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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

II - Chapter 8

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; and David took Metheg-ammah from the Philistines.

vai-HI, a-kha-RAY-khen, va-YAKH da-VID et p'-lish-TIM, va-yakh-nee-EM, va-yi-KAKH da-VID et me-TEG ha-a-MAH, mi-YAD p'-lish-TIM

אוַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֥ךְ דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וַיַּכְנִיעֵ֑ם וַיִּקַּ֥ח דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־מֶ֥תֶג הָאַמָּ֖ה מִיַּ֥ד פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

2He also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and he measured them off with a cord; he measured out two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death, and one length for those to be spared. And the Moabites became tributary vassals of David.

vai-YAKH et-MO-av va-y'-ma-DAY-dem ba-KHE-vel ha-sh'-KAYV ot-KHAM ar-TZA va-y'-ma-DAYD sh'-NAY-kha-va-LEEM l'-ha-MEET u-m'-LO ha-KHE-VEL l'-ha-cha-YOT va-TE-hee MO-av l'-da-VID la-a-va-DEEM nos-a-AY mi-n'-KHAH

בוַיַּ֣ךְ אֶת־מוֹאָ֗ב וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם בַּחֶ֙בֶל֙ הַשְׁכֵּ֣ב אוֹתָ֣ם אַ֔רְצָה וַיְמַדֵּ֤ד שְׁנֵֽי־חֲבָלִים֙ לְהָמִ֔ית וּמְלֹ֥א הַחֶ֖בֶל לְהַחֲי֑וֹת וַתְּהִ֤י מוֹאָב֙ לְדָוִ֔ד לַעֲבָדִ֖ים נֹשְׂאֵ֥י מִנְחָֽה׃

3David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who was then on his way to restore his monument at the Euphrates River.

vai-YAKH da-VID et ha-da-d'-EZER ben r'-KHOB m'-LEKH tzo-VAH b'-lekh-TO l'-ha-SHEEV ya-DO bi-n'-har [p'-RAT]

גוַיַּ֣ךְ דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־הֲדַדְעֶ֥זֶר בֶּן־רְחֹ֖ב מֶ֣לֶךְ צוֹבָ֑ה בְּלֶכְתּ֕וֹ לְהָשִׁ֥יב יָד֖וֹ בִּֽנְהַר־[פְּרָֽת]׃

4David captured 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers of his force; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except for 100 which he retained.

vai-YIL-kod da-VID mi-ME-nu e-LEF u-she-VA me-OT pa-RA-sheem v'-es-rim e-LEF eesh ra-G'-lee vai-ya-a-KER da-VID et-KOL ha-RE-khev vai-YO-ter mi-ME-nu me-AH ra-KHEV

דוַיִּלְכֹּ֨ד דָּוִ֜ד מִמֶּ֗נּוּ אֶ֤לֶף וּשְׁבַע־מֵאוֹת֙ פָּרָשִׁ֔ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִ֣ישׁ רַגְלִ֑י וַיְעַקֵּ֤ר דָּוִד֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָרֶ֔כֶב וַיּוֹתֵ֥ר מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מֵ֥אָה רָֽכֶב׃

5And when the Arameans of Damascus came to the aid of King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 of the Arameans.

va-ta-VO a-RAM da-ME-sek la-E-ZOR la-ha-dad-E-ZER me-LEKH tzo-VA va-YAKH da-VID ba-a-RAM es-ri-MIM u-sh'-NA-yim e-LEF eeSH

הוַתָּבֹא֙ אֲרַ֣ם דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק לַעְזֹ֕ר לַהֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ צוֹבָ֑ה וַיַּ֤ךְ דָּוִד֙ בַּאֲרָ֔ם עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

6David stationed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became tributary vassals of David. Hashem gave David victory wherever he went.

vai-YA-sem da-VID n'-tzi-VIM ba-a-RAM da-ME-sek, va-t'-HEE a-RAM l'-da-VID la-a-va-DEEM no-s'-AY mi-n'-kha, vai-YO-sha a-do-NAI et da-VID b'-KOL a-SHER ha-LAKH

ווַיָּ֨שֶׂם דָּוִ֤ד נְצִבִים֙ בַּאֲרַ֣ם דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק וַתְּהִ֤י אֲרָם֙ לְדָוִ֔ד לַעֲבָדִ֖ים נוֹשְׂאֵ֣י מִנְחָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤שַׁע יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלָֽךְ׃

7David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer's retinue and brought them to Yerushalayim;

vai-YI-kakh DA-vid AYT shil-TAY ha-za-HAV a-SHER ha-YU el av-DAY ha-da-da-A-zer va-y'-vee-EM ye-ru-sha-LA-im

זוַיִּקַּ֣ח דָּוִ֗ד אֵ֚ת שִׁלְטֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָי֔וּ אֶ֖ל עַבְדֵ֣י הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר וַיְבִיאֵ֖ם יְרֽוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

8and from Betah and Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a vast amount of copper.

u-mi-BE-takh u-mi-BE-ro-TA-y a-REI ha-da-da-A-zer la-KAKH ha-ME-lekh da-VID ne-KHO-shet ha-RE-beh me-OD. (S)

חוּמִבֶּ֥טַח וּמִבֵּֽרֹתַ֖י עָרֵ֣י הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר לָקַ֞ח הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ דָּוִ֛ד נְחֹ֖שֶׁת הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

va-yish-MA to-I me-LEKH cha-MAT, ki hi-KA da-VID et kol-KHEIL ha-da-da-AZER

טוַיִּשְׁמַ֕ע תֹּ֖עִי מֶ֣לֶךְ חֲמָ֑ת כִּ֚י הִכָּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד אֵ֖ת כׇּל־חֵ֥יל הֲדַדְעָֽזֶר׃

10Toi sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on his military victory over Hadadezer—for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. [Yoram] brought with him objects of silver, gold, and copper.

vai-YISH-lakh TO-i et yo-RAM b'-NO el ha-ME-lekh DA-vid lish-OL-lo l'-sha-LOM u-l'-va-RE-kho al a-SHER nil-KHAM ba-ha-DAD-e-ZER va-ya-KE-hu KI-ish mil-kha-MOT TO-i ha-YA ha-DAD-a-ZER u-v'-YA-do ha-YU k'-LEI-khe-SEF u-k'-LEI-za-HAV u-k'-LEI ne-KHO-shet

יוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח תֹּ֣עִי אֶת־יֽוֹרָם־בְּנ֣וֹ אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־דָּ֠וִ֠ד לִשְׁאׇל־ל֨וֹ לְשָׁל֜וֹם וּֽלְבָרְכ֗וֹ עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִלְחַ֤ם בַּהֲדַדְעֶ֙זֶר֙ וַיַּכֵּ֔הוּ כִּי־אִ֛ישׁ מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת תֹּ֖עִי הָיָ֣ה הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר וּבְיָד֗וֹ הָי֛וּ כְּלֵי־כֶ֥סֶף וּכְלֵי־זָהָ֖ב וּכְלֵ֥י נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃

11King David dedicated these to Hashem, along with the other silver and gold that he dedicated, [taken] from all the nations he had conquered:

gam-o-TAM hik-DISH ha-ME-lekh da-VID la-a-do-NAI im ha-KE-sef v'-ha-za-HAV a-SHER hik-DISH mi-KOL ha-go-YIM a-SHER ki-BESH

יאגַּם־אֹתָ֕ם הִקְדִּ֛ישׁ הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ דָּוִ֖ד לַיהֹוָ֑ה עִם־הַכֶּ֤סֶף וְהַזָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִקְדִּ֔ישׁ מִכׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר כִּבֵּֽשׁ׃

12from Edom, Moab, and Ammon; from the Philistines and the Amalekites, and from the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

me-a-RAM u-mi-MO-av u-mi-b'-NAY a-MON u-mi-p'-lish-TIM u-m'-a-ma-LEK u-mi-sh'-LAL ha-da-d'-EZER ben r'-KHOV m'-LEKH tzo-VAH

יבמֵאֲרָ֤ם וּמִמּוֹאָב֙ וּמִבְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן וּמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וּמֵעֲמָלֵ֑ק וּמִשְּׁלַ֛ל הֲדַדְעֶ֥זֶר בֶּן־רְחֹ֖ב מֶ֥לֶךְ צוֹבָֽה׃

13David gained fame when he returned from defeating Edom in the Valley of Salt, 18,000 in all.

vai-YA-as da-VID shaym b'-shu-VO me-ha-KO-to et a-RAM b'-gei me-LAKH, sh'-mo-NAH a-SAR a-LEF

יגוַיַּ֤עַשׂ דָּוִד֙ שֵׁ֔ם בְּשֻׁב֕וֹ מֵהַכּוֹת֥וֹ אֶת־אֲרָ֖ם בְּגֵיא־מֶ֑לַח שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָֽלֶף׃

14He stationed garrisons in Edom—he stationed garrisons in all of Edom—and all the Edomites became vassals of David. Hashem gave David victory wherever he went.

vai-YA-sem b'-e-DOM n'-tzi-VIM b'-KOL e-DOM sam n'-tzi-VIM va-Y'-hee kol e-DOM a-va-DEEM l'-da-VID vai-YO-sha a-do-NAI et da-VID b'-KOL a-SHER ha-LAKH

ידוַיָּ֨שֶׂם בֶּאֱד֜וֹם נְצִבִ֗ים בְּכׇל־אֱדוֹם֙ שָׂ֣ם נְצִבִ֔ים וַיְהִ֥י כׇל־אֱד֖וֹם עֲבָדִ֣ים לְדָוִ֑ד וַיּ֤וֹשַׁע יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֔ד בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלָֽךְ׃

15David reigned over all Yisrael, and David executed true justice among all his people.

va-yim-LOKH da-VID al kol yis-ra-AYL vai-HEE da-VID o-SEH mish-PAT utz-da-KAH l'-khol a-MO

טווַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ דָּוִ֖ד עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י דָוִ֗ד עֹשֶׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה לְכׇל־עַמּֽוֹ׃

 8:15   David executed true justice among all his people

King David was an ideal king, not only because of his military prowess, and not even because of the beautiful Psalms he wrote, but because he ruled the nation with “true justice among all his people.” The medieval commentator Ralbag, also known as Gersonides, notes that the emphasis on “true justice” indicates that King David does not rule only with pure justice, which always follows the “letter of the law.” He goes beyond that, practicing righteousness to make sure that everyone gets not only that to which they are legally entitled, but whatever they need. This commitment to the highest level of ethics epitomizes the righteous reign of King David in the eyes of God.

16Yoav son of Tzeruya was commander of the army; Yehoshafat son of Achilud was recorder;

v'-yo-AV ben-tz'-ru-YAH al ha-tza-VA, vi-y'-ho-SHA-fat ben a-khi-LOOD maz-KIR

טזוְיוֹאָ֥ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֖ה עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד מַזְכִּֽיר׃

17Tzadok son of Achituv and Achimelech son of Evyatar were Kohanim; Seraya was scribe;

v'-tza-DOK ben a-khee-TOOV va-a-khee-ME-lekh ben ev-ya-TAR ko-ha-NEEM u-s'-ra-YAH so-FAYR

יזוְצָד֧וֹק בֶּן־אֲחִיט֛וּב וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֖ר כֹּהֲנִ֑ים וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה סוֹפֵֽר׃

18Benaiah son of Yehoyada was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were Kohanim.

u-v'-na-YA-hu ben y'-ho-ya-DA, v'-ha-k'-RE-tee v'-ha-p'-LE-tee, u-v'-nay da-VEED ko-ha-NEEM ha-YU.

יחוּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י וּבְנֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד כֹּהֲנִ֥ים הָיֽוּ׃