Nevi'im
Shemu'el Bet12
2 Samuel · Chapter 12
And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) sent Nathan unto Dawid. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
The rich
man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
But the poor
man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
And Dawid’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) liveth, the man that hath done this
thing shall surely die:
And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to Dawid, Thou
art the man. Thus saith 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) Elohim of Yisra'el, I anointed thee king over Yisra'el, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Sha'ul;
And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Yisra'el and of Judah; and if
that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the mitsvah of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH), to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife
to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Thus saith 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH), Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give
them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
For thou didst
it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Yisra'el, and before the sun.
And Dawid said unto Nathan, I have sinned against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH). And Nathan said unto Dawid, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) to blaspheme, the child also
that is born unto thee shall surely die.
And Nathan departed unto his house. And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto Dawid, and it was very sick.
Dawid therefore besought Elohim for the child; and Dawid fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
And the elders of his house arose,
and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of Dawid feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
But when Dawid saw that his servants whispered, Dawid perceived that the child was dead: therefore Dawid said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
Then Dawid arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed
himself,
and changed his apparel, and came into the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH), and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Then said his servants unto him, What thing
is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child,
while it was
alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell
whether Elohim will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
And Dawid comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Shelomoh: and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) loved him.
And he sent by the hand of Nathan the navi; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH).
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
And Joab sent messengers to Dawid, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
And Dawid gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof
was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was
set on Dawid’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
And he brought forth the people that
were therein, and put
them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So Dawid and all the people returned unto Yerushalayim.
Nevi'im
Shemu'el Bet13
2 Samuel · Chapter 13
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of Dawid had a fair sister, whose name
was Tamar; and Amnon the son of Dawid loved her.
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she
was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name
was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah Dawid’s brother: and Jonadab
was a very subtil man.
And he said unto him, Why
art thou,
being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see
it, and eat
it at her hand.
So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
Then Dawid sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded
it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
And she took a pan, and poured
them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought
them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
And when she had brought
them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Yisra'el: do not thou this folly.
And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Yisra'el. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her
was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
And she said unto him,
There is no cause: this evil in sending me away
is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this
woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
And
she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters
that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that
was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he
is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
But when king Dawid heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which
is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous and be valiant.
And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to Dawid, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah Dawid’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose
that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And
Dawid mourned for his son every day.
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
And
the nephesh of king Dawid longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
Nevi'im
Shemu'el Bet14
2 Samuel · Chapter 14
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart
was
toward Absalom.
And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I
am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and
there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband
neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity
be on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne
be guiltless.
And the king said, Whosoever saith
ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) thy Elohim, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak
one
word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of Elohim? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.
For we must needs die, and
are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth Elohim respect
any
person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king,
it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man
that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of Elohim.
Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an mal'akh of Elohim, so
is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YHWH) thy Elohim will be with thee.
Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
And the king said,
Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said,
As thy nephesh liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:
To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord
is wise, according to the wisdom of an mal'akh of Elohim, to know all
things that
are in the earth.
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, Today thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Yerushalayim.
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
But in all Yisra'el there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled
it: because
the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name
was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Yerushalayim, and saw not the king’s face.
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto
his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur?
it had been good for me
to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be
any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.