David Anointed King of Judah

1  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) אַֽחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֗ן (this), וַיִּשְׁאַל֩ (that inquired) דָּוִ֨ד (David) בַּֽיהוָ֤ה׀ (of YHWH), לֵאמֹר֙ (saying), הַאֶעֱלֶ֗ה (Shall I go up) בְּאַחַת֙ (to one) עָרֵ֣י (of the cities) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah)?

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֵלָ֖יו (to him), עֲלֵ֑ה (Go up).

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֛ד (David), אָ֥נָה (Where) אֶעֱלֶ֖ה (shall I go up)?

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And He said), חֶבְרֹֽנָה׃ (To Hebron).

2  וַיַּ֤עַל (And went up) שָׁם֙ (there) דָּוִ֔ד (David), וְגַ֖ם (and also) שְׁתֵּ֣י (two) נָשָׁ֑יו (his wives) אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ (Ahinoam) הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית (the Jezreelitess) וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל (and Abigail) אֵ֖שֶׁת (the widow) נָבָ֥ל (of Nabal) הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃ (the Carmelite). 3  וַאֲנָשָׁ֧יו (And the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) עִמּ֛וֹ (with him) הֶעֱלָ֥ה (brought up) דָוִ֖ד (David), אִ֣ישׁ (every man) וּבֵית֑וֹ (and his household); וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (and they dwelt) בְּעָרֵ֥י (in the cities) חֶבְרֽוֹן׃ (of Hebron).

4  וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (And came) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ־ (and they anointed) שָׁ֧ם (there) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֛ד (David) לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (king) עַל־ (over) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah). וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ (And they told) לְדָוִד֙ (David), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אַנְשֵׁי֙ (The men) יָבֵ֣ישׁ (of Jabesh-) גִּלְעָ֔ד (gilead) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (are they who) קָבְר֖וּ (buried) אֶת־ (-) שָׁאֽוּל׃ס (Saul).

5  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) דָּוִד֙ (David) מַלְאָכִ֔ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) אַנְשֵׁ֖י (the men) יָבֵ֣ישׁ (of Jabesh-) גִּלְעָ֑ד (gilead) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them), בְּרֻכִ֤ים (Are blessed) אַתֶּם֙ (you⁺) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (for) עֲשִׂיתֶ֜ם (you⁺ have shown) הַחֶ֣סֶד (the kindness) הַזֶּ֗ה (this) עִם־ (to) אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ lord), עִם־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וַֽתִּקְבְּר֖וּ (and have buried) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him). 6  וְעַתָּ֕ה (And) יַֽעַשׂ־ (may show) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) עִמָּכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) חֶ֣סֶד (loving devotion) וֶאֱמֶ֑ת (and truth), וְגַ֣ם (and also) אָנֹכִ֗י (I) אֶעֱשֶׂ֤ה (will repay) אִתְּכֶם֙ (you⁺) הַטּוֹבָ֣ה (the kindness) הַזֹּ֔את (this), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (because) עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם (you⁺ have done) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the thing) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 7  וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (And now) תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה (let be strengthened), יְדֵיכֶ֗ם (your⁺ hands) וִֽהְיוּ֙ (and become) לִבְנֵי־ (sons) חַ֔יִל (of valor). כִּי־ (For) מֵ֖ת (is dead) אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ master) שָׁא֑וּל (Saul), וְגַם־ (and also) אֹתִ֗י (me) מָשְׁח֧וּ (has anointed) בֵית־ (the house) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah) לְמֶ֖לֶךְ (king) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃פ (over them).

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8  וְאַבְנֵ֣ר (And Abner) בֶּן־ (son) נֵ֔ר (of Ner), שַׂר־ (commander) צָבָ֖א (of army) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לְשָׁא֑וּל (was unto Saul), לָקַ֗ח (took) אֶת־ (-) אִ֥ישׁ (Ish-) בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ (bosheth) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul) וַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּ (and brought him over to) מַחֲנָֽיִם׃ (Mahanaim). 9  וַיַּמְלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ (And he made him king) אֶל־ (over) הַגִּלְעָ֔ד (Gilead), וְאֶל־ (and over) הָאֲשׁוּרִ֖י (the Ashurites), וְאֶֽל־ (and over) יִזְרְעֶ֑אל (Jezreel), וְעַל־ (and over) אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (Ephraim), וְעַל־ (and over) בִּנְיָמִ֔ן (Benjamin), וְעַל־ (and over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) כֻּלֹּֽה׃פ (all).

10  בֶּן־ (A son) אַרְבָּעִ֨ים (of forty) שָׁנָ֜ה (years) אִֽישׁ־ (Ish-) בֹּ֣שֶׁת (bosheth was), בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֗וּל (of Saul), בְּמָלְכוֹ֙ (when he began to reign) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וּשְׁתַּ֥יִם (and two) שָׁנִ֖ים (years) מָלָ֑ךְ (he reigned).

אַ֚ךְ (Only) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) הָי֖וּ (was) אַחֲרֵ֥י (behind) דָוִֽד׃ (David). 11  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And was) מִסְפַּ֣ר (the number) הַיָּמִ֔ים (of the days) אֲשֶׁר֩ (that) הָיָ֨ה (was) דָוִ֥ד (David) מֶ֛לֶךְ (king) בְּחֶבְר֖וֹן (in Hebron) עַל־ (over) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah) שֶׁ֥בַע (seven) שָׁנִ֖ים (years) וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה (and six) חֳדָשִֽׁים׃ס (months).

The Battle of Gibeon

12  וַיֵּצֵא֙ (And went out) אַבְנֵ֣ר (Abner) בֶּן־ (son) נֵ֔ר (of Ner) וְעַבְדֵ֖י (and the servants) אִֽישׁ־ (of Ish-) בֹּ֣שֶׁת (bosheth) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֑וּל (of Saul) מִֽמַּחֲנַ֖יִם (from Mahanaim) גִּבְעֽוֹנָה׃ (to Gibeon). 13  וְיוֹאָ֨ב (And Joab) בֶּן־ (son) צְרוּיָ֜ה (of Zeruiah) וְעַבְדֵ֤י (and the servants) דָוִד֙ (of David) יָֽצְא֔וּ (went out) וַֽיִּפְגְּשׁ֛וּם (and met them) עַל־ (by) בְּרֵכַ֥ת (the pool) גִּבְע֖וֹן (of Gibeon) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together), וַיֵּ֨שְׁב֜וּ (and they sat down), אֵ֤לֶּה (these) עַל־ (of) הַבְּרֵכָה֙ (the pool) מִזֶּ֔ה (on this side), וְאֵ֥לֶּה (and these) עַל־ (of) הַבְּרֵכָ֖ה (the pool) מִזֶּֽה׃ (on this side).

14  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אַבְנֵר֙ (Abner) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), יָק֤וּמוּ (Let arise) נָא֙ (now) הַנְּעָרִ֔ים (the young men) וִֽישַׂחֲק֖וּ (and compete) לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ (before us).

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab), יָקֻֽמוּ׃ (Let them arise).

15  וַיָּקֻ֖מוּ (And they arose) וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ (and went over) בְמִסְפָּ֑ר (by number) שְׁנֵ֧ים (two) עָשָׂ֣ר (and ten) לְבִנְיָמִ֗ן (from Benjamin) וּלְאִ֥ישׁ (and of Ish-) בֹּ֙שֶׁת֙ (bosheth) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), וּשְׁנֵ֥ים (and two) עָשָׂ֖ר (and ten) מֵעַבְדֵ֥י (from the servants) דָוִֽד׃ (of David). 16  וַֽיַּחֲזִ֜קוּ (And grasped) אִ֣ישׁ׀ (each one) בְּרֹ֣אשׁ (by the head), רֵעֵ֗הוּ (his opponent) וְחַרְבּוֹ֙ (and thrust his sword) בְּצַ֣ד (in side) רֵעֵ֔הוּ (of his opponent), וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ (and they fell down) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together). וַיִּקְרָא֙ (And was called) לַמָּק֣וֹם (the place) הַה֔וּא (that) חֶלְקַ֥ת (Helkath-) הַצֻּרִ֖ים (hazzurim), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which is) בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃ (in Gibeon).

17  וַתְּהִ֧י (And there was) הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (a battle) קָשָׁ֥ה (fierce) עַד־ (even) מְאֹ֖ד (the very) בַּיּ֣וֹם (day) הַה֑וּא (that), וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף (and were struck) אַבְנֵר֙ (Abner) וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י (and the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) עַבְדֵ֥י (the servants) דָוִֽד׃ (of David).

18  וַיִּֽהְיוּ־ (And were) שָׁ֗ם (there) שְׁלֹשָׁה֙ (three) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) צְרוּיָ֔ה (of Zeruiah) יוֹאָ֥ב (Joab), וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י (and Abishai), וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל (and Asahel). וַעֲשָׂהאֵל֙ (And Asahel) קַ֣ל (was as fleet) בְּרַגְלָ֔יו (of foot) כְּאַחַ֥ד (as one) הַצְּבָיִ֖ם (of the gazelles) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (are in the field). 19  וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף (And pursued) עֲשָׂהאֵ֖ל (Asahel) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) אַבְנֵ֑ר (Abner), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) נָטָ֣ה (he did stretch) לָלֶ֗כֶת (in going) עַל־ (to) הַיָּמִין֙ (the right hand) וְעַֽל־ (or to) הַשְּׂמֹ֔אול (the left) מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י (from following) אַבְנֵֽר׃ (Abner). 20  וַיִּ֤פֶן (And looked) אַבְנֵר֙ (Abner) אַֽחֲרָ֔יו (behind him) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הַאַתָּ֥ה (You) זֶ֖ה (is this), עֲשָׂהאֵ֑ל (Asahel)?

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And He answered), אָנֹֽכִי׃ (It is I).

21  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) ל֣וֹ (to him) אַבְנֵ֗ר (Abner), נְטֵ֤ה (Stretch aside) לְךָ֙ (to) עַל־ (-) יְמִֽינְךָ֙ (your right hand) א֣וֹ (or) עַל־ (to) שְׂמֹאלֶ֔ךָ (your left), וֶאֱחֹ֣ז (and lay hold) לְךָ֗ (on) אֶחָד֙ (one) מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים (of the young men), וְקַח־ (and take) לְךָ֖ (for yourself) אֶת־ (-) חֲלִצָת֑וֹ (his armor).

וְלֹֽא־ (Not) אָבָ֣ה (would) עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל (Asahel) לָס֖וּר (turn aside) מֵאַחֲרָֽיו׃ (from after him).

22  וַיֹּ֧סֶף (And added) ע֣וֹד (again) אַבְנֵ֗ר (Abner) לֵאמֹר֙ (in saying) אֶל־ (to) עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל (Asahel), ס֥וּר (Turn aside) לְךָ֖ (from) מֵאַֽחֲרָ֑י (following me). לָ֤מָּה (Why) אַכֶּ֙כָּה֙ (should I strike you) אַ֔רְצָה (to the ground)? וְאֵיךְ֙ (And how) אֶשָּׂ֣א (could I lift up) פָנַ֔י (my face) אֶל־ (unto) יוֹאָ֖ב (Joab) אָחִֽיךָ׃ (your brother)?

23  וַיְמָאֵ֣ן (And he refused) לָס֗וּר (to turn aside). וַיַּכֵּ֣הוּ (And struck him) אַבְנֵר֩ (Abner) בְּאַחֲרֵ֨י (with the back) הַחֲנִ֜ית (of the spear) אֶל־ (in) הַחֹ֗מֶשׁ (the stomach), וַתֵּצֵ֤א (and came out) הַֽחֲנִית֙ (the spear) מֵאַחֲרָ֔יו (of his back), וַיִּפָּל־ (and he fell down) שָׁ֖ם (there) וַיָּ֣מָת (and died) תַּחַתוֹ (under him). וַיְהִ֡י (And it came to pass that) כָּל־ (all) הַבָּ֣א (who came) אֶֽל־ (to) הַמָּקוֹם֩ (the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) נָ֨פַל (fell down) שָׁ֧ם (there) עֲשָׂהאֵ֛ל (Asahel) וַיָּמֹ֖ת (and died), וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽדוּ׃ (and they stood still). 24  וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֛וּ (And pursued) יוֹאָ֥ב (Joab) וַאֲבִישַׁ֖י (and Abishai) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) אַבְנֵ֑ר (Abner), וְהַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ (and the sun) בָּ֔אָה (was going down), וְהֵ֗מָּה (and they) בָּ֚אוּ (came) עַד־ (to) גִּבְעַ֣ת (the hill) אַמָּ֔ה (of Ammah) אֲשֶׁר֙ (which is) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵי־ (the face) גִ֔יחַ (of Giah) דֶּ֖רֶךְ (by the way) מִדְבַּ֥ר (of the Wilderness) גִּבְעֽוֹן׃ (of Gibeon).

25  וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּ (And gathered together) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) בִנְיָמִן֙ (of Benjamin) אַחֲרֵ֣י (behind) אַבְנֵ֔ר (Abner), וַיִּהְי֖וּ (and they became) לַאֲגֻדָּ֣ה (unit) אֶחָ֑ת (one), וַיַּ֣עַמְד֔וּ (and took their stand) עַ֥ל (on) רֹאשׁ־ (top) גִּבְעָ֖ה (of hill) אֶחָֽת׃ (a certain). 26  וַיִּקְרָ֨א (And called) אַבְנֵ֜ר (Abner) אֶל־ (to) יוֹאָ֗ב (Joab) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), הֲלָנֶ֙צַח֙ (Shall forever) תֹּ֣אכַל (devour) חֶ֔רֶב (the sword)? הֲל֣וֹא (Do not) יָדַ֔עְתָּה (you know) כִּֽי־ (that) מָרָ֥ה (bitter) תִהְיֶ֖ה (it will be) בָּאַחֲרוֹנָ֑ה (in the end)? וְעַד־ (And until) מָתַי֙ (when) לֹֽא־ (not) תֹאמַ֣ר (will you say) לָעָ֔ם (to the people) לָשׁ֖וּב (to turn) מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י (from after) אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ (their brothers)?

27  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab), חַ֚י (As lives) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (God), כִּ֥י (for) לוּלֵ֖א (unless) דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ (you had spoken), כִּ֣י (surely) אָ֤ז (then) מֵֽהַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ (by the morning) נַעֲלָ֣ה (would have pulled back) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אִ֖ישׁ (all) מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י (from after) אָחִֽיו׃ (their brothers).

28  וַיִּתְקַ֤ע (And blew) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר (in the shofar), וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ (and stood still) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִרְדְּפ֥וּ (did pursue) ע֖וֹד (anymore) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יָסְפ֥וּ (they did continue) ע֖וֹד (anymore) לְהִלָּחֵֽם׃ (to fight). 29  וְאַבְנֵ֣ר (And Abner) וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֗יו (and his men) הָֽלְכוּ֙ (went on) בָּֽעֲרָבָ֔ה (through the Arabah) כֹּ֖ל (all) הַלַּ֣יְלָה (the night) הַה֑וּא (that), וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ (and they passed over) אֶת־ (-) הַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן (the Jordan), וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ (and marched through) כָּל־ (all) הַבִּתְר֔וֹן (Bithron), וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and they entered) מַחֲנָֽיִם׃ (Mahanaim).

30  וְיוֹאָ֗ב (And Joab) שָׁ֚ב (returned) מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י (from pursuing) אַבְנֵ֔ר (Abner), וַיִּקְבֹּ֖ץ (and he gathered together) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֑ם (the people).

וַיִּפָּ֨קְד֜וּ (And there were missing) מֵעַבְדֵ֥י (from the servants) דָוִ֛ד (of David) תִּשְׁעָֽה־ (nine) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אִ֖ישׁ (men), וַעֲשָׂה־ (and Asah-) אֵֽל׃ (el). 31  וְעַבְדֵ֣י (And the servants) דָוִ֗ד (of David) הִכּוּ֙ (had struck down) מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן (from Benjamin) וּבְאַנְשֵׁ֖י (even from the men) אַבְנֵ֑ר (of Abner) שְׁלֹשׁ־ (three) מֵא֧וֹת (hundred) וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים (and sixty) אִ֖ישׁ (men) מֵֽתוּ׃ (who died). 32  וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ (And they took up) אֶת־ (-) עֲשָׂהאֵ֔ל (Asahel) וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֙הוּ֙ (and buried him) בְּקֶ֣בֶר (in tomb) אָבִ֔יו (of his father) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that was) בֵּ֣ית (in Beth-) לָ֑חֶם (lehem). וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ (And marched) כָל־ (all) הַלַּ֗יְלָה (the night) יוֹאָב֙ (Joab) וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו (and his men), וַיֵּאֹ֥ר (and at daybreak) לָהֶ֖ם (they came) בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃ (to Hebron).