II Samuel 18

وَأَحْصَى دَاوُدُ الشَّعْبَ الَّذِي مَعَهُ، وَجَعَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ رُؤَسَاءَ أُلُوفٍ وَرُؤَسَاءَ مِئَاتٍ.

And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

وَأَرْسَلَ دَاوُدُ الشَّعْبَ ثُلْثًا بِيَدِ يُوآبَ، وَثُلْثًا بِيَدِ أَبِيشَايَ ابْنِ صَرُويَةَ أَخِي يُوآبَ، وَثُلْثًا بِيَدِ إِتَّايَ الْجَتِّيِّ. وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِلشَّعْبِ: «إِنِّي أَنَا أَيْضًا أَخْرُجُ مَعَكُمْ».

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

فَقَالَ الشَّعْبُ: «لاَ تَخْرُجْ، لأَنَّنَا إِذَا هَرَبْنَا لاَ يُبَالُونَ بِنَا، وَإِذَا مَاتَ نِصْفُنَا لاَ يُبَالُونَ بِنَا. وَالآنَ أَنْتَ كَعَشَرَةِ آلاَفٍ مِنَّا. وَالآنَ الأَصْلَحُ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَنَا نَجْدَةً مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ».

But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.

فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الْمَلِكُ: «مَا يَحْسُنُ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ أَفْعَلُهُ». فَوَقَفَ الْمَلِكُ بِجَانِبِ الْبَابِ وَخَرَجَ جَمِيعُ الشَّعْبِ مِئَاتٍ وَأُلُوفًا.

And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

وَأَوْصَى الْمَلِكُ يُوآبَ وَأَبِيشَايَ وَإِتَّايَ قَائِلاً: «تَرَفَّقُوا لِي بِالْفَتَى أَبْشَالُومَ». وَسَمِعَ جَمِيعُ الشَّعْبِ حِينَ أَوْصَى الْمَلِكُ جَمِيعَ الرُّؤَسَاءِ بِأَبْشَالُومَ.

And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

وَخَرَجَ الشَّعْبُ إِلَى الْحَقْلِ لِلِقَاءِ إِسْرَائِيلَ. وَكَانَ الْقِتَالُ فِي وَعْرِ أَفْرَايِمَ،

So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

فَانْكَسَرَ هُنَاكَ شَعْبُ إِسْرَائِيلَ أَمَامَ عَبِيدِ دَاوُدَ، وَكَانَتْ هُنَاكَ مَقْتَلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فِي ذلِكَ الْيَوْمِ. قُتِلَ عِشْرُونَ أَلْفًا.

Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

وَكَانَ الْقِتَالُ هُنَاكَ مُنْتَشِرًا عَلَى وَجْهِ كُلِّ الأَرْضِ، وَزَادَ الَّذِينَ أَكَلَهُمُ الْوَعْرُ مِنَ الشَّعْبِ عَلَى الَّذِينَ أَكَلَهُمُ السَّيْفُ فِي ذلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.

For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

وَصَادَفَ أَبْشَالُومُ عَبِيدَ دَاوُدَ، وَكَانَ أَبْشَالُومُ رَاكِبًا عَلَى بَغْل، فَدَخَلَ الْبَغْلُ تَحْتَ أَغْصَانِ الْبُطْمَةِ الْعَظِيمَةِ الْمُلْتَفَّةِ، فَتَعَلَّقَ رَأْسُهُ بِالْبُطْمَةِ وَعُلِّقَ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَالْبَغْلُ الَّذِي تَحْتَهُ مَرَّ.

And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

فَرَآهُ رَجُلٌ وَأَخْبَرَ يُوآبَ وَقَالَ: «إِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَبْشَالُومَ مُعَلَّقًا بِالْبُطْمَةِ».

And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

فَقَالَ يُوآبُ لِلرَّجُلِ الَّذِي أَخْبَرَهُ: «إِنَّكَ قَدْ رَأَيْتَهُ، فَلِمَاذَا لَمْ تَضْرِبْهُ هُنَاكَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ؟ وَعَلَيَّ أَنْ أُعْطِيَكَ عَشَرَةً مِنَ الْفِضَّةِ وَمِنْطَقَةً»

And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لِيُوآبَ: «فَلَوْ وُزِنَ فِي يَدِي أَلْفٌ مِنَ الْفِضَّةِ لَمَا كُنْتُ أَمُدُّ يَدِي إِلَى ابْنِ الْمَلِكِ، لأَنَّ الْمَلِكَ أَوْصَاكَ فِي آذَانِنَا أَنْتَ وَأَبِيشَايَ وَإِتَّايَ قَائِلاً: احْتَرِزُوا أَيًّا كَانَ مِنْكُمْ عَلَى الْفَتَى أَبْشَالُومَ.

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

وَإَِّلا فَكُنْتُ فَعَلْتُ بِنَفْسِي زُورًا، إِذْ لاَ يَخْفَى عَنِ الْمَلِكِ شَيْءٌ، وأَنْتَ كُنْتَ وَقَفْتَ ضِدِّي».

Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

فَقَالَ يُوآبُ: «إِنِّي لاَ أَصْبِرُ هكَذَا أَمَامَكَ». فَأَخَذَ ثَلاَثَةَ سِهَامٍ بِيَدِهِ وَنَشَّبَهَا فِي قَلْبِ أَبْشَالُومَ، وَهُوَ بَعْدُ حَيٌّ فِي قَلْبِ الْبُطْمَةِ.

Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

وَأَحَاطَ بِهَا عَشَرَةُ غِلْمَانٍ حَامِلُو سِلاَحِ يُوآبَ، وَضَرَبُوا أَبْشَالُومَ وَأَمَاتُوهُ.

And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

وَضَرَبَ يُوآبُ بِالْبُوقِ فَرَجَعَ الشَّعْبُ عَنِ اتِّبَاعِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، لأَنَّ يُوآبَ مَنَعَ الشَّعْبَ.

And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

وَأَخَذُوا أَبْشَالُومَ وَطَرَحُوهُ فِي الْوَعْرِ فِي الْجُبِّ الْعَظِيمِ، وَأَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ رُجْمَةً عَظِيمَةً جِدًّا مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ. وَهَرَبَ كُلُّ إِسْرَائِيلَ، كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ إِلَى خَيْمَتِهِ.

And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

وَكَانَ أَبْشَالُومُ قَدْ أَخَذَ وَأَقَامَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ النَّصَبَ الَّذِي فِي وَادِي الْمَلِكِ، لأَنَّهُ قَالَ: «لَيْسَ لِيَ ابْنٌ لأَجْلِ تَذْكِيرِ اسْمِي». وَدَعَا النَّصَبَ بِاسْمِهِ، وَهُوَ يُدْعَى «يَدَ أَبْشَالُومَ» إِلَى هذَا الْيَوْمِ.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

وَقَالَ أَخِيمَعَصُ بْنُ صَادُوقَ: «دَعْنِي أَجْرِ فَأُبَشِّرَ الْمَلِكَ، لأَنَّ اللهَ قَدِ انْتَقَمَ لَهُ مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِ».

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

فَقَالَ لَهُ يُوآبُ: «مَا أَنْتَ صَاحِبُ بِشَارَةٍ فِي هذَا الْيَوْمِ. فِي يَوْمٍ آخَرَ تُبَشِّرُ، وَهذَا الْيَوْمَ لاَ تُبَشِّرُ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّ ابْنَ الْمَلِكِ قَدْ مَاتَ».

And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

وَقَالَ يُوآبُ لِكُوشِي: «اذْهَبْ وَأَخْبِرِ الْمَلِكَ بِمَا رَأَيْتَ». فَسَجَدَ كُوشِي لِيُوآبَ وَرَكَضَ.

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

وَعَادَ أَيْضًا أَخِيمَعَصُ بْنُ صَادُوقَ فَقَالَ لِيُوآبَ: «مَهْمَا كَانَ، فَدَعْنِي أَجْرِ أَنَا أَيْضًا وَرَاءَ كُوشِي». فَقَالَ يُوآبُ: «لِمَاذَا تَجْرِي أَنْتَ يَا ابْنِي، وَلَيْسَ لَكَ بِشَارَةٌ تُجَازَى؟»

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

قَالَ: «مَهْمَا كَانَ أَجْرِي». فَقَالَ لَهُ: «اجْرِ». فَجَرَى أَخِيمَعَصُ فِي طَرِيقِ الْغَوْرِ وَسَبَقَ كُوشِيَ.

But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

وَكَانَ دَاوُدُ جَالِسًا بَيْنَ الْبَابَيْنِ، وَطَلَعَ الرَّقِيبُ إِلَى سَطْحِ الْبَابِ إِلَى السُّورِ وَرَفَعَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَنَظَرَ وَإِذَا بِرَجُل يَجْرِي وَحْدَهُ.

And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

فَنَادَى الرَّقِيبُ وَأَخْبَرَ الْمَلِكَ. فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: «إِنْ كَانَ وَحْدَهُ فَفِي فَمِهِ بِشَارَةٌ». وَكَانَ يَسْعَى وَيَقْرُبُ.

And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

ثُمَّ رَأَى الرَّقِيبُ رَجُلاً آخَرَ يَجْرِي، فَنَادَى الرَّقِيبُ الْبَوَّابَ وَقَالَ: «هُوَذَا رَجُلٌ يَجْرِي وَحْدَهُ». فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: «وَهذَا أَيْضًا مُبَشِّرٌ».

And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

وَقَالَ الرَّقِيبُ: «إِنِّي أَرَى جَرْيَ الأَوَّلِ كَجَرْيِ أَخِيمَعَصَ بْنِ صَادُوقَ». فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: «هذَا رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ وَيَأْتِي بِبِشَارَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ».

And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

فَنَادَى أَخِيمَعَصُ وَقَالَ لِلْمَلِكِ: «السَّلاَمُ». وَسَجَدَ لِلْمَلِكِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ. وَقَالَ: «مُبَارَكٌ الرَّبُّ إِلهُكَ الَّذِي دَفَعَ الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ رَفَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِي الْمَلِكِ».

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: «أَسَلاَمٌ لِلْفَتَى أَبْشَالُومَ؟» فَقَالَ أَخِيمَعَصُ: «قَدْ رَأَيْتُ جُمْهُورًا عَظِيمًا عِنْدَ إِرْسَالِ يُوآبَ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ وَعَبْدَكَ، وَلَمْ أَعْلَمْ مَاذَا».

And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: «دُرْ وَقِفْ ههُنَا». فَدَارَ وَوَقَفَ.

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

وَإِذَا بِكُوشِي قَدْ أَتَى، وَقَالَ كُوشِي: « لِيُبَشَّرْ سَيِّدِي الْمَلِكُ، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدِ انْتَقَمَ لَكَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْقَائِمِينَ عَلَيْكَ».

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِكُوشِي: «أَسَلاَمٌ لِلْفَتَى أَبْشَالُومَ؟» فَقَالَ كُوشِي: «لِيَكُنْ كَالْفَتَى أَعْدَاءُ سَيِّدِي الْمَلِكِ وَجَمِيعُ الَّذِينَ قَامُوا عَلَيْكَ لِلشَّرِّ».

And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

فَانْزَعَجَ الْمَلِكُ وَصَعِدَ إِلَى عِلِّيَّةِ الْبَابِ وَكَانَ يَبْكِي وَيَقُولُ وَهُوَ يَتَمَشَّى: «يَا ابْنِي أَبْشَالُومُ، يَا ابْنِي، يَا ابْنِي أَبْشَالُومُ! يَا لَيْتَنِي مُتُّ عِوَضًا عَنْكَ! يَا أَبْشَالُومُ ابْنِي، يَا ابْنِي».

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!