TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

II - Chapter 21

Translation and Transliteration of 

1There was a famine during the reign of David, year after year for three years. David inquired of Hashem, and Hashem replied, “It is because of the bloodguilt of Shaul and [his] house, for he put some Givonites to death.”

vai-YA-hee ra-AV bi-MAY da-VID sha-LOSH sha-NEEM sha-NAH a-kha-RAY sha-NAH va-y'-ba-KAYSH da-VID et p'-NAY a-do-NAI, va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el sha-UL v'-el bAYT ha-da-MEEM al a-SHER he-MEET et ha-giv-o-NEEM

אוַיְהִ֣י רָעָב֩ בִּימֵ֨י דָוִ֜ד שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים שָׁנָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י שָׁנָ֔ה וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ דָּוִ֖ד אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־שָׁאוּל֙ וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַדָּמִ֔ים עַל־אֲשֶׁר־הֵמִ֖ית אֶת־הַגִּבְעֹנִֽים׃

2The king summoned the Givonites and spoke to them.—Now the Givonites were not of Israelite stock, but a remnant of the Amorites, to whom the Israelites had given an oath; and Shaul had tried to wipe them out in his zeal for the people of Yisrael and Yehuda.

vai-YIK-ra ha-ME-lekh la-gi-B'-o-NEEM va-YO-mer a-LAY-hem, v'-ha-gi-B'-o-NEEM lo mi-b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL HAY-ma, KEE im mi-YE-ter ha-e-mo-REE, u-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL nish-B'-U la-HEM, va-y'-va-KAYSH sha-UL l'-ha-KO-tam b'-ka-NO-to l'-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL vi-hu-DAH.

בוַיִּקְרָ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ לַגִּבְעֹנִ֖ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְהַגִּבְעֹנִ֞ים לֹ֣א מִבְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הֵ֗מָּה כִּ֚י אִם־מִיֶּ֣תֶר הָאֱמֹרִ֔י וּבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נִשְׁבְּע֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם וַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁ שָׁאוּל֙ לְהַכֹּתָ֔ם בְּקַנֹּאת֥וֹ לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִיהוּדָֽה׃

3David asked the Givonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make expiation, so that you may bless Hashem's own people?”

vai-YO-mer da-VID el ha-giv-O-neem, MAH e-a-SEH la-KHEM u-va-MAH a-ka-PER u-va-ro-KHU et-na-KHA-lat a-do-NAI

גוַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־הַגִּבְעֹנִ֔ים מָ֥ה אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה לָכֶ֑ם וּבַמָּ֣ה אֲכַפֵּ֔ר וּבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־נַחֲלַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃

4The Givonites answered him, “We have no claim for silver or gold against Shaul and his household; and we have no claim on the life of any other man in Yisrael.” And [David] responded, “Whatever you say I will do for you.”

vai-YO-meru LO ha-giv-O-NEEM, AYN (LI) KE-sef v'-za-HAV im SHA-ul v'-im BAY-to, v'-AYN LA-nu EESH l'-ha-MEET b'-yis-ra-AYL, vai-YO-mer, ma a-TEM om-REEM, e-a-SEH LA-khem

דוַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ ל֣וֹ הַגִּבְעֹנִ֗ים אֵֽין־[לָ֜נוּ] (לי) כֶּ֤סֶף וְזָהָב֙ עִם־שָׁא֣וּל וְעִם־בֵּית֔וֹ וְאֵֽין־לָ֥נוּ אִ֖ישׁ לְהָמִ֣ית בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מָה־אַתֶּ֥ם אֹמְרִ֖ים אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃

5Thereupon they said to the king, “The man who massacred us and planned to exterminate us, so that we should not survive in all the territory of Yisrael

va-yo-M'RU el ha-ME-lekh, ha-ISH a-SHER ki-LA-nu va-a-SHER di-MAH-la-NU, nish-MAHD-nu me-hit-ya-TZEV b'-KOL gu-VUL yis-ra-AYL.

הוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּלָּ֔נוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּמָּה־לָ֑נוּ נִשְׁמַ֕דְנוּ מֵהִתְיַצֵּ֖ב בְּכׇל־גְּבֻ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

6let seven of his male issue be handed over to us, and we will impale them before Hashem in Giva of Shaul, the chosen of Hashem.” And the king replied, “I will do so.”

(YiN-tan) [yu-TAN-]LA-nu shiv-AH a-na-SHEEM mi-ba-NAV v'-ho-ka-A-nuM la-a-do-NAI b'-gi-BAT sha-UL b'-KHEER a-do-NAI va-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh a-NEE e-TEIN.

ו(ינתן) [יֻתַּן־]לָ֜נוּ שִׁבְעָ֤ה אֲנָשִׁים֙ מִבָּנָ֔יו וְהוֹקַֽעֲנוּם֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה בְּגִבְעַ֥ת שָׁא֖וּל בְּחִ֣יר יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲנִ֥י אֶתֵּֽן׃

7The king spared Mefiboshet son of Yehonatan son of Shaul, because of the oath before Hashem between the two, between David and Yehonatan son of Shaul.

vai-YAKH-mol ha-ME-lekh al m'-fi-BOSH-et ben y'-ho-NA-tan ben sha-UL al sh'-BU-aht a-do-NAI a-SHER b'-no-TAM b'-YIN da-VID u-VEIN y'-ho-NA-tan ben sha-UL

זוַיַּחְמֹ֣ל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַל־מְפִיבֹ֖שֶׁת בֶּן־יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בֶּן־שָׁא֑וּל עַל־שְׁבֻעַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בֵּינֹתָ֔ם בֵּ֣ין דָּוִ֔ד וּבֵ֖ין יְהוֹנָתָ֥ן בֶּן־שָׁאֽוּל׃

8Instead, the king took Armoni and Mefiboshet, the two sons that Rizpah daughter of Aiah bore to Shaul, and the five sons that Merab daughter of Shaul bore to Adriel son of Barzilai the Meholathite,

vai-YI-kakh ha-ME-lekh et-sh'-NAY b'-NAY ritz-PAH bat a-YAH a-SHER ya-l'-DAH l'-sha-UL et-ar-mo-NEE v'-et-m'-fi-BOSH-et v'-et-kha-MAY-sheyt b'-NAY mi-KHAL bat sha-UL a-SHER ya-l'-DAH l'-a-dri-YA-EL ben bar-ZI-lai ha-m'-kho-LA-tee

חוַיִּקַּ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־שְׁ֠נֵ֠י בְּנֵ֨י רִצְפָּ֤ה בַת־אַיָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָלְדָ֣ה לְשָׁא֔וּל אֶת־אַרְמֹנִ֖י וְאֶת־מְפִבֹ֑שֶׁת וְאֶת־חֲמֵ֗שֶׁת בְּנֵי֙ מִיכַ֣ל בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֛ה לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־בַּרְזִלַּ֖י הַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃

9and he handed them over to the Givonites. They impaled them on the mountain before Hashem; all seven of them perished at the same time. They were put to death in the first days of the harvest, the beginning of the barley harvest.

vai-yi-t'-NAYM b'-yad ha-giv-O-neem va-yo-KEE-uM ba-HAR li-f'-NAY a-do-NAI va-yi-p'-LU (sh'-va-TA-yim) [sh'-va-TAM] YA-khad (v'-HEM) [v'-HEM-MAH] hum-TOO bi-MAY ka-TZEER ba-REE-sho-NEEM (ta-KHE-lat) [bi-t'-khi-LAT] k'-tzeer s'-o-REEM

טוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֞ם בְּיַ֣ד הַגִּבְעֹנִ֗ים וַיֹּקִיעֻ֤ם בָּהָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיִּפְּל֥וּ (שבעתים) [שְׁבַעְתָּ֖ם] יָ֑חַד (והם) [וְהֵ֨מָּה] הֻמְת֜וּ בִּימֵ֤י קָצִיר֙ בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים (תחלת) [בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת] קְצִ֥יר שְׂעֹרִֽים׃

10Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it on a rock for herself, and she stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until rain from the sky fell on the bodies; she did not let the birds of the sky settle on them by day or the wild beasts [approach] by night.

va-ti-KACH ritz-PAH bat-a-YAH et ha-SAK va-ta-TE-hu LAH el ha-TZUR mit-khi-LAT ka-TZEER ad ni-TAKH-MA-yim a-LE-hem min ha-SHA-ma-YIM v'-lo-na-TE-na oph ha-SHA-ma-YIM la-NU-akh a-LE-hem yo-MAM v'-et-kha-YAT ha-SA-deh la-YE-la

יוַתִּקַּ֣ח רִצְפָּה֩ בַת־אַיָּ֨ה אֶת־הַשַּׂ֜ק וַתַּטֵּ֨הוּ לָ֤הּ אֶל־הַצּוּר֙ מִתְּחִלַּ֣ת קָצִ֔יר עַ֛ד נִתַּךְ־מַ֥יִם עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִן־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־נָתְנָה֩ ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם לָנ֤וּחַ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְאֶת־חַיַּ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לָֽיְלָה׃

11David was told what Shaul's concubine Rizpah daughter of Aiah had done.

vai-YU-gad l'-da-VID, AYT a-SHER o-S'-ta RA-tz'-PAH bat a-YAH pi-LE-gesh sha-UL

יאוַיֻּגַּ֖ד לְדָוִ֑ד אֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֛ה רִצְפָּ֥ה בַת־אַיָּ֖ה פִּלֶ֥גֶשׁ שָׁאֽוּל׃

12And David went and took the bones of Shaul and of his son Yehonatan from the citizens of Jabesh-gilead, who had made off with them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them up on the day the Philistines killed Shaul at Gilboa.

vai-YAY-lekh da-VID va-yi-KAKH et-atz-MOT sha-UL v'-et-atz-MOT ye-ho-NA-tan b'-NO, may-ET ba-a-LEI ya-VAYSH gil-AD, a-SHER ga-N'-VU o-TAM me-RE-khov bayt-SHAN, a-SHER te-LA-UM sha-MAM p'-lish-TIM, b'-YOM ha-KOT p'-lish-TIM et sha-UL ba-gil-BO-a

יבוַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־עַצְמ֤וֹת שָׁאוּל֙ וְאֶת־עַצְמוֹת֙ יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ מֵאֵ֕ת בַּעֲלֵ֖י יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד אֲשֶׁר֩ גָּנְב֨וּ אֹתָ֜ם מֵרְחֹ֣ב בֵּֽית־שַׁ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֨ר (תלום) [תְּלָא֥וּם] (שם הפלשתים) [שָׁ֙מָּה֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים] בְּי֨וֹם הַכּ֧וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל בַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃

13He brought up the bones of Shaul and of his son Yehonatan from there; and he gathered the bones of those who had been impaled.

vai-YA-aL mi-SHAM et a-TZ'-mot SHA-ul v'-et a-TZ'-mot y'-ho-NA-tan b'-NO, va-ya-a-S'-FU et a-TZ'-mot ha-mu-ka-EEM

יגוַיַּ֤עַל מִשָּׁם֙ אֶת־עַצְמ֣וֹת שָׁא֔וּל וְאֶת־עַצְמ֖וֹת יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֑וֹ וַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּ אֶת־עַצְמ֖וֹת הַמּוּקָעִֽים׃

14And they buried the bones of Shaul and of his son Yehonatan in Zela, in the territory of Binyamin, in the tomb of his father Keesh. And when all that the king had commanded was done, Hashem responded to the plea of the land thereafter.

va-yik-b'-RU et atz-MOT sha-UL vee-ho-na-tan b'-NO b'-E-retz bin-ya-MIN b'-tzay-LA b'-KE-ver KEESH a-VEEV va-ya-a-SU KOL a-sher tzi-VAH ha-ME-lekh va-yay-a-TAYR e-lo-HEEM la-A-retz a-kha-ray KHAYN

ידוַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אֶת־עַצְמוֹת־שָׁא֣וּל וִיהוֹנָֽתָן־בְּ֠נ֠וֹ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֜ן בְּצֵלָ֗ע בְּקֶ֙בֶר֙ קִ֣ישׁ אָבִ֔יו וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖ה הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֵּעָתֵ֧ר אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָאָ֖רֶץ אַחֲרֵי־כֵֽן׃

 21:14   And they buried the bones of Shaul

King David buries the remains of King Shaul and Yonatan in their ancestral burial area within the territory of the tribe of Binyamin. Metzudat David adds that David also makes sure that they are properly eulogized throughout the land, with King David himself giving one of the eulogies. Though this was particularly important due to the honor given to a king, the concern that everyone be provided a proper burial has been a core value from antiquity until today. For example, following Israel’s War for Independence, the army’s Chief Rabbi, Shlomo Goren, worked day and night to bring the remains of fallen Israeli fighters to proper burial. He risked his life by walking through minefields, and often dug through the earth with his own hands, to ensure that every soldier killed in action would receive a proper burial.

15Again war broke out between the Philistines and Yisrael, and David and the men with him went down and fought the Philistines; David grew weary,

va-TE-hee-OD mil-kha-MAH la-p'-lish-TEEM et yis-ra-AYL va-YAY-red da-VID va-a-va-DAV im-MO va-yi-la-KHA-mu et p'-lish-TEEM va-ya-AF da-VID

טווַתְּהִי־ע֧וֹד מִלְחָמָ֛ה לַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֨רֶד דָּוִ֜ד וַעֲבָדָ֥יו עִמּ֛וֹ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וַיָּ֥עַף דָּוִֽד׃

16and Ishbi-benob tried to kill David.—He was a descendant of the Raphah; his bronze spear weighed three hundred shekalim and he wore new armor.

(v'-yish-BU) [v'-yish-BI] b'-NOV a-SHER bi-li-DEI ha-RA-fa u-mish-KAL KEI-no SHE-losh me-OT mish-KAL ne-KHO-shet v'-HU cha-GUR cha-da-SHA va-YO-mer l'-ha-KHOT et da-VID

טז(וישבו) [וְיִשְׁבִּ֨י] בְּנֹ֜ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ בִּילִידֵ֣י הָרָפָ֗ה וּמִשְׁקַ֤ל קֵינוֹ֙ שְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ מִשְׁקַ֣ל נְחֹ֔שֶׁת וְה֖וּא חָג֣וּר חֲדָשָׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְהַכּ֥וֹת אֶת־דָּוִֽד׃

17But Avishai son of Tzeruya came to his aid; he attacked the Philistine and killed him. It was then that David's men declared to him on oath, “You shall not go with us into battle any more, lest you extinguish the lamp of Yisrael!”

vai-ya-a-ZAR-lo a-vee-SHAI ben t'-ru-YA, vai-YAKH et ha-p'-lish-TEE, vai-mi-tay-HU. AZ nish-B'-U an-shay da-VEED lo lay-MOR: lo tay-TZAY o-D it-TA-nu la-mil-kha-MAH, v'-lo t'-ka-BEH et-NAYR yis-ra-AYL. (P)

יזוַיַּֽעֲזׇר־לוֹ֙ אֲבִישַׁ֣י בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֔ה וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י וַיְמִתֵ֑הוּ אָ֣ז נִשְׁבְּעוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁי־דָוִ֨ד ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר לֹא־תֵצֵ֨א ע֤וֹד אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א תְכַבֶּ֖ה אֶת־נֵ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

18After this, fighting broke out again with the Philistines, at Gob; that was when Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, a descendant of the Raphah.

vai-HI, a-kha-RAY-khen, va-T'-hi-OD ha-mil-KHA-mah b'-GOV im p'-lish-TEEM, AZ hi-KAH si-B'-KHAI ha-KHU-sha-TEE et-SAF a-SHER bi-LI-dei ha-RA-fah.

יחוַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַתְּהִי־ע֧וֹד הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה בְּג֖וֹב עִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים אָ֣ז הִכָּ֗ה סִבְּכַי֙ הַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔י אֶת־סַ֕ף אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּילִדֵ֥י הָֽרָפָֽה׃

19Again there was fighting with the Philistines at Gob; and Elchanan son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft like a weaver's bar.

va-TE-hee-OD ha-mil-KHA-ma b'-GOV im p'-lish-TEEM, va-YAKH el-kha-NAN ben ya-a-RAY or-GIM, BAYT ha-lakh-MEE, et GOL-yat ha-gi-TEE, v'-ETZ kha-NEE-to, k'-min-OR or-GIM. (S)

יטוַתְּהִי־ע֧וֹד הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה בְּג֖וֹב עִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּ֡ךְ אֶלְחָנָן֩ בֶּן־יַעְרֵ֨י אֹרְגִ֜ים בֵּ֣ית הַלַּחְמִ֗י אֵ֚ת גׇּלְיָ֣ת הַגִּתִּ֔י וְעֵ֣ץ חֲנִית֔וֹ כִּמְנ֖וֹר אֹרְגִֽים׃

20Once again there was fighting, at Gath. There was a giant of a man, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all; he too was descended from the Raphah.

va-TE-hee-OD mil-kha-MAH b'-GAT va-Y'-hee, EESH (MID-YAN) [MA-DON] v'-etz-B'-ot ya-DAV v'-etz-B'-ot rag-LAV shaysh va-SHAYSH es-REEM va-ar-BAH mis-PAHR v'-GAM-HU yu-LAD l'-ha-RA-fah

כוַתְּהִי־ע֥וֹד מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּגַ֑ת וַיְהִ֣י ׀ אִ֣ישׁ (מדין) [מָד֗וֹן] וְאֶצְבְּעֹ֣ת יָדָיו֩ וְאֶצְבְּעֹ֨ת רַגְלָ֜יו שֵׁ֣שׁ וָשֵׁ֗שׁ עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְאַרְבַּע֙ מִסְפָּ֔ר וְגַם־ה֖וּא יֻלַּ֥ד לְהָרָפָֽה׃

21When he taunted Yisrael, Yehonatan, the son of David's brother Shim'i, killed him.

vai-cha-REF et yis-ra-AYL va-ya-KAY-hu y'-ho-NA-tan ben shi-ma A-khi da-VID

כאוַיְחָרֵ֖ף אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן בֶּן־[שִׁמְעָ֖ה] (שמעי) אֲחִ֥י דָוִֽד׃

22Those four were descended from the Raphah in Gath, and they fell by the hands of David and his men.

et-ar-BAT e-LEH yu-le-DU le-ha-RA-fa b'-GAT va-yi-p'-LU b'-yad-da-VID u-b'-yad a-va-DAV.

כבאֶת־אַרְבַּ֥עַת אֵ֛לֶּה יֻלְּד֥וּ לְהָרָפָ֖ה בְּגַ֑ת וַיִּפְּל֥וּ בְיַד־דָּוִ֖ד וּבְיַ֥ד עֲבָדָֽיו׃