Chapter 2

1And the days of David drew near that he should die; and he charged Solomon, his son, saying:   אוַיִּקְרְב֥וּ יְמֵֽי־דָוִ֖ד לָמ֑וּת וַיְצַ֛ו אֶת־שְׁלֹמֹ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר:
2"I go the way of all the earth; you shall be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man;   באָנֹכִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ בְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחָזַקְתָּ֖ וְהָיִ֥יתָֽ לְאִֽישׁ:
3And keep the charge of the Lord your God to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn;   גוְשָׁמַרְתָּ֞ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ לָלֶ֚כֶת בִּדְרָכָיו֙ לִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקֹּתָ֚יו מִצְו‍ֹתָיו֙ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו וְעֵדְו‍ֹתָ֔יו כַּכָּת֖וּב בְּתוֹרַ֣ת משֶׁ֑ה לְמַ֣עַן תַּשְׂכִּ֗יל אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶֹ֔ה וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּפְנֶ֖ה שָֽׁם:
4That the Lord may continue His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,' said He, 'a man on the throne of Israel.'   דלְמַעַן֩ יָקִ֨ים יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־דְּבָר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַי֘ לֵאמֹר֒ אִם־יִשְׁמְר֨וּ בָנֶ֜יךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֗ם לָלֶ֚כֶת לְפָנַי֙ בֶּאֱמֶ֔ת בְּכָל־לְבָבָ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשָׁ֑ם לֵאמֹ֕ר לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֚ת לְךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מֵעַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
5Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, (and) what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace and put the blood of war upon his girdle (that was) about his loins, and in his shoes that (were) on his feet.   הוְגַ֣ם אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָ֨שָׂה לִ֜י יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֹ֣ה לִשְׁנֵֽי־שָׂרֵ֣י צִבְא֣וֹת יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל לְאַבְנֵ֨ר בֶּן־נֵ֜ר וְלַעֲמָשָֹ֚א בֶן־יֶ֙תֶר֙ וַיַּ֣הַרְגֵ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דְּמֵֽי־מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֞ן דְּמֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֗ה בַּחֲגֹֽרָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמָתְנָ֔יו וּֽבְנַעֲל֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽיו:
You also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me. by showing them the letter which David had sent through Uriah.   אֶת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִי.  שֶׁהֶרְאָה הַסֵּפֶר שֶׁשָּׁלַח דָּוִד בְּיַד אוּרִיָּה. (במדרש רבי תנחומא שם)
And shed the blood of war in peace. Since they were at peace with him, they were not on guard against him.   דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה בְּשָׁלֹם.  שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם שָׁלוֹם עִמּוֹ, וְלֹא הָיוּ נִשְׁמָרִים מִמֶּנּוּ.
And he put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins. He had girded his sword, attached to his loins, not in the customary manner of those girding swords, and he went out to meet Amasa. He turned the opening downward so that it should easily fall out of the sheath to the ground as it says (Samuel II 20:8) “and he went out towards Amasa and it fell out.” As soon as it fell, Joab [nonchalantly] retrieved it, and held it ready in his hand. Amasa presumed he retrieved it solely to pick it up from the ground, and was not alert to guard himself against an attack from the sword which was in Joab’s hand.   בַּחֲגֹרָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְּמָתְנָיו.  שֶׁחָגַר חַרְבּוֹ מְצֻמֶּדֶת עַל מָתְנָיו, שֶׁלֹּא כְּדֶרֶךְ הַחוֹגְרִים, בְּצֵאתוֹ לִקְרַאת עֲמָשָׂא, וּפִיהָ לְמַטָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּפֹּל, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהוּא יָצָא וַתִּפֹּל, וּכְשֶׁנָּפְלָה וּנְטָלָהּ, כְּסָבוּר עֲמָשָׂא שֶׁלֹּא נְטָלָהּ אֶלָּא לְהַגְבִּיהָהּ מִן הָאָרֶץ, וְלֹא נִשְׁמַר מֵהַחֶרֶב אֲשֶׁר בְּיַד יוֹאָב.
and in his shoes that (were) on his feet.    וּבְנַעֲלוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלָיו.  אֶת אַבְנֵר הָרַג בְּעָרְמָה, שֶׁשְּׁאָלוֹ גִּדֶּמֶת הֵיאָךְ חוֹלֶצֶת, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיַּטֵּהוּ יוֹאָב אֶל תּוֹךְ הַשַּׁעַר לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ 'בַשֶּׁלִי', לְשׁוֹן 'שַׁל' נְעָלֶיךָ.
6And you shall do according to your wisdom, and do not let his hoary head go down to the grave in peace.   ווְעָשִֹ֖יתָ כְּחָכְמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹֽא־תוֹרֵ֧ד שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּשָׁלֹ֖ם שְׁאֹֽל:
And do not let his hoary head go down to the grave in peace. Do not let him die a natural death [since this will minimize his worldly punishment] and cause him to fall into purgatory for torturous purification.   וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל.  אַל תַּנִּיחֵהוּ לָמוּת מִיתַת עַצְמוֹ וְלִפֹּל בְּגֵיהִנֹּם.
7But show kindness to the children of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at your table, for so did they befriend me when I fled from Absalom your brother.   זוְלִבְנֵ֨י בַרְזִלַּ֚י הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־חֶ֔סֶד וְהָי֖וּ בְּאֹכְלֵ֣י שֻׁלְחָנֶ֑ךָ כִּי־כֵן֙ קָרְב֣וּ אֵלַ֔י בְּבָרְחִ֕י מִפְּנֵ֖י אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם אָחִֽיךָ:
8And, behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim, and he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'   חוְהִנֵּ֣ה עִ֠מְּךָ שִֽׁמְעִ֨י בֶן־גֵּרָ֥א בֶן־הַיְמִינִי֘ מִבַּחֻרִים֒ וְה֚וּא קִֽלְלַ֙נִי֙ קְלָלָ֣ה נִמְרֶ֔צֶת בְּי֖וֹם לֶכְתִּ֣י מַחֲנָ֑יִם וְהֽוּא־יָרַ֚ד לִקְרָאתִי֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וָאֶשָּׁ֨בַֽע ל֚וֹ בַֽיהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֲמִֽיתְךָ֖ בֶּחָֽרֶב:
Who cursed me with a grievous curse. [Others maintain] נִמְרֶצֶת means clear and unquestionable as (we find) in (Job 16:3): “what will bring clarity to you (ימריצך),” and (Job 6:25): “how clear (נמרצו) are right words,” the same as נִמְלְצוּ a derivation of the word מְלִיצָה, an interpretation or clarification.   קְלָלָה נִמְרֶצֶת.  מְפֹרֶשֶׁת, כְּמוֹ: מַה יַּמְרִיצְךָ; (שם ו כה): וּמַה נִּמְרְצוּ, כְּמוֹ מַה נִּמְלְצוּ.
9And now hold him not guiltless, for you are a wise man, and you will surely know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his hoary head down to the grave with blood."   טוְעַתָּה֙ אַל־תְּנַקֵּ֔הוּ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ חָכָ֖ם אָ֑תָּה וְיָֽדַעְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לּ֔וֹ וְהוֹרַדְתָּ֧ אֶת־שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּדָ֖ם שְׁאֽוֹל:
For you are a wise man. Turn your attention to find for him an iniquity justifying a death penalty in another matter.   כִּי אִישׁ חָכָם אָתָּה.  תֵּן לִבְּךָ לִמְצֹא לוֹ עֲוֹן מָוֶת בִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְזֶהוּ: וְיָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה לּוֹ.
10And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.   יוַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב דָּוִ֖ד עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּעִ֥יר דָּוִֽד:
11And the days that David reigned over Israel (were) forty years, seven years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.   יאוְהַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָלַ֚ךְ דָּוִד֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה בְּחֶבְר֚וֹן מָלַךְ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים וּבִירוּשָׁלַ֣םִ מָלַ֔ךְ שְׁלשִׁ֥ים וְשָׁל֖שׁ שָׁנִֽים:
12And Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.   יבוּשְׁלֹמֹ֕ה יָשַׁ֕ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֖א דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑יו וַתִּכֹּ֥ן מַלְכֻת֖וֹ מְאֹֽד:
And his kingdom was firmly established. He was also master and ruler of all heavenly creatures and beings.   וַתִּכֹּן מַלְכֻתוֹ מְאֹד.  אַף עַל הָעֶלְיוֹנִים.
13And Adoniahu the son of Haggith came to Bath Sheba, the mother of Solomon, and she said, "Do you come peaceably?" And he said, "Peaceably."   יגוַיָּבֹ֞א אֲדֹנִיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־חַגִּ֗ית אֶל־בַּת־שֶׁ֙בַע֙ אֵם־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתֹּ֖אמֶר הֲשָׁל֣וֹם בֹּאֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שָׁלֽוֹם:
14And he said, "I have something to say to you." And she said, "Say on."   ידוַיֹּ֕אמֶר דָּבָ֥ר לִ֖י אֵלָ֑יִךְ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר:
15And he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and (that) all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign, but the kingdom turned about, and has become my brother's, for it was his from the Lord.   טווַיֹּ֗אמֶר אַ֚תְּ יָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ כִּי־לִי֙ הָיְתָ֣ה הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה וְעָלַ֞י שָֹ֧מוּ כָֽל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם לִמְלֹ֑ךְ וַתִּסֹּ֚ב הַמְּלוּכָה֙ וַתְּהִ֣י לְאָחִ֔י כִּ֥י מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה הָ֥יְתָה לּֽוֹ:
16And now I ask one petition of you, do not refuse me, and she said to him, "Say on."   טזוְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁאֵלָ֚ה אַחַת֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֵ֣ל מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּשִׁ֖בִי אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו דַּבֵּֽר:
17And he said, "Say, I beg of you, to Solomon the king, for he will not refuse you, that he give me Abishag the Shunemitess as a wife.   יזוַיֹּ֗אמֶר אִמְרִי־נָא֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְיִתֶּן־לִ֛י אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֥ג הַשּׁוּנַמִּ֖ית לְאִשָּֽׁה:
18And she said, "Good, I will speak for you to the king."   יחוַתֹּ֥אמֶר בַּת־שֶׁ֖בַע ט֑וֹב אָנֹכִ֕י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
19And Bath Sheba came into king Solomon to speak to him for Adoniahu. And the king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother, and she sat at his right hand.   יטוַתָּבֹ֚א בַת־שֶׁ֙בַע֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה לְדַבֶּר־ל֖וֹ עַל־אֲדֹנִיָּ֑הוּ וַיָּקָם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ לִקְרָאתָ֜הּ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֣חוּ לָ֗הּ וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ וַיָּ֚שֶׂם כִּסֵּא֙ לְאֵ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב לִֽימִינֽוֹ:
to speak to him. to speak on his behalf; on behalf of Adoniahu.   לְדַבֶּר לוֹ.  לְדַבֵּר בִּשְׁבִילוֹ, בִּשְׁבִיל אֲדוֹנִיָּהוּ.
for the king’s mother. Our Sages said, however, “the king’s mother” is a reference to Ruth.   לְאֵם הַמֶּלֶךְ.  אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (בבא בתרא צא ב): לְאִמָּהּ שֶׁל מַלְכוּת, הִיא רוּת.
20And she said, "I ask one small petition of you, do not refuse me," and the king said to her, "Ask on, my mother, for I will not refuse you."   כוַתֹּ֗אמֶר שְׁאֵלָ֨ה אַחַ֚ת קְטַנָּה֙ אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת מֵֽאִתָּ֔ךְ אַל־תָּ֖שֶׁב אֶת־פָּנָ֑י וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לָ֚הּ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שַׁאֲלִ֣י אִמִּ֔י כִּ֥י לֹֽא־אָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָֽיִךְ:
21And she said, "Let Abishag the Shunemitess be given to Adoniahu, your brother, as a wife."   כאוַתֹּ֕אמֶר יֻתַּ֖ן אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֣ג הַשֻּׁנַמִּ֑ית לַאֲדֹנִיָּ֥הוּ אָחִ֖יךָ לְאִשָּֽׁה:
22And king Solomon answered and said to his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunemitess for Adoniahu? Ask for him the kingdom (also), for he is my elder brother, and to him, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Zeruiah."   כבוַיַּעַן֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאִמּ֗וֹ וְלָמָה֩ אַ֨תְּ שֹׁאֶ֜לֶת אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֚ג הַשֻּׁנַמִּית֙ לַאֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ וְשַֽׁאֲלִי־לוֹ֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה כִּ֛י ה֥וּא אָחִ֖י הַגָּד֣וֹל מִמֶּ֑נִּי וְלוֹ֙ וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וּלְיוֹאָ֖ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָֽה:
… ask for him the kingdom also. From the moment a commoner uses the scepter of the king, that is the beginning of authority.   וְשַׁאֲלִי לוֹ אֶת הַמְּלוּכָה.  מִשֶּׁיִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּשַׁרְבִיטוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ, הוּא תְּחִלַּת הַשְּׂרָרָה.
23And king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if Adoniahu has (not) spoken this word with his life."   כגוַיִּשָּׁבַע֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה בַּֽיהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּ֣ה יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֚י אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֔יף כִּ֣י בְנַפְשׁ֔וֹ דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹ֣נִיָּ֔הוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה:
24And now, (as) the Lord lives, Who has established me, and set me on the throne of David, my father, and Who has made me a house, as He had promised, that Adoniahu shall be put to death this day.   כדוְעַתָּ֗ה חַי־יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֱכִינַ֗נִי וַיּֽוֹשִׁיבַ֙נִי֙ (כתיב וַיּֽוֹשִׁיבַ֙ינִי֙) עַל־כִּסֵּא֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר עָֽשָׂה־לִ֛י בַּ֖יִת כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר כִּ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם יוּמַ֖ת אֲדֹנִיָּֽהוּ:
… Who has established me. “… and Who has made me a house” a house of royalty as he had spoken through Nathan the prophet.   עָשָׂה לִי בַּיִת.  בֵּית הַמְּלוּכָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר בְּיַד נָתָן.
25And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiahu the son of Jehoida, and he fell upon him that he died.   כהוַיִּשְׁלַח֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד בְּנָיָ֣הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֑ע וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹֽת:
26And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth to your own fields, for you (are) deservant of death, but on this day I will not put you to death, because you did bear the ark of the Lord God before David, my father, and because you were afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.   כווּלְאֶבְיָתָ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אָמַ֣ר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֲנָתֹת֙ לֵ֣ךְ עַל־שָׂדֶ֔יךָ כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ מָ֖וֶת אָ֑תָּה וּבַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה לֹ֣א אֲמִיתֶ֗ךָ כִּֽי־נָשָֹ֜אתָ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן אֲדֹנָ֚י יֱהוִֹה֙ לִפְנֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י וְכִ֣י הִתְעַנִּ֔יתָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־הִתְעַנָּ֖ה אָבִֽי:
Go to Anathoth to your own fields…. He was from there.   עֲנָתֹת לֵךְ.  מִשָּׁם הָיָה.
For you are deservant of death. Because you rebelled against the kingdom of my father when you were with Adoniahu to appoint him king without the knowledge of my father.   כִּי אִישׁ מָוֶת אָתָּה.  שֶׁמָּרַדְתָּ בְּמַלְכוּת אָבִי בִּהְיוֹתְךָ עִם אֲדוֹנִיָּהוּ, לְהַמְלִיכוֹ שֶׁלֹּא מִדַּעְתּוֹ.
Because you did bear the Ark of the Lord God before David my father. as my father was escaping from before Absalom.   כִּי נָשָׂאתָ אֶת אֲרוֹן.  בִּבְרֹחַ אָבִי מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם.
And because you were afflicted. with him in those very same afflictions, as it says (Samuel II 17:29) “for they said the people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”   וְכִי הִתְעַנִּיתָ.  עִמּוֹ בְּאוֹתָהּ הַצָּרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: כִּי אָמְרוּ הָעָם רָעֵב וְעָיֵף וְצָמֵא בַּמִּדְבָּר.
27And Solomon banished Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, that he might fulfill the word of the Lord, which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shilo.   כזוַיְגָ֚רֶשׁ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ אֶת־אֶבְיָתָ֔ר מִהְי֥וֹת כֹּהֵ֖ן לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה לְמַלֵּא֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֛ר עַל־בֵּ֥ית עֵלִ֖י בְּשִׁלֹֽה:
Which He spoke concerning the house of Eli. [Scripture predicts the end of the house of Eli:] “And I will raise Me up a faithful priest” (Samuel I 2:35) or “And you shall see a rival in My habitation” (Samuel I 2:32). From the time of the destruction of Shilo, there was no house worthy of the service to the Holy One Blessed be He and now that the Temple will be built, the Holy One Blessed be He fulfilled His word to banish the children of Eli.   אֶת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר עַל בֵּית עֵלִי.  וַהֲקִימֹתִי לִי כֹּהֵן נֶאֱמָן וְגוֹ', וְהִבַּטְתָּ צַר מָעוֹן וְגוֹ', וּמִשֶּׁחָרְבָה שִׁילֹה, לֹא הָיָה בַּיִת חָשׁוּב לַעֲבוֹדָה לְהַקָּבָּ"ה, וְעַתָּה כְּשֶׁיִּבָּנֶה בֵּית הַבְּחִירָה, מִלֵּא הַקָּבָּ"ה אֶת דְּבָרוֹ לְגָרֵשׁ אֶת בְּנֵי עֵלִי.
28And the tidings came to Joab, for Joab had turned after Adoniahu, and after Absalom he did not turn, and Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and took hold of the horns of the altar.   כחוְהַשְּׁמֻעָה֙ בָּ֣אָה עַד־יוֹאָ֔ב כִּ֣י יוֹאָ֗ב נָטָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י אֲדֹנִיָּ֔ה וְאַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם לֹ֣א נָטָ֑ה וַיָּ֚נָס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהֹוָ֔ה וַֽיַּחֲזֵ֖ק בְּקַרְנ֥וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ:
And the tidings came to Joab. the report of David’s charge, that he had commanded to kill him, and he [also] knew that Solomon disliked him.   וְהַשְּׁמֻעָה בָּאָה עַד יוֹאָב.  שְׁמוּעַת מִצְוַת דָּוִד שֶׁצִּוָּה לְהָרְגוֹ, וְיָדַע שֶׁשְּׁלֹמֹה שׂוֹנְאוֹ.
For Joab turned after Adoniahu, and after Absalom he did not turn. The end of the matter was [that Joab did not follow him], but he did seek to turn after him, but for the fact that he was fearful, because the vigor of David’s might was still present.   כִּי יוֹאָב נָטָה אַחֲרֵי אֲדֹנִיָּה וְאַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם לֹא נָטָה.  סוֹף דָּבָר, אֲבָל בִּקֵשׁ לִנְטוֹת, אֶלָּא נִתְיָרֵא שֶׁעֲדַיִן לַחְלוּחִית שֶׁל דָּוִד קַיֶּמֶת.
29And it was told king Solomon, that Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and behold (he is) by the altar, and Solomon sent Benaihu the son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, fall upon him."   כטוַיֻּגַּ֞ד לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֗ה כִּ֣י נָ֚ס יוֹאָב֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֵ֣צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח שְׁלֹמֹ֜ה אֶת־בְּנָיָ֧הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע לֵאמֹ֖ר לֵ֥ךְ פְּגַע־בּֽוֹ:
30And Benaihu came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him, "Thus said the king, 'Come forth.'" And he said, "No, for I will die here." And Benaihu brought back word to the king, saying, "Thus spoke Joab, and thus he answered me."   לוַיָּבֹ֨א בְנָיָ֜הוּ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֚ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ צֵ֔א וַיֹּ֥אמֶר | לֹ֖א כִּ֣י פֹ֣ה אָמ֑וּת וַיָּ֨שֶׁב בְּנָיָ֚הוּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ דָּבָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר יוֹאָ֖ב וְכֹ֥ה עָנָֽנִי:
And he said “No…”. Two punishments I will not accept upon myself. The curses that your father David cursed me at the death of Abner, “They shall fall upon the head of Joab,” let Solomon accept them upon himself, and afterward I will come out.   וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא.  שְׁתַּיִם לֹא אֲקַבֵּל עָלַי, קְלָלוֹת שֶׁקִּלְלַנִי דָּוִד אָבִיךָ בְּמִיתַת אַבְנֵר: יָחוּלוּ עַל רֹאשׁ יוֹאָב, יְקַבְּלֵם שְׁלֹמֹה עָלָיו, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֵצֵא.
31And the king said to him, "Do as he said, and fall upon him, and bury him, that you may take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from my father's house."   לאוַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֲשֵׂה֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר וּפְגַע־בּ֖וֹ וּקְבַרְתּ֑וֹ וַהֲסִירֹ֣תָ | דְּמֵ֣י חִנָּ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁפַ֣ךְ יוֹאָ֔ב מֵעָלַ֕י וּמֵעַ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי:
Do as he said. I will accept the curses upon myself. Therefore, all these [curses] became attached to the offspring of David. Uzziah was a leper (Chronicles II 26:19), Assa leaned on a staff (Kings I 15:23), Jehoiakim fell by the sword (Jeremiah 22:19), and one who lacked bread was Zedekiah (Kings II 25:30).   עֲשֵׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר.  אֲנִי מְקַבְּלָם עָלַי, לְכָךְ נִדְבְּקוּ כָּל אֵלֶּה בְּזֶרַע דָּוִד, עֻזִּיָּה הָיָה מְצֹרָע, אָסָא מַחֲזִיק בַּפֶּלֶךְ, יְהוֹיָקִים נָפַל בַּחֶרֶב, וַחֲסַר לֶחֶם צִדְקִיָּהוּ.
32And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, that he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David did not know (it), Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.   לבוְהֵשִׁיב֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֶת־דָּמ֜וֹ עַל־רֹאשׁ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּגַ֣ע בִּשְׁנֵֽי־אֲ֠נָשִׁים צַדִּקִ֨ים וְטֹבִ֚ים מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ וַיַּהַרְגֵ֣ם בַּחֶ֔רֶב וְאָבִ֥י דָוִ֖ד לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע אֶת־אַבְנֵ֚ר בֶּן־נֵר֙ שַׂר־צְבָ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־עֲמָשָֹ֥א בֶן־יֶ֖תֶר שַׂר־צְבָ֥א יְהוּדָֽה:
33And their blood shall return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed forever, but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord.   לגוְשָׁ֚בוּ דְמֵיהֶם֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹאָ֔ב וּבְרֹ֥אשׁ זַרְע֖וֹ לְעֹלָ֑ם וּלְדָוִ֡ד וּ֠לְזַרְעוֹ וּלְבֵית֨וֹ וּלְכִסְא֜וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה שָׁל֛וֹם עַד־עוֹלָ֖ם מֵעִ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה:
34And Benaiahu the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him, and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.   לדוַיַּ֗עַל בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיְמִתֵ֑הוּ וַיִּקָּבֵ֥ר בְּבֵית֖וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
And he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. His home was ownerless and unrestricted as a wilderness for all the destitute and needy to use at their convenience.   בְּבֵיתוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר.  שֶׁהָיָה בֵּיתוֹ הֶפְקֵר כַּמִּדְבָּר, לַעֲנִיִּים.
35And the king put Benaiahu the son of Jehoiada in his place over the host, and Zadok the priest did the king put in the place of Abiathar.   להוַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־בְּנָיָ֧הוּ בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע תַּחְתָּ֖יו עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א וְאֶת־צָד֚וֹק הַכֹּהֵן֙ נָתַ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּ֖חַת אֶבְיָתָֽר:
36And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Build for yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and do not go forth here or there."   לווַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לְשִׁמְעִ֔י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ בְּֽנֵה־לְךָ֥ בַ֙יִת֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖ שָׁ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תֵצֵ֥א מִשָּׁ֖ם אָ֥נֶה וָאָֽנָה:
And do not go forth. in order that he be accessible to him and that he might find him guilty of a crime deserving of death.   וְלֹא תֵצֵא מִשָּׁם.  כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא מָצוּי לוֹ, וְלִמְצֹא לוֹ חֵטְא מָוֶת.
37And it shall be, on the day (that) you go out, and you pass over the Kidron Valley you shall know for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be upon your own head.   לזוְהָיָ֣ה | בְּי֣וֹם צֵאתְךָ֗ וְעָֽבַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־נַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן יָדֹ֥עַ תֵּדַ֖ע כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת דָּמְךָ֖ יִהְיֶ֥ה בְרֹאשֶֽׁךָ:
38And Shimei said to the king, "The saying is good; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do; and Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.   לחוַיֹּ֨אמֶר שִׁמְעִ֚י לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ ט֣וֹב הַדָּבָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֚ר דִּבֶּר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֵּ֖ן יַעֲשֶֹ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב שִׁמְעִ֛י בִּירוּשָׁלַ֖םִ יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים:
39And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish the son of Maachah, king of Gath, and they told Shimei, saying, "Behold your slaves are in Gath.   לטוַיְהִ֗י מִקֵּץ֙ שָׁל֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וַיִּבְרְח֚וּ שְׁנֵֽי־עֲבָדִים֙ לְשִׁמְעִ֔י אֶל־אָכִ֥ישׁ בֶּֽן־מַעֲכָ֖ה מֶ֣לֶךְ גַּ֑ת וַיַּגִּ֚ידוּ לְשִׁמְעִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּגַֽת:
40And Shimei arose, saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his slaves, and Shimei went, and brought his slaves from Gath.   מוַיָּ֣קָם שִׁמְעִ֗י וַֽיַּחֲבשׁ֙ אֶת־חֲמֹר֔וֹ וַיֵּ֚לֶךְ גַּ֙תָּה֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְעִ֔י וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו מִגַּֽת:
41And it was told to Solomon, that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned.   מאוַיֻּגַּ֖ד לִשְׁלֹמֹ֑ה כִּי־הָלַ֨ךְ שִׁמְעִ֧י מִירוּשָׁלַ֛םִ גַּ֖ת וַיָּשֹֽׁב:
42And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by the Lord, and forewarned you, saying, "On the day that you go out and go here or there, know for certain, that you shall surely die, and you said to me, "The word is good (that) I have accepted."   מבוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וַיִּקְרָ֣א לְשִׁמְעִ֗י וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲל֧וֹא הִשְׁבַּעְתִּ֣יךָ בַֽיהֹוָ֗ה וָאָעִ֚ד בְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בְּי֣וֹם צֵאתְךָ֗ וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אָ֣נֶה וָאָ֔נָה יָדֹ֥עַ תֵּדַ֖ע כִּי־מ֣וֹת תָּמ֑וּת וַתֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלַ֛י ט֥וֹב הַדָּבָ֖ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי:
And forewarned you. Heb. ואעד, an expression referring to the legal warning given to the offender before committing the offense.   וָאָעִד בְּךָ.  לְשׁוֹן הַתְרָאָה.
43And why have you not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment with which I have charged you?"   מגוּמַדּ֕וּעַ לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ אֵ֖ת שְׁבֻעַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶת־הַמִּצְוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּ֥יתִי עָלֶֽיךָ:
And why have you nor kept the oath of the Lord. which I made you swear in the name of the Lord?   אֵת שְׁבֻעַת ה'.  אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁבַּעְתִּיךָ בַּה'.
44And the king said to Shimei, "You know all the wickedness, which your heart knew secretly, that you did to David, my father; and the Lord shall return your wickedness upon your own head."   מדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־שִׁמְעִ֗י אַתָּ֚ה יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֚ר יָדַע֙ לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִֹ֖יתָ לְדָוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י וְהֵשִׁ֧יב יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־רָעָתְךָ֖ בְּרֹאשֶֽׁךָ:
45And king Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.   מהוְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה בָּר֑וּךְ וְכִסֵּ֣א דָוִ֗ד יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֛וֹן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
46And the king commanded Benaiahu the son of Jehoiada, and he went out and fell upon him, and he died; and the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.   מווַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶת־בְּנָיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע וַיֵּצֵ֕א וַיִּפְגַּע־בּ֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה נָכ֖וֹנָה בְּיַד־שְׁלֹמֹֽה:
And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. that is to say, he was not punished for any of these deeds.   וְהַמַּמְלָכָה נָכוֹנָה וְגוֹ'.  כְּלוֹמַר, לֹא נֶעֱנַשׁ עַל כָּל אֵלֶּה.