2 Samuel 21 שְׁמוּאֵל ב פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 2 Samuel 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand there wasרָעָבra/AVa famineבִּימֵיbi/MEin the days ofדָוִדDa/VIDDavidשָׁלֹשׁsha/LOSHthreeשָׁנִיםsha/NIMyearsשָׁנָהsha/NAyearאַחֲרֵיa/cha/REafterשָׁנָהsha/NAyearוַיְבַקֵּשׁvay/vak/KESHand soughtדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidאֶת־פְּנֵיet-pe/NEthe face ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶל־שָׁאוּלel-Sha/ULfor Saulוְאֶל־בֵּיתve/EL-betand for the house ofהַדָּמִיםhad/da/MIMbloodshedעַלalbecauseאֲשֶׁר־הֵמִיתa/SHER-he/MITthat he killedאֶת־הַגִּבְעֹנִים׃et-Hag/giv/o/NIMthe Gibeonites

   Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

2. 2

   וַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלַגִּבְעֹנִיםlag/Giv/o/NIMthe Gibeonitesוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMto themוְהַגִּבְעֹנִיםve/hag/Giv/o/NIMand the Gibeonitesלֹאlonotמִבְּנֵיmib/be/NEof the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelהֵמָּהHEM/mawere theyכִּיkibutאִם־מִיֶּתֶרim-miy/YE/teronly of the remnant ofהָאֱמֹרִיha/E/mo/RIthe Amoriteוּבְנֵיu/ve/NEand the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelנִשְׁבְּעוּnish/be/Uhad swornלָהֶםla/HEMto themוַיְבַקֵּשׁvay/vak/KESHand soughtשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulלְהַכֹּתָםle/hak/ko/TAMto strike themבְּקַנֹּאתוֹbe/kan/no/TOin his zealלִבְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵלliv/NE-Yis/ra/ELfor the children of Israelוִיהוּדָה׃Vi/hu/DAand Judah

   And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidאֶל־הַגִּבְעֹנִיםel-Hag/giv/o/NIMto the Gibeonitesמָהmawhatאֶעֱשֶׂהe/e/SEshall I doלָכֶםla/KHEMfor youוּבַמָּהu/vam/MAand with whatאֲכַפֵּרa/khap/PERshall I make atonementוּבָרְכוּu/va/re/KHUand blessאֶת־נַחֲלַתet-na/cha/LATthe inheritance ofיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

   Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

4. 4

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלוֹloto himהַגִּבְעֹנִיםhag/Giv/o/NIMthe Gibeonitesאֵין־[לָנוּ]en-LA/nuwe will have no(לי)layכֶּסֶףKE/sefsilverוְזָהָבve/za/HAVand goldעִם־שָׁאוּלim-Sha/ULwith Saulוְעִם־בֵּיתוֹve/IM-be/TOand with his houseוְאֵין־לָנוּve/EN-LA/nuand it is not for usאִישׁisha manלְהָמִיתle/ha/MITto put to deathבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלbe/Yis/ra/ELin Israelוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמָה־אַתֶּםma-at/TEMwhat youאֹמְרִיםom/RIMare sayingאֶעֱשֶׂהe/e/SEwill I doלָכֶם׃la/KHEMfor you

   And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְel-ham/ME/lekhto the kingהָאִישׁha/ISHthe manאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoכִּלָּנוּkil/LA/nuconsumed usוַאֲשֶׁרva/a/SHERand whoדִּמָּה־לָנוּdim/MA-LA/nuplanned against usנִשְׁמַדְנוּnish/MAD/nuwe have been destroyedמֵהִתְיַצֵּבme/hit/yats/TSEVfrom standingבְּכׇל־גְּבֻלbe/KHOL-ge/VULin all the territory ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

   And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

6. 6

   (ינתן)yanatan[יֻתַּן־]לָנוּyut/TAN-la/NUlet be given to usשִׁבְעָהshiv/Asevenאֲנָשִׁיםa/na/SHIMmenמִבָּנָיוmib/ba/NAYVof his sonsוְהוֹקַעֲנוּםve/ho/ka/a/NUMand we will hang them upלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaito the LORDבְּגִבְעַתbe/Giv/ATin Gibeah ofשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulבְּחִירbe/CHIRthe chosen ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲנִיa/NIIאֶתֵּן׃et/TENwill give

   Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

7. 7

   וַיַּחְמֹלvay/yach/MOLand sparedהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingעַל־מְפִיבֹשֶׁתal-Me/fi/VO/shetupon Mephiboshethבֶּן־יְהוֹנָתָןben-Ye/ho/na/TANthe son of Jonathanבֶּן־שָׁאוּלben-Sha/ULthe son of Saulעַל־שְׁבֻעַתal-she/vu/ATbecause of the oath ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat wasבֵּינֹתָםbe/no/TAMbetween themבֵּיןbenbetweenדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidוּבֵיןu/VENand betweenיְהוֹנָתָןYe/ho/na/TANJonathanבֶּן־שָׁאוּל׃ben-Sha/ULthe son of Saul

   But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8. 8

   וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֶת־שְׁנֵיet-she/NEthe two ofבְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofרִצְפָּהRits/PARizpahבַת־אַיָּהvat-Ay/YAthe daughter of Aiahאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomיָלְדָהya/le/DAshe boreלְשָׁאוּלle/Sha/ULto Saulאֶת־אַרְמֹנִיet-Ar/mo/NIArmoniוְאֶת־מְפִבֹשֶׁתve/ET-me/fi/VO/shetand Mephiboshethוְאֶת־חֲמֵשֶׁתve/ET-cha/ME/shetand the fiveבְּנֵיbe/NEthe sons ofמִיכַלMi/KHALMichalבַּת־שָׁאוּלbat-Sha/ULthe daughter of Saulאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomיָלְדָהya/le/DAshe boreלְעַדְרִיאֵלle/Ad/ri/ELto Adrielבֶּן־בַּרְזִלַּיben-Bar/zil/LAYthe son of Barzillaiהַמְּחֹלָתִי׃ham/Me/cho/la/TIthe Meholathite

   But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

9. 9

   וַיִּתְּנֵםvay/yit/te/NEMand he gave themבְּיַדbe/YADinto the hand ofהַגִּבְעֹנִיםhag/Giv/o/NIMthe Gibeonitesוַיֹּקִיעֻםvay/yo/ki/UMand they hanged themבָּהָרba/HARon the mountainלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיִּפְּלוּvay/yip/pe/LUand they fell(שבעתים)shavtayam[שְׁבַעְתָּם]she/va/TAMthe seven of themיָחַדYA/chadtogether(והם)vaham[וְהֵמָּה]ve/HEM/maand theyהֻמְתוּhum/TUwere put to deathבִּימֵיbi/MEin the days ofקָצִירka/TSIRharvestבָּרִאשֹׁנִיםba/ri/sho/NIMin the first days(תחלת)tachalat[בִּתְחִלַּת]bit/chil/LATin the beginning ofקְצִירke/TSIRthe harvest ofשְׂעֹרִים׃se/o/RIMbarley

   And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

10. 10

    וַתִּקַּחvat/tik/KACHand tookרִצְפָּהRits/PARizpahבַת־אַיָּהvat-Ay/YAthe daughter of Aiahאֶת־הַשַּׂקet-has/SAKthe sackclothוַתַּטֵּהוּvat/tat/TE/huand spread itלָהּlafor herselfאֶל־הַצּוּרel-hats/TSURupon the rockמִתְּחִלַּתmit/te/chil/LATfrom the beginning ofקָצִירka/TSIRharvestעַדaduntilנִתַּךְ־מַיִםnit/TAKH-MA/yimwater pouredעֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMupon themמִן־הַשָּׁמָיִםmin-hash/sha/MA/yimfrom the heavensוְלֹא־נָתְנָהve/LO-na/te/NAand she did not allowעוֹףofthe birds ofהַשָּׁמַיִםhash/sha/MA/yimthe heavensלָנוּחַla/NU/achto restעֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMupon themיוֹמָםyo/MAMby dayוְאֶת־חַיַּתve/ET-chay/YATnor the beasts ofהַשָּׂדֶהhas/sa/DEthe fieldלָיְלָה׃LAY/laby night

    And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11. 11

    וַיֻּגַּדvay/yug/GADand it was toldלְדָוִדle/Da/VIDto Davidאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָהet-a/SHER-a/se/TAwhat had doneרִצְפָּהRits/PARizpahבַת־אַיָּהvat-Ay/YAthe daughter of Aiahפִּלֶגֶשׁpi/LE/geshthe concubine ofשָׁאוּל׃Sha/ULSaul

    And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

12. 12

    וַיֵּלֶךְvay/YE/lekhand wentדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidוַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookאֶת־עַצְמוֹתet-ats/MOTthe bones ofשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulוְאֶת־עַצְמוֹתve/ET-ats/MOTand the bones ofיְהוֹנָתָןYe/ho/na/TANJonathanבְּנוֹbe/NOhis sonמֵאֵתme/ETfromבַּעֲלֵיba/a/LEthe men ofיָבֵישׁYa/VESHJabesh-גִּלְעָדgil/ADgileadאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoגָּנְבוּga/ne/VUhad stolenאֹתָםo/TAMthemמֵרְחֹבmer/CHOVfrom the square ofבֵּית־שַׁןBet-shanBeth-shanאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhere[תְּלָאוּםte/la/UMhad hanged themשָׁמָּהSHAM/mathereפְּלִשְׁתִּים]Pe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesבְּיוֹםbe/YOMon the dayהַכּוֹתhak/KOTstruckפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesאֶת־שָׁאוּלet-Sha/ULSaulבַּגִּלְבֹּעַ׃bag/Gil/BO/ain Gilboa

    And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

13. 13

    וַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland he brought upמִשָּׁםmish/SHAMfrom thereאֶת־עַצְמוֹתet-ats/MOTthe bones ofשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulוְאֶת־עַצְמוֹתve/ET-ats/MOTand the bones ofיְהוֹנָתָןYe/ho/na/TANJonathanבְּנוֹbe/NOhis sonוַיַּאַסְפוּvay/ya/as/FUand they gatheredאֶת־עַצְמוֹתet-ats/MOTthe bones ofהַמּוּקָעִים׃ham/mu/ka/IMthose who were hanged

    And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

14. 14

    וַיִּקְבְּרוּvay/yik/be/RUand they buriedאֶת־עַצְמוֹת־שָׁאוּלet-Ats/MOT-sha/ULthe bones of Saulוִיהוֹנָתָן־בְּנוֹvi/ho/na/TAN-Be/NOand Jonathan his sonבְּאֶרֶץbe/E/retsin the land ofבִּנְיָמִןBin/ya/MINBenjaminבְּצֵלָעbe/Tse/LAin Zelahבְּקֶבֶרbe/KE/verin the tomb ofקִישׁKishKishאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוַיַּעֲשׂוּvay/ya/a/SUand they didכֹּלkolallאֲשֶׁר־צִוָּהa/SHER-tsiv/VAthat commandedהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוַיֵּעָתֵרvay/ye/a/TERand was entreatedאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodלָאָרֶץla/A/retsfor the landאַחֲרֵי־כֵן׃a/cha/RE-khenafter that

    And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

15. 15

    וַתְּהִי־עוֹדvat/te/HI-odand there was againמִלְחָמָהmil/cha/MAwarלַפְּלִשְׁתִּיםlap/Pe/lish/TIMto the Philistinesאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵלet-Yis/ra/ELwith Israelוַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand went downדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidוַעֲבָדָיוva/a/va/DAYVand his servantsעִמּוֹim/MOwith himוַיִּלָּחֲמוּvay/yil/la/cha/MUand they foughtאֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּיםet-Pe/lish/TIMagainst the Philistinesוַיָּעַףvay/YA/afand grew wearyדָּוִד׃Da/VIDDavid

    Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

16. 16

    (וישבו)vayashavav[וְיִשְׁבִּי]Ve/yish/BIand Ishbi-בְנֹבve/NOVbenobאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwho wasבִּילִידֵיbi/li/DEof the sons ofהָרָפָהha/Ra/FAthe Raphahוּמִשְׁקַלu/mish/KALand the weight ofקֵינוֹke/NOhis spearשְׁלֹשׁshe/LOSHthreeמֵאוֹתme/OThundredמִשְׁקַלmish/KALweightנְחֹשֶׁתne/CHO/shetbronzeוְהוּאve/HUand heחָגוּרcha/GURwas girded withחֲדָשָׁהcha/da/SHAnewוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand he saidלְהַכּוֹתle/hak/KOTto strikeאֶת־דָּוִד׃et-Da/VIDDavid

    And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

17. 17

    וַיַּעֲזׇר־לוֹvay/ya/a/ZOR-loand helped himאֲבִישַׁיA/vi/SHAYAbishaiבֶּן־צְרוּיָהben-Tse/ru/YAthe son of Zeruiahוַיַּךְvay/YAKHand he struckאֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּיet-Hap/pe/lish/TIthe Philistineוַיְמִתֵהוּvay/mi/TE/huand killed himאָזazthenנִשְׁבְּעוּnish/be/Usworeאַנְשֵׁי־דָוִדan/SHE-Da/VIDthe men of Davidלוֹloto himלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingלֹא־תֵצֵאlo-te/TSEyou shall not go outעוֹדodagainאִתָּנוּit/TA/nuwith usלַמִּלְחָמָהlam/mil/cha/MAto battleוְלֹאve/LOthat notתְכַבֶּהte/khab/BEyou quenchאֶת־נֵרet-nerthe lamp ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yis/ra/ELIsrael

    But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

18. 18

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passאַחֲרֵי־כֵןa/cha/RE-khenafter thisוַתְּהִי־עוֹדvat/te/HI-odthere was againהַמִּלְחָמָהham/mil/cha/MAthe battleבְּגוֹבbe/GOVat Gobעִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּיםim-Pe/lish/TIMwith the Philistinesאָזazthenהִכָּהhik/KAstruckסִבְּכַיSib/be/KHAYSibbechaiהַחֻשָׁתִיha/Chu/sha/TIthe Hushathiteאֶת־סַףet-SafSaphאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwho wasבִּילִדֵיbi/li/DEof the sons ofהָרָפָה׃ha/Ra/FAthe Raphah

    And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.

19. 19

    וַתְּהִי־עוֹדvat/te/HI-odand there was againהַמִּלְחָמָהham/mil/cha/MAthe battleבְּגוֹבbe/GOVat Gobעִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּיםim-Pe/lish/TIMwith the Philistinesוַיַּךְvay/YAKHand he struckאֶלְחָנָןEl/cha/NANElhananבֶּן־יַעְרֵיben-Ya/REthe son of Jaare-אֹרְגִיםor/GIMoregimבֵּיתBetBeth-הַלַּחְמִיhal/lach/MIlehemiteאֵת־גׇּלְיָתet-Gol/YATGoliathהַגִּתִּיhag/Git/TIthe Gittiteוְעֵץve/ETSand the staff ofחֲנִיתוֹcha/ni/TOhis spearכִּמְנוֹרkim/NORlike the beam ofאֹרְגִים׃or/GIMweavers

    And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

20. 20

    וַתְּהִי־עוֹדvat/te/HI-odand there was againמִלְחָמָהmil/cha/MAa battleבְּגַתbe/GATin Gathוַיְהִיvay/HIand there wasאִישׁisha man(מדין)madayan[מָדוֹן]ma/DONof great statureוְאֶצְבְּעֹתve/ets/be/OTand the fingers ofיָדָיוya/DAYVhis handsוְאֶצְבְּעֹתve/ets/be/OTand the toes ofרַגְלָיוrag/LAYVhis feetשֵׁשׁsheshsixוָשֵׁשׁva/SHESHand sixעֶשְׂרִיםes/RIMtwentyוְאַרְבַּעve/ar/BAand fourמִסְפָּרmis/PARin numberוְגַם־הוּאve/GAM-huand he alsoיֻלַּדyul/LADwas bornלְהָרָפָה׃le/Ha/ra/FAto the Raphah

    And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

21. 21

    וַיְחָרֵףvay/cha/REFand he tauntedאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵלet-Yis/ra/ELIsraelוַיַּכֵּהוּvay/yak/KE/huand struck himיְהוֹנָתָןYe/ho/na/TANJonathanבֶּן־[שִׁמְעָה]ben-Shim/Athe son of Shimea(שמעי)shamyאֲחִיa/CHIthe brother ofדָוִד׃Da/VIDDavid

    And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.

22. 22

    אֶת־אַרְבַּעַתet-ar/BA/atthe four ofאֵלֶּהEL/letheseיֻלְּדוּyul/le/DUwere bornלְהָרָפָהle/Ha/ra/FAto the Raphahבְּגַתbe/GATin Gathוַיִּפְּלוּvay/yip/pe/LUand fellבְיַד־דָּוִדve/YAD-da/VIDby the hand of Davidוּבְיַדu/ve/YADand by the hand ofעֲבָדָיו׃a/va/DAYVhis servants

    These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.