2 Samuel 15 – NIRV & NAV

New International Reader’s Version

2 Samuel 15:1-37

Absalom Makes Secret Plans Against David

1Some time later, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He also got 50 men to run in front of him. 2He would get up early. He would stand by the side of the road that led to the city gate. Sometimes a person would come with a case for the king to decide. Then Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “I’m from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are based on the law. So you have every right to make them. But the king doesn’t have anyone here who can listen to your case.” 4Absalom would continue, “I wish I were appointed judge in the land! Then anyone who has a case or a claim could come to me. I would make sure they are treated fairly.”

5Sometimes people would approach Absalom and bow down to him. Then he would reach out his hand. He would take hold of them and kiss them. 6Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to the king with their cases or claims. That’s why the hearts of the people were turned toward him.

7After Absalom had lived in Jerusalem for four years, he went and spoke to the king. He said, “Let me go to Hebron. I want to keep a promise I made to the Lord. 8When I was living at Geshur in Aram, I made a promise. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I’ll go to Hebron and worship him there.’ ”

9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.

10Then Absalom sent messengers secretly to all the tribes of Israel. They said, “Listen for the sound of trumpets. As soon as you hear them, say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron.’ ” 11Absalom had taken 200 men from Jerusalem with him to Hebron. He had invited them to be his guests. They went without having any idea what was going to happen. 12While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel. Ahithophel was David’s adviser. He came to Absalom from Giloh, his hometown. The number of people who followed Absalom kept growing. So he became more and more able to carry out his plans against David.

David Runs Away From Absalom

13A messenger came and spoke to David. He told him, “The hearts of the Israelites are turned toward Absalom.”

14Then David spoke to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem. He said, “Come on! We have to leave right away! If we don’t, none of us will escape from Absalom. He’ll move quickly to catch up with us. He’ll destroy us. His men will kill everyone in the city with their swords.”

15The king’s officials answered him, “You are our king and master. We’re ready to do anything you want.”

16The king started out. Everyone in his whole family went with him. But he left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace. 17So the king and all those with him left. They stopped at the edge of the city. 18All of David’s officials marched past him. All the Kerethites and Pelethites marched along with them. And all of the 600 men who had come with him from Gath marched in front of him.

19The king spoke to Ittai. He was from Gath. The king said to him, “Why do you want to come along with us? Go back. Stay with King Absalom. You are an outsider. You left your own country. 20You came to join me only a short time ago. So why should I make you wander around with us now? I don’t even know where I’m going. So go on back. Take your people with you. And may the Lord be kind and faithful to you.”

21But Ittai replied to the king, “You are my king and master. I want to be where you are. It doesn’t matter whether I live or die. And that’s just as sure as the Lord and you are alive.”

22David said to Ittai, “Go ahead then. Keep marching with my men.” So Ittai, the Gittite, kept marching. All his men and their families marched with him.

23All the people in the countryside wept out loud as David and all his followers passed by. The king went across the Kidron Valley. He and all the people with him moved on toward the desert.

24Zadok also went with them. Some of the Levites went with him. They were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark. Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had left the city.

25Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If the Lord is pleased with me, he’ll bring me back. He’ll let me see the ark again. He’ll also let me see Jerusalem again. That’s the place where he lives. 26But suppose he says, ‘I am not pleased with you.’ Then I accept that. Let him do to me what he thinks is best.”

27The king said again to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you. Also take Abiathar and his son Jonathan with you. 28I’ll wait at the place in the desert where we can go across the Jordan River. I’ll wait there until you send word to let me know what’s happening.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem. They stayed there.

30But David went on up the Mount of Olives. He was weeping as he went. His head was covered, and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too. And they were weeping as they went up. 31David had been told, “Ahithophel, along with Absalom, is one of the people making secret plans against you.” So David prayed, “Lord, make Ahithophel’s advice look foolish.”

32David arrived at the top of the Mount of Olives. That’s where people used to worship God. Hushai, the Arkite, was there to meet him. His robe was torn. There was dust on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be too much trouble for me. 34So return to the city. Say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I’ll be your servant. In the past, I was your father’s servant. But now I’ll be your servant.’ If you do that, you can help me by making sure Ahithophel’s advice fails. 35Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king’s palace. 36They have their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan there with them. Send them to tell me everything you hear.”

37So David’s trusted friend Hushai went to Jerusalem. He arrived just as Absalom was entering the city.

Ketab El Hayat

صموئيل الثاني 15:1-37

مؤامرة أبشالوم

1بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ اتَّخَذَ أَبْشَالُومُ لِنَفْسِهِ مَرْكَبَةً وَخَيْلاً وَاسْتَأْجَرَ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً يَجْرُونَ أَمَامَهُ. 2وَكَانَ يَسْتَيْقِظُ مُبَكِّراً صَبَاحَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَيَقِفُ إِلَى جِوَارِ طَرِيقِ بَوَّابَةِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَيَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ كُلَّ صَاحِبِ دَعْوَى يَقْصِدُ الْمَلِكَ لِيَعْرِضَ عَلَيْهِ قَضِيَّتَهُ، فَيَسْأَلُهُ: «مِنْ أَيَّةِ مَدِينَةٍ أَنْتَ؟» فَيُجِيبُ: «عَبْدُكَ يَنْتَمِي إِلَى أَحَدِ أَسْبَاطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ». 3فَيَقُولُ أَبْشَالُومُ لَهُ: «إِنَّ دَعْوَاكَ حَقٌّ وَقَوِيمَةٌ، وَلَكِنْ لَا يُوْجَدُ مَنْدُوبٌ عَنِ الْمَلِكِ لِيَسْتَمِعَ إِلَيْكَ». 4ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَبْشَالُومُ: «لَوْ صِرْتُ قَاضِياً فِي الأَرْضِ لَكُنْتُ أُنْصِفُ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ لَهُ خُصُومَةٌ أَوْ دَعْوَى». 5وَكَانَ إِذَا تَقَدَّمَ أَحَدٌ لِيَسْجُدَ لَهُ، يَمُدُّ يَدَهَ وَيُنْهِضُهُ وَيُقَبِّلُهُ. 6وَظَلَّ أَبْشَالُومُ يَفْعَلُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ مَعَ كُلِّ قَادِمٍ بِقَضِيَّةٍ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ، حَتَّى تَمَكَّنَ مِنِ اكْتِسَابِ قُلُوبِ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

7وَبَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ أَرْبَعِ سَنَوَاتٍ قَالَ أَبْشَالُومُ لِلْمَلِكِ: «دَعْنِي أَنْطَلِقُ إِلَى حَبْرُونَ لأُوفِيَ نَذْرِي الَّذِي نَذَرْتُهُ لِلرَّبِّ. 8فَقَدْ نَذَرَ عَبْدُكَ، عِنْدَمَا كُنْتُ مُقِيماً فِي جَشُورَ فِي أَرَامَ، أَنَّهُ إِنْ رَدَّنِي الرَّبُّ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ فَإِنِّي أُقَدِّمُ لَهُ ذَبِيحَةً». 9فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ لَهُ: «اذْهَبْ بِسَلامٍ». فَقَامَ وَمَضَى إِلَى حَبْرُونَ.

10وَبَثَّ أَبْشَالُومُ جَوَاسِيسَ فِي أَوْسَاطِ جَمِيعِ أَسْبَاطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ قَائِلاً: «إِنْ سَمِعْتُمْ نَفِيرَ الْبُوقِ، فَقُولُوا: قَدْ مَلَكَ أَبْشَالُومُ فِي حَبْرُونَ». 11وَرَافَقَ أَبْشَالُومَ مِئَتَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ لَبَّوْا دَعْوَتَهُ عَنْ طِيبِ نِيَّةٍ غَيْرَ عَالِمِينَ بِشَيْءٍ. 12وَفِي أَثْنَاءِ تَقْرِيبِهِ ذَبَائِحَ، اسْتَدْعَى أَبْشَالُومُ أَخِيتُوفَلَ الْجِيلُونِيَّ مُشِيرَ دَاوُدَ، مِنْ بَلْدَتِهِ جِيلُوهَ. وَتَفَاقَمَتِ الْفِتْنَةُ وَازْدَادَ اِلْتِفَافُ الشَّعْبِ حَوْلَ أَبْشَالُومَ. 13فَجَاءَ مُخْبِرٌ قَالَ لِدَاوُدَ: «إِنَّ قُلُوبَ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ قَدْ مَالَتْ نَحْوَ أَبْشَالُومَ».

هرب داود

14فَقَالَ دَاوُدُ لِرِجَالِهِ الْمُلْتَفِّينَ حَوْلَهُ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ: «قُوُموا بِنَا نَهْرُبُ، لأَنَّهُ لَا نَجَاةَ لَنَا مِنْ أَبْشَالُومَ. أَسْرِعُوا فِي الْهَرَبِ لِئَلّا يَفُوتَ الْوَقْتُ، وَيُدْرِكَنَا أَبْشَالُومُ وَيدَمِّرَ الْمَدِينَةَ» 15فَأَجَابَهُ رِجَالُهُ: «نَحْنُ طَوْعُ أَمْرِكَ فِي كُلِّ مَا تُشِيرُ بِهِ». 16فَخَرَجَ الْمَلِكُ وَسَائِرُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ، وَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ سِوَى عَشْرِ مَحْظِيَّاتٍ لِحِرَاسَةِ الْقَصْرِ. 17وَتَوَقَّفَ الْمَلِكُ وَالشَّعْبُ السَّائِرُ فِي إِثْرِهِ عِنْدَ آخِرِ بَيْتٍ فِي طَرَفِ الْمَدِينَةِ. 18وَأَخَذَ رِجَالُهُ يَمُرُّونَ أَمَامَهُ مِنْ ضُبَّاطٍ وَحَرَسٍ خَاصٍّ، ثُمَّ سِتُّ مِئَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْجَتِّيِّينَ الَّذِينَ تَبِعُوهُ مِنْ جَتَّ. 19فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِقَائِدِهِمْ إِتَّايَ الْجَتِّيِّ: «لِمَاذَا تَذْهَبُ أَنْتَ أَيْضاً مَعَنَا؟ اِرْجِعْ وَأَقِمْ مَعَ الْمَلِكِ الْجَدِيِدِ لأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ وَمَنْفِيٌّ أَيْضاً مِنْ وَطَنِكَ. 20لَقَدْ جِئْتَ بِالأَمْسِ الْقَرِيبِ، فَهَلْ أَجْعَلُكَ الْيَوْمَ تَتَشَرَّدُ مَعَنَا، مَعَ أَنَّنِي لَا أَدْرِي إِلَى أَيْنَ أَذْهَبُ؟ اِرْجِعْ وَعُدْ بِقَوْمِكَ، وَلْتُرَافِقْكَ الرَّحْمَةُ وَالْحَقُّ». 21وَلَكِنَّ إِتَّايَ أَجَابَ الْمَلِكَ: «حَيٌّ هُوَ الرَّبُّ وَحَيٌّ هُوَ سَيِّدِي الْمَلِكُ، أَنَّهُ حَيْثُمَا يَتَوَجَّهُ سَيِّدِي الْمَلِكُ، سَوَاءٌ كَانَ لِلْحَيَاةِ أَمْ لِلْمَوْتِ، يَتَوَجَّهُ عَبْدُكَ أَيْضاً». 22فَقَالَ دَاوُدُ لإِتَّايَ: «تَعَالَ، وَاعْبُرْ مَعَنَا». فَعَبَرَ إِتَّايُ الْجَتِّيُّ وَجَمِيعُ أَصْحَابِهِ وَسَائِرُ الأَطْفَالِ الَّذِيِنَ كَانُوا مَعَهُ. 23وَرَاحَ أَهَالِي الأَرْضِ يَبْكُونَ بِصَوْتٍ مُرْتَفِعٍ فِيمَا كَانَ الْمَلِكُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الشَّعْبِ يَجْتَازُونَ فِي وَادِي قَدْرُونَ فِي طَرِيقِهِمْ نَحْوَ الصَّحْرَاءِ.

24وَجَاءَ صَادُوقُ أَيْضاً وَمَعَهُ جَمِيعُ اللّاوِيِّينَ حَامِلِينَ تَابُوتَ عَهْدِ الرَّبِّ، وَوَضَعُوهُ إِلَى جَانِبِ الطَّرِيقِ. وَأَصْعَدَ أَبِيَاثَارُ ذَبَائِحَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى جَمِيعُ الشَّعْبِ مِنِ اجْتِيَازِ الْمَدِينَةِ. 25وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِصَادُوقَ: «أَرْجِعْ تَابُوتَ اللهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَإِنَّنِي إِنْ حَظِيتُ بِرِضَى الرَّبِّ فَإِنَّهُ يُعِيدُنِي فَأَرَى التَّابُوتَ وَمَسْكَنَهُ. 26وَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَى رِضَاهُ وَقَالَ: ’إِنِّي لَمْ أُسَرَّ بِكَ‘ فَلْيَفْعَلْ بِي مَا يَطِيبُ لَهُ». 27وَاسْتَطْرَدَ الْمَلِكُ قَائِلاً لِصَادُوقَ الْكَاهِنِ: «أَلَسْتَ أَنْتَ رَائِياً؟ هَيَّا ارْجِعْ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ بِسَلامٍ أَنْتَ وَأَخِيمَعَصُ ابْنُكَ وَيُونَاثَانُ بْنُ أَبِيَاثَارَ. خُذَا ابْنَيْكُمَا مَعَكُمَا. 28أَمَّا أَنَا فَسَأَمْكُثُ مُنْتَظِراً عِنْدَ مَخَاوِضِ النَّهْرِ فِي الصَّحْرَاءِ رَيْثَمَا يَصِلُنِي مِنْكُمْ خَبَرٌ». 29فَأَرْجَعَ صَادُوقُ وَأَبِيَاثَارُ تَابُوتَ اللهِ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ وَأَقَامَا هُنَاكَ.

30أَمَّا دَاوُدُ فَاسْتَمَرَّ يَرْتَقِي جَبَلَ الزَّيْتُونِ بَاكِياً مُغَطَّى الرَّأْسِ حَافِي الْقَدَمَيْنِ. وَغَطَّى جَمِيعُ الشَّعْبِ الَّذِي مَعَهُ رُؤُوسَهُمْ وَارْتَقَوْا مَسَالِكَ الْجَبَلِ بَاكِينَ. 31وَقِيلَ لِدَاوُدَ إِنَّ أَخِيتُوفَلَ بَيْنَ الْمُتَمَرِّدِينَ الَّذِينَ انْضَمُّوا إِلَى أَبْشَالُومَ. فَصَلَّى دَاوُدُ: «حَمِّقْ يَا رَبُّ مَشُورَةَ أَخِيتُوفَلَ».

32عِنْدَمَا وَصَلَ دَاوُدُ إِلَى قِمَّةِ الْجَبَلِ سَجَدَ لِلرَّبِّ، ثُمَّ شَاهَدَ حُوشَايَ الأَرْكِيَّ فِي انْتِظَارِهِ، مُمَزَّقَ الثِّيَابِ مُعَفَّرَ الرَّأْسِ بِالتُّرَابِ، 33فَقَالَ لَهُ دَاوُدُ: «إِذَا جِئْتَ مَعِي تُصْبِحُ عِبْئاً عَلَيَّ، 34وَلَكِنْ إِذَا رَجَعْتَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَقُلْتَ لأَبْشَالُومَ: أَنَا أَكُونُ خَادِماً لَكَ أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ، فَقَدْ خَدَمْتُ أَبَاكَ مُنْذُ زَمَنٍ، وَهَا أَنَا الآنَ خَاِدمٌ لَكَ، فَإِنَّكَ بِذَلِكَ تُبْطِلُ لِي مَشُورَةَ أَخِيتُوفَلَ. 35وَسَتَجِدُ مَعَكَ صَادُوقَ وَأَبِيَاثَارَ الْكَاهِنَيْنِ فَأَخْبِرْهُمَا بِكُلِّ مَا تَسْمَعُهُ فِي مَجْلِسِ أَبْشَالُومَ 36فَيُرْسِلا ابْنَيْهِمَا أَخِيمَعَصَ وَيُونَاثَانَ لِيُبَلِّغَانِي بِكُلِّ مَا سَمِعَاهُ». 37فَعَادَ حُوشَايُ مُسْتَشَارُ دَاوُدَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ بَيْنَمَا كَانَ أَبْشَالُومُ يَدْخُلُهَا.