TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

II - Chapter 24

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The anger of Hashem again flared up against Yisrael; and He incited David against them, saying, “Go and number Yisrael and Yehuda.”

vai-YO-sef af a-do-NAI la-kha-ROT b'-yis-ra-AYL, vai-YA-set et da-VID ba-HEM lay-MOR: LEKH me-NEH et yis-ra-AYL v'-et y'-hu-DAH

אוַיֹּ֙סֶף֙ אַף־יְהֹוָ֔ה לַֽחֲר֖וֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֨סֶת אֶת־דָּוִ֤ד בָּהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֵ֛ךְ מְנֵ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־יְהוּדָֽה׃

2The king said to Yoav, his army commander, “Make the rounds of all the tribes of Yisrael, from Dan to Be'er Sheva, and take a census of the people, so that I may know the size of the population.”

vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh el yo-AV, sar ha-KHA-yil a-SHER i-TO, SHUT na b'-KOL shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL, mi-DAN v'-AD b'-AYR SHE-va u-fi-K'-DU et ha-A-AM, va-ya-da-TEE AYT mis-PAR ha-A-AM. (S)

בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־יוֹאָ֣ב ׀ שַׂר־הַחַ֣יִל אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ שֽׁוּט־נָ֞א בְּכׇל־שִׁבְטֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וּפִקְד֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וְיָ֣דַעְתִּ֔י אֵ֖ת מִסְפַּ֥ר הָעָֽם׃

3Yoav answered the king, “May Hashem your God increase the number of the people a hundredfold, while your own eyes see it! But why should my lord king want this?”

vai-YO-mer yo-AV el ha-ME-lekh, v'-yo-SEF a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha el ha-AM, ka-HEM v'-ka-HEM me-a PA-a-MEEM, v'-ei-NEI a-do-NEE-ha-ME-lekh ro-OT, va-a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh, la-MAH kha-FAYTS ba-da-VAHR ha-ZEH

גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיוֹסֵ֣ף יְהֹוָה֩ אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ אֶל־הָעָ֜ם כָּהֵ֤ם ׀ וְכָהֵם֙ מֵאָ֣ה פְעָמִ֔ים וְעֵינֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ רֹא֑וֹת וַאדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֥מָּה חָפֵ֖ץ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

4However, the king's command to Yoav and to the officers of the army remained firm; and Yoav and the officers of the army set out, at the instance of the king, to take a census of the people of Yisrael.

vai-ye-khe-ZAK d'-var ha-ME-lekh el yo-AV v'-al sa-RAY he-kha-YIL, vai-YAY-tzay yo-AV v'-sa-RAY ha-kha-YIL lif-NAY ha-ME-lekh, lif-KOD et-ha-AM et yis-ra-AYL

דוַיֶּחֱזַ֤ק דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב וְעַ֖ל שָׂרֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וַיֵּצֵ֨א יוֹאָ֜ב וְשָׂרֵ֤י הַחַ֙יִל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִפְקֹ֥ד אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

5They crossed the Yarden and encamped at Aroer, on the right side of the town, which is in the middle of the wadi of Gad, and [went on] to Jazer.

vai-ya-a-v'-RU et ha-yar-DAYN, vai-ya-KHA-nu va-a-ro-AYR ye-MEEN ha-IR a-SHER b'-toKH ha-NA-khal ha-GAD, v'-el ya-a-ZAYR

הוַיַּעַבְר֖וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וַיַּֽחֲנ֣וּ בַעֲרוֹעֵ֗ר יְמִ֥ין הָעִ֛יר אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַנַּ֥חַל הַגָּ֖ד וְאֶל־יַעְזֵֽר׃

6They continued to Gilad and to the region of Tahtim-hodshi, and they came to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon.

va-ya-VO ha-gil-A-da v'-el E-rets takh-TEEM kha-d'-SHEE, va-ya-VO da-NA ya-AN va-sa-VEEV el tzi-DON

ווַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַגִּלְעָ֔דָה וְאֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ תַּחְתִּ֖ים חׇדְשִׁ֑י וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ דָּ֣נָה יַּ֔עַן וְסָבִ֖יב אֶל־צִידֽוֹן׃

7They went onto the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites, and finished at Be'er Sheva in southern Yehuda.

va-ya-VO-u mi-v'-tsar-TSOR v'-kol a-RAY ha-khi-VEE v'-ha-k'-na-a-NEE va-ye-TZE-u el-NE-gev y'-hu-DAH b'-AYR sha-VA

זוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִבְצַר־צֹ֔ר וְכׇל־עָרֵ֥י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י וַיֵּצְא֛וּ אֶל־נֶ֥גֶב יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃

8They traversed the whole country, and then they came back to Yerushalayim at the end of nine months and twenty days.

va-ya-SHU-tu b'-kol ha-A-retz va-ya-VO-u mik-TZE tish-AH cho-da-SHEEM v'-es-ree-YEEM YO-m Y'-ru-sha-LA-im

חוַיָּשֻׁ֖טוּ בְּכׇל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ מִקְצֵ֨ה תִשְׁעָ֧ה חֳדָשִׁ֛ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים י֖וֹם יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

9Yoav reported to the king the number of the people that had been recorded: in Yisrael there were 800,000 soldiers ready to draw the sword, and the men of Yehuda numbered 500,000.

vai-YI-ten yo-AV et mis-PAHD ha-AM el ha-ME-lekh, va-TE-hee yis-ra-AYL sh'-mo-NEH me-OT e-LEF eeSH kha-YIL sho-LEF khe-REV, v'-eesh y'-hu-DAH kha-MAYSH me-OT e-LEF eeSH

טוַיִּתֵּ֥ן יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר מִפְקַד־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתְּהִ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל שְֽׁמֹנֶה֩ מֵא֨וֹת אֶ֤לֶף אִֽישׁ־חַ֙יִל֙ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חֶ֔רֶב וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

10But afterward David reproached himself for having numbered the people. And David said to Hashem, “I have sinned grievously in what I have done. Please, Hashem, remit the guilt of Your servant, for I have acted foolishly.”

vai-YAKH layv-da-VID o-TO, a-kha-RAY-khen sa-FAR et-ha-AHM, va-YO-mer da-VID el a-do-NAI, kha-ta-TEE me-OD a-SHER a-SEE-TEE, v'-a-TAH a-do-NAI ha-a-VAYR-NA et-a-VON a-VD'-KHA, kee nis-KAL-tee me-OD

יוַיַּ֤ךְ לֵב־דָּוִד֙ אֹת֔וֹ אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן סָפַ֣ר אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־יְהֹוָ֗ה חָטָ֤אתִי מְאֹד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הַֽעֲבֶר־נָא֙ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֥י נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי מְאֹֽד׃

11When David rose in the morning, the word of Hashem had come to the Navi Gad, David's seer:

vai-YA-kom da-VID ba-BO-ker, u-d'-var a-do-NAI ha-YAH el gad ha-na-VEE, kho-ZEH da-VID lay-MOR.

יאוַיָּ֥קׇם דָּוִ֖ד בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה הָיָה֙ אֶל־גָּ֣ד הַנָּבִ֔יא חֹזֵ֥ה דָוִ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃

12“Go and tell David, ‘Thus said Hashem: I hold three things over you; choose one of them, and I will bring it upon you.'”

ha-LOKH v'-di-BAR-ta el da-VID, KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI: sha-LOSH a-NO-khi no-TEL a-LE-kha, b'-KHA-r LE-kha a-KHAT may-HEM v'-e-a-SEH-LAKh

יבהָל֞וֹךְ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׁלֹ֕שׁ אָנֹכִ֖י נוֹטֵ֣ל עָלֶ֑יךָ בְּחַר־לְךָ֥ אַחַת־מֵהֶ֖ם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃

13Gad came to David and told him; he asked, “Shall a seven-year famine come upon you in the land, or shall you be in flight from your adversaries for three months while they pursue you, or shall there be three days of pestilence in your land? Now consider carefully what reply I shall take back to Him who sent me.”

vai-ya-VO-GAD el da-VID va-ya-GED-lo, va-YO-mer LO: ha-ta-VO l'-KHA SHE-va sha-NEEM ra-AV b'-ar-TZE-kha, im sh'-lo-SHA kho-DA-sheem nus-KHA li-f'-NEI tza-RE-kha, v'-HU ro-d'-FE-kha, v'-im he-YOT sh'-lo-SHET ya-MEEM da-VER b'-ar-TZE-kha, a-TAH da, u-r'-EH ma-a-SHEEV sho-l'-KHEE da-VER. (s)

יגוַיָּבֹא־גָ֥ד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד וַיַּגֶּד־ל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֡וֹ הֲתָב֣וֹא לְךָ֣ שֶׁבַע שָׁנִ֣ים ׀ רָעָ֣ב ׀ בְּאַרְצֶ֡ךָ אִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳ֠דָשִׁ֠ים נֻסְךָ֨ לִפְנֵי־צָרֶ֜יךָ וְה֣וּא רֹדְפֶ֗ךָ וְאִם־הֱ֠י֠וֹת שְׁלֹ֨שֶׁת יָמִ֥ים דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּאַרְצֶ֔ךָ עַתָּה֙ דַּ֣ע וּרְאֵ֔ה מָה־אָשִׁ֥יב שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר׃

14David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hands of Hashem, for His compassion is great; and let me not fall into the hands of men.”

vai-YO-mer da-VID el GAD tzar-LEE me-OD, ni-p'-LA-na b'-yad a-do-NAI, kee ra-BEEM ra-kha-MAV u-v'-yad a-DAM al a-EP-o-LAH

ידוַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־גָּ֖ד צַר־לִ֣י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְּלָה־נָּ֤א בְיַד־יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־רַבִּ֣ים רַחֲמָ֔ו וּבְיַד־אָדָ֖ם אַל־אֶפֹּֽלָה׃

15Hashem sent a pestilence upon Yisrael from morning until the set time; and 70,000 of the people died, from Dan to Be'er Sheva.

vai-YI-ten a-do-NAI DE-ver b'-yis-ra-AYL me-ha-BO-ker v'-ad-EYT mo-ED vai-YA-mot min ha-AHM, mi-DAN v'-ad b'-EYR SHE-va, shi-V'EEM e-LEF eesh

טווַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֥ה דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵהַבֹּ֖קֶר וְעַד־עֵ֣ת מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיָּ֣מׇת מִן־הָעָ֗ם מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

16But when the angel extended his hand against Yerushalayim to destroy it, Hashem renounced further punishment and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Stay your hand!” The angel of Hashem was then by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

vai-YISH-lakh ya-DO ha-mal-AKH ye-ru-sha-LAM l'-sha-cha-TAH vai-n'-KHEM a-do-NAI el ha-ra-AH vai-YO-mer la-mal-AKH ha-mash-KHEET ba-AM RAV, a-TAH he-REF ya-DE-kha u-mal-AKH a-do-NAI ha-YA im go-REN (ha-o-RE-na) [ha-a-ra-VE-na] ha-ye-vu-SI. {SE}

טזוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יָד֨וֹ הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ ׀ יְֽרוּשָׁלַ֘͏ִם֮ לְשַׁחֲתָהּ֒ וַיִּנָּ֤חֶם יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וַ֠יֹּ֠אמֶר לַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ הַמַּשְׁחִ֤ית בָּעָם֙ רַ֔ב עַתָּ֖ה הֶ֣רֶף יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַלְאַ֤ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ הָיָ֔ה עִם־גֹּ֖רֶן (האורנה) [הָֽאֲרַ֥וְנָה] הַיְבֻסִֽי׃

17When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to Hashem, “I alone am guilty, I alone have done wrong; but these poor sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand fall upon me and my father's house!”

vai-YO-mer da-VID el a-do-NAI, bir-o-TO et ha-mal-AKH ha-ma-KEH ba-AM, vai-YO-mer, hi-NEH a-NO-khee kha-ta-TEE, v'-a-no-KHEE he-e-VEE-tee, v'-AY-leh ha-tso-AN meh a-SU, t'-HEE NA ya-d'-KHA bee u-v'-AYT a-VEE. (Selah)

יזוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־יְהֹוָ֜ה בִּרְאֹת֣וֹ ׀ אֶֽת־הַמַּלְאָ֣ךְ ׀ הַמַּכֶּ֣ה בָעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֤י חָטָ֙אתִי֙ וְאָנֹכִ֣י הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי וְאֵ֥לֶּה הַצֹּ֖אן מֶ֣ה עָשׂ֑וּ תְּהִ֨י נָ֥א יָדְךָ֛ בִּ֖י וּבְבֵ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

18Gad came to David the same day and said to him, “Go and set up a mizbayach to Hashem on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

vai-ya-VO-GAD el da-VID ba-YOM ha-HU, vai-YO-mer LO: a-LEH ha-KEIM la-a-do-NAI miz-BAY-akh b'-go-REN (ar-NEE-a) [a-RAV-NA] ha-y'-vu-SEE

יחוַיָּבֹא־גָ֥ד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ עֲלֵה֙ הָקֵ֤ם לַֽיהֹוָה֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּגֹ֖רֶן (ארניה) [אֲרַ֥וְנָה] הַיְבֻסִֽי׃

19David went up, following Gad's instructions, as Hashem had commanded.

vai-YA-al da-VID kid-var-GAD ka-a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI

יטוַיַּ֤עַל דָּוִד֙ כִּדְבַר־גָּ֔ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָֽה׃

20Araunah looked out and saw the king and his courtiers approaching him. So Araunah went out and bowed low to the king, with his face to the ground.

vai-YASH-kayf a-ra-V'NAH vai-YAR et ha-ME-lekh v'-et a-va-DAV o-VEE-reem a-LAV vai-YAY-tzay a-ra-V'NAH vai-YISH-ta-KHU la-ME-lekh a-PA-yav o-RETZAH

כוַיַּשְׁקֵ֣ף אֲרַ֗וְנָה וַיַּ֤רְא אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו עֹבְרִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֲרַ֔וְנָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃

21And Araunah asked, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David replied, “To buy the threshing floor from you, that I may build a mizbayach to Hashem and that the plague against the people may be checked.”

vai-YO-mer a-RAV-na, ma-DO-a BA a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh el a-VD-o? vai-YO-mer da-VID likh-NOt me-im-KHA et ha-go-REN, liv-NOT mi-Z'-BE-akh la-do-NAI, v'-te-a-TZAR ha-ma-GE-fa me-al ha-AHM

כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲרַ֔וְנָה מַדּ֛וּעַ בָּ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לִקְנ֧וֹת מֵעִמְּךָ֣ אֶת־הַגֹּ֗רֶן לִבְנ֤וֹת מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְתֵעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הָעָֽם׃

22And Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take it and offer up whatever he sees fit. Here are oxen for a burnt offering, and the threshing boards and the gear of the oxen for wood.

vai-YO-mer a-ra-VE-na el da-VID, yi-KAKH v'-ya-AL a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh ha-TOV b'-ay-NAV, RE-eh ha-ba-KAR la-o-LAH v'-ha-mo-ri-GIM u-k'-LEI ha-ba-KAR la-e-TZEEM

כבוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד יִקַּ֥ח וְיַ֛עַל אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑ו רְאֵה֙ הַבָּקָ֣ר לָעֹלָ֔ה וְהַמֹּרִגִּ֛ים וּכְלֵ֥י הַבָּקָ֖ר לָעֵצִֽים׃

23All this, O king, Araunah gives to Your Majesty. And may Hashem your God,” Araunah added, “respond to you with favor!”

ha-KOL na-TAN a-RAV-NA ha-ME-lekh la-ME-lekh, va-YO-mer a-RAV-NA el ha-ME-lekh: a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha yir-TZE-kha.

כגהַכֹּ֗ל נָתַ֛ן אֲרַ֥וְנָה הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יִרְצֶֽךָ׃

24But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I will buy them from you at a price. I cannot sacrifice to Hashem my God burnt offerings that have cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekalim of silver.

va-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh el a-RAV-nah LO kee ka-NO ek-NEH may-o-t'-KHA bim-KHEER v'-LO a-a-LEH la-do-NAI e-lo-HAI o-LOT KHI-nam va-YI-ken da-VID et ha-GO-ren v'-et ha-ba-KAR b'-KHE-sef sh'-ka-LEEM kha-mi-SHEEM

כדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֗וְנָה לֹ֚א כִּֽי־קָנ֨וֹ אֶקְנֶ֤ה מֵאֽוֹתְךָ֙ בִּמְחִ֔יר וְלֹ֧א אַעֲלֶ֛ה לַיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖י עֹל֣וֹת חִנָּ֑ם וַיִּ֨קֶן דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־הַגֹּ֙רֶן֙ וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֔ר בְּכֶ֖סֶף שְׁקָלִ֥ים חֲמִשִּֽׁים׃

 24:24   But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I will buy them from you at a price”

King David purchases the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and, according to one classic rabbinic opinion, the entire city of Yerushalayim. That threshing floor, the place where he intends to offer sacrifices, is now called the Temple Mount in Yerushalayim. As this site would later become the location of the Beit Hamikdash, David purchases the land publicly, just as Avraham did when he purchased the cave of Machpelah in Chevron for a great sum of money and in front of witnesses (Genesis 23). Although, like Avraham, David was offered the site as a gift, he does not want any future generations to claim that it was stolen by the Children of Israel. Since the sale of each is recorded in the Bible, the Sages of the Midrash teach that Yerushalayim, Chevron and Shechem (which was similarly purchased by Jacob, see Genesis 33:19) are the three places that indisputably belong to the Jewish people.

A lookout over Jerusalem.

Ancient Israelite coin from approximately 68 CE

25And David built there a mizbayach to Hashem and sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. Hashem responded to the plea for the land, and the plague against Yisrael was checked.

vai-YI-ven SHAM da-VID miz-BAY-akh la-a-do-NAI, vai-YA-al o-LOT u-she-la-MEEM, vai-YE-a-TER a-do-NAI la-A-retz, va-TE-a-TZAR ha-ma-GE-fa me-A-al yis-ra-AYL

כהוַיִּ֩בֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם דָּוִ֤ד מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַיהֹוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים וַיֵּעָתֵ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ לָאָ֔רֶץ וַתֵּעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃