صَمُوئِيلَ ٱلثَّانِي 19

١ 1 فَأُخْبِرَ يُوآبُ: «هُوَذَا ٱلْمَلِكُ يَبْكِي وَيَنُوحُ عَلَى أَبْشَالُومَ».

Soon Joab was told, “The king is crying and mourning for Absalom.”

٢ 2 فَصَارَتِ ٱلْغَلَبَةُ فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ مَنَاحَةً عِنْدَ جَمِيعِ ٱلشَّعْبِ، لِأَنَّ ٱلشَّعْبَ سَمِعُوا فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ مَنْ يَقُولُ إِنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ قَدْ تَأَسَّفَ عَلَى ٱبْنِهِ.

Victory that day was turned into mourning for the whole army, because they were told, “The king is grieving for his son.”

٣ 3 وَتَسَلَّلَ ٱلشَّعْبُ فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ لِلدُّخُولِ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ كَمَا يَتَسَلَّلُ ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَجِلُونَ عِنْدَمَا يَهْرُبُونَ فِي ٱلْقِتَالِ.

They stole back into town that day like defeated people steal in, ashamed of running away from the battle.

٤ 4 وَسَتَرَ ٱلْمَلِكُ وَجْهَهُ وَصَرَخَ ٱلْمَلكُ بِصَوْتٍ عَظِيمٍ: «يَا ٱبْنِي أَبْشَالُومُ، يَا أَبْشَالُومُ ٱبْنِي، يَا ٱبْنِي!».

The king held his face in his hands and sobbed loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

٥ 5 فَدَخَلَ يُوآبُ إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَى ٱلْبَيْتِ وَقَالَ: «قَدْ أَخْزَيْتَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وُجُوهَ جَمِيعِ عَبِيدِكَ، مُنْقِذِي نَفْسِكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَأَنْفُسِ بَنِيكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَأَنْفُسِ نِسَائِكَ وَأَنْفُسِ سَرَارِيِّكَ،

Then Joab went inside and told the king, “Today you have humiliated all your men who have saved your life, and the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.

٦ 6 بِمَحَبَّتِكَ لِمُبْغِضِيكَ وَبُغْضِكَ لِمُحِبِّيكَ، لِأَنَّكَ أَظْهَرْتَ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَكَ رُؤَسَاءُ وَلَا عَبِيدٌ، لِأَنِّي عَلِمْتُ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ أَبْشَالُومُ حَيًّا وَكُلُّنَا ٱلْيَوْمَ مَوْتَى، لَحَسُنَ حِينَئِذٍ ٱلْأَمْرُ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ.

You did this by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. Today you have made it plain that the commanders and the men don't mean anything to you. Today I'm sure that you'd be quite happy if Absalom was alive and all of us were dead!

٧ 7 فَٱلْآنَ قُمْ وَٱخْرُجْ وَطَيِّبْ قُلُوبَ عَبِيدِكَ، لِأَنِّي قَدْ أَقْسَمْتُ بِٱلرَّبِّ إِنَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ تَخْرُجْ لَا يَبِيتُ أَحَدٌ مَعَكَ هَذِهِ ٱللَّيْلَةَ، وَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ أَشَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ أَصَابَكَ مُنْذُ صِبَاكَ إِلَى ٱلْآنَ».

So get up, go out, and thank your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don't, you won't have a man left by tonight. That will be far worse for you than all the disasters you've had from your youth until now.”

٨ 8 فَقَامَ ٱلْمَلِكُ وَجَلَسَ فِي ٱلْبَابِ. فَأَخْبَرُوا جَمِيعَ ٱلشَّعْبِ قَائِلِينَ: «هُوَذَا ٱلْمَلِكُ جَالِسٌ فِي ٱلْبَابِ». فَأَتَى جَمِيعُ ٱلشَّعْبِ أَمَامَ ٱلْمَلِكِ. وَأَمَّا إِسْرَائِيلُ فَهَرَبُوا كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ إِلَى خَيْمَتِهِ.

So the king got up and went to sit at the town gate. Everybody was told: “Look, the king is sitting at the town gate.” They all came to see the king. In the meantime the Israelites had run away and gone to their homes.

٩ 9 وَكَانَ جَمِيعُ ٱلشَّعْبِ فِي خِصَامٍ فِي جَمِيعِ أَسْبَاطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ قَائِلِينَ: «إِنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ قَدْ أَنْقَذَنَا مِنْ يَدِ أَعْدَائِنَا وَهُوَ نَجَّانَا مِنْ يَدِ ٱلْفِلِسْطِينِيِّينَ، وَٱلْآنَ قَدْ هَرَبَ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ لِأَجْلِ أَبْشَالُومَ

Everyone among the tribes of Israel were arguing with each other, saying, “The king rescued us from the persecution of our enemies, he saved us from the Philistines, but now he's had to run from the country because of Absalom.

١٠ 10 وَأَبْشَالُومُ ٱلَّذِي مَسَحْنَاهُ عَلَيْنَا قَدْ مَاتَ فِي ٱلْحَرْبِ. فَٱلْآنَ لِمَاذَا أَنْتُمْ سَاكِتُونَ عَنْ إِرْجَاعِ ٱلْمَلِكِ؟»

Now Absalom, the man we chose to be our king by anointing him, he's died in battle. Why don't we do something and invite King David to come back?”

١١ 11 وَأَرْسَلَ ٱلْمَلِكُ دَاوُدُ إِلَى صَادُوقَ وَأَبِيَاثَارَ ٱلْكَاهِنَيْنِ قَائِلًا: «كَلِّمَا شُيُوخَ يَهُوذَا قَائِلَيْنِ: لِمَاذَا تَكُونُونَ آخِرِينَ فِي إِرْجَاعِ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ، وَقَدْ أَتَى كَلَامُ جَمِيعِ إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ فِي بَيْتِهِ؟

King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Tell the elders of Judah, ‘Are you going to be the last people to bring the king back to his palace, since the king has heard that all of Israel wants it?

١٢ 12 أَنْتُمْ إِخْوَتِي. أَنْتُمْ عَظْمِي وَلَحْمِي. فَلِمَاذَا تَكُونُونَ آخِرِينَ فِي إِرْجَاعِ ٱلْمَلِكِ؟

You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. Why should you be the last ones to want to bring the king back?’

١٣ 13 وَتَقُولَانِ لِعَمَاسَا: أَمَا أَنْتَ عَظْمِي وَلَحْمِي؟ هَكَذَا يَفْعَلُ بِيَ ٱللهُ وَهَكَذَا يَزِيدُ، إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا تَصِيرُ رَئِيسَ جَيْشٍ عِنْدِي كُلَّ ٱلْأَيَّامِ بَدَلَ يُوآبَ».

Tell Amasa, ‘Aren't you my flesh and blood too? May God punish me very severely if from now on you're not the commander of my army instead of Joab!’”

١٤ 14 فَٱسْتَمَالَ بِقُلُوبِ جَمِيعِ رِجَالِ يَهُوذَا كَرَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ قَائِلِينَ: «ٱرْجِعْ أَنْتَ وَجَمِيعُ عَبِيدِكَ».

Amasa convinced all the people of Judah to unitedly support David, so they sent a message to the king: “Please come back, you and everyone with you.”

١٥ 15 فَرَجَعَ ٱلْمَلِكُ وَأَتَى إِلَى ٱلْأُرْدُنِّ، وَأَتَى يَهُوذَا إِلَى ٱلْجِلْجَالِ سَائِرًا لِمُلَاقَاةِ ٱلْمَلِكِ لِيُعَبِّرَ ٱلْمَلِكَ ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ.

The king began his journey back, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah met him at Gilgal to help him cross the river.

١٦ 16 فَبَادَرَ شِمْعِي بْنُ جِيْرَا ٱلْبَنْيَامِينِيُّ ٱلَّذِي مِنْ بَحُورِيمَ وَنَزَلَ مَعَ رِجَالِ يَهُوذَا لِلِقَاءِ ٱلْمَلِكِ دَاوُدَ،

Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

١٧ 17 وَمَعَهُ أَلْفُ رَجُلٍ مِنْ بَنْيَامِينَ، وَصِيبَا غُلَامُ بَيْتِ شَاوُلَ وَبَنُوهُ ٱلْخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ وَعَبِيدُهُ ٱلْعِشْرُونَ مَعَهُ، فَخَاضُوا ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ أَمَامَ ٱلْمَلِكِ.

With him were one thousand men from the tribe of Benjamin, including Ziba, servant of Saul's family, as well as Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king.

١٨ 18 وَعَبَرَ ٱلْقَارِبُ لِتَعْبِيرِ بَيْتِ ٱلْمَلِكِ وَلِعَمَلِ مَا يَحْسُنُ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ. وَسَقَطَ شِمْعِي بْنُ جِيْرَا أَمَامَ ٱلْمَلِكِ عِنْدَمَا عَبَرَ ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ،

They crossed at the ford to bring the king's household over and whatever else he wanted. Shimei crossed the Jordan and fell facedown before the king.

١٩ 19 وَقَالَ لِلْمَلِكِ: «لَا يَحْسِبْ لِي سَيِّدِي إِثْمًا، وَلَا تَذْكُرْ مَا ٱفْتَرَى بِهِ عَبْدُكَ يَوْمَ خُرُوجِ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ مِنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ، حَتَّى يَضَعَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ذَلِكَ فِي قَلْبِهِ،

“Your Majesty, please forgive me and disregard the wrong that I, your servant, did when Your Majesty left Jerusalem. Please forget all about it.

٢٠ 20 لِأَنَّ عَبْدَكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنِّي قَدْ أَخْطَأْتُ، وَهَأَنَذَا قَدْ جِئْتُ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَوَّلَ كُلِّ بَيْتِ يُوسُفَ، وَنَزَلْتُ لِلِقَاءِ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ».

I, your servant, recognize that I have sinned. But look! Today I'm the first from any of the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet Your Majesty.”

٢١ 21 فَأَجَابَ أَبِيشَايُ ٱبْنُ صَرُويَةَ وَقَالَ: «أَلَا يُقْتَلُ شِمْعِي لِأَجْلِ هَذَا، لِأَنَّهُ سَبَّ مَسِيحَ ٱلرَّبِّ؟»

Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said, “Shouldn't Shimei be executed for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed one?”

٢٢ 22 فَقَالَ دَاوُدُ: «مَا لِي وَلَكُمْ يَا بَنِي صَرُويَةَ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا لِيَ ٱلْيَوْمَ مُقَاوِمِينَ؟ آلْيَوْمَ يُقْتَلُ أَحَدٌ فِي إِسْرَائِيلَ؟ أَفَمَا عَلِمْتُ أَنِّي ٱلْيَوْمَ مَلِكٌ عَلَى إِسْرَائِيلَ؟»

But David replied, “What's that got do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Do you want to be my enemies today? Is this a day to execute anybody in Israel? Aren't I certain that today I'm the king of Israel once more?”

٢٣ 23 ثُمَّ قَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ لِشِمْعِي: «لَا تَمُوتُ». وَحَلَفَ لَهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ.

David turned to Shimei and swore an oath to him, “You're not going to die.”

٢٤ 24 وَنَزَلَ مَفِيبُوشَثُ ٱبْنُ شَاوُلَ لِلِقَاءِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَلَمْ يَعْتَنِ بِرِجْلَيْهِ، وَلَا ٱعْتَنَى بِلِحْيَتِهِ، وَلَا غَسَلَ ثِيَابَهُ، مِنَ ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلَّذِي ذَهَبَ فِيهِ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِلَى ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلَّذِي أَتَى فِيهِ بِسَلَامٍ.

Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, went to meet the king. He had refused to look after his feet or trim his mustache or have his clothes washed from the day the king left until the day of his peaceful return.

٢٥ 25 فَلَمَّا جَاءَ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ لِلِقَاءِ ٱلْمَلِكِ، قَالَ لَهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ: «لِمَاذَا لَمْ تَذْهَبْ مَعِي يَامَفِيبُوشَثُ؟»

When he arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?”

٢٦ 26 فَقَالَ: «يَا سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنَّ عَبْدِي قَدْ خَدَعَنِي، لِأَنَّ عَبْدَكَ قَالَ: أَشُدُّ لِنَفْسِيَ ٱلْحِمَارَ فَأَرْكَبُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَذْهَبُ مَعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ، لِأَنَّ عَبْدَكَ أَعْرَجُ.

Mephibosheth answered, “Your Majesty, my servant Ziba tricked me. I told him, ‘Saddle up my donkey so I can ride her and leave with the king,’ because you know that I'm lame.

٢٧ 27 وَوَشَى بِعَبْدِكَ إِلَى سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَسَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكُ كَمَلَاكِ ٱللهِ. فَٱفْعَلْ مَا يَحْسُنُ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ.

Ziba has misrepresented me, your servant, to Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty is like an angel of God, so do what you think best.

٢٨ 28 لِأَنَّ كُلَّ بَيْتِ أَبِي لَمْ يَكُنْ إِلَا أُنَاسًا مَوْتَى لِسَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَقَدْ جَعَلْتَ عَبْدَكَ بَيْنَ ٱلْآكِلِينَ عَلَى مَائِدَتِكَ. فَأَيُّ حَقٍّ لِي بَعْدُ حَتَّى أَصْرُخَ أَيْضًا إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ؟»

All my grandfather's family could only expect death from Your Majesty, but you included me, your servant, among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to ask the king for anything more?”

٢٩ 29 فَقَالَ لَهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ: «لِمَاذَا تَتَكَلَّمُ بَعْدُ بِأُمُورِكَ؟ قَدْ قُلْتُ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ وَصِيبَا تَقْسِمَانِ ٱلْحَقْلَ».

“Why talk any more about these issues of yours?” David responded. “I've decided that you and Ziba should divide the land.”

٣٠ 30 فَقَالَ مَفِيبُوشَثُ لِلْمَلِكِ: «فَلْيَأْخُذِ ٱلْكُلَّ أَيْضًا بَعْدَ أَنْ جَاءَ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكُ بِسَلَامٍ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ».

Mephibosheth replied to the king, “Let him have it all! I'm just happy that Your Majesty has returned home in peace.”

٣١ 31 وَنَزَلَ بَرْزِلَّايُ ٱلْجِلْعَادِيُّ مِنْ رُوجَلِيمَ وَعَبَرَ ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ مَعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ لِيُشَيِّعَهُ عِنْدَ ٱلْأُرْدُنِّ.

Barzillai the Gileadite had also came down from Rogelim to help the king cross the Jordan and to make his way onwards from there.

٣٢ 32 وَكَانَ بَرْزِلَّايُ قَدْ شَاخَ جِدًّا. كَانَ ٱبْنَ ثَمَانِينَ سَنَةً. وَهُوَ عَالَ ٱلْمَلِكَ عِنْدَ إِقَامَتِهِ فِي مَحَنَايِمَ لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ رَجُلًا عَظِيمًا جِدًّا.

Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age, and because he was a very wealthy man, he had provided the king with food while he was staying in Mahanaim.

٣٣ 33 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ لِبَرْزِلَّايَ: «ٱعْبُرْ أَنْتَ مَعِي وَأَنَا أَعُولُكَ مَعِي فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ».

The king said to Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan with me, and I will provide for you while you stay with me in Jerusalem.”

٣٤ 34 فَقَالَ بَرْزِلَّايُ لِلْمَلِكِ: «كَمْ أَيَّامُ سِنِي حَيَاتِي حَتَّى أَصْعَدَ مَعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ؟

“How much longer do you think I have to live so I could go to Jerusalem and stay there with the king?” Barzillai replied.

٣٥ 35 أَنَا ٱلْيَوْمَ ٱبْنُ ثَمَانِينَ سَنَةً. هَلْ أُمَيِّزُ بَيْنَ ٱلطَّيِّبِ وَٱلرَّدِيءِ؟ وَهَلْ يَسْتَطْعِمُ عَبْدُكَ بِمَا آكُلُ وَمَا أَشْرَبُ؟ وَهَلْ أَسْمَعُ أَيْضًا أَصْوَاتَ ٱلْمُغَنِّينَ وَٱلْمُغَنِّيَاتِ؟ فَلِمَاذَا يَكُونُ عَبْدُكَ أَيْضًا ثِقْلًا عَلَى سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ؟

“I'm already eighty. I don't enjoy anything anymore. I can't taste what I eat or drink. I can't hear when people sing. There's no point for me, your servant, to be another burden to Your Majesty!

٣٦ 36 يَعْبُرُ عَبْدُكَ قَلِيلًا ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ مَعَ ٱلْمَلِكِ. وَلِمَاذَا يُكَافِئُنِي ٱلْمَلِكُ بِهَذِهِ ٱلْمُكَافَأَةِ؟

For your servant to cross the Jordan River with the king is enough reward for me!

٣٧ 37 دَعْ عَبْدَكَ يَرْجِعُ فَأَمُوتَ فِي مَدِينَتِي عِنْدَ قَبْرِ أَبِي وَأُمِّي. وَهُوَذَا عَبْدُكَ كِمْهَامُ يَعْبُرُ مَعَ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ، فَٱفْعَلْ لَهُ مَا يَحْسُنُ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ».

Then let your servant go back home, that I may die in my home town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant, my son Chimham. Let him cross over with Your Majesty, and treat him as you think best.”

٣٨ 38 فَأَجَابَ ٱلْمَلِكُ: «إِنَّ كِمْهَامَ يَعْبُرُ مَعِي فَأَفْعَلُ لَهُ مَا يَحْسُنُ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ، وَكُلُّ مَا تَتَمَنَّاهُ مِنِّي أَفْعَلُهُ لَكَ».

The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will treat him as you think best, and I will do for you whatever you want.”

٣٩ 39 فَعَبَرَ جَمِيعُ ٱلشَّعْبِ ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ، وَٱلْمَلِكُ عَبَرَ. وَقَبَّلَ ٱلْمَلِكُ بَرْزِلَّايَ وَبَارَكَهُ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ.

So everybody crossed the Jordan first, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and then Barzillai went back home.

٤٠ 40 وَعَبَرَ ٱلْمَلِكُ إِلَى ٱلْجِلْجَالِ، وَعَبَرَ كِمْهَامُ مَعَهُ، وَكُلُّ شَعْبِ يَهُوذَا عَبَّرُوا ٱلْمَلِكَ، وَكَذَلِكَ نِصْفُ شَعْبِ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

Then the king carried on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. The whole army of Judah and half the army of Israel accompanied the king.

٤١ 41 وَإِذَا بِجَمِيعِ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ جَاءُونَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَقَالُوا لِلْمَلِكِ: «لِمَاذَا سَرِقَكَ إِخْوَتُنَا رِجَالُ يَهُوذَا وَعَبَرُوا ٱلْأُرْدُنَّ بِٱلْمَلِكِ وَبَيْتِهِ وَكُلِّ رِجَالِ دَاوُدَ مَعَهُ؟».

But soon the men of Israel who were there came to the king and asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, secretly take Your Majesty away and bring you and your household across the Jordan, together with all your men?”

٤٢ 42 فَأَجَابَ كُلُّ رِجَالِ يَهُوذَا رِجَالَ إِسْرَائِيلَ: «لِأَنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ قَرِيبٌ إِلَيَّ، وَلِمَاذَا تَغْتَاظُ مِنْ هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرِ؟ هَلْ أَكَلْنَا شَيْئًا مِنَ ٱلْمَلِكِ أَوْ وَهَبَنَا هِبَةً؟»

The men of Judah explained to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is one of our relatives. Why are you getting upset about this? When did we ever eat the king's food? When did we ever get anything for yourselves?”

٤٣ 43 فَأَجَابَ رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ رِجَالَ يَهُوذَا وَقَالُوا: «لِي عَشْرَةُ أَسْهُمٍ فِي ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَأَنَا أَحَقُّ مِنْكَ بِدَاوُدَ، فَلِمَاذَا ٱسْتَخْفَفْتَ بِي وَلَمْ يَكُنْ كَلَامِي أَوَّلًا فِي إِرْجَاعِ مَلِكِي؟» وَكَانَ كَلَامُ رِجَالِ يَهُوذَا أَقْسَى مِنْ كَلَامِ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

“We've got ten shares in the king,” the men of Israel replied, “so we have a greater claim on David than you do. So why do you look down us? Weren't we the first ones to talk about bringing back our king?” But the men of Judah argued even more strongly than the men of Israel.