
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
II - Chapter 20
Translation and Transliteration of
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1A scoundrel named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He sounded the shofar and proclaimed: “We have no portion in David, No share in Yishai's son! Every man to his tent, O Yisrael!”
v'-SHAM nik-RA EESH b'-li-YA-al u-sh'-MO SHE-va ben bikh-REE EESH y'-mee-NEE va-yit-KA ba-sho-FAR va-YO-mer ayn LA-nu KHAY-lek b'-da-VID v'-LO na-kha-lah LA-nu b'-ven yi-SHAI EESH l'-o-ha-LAV yis-ra-AYL
אוְשָׁ֨ם נִקְרָ֜א אִ֣ישׁ בְּלִיַּ֗עַל וּשְׁמ֛וֹ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִ֑י וַיִּתְקַ֣ע בַּשֹּׁפָ֗ר וַ֠יֹּ֠אמֶר אֵֽין־לָ֨נוּ חֵ֜לֶק בְּדָוִ֗ד וְלֹ֤א נַחֲלָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ בְּבֶן־יִשַׁ֔י אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֖יו יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
20:1 He sounded the horn

Rabbi Shlomo Goren blows the shofar at the Western Wall after its recapture in 1967
The ram’s horn, shofar (שופר), has a critical place in Judaism. Hashem commands the Jewish people to listen to the sounds of the shofar on Rosh Hashana, and there are times that it is to be blown in the Beit Hamikdash, such as on public fasts. It is also to be sounded at the end of the yovel, the Jubilee year. But in addition to these spiritual functions, it also has military usages. The shofar serves as the method of assembling soldiers and of sounding a warning call. The common feature is that in all these cases, the shofar is sounded to get everyone’s attention to fulfill their particular mission. It serves to awaken those who are slumbering, either physically or spiritually.
2All the men of Yisrael left David and followed Sheba son of Bichri; but the men of Yehuda accompanied their king from the Yarden to Yerushalayim.
vai-YA-al kol-ish yis-ra-AYL me-a-kha-RAY da-VEED a-kha-RAY SHE-va ben bi-K'-ree, v'-ish y'-hu-DAH da-VE-koo b'-mal-KAM min ha-ya-r'-DEN v'-ad-y'-ru-sha-LA-im.
בוַיַּ֜עַל כׇּל־אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֣בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֑י וְאִ֤ישׁ יְהוּדָה֙ דָּבְק֣וּ בְמַלְכָּ֔ם מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וְעַד־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
3David went to his palace in Yerushalayim, and the king took the ten concubines he had left to mind the palace and put them in a guarded place; he provided for them, but he did not cohabit with them. They remained in seclusion until the day they died, in living widowhood.
vai-YA-vo da-VID el b'-YI-to ye-ru-sha-LA-im, va-yi-KAKH ha-ME-lekh et e-SE-ret na-SHEEM pi-la-GA-SHEEM a-SHER hi-NEE-akh lish-MOR ha-BA-yit, va-yi-t'-NEM b'-YIT mish-ME-ret, va-y'-khal-k'-LEM, va-a-LE-hem lo-VA, va-ti-h'-YE-nah t'-zu-ROt ad YOM mu-TAN al-m'-NU-t kha-YUT. (s)
גוַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֣ד אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ֮ יְרוּשָׁלַ֒͏ִם֒ וַיִּקַּ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶשֶׂר־נָשִׁ֣ים ׀ פִּלַגְשִׁ֡ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּ֩יחַ֩ לִשְׁמֹ֨ר הַבַּ֜יִת וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֤ם בֵּית־מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙ וַֽיְכַלְכְּלֵ֔ם וַאֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לֹא־בָ֑א וַתִּהְיֶ֧ינָה צְרֻר֛וֹת עַד־י֥וֹם מֻתָ֖ן אַלְמְנ֥וּת חַיּֽוּת׃
4The king said to Amasa, “Call up the men of Yehuda to my standard, and report here three days from now.”
vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh el a-ma-SAH ha-Z'-EK li et eesh y'-hu-DAH sh'-LO-shet ya-MEEM, v'-a-TAH PO a-MOD
דוַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־עֲמָשָׂ֔א הַזְעֶק־לִ֥י אֶת־אִישׁ־יְהוּדָ֖ה שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וְאַתָּ֖ה פֹּ֥ה עֲמֹֽד׃
5Amasa went to call up Yehuda, but he took longer than the time set for him.
vai-YAY-lekh a-ma-SAH l'-haz-EEK et y'-hu-DAH (vai-YAY-khar) [va-YO-kher] min ha-mo-ED a-SHER ya-a-DO.
הוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ עֲמָשָׂ֖א לְהַזְעִ֣יק אֶת־יְהוּדָ֑ה (וייחר) [וַיּ֕וֹחֶר] מִן־הַמּוֹעֵ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָדֽוֹ׃
6And David said to Avishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will cause us more trouble than Avshalom. So take your lord's servants and pursue him, before he finds fortified towns and eludes us.”
vai-YO-mer da-VID el a-vee-SHAI, a-TAH ye-RA la-NU she-VA ben bikh-REE min av-SHA-lom, a-TAH ka-KHET av-DAY a-do-NE-kha u-re-DOF a-cha-RAV, pen ma-TZA lo a-REEM b'-tzu-ROT v'-hi-TZIL e-NE-nu
ווַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־אֲבִישַׁ֔י עַתָּ֗ה יֵ֧רַֽע לָ֛נוּ שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֖י מִן־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם אַ֠תָּ֠ה קַ֞ח אֶת־עַבְדֵ֤י אֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְדֹ֣ף אַחֲרָ֔יו פֶּן־מָ֥צָא ל֛וֹ עָרִ֥ים בְּצֻר֖וֹת וְהִצִּ֥יל עֵינֵֽנוּ׃
7Yoav's men, the Cherethites and Pelethites, and all the warriors, marched out behind him. They left Yerushalayim in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.
vai-YETZ-u a-kha-RAV an-SHAY yo-AV v'-ha-ke-RE-tee v'-ha-pe-LE-tee v'-kol ha-gi-BO-reem vai-YETZ-u mi-y'-ru-sha-LA-im lir-DOF a-kha-RAY she-VA ben bik-REE
זוַיֵּצְא֤וּ אַחֲרָיו֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַכְּרֵתִ֥י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֖י וְכׇל־הַגִּבֹּרִ֑ים וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃
8They were near the great stone in Givon when Amasa appeared before them. Yoav was wearing his military dress, with his sword girded over it and fastened around his waist in its sheath; and, as he stepped forward, it fell out.
HEM im ha-E-ven ha-g'-DO-lah a-SHER b'-gi-VON, va-a-MA-sa ba-lif-NE-hem, v'-yo-AV cha-GUR mi-DO l'-BU-sho, v'-a-LAV cha-GOR che-REV m'-tzu-ME-det al-mot-NAV b'-ta-a-RAH, v'-HU ya-TZA va-TI-pol. (S)
חהֵ֗ם עִם־הָאֶ֤בֶן הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּגִבְע֔וֹן וַעֲמָשָׂ֖א בָּ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְיוֹאָ֞ב חָג֣וּר ׀ מִדּ֣וֹ לְבֻשׁ֗וֹ וְעָלָ֞ו חֲג֥וֹר חֶ֙רֶב֙ מְצֻמֶּ֤דֶת עַל־מׇתְנָיו֙ בְּתַעְרָ֔הּ וְה֥וּא יָצָ֖א וַתִּפֹּֽל׃
9Yoav said to Amasa, “How are you, brother?” and with his right hand Yoav took hold of Amasa's beard as if to kiss him.
vai-YO-mer yo-AV la-a-ma-SAH, ha-SHA-lom a-TAH a-KHEE? va-TOKH-ez yad y'-MEEN yo-AV biz-KAN a-ma-SAH lin-SHOK-lo
טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַעֲמָשָׂ֔א הֲשָׁל֥וֹם אַתָּ֖ה אָחִ֑י וַתֹּ֜חֶז יַד־יְמִ֥ין יוֹאָ֛ב בִּזְקַ֥ן עֲמָשָׂ֖א לִנְשׇׁק־לֽוֹ׃
10Amasa was not on his guard against the sword in Yoav's [left] hand, and [Yoav] drove it into his belly so that his entrails poured out on the ground and he died; he did not need to strike him a second time. Yoav and his brother Avishai then set off in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri,
va-a-ma-SA lo nish-MAR ba-KHE-rev a-SHER b'-yad yo-AV va-ya-KAY-hu va-HA el ha-KHO-mesh va-yish-POKH may-AV ar-TZAH v'-lo sha-NAH lo va-ya-MOT va-yo-AV va-a-vee-SHA-yiv ra-DAF a-cha-RAY she-VA ben bikh-REE
יוַעֲמָשָׂ֨א לֹא־נִשְׁמַ֜ר בַּחֶ֣רֶב ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־יוֹאָ֗ב וַיַּכֵּ֩הוּ֩ בָ֨הּ אֶל־הַחֹ֜מֶשׁ וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ מֵעָ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וְלֹא־שָׁ֥נָה ל֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְיוֹאָב֙ וַאֲבִישַׁ֣י אָחִ֔יו רָדַ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃
11while one of Yoav's henchmen stood by the corpse and called out, “Whoever favors Yoav, and whoever is on David's side, follow Yoav!”
v'-ish a-MAD a-LAV mi-na-a-RAY yo-AV va-YO-mer, mee a-SHER kha-FAYTS b'-yo-AV u-mee a-SHER l'-da-VID a-kha-RAY yo-AV
יאוְאִישׁ֙ עָמַ֣ד עָלָ֔יו מִֽנַּעֲרֵ֖י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר חָפֵ֧ץ בְּיוֹאָ֛ב וּמִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־לְדָוִ֖ד אַחֲרֵ֥י יוֹאָֽב׃
12Amasa lay in the middle of the road, drenched in his blood; and the man saw that everyone stopped. And when he saw that all the people were stopping, he dragged Amasa from the road into the field and covered him with a garment.
va-a-ma-SA mit-GO-lel ba-DAM b'-to-KH ha-m'-si-LAH va-YAR ha-ISH ki-a-MAD kol-ha-AHM va-ya-SAYV et-a-ma-SA min ha-m'-si-LAH ha-sa-DEH va-ya-SHLEKH a-LAV BE-ged ka-a-SHER ra-AH kol-ha-BA a-LAV v'-a-MAHD
יבוַעֲמָשָׂ֛א מִתְגֹּלֵ֥ל בַּדָּ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הַֽמְסִלָּ֑ה וַיַּ֨רְא הָאִ֜ישׁ כִּֽי־עָמַ֣ד כׇּל־הָעָ֗ם וַיַּסֵּב֩ אֶת־עֲמָשָׂ֨א מִן־הַֽמְסִלָּ֤ה הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ עָלָיו֙ בֶּ֔גֶד כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ה כׇּל־הַבָּ֥א עָלָ֖יו וְעָמָֽד׃
13Once he was removed from the road, everybody continued to follow Yoav in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.
ka-a-SHER ho-GAH min ha-m'-si-LAH a-VAHR kol EESH a-kha-RAY yo-AV lir-DOf a-kha-RAY she-VA ben bik-REE
יגכַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֹגָ֖ה מִן־הַֽמְסִלָּ֑ה עָבַ֤ר כׇּל־אִישׁ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב לִרְדֹּ֕ף אַחֲרֵ֖י שֶׁ֥בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִֽי׃
14[Sheba] had passed through all the tribes of Yisrael up to Abel of Beth-maacah; and all the B'erites assembled and followed him inside.
vai-ya-a-VOR b'-KOL shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL a-VE-lah u-VEIT ma-a-KAH v'-KOL ha-BE-reem (vai-yi-KA-ha-LOO) [vai-YA-vo-U] af-a-kha-RAV
ידוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר בְּכׇל־שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָבֵ֛לָה וּבֵ֥ית מַעֲכָ֖ה וְכׇל־הַבֵּרִ֑ים (ויקלהו) [וַיִּקָּ֣הֲל֔וּ] וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַף־אַחֲרָֽיו׃
15[Yoav's men] came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah; they threw up a siegemound against the city and it stood against the rampart. All the troops with Yoav were engaged in battering the wall,
va-ya-VO va-ya-TZU-ru a-LAV b'-a-VE-la, BEYT ha-ma-a-KHA, va-yish-PE-khu SO-le-LAH el ha-IYR, va-ta-a-MOD ba-KHEL, v'-kol ha-AHM a-SHER et yo-AV mash-KHEE-tam l'-ha-FEEL ha-KHO-ma
טווַיָּבֹ֜אוּ וַיָּצֻ֣רוּ עָלָ֗יו בְּאָבֵ֙לָה֙ בֵּ֣ית הַֽמַּעֲכָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֤וּ סֹֽלְלָה֙ אֶל־הָעִ֔יר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד בַּחֵ֑ל וְכׇל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶת־יוֹאָ֔ב מַשְׁחִיתִ֖ם לְהַפִּ֥יל הַחוֹמָֽה׃
16when a clever woman shouted from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Yoav to come over here so I can talk to him.”
va-tik-RA ish-KHA kha-ka-MAH min ha-EER, shim-U shim-U im-ru-NA el yo-AV, k'-RAV ad he-NAH va-a-da-b'-RAH e-LE-kha.
טזוַתִּקְרָ֛א אִשָּׁ֥ה חֲכָמָ֖ה מִן־הָעִ֑יר שִׁמְע֤וּ שִׁמְעוּ֙ אִמְרוּ־נָ֣א אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב קְרַ֣ב עַד־הֵ֔נָּה וַאֲדַבְּרָ֖ה אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
17He approached her, and the woman asked, “Are you Yoav?” “Yes,” he answered; and she said to him, “Listen to what your handmaid has to say.” “I'm listening,” he replied.
vai-YIK-rav e-LE-ha va-TO-mer ha-i-SHA ha-a-TAH yo-AV vai-YO-mer a-NEE va-TO-mer LO sh'-MA di-v'-RE a-ma-TE-kha vai-YO-mer sho-ME-a a-NO-khi
יזוַיִּקְרַ֣ב אֵלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֛ה הַאַתָּ֥ה יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָ֑נִי וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ שְׁמַע֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שֹׁמֵ֥עַ אָנֹֽכִי׃
18And she continued, “In olden times people used to say, ‘Let them inquire of Abel,' and that was the end of the matter.
va-TOM-er lay-MOR, da-BER y'-da-b'-RU va-ri-SHO-nah lay-MOR, sha-OL y'-sha-a-LU b'-a-VEL v'-KHEYN hay-ta-MU
יחוַתֹּ֖אמֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֨ר יְדַבְּר֤וּ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שָׁא֧וֹל יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ בְּאָבֵ֖ל וְכֵ֥ן הֵתַֽמּוּ׃
19I am one of those who seek the welfare of the faithful in Yisrael. But you seek to bring death upon a mother city in Yisrael! Why should you destroy Hashem's possession?”
a-NO-khi sh'-lu-MAY e-mu-NAY yis-ra-AYL, a-TAH m'-va-KAYSH l'-ha-MEET eer v'-EM b'-yis-ra-AYL, la-MAH t'-va-LA na-KHA-lat a-do-NAI. (Pe)
יטאָנֹכִ֕י שְׁלֻמֵ֖י אֱמוּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לְהָמִ֨ית עִ֤יר וְאֵם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֥מָּה תְבַלַּ֖ע נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃
20Yoav replied, “Far be it, far be it from me to destroy or to ruin!
va-YA-an yo-AV va-YO-mar, kha-LEE-lah kha-LEE-lah lee, im a-va-LA v'-im ash-KHEET
כוַיַּ֥עַן יוֹאָ֖ב וַיֹּאמַ֑ר חָלִ֤ילָה חָלִ֙ילָה֙ לִ֔י אִם־אֲבַלַּ֖ע וְאִם־אַשְׁחִֽית׃
21Not at all! But a certain man from the hill country of Efraim, named Sheba son of Bichri, has rebelled against King David. Just hand him alone over to us, and I will withdraw from the city.” The woman assured Yoav, “His head shall be thrown over the wall to you.”
lo-KHEN ha-DA-var KEE eesh me-har ef-RA-yim she-VA ben-bikh-REE she-MO na-SA ya-DO ba-ME-lekh be-da-VID te-NU-o-TO le-va-DO ve-el-KHA me-al ha-IYR va-TO-mer ha-I-sha el-yo-AV hi-NEH ro-SHO mush-LAKH e-LE-kha be-AD ha-KHO-ma
כאלֹא־כֵ֣ן הַדָּבָ֗ר כִּ֡י אִישׁ֩ מֵהַ֨ר אֶפְרַ֜יִם שֶׁ֧בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִ֣י שְׁמ֗וֹ נָשָׂ֤א יָדוֹ֙ בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ בְּדָוִ֔ד תְּנוּ־אֹת֣וֹ לְבַדּ֔וֹ וְאֵלְכָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ל הָעִ֑יר וַתֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב הִנֵּ֥ה רֹאשׁ֛וֹ מֻשְׁלָ֥ךְ אֵלֶ֖יךָ בְּעַ֥ד הַחוֹמָֽה׃
22The woman came to all the people with her clever plan; and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it down to Yoav. He then sounded the shofar; all the men dispersed to their homes, and Yoav returned to the king in Yerushalayim.
va-ta-VO ha-i-SHA el kol ha-AM b'-khokh-MA-tah va-yikh-RE-tu et-ROSH she-VA ben bi-KH-ri va-ya-sh'-LU el yo-AV va-yit-KA b'-sho-FAR va-ya-FO-tzu may-AL ha-IYR ish l'-o-HA-laiv v'-yo-AV shaV ye-ru-sha-LA-im el ha-ME-lekh. (sa)
כבוַתָּבוֹא֩ הָאִשָּׁ֨ה אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֜ם בְּחׇכְמָתָ֗הּ וַֽיִּכְרְת֞וּ אֶת־רֹ֨אשׁ שֶׁ֤בַע בֶּן־בִּכְרִי֙ וַיַּשְׁלִ֣כוּ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּתְקַע֙ בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַיָּפֻ֥צוּ מֵעַל־הָעִ֖יר אִ֣ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֑יו וְיוֹאָ֛ב שָׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
23Yoav was commander of the whole army [of] Yisrael; Benaiah son of Yehoyada was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
v'-yo-AV el kol ha-tza-VA yis-ra-AYL u-v'-na-YA ben y'-ho-ya-DA al ha-ke-RE-tee v'-al ha-pe-LE-tee
כגוְיוֹאָ֕ב אֶ֥ל כׇּל־הַצָּבָ֖א יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנָיָה֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע עַל־(הכרי) [הַכְּרֵתִ֖י] וְעַל־הַפְּלֵתִֽי׃
24Adoram was in charge of forced labor; Yehoshafat son of Achilud was recorder;
va-a-do-RAM al ha-MAS, vi-y'-ho-SHA-fat ben a-khi-LOOD ha-maz-KIR
כדוַאֲדֹרָ֖ם עַל־הַמַּ֑ס וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד הַמַּזְכִּֽיר׃
25Sheva was scribe; and Tzadok and Evyatar were Kohanim.
(u-sh'VA) [u-SHA] so-FER v'-tza-DOK v'-ev-ya-TAR ko-ha-NEEM
כה(ושיא) [וּשְׁוָ֖א] סֹפֵ֑ר וְצָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִֽים׃
26Ira the Yairite also served David as Kohen.
v'-GAM i-RA ha-ya-EE-ri ha-YAH ko-HAYN l'-da-VID. (S)
כווְגַ֗ם עִירָא֙ הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י הָיָ֥ה כֹהֵ֖ן לְדָוִֽד׃