2 Samuel 14 שְׁמוּאֵל ב פרק י״ד

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 2 Samuel 14 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיֵּדַעperceivedיוֹאָבJoabבֶּן־צְרֻיָהson-of-Zeruiahכִּי־לֵבthat-the-heart-ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingעַל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם׃towards-Absalom

   Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.

2. 2

   וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentיוֹאָבJoabתְּקוֹעָהto-Tekoaוַיִּקַּחand-tookמִשָּׁםfrom-thereאִשָּׁהa-womanחֲכָמָהwiseוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֵלֶיהָto-herהִתְאַבְּלִי־נָאfeign-yourself-a-mournerוְלִבְשִׁי־נָאand-put-on-nowבִגְדֵי־אֵבֶלmourning-apparelוְאַל־תָּסוּכִיand-do-not-anoint-yourselfשֶׁמֶןoilוְהָיִיתbut-beכְּאִשָּׁהas-a-womanזֶהthisיָמִיםdaysרַבִּיםlongמִתְאַבֶּלֶתthat-had-mournedעַל־מֵת׃for-the-dead

   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:

3. 3

   וּבָאתand-comeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingוְדִבַּרְתְּand-speakאֵלָיוto-himכַּדָּבָרin-this-mannerהַזֶּהthisוַיָּשֶׂםso-putיוֹאָבJoabאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםthe-wordsבְּפִיהָ׃in-her-mouth

   And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4. 4

   וַתֹּאמֶרand-saidהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanהַתְּקֹעִיתthe-Tekoiteאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingוַתִּפֹּלshe-fellעַל־אַפֶּיהָon-her-faceאַרְצָהto-the-groundוַתִּשְׁתָּחוּand-bowed-herselfוַתֹּאמֶרand-saidהוֹשִׁעָהhelpהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the-king

   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.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמֶר־לָהּand-said-to-herהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingמַה־לָּךְwhat-ails-youוַתֹּאמֶרand-saidאֲבָלindeedאִשָּׁה־אַלְמָנָהa-widow-womanאָנִיIוַיָּמׇתand-he-diedאִישִׁי׃my-husband

   And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

6. 6

   וּלְשִׁפְחָתְךָand-your-handmaid-hadשְׁנֵיtwoבָנִיםsonsוַיִּנָּצוּand-they-strove-togetherשְׁנֵיהֶםthe-two-of-themבַּשָּׂדֶהin-the-fieldוְאֵיןand-there-was-noneמַצִּילto-part-themבֵּינֵיהֶםbetween-themוַיַּכּוֹand-smoteהָאֶחָדthe-oneאֶת־הָאֶחָדthe-otherוַיָּמֶתand-slewאֹתוֹ׃him

   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.

7. 7

   וְהִנֵּהand-beholdקָמָהis-risenכׇל־הַמִּשְׁפָּחָהall-the-familyעַל־שִׁפְחָתֶךָagainst-your-handmaidוַיֹּאמְרוּand-they-saidתְּנִיdeliverאֶת־מַכֵּהhim-that-smoteאָחִיוhis-brotherוּנְמִתֵהוּthat-we-may-kill-himבְּנֶפֶשׁfor-the-life-ofאָחִיוhis-brotherאֲשֶׁרwhichהָרָגhe-slewוְנַשְׁמִידָהand-we-will-destroyגַּםalsoאֶת־הַיּוֹרֵשׁthe-heirוְכִבּוּand-so-they-shall-quenchאֶת־גַּחַלְתִּיmy-coalאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁאָרָהis-leftלְבִלְתִּיto-not(שום)[שִׂים־]לְאִישִׁיleaving-to-my-husbandשֵׁםa-nameוּשְׁאֵרִיתor-a-remainderעַל־פְּנֵיuponהָאֲדָמָה׃the-earth

   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.

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֶל־הָאִשָּׁהto-the-womanלְכִיgoלְבֵיתֵךְto-your-houseוַאֲנִיand-Iאֲצַוֶּהwill-give-chargeעָלָיִךְ׃concerning-you

   And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

9. 9

   וַתֹּאמֶרand-saidהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanהַתְּקוֹעִיתthe-Tekoiteאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingעָלַיon-meאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingהֶעָוֺןthe-iniquityוְעַל־בֵּיתand-on-the-house-ofאָבִיmy-fatherוְהַמֶּלֶךְand-the-kingוְכִסְאוֹand-his-throneנָקִי׃guiltless

   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.

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingהַמְדַבֵּרwhoever-says-anythingאֵלַיִךְto-youוַהֲבֵאתוֹbring-himאֵלַיto-meוְלֹא־יֹסִיףand-he-shall-not-againעוֹדany-moreלָגַעַתtouchבָּךְ׃in-you

    And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

11. 11

    וַתֹּאמֶרand-saidיִזְכׇּר־נָאlet-remember-I-prayהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֶת־יְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour-God[מֵהַרְבַּת]from-destroying-moreגֹּאֵלthe-revenger-ofהַדָּםthe-bloodלְשַׁחֵתto-destroyוְלֹאand-notיַשְׁמִידוּthey-destroyאֶת־בְּנִיmy-sonוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidחַי־יְהֹוָהas-the-LORD-livesאִם־יִפֹּלthere-shall-not-fallמִשַּׂעֲרַתone-hair-ofבְּנֵךְyour-sonאָרְצָה׃to-the-earth

    Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

12. 12

    וַתֹּאמֶרand-saidהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanתְּדַבֶּר־נָאlet-speak-I-prayשִׁפְחָתְךָyour-maidservantאֶל־אֲדֹנִיto-my-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingדָּבָרone-wordוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדַּבֵּרִי׃say-on

    Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

13. 13

    וַתֹּאמֶרand-saidהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanוְלָמָּהwhy-thenחָשַׁבְתָּהhave-you-devisedכָּזֹאתsuch-a-thingעַל־עַםagainst-the-people-ofאֱלֹהִיםGodוּמִדַּבֵּרfor-in-speakingהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingהַדָּבָרthe-wordהַזֶּהthisכְּאָשֵׁםas-one-that-is-guiltyלְבִלְתִּיto-notהָשִׁיבfetch-home-againהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֶת־נִדְּחוֹ׃his-banished-one

    And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.

14. 14

    כִּי־מוֹתfor-surelyנָמוּתwe-shall-dieוְכַמַּיִםand-be-as-waterהַנִּגָּרִיםspiltאַרְצָהon-the-groundאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹאnotיֵאָסֵפוּcan-be-gathered-upוְלֹא־יִשָּׂאneither-does-take-awayאֱלֹהִיםGodנֶפֶשׁlifeוְחָשַׁבbut-devisesמַחֲשָׁבוֹתmeansלְבִלְתִּיto-notיִדַּחbe-banishedמִמֶּנּוּof-usנִדָּח׃an-outcast

    For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

15. 15

    וְעַתָּהand-nowאֲשֶׁר־בָּאתִיthat-I-am-comeלְדַבֵּרto-speakאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingאֲדֹנִיmy-lordאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe-thingהַזֶּהthisכִּיbecauseיֵרְאֻנִיhave-made-me-afraidהָעָםthe-peopleוַתֹּאמֶרand-saidשִׁפְחָתְךָyour-maidservantאֲדַבְּרָה־נָּאI-will-now-speakאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingאוּלַיit-may-beיַעֲשֶׂהshall-doהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֶת־דְּבַרthe-request-ofאֲמָתוֹ׃his-handmaid

    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.

16. 16

    כִּיforיִשְׁמַעwill-hearהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלְהַצִּילto-deliverאֶת־אֲמָתוֹhis-handmaidמִכַּףout-of-the-hand-ofהָאִישׁthe-manלְהַשְׁמִידthat-would-destroyאֹתִיmeוְאֶת־בְּנִיand-my-sonיַחַדtogetherמִנַּחֲלַתout-of-the-inheritance-ofאֱלֹהִים׃God

    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 God.

17. 17

    וַתֹּאמֶרand-saidשִׁפְחָתְךָyour-maidservantיִהְיֶה־נָּאlet-now-beדְּבַר־אֲדֹנִיthe-word-of-my-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלִמְנֻחָהcomfortableכִּיforכְּמַלְאַךְas-an-angel-ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe-Godכֵּןthusאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלִשְׁמֹעַto-discernהַטּוֹבgoodוְהָרָעand-badוַיהֹוָהand-the-LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָyour-Godיְהִיwill-beעִמָּךְ׃with-you

    Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.

18. 18

    וַיַּעַןand-answeredהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֶל־הָאִשָּׁהto-the-womanאַל־נָאdo-not-I-prayתְכַחֲדִיhide-notמִמֶּנִּיfrom-meדָּבָרthe-thingאֲשֶׁרwhichאָנֹכִיIשֹׁאֵלshall-askאֹתָךְyouוַתֹּאמֶרand-saidהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanיְדַבֶּר־נָאlet-now-speakאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the-king

    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.

19. 19

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingהֲיַדis-the-hand-ofיוֹאָבJoabאִתָּךְwith-youבְּכׇל־זֹאתin-all-thisוַתַּעַןand-answeredהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanוַתֹּאמֶרand-saidחֵי־נַפְשְׁךָas-your-soul-livesאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאִם־אִשׁnone-canלְהֵמִיןturn-to-the-right-handוּלְהַשְׂמִילor-to-the-leftמִכֹּלfrom-anythingאֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּרwhich-spokeאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingכִּי־עַבְדְּךָfor-your-servantיוֹאָבJoabהוּאheצִוָּנִיhe-bade-meוְהוּאand-heשָׂםputבְּפִיin-the-mouth-ofשִׁפְחָתְךָyour-maidservantאֵת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִיםall-the-wordsהָאֵלֶּה׃these

    And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul 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:

20. 20

    לְבַעֲבוּרtoסַבֵּבturn-the-other-wayאֶת־פְּנֵיthe-face-ofהַדָּבָרthis-matterעָשָׂהhas-doneעַבְדְּךָyour-servantיוֹאָבJoabאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe-thingהַזֶּהthisוַאדֹנִיand-my-lordחָכָםis-wiseכְּחׇכְמַתaccording-to-the-wisdom-ofמַלְאַךְan-angel-ofהָאֱלֹהִיםthe-Godלָדַעַתto-knowאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרall-whichבָּאָרֶץ׃on-the-earth

    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 angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.

21. 21

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֶל־יוֹאָבto-Joabהִנֵּה־נָאbehold-I-prayעָשִׂיתִיyou-have-doneאֶת־הַדָּבָרthe-thingהַזֶּהthisוְלֵךְgo-thereforeהָשֵׁבbring-backאֶת־הַנַּעַרthe-young-manאֶת־אַבְשָׁלוֹם׃Absalom

    And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

22. 22

    וַיִּפֹּלand-fellיוֹאָבJoabאֶל־פָּנָיוon-his-faceאַרְצָהto-the-groundוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּand-bowed-himselfוַיְבָרֶךְand-thankedאֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidיוֹאָבJoabהַיּוֹםtodayיָדַעknowsעַבְדְּךָyour-servantכִּי־מָצָאתִיbecause-I-foundחֵןfavorבְּעֵינֶיךָin-your-eyesאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהin-that-has-fulfilledהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֶת־דְּבַרthe-request-of(עבדו)[עַבְדֶּךָ]׃his-servant

    And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day 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.

23. 23

    וַיָּקׇםand-he-aroseיוֹאָבJoabוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentגְּשׁוּרָהto-Geshurוַיָּבֵאand-broughtאֶת־אַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Jerusalem

    So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24. 24

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingיִסֹּבlet-him-turnאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto-his-own-houseוּפָנַיand-my-faceלֹאnotיִרְאֶהlet-him-seeוַיִּסֹּבso-returnedאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto-his-own-houseוּפְנֵיand-the-face-ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלֹאnotרָאָה׃he-saw

    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.

25. 25

    וּכְאַבְשָׁלוֹםbut-as-Absalomלֹא־הָיָהnot-wasאִישׁ־יָפֶהnone-so-praisedבְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלin-all-Israelלְהַלֵּלfor-his-beautyמְאֹדexceedinglyמִכַּףfrom-the-sole-ofרַגְלוֹhis-footוְעַדand-untoקׇדְקֳדוֹthe-crown-of-his-headלֹא־הָיָהnot-wasבוֹin-himמוּם׃blemish

    But in all Israel 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.

26. 26

    וּבְגַלְּחוֹand-when-he-shavedאֶת־רֹאשׁוֹhis-headוְהָיָהand-it-wasמִקֵּץat-the-end-ofיָמִיםdaysלַיָּמִיםevery-yearאֲשֶׁרwhichיְגַלֵּחַhe-cut-itכִּי־כָבֵדbecause-it-was-heavyעָלָיוupon-himוְגִלְּחוֹtherefore-he-cut-itוְשָׁקַלand-he-weighedאֶת־שְׂעַרthe-hair-ofרֹאשׁוֹhis-headמָאתַיִםtwo-hundredשְׁקָלִיםshekelsבְּאֶבֶןby-the-weight-ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the-king

    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.

27. 27

    וַיִּוָּלְדוּand-there-were-bornלְאַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomשְׁלוֹשָׁהthreeבָנִיםsonsוּבַתand-one-daughterאַחַתoneוּשְׁמָהּwhose-name-wasתָּמָרTamarהִיאsheהָיְתָהwasאִשָּׁהa-womanיְפַתof-fairמַרְאֶה׃appearance

    And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28. 28

    וַיֵּשֶׁבso-dweltאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomבִּירוּשָׁלַ͏ִםin-Jerusalemשְׁנָתַיִםtwoיָמִיםfull-yearsוּפְנֵיand-the-face-ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלֹאnotרָאָה׃he-did-not-see

    So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

29. 29

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomאֶל־יוֹאָבto-Joabלִשְׁלֹחַto-sendאֹתוֹhimאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingוְלֹאand-notאָבָהhe-would-notלָבוֹאto-comeאֵלָיוto-himוַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentעוֹדany-moreשֵׁנִיתthe-second-timeוְלֹאand-notאָבָהhe-would-notלָבוֹא׃to-come

    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.

30. 30

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֶל־עֲבָדָיוto-his-servantsרְאוּseeחֶלְקַתthe-field-ofיוֹאָבJoabאֶל־יָדִיis-near-mineוְלוֹ־שָׁםand-he-has-thereשְׂעֹרִיםbarleyלְכוּgo[וְהַצִּיתוּהָ]and-set-it-on-fireבָאֵשׁin-fireוַיַּצִּתוּand-set-on-fireעַבְדֵיservants-ofאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomאֶת־הַחֶלְקָהthe-fieldבָּאֵשׁ׃by-fire

    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.

31. 31

    וַיָּקׇםand-he-aroseיוֹאָבJoabוַיָּבֹאand-cameאֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomהַבָּיְתָהto-his-houseוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֵלָיוto-himלָמָּהwhyהִצִּיתוּhave-set-on-fireעֲבָדֶיךָyour-servantsאֶת־הַחֶלְקָהmy-fieldאֲשֶׁר־לִיwhich-to-meבָּאֵשׁ׃by-fire

    Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

32. 32

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomאֶל־יוֹאָבto-JoabהִנֵּהbeholdשָׁלַחְתִּיI-sentאֵלֶיךָto-youלֵאמֹרsayingבֹּאcomeהֵנָּהhereוְאֶשְׁלְחָהthat-I-may-sendאֹתְךָyouאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingלֵאמֹרsayingלָמָּהwhyבָּאתִיam-I-comeמִגְּשׁוּרfrom-Geshurטוֹבit-would-be-betterלִיto-meעֹדstillאֲנִי־שָׁםfor-me-to-be-thereוְעַתָּהand-nowאֶרְאֶהlet-me-seeפְּנֵיface-ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוְאִם־יֶשׁ־בִּיand-if-there-be-in-meעָוֺןany-iniquityוֶהֱמִתָנִי׃let-him-kill-me

    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.

33. 33

    וַיָּבֹאand-cameיוֹאָבJoabאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingוַיַּגֶּד־לוֹand-told-himוַיִּקְרָאand-he-called-forאֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomוַיָּבֹאand-cameאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto-the-kingוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּand-bowed-himselfלוֹto-himעַל־אַפָּיוon-his-faceאַרְצָהto-the-groundלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוַיִּשַּׁקand-kissedהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלְאַבְשָׁלוֹם׃to-Absalom

    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.