II Samuel 18

שמואל ב׳ פרק י״ח

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Samuel | Chapter: 18 of 24 | Day: 94 of 742

Date: May 16, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

II Samuel 18 is the catastrophe toward which the entire Avshalom narrative has been moving, and yet its tone is not triumphant but elegiac. The chapter opens with Dovid mustering his forces and dividing them into thirds under Yoav, Avishai, and Itai HaGitti, and the people’s refusal to let the king himself go out to battle (“you are like ten thousand of us”) echoes the logic of earlier passages where Dovid is shielded as ner Yisrael, the lamp of Israel. But the king’s final charge to his three captains — לאט לי לנער לאבשלום, “deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Avshalom” — already breaks the frame. A king sending his army to suppress an armed rebellion does not normally instruct his generals to spare the rebel commander. The narrator emphasizes that “all the people heard” this charge, a detail that will become decisive when an anonymous soldier later refuses to strike Avshalom precisely because he heard. Dovid the father has already overridden Dovid the king before a sword is drawn.

The battle itself is rendered in only three verses, but with a haunting line that shapes the chapter’s theology: וירב היער לאכל בעם מאשר אכלה החרב, “the forest devoured more of the people than the sword devoured.” Rashi reads this literally — wild beasts and the treacherous Trans-Jordanian terrain destroyed fleeing soldiers; Radak adds that the dense forest swallowed men in pits and ravines. But the line also functions theologically: the land itself becomes the agent of judgment, and the rebel army is undone not by Dovid’s professional troops but by the geography of Israel turning against Israel. This sets up Avshalom’s personal fate as a microcosm. He encounters a great terebinth (אלה גדולה), his head is caught, and his mule — the royal mount of princes, the same beast that will carry Shlomo to coronation in I Kings 1 — passes on without him, leaving him suspended “between heaven and earth.” The text is delicate: it never says his hair caught him, but the long heavy hair of chapter 14, weighed annually like a relic of vanity, hangs unspoken over the scene, and Chazal read it as the instrument of his ensnarement. What made him beautiful in his rebellion becomes the noose.

Yoav’s response is the chapter’s hinge. The unnamed soldier who reports Avshalom’s predicament refuses Yoav’s offered bribe of ten silver and a belt, citing the king’s command in the king’s own language: “we all heard.” Yoav’s reply — לא כן אחילה לפניך, “I cannot wait like this before you” — is a soldier’s contempt for sentimentality, and he takes שלשה שבטים, which Rashi understands as three rods or staves rather than spears, and drives them into Avshalom’s heart while he is still alive בלב האלה, in the heart of the terebinth. The Hebrew pun on lev — heart of the tree, heart of the rebel — is one of the chapter’s terrible literary economies. Ten of Yoav’s arms-bearers then finish the work, and a great pit in the forest with a heap of stones becomes the rebel’s grave, a grim counterpoint to the pillar Avshalom had earlier raised for himself in the King’s Valley because he had no son to keep his name (a verse that has occasioned much commentary, since 14:27 mentioned three sons; Rashi suggests they had died, while Radak treats it as a separate textual concern). The man who sought a name has only Yad Avshalom, an empty monument, and a stone-heap in a forest no one will visit. Yoav’s defiance of Dovid here is the seed that Shlomo will eventually harvest in I Kings 2 — but in the moment, Yoav’s brutal calculus is the survival logic of statecraft, while Dovid’s lament will be the logic of fatherhood, and the book has no resolution to offer between them.

The final third of the chapter slows almost to silence as it tracks two runners across the plain. Achima’atz ben Tzadok, the eager idealist, begs to bring the news; Yoav refuses him with the strange rebuke לא איש בשורה אתה היום הזה, “you are not the man for the news today,” and dispatches an unnamed Cushite instead. Achima’atz persists, takes the longer but smoother way of the Kikar (the round road through the plain), and outruns the Cushite — the watchman recognizes him from a distance “by his running.” But when Achima’atz arrives gasping and prostrate before Dovid at the gate of Machanayim, with the formula “Blessed is the Lord your God who has shut up the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king,” Dovid cuts through the victory report with the only question that matters: השלום לנער לאבשלום, “is it well with the young man, with Avshalom?” Achima’atz, who ran so hard to be first, suddenly cannot speak; he stammers about “a great commotion” and claims he does not know. Dovid commands him: סב התיצב כה, “step aside, stand here” — a quiet judgment on the messenger who came without his message. Then the Cushite arrives, and his answer is one of the most devastating euphemisms in all of Tanakh: יהיו כנער אויבי אדני המלך וכל אשר קמו עליך לרעה, “may the enemies of my lord the king and all who rose up against you for evil be like that young man.” The news is delivered without the word death; the king understands instantly.

The chapter ends on Dovid’s silence, but its real ending lies in the verses immediately following, where the king will go up to the chamber over the gate and weep the cry that has stood for parental grief in Hebrew literature ever since: בני אבשלום בני בני אבשלום מי יתן מותי אני תחתיך אבשלום בני בני. The military victory is total; Dovid’s throne is restored; the rebellion is over. And none of it matters. The chapter has staged the deepest tension in the entire Davidic narrative — the king who must be saved against his will from the consequences of his own mercy, the general whose disobedience secures the kingdom, the father whose private loss eclipses the public salvation. The forest of Ephraim, like the forest of every rebellion in Tanakh, devours more than the sword does, and what it devours first is the heart of a father who would have given anything, including the kingdom itself, to die in his son’s place.

פרק י״ח · Chapter 18

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שָׂרֵ֥י אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י מֵאֽוֹת׃

English:

David mustered the troops who were with him and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיְשַׁלַּ֨ח דָּוִ֜ד אֶת־הָעָ֗ם הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית בְּיַד־יוֹאָב֙ וְ֠הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֠ית בְּיַ֨ד אֲבִישַׁ֤י בֶּן־צְרוּיָה֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹאָ֔ב וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ת בְּיַ֖ד אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֑י {ס}        וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם יָצֹ֥א אֵצֵ֛א גַּם־אֲנִ֖י עִמָּכֶֽם׃

English:

David sent out the troops,asent out the troops Some Septuagint mss. read “divided the troops into three.” one-third under the command of Joab, one-third under the command of Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one-third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And David said to the troops, “I myself will march out with you.”

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָעָ֜ם לֹ֣א תֵצֵ֗א כִּי֩ אִם־נֹ֨ס נָנ֜וּס לֹֽא־יָשִׂ֧ימוּ אֵלֵ֣ינוּ לֵ֗ב וְאִם־יָמֻ֤תוּ חֶצְיֵ֙נוּ֙ לֹא־יָשִׂ֤ימוּ אֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙ לֵ֔ב כִּֽי־עַתָּ֥ה כָמֹ֖נוּ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה אֲלָפִ֑ים וְעַתָּ֣ה ט֔וֹב כִּֽי־תִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ מֵעִ֖יר (לעזיר) [לַעְזֽוֹר]׃ {ס}        

English:

But the troops replied, “No! For if some of us flee, the rest will not be concerned about us; even if half of us should die, the others will not be concerned about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us.byou are worth ten thousand of us So two Heb. mss., Septuagint, and Vulgate; cf. 1 Kings 1.18 and note. Most mss. and the editions read “Now there are ten thousand like us.” Therefore, it is better for you to support us from the town.”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־יִיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֖ם אֶעֱשֶׂ֑ה וַיַּעֲמֹ֤ד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֔עַר וְכׇל־הָעָם֙ יָֽצְא֔וּ לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃

English:

And the king said to them, “I will do whatever you think best.”So the king stood beside the gate as all the troops marched out by their hundreds and thousands.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־י֠וֹאָ֠ב וְאֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת־אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאַט־לִ֖י לַנַּ֣עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וְכׇל־הָעָ֣ם שָׁמְע֗וּ בְּצַוֺּ֥ת הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים עַל־דְּבַ֥ר אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

English:

The king gave orders to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “Deal gently with my boy Absalom, for my sake.” All the troops heard the king give the order about Absalom to all the officers.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הָעָ֛ם הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַתְּהִ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה בְּיַ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

English:

The troops marched out into the open to confront the Israelites,cIsraelites The usual term in this narrative for the supporters of Absalom. and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.dEphraim Some Septuagint mss. read “Mahanaim”; cf. 17.24.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיִּנָּ֤גְפוּ שָׁם֙ עַ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֞ם הַמַּגֵּפָ֧ה גְדוֹלָ֛ה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא עֶשְׂרִ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃

English:

The Israelite troops were routed by David’s followers, and a great slaughter took place there that day—twenty thousand men.

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַתְּהִי־שָׁ֧ם הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (נפצות) [נָפ֖וֹצֶת] עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כׇל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיֶּ֤רֶב הַיַּ֙עַר֙ לֶאֱכֹ֣ל בָּעָ֔ם מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָכְלָ֛ה הַחֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃

English:

The battle spread out over that whole region, and the forest devoured more troops that day than the sword.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיִּקָּרֵא֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד וְאַבְשָׁל֞וֹם רֹכֵ֣ב עַל־הַפֶּ֗רֶד וַיָּבֹ֣א הַפֶּ֡רֶד תַּ֣חַת שׂ֩וֹבֶךְ֩ הָאֵלָ֨ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֜ה וַיֶּחֱזַ֧ק רֹאשׁ֣וֹ בָאֵלָ֗ה וַיֻּתַּן֙ בֵּ֤ין הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהַפֶּ֥רֶד אֲשֶׁר־תַּחְתָּ֖יו עָבָֽר׃

English:

Absalom encountered some of David’s followers. Absalom was riding on a mule, and as the mule passed under the tangled branches of a great terebinth, his hair got caught in the terebinth; he was heldewas held Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Ancient versions and 4QSamᵃ read “was left hanging”; cf. v. 10. between heaven and earth as the mule under him kept going.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיַּרְא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְיוֹאָ֑ב וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ רָאִ֣יתִי אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם תָּל֖וּי בָּאֵלָֽה׃

English:

One of the men saw it and told Joab, “I have just seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָאִישׁ֙ הַמַּגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה רָאִ֔יתָ וּמַדּ֛וּעַ לֹא־הִכִּית֥וֹ שָׁ֖ם אָ֑רְצָה וְעָלַ֗י לָ֤תֶת לְךָ֙ עֲשָׂ֣רָה כֶ֔סֶף וַחֲגֹרָ֖ה אֶחָֽת׃

English:

Joab said to the one who told him, “You saw it! Why didn’t you kill him then and there?fthen and there Lit. “to the ground.” I would have owed you tengten Some Septuagint mss. and 4QSamᵃ read “fifty.” shekels of silver and a belt.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִישׁ֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב (ולא) [וְל֨וּ] אָנֹכִ֜י שֹׁקֵ֤ל עַל־כַּפַּי֙ אֶ֣לֶף כֶּ֔סֶף לֹא־אֶשְׁלַ֥ח יָדִ֖י אֶל־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י בְאׇזְנֵ֜ינוּ צִוָּ֣ה הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֹ֠תְךָ֠ וְאֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֤י וְאֶת־אִתַּי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שִׁמְרוּ־מִ֕י בַּנַּ֖עַר בְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃

English:

But the man answered Joab, “Even if I had a thousand shekels of silver in my hands, I would not raise a hand against the king’s son. For the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai in our hearing, ‘Watch over my boy Absalom, for my sake.‘hfor my sake So some Heb. mss. and ancient versions. Most mss. and editions read “who”—perhaps meaning “whoever you are.”

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

אֽוֹ־עָשִׂ֤יתִי (בנפשו) [בְנַפְשִׁי֙] שֶׁ֔קֶר וְכׇל־דָּבָ֖ר לֹא־יִכָּחֵ֣ד מִן־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּתְיַצֵּ֥ב מִנֶּֽגֶד׃

English:

If I betrayed myselfiIf I betrayed myself I.e., if I killed Absalom.—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have stood aloof.”

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב לֹא־כֵ֖ן אֹחִ֣ילָה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיִּקַּח֩ שְׁלֹשָׁ֨ה שְׁבָטִ֜ים בְּכַפּ֗וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם֙ בְּלֵ֣ב אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י בְּלֵ֥ב הָאֵלָֽה׃

English:

Joab replied, “Then I will not wait for you.”jThen I will not wait for you Some Septuagint mss. and Targum read “Therefore, I will begin before you.” He took three darts in his hand and drove them into Absalom’s chest. [Absalom] was still alive in the thick growth of the terebinth,

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה נְעָרִ֔ים נֹשְׂאֵ֖י כְּלֵ֣י יוֹאָ֑ב וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם וַיְמִתֻֽהוּ׃

English:

when ten of Joab’s young arms-bearers closed in and struck at Absalom until he died.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְקַ֤ע יוֹאָב֙ בַּשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַיָּ֣שׇׁב הָעָ֔ם מִרְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־חָשַׂ֥ךְ יוֹאָ֖ב אֶת־הָעָֽם׃

English:

Then Joab sounded the horn, and the troops gave up their pursuit of the Israelites; for Joab held the troops in check.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ אֹת֤וֹ בַיַּ֙עַר֙ אֶל־הַפַּ֣חַת הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיַּצִּ֧בוּ עָלָ֛יו גַּל־אֲבָנִ֖ים גָּד֣וֹל מְאֹ֑ד וְכׇ֨ל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נָ֖סוּ אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָֽו׃

English:

They took Absalom and flung him into a large pit in the forest, and they piled up a very great heap of stones over it. Then all the Israelites fled to their homes.—

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֣ם לָקַ֗ח וַיַּצֶּב־ל֤וֹ בְחַיָּו֙ אֶת־מַצֶּ֙בֶת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּעֵֽמֶק־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֤י אָמַר֙ אֵֽין־לִ֣י בֵ֔ן בַּעֲב֖וּר הַזְכִּ֣יר שְׁמִ֑י וַיִּקְרָ֤א לַמַּצֶּ֙בֶת֙ עַל־שְׁמ֔וֹ וַיִּקָּ֤רֵא לָהּ֙ יַ֣ד אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}        

English:

Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken the pillar that is in the Valley of the King and set it up for himself; for he said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” He had named the pillar after himself, and it has been called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַאֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־צָדוֹק֙ אָמַ֔ר אָר֣וּצָה נָּ֔א וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה אֶת־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּֽי־שְׁפָט֥וֹ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִיַּ֥ד אֹיְבָֽיו׃

English:

Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me run and report to the king that GOD has vindicated him against his enemies.”

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יוֹאָ֗ב לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה אַתָּה֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ בְּי֣וֹם אַחֵ֑ר וְהַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר כִּֽי־עַל־[כֵּ֥ן] בֶּן־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵֽת׃

English:

But Joab said to him, “You shall not be the one to bring tidings today. You may bring tidings some other day, but you’ll not bring any today; for the king’s son is dead!”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹאָב֙ לַכּוּשִׁ֔י לֵ֛ךְ הַגֵּ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאִ֑יתָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ כוּשִׁ֛י לְיוֹאָ֖ב וַיָּרֹֽץ׃

English:

And Joab said to a Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran off.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֜וֹד אֲחִימַ֤עַץ בֶּן־צָדוֹק֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב וִ֣יהִי מָ֔ה אָרֻֽצָה־נָּ֥א גַם־אָ֖נִי אַחֲרֵ֣י הַכּוּשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֗ב לָֽמָּה־זֶּ֞ה אַתָּ֥ה רָץ֙ בְּנִ֔י וּלְכָ֖ה אֵין־בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה מֹצֵֽאת׃

English:

But Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “No matter what, let me run, too, behind the Cushite.” Joab asked, “Why should you run, my boy, when you have no news worth telling?“kworth telling Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וִיהִי־מָ֣ה אָר֔וּץ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ ר֑וּץ וַיָּ֤רׇץ אֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַכּוּשִֽׁי׃

English:

“I am going to run anyway.” “Then run,” he said. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the Plain, and he passed the Cushite.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וְדָוִ֥ד יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בֵּין־שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַצֹּפֶ֜ה אֶל־גַּ֤ג הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ אֶל־הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂ֤א אֶת־עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה־אִ֖ישׁ רָ֥ץ לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

English:

David was sitting between the two gates.lthe two gates I.e., the inner and outer gateways. The watchman on the roof of the gate walked over to the city wall. He looked up and saw a man running alone.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אִם־לְבַדּ֖וֹ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּפִ֑יו וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ הָל֖וֹךְ וְקָרֵֽב׃

English:

The watchman called down and told the king; and the king said, “If he is alone, he has news to report.” As he was coming nearer,

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣רְא הַצֹּפֶה֮ אִישׁ־אַחֵ֣ר רָץ֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א הַצֹּפֶה֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁעֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה־אִ֖ישׁ רָ֣ץ לְבַדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ גַּם־זֶ֥ה מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃

English:

the watchman saw another man running; and he called out to the gatekeeper, “There is another man running alone.” And the king said, “That one, too, brings news.”

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַצֹּפֶ֔ה אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־מְרוּצַ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת אֲחִימַ֣עַץ בֶּן־צָד֑וֹק וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אִֽישׁ־ט֣וֹב זֶ֔ה וְאֶל־בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה יָבֽוֹא׃

English:

The watchman said, “I can see that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok”; to which the king replied, “He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֣א אֲחִימַ֗עַץ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שָׁל֔וֹם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָ֑רְצָה {ס}        וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּרוּךְ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר סִגַּר֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־נָשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־יָדָ֖ם בַּאדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}        

English:

Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” He bowed low with his face to the ground and said, “Praised be the ETERNAL your God, who has delivered up those involved—who raised their hand against my lord the king.”

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲחִימַ֡עַץ רָאִ֩יתִי֩ הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּד֜וֹל לִ֠שְׁלֹ֠חַ אֶת־עֶ֨בֶד הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ יוֹאָב֙ וְאֶת־עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי מָֽה׃

English:

The king asked, “Is my boy Absalom safe?” And Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a large crowd when Your Majesty’s servant Joab was sending your servant off,ma large crowd … sending your servant off Meaning of Heb. uncertain. but I don’t know what it was about.”

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ סֹ֖ב הִתְיַצֵּ֣ב כֹּ֑ה וַיִּסֹּ֖ב וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד׃

English:

The king said, “Step aside and stand over there”; he stepped aside and waited.

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַכּוּשִׁ֖י בָּ֑א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־שְׁפָטְךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ הַיּ֔וֹם מִיַּ֖ד כׇּל־הַקָּמִ֥ים עָלֶֽיךָ׃ {ס}        

English:

Just then the Cushite came up; and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king be informed that GOD has vindicated you today against all who rebelled against you!”

פסוק ל״ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־הַכּוּשִׁ֔י הֲשָׁל֥וֹם לַנַּ֖עַר לְאַבְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִהְי֤וּ כַנַּ֙עַר֙ אֹֽיְבֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־קָ֥מוּ עָלֶ֖יךָ לְרָעָֽה׃ {ס}        

English:

The king asked the Cushite, “Is my boy Absalom safe?” And the Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rose against you to do you harm fare like that young man!”

Navigation

← II Samuel 17 | II Samuel 19 →

Back to II Samuel | Back to Nach Yomi