David Avenges the Gibeonites

1  וַיְהִ֣י (And there was) רָעָב֩ (a famine) בִּימֵ֨י (in the days) דָוִ֜ד (of David) שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (for three) שָׁנִ֗ים (years), שָׁנָה֙ (year) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) שָׁנָ֔ה (year). וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (And inquired) דָּוִ֖ד (David) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵ֣י (of) יְהוָ֑הס (YHWH).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH), אֶל־ (Because) שָׁאוּל֙ (of Saul) וְאֶל־ (and) בֵּ֣ית (his house) הַדָּמִ֔ים (is the blood), עַל־ (on account) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הֵמִ֖ית (he killed) אֶת־ (-) הַגִּבְעֹנִֽים׃ (the Gibeonites).

2  וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And called) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) לַגִּבְעֹנִ֖ים (the Gibeonites) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and spoke) אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (to them) וְהַגִּבְעֹנִ֞ים (and the Gibeonites) לֹ֣א (not) מִבְּנֵ֧י (of the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) הֵ֗מָּה (they were), כִּ֚י (for) אִם־ (they were only) מִיֶּ֣תֶר (of the remnant) הָאֱמֹרִ֔י (of the Amorite). וּבְנֵ֤י (And the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) נִשְׁבְּע֣וּ (had sworn protection) לָהֶ֔ם (to them), וַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁ (and had sought) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) לְהַכֹּתָ֔ם (to kill them) בְּקַנֹּאת֥וֹ (in his zeal) לִבְנֵֽי־ (for the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) וִיהוּדָֽה׃ (and Judah).

3  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) הַגִּבְעֹנִ֔ים (the Gibeonites), מָ֥ה (What) אֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה (shall I do) לָכֶ֑ם (for you⁺), וּבַמָּ֣ה (and with what) אֲכַפֵּ֔ר (shall I make atonement), וּבָרְכ֖וּ (that you may bless) אֶת־ (-) נַחֲלַ֥ת (the inheritance) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH)?

4  וַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ (And said) ל֣וֹ (to him) הַגִּבְעֹנִ֗ים (the Gibeonites), אֵֽין־ (We will have no) לִי (-) כֶּ֤סֶף (silver) וְזָהָב֙ (or gold) עִם־ (from) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) וְעִם־ (or from) בֵּית֔וֹ (his house), וְאֵֽין־ (and not) לָ֥נוּ (we have) אִ֖ישׁ (any man) לְהָמִ֣ית (to put to death) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel).

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (And he said), מָֽה־ (What) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) אֹמְרִ֖ים (are saying), אֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה (I can do) לָכֶֽם׃ (for you⁺).

5  וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (And they answered) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), הָאִישׁ֙ (The man) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) כִּלָּ֔נוּ (consumed us) וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר (and) דִּמָּה־ (plotted) לָ֑נוּ (against us) נִשְׁמַ֕דְנוּ (that we should be destroyed) מֵֽהִתְיַצֵּ֖ב (from remaining) בְּכָל־ (in any) גְּבֻ֥ל (of the territories) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel), 6  יְנָתָן (let be given) לָ֜נוּ (to us) שִׁבְעָ֤ה (seven) אֲנָשִׁים֙ (men) מִבָּנָ֔יו (of his sons), וְהוֹקַֽעֲנוּם֙ (and we will hang them) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (before YHWH) בְּגִבְעַ֥ת (in Gibeah) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul), בְּחִ֣יר (chosen by) יְהוָ֑הס (YHWH).

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), אֲנִ֥י (I) אֶתֵּֽן׃ (will give them).

7  וַיַּחְמֹ֣ל (And had pity) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) עַל־ (on) מְפִי־ (Mephi-) בֹ֖שֶׁת (bosheth) בֶּן־ (son) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (of Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁא֑וּל (of Saul), עַל־ (because) שְׁבֻעַ֤ת (of the oath) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) בֵּֽינֹתָ֔ם (between them), בֵּ֣ין (between) דָּוִ֔ד (David) וּבֵ֖ין (and between) יְהוֹנָתָ֥ן (Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 8  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) שְׁ֠נֵי (two) בְּנֵ֨י (the sons) רִצְפָּ֤ה (of Rizpah) בַת־ (daughter) אַיָּה֙ (of Aiah), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) יָלְדָ֣ה (she bore) לְשָׁא֔וּל (to Saul), אֶת־ (-) אַרְמֹנִ֖י (Armoni) וְאֶת־ (and) מְפִבֹ֑שֶׁת (Mephibosheth), וְאֶת־ (and) חֲמֵ֗שֶׁת (five) בְּנֵי֙ (the sons) מִיכַ֣ל (of Michal) בַּת־ (daughter) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) יָלְדָ֛ה (she brought up) לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל (for Adriel) בֶּן־ (son) בַּרְזִלַּ֖י (of Barzillai) הַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃ (the Meholathite). 9  וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֞ם (And he gave them) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hands) הַגִּבְעֹנִ֗ים (of the Gibeonites), וַיֹּקִיעֻ֤ם (and they hanged them) בָּהָר֙ (on the hill) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH). וַיִּפְּל֥וּ (And they fell) שִׁבְעָתַיִם (seven) יָ֑חַד (together), וְהֵם (and they) הֻמְת֜וּ (were put to death) בִּימֵ֤י (in the days) קָצִיר֙ (of harvest), בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים (in the first days) תְּחִלַּת (in the beginning) קְצִ֥יר (of the harvest) שְׂעֹרִֽים׃ (of barley).

10  וַתִּקַּ֣ח (And took) רִצְפָּה֩ (Rizpah) בַת־ (daughter) אַיָּ֨ה (of Aiah) אֶת־ (-) הַשַּׂ֜ק (sackcloth), וַתַּטֵּ֨הוּ (and she spread it) לָ֤הּ (for herself) אֶל־ (on) הַצּוּר֙ (the rock), מִתְּחִלַּ֣ת (from the beginning) קָצִ֔יר (of harvest) עַ֛ד (until) נִתַּךְ־ (poured) מַ֥יִם (the late rains) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (on them) מִן־ (from) הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם (the heavens). וְלֹֽא־ (And not) נָתְנָה֩ (she did allow) ע֨וֹף (the birds) הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם (of the heavens) לָנ֤וּחַ (to rest) עֲלֵיהֶם֙ (on them) יוֹמָ֔ם (by day), וְאֶת־ (and not) חַיַּ֥ת (the beasts) הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה (of the field) לָֽיְלָה׃ (by night).

11  וַיֻּגַּ֖ד (And was told) לְדָוִ֑ד (David) אֵ֧ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) עָשְׂתָ֛ה (had done) רִצְפָּ֥ה (Rizpah) בַת־ (daughter) אַיָּ֖ה (of Aiah), פִּלֶ֥גֶשׁ (the concubine) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 12  וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (And went) דָּוִ֗ד (David) וַיִּקַּ֞ח (and took) אֶת־ (-) עַצְמ֤וֹת (the bones) שָׁאוּל֙ (of Saul) וְאֶת־ (and) עַצְמוֹת֙ (the bones) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (of Jonathan) בְּנ֔וֹ (his son) מֵאֵ֕ת (from) בַּעֲלֵ֖י (the men) יָבֵ֣ישׁ (of Jabesh-) גִּלְעָ֑ד (gilead) אֲשֶׁר֩ (who) גָּנְב֨וּ (had stolen) אֹתָ֜ם (them) מֵרְחֹ֣ב (from the broad place) בֵּֽית־ (of Beth-) שַׁ֗ן (shan), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (where) תָּלוּם (had hanged them) שָׁם (there) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים (the Philistines) בְּי֨וֹם (after) הַכּ֧וֹת (had struck down) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֛ים (the Philistines) אֶת־ (-) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃ (in Gilboa).

13  וַיַּ֤עַל (And he brought up) מִשָּׁם֙ (from there) אֶת־ (-) עַצְמ֣וֹת (the bones) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul) וְאֶת־ (and) עַצְמ֖וֹת (the bones) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (of Jonathan) בְּנ֑וֹ (his son), וַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּ (and they gathered) אֶת־ (-) עַצְמ֖וֹת (the bones) הַמּוּקָעִֽים׃ (of those who had been hanged). 14  וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ (And they buried) אֶת־ (-) עַצְמוֹת־ (the bones) שָׁא֣וּל (of Saul) וִיהוֹנָֽתָן־ (and Jonathan) בְּ֠נוֹ (his son) בְּאֶ֨רֶץ (in the country) בִּנְיָמִ֜ן (of Benjamin) בְּצֵלָ֗ע (in Zelah), בְּקֶ֙בֶר֙ (in the tomb) קִ֣ישׁ (of Kish) אָבִ֔יו (his father).

וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּ (And they performed) כֹּ֥ל (all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוָּ֖ה (commanded) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king), וַיֵּעָתֵ֧ר (and heeded the prayer) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (God) לָאָ֖רֶץ (for the land) אַֽחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵֽן׃פ (that).

Four Battles against the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15  וַתְּהִי־ (And were) ע֧וֹד (again) מִלְחָמָ֛ה (at war) לַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (the Philistines) אֶת־ (with) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וַיֵּ֨רֶד (and went down) דָּוִ֜ד (David) וַעֲבָדָ֥יו (and his servants) עִמּ֛וֹ (with him) וַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּ (and they fought) אֶת־ (against) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (the Philistines), וַיָּ֥עַף (and grew faint) דָּוִֽד׃ (David).

16  וְיִשְׁבּוֹ (And Ishbi-) בְּנֹ֜ב (benob), אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ (who was one) בִּילִידֵ֣י (of the sons) הָרָפָ֗ה (of Rapha) וּמִשְׁקַ֤ל (and the weight) קֵינוֹ֙ (of his spear was) שְׁלֹ֤שׁ (three) מֵאוֹת֙ (hundred) מִשְׁקַ֣ל (shekels in weight) נְחֹ֔שֶׁת (bronze), וְה֖וּא (and he) חָג֣וּר (was bearing) חֲדָשָׁ֑ה (a new one)— וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and spoke) לְהַכּ֥וֹת (of striking) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִֽד׃ (David). 17  וַיַּֽעֲזָר־ (And came to aid) לוֹ֙ (to him) אֲבִישַׁ֣י (Abishai) בֶּן־ (son) צְרוּיָ֔ה (of Zeruiah) וַיַּ֥ךְ (and struck) אֶת־ (-) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י (the Philistine) וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ (and killed him).

אָ֣ז (Then) נִשְׁבְּעוּ֩ (swore) אַנְשֵׁי־ (the men) דָוִ֨ד (of David) ל֜וֹ (to him), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), לֹא־ (No) תֵצֵ֨א (you shall go out) ע֤וֹד (more) אִתָּ֙נוּ֙ (with us) לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (to battle), וְלֹ֥א (lest) תְכַבֶּ֖ה (you quench) אֶת־ (-) נֵ֥ר (the lamp) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel).

18  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) אַֽחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֔ן (thus), וַתְּהִי־ (that there was) ע֧וֹד (again) הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (the battle) בְּג֖וֹב (at Gob) עִם־ (with) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines). אָ֣ז (Then) הִכָּ֗ה (killed) סִבְּכַי֙ (Sibbechai) הַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔י (the Hushathite) אֶת־ (-) סַ֕ף (Saph), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who was one) בִּילִדֵ֥י (of the sons) הָרָפָֽה׃פ (of Rapha).

19  וַתְּהִי־ (And there was) ע֧וֹד (again) הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (war) בְּג֖וֹב (at Gob) עִם־ (with) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (the Philistines), וַיַּ֡ךְ (and struck) אֶלְחָנָן֩ (Elhanan) בֶּן־ (son) יַעְרֵ֨י (of Jaare-) אֹרְגִ֜ים (oregim) בֵּ֣ית (the Beth-) הַלַּחְמִ֗י (lehemite) אֵ֚ת (-) גָּלְיָ֣ת (Goliath) הַגִּתִּ֔י (the Gittite), וְעֵ֣ץ (and the shaft) חֲנִית֔וֹ (of his spear) כִּמְנ֖וֹר (was like a beam) אֹרְגִֽים׃ס (of weavers).

20  וַתְּהִי־ (And there was) ע֥וֹד (again) מִלְחָמָ֖ה (war) בְּגַ֑ת (at Gath), וַיְהִ֣י׀ (and where there was) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) מָדִין (of stature), וְאֶצְבְּעֹ֣ת (and the fingers) יָדָיו֩ (of his hands) וְאֶצְבְּעֹ֨ת (and the toes) רַגְלָ֜יו (of his feet) שֵׁ֣שׁ (were six) וָשֵׁ֗שׁ (and six)— עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (twenty) וְאַרְבַּע֙ (and four) מִסְפָּ֔ר (in number). וְגַם־ (And also) ה֖וּא (he) יֻלַּ֥ד (was born) לְהָרָפָֽה׃ (from Rapha). 21  וַיְחָרֵ֖ף (And he defied) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel), וַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙ (and killed him) יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (Jonathan) בֶּן־ (son) שִׁמְעִי (of Shimei) אֲחִ֥י (the brother) דָוִֽד׃ (of David).

22  אֶת־ (-) אַרְבַּ֥עַת (four) אֵ֛לֶּה (these) יֻלְּד֥וּ (were born) לְהָרָפָ֖ה (of Rapha) בְּגַ֑ת (in Gath), וַיִּפְּל֥וּ (and they fell) בְיַד־ (by the hand) דָּוִ֖ד (of David) וּבְיַ֥ד (and by the hand) עֲבָדָֽיו׃פ (of his servants).