHA-shai el av-sha-LOM ye-KHI ha-ME-lekh ye-KHI ha-ME-lekh
טזוַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּ֞א חוּשַׁ֧י הָאַרְכִּ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר חוּשַׁי֙ אֶל־אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם יְחִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
17But Avshalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?”
vai-YO-mer av-sha-LOM el-KHU-shai, ZEH khas-DE-kha et-re-E-kha, la-MAH lo-ha-LAKH-ta et-re-E-kha
יזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־חוּשַׁ֔י זֶ֥ה חַסְדְּךָ֖ אֶת־רֵעֶ֑ךָ לָ֥מָּה לֹא־הָלַ֖כְתָּ אֶת־רֵעֶֽךָ׃
18“Not at all!” Hushai replied. “I am for the one whom Hashem and this people and all the men of Yisrael have chosen, and I will stay with him.
vai-YO-mer khu-SHAI el av-sha-LOM, LO kee a-SHER ba-KHAR a-do-NAI v'-ha-AHM ha-ZEH v'-kol EESH yis-ra-AYL (LO) [LO] e-HE-yeh v'-i-TO e-SHEV
יחוַיֹּ֣אמֶר חוּשַׁי֮ אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹם֒ לֹ֕א כִּי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּחַ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה וְהָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה וְכׇל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (לא) [ל֥וֹ] אֶהְיֶ֖ה וְאִתּ֥וֹ אֵשֵֽׁב׃
19Furthermore, whom should I serve, if not David's son? As I was in your father's service, so I will be in yours.”
v'-ha-she-NEET l'-MI a-NEE e-a-VOD ha-LO l'-fin-AY b'-NO ka-a-SHER a-va-D'-TEE l'-fin-AY a-vee-KHA KEN e-HE-yeh l'-fa-NE-kha.
יטוְהַשֵּׁנִ֗ית לְמִי֙ אֲנִ֣י אֶעֱבֹ֔ד הֲל֖וֹא לִפְנֵ֣י בְנ֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָבַ֙דְתִּי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ כֵּ֖ן אֶהְיֶ֥ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
20Avshalom then said to Achitofel, “What do you advise us to do?”
vai-YO-mer av-SHA-lom el a-khi-TO-fel, ha-VU la-KHEM ay-TZAH, ma na-a-SEH
כוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם אֶל־אֲחִיתֹ֑פֶל הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם עֵצָ֖ה מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃
21And Achitofel said to Avshalom, “Have intercourse with your father's concubines, whom he left to mind the palace; and when all Yisrael hears that you have dared the wrath of your father, all who support you will be encouraged.”
vai-YO-mer a-khi-TO-fel el av-SHA-lom, BO el pi-LAG-shay a-vee-KHA, a-SHER hi-NEE-akh li-sh'-MOR ha-BA-yit, va-sha-MA kol yis-ra-AYL, KEE-niv-A-shta et a-vee-KHA, v'-kha-Z'-KU y'-DAY kol a-SHER i-TAKH
כאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲחִיתֹ֙פֶל֙ אֶל־אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם בּ֚וֹא אֶל־פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנִּ֖יחַ לִשְׁמ֣וֹר הַבָּ֑יִת וְשָׁמַ֤ע כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־נִבְאַ֣שְׁתָּ אֶת־אָבִ֔יךָ וְחָ֣זְק֔וּ יְדֵ֖י כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתָּֽךְ׃
22So they pitched a tent for Avshalom on the roof, and Avshalom lay with his father's concubines with the full knowledge of all Yisrael.—
vai-YA-tu l'-av-SHA-lom ha-O-hel al ha-GAG, vai-ya-Vo av-SHA-lom el pi-LAG-shay a-vee-VU l'-ay-NAY kol yis-ra-AYL
כבוַיַּטּ֧וּ לְאַבְשָׁל֛וֹם הָאֹ֖הֶל עַל־הַגָּ֑ג וַיָּבֹ֤א אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־פִּֽלַגְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יו לְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
23In those days, the advice which Achitofel gave was accepted like an oracle sought from Hashem; that is how all the advice of Achitofel was esteemed both by David and by Avshalom.
va-a-TZAT a-khee-TO-fel a-SHER ya-ATZ ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM ka-a-SHER yish-AL [EESH] bi-d'-VAR ha-e-lo-HEEM, KEN kol-a-TZAT a-khee-TO-fel gam-l'-da-VID gam-l'-av-SHA-lom. {SELAH}
כגוַעֲצַ֣ת אֲחִיתֹ֗פֶל אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָעַץ֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁאַל־[אִ֖ישׁ] בִּדְבַ֣ר הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כֵּ֚ן כׇּל־עֲצַ֣ת אֲחִיתֹ֔פֶל גַּם־לְדָוִ֖ד גַּ֥ם לְאַבְשָׁלֹֽם׃