صَمُوئِيلَ ٱلثَّانِي 14

١ 1 وَعَلِمَ يُوآبُ ٱبْنُ صَرُويَةَ أَنَّ قَلْبَ ٱلْمَلِكِ عَلَى أَبْشَالُومَ،

Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart desired to see Absalom.

٢ 2 فَأَرْسَلَ يُوآبُ إِلَى تَقُوعَ وَأَخَذَ مِنْ هُنَاكَ ٱمْرَأَةً حَكِيمَةً وَقَالَ لَهَا: «تَظَاهَرِي بِٱلْحُزْنِ، وَٱلْبَسِي ثِيَابَ ٱلْحُزْنِ، وَلَا تَدَّهِنِي بِزَيْتٍ، بَلْ كُونِي كَٱمْرَأَةٍ لَهَا أَيَّامٌ كَثِيرَةٌ وَهِيَ تَنُوحُ عَلَى مَيْتٍ.

So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought to him. He said to her, “Please pretend you are a mourner and put on mourning clothes. Please do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.

٣ 3 وَٱدْخُلِي إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ وَكَلِّمِيهِ بِهَذَا ٱلْكَلَامِ». وَجَعَلَ يُوآبُ ٱلْكَلَامَ فِي فَمِهَا.

Then go to the king and speak to him about what I will describe.” So Joab told her the words she was to say to the king.

٤ 4 وَكَلَّمَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ ٱلتَّقُوعِيَّةُ ٱلْمَلِكَ، وَخَرَّتْ عَلَى وَجْهِهَا إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَسَجَدَتْ وَقَالَتْ: «أَعِنْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلِكُ».

When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she lay facedown on the ground and said, “Help me, king.”

٥ 5 فَقَالَ لَهَا ٱلْمَلِكُ: «مَا بَالُكِ؟» فَقَالَتْ: «إِنِّي ٱمْرَأَةٌ أَرْمَلَةٌ. قَدْ مَاتَ رَجُلِي.

The king said to her, “What is wrong?” She answered, “The truth is that I am a widow, and my husband is dead.

٦ 6 وَلِجَارِيَتِكَ ٱبْنَانِ، فَتَخَاصَمَا فِي ٱلْحَقْلِ وَلَيْسَ مَنْ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمَا، فَضَرَبَ أَحَدُهُمَا ٱلْآخَرَ وَقَتَلَهُ.

I, your servant, had two sons, and they fought together in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One struck the other and killed him.

٧ 7 وَهُوَذَا ٱلْعَشِيرَةُ كُلُّهَا قَدْ قَامَتْ عَلَى جَارِيَتِكَ وَقَالُوا: سَلِّمِي ضَارِبَ أَخِيهِ لِنَقْتُلَهُ بِنَفْسِ أَخِيهِ ٱلَّذِي قَتَلَهُ، فَنُهْلِكَ ٱلْوَارِثَ أَيْضًا. فَيُطْفِئُونَ جَمْرَتِي ٱلَّتِي بَقِيَتْ، وَلَا يَتْرُكُونَ لِرَجُلِي ٱسْمًا وَلَا بَقِيَّةً عَلَى وَجْهِ ٱلْأَرْضِ».

Now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, 'Give into our hand the man who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death, to pay for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So they would also destroy the heir. Thus they will put out the burning coal that I have left, and they will leave for my husband neither name nor descendant on the surface of the earth.”

٨ 8 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ لِلْمَرْأَةِ: «ٱذْهَبِي إِلَى بَيْتِكِ وَأَنَا أُوصِي فِيكِ».

So the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will command something to be done for you.”

٩ 9 فَقَالَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ ٱلتَّقُوعِيَّةُ لِلْمَلِكِ: «عَلَيَّ ٱلْإِثْمُ يَا سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكَ وَعَلَى بَيْتِ أَبِي، وَٱلْمَلِكُ وَكُرْسِيُّهُ نَقِيَّانِ».

The woman of Tekoa replied to the king, “My master, king, may the guilt be on me and on my father's family. The king and his throne are guiltless.”

١٠ 10 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ: «إِذَا كَلَّمَكِ أَحَدٌ فَأْتِي بِهِ إِلَيَّ فَلَا يَعُودَ يَمَسُّكِ بَعْدُ».

The king replied, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.”

١١ 11 فَقَالَتِ: «ٱذْكُرْ أَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلرَّبَّ إِلَهَكَ حَتَّى لَا يُكَثِّرَ وَلِيُّ ٱلدَّمِ ٱلْقَتْلَ، لِئَلَّا يُهْلِكُوا ٱبْنِي». فَقَالَ: «حَيٌّ هُوَ ٱلرَّبُّ، إِنَّهُ لَا تَسْقُطُ شَعْرَةٌ مِنْ شَعْرِ ٱبْنِكِ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ».

Then she said, “Please, may the king call to mind Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not destroy anyone further, so that they will not destroy my son.” The king replied, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground.”

١٢ 12 فَقَالَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ: «لِتَتَكَلَّمْ جَارِيَتُكَ كَلِمَةً إِلَى سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ». فَقَالَ: «تَكَلَّمِي»

Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a further word to my master the king.” He said, “Speak on.”

١٣ 13 فَقَالَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ: «وَلِمَاذَا ٱفْتَكَرْتَ بِمِثْلِ هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرِ عَلَى شَعْبِ ٱللهِ؟ وَيَتَكَلَّمُ ٱلْمَلِكُ بِهَذَا ٱلْكَلَامِ كَمُذْنِبٍ بِمَا أَنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ لَا يَرُدُّ مَنْفِيَّهُ.

So the woman said, “Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in saying this thing, the king is like someone who is guilty, because the king has not brought back home again his banished son.

١٤ 14 لِأَنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ أَنْ نَمُوتَ وَنَكُونَ كَٱلْمَاءِ ٱلْمُهْرَاقِ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّذِي لَا يُجْمَعُ أَيْضًا. وَلَا يَنْزِعُ ٱللهُ نَفْسًا بَلْ يُفَكِّرُ أَفْكَارًا حَتَّى لَا يُطْرَدَ عَنْهُ مَنْفِيُّهُ.

For we all must die, and we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life; instead, he finds a way for those who were driven away to be restored.

١٥ 15 وَٱلْآنَ حَيْثُ إِنِّي جِئْتُ لِأُكَلِّمَ ٱلْمَلِكَ سَيِّدِي بِهَذَا ٱلْأَمْرِ، لِأَنَّ ٱلشَّعْبَ أَخَافَنِي، فَقَالَتْ جَارِيَتُكَ: أُكَلِّمُ ٱلْمَلِكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ يَفْعَلُ كَقَوْلِ أَمَتِهِ.

Now then, seeing that I have come to speak this thing to my master the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. So your servant said to herself, 'I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.

١٦ 16 لِأَنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ يَسْمَعُ لِيُنْقِذَ أَمَتَهُ مِنْ يَدِ ٱلرَّجُلِ ٱلَّذِي يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُهْلِكَنِي أَنَا وَٱبْنِي مَعًا مِنْ نَصِيبِ ٱللهِ.

Perhaps the king will listen to me and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together, out of the inheritance God gave us.'

١٧ 17 فَقَالَتْ جَارِيَتُكَ: لِيَكُنْ كَلَامُ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكِ عَزَاءً، لِأَنَّهُ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ كَمَلَاكِ ٱللهِ لِفَهْمِ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَٱلشَّرِّ، وَٱلرَّبُّ إِلَهُكَ يَكُونُ مَعَكَ».

Then your servant prayed, 'Yahweh, please let the word of my master the king give me relief, for as an angel of God, so is my master the king in telling good from evil.' May Yahweh your God be with you.”

١٨ 18 فَأَجَابَ ٱلْمَلِكُ وَقَالَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ: «لَا تَكْتُمِي عَنِّي أَمْرًا أَسْأَلُكِ عَنْهُ». فَقَالَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ: «لِيَتَكَلَّمْ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكُ».

Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I will ask you.” The woman replied, “Let my master the king now speak.”

١٩ 19 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ: «هَلْ يَدُ يُوآبَ مَعَكِ فِي هَذَا كُلِّهِ؟» فَأَجَابَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ وَقَالَتْ: «حَيَّةٌ هِيَ نَفْسُكَ يَا سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكَ، لَا يُحَادُ يَمِينًا أَوْ يَسَارًا عَنْ كُلِّ مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكُ، لِأَنَّ عَبْدَكَ يُوآبَ هُوَ أَوْصَانِي، وَهُوَ وَضَعَ فِي فَمِ جَارِيَتِكَ كُلَّ هَذَا ٱلْكَلَامِ.

The king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As you live, my master the king, no one can escape to the right hand or to the left from anything that my master the king has spoken. It was your servant Joab who commanded me and told me to say these things that your servant has spoken.

٢٠ 20 لِأَجْلِ تَحْوِيلِ وَجْهِ ٱلْكَلَامِ فَعَلَ عَبْدُكَ يُوآبُ هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرَ، وَسَيِّدِي حَكِيمٌ كَحِكْمَةِ مَلَاكِ ٱللهِ لِيَعْلَمَ كُلَّ مَا فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ».

Your servant Joab has done this to change the course of what is happening. My master is wise, like the wisdom of an angel of God, and he knows everything that is happening in the land.”

٢١ 21 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ لِيُوآبَ: «هَأَنَذَا قَدْ فَعَلْتُ هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرَ، فَٱذْهَبْ رُدَّ ٱلْفَتَى أَبْشَالُومَ».

So the king said to Joab, “Look now, I will do this thing. Go then, and bring the young man Absalom back.”

٢٢ 22 فَسَقَطَ يُوآبُ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَسَجَدَ وَبَارَكَ ٱلْمَلِكَ، وَقَالَ يُوآبُ: «ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلِمَ عَبْدُكَ أَنِّي قَدْ وَجَدْتُ نِعْمَةً فِي عَيْنَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدِي ٱلْمَلِكَ، إِذْ فَعَلَ ٱلْمَلِكُ قَوْلَ عَبْدِهِ».

So Joab lay facedown on the ground in honor and gratitude to the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my master, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.”

٢٣ 23 ثُمَّ قَامَ يُوآبُ وَذَهَبَ إِلَى جَشُورَ وَأَتَى بِأَبْشَالُومَ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ.

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

٢٤ 24 فَقَالَ ٱلْمَلِكُ: «لِيَنْصَرِفْ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ وَلَا يَرَ وَجْهِي». فَٱنْصَرَفَ أَبْشَالُومُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ وَلَمْ يَرَ وَجْهَ ٱلْمَلِكِ.

The king said, “He may return to his own house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.

٢٥ 25 وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كُلِّ إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ جَمِيلٌ وَمَمْدُوحٌ جِدًّا كَأَبْشَالُومَ، مِنْ بَاطِنِ قَدَمِهِ حَتَّى هَامَتِهِ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ عَيْبٌ.

Now in all Israel there was no one praised for his handsomeness more than Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish in him.

٢٦ 26 وَعِنْدَ حَلْقِهِ رَأْسَهُ، إِذْ كَانَ يَحْلِقُهُ فِي آخِرِ كُلِّ سَنَةٍ، لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَثْقُلُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَحْلِقُهُ، كَانَ يَزِنُ شَعْرُ رَأْسِهِ مِئَتَيْ شَاقِلٍ بِوَزْنِ ٱلْمَلِكِ.

When he cut the hair of his head at the end of every year, because it was heavy on him, he weighed his hair; it would weigh about two hundred shekels, which is measured by the weight of the king's standard.

٢٧ 27 وَوُلِدَ لِأَبْشَالُومَ ثَلَاثَةُ بَنِينَ وَبِنْتٌ وَاحِدَةٌ ٱسْمُهَا ثَامَارُ، وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَةً جَمِيلَةَ ٱلْمَنْظَرِ.

To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

٢٨ 28 وَأَقَامَ أَبْشَالُومُ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ سَنَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَرَ وَجْهَ ٱلْمَلِكِ.

Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king's face.

٢٩ 29 فَأَرْسَلَ أَبْشَالُومُ إِلَى يُوآبَ لِيُرْسِلَهُ إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ، فَلَمْ يَشَأْ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ إِلَيْهِ. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ أَيْضًا ثَانِيَةً، فَلَمْ يَشَأْ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ.

Then Absalom sent word for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. So Absalom sent word a second time, but Joab still did not come.

٣٠ 30 فَقَالَ لِعَبِيدِهِ: «ٱنْظُرُوا. حَقْلَةَ يُوآبَ بِجَانِبِي، وَلَهُ هُنَاكَ شَعِيرٌ. ٱذْهَبُوا وَأَحْرِقُوهُ بِٱلنَّارِ». فَأَحْرَقَ عَبِيدُ أَبْشَالُومَ ٱلْحَقْلَةَ بِٱلنَّارِ.

So Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

٣١ 31 فَقَامَ يُوآبُ وَجَاءَ إِلَى أَبْشَالُومَ إِلَى ٱلْبَيْتِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: «لِمَاذَا أَحْرَقَ عَبِيدُكَ حَقْلَتِي بِٱلنَّارِ؟»

Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

٣٢ 32 فَقَالَ أَبْشَالُومُ لِيُوآبَ: «هَأَنَذَا قَدْ أَرْسَلْتُ إِلَيْكَ قَائِلًا: تَعَالَ إِلَى هُنَا فَأُرْسِلَكَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ تَقُولُ: لِمَاذَا جِئْتُ مِنْ جَشُورَ؟ خَيْرٌ لِي لَوْ كُنْتُ بَاقِيًا هُنَاكَ. فَٱلْآنَ إِنِّي أَرَى وَجْهَ ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَإِنْ وُجِدَ فِيَّ إِثْمٌ فَلْيَقْتُلْنِي».

Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent word to you saying, 'Come here so I may send you to the king to say, “Why did I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there. Now therefore let me see the king's face, and if I am guilty, let him kill me.”'”

٣٣ 33 فَجَاءَ يُوآبُ إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ وَأَخْبَرَهُ. وَدَعَا أَبْشَالُومَ، فَأَتَى إِلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ وَسَجَدَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ قُدَّامَ ٱلْمَلِكِ، فَقَبَّلَ ٱلْمَلِكُ أَبْشَالُومَ.

So Joab went to the king and told him. When the king called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed low to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.