2 Samuel 17 שְׁמוּאֵל ב פרק י״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 2 Samuel 17 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֲחִיתֹפֶלAhithophelאֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomאֶבְחֲרָהlet-me-choose-outנָּאnowשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרtwelveאֶלֶףthousandאִישׁmenוְאָקוּמָהand-I-will-ariseוְאֶרְדְּפָהand-pursueאַחֲרֵי־דָוִדafter-Davidהַלָּיְלָה׃this-night

   Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

2. 2

   וְאָבוֹאand-I-will-comeעָלָיוupon-himוְהוּאand-heיָגֵעַwearyוּרְפֵהand-weak-ofיָדַיִםhandsוְהַחֲרַדְתִּיand-will-make-afraidאֹתוֹhimוְנָסshall-fleeכׇּל־הָעָםall-the-peopleאֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹwhich-with-himוְהִכֵּיתִיand-I-will-smiteאֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingלְבַדּוֹ׃only

   And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

3. 3

   וְאָשִׁיבָהand-I-will-bring-backכׇל־הָעָםall-the-peopleאֵלֶיךָto-youכְּשׁוּבwhen-all-returnהַכֹּלallהָאִישׁthe-manאֲשֶׁרwhichאַתָּהyouמְבַקֵּשׁseekכׇּל־הָעָםall-the-peopleיִהְיֶהshall-beשָׁלוֹם׃in-peace

   And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

4. 4

   וַיִּישַׁרand-pleased-wellהַדָּבָרthe-sayingבְּעֵינֵיin-the-eyes-ofאַבְשָׁלֹםAbsalomוּבְעֵינֵיand-in-the-eyes-ofכׇּל־זִקְנֵיall-the-elders-ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Israel

   And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomקְרָאcallנָאI-prayגַּםalsoלְחוּשַׁיHushaiהָאַרְכִּיthe-Architeוְנִשְׁמְעָהand-let-us-hearמַה־בְּפִיוwhat-he-saysגַּם־הוּא׃likewise

   Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

6. 6

   וַיָּבֹאand-cameחוּשַׁיHushaiאֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomאֵלָיוto-himלֵאמֹרsayingכַּדָּבָרafter-such-a-mannerהַזֶּהthisדִּבֶּרhas-spokenאֲחִיתֹפֶלAhithophelהֲנַעֲשֶׂהshall-we-doאֶת־דְּבָרוֹafter-his-sayingאִם־אַיִןif-notאַתָּהyouדַבֵּר׃speak-you

   And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.

7. 7

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidחוּשַׁיHushaiאֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomלֹא־טוֹבָהis-not-goodהָעֵצָהthe-counselאֲשֶׁר־יָעַץthat-has-givenאֲחִיתֹפֶלAhithophelבַּפַּעַםat-timeהַזֹּאת׃this

   And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidחוּשַׁיHushaiאַתָּהyouיָדַעְתָּyou-knowאֶת־אָבִיךָyour-fatherוְאֶת־אֲנָשָׁיוand-his-menכִּיforגִבֹּרִיםwarriorsהֵמָּהtheyוּמָרֵיand-embittered-ofנֶפֶשׁsoulהֵמָּהtheyכְּדֹבlike-a-bearשַׁכּוּלrobbed-of-its-cubsבַּשָּׂדֶהin-the-fieldוְאָבִיךָand-your-fatherאִישׁa-man-ofמִלְחָמָהwarוְלֹאand-notיָלִיןwill-spend-the-nightאֶת־הָעָם׃with-the-people

   For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

9. 9

   הִנֵּהbeholdעַתָּהnowהוּא־נֶחְבָּאhe-is-hidבְּאַחַתin-someהַפְּחָתִיםpitאוֹorבְּאַחַדin-someהַמְּקוֹמֹתother-placeוְהָיָהand-it-will-come-to-passכִּנְפֹלwhen-fallבָּהֶםsome-of-themבַּתְּחִלָּהin-the-first-attackוְשָׁמַעand-hearsהַשֹּׁמֵעַwhoever-hearsוְאָמַרwill-sayהָיְתָהthere-isמַגֵּפָהa-slaughterבָּעָםamong-the-peopleאֲשֶׁרwhichאַחֲרֵיafterאַבְשָׁלֹם׃Absalom

   Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

10. 10

    וְהוּאand-heגַם־בֶּן־חַיִלeven-a-warriorאֲשֶׁרwhichלִבּוֹhis-heartכְּלֵבlike-the-heart-ofהָאַרְיֵהthe-lionהִמֵּסutterlyיִמָּסshall-meltכִּי־יֹדֵעַfor-knowsכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall-Israelכִּי־גִבּוֹרthat-is-a-mighty-manאָבִיךָyour-fatherוּבְנֵי־חַיִלand-valiant-menאֲשֶׁרwhichאִתּוֹ׃with-him

    And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

11. 11

    כִּיforיָעַצְתִּיI-counselהֵאָסֹףsurelyיֵאָסֵףbe-gatheredעָלֶיךָupon-youכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall-Israelמִדָּןfrom-Danוְעַד־בְּאֵרand-unto-Beer-שֶׁבַעshebaכַּחוֹלas-the-sandאֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַיָּםwhich-upon-the-seaלָרֹבfor-multitudeוּפָנֶיךָand-that-youהֹלְכִיםgoבַּקְרָב׃to-battle

    Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

12. 12

    וּבָאנוּand-we-cameאֵלָיוto-him(באחת)[בְּאַחַד]in-someהַמְּקוֹמֹתthe-placesאֲשֶׁרwhichנִמְצָאhe-shall-be-foundשָׁםthereוְנַחְנוּand-we-will-encampעָלָיוupon-himכַּאֲשֶׁרasיִפֹּלfallsהַטַּלthe-dewעַל־הָאֲדָמָהon-the-groundוְלֹא־נוֹתַרthere-shall-not-be-leftבּוֹof-himוּבְכׇל־הָאֲנָשִׁיםand-of-all-the-menאֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹwhich-with-himגַּם־אֶחָד׃so-much-as-one

    So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

13. 13

    וְאִם־אֶל־עִירmoreover-if-to-a-cityיֵאָסֵףhe-withdraw-himselfוְהִשִּׂיאוּthen-shall-bringכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall-Israelאֶל־הָעִירto-the-cityהַהִיאthatחֲבָלִיםropesוְסָחַבְנוּand-we-will-dragאֹתוֹhimעַד־הַנַּחַלinto-the-ravineעַדuntilאֲשֶׁר־לֹא־נִמְצָאthere-be-not-foundשָׁםthereגַּם־צְרוֹר׃one-small-stone

    Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.

14. 14

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomוְכׇל־אִישׁand-all-the-men-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelטוֹבָהis-betterעֲצַתthe-counsel-ofחוּשַׁיHushaiהָאַרְכִּיthe-Architeמֵעֲצַתthan-the-counsel-ofאֲחִיתֹפֶלAhithophelוַיהֹוָהand-the-LORDצִוָּהhad-ordainedלְהָפֵרto-defeatאֶת־עֲצַתthe-counsel-ofאֲחִיתֹפֶלAhithophelהַטּוֹבָהgoodלְבַעֲבוּרto-the-intent-thatהָבִיאmight-bringיְהֹוָהthe-LORDאֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹםto-Absalomאֶת־הָרָעָה׃evil

    And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidחוּשַׁיHushaiאֶל־צָדוֹקto-Zadokוְאֶל־אֶבְיָתָרand-to-Abiatharהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe-priestsכָּזֹאתthusוְכָזֹאתand-thusיָעַץdid-counselאֲחִיתֹפֶלAhithophelאֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹםAbsalomוְאֵתandזִקְנֵיthe-elders-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוְכָזֹאתand-thusוְכָזֹאתand-thusיָעַצְתִּיhave-I-counselledאָנִי׃I

    Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

16. 16

    וְעַתָּהand-nowשִׁלְחוּsendמְהֵרָהquicklyוְהַגִּידוּand-tellלְדָוִדDavidלֵאמֹרsayingאַל־תָּלֶןlodge-notהַלַּיְלָהthis-nightבְּעַרְבוֹתin-the-plains-ofהַמִּדְבָּרthe-wildernessוְגַםand-alsoעָבוֹרspeedilyתַּעֲבוֹרpass-overפֶּןlestיְבֻלַּעbe-swallowed-upלַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוּלְכׇל־הָעָםand-to-all-the-peopleאֲשֶׁרwhichאִתּוֹ׃with-him

    Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

17. 17

    וִיהוֹנָתָןand-Jonathanוַאֲחִימַעַץand-Ahimaazעֹמְדִיםstayedבְּעֵין־רֹגֵלby-En-rogelוְהָלְכָהand-wentהַשִּׁפְחָהa-maidservantוְהִגִּידָהand-toldלָהֶםto-themוְהֵםand-theyיֵלְכוּwentוְהִגִּידוּand-toldלַמֶּלֶךְkingדָּוִדDavidכִּיforלֹאnotיוּכְלוּthey-might-notלְהֵרָאוֹתbe-seenלָבוֹאto-comeהָעִירָה׃into-the-city

    Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

18. 18

    וַיַּרְאand-sawאֹתָםthemנַעַרa-ladוַיַּגֵּדand-toldלְאַבְשָׁלֹםto-Absalomוַיֵּלְכוּand-they-wentשְׁנֵיהֶםboth-of-themמְהֵרָהquicklyוַיָּבֹאוּand-they-cameאֶל־בֵּית־אִישׁto-a-mans-houseבְּבַחוּרִיםin-Bahurimוְלוֹand-he-hadבְאֵרa-wellבַּחֲצֵרוֹin-his-courtוַיֵּרְדוּand-they-went-downשָׁם׃there

    Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

19. 19

    וַתִּקַּחand-she-tookהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanוַתִּפְרֹשׂand-spreadאֶת־הַמָּסָךְa-coveringעַל־פְּנֵיover-the-mouth-ofהַבְּאֵרthe-wellוַתִּשְׁטַחand-spreadעָלָיוupon-himהָרִפוֹתground-cornוְלֹאand-notנוֹדַעwas-knownדָּבָר׃the-thing

    And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

20. 20

    וַיָּבֹאוּand-they-cameעַבְדֵיservants-ofאַבְשָׁלוֹםAbsalomאֶל־הָאִשָּׁהto-the-womanהַבַּיְתָהto-the-houseוַיֹּאמְרוּand-they-saidאַיֵּהwhere-isאֲחִימַעַץAhimaazוִיהוֹנָתָןand-Jonathanוַתֹּאמֶרand-saidלָהֶםto-themהָאִשָּׁהthe-womanעָבְרוּthey-are-gone-overמִיכַלthe-channel-ofהַמָּיִםthe-waterוַיְבַקְשׁוּand-when-they-had-soughtוְלֹאand-notמָצָאוּcould-they-find-themוַיָּשֻׁבוּand-they-returnedיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃to-Jerusalem

    And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21. 21

    וַיְהִיand-it-came-to-passאַחֲרֵיafterלֶכְתָּםthey-had-departedוַיַּעֲלוּand-they-ascendedמֵהַבְּאֵרout-of-the-wellוַיֵּלְכוּand-they-wentוַיַּגִּדוּand-toldלַמֶּלֶךְkingדָּוִדDavidוַיֹּאמְרוּand-they-saidאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidקוּמוּariseוְעִבְרוּand-pass-overמְהֵרָהquicklyאֶת־הַמַּיִםthe-watersכִּי־כָכָהfor-thusיָעַץhas-counselledעֲלֵיכֶםagainst-youאֲחִיתֹפֶל׃Ahithophel

    And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22. 22

    וַיָּקׇםand-aroseדָּוִדDavidוְכׇל־הָעָםand-all-the-peopleאֲשֶׁרwhichאִתּוֹwith-himוַיַּעַבְרוּand-they-passed-overאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּןthe-Jordanעַד־אוֹרby-the-light-ofהַבֹּקֶרthe-morningעַד־אַחַדnot-oneלֹאnotנֶעְדָּרhad-failedאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־עָבַרto-crossאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן׃the-Jordan

    Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

23. 23

    וַאֲחִיתֹפֶלand-Ahithophelרָאָהsawכִּיthatלֹאnotנֶעֶשְׂתָהwas-not-followedעֲצָתוֹhis-counselוַיַּחֲבֹשׁhe-saddledאֶת־הַחֲמוֹרhis-assוַיָּקׇםand-he-aroseוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto-his-houseאֶל־עִירוֹto-his-cityוַיְצַוand-put-in-orderאֶל־בֵּיתוֹto-his-houseוַיֵּחָנַקand-strangled-himselfוַיָּמׇתand-he-diedוַיִּקָּבֵרand-was-buriedבְּקֶבֶרin-the-tomb-ofאָבִיו׃his-father

    And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

24. 24

    וְדָוִדand-Davidבָּאcameמַחֲנָיְמָהto-Mahanaimוְאַבְשָׁלֹםand-Absalomעָבַרpassedאֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּןthe-Jordanהוּאheוְכׇל־אִישׁand-all-the-men-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelעִמּוֹ׃with-him

    Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25. 25

    וְאֶת־עֲמָשָׂאand-AmasaשָׂםplacedאַבְשָׁלֹםAbsalomתַּחַתin-place-ofיוֹאָבJoabעַל־הַצָּבָאover-the-armyוַעֲמָשָׂאand-Amasaבֶן־אִישׁthe-son-of-a-manוּשְׁמוֹand-his-nameיִתְרָאYitraהַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִיthe-Israelitishאֲשֶׁר־בָּאwho-had-takenאֶל־אֲבִיגַלAbigailבַּת־נָחָשׁdaughter-of-Nahashאֲחוֹתthe-sister-ofצְרוּיָהZeruiahאֵםthe-mother-ofיוֹאָב׃Joab

    And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

26. 26

    וַיִּחַןand-encampedיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוְאַבְשָׁלֹםand-Absalomאֶרֶץin-the-land-ofהַגִּלְעָד׃Gilead

    So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

27. 27

    וַיְהִיand-it-came-to-passכְּבוֹאwhen-had-comeדָוִדDavidמַחֲנָיְמָהto-Mahanaimוְשֹׁבִיand-Shobiבֶן־נָחָשׁson-of-Nahashמֵרַבַּתof-Rabbah-ofבְּנֵי־עַמּוֹןsons-of-Ammonוּמָכִירand-Machirבֶּן־עַמִּיאֵלson-of-Ammielמִלֹּאof-Lo-דְבָרdebarוּבַרְזִלַּיand-Barzillaiהַגִּלְעָדִיthe-Gileaditeמֵרֹגְלִים׃of-Rogelim

    And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

28. 28

    מִשְׁכָּבbrought-bedsוְסַפּוֹתand-basinsוּכְלִיand-earthenיוֹצֵרvesselsוְחִטִּיםand-wheatוּשְׂעֹרִיםand-barleyוְקֶמַחand-flourוְקָלִיand-parched-cornוּפוֹלand-beansוַעֲדָשִׁיםand-lentilsוְקָלִי׃and-parched-pulse

    Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

29. 29

    וּדְבַשׁand-honeyוְחֶמְאָהand-butterוְצֹאןand-sheepוּשְׁפוֹתand-cheese-ofבָּקָרcows-milkהִגִּישׁוּforלְדָוִדDavidוְלָעָםand-to-the-peopleאֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹwhich-with-himלֶאֱכוֹלto-eatכִּיbecauseאָמְרוּthey-saidהָעָםthe-peopleרָעֵבare-hungryוְעָיֵףand-wearyוְצָמֵאand-thirstyבַּמִּדְבָּר׃in-the-wilderness

    And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.