English Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire

1וַיְהִ֞י בְּבֹ֨א דָוִ֧ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֛יו צִֽקְלַ֖ג בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וַעֲמָלֵקִ֣י פָֽשְׁט֗וּ אֶל־ נֶ֙גֶב֙ וְאֶל־ צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־ צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

2and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way.

2וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּ אֶת־ הַנָּשִׁ֤ים אֲשֶׁר־ בָּהּ֙ מִקָּטֹ֣ן וְעַד־ גָּד֔וֹל לֹ֥א הֵמִ֖יתוּ אִ֑ישׁ וַיִּֽנְהֲג֔וּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לְדַרְכָּֽם׃

3And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

3וַיָּבֹ֨א דָוִ֤ד וַֽאֲנָשָׁיו֙ אֶל־ הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׂרוּפָ֖ה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֛ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נִשְׁבּֽוּ׃

4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.

4וַיִּשָּׂ֨א דָוִ֜ד וְהָעָ֧ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֛וֹ אֶת־ קוֹלָ֖ם וַיִּבְכּ֑וּ עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֵין־ בָּהֶ֛ם כֹּ֖חַ לִבְכּֽוֹת׃

5David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

5וּשְׁתֵּ֥י נְשֵֽׁי־ דָוִ֖ד נִשְׁבּ֑וּ אֲחִינֹ֙עַם֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵלִ֔ית וַאֲבִיגַ֕יִל אֵ֖שֶׁת נָבָ֥ל הַֽכַּרְמְלִֽי׃

6And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

6וַתֵּ֨צֶר לְדָוִ֜ד מְאֹ֗ד כִּֽי־ אָמְר֤וּ הָעָם֙ לְסָקְל֔וֹ כִּֽי־ מָ֙רָה֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ כָּל־ הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ עַל־ [בנו] (בָּנָ֣יו) וְעַל־ בְּנֹתָ֑יו וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק דָּוִ֔ד בַּיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃ ס

7And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

7וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד אֶל־ אֶבְיָתָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ בֶּן־ אֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ הַגִּֽישָׁה־ נָּ֥א לִ֖י הָאֵפֹ֑ד וַיַּגֵּ֧שׁ אֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־ הָאֵפֹ֖ד אֶל־ דָּוִֽד׃

8And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

8וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל דָּוִ֤ד בַּֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶרְדֹּ֛ף אַחֲרֵ֥י הַגְּדוּד־ הַזֶּ֖ה הַֽאַשִּׂגֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ רְדֹ֔ף כִּֽי־ הַשֵּׂ֥ג תַּשִּׂ֖יג וְהַצֵּ֥ל תַּצִּֽיל׃

9So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.

9וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד ה֚וּא וְשֵׁשׁ־ מֵא֥וֹת אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־ נַ֣חַל הַבְּשׂ֑וֹר וְהַנּֽוֹתָרִ֖ים עָמָֽדוּ׃

10But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

10וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף דָּוִ֔ד ה֖וּא וְאַרְבַּע־ מֵא֣וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ מָאתַ֣יִם אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּגְּר֔וּ מֵעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־ נַ֥חַל הַבְּשֽׂוֹר׃

11They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink,

11וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ אִישׁ־ מִצְרִי֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־ דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּתְּנוּ־ ל֥וֹ לֶ֙חֶם֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַיַּשְׁקֻ֖הוּ מָֽיִם׃

12and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.

12וַיִּתְּנוּ־ לוֹ֩ פֶ֨לַח דְּבֵלָ֜ה וּשְׁנֵ֤י צִמֻּקִים֙ וַיֹּ֔אכַל וַתָּ֥שָׁב רוּח֖וֹ אֵלָ֑יו כִּ֠י לֹֽא־ אָ֤כַל לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְלֹא־ שָׁ֣תָה מַ֔יִם שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֽוֹת׃ ס

13And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.

13וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֤וֹ דָוִד֙ לְֽמִי־ אַ֔תָּה וְאֵ֥י מִזֶּ֖ה אָ֑תָּה וַיֹּ֜אמֶר נַ֧עַר מִצְרִ֣י אָנֹ֗כִי עֶ֚בֶד לְאִ֣ישׁ עֲמָֽלֵקִ֔י וַיַּעַזְבֵ֧נִי אֲדֹנִ֛י כִּ֥י חָלִ֖יתִי הַיּ֥וֹם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

14We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

14אֲנַ֡חְנוּ פָּשַׁ֜טְנוּ נֶ֧גֶב הַכְּרֵתִ֛י וְעַל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לִֽיהוּדָ֖ה וְעַל־ נֶ֣גֶב כָּלֵ֑ב וְאֶת־ צִקְלַ֖ג שָׂרַ֥פְנוּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

15And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.”

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ דָּוִ֔ד הֲתוֹרִדֵ֖נִי אֶל־ הַגְּד֣וּד הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֡אמֶר הִשָּׁבְעָה֩ לִּ֨י בֵֽאלֹהִ֜ים אִם־ תְּמִיתֵ֗נִי וְאִם־ תַּסְגִּרֵ֙נִי֙ בְּיַד־ אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאוֹרִֽדְךָ֖ אֶל־ הַגְּד֥וּד הַזֶּֽה׃

16And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

16וַיֹּ֣רִדֵ֔הוּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה נְטֻשִׁ֖ים עַל־ פְּנֵ֣י כָל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ אֹכְלִ֤ים וְשֹׁתִים֙ וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים בְּכֹל֙ הַשָּׁלָ֣ל הַגָּד֔וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וּמֵאֶ֥רֶץ יְהוּדָֽה׃

17And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled.

17וַיַּכֵּ֥ם דָּוִ֛ד מֵהַנֶּ֥שֶׁף וְעַד־ הָעֶ֖רֶב לְמָֽחֳרָתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־ נִמְלַ֤ט מֵהֶם֙ אִ֔ישׁ כִּי֩ אִם־ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֧וֹת אִֽישׁ־ נַ֛עַר אֲשֶׁר־ רָכְב֥וּ עַל־ הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים וַיָּנֻֽסוּ׃

18David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.

18וַיַּצֵּ֣ל דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֛ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ עֲמָלֵ֑ק וְאֶת־ שְׁתֵּ֥י נָשָׁ֖יו הִצִּ֥יל דָּוִֽד׃

19Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all.

19וְלֹ֣א נֶעְדַּר־ לָ֠הֶם מִן־ הַקָּטֹ֨ן וְעַד־ הַגָּד֜וֹל וְעַד־ בָּנִ֤ים וּבָנוֹת֙ וּמִשָּׁלָ֔ל וְעַ֛ד כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָקְח֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הַכֹּ֖ל הֵשִׁ֥יב דָּוִֽד׃

20David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

20וַיִּקַּ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־ כָּל־ הַצֹּ֖אן וְהַבָּקָ֑ר נָהֲג֗וּ לִפְנֵי֙ הַמִּקְנֶ֣ה הַה֔וּא וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ זֶ֖ה שְׁלַ֥ל דָּוִֽד׃

21Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them.

21וַיָּבֹ֣א דָוִ֗ד אֶל־ מָאתַ֨יִם הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים אֲשֶֽׁר־ פִּגְּר֣וּ ׀ מִלֶּ֣כֶת ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י דָוִ֗ד וַיֹּֽשִׁיבֻם֙ בְּנַ֣חַל הַבְּשׂ֔וֹר וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֔ד וְלִקְרַ֖את הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־ אִתּ֑וֹ וַיִּגַּ֤שׁ דָּוִד֙ אֶת־ הָעָ֔ם וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל לָהֶ֖ם לְשָׁלֽוֹם׃ ס

22Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.”

22וַיַּ֜עַן כָּל־ אִֽישׁ־ רָ֣ע וּבְלִיַּ֗עַל מֵֽהָאֲנָשִׁים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלְכ֣וּ עִם־ דָּוִד֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ יַ֚עַן אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ הָלְכ֣וּ עִמִּ֔י לֹֽא־ נִתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֔ם מֵהַשָּׁלָ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִצַּ֑לְנוּ כִּֽי־ אִם־ אִ֤ישׁ אֶת־ אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ וְאֶת־ בָּנָ֔יו וְיִנְהֲג֖וּ וְיֵלֵֽכוּ׃ ס

23But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us.

23וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד לֹֽא־ תַעֲשׂ֥וּ כֵ֖ן אֶחָ֑י אֵ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֥ה לָ֙נוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁמֹ֣ר אֹתָ֔נוּ וַיִּתֵּ֗ן אֶֽת־ הַגְּד֛וּד הַבָּ֥א עָלֵ֖ינוּ בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃

24Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.”

24וּמִי֙ יִשְׁמַ֣ע לָכֶ֔ם לַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֞י כְּחֵ֣לֶק ׀ הַיֹּרֵ֣ד בַּמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וּֽכְחֵ֛לֶק הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב עַל־ הַכֵּלִ֖ים יַחְדָּ֥ו יַחֲלֹֽקוּ׃ ס

25And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

25וַיְהִ֕י מֵֽהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיְשִׂמֶ֜הָ לְחֹ֤ק וּלְמִשְׁפָּט֙ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ פ

26When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.”

26וַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶל־ צִ֣קְלַ֔ג וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח מֵֽהַשָּׁלָ֛ל לְזִקְנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֤ה לָכֶם֙ בְּרָכָ֔ה מִשְּׁלַ֖ל אֹיְבֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

27It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir,

27לַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּבֵֽית־ אֵ֛ל וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרָמֽוֹת־ נֶ֖גֶב וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיַתִּֽר׃

28in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa,

28וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בַּעֲרֹעֵ֛ר וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִֽׂפְמ֖וֹת וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶשְׁתְּמֹֽעַ׃ ס

29in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites,

29וְלַאֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּרָכָ֗ל וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַיְּרַחְמְאֵלִ֔י וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעָרֵ֥י הַקֵּינִֽי׃

30in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach,

30וְלַאֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּחָרְמָ֛ה וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבוֹר־ עָשָׁ֖ן וְלַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּעֲתָֽךְ׃

31in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

31וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וּֽלְכָל־ הַמְּקֹמ֛וֹת אֲשֶֽׁר־ הִתְהַלֶּךְ־ שָׁ֥ם דָּוִ֖ד ה֥וּא וַאֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ פ

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