2 Samuel 18 - The Scriptures 1998

¹ And Dawiḏ

² And Dawiḏ

³ But the people answered, “Do not go out, for if we flee away, they would not set heart upon us. Even if half of us die, they would not set heart upon us. For now, ten thousand are like us. Therefore, it is better for you to support us from the city.”

⁴ And the sovereign said to them, “That which is good in your eyes I do.” And the sovereign stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵ And the sovereign ordered Yo’aḇ

⁶ So the people went out into the field to meet Yisra’ĕ

⁷ and the people of Yisra’ĕ

⁸ And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

⁹ And when Aḇ

¹⁰ And a certain man saw it and informed Yo’aḇ

¹¹ And Yo’aḇ

¹² But the man answered Yo’aḇ

¹³ “Otherwise I would have been untrue to my own life. For no matter is hidden from the sovereign, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

¹⁴ And Yo’aḇ

¹⁵ And ten young men who bore Yo’aḇ

¹⁶ And Yo’aḇ

¹⁷ And they took Aḇ

¹⁸ And Aḇ

¹⁹ And Aḥ

²⁰ But Yo’aḇ

²¹ And Yo’aḇ

²² And Aḥ

²³ “And whatever might be,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” And Aḥ

²⁴ Now Dawiḏ

²⁵ So the watchman called out and told the sovereign. And the sovereign said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer.

²⁶ And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called out to the gatekeeper and said, “See, a man, running by himself!” And the sovereign said, “This one is also bringing news.”

²⁷ And the watchman said, “I see the running of the first is like the running of Aḥ

²⁸ And Aḥ

²⁹ And the sovereign said, “Peace to the young man, to Aḇ

³⁰ And the sovereign said, “Turn aside and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.

³¹ And see, the Kushite came, and the Kushite said, “Receive news, my master the sovereign! For יהוה  has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”

³² And the sovereign said to the Kushite, “Peace to the young man, to Aḇ

³³ And the sovereign was shaken, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said this, “O my son Aḇ