
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
II - Chapter 5
Translation and Transliteration of
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1All the tribes of Yisrael came to David at Chevron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.
va-ya-VO kol shiv-TAY yis-ra-AYL el da-VID khev-ro-NA, va-YO-meru lay-MOR: hin-NU atz-M'-KHA u-v'-sar-KHA a-na-KH'-nu
אוַיָּבֹ֜אוּ כׇּל־שִׁבְטֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד חֶבְר֑וֹנָה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנְנ֛וּ עַצְמְךָ֥ וּֽבְשָׂרְךָ֖ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃
2Long before now, when Shaul was king over us, it was you who led Yisrael in war; and Hashem said to you: You shall shepherd My people Yisrael; you shall be ruler of Yisrael.”
gam-et-MOL gam-SHI-LOM bi-HYOt sha-UL me-LEKH a-LE-nu a-TAH (ha-YI-ta mo-TZI) [ha-YI-ta ha-mo-TZI] v'-ha-m'-VI et-yis-ra-AYL va-YO-mer a-do-NAI le-KHA a-TAH ti-REH et-a-MEE et-yis-ra-AYL v'-a-TAH ti-HE-yeh l'-na-GID al-yis-ra-AYL
בגַּם־אֶתְמ֣וֹל גַּם־שִׁלְשׁ֗וֹם בִּֽהְי֨וֹת שָׁא֥וּל מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ אַתָּ֗ה (הייתה מוציא) [הָיִ֛יתָ הַמּוֹצִ֥יא] וְהַמֵּבִ֖י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה לְךָ֗ אַתָּ֨ה תִרְעֶ֤ה אֶת־עַמִּי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאַתָּ֛ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לְנָגִ֖יד עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
3All the elders of Yisrael came to the king at Chevron, and King David made a pact with them in Chevron before Hashem. And they anointed David king over Yisrael.
va-ya-VO-u kol zi-KNAY yis-ra-AYL el ha-ME-lekh khev-ro-NAH va-yikh-ROT la-HEM ha-ME-lekh da-VID b'-REET b'-khev-ROHN lif-NAY a-do-NAI va-yim-sh'-KHU et da-VID l'-ME-lekh al yis-ra-AYL. (SELAH)
גוַ֠יָּבֹ֠אוּ כׇּל־זִקְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ חֶבְר֔וֹנָה וַיִּכְרֹ֣ת לָהֶם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ דָּוִ֥ד בְּרִ֛ית בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּמְשְׁח֧וּ אֶת־דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
ben-sh'-lo-SHEEM sha-NAH da-VEED b'-mol-KHO ar-ba-EEM sha-NAH ma-LAKH
דבֶּן־שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֛ה דָּוִ֖ד בְּמׇלְכ֑וֹ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה מָלָֽךְ׃
5In Chevron he reigned over Yehuda seven years and six months, and in Yerushalayim he reigned over all Yisrael and Yehuda thirty-three years.
b'-khe-V'ron malakh al y'-hu-DA, SHE-va sha-NEEM v'-shi-SHAH kho-da-SHEEM, u-vi-ru-sha-LA-im malakh sh'-LO-sheem v'-sha-LOSH sha-NAH al kol yis-ra-AYL vi-y'-hu-DAH
הבְּחֶבְרוֹן֙ מָלַ֣ךְ עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֑ים וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֣͏ִם מָלַ֗ךְ שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וְשָׁלֹשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה עַ֥ל כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וִיהוּדָֽה׃
6The king and his men set out for Yerushalayim against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, “You will never get in here! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back.” (They meant: David will never enter here.)
vai-YAY-lekh ha-ME-lekh va-a-NA-shav Y'-ru-sha-LA-im el ha-y'-BU-si yo-SHEV ha-A-retz va-YO-mer l'-da-VID lay-MOR: lo-ta-VO he-NAH, KI im-he-SIR-kha ha-i-VE-rim v'-ha-pis-KHIM lay-MOR: lo-ya-VO da-VID he-NAH
ווַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אֶל־הַיְבֻסִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לְדָוִ֤ד לֵאמֹר֙ לֹא־תָב֣וֹא הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֣י אִם־הֱסִֽירְךָ֗ הַעִוְרִ֤ים וְהַפִּסְחִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹא־יָב֥וֹא דָוִ֖ד הֵֽנָּה׃
7But David captured the stronghold of Tzion; it is now the City of David.
va-yil-KOD da-VID AYT m'-tzu-DAT tzi-YON HEE EER da-VID
זוַיִּלְכֹּ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֖ת מְצֻדַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הִ֖יא עִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃
5:7 David captured the stronghold of Tzion
Once the entire Nation of Israel unites behind King David, he is able to conquer the holy city of Yerushalayim from the pagan Jebusites, and to rule there for thirty-three years. His palace is located in the City of David, just outside the present walls of the Old City of Yerushalayim. After fifteen years of archaeological excavations at this site, a Canaanite fortress dating back to the eighteenth century BCE was uncovered. This impressive structure is the largest fortress to have been discovered in Israel from before the time of King Herod. It protects the Gichon spring where Shlomo is anointed king (I Kings 1:38), making it possible to access the spring only from within the city of Yerushalayim. As this verse describes, when King David enters the city he conquers the “stronghold of Tzion” from the Jebusites, quite possibly referring to this very fortress discovered thousands of years later. Visitors to modern day Yerushalayim can visit this site and be inspired by seeing first hand evidence of the truth of the Bible.

The City of David, Jerusalem.

Archeological excavations in the City of David
8On that occasion David said, “Those who attack the Jebusites shall reach the water channel and [strike down] the lame and the blind, who are hateful to David.” That is why they say: “No one who is blind or lame may enter the House.”
vai-YO-mer da-VID ba-YOM ha-HU kol ma-KAY y'-bu-SEE v'-yi-GA ba-tzi-NOR v'-ET ha-pis-KHEEM v'-ET ha-i-VEE-reem (s'-NU-ay) [s'-NU-AY] NE-fesh da-VID al-KEN yo-M'-RU i-VEER u-pi-SAY-akh lo ya-VO el ha-BA-yit
חוַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כׇּל־מַכֵּ֤ה יְבֻסִי֙ וְיִגַּ֣ע בַּצִּנּ֔וֹר וְאֶת־הַפִּסְחִים֙ וְאֶת־הַ֣עִוְרִ֔ים (שנאו) [שְׂנוּאֵ֖י] נֶ֣פֶשׁ דָּוִ֑ד עַל־כֵּן֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ עִוֵּ֣ר וּפִסֵּ֔חַ לֹ֥א יָב֖וֹא אֶל־הַבָּֽיִת׃
9David occupied the stronghold and renamed it the City of David; David also fortified the surrounding area, from the Millo inward.
vai-YAY-shev da-VID ba-m'-tzu-DA va-yik-RA-lah EER da-VID va-yi-VEN da-VID sa-VEEV min ha-mi-LO va-va-YE-tah
טוַיֵּ֤שֶׁב דָּוִד֙ בַּמְּצֻדָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָא־לָ֖הּ עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּ֤בֶן דָּוִד֙ סָבִ֔יב מִן־הַמִּלּ֖וֹא וָבָֽיְתָה׃
10David kept growing stronger, for Hashem, the God of Hosts, was with him.
vai-YAY-lekh da-VID ha-LOKH v'-ga-DOL va-a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY t'-va-OT i-MO.
יוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד הָל֣וֹךְ וְגָד֑וֹל וַיהֹוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י צְבָא֖וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃
11King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons; and they built a palace for David.
vai-YISH-lakh khee-RAM me-LEKH-TZOR mal-a-KHEEM el da-VID, va-a-TZEI a-ra-ZEEM v'-kha-ra-SHEI ETZ v'-kha-ra-SHEI E-ven KIR, vai-YIV-nu va-YEET le-da-VID
יאוַ֠יִּשְׁלַ֠ח חִירָ֨ם מֶלֶךְ־צֹ֥ר מַלְאָכִים֮ אֶל־דָּוִד֒ וַעֲצֵ֣י אֲרָזִ֔ים וְחָרָשֵׁ֣י עֵ֔ץ וְחָרָשֵׁ֖י אֶ֣בֶן קִ֑יר וַיִּבְנוּ־בַ֖יִת לְדָוִֽד׃
12Thus David knew that Hashem had established him as king over Yisrael and had exalted his kingship for the sake of His people Yisrael.
vai-YAY-da da-VID kee he-KHEE-no a-do-NAI l'-ME-lekh al yis-ra-AYL, v'-kee ni-SAY mam-la-KH'-to ba-a-VUR a-MO yis-ra-AYL.
יבוַיֵּ֣דַע דָּוִ֔ד כִּֽי־הֱכִינ֧וֹ יְהֹוָ֛ה לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכִי֙ נִשֵּׂ֣א מַמְלַכְתּ֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר עַמּ֥וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
13After he left Chevron, David took more concubines and wives in Yerushalayim, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
vai-YI-kakh da-VID od pi-LAG-shim v'-na-SHEEM mi-y'-ru-sha-LA-im a-kha-RAY bo-o may-khev-RON vai-yi-va-L'-DU od l'-da-VID ba-NEEM u-va-NOt
יגוַיִּקַּח֩ דָּוִ֨ד ע֜וֹד פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם אַחֲרֵ֖י בֹּא֣וֹ מֵחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִּוָּ֥לְדוּ ע֛וֹד לְדָוִ֖ד בָּנִ֥ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃
14These are the names of the children born to him in Yerushalayim: Shammua, Shobab, Natan, and Shlomo;
v'-AY-leh sh'-MOHT ha-yi-LO-deem LO bi-ru-sha-LA-yim, sha-MU-a v'-sho-VAV v'-na-TAN u-sh'-LO-mo
ידוְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמ֛וֹת הַיִּלֹּדִ֥ים ל֖וֹ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם שַׁמּ֣וּעַ וְשׁוֹבָ֔ב וְנָתָ֖ן וּשְׁלֹמֹֽה׃
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, and Japhia;
v'-yiv-KHAR ve-e-li-SHU-a ve-NE-feg v'-ya-FI-a
טווְיִבְחָ֥ר וֶאֱלִישׁ֖וּעַ וְנֶ֥פֶג וְיָפִֽיעַ׃
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
ve-e-li-SHA-ma ve-el-ya-DA ve-e-li-FA-let.
טזוֶאֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע וְאֶלְיָדָ֖ע וֶאֱלִיפָֽלֶט׃
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Yisrael, the Philistines marched up in search of David; but David heard of it, and he went down to the fastness.
vai-yish-M'U f'-lish-TEEM ki-ma-SHU et da-VID l'-ME-lekh al yis-ra-AYL, vai-ya-a-LU kol f'-lish-TEEM l'-ba-KAYSH et da-VID, vai-yish-MA da-VID vai-YAY-red el ha-m'-tzu-DAH
יזוַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים כִּֽי־מָשְׁח֨וּ אֶת־דָּוִ֤ד לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּעֲל֥וּ כׇל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע דָּוִ֔ד וַיֵּ֖רֶד אֶל־הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃
18The Philistines came and spread out over the Valley of Rephaim.
u-f'-lis-TIM ba-U va-yi-na-T'-SHU b'-E-mek re-fa-EEM
יחוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים בָּ֑אוּ וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃
19David inquired of Hashem, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hands?” And Hashem answered David, “Go up, and I will deliver the Philistines into your hands.”
vai-YISH-al da-VID ba-do-NAI lay-MOR: ha-e-a-LEH el p'-lish-TEEM, ha-ti-t'-NAYM b'-ya-DEE? va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el da-VID: a-LEH, KEE na-TON et-TAYN et ha-p'-lish-TEEM b'-ya-DE-kha.
יטוַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאֶֽעֱלֶה֙ אֶל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים הֲתִתְּנֵ֖ם בְּיָדִ֑י וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶל־דָּוִד֙ עֲלֵ֔ה כִּֽי־נָתֹ֥ן אֶתֵּ֛ן אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃
20Thereupon David marched to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “Hashem has broken through my enemies before me as waters break through [a dam].” That is why that place was named Baal-perazim.
vai-YA-voh da-VID b'-ba-aL p'-RATZ-eem, va-YA-kem SHAM da-VID, va-YO-mer pa-RATZ a-do-NAI et o-y'-VAI l'-fa-NAI k'-fe-RETZ MA-yim, al-KEN ka-RA shem ha-MA-kom ha-HU ba-aL p'-RATZ-eem.
כוַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֥ד בְּבַֽעַל־פְּרָצִים֮ וַיַּכֵּ֣ם שָׁ֣ם דָּוִד֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר פָּרַ֨ץ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֶת־אֹיְבַ֛י לְפָנַ֖י כְּפֶ֣רֶץ מָ֑יִם עַל־כֵּ֗ן קָרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בַּ֥עַל פְּרָצִֽים׃
21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
vai-YA-aZ-vu SHAM et-a-tza-VE-hem, va-yi-SA-em da-VID va-a-na-SHAV. (P)
כאוַיַּ֥עַזְבוּ שָׁ֖ם אֶת־עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשָּׂאֵ֥ם דָּוִ֖ד וַאֲנָשָֽׁיו׃
22Once again the Philistines marched up and spread out over the Valley of Rephaim.
vai-YO-si-FU OD p'-lish-TEEM la-a-LOT, va-yi-na-T'-SHU b'-E-mek r'-fa-EEM
כבוַיֹּסִ֥פוּ ע֛וֹד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים לַעֲל֑וֹת וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ בְּעֵ֥מֶק רְפָאִֽים׃
23David inquired of Hashem, and He answered, “Do not go up, but circle around behind them and confront them at the baca trees.
vai-YISH-al da-VID ba-do-NAI va-YO-mer lo ta-a-LEH, ha-SEV el a-cha-RAY-hem u-va-TA la-HEM mi-MUL b'-ka-EEM
כגוַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל דָּוִד֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א תַעֲלֶ֑ה הָסֵב֙ אֶל־אַ֣חֲרֵיהֶ֔ם וּבָ֥אתָ לָהֶ֖ם מִמּ֥וּל בְּכָאִֽים׃
24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baca trees, then go into action, for Hashem will be going in front of you to attack the Philistine forces.”
v'-yi-HI (b'-sh'-ma-A-kha) [k'-sh'-mo-A-kha] et-TSO-da ba-ra-SHEI ha-b'-ka-EEM az te-khe-RATZ ki az ya-TZA a-do-NAI l'-fa-NE-kha l'-ha-KHOT b'-ma-cha-NEH f'-lish-TEEM
כדוִ֠יהִ֠י (בשמעך) [כְּֽשׇׁמְעֲךָ֞] אֶת־ק֧וֹל צְעָדָ֛ה בְּרָאשֵׁ֥י הַבְּכָאִ֖ים אָ֣ז תֶּחֱרָ֑ץ כִּ֣י אָ֗ז יָצָ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ לְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּמַחֲנֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
25David did as Hashem had commanded him; and he routed the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.
vai-YA-as da-VID khen ka-a-SHER tzi-VA-hu a-do-NAI vai-YAKH et p'-lish-TEEYM mi-GE-va ad bo-a-KHA ga-ZER
כהוַיַּ֤עַשׂ דָּוִד֙ כֵּ֔ן כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖הוּ יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים מִגֶּ֖בַע עַד־בֹּאֲךָ֥ גָֽזֶר׃