Tuesday 4 September 2018

2 Samuel 15

Verse 34 seems to have too many and's and but's or one too many occurrences of אני, I.

וְאִם־הָעִ֣יר תָּשׁ֗וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ but if you return to the city and say to Absalom...
עַבְדְּךָ֨ אֲנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ Your servant I will be, O king
אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה עֶ֣בֶד אָבִ֤יךָ I was the servant of your father, ???
וַֽאֲנִי֙ מֵאָ֔ז - or I was from then, ???
וְעַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ and now I will be your servant

The above separation is wrong according to the accents. The zaqef qatan on אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה third line links it to the second line, not the third. So the words should be arranged in 4 rather than 5 lines. Of course also in that verse there is suggested speech and the actual intent of the speech. Perhaps David is not speaking Elizabethan prose, but actually working out his strategy as he suggests this nefarious plan of informants to his friend.

Anyway that's a little insight into some things that stump me for a while. I leave them for a bit, go and watch a little TV, or read a novel, or try and imagine a question to my coach, and sometimes actually ask it - and then something suggests itself that gives insight into the nature of the conversation. Of course I may not have it just right. Maybe David did always speak in fully formed sentences. In this case I asked the question and my coach and I had some conversation on the nature of vav, that connector of words. It can be emphatic and define a list such as in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, or it may be even in the middle of a set of words, hooking together two strands of the curtain that one might think should be unconnected.

When does the nuance of a phrase stop having its suggestive sense, whether sincere or flattering or something in between? O king is not very appreciative of Absalom, perhaps your Majesty would be good (but I couldn't do that in this reading). How serious were the people in their deference to royalty? Note that prostrate and worship are the same stem. Is there a difference in word form? No. So why would I chose one over the other over these past 5 years. Probably one has God as the object and the other does not. But I wouldn't guarantee that without looking at every instance. I put a list here. Belief is not dependent on words alone. As Louise Penny writes in her inspector Gamache novels, Don't believe everything you think'.

2 Samuel 15 Fn Min Max Syll
וַֽיְהִי֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לוֹ֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מֶרְכָּבָ֖ה וְסֻסִ֑ים
וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ רָצִ֥ים לְפָנָֽיו
1 And it happened afterward thus, that Absalom made for himself chariot and horses,
and fifty men to race before him.
3e 4C 20
10
וְהִשְׁכִּים֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם וְעָמַ֕ד עַל־יַ֖ד דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר
וַיְהִ֡י כָּל־הָאִ֣ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לּוֹ־רִיב֩ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְשָׁל֤וֹם אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה עִיר֙ אַ֔תָּה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֵאַחַ֥ד שִׁבְטֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ
2 And Absalom rose up early and stood adjacent to the way of the gate.
And it was for everyone for whom there was a contention, to come to the king for judgment, and Absalom called to him, and he said, What city are you from? And he said, Your servant is from one of the sceptres of Israel.
3e 4C 16
50
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם רְאֵ֥ה דְבָרֶ֖ךָ טוֹבִ֣ים וּנְכֹחִ֑ים
וְשֹׁמֵ֥עַ אֵין־לְךָ֖ מֵאֵ֥ת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ
3 And Absalom said to him, See. Your matter is good and straightforward.
But there is no one hearing for you from the king.
3e 4C 19
12
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִי־יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ
וְעָלַ֗י יָב֥וֹא כָּל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִהְיֶה־לּוֹ־רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו
4 And Absalom said, Would that I were set up as judge in the land,
and to me would come every man for whom there was a contention, and I would make righteous judgment for him.
3d 4A 16
20
וְהָיָה֙ בִּקְרָב־אִ֔ישׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֖ת ל֑וֹ
וְשָׁלַ֧ח אֶת־יָד֛וֹ וְהֶחֱזִ֥יק ל֖וֹ וְנָ֥שַׁק לֽוֹ
5 And it was when anyone approached to prostrate themselves to him,
that he would extend his hand, and resolutely hold him, and kiss him.
3c 4A 12
15
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַבְשָׁל֜וֹם כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַזֶּה֙ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֥אוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ
וַיְגַנֵּב֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם אֶת־לֵ֖ב אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
6 And Absalom would do a thing like this for anyone of Israel who came for judgment to the king.
So Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.
3e 4C 27
13
וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֣לֲכָה נָּ֗א וַאֲשַׁלֵּ֛ם אֶת־נִדְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־נָדַ֥רְתִּי לַֽיהוָ֖ה בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן
7 And it happened at the end of a forty year span,
and Absalom said to the king, Let me go, please, that I may repay my vows that I have vowed to Yahweh in Hebron.
3d 4C 9
31
כִּי־נֵ֙דֶר֙ נָדַ֣ר עַבְדְּךָ֔ בְּשִׁבְתִּ֥י בִגְשׁ֛וּר בַּאֲרָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר
אִם־יָשׁ֨וֹב יְשִׁיבֵ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעָבַדְתִּ֖י אֶת־יְהוָֽה
8 For your servant vowed a vow when I was settled in Geshur among the Aramaeans, saying,
If Yahweh will return me to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.
3d 4C 17
20
וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם
וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ חֶבְרֽוֹנָה
9 And the king said to him, Go in peace.
And he arose and he went toward Hebron.
3e 4B 11
9
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֔ים בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר
כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם מָלַ֥ךְ אַבְשָׁל֖וֹם בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן
10 And Absalom sent spies among all the sceptres of Israel, saying,
When you hear the voice of the shophar, then you will say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.
3e 4C 18
21
וְאֶת־אַבְשָׁל֗וֹם הָלְכ֞וּ מָאתַ֤יִם אִישׁ֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קְרֻאִ֖ים וְהֹלְכִ֣ים לְתֻמָּ֑ם
וְלֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ כָּל־דָּבָֽר
11 And Absalom went with two hundred men from Jerusalem who were called,
and they went in their naivety, and did not know any thing.
3e 4C 23
7
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אַ֠בְשָׁלוֹם אֶת־אֲחִיתֹ֨פֶל הַגִּֽילֹנִ֜י יוֹעֵ֣ץ דָּוִ֗ד מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ מִגִּלֹ֔ה בְּזָבְח֖וֹ אֶת־הַזְּבָחִ֑ים
וַיְהִ֤י הַקֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ אַמִּ֔ץ וְהָעָ֛ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וָרָ֖ב אֶת־אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם
12 And Absalom sent for Axitophel the Gilonite, the counselor of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he was offering sacrifices.
And the collusion was assured, and the people were led and were abundant with Absalom.
3d 4C 32
18
וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמַּגִּ֔יד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר
הָיָ֛ה לֶב־אִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַחֲרֵ֥י אַבְשָׁלֽוֹם
13 And a herald came to David, saying,
The heart of everyone of Israel is after Absalom.
3d 4A 11
13
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּ֠וִד לְכָל־עֲבָדָ֨יו אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֤וֹ בִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ ק֣וּמוּ וְנִבְרָ֔חָה כִּ֛י לֹא־תִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ פְלֵיטָ֖ה מִפְּנֵ֣י אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם
מַהֲר֣וּ לָלֶ֗כֶת פֶּן־יְמַהֵ֤ר וְהִשִּׂגָ֙נוּ֙ וְהִדִּ֤יחַ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וְהִכָּ֥ה הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב
14 And David said to all his servants that were with him in Jerusalem, Arise, and let us run, for there will not be security for us from the face of Absalom.
Move swiftly to go, lest he move swiftly and overtake us, and impel evil against us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.
3d 4C 38
34
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ
כְּכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֛ר אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הִנֵּ֥ה עֲבָדֶֽיךָ
15 And the servants of the king said to the king,
Everything my lord the king will choose, behold your servants.
3c 4A 11
18
וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־בֵּית֖וֹ בְּרַגְלָ֑יו
וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֵ֣ת עֶ֧שֶׂר נָשִׁ֛ים פִּֽלַגְשִׁ֖ים לִשְׁמֹ֥ר הַבָּֽיִת
16 And the king went out and all his house on foot,
and the king delegated ten women courtesans to guard the house.
3c 4B 13
20
וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם בְּרַגְלָ֑יו
וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּרְחָֽק
17 And the king went out and all the people on foot,
and they stood at a distant house.
3d 4A 13
8
וְכָל־עֲבָדָיו֙ עֹבְרִ֣ים עַל־יָד֔וֹ וְכָל־הַכְּרֵתִ֖י וְכָל־הַפְּלֵתִ֑י
וְכָֽל־הַגִּתִּ֞ים שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֤אוּ בְרַגְלוֹ֙ מִגַּ֔ת עֹבְרִ֖ים עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ
18 And all his servants passed through by his hand, and all the Cheretites, and all the Pelethites,
and all the Gittites, six hundred men from Gath, who came on his pilgrimage, passing through in the presence of the king.
3e 4C 20
26
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־אִתַּ֣י הַגִּתִּ֔י לָ֧מָּה תֵלֵ֛ךְ גַּם־אַתָּ֖ה אִתָּ֑נוּ
שׁ֣וּב וְשֵׁ֤ב עִם־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כִּֽי־נָכְרִ֣י אַ֔תָּה וְגַם־גֹּלֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה לִמְקוֹמֶֽךָ
19 And the king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you go, even you, with us?
Return and sit with the king, for you are a foreigner, and moreover, an exile you are from your place.
3c 4C 22
22
תְּמ֣וֹל ׀ בּוֹאֶ֗ךָ וְהַיּ֞וֹם אֲנִֽיעֲךָ֤ עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ לָלֶ֔כֶת וַאֲנִ֣י הוֹלֵ֔ךְ עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֖י הוֹלֵ֑ךְ
שׁ֣וּב וְהָשֵׁ֧ב אֶת־אַחֶ֛יךָ עִמָּ֖ךְ חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת
20 Recently you came, and today should I make you a walking vagabond with us and I walking wherever I walk?
Return, and return with your kin, your people, with kindness and truth.
3c 4C 30
15
וַיַּ֧עַן אִתַּ֛י אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר
חַי־יְהוָ֗ה וְחֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֠י אִם־בִּמְק֞וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֣ם ׀ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִם־לְמָ֙וֶת֙ אִם־לְחַיִּ֔ים כִּי־שָׁ֖ם יִהְיֶ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ
21 And Ittai answered the king, and he said,
Yahweh lives and my lord the king lives. Rather in the place where my lord the king will be, whether for death, or for life, there your servant will be.
3c 4B 12
42
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־אִתַּ֖י לֵ֣ךְ וַעֲבֹ֑ר
וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֞ר אִתַּ֤י הַגִּתִּי֙ וְכָל־אֲנָשָׁ֔יו וְכָל־הַטַּ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ
22 And David said to Ittai, Come and pass through.
And Ittai the Gittite passed through, and all his men, and every little one that was with him.
3c 4C 12
22
וְכָל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בּוֹכִים֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם עֹֽבְרִ֑ים
וְהַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹבֵר֙ בְּנַ֣חַל קִדְר֔וֹן וְכָל־הָעָם֙ עֹבְרִ֔ים עַל־פְּנֵי־דֶ֖רֶךְ אֶת־הַמִּדְבָּֽר
23 And all the land wept with a great voice, and all the people passed through.
And the king passed through the wadi Kidron, and all the people passed through, facing the way through the wilderness.
3e 4B 16
25
וְהִנֵּ֨ה גַם־צָד֜וֹק וְכָֽל־הַלְוִיִּ֣ם אִתּ֗וֹ נֹֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּצִּ֙קוּ֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיַּ֖עַל אֶבְיָתָ֑ר
עַד־תֹּ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לַעֲב֥וֹר מִן־הָעִֽיר
24 And behold even Zadok and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God, and they impeded the ark of God, and Abiatar went up,
until all the people completed crossing over from the city.
3e 4B 41
11
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְצָד֔וֹק הָשֵׁ֛ב אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הָעִ֑יר
אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֶהֱשִׁבַ֕נִי וְהִרְאַ֥נִי אֹת֖וֹ וְאֶת־נָוֵֽהוּ
25 And the king said to Zadok, Let the ark of God return to the city.
Rather let me find grace in the eyes of Yahweh, and he will return me, and he will show me both him and his home.
3d 4C 20
25
וְאִם֙ כֹּ֣ה יֹאמַ֔ר לֹ֥א חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּ֑ךְ
הִנְנִ֕י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לִּ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר ט֖וֹב בְּעֵינָֽיו
26 But if thus he says, I have no delight in you.
Here I am. He will do to me as is good in his eyes.
3e 4B 10
13
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־צָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֔ן הֲרוֹאֶ֣ה אַתָּ֔ה שֻׁ֥בָה הָעִ֖יר בְּשָׁל֑וֹם
וַאֲחִימַ֨עַץ בִּנְךָ֜ וִיהוֹנָתָ֧ן בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֛ר שְׁנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אִתְּכֶֽם
27 And the king said to Zadok the priest, You are a seer. Return to the city in peace,
and Aximats your child, and Jonathan child of Abiatar, your two children with you.
3c 4C 24
22
רְאוּ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י מִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ בְּעַֽרְב֖וֹת הַמִּדְבָּ֑ר
עַ֣ד בּ֥וֹא דָבָ֛ר מֵעִמָּכֶ֖ם לְהַגִּ֥יד לִֽי
28 See, I will linger in the steppes of the wilderness,
until word comes from you to tell me.
3d 4B 15
12
וַיָּ֨שֶׁב צָד֧וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֛ר אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ שָֽׁם
29 And Zadok and Abiatar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem,
and they settled there.
3c 4A 20
4
וְדָוִ֡ד עֹלֶה֩ בְמַעֲלֵ֨ה הַזֵּיתִ֜ים עֹלֶ֣ה ׀ וּבוֹכֶ֗ה וְרֹ֥אשׁ לוֹ֙ חָפ֔וּי וְה֖וּא הֹלֵ֣ךְ יָחֵ֑ף
וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ חָפוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְעָל֥וּ עָלֹ֖ה וּבָכֹֽה
30 And David went up the ascent of the olive trees, going up weeping, and his head hooded, and he himself walked barefoot.
And all the people that were with him, hooded, each his head, they ascended, going up, and weeping.
3e 4B 28
21
וְדָוִד֙ הִגִּ֣יד לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲחִיתֹ֥פֶל בַּקֹּשְׁרִ֖ים עִם־אַבְשָׁל֑וֹם
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד סַכֶּל־נָ֛א אֶת־עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹ֖פֶל יְהוָֽה
31 And someone told David, saying, Axitophel is among those colluding with Absalom.
And David said, Silliness, please, the counsel of Axitophel, O Yahweh.
3d 4B 18
17
וַיְהִ֤י דָוִד֙ בָּ֣א עַד־הָרֹ֔אשׁ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֥ה שָׁ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים
וְהִנֵּ֤ה לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ חוּשַׁ֣י הָאַרְכִּ֔י קָר֙וּעַ֙ כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ
32 And it happened that David came to the top, where he worshiped God.
And behold Xushi the Arkite encountered him, his coat ripped and debris from the ground on his head.
3e 4C 18
24
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑ד
אִ֚ם עָבַ֣רְתָּ אִתִּ֔י וְהָיִ֥תָ עָלַ֖י לְמַשָּֽׂא
33 And David said to him,
If you pass through with me, then you will be to me a liability.
3e 4C 6
15
וְאִם־הָעִ֣יר תָּשׁ֗וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֤ לְאַבְשָׁלוֹם֙ עַבְדְּךָ֨ אֲנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶֽהְיֶ֔ה עֶ֣בֶד אָבִ֤יךָ וַֽאֲנִי֙ מֵאָ֔ז וְעַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ
וְהֵפַרְתָּ֣ה לִ֔י אֵ֖ת עֲצַ֥ת אֲחִיתֹֽפֶל
34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, Your servant I will be, O king, I will be. And I was the servant of your father since whenever..., but now I will be your servant.
And you may thwart for me the counsel of Axitophel.
3e 4C 43
12
וַהֲל֤וֹא עִמְּךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם צָד֥וֹק וְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים
וְהָיָ֗ה כָּל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּשְׁמַע֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תַּגִּ֕יד לְצָד֥וֹק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּהֲנִֽים
35 And will there not be with you there Zadok and Abiatar the priests?
And it will happen that any thing that you will hear from the house of the king, you will make clear to Zadok and Abiatar the priests.
3e 4C 16
29
הִנֵּה־שָׁ֤ם עִמָּם֙ שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵיהֶ֔ם אֲחִימַ֣עַץ לְצָד֔וֹק וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן לְאֶבְיָתָ֑ר
וּשְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם בְּיָדָם֙ אֵלַ֔י כָּל־דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּשְׁמָֽעוּ
36 Behold there with them are their two children, Aximats of Zadok, and Jonathan of Abiatar,
and you will send by means of them to me every thing that you hear.
3e 4C 25
16
וַיָּבֹ֥א חוּשַׁ֛י רֵעֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד הָעִ֑יר
וְאַבְשָׁלֹ֔ם יָבֹ֖א יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם
37 So Xushi, an associate of David, entered the city,
and Absalom entered Jerusalem.
3d 4A 11
10


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