Tanach
Shmuel II 18:4-18 שמואל ב י״ח:ד׳-י״ח
Part of: Chapter 18
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־יִיטַב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם אֶעֱשֶׂה וַיַּעֲמֹד הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־יַד הַשַּׁעַר וְכׇל־הָעָם יָֽצְאוּ לְמֵאוֹת וְלַאֲלָפִֽים׃
The king said to them, "I will do as you see fit." The king stood off to the side of the gate and all the people went forth, by hundreds and by thousands.
The king said to them, "I will do as you see fit." The king stood off to the side of the gate and all the people went forth, by hundreds and by thousands.
וַיְצַו הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־יוֹאָב וְאֶת־אֲבִישַׁי וְאֶת־אִתַּי לֵאמֹר לְאַט־לִי לַנַּעַר לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם וְכׇל־הָעָם שָׁמְעוּ בְּצַוֺּת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִים עַל־דְּבַר אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
The king commanded Yoav, Avishai and Itai saying, "Be gentle to the young man, Avsholom for me." All the people heard the king's order to all the officers concerning Avshalom.
The king commanded Yoav, Avishai and Itai saying, "Be gentle to the young man, Avsholom for me." All the people heard the king's order to all the officers concerning Avshalom.
Rashi
וַיֵּצֵא הָעָם הַשָּׂדֶה לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל וַתְּהִי הַמִּלְחָמָה בְּיַעַר אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
The people went out to the field against [the army of] Yisroel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
The people went out to the field against [the army of] Yisroel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
Rashi
ביער אפרים. ומהיכן היה יער לאפרים בעבר הירדן מזרחה, שלא ניתן שם חלק אלא לבני גד ולבני ראובן ולמנשה, אלא מתוך שהתנה יהושע שיהיו מרעין בחורשין, והיה אותו היער סמוך לאפרים, אלא שהירדן מפסיק, והיו מרעין שם בהמותיהם, היה נקרא יער אפרים:
In the forest of Ephraim. How did Ephraim get possession of a forest on the eastern side of the Yardein,1Dovid had crossed over to the eastern side of the Yardein earlier (17:22) and that’s where this battle took place. no one had a portion there except for the people of Gad, Reuvein and Menashe? Yehoshua [partitioned Israel] conditionally that all the tribes could [have their cattle] graze in any forest. This forest was near Ephraim's portion2On the other side of the Yardein. except that the Yardein was in between, and the people of Ephraim had their cattle graze there. [Thus] it was called Ephraim's forest
וַיִּנָּגְפוּ שָׁם עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי עַבְדֵי דָוִד וַתְּהִי־שָׁם הַמַּגֵּפָה גְדוֹלָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא עֶשְׂרִים אָֽלֶף׃
The army of Yisroel was defeated there by the servants of Dovid. There was a great slaughter there on that day of twenty thousand [men lost].
The army of Yisroel was defeated there by the servants of Dovid. There was a great slaughter there on that day of twenty thousand [men lost].
וַתְּהִי־שָׁם הַמִּלְחָמָה (נפצות) [נָפוֹצֶת] עַל־פְּנֵי כׇל־הָאָרֶץ וַיֶּרֶב הַיַּעַר לֶאֱכֹל בָּעָם מֵאֲשֶׁר אָכְלָה הַחֶרֶב בַּיּוֹם הַהֽוּא׃
The war spread all over the land, The [wild beasts of the] forest killed more people than the sword devoured on that day.
The war spread all over the land, The [wild beasts of the] forest killed more people than the sword devoured on that day.
Rashi
וירב היער לאכול בעם. חיות רעות שביער, כן תרגם יונתן:
The [wild beasts of the] forest killed more people. The wild beasts of the forest, so Yonason translated.
וַיִּקָּרֵא אַבְשָׁלוֹם לִפְנֵי עַבְדֵי דָוִד וְאַבְשָׁלוֹם רֹכֵב עַל־הַפֶּרֶד וַיָּבֹא הַפֶּרֶד תַּחַת שׂוֹבֶךְ הָאֵלָה הַגְּדוֹלָה וַיֶּחֱזַק רֹאשׁוֹ בָאֵלָה וַיֻּתַּן בֵּין הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבֵין הָאָרֶץ וְהַפֶּרֶד אֲשֶׁר־תַּחְתָּיו עָבָֽר׃
Avsholom chanced to meet the servants of Dovid and Avsholom was riding on a mule. The mule passed under the branches of a great elm tree and his head got caught in the elm tree. He was hanging between the sky and the earth and the mule that was under him passed on by.
Avsholom chanced to meet the servants of Dovid and Avsholom was riding on a mule. The mule passed under the branches of a great elm tree and his head got caught in the elm tree. He was hanging between the sky and the earth and the mule that was under him passed on by.
Rashi
ויקרא אבשלום. לשון מקרה ופגע:
Avsholom happenned. Denoting something that just happened, a chance meeting.
ויתן בין השמים ובין הארץ. אמרו רבותינו (סוטה י ב): שלף חרבו לקוץ שערו, וראה גיהנם פתוחה תחתיו:
He was hanging between the sky and the earth. Our Rabbis said3Sotah 10b. See Meharsho there. He unsheathed his sword to cut his hair and saw Gehennom open beneath him.
וַיַּרְא אִישׁ אֶחָד וַיַּגֵּד לְיוֹאָב וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה רָאִיתִי אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֹם תָּלוּי בָּאֵלָֽה׃
A man saw this and told it to Yoav and said, "I saw Avsholom hanging from an elm tree."
A man saw this and told it to Yoav and said, "I saw Avsholom hanging from an elm tree."
וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹאָב לָאִישׁ הַמַּגִּיד לוֹ וְהִנֵּה רָאִיתָ וּמַדּוּעַ לֹא־הִכִּיתוֹ שָׁם אָרְצָה וְעָלַי לָתֶת לְךָ עֲשָׂרָה כֶסֶף וַחֲגֹרָה אֶחָֽת׃
Yoav said to the man who told him, "You saw him, why did you not strike him to the ground and I would have given you ten silver peices and one belt."
Yoav said to the man who told him, "You saw him, why did you not strike him to the ground and I would have given you ten silver peices and one belt."
וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ אֶל־יוֹאָב (ולא) [וְלוּ] אָנֹכִי שֹׁקֵל עַל־כַּפַּי אֶלֶף כֶּסֶף לֹא־אֶשְׁלַח יָדִי אֶל־בֶּן־הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי בְאׇזְנֵינוּ צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ אֹתְךָ וְאֶת־אֲבִישַׁי וְאֶת־אִתַּי לֵאמֹר שִׁמְרוּ־מִי בַּנַּעַר בְּאַבְשָׁלֽוֹם׃
The man said to Yoav, "Had I been able to take a thousand silver peices, I would not have hurt the king's son because [we heard] with our own ears that the king commanded you, Avishai and Itai saying, 'Beware that none harm the young man, Avsholom'.
The man said to Yoav, "Had I been able to take a thousand silver peices, I would not have hurt the king's son because [we heard] with our own ears that the king commanded you, Avishai and Itai saying, 'Beware that none harm the young man, Avsholom'.
Rashi
שמרו מי בנער. כל מי שיבא לידו ישמרנו:
Beware that none harm the young man. Everyone who meets up with him should preserve him.
אֽוֹ־עָשִׂיתִי (בנפשו) [בְנַפְשִׁי] שֶׁקֶר וְכׇל־דָּבָר לֹא־יִכָּחֵד מִן־הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאַתָּה תִּתְיַצֵּב מִנֶּֽגֶד׃
Had I tried to lie [and cover up his murder], nothing would [remain] concealed from the king and you would distance yourself [from me]."
Had I tried to lie [and cover up his murder], nothing would [remain] concealed from the king and you would distance yourself [from me]."
וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹאָב לֹא־כֵן אֹחִילָה לְפָנֶיךָ וַיִּקַּח שְׁלֹשָׁה שְׁבָטִים בְּכַפּוֹ וַיִּתְקָעֵם בְּלֵב אַבְשָׁלוֹם עוֹדֶנּוּ חַי בְּלֵב הָאֵלָֽה׃
Yoav said, "I will not ask you [any further]." He took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Avsholom's heart while he was still alive in the midst of the elm tree.
Yoav said, "I will not ask you [any further]." He took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Avsholom's heart while he was still alive in the midst of the elm tree.
Rashi
לא כן אוחילה לפניך. לא אבקש עוד בקשה ממך, כי אני אלך:
"I will not ask you [any further]." I will not make any more requests of you because I will go myself.
וַיָּסֹבּוּ עֲשָׂרָה נְעָרִים נֹשְׂאֵי כְּלֵי יוֹאָב וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיְמִתֻֽהוּ׃
Ten young men, who carried Yoav's weapons gathered around, They struck Avsholom and killed him.
Ten young men, who carried Yoav's weapons gathered around, They struck Avsholom and killed him.
וַיִּתְקַע יוֹאָב בַּשֹּׁפָר וַיָּשׇׁב הָעָם מִרְדֹף אַחֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּֽי־חָשַׂךְ יוֹאָב אֶת־הָעָֽם׃
Yoav blew the shofar and his people stopped chasing after [the army of] Yisroel. because Yoav restrained his people.
Yoav blew the shofar and his people stopped chasing after [the army of] Yisroel. because Yoav restrained his people.
וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־אַבְשָׁלוֹם וַיַּשְׁלִכוּ אֹתוֹ בַיַּעַר אֶל־הַפַּחַת הַגָּדוֹל וַיַּצִּבוּ עָלָיו גַּל־אֲבָנִים גָּדוֹל מְאֹד וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל נָסוּ אִישׁ לְאֹהָלָֽו׃
They took Avsholom, threw him into a big ditch in the forest, and piled up a great heap of stones on top of it. All the men of Yisroel fled to their homes.
They took Avsholom, threw him into a big ditch in the forest, and piled up a great heap of stones on top of it. All the men of Yisroel fled to their homes.
וְאַבְשָׁלֹם לָקַח וַיַּצֶּב־לוֹ בְחַיָּו אֶת־מַצֶּבֶת אֲשֶׁר בְּעֵֽמֶק־הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי אָמַר אֵֽין־לִי בֵן בַּעֲבוּר הַזְכִּיר שְׁמִי וַיִּקְרָא לַמַּצֶּבֶת עַל־שְׁמוֹ וַיִּקָּרֵא לָהּ יַד אַבְשָׁלוֹם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ {ס}
Avsholom had taken and built for himself a monument during his lifetime, which is in the king's valley because he said, "I have no son, this will memorialize my name." He named the monument after himself calling it, "the place of Avsholom." [It remains] until today.
Avsholom had taken and built for himself a monument during his lifetime, which is in the king's valley because he said, "I have no son, this will memorialize my name." He named the monument after himself calling it, "the place of Avsholom." [It remains] until today.
Rashi
כי אמר אין לי בן. ממלא מקומי, ויהיה חשוב כמותי:
Because he said, "I have no son." That can replace me and be as important as me.4He did have children as related earlier (14:27) but did not consider them on a par with his stature. See Sotah 11a.
בעבור הזכיר שמי. אקים לי מצבת אבן, ובנין חשוב היה:
This will memorialize my name. I will build this stone monument for myself. It was a significant building.
לאט לי לנער. אם יקרא לפניכם במלחמה, חמלו עליו:
Be gentle to the young man. If he presents himself before you in battle have pity on him.