Beginning

4 And when Ben Sha’ul [Ish-Boshet] heard that Avner was dead in Chevron, his hands fell limp; kol Yisroel became alarmed.

² And Ben Sha’ul had two anashim that were sarei gedudim (captains of raiding parties); the shem of the one was Ba’anah, and the shem of the other Rechav; these were the Bnei Rimmon HaBe’eroti, of the Bnei Binyamin: (for [the town of] Be’erot was reckoned as part of Binyamin.

³ And the Be’eroti fled to Gittayim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

⁴ And Yonatan Ben Sha’ul had a ben that was nekheh raglayim (lame in both feet). He was five years old when the news came of Sha’ul and Yonatan from Yizre’el (Jezreel), and his nurse took him up, and fled; and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame, and shmo Mephivoshet.

⁵ And the Bnei Rimmon HaBe’eroti, Rechav and Baanah, went, and came about chom hayom (the heat of the day) to the bais Ish-Boshet, who lay on a bed at tzahorayim (noon).

⁶ And they came into the midst of the bais, as though they would have been getting chittim; and they stabbed him under the fifth rib; and Rechav and Baanah achiv (his brother) escaped.

⁷ For when they had gone into the bais, he lay on his mittah (bed) in his chedar mishkav (bedroom), and they stabbed him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his rosh, and got away through the derech HaAravah kol halailah.

⁸ And they brought the rosh Ish-Boshet unto Dovid at Chevron, and said to HaMelech, Hinei the rosh Ish-Boshet Ben Sha’ul thine oyev (enemy), which sought thy nefesh; and Hashem hath given nekamot (vengeance) against Shaul unto adoni HaMelech this day, and of his zera.

⁹ And Dovid answered Rechav and Baanah achiv, the Bnei Rimmon HaBe’eroti, and said unto them, As Hashem liveth, who hath padah (ransomed, redeemed) my nefesh out of kol tzarah,

¹⁰ When one told me, saying, Hinei, Sha’ul is dead, thinking he was like mevaser (one who brings glad tidings, good news, evangelist), I took hold of him, and slaughtered him in Tziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his besorah (good news);

¹¹ How much more, when anashim resh’im have slain an ish tzaddik in his own bais upon his mishkav (bed)? Shall I not therefore now require his dahm of your yad, and take you away from HaAretz?

¹² And Dovid commanded his ne’arim (young men), and they slaughtered them, and cut off their yadayim and their raglayim, and hung them up over the berekhah (pool) in Chevron. But they took the rosh Ish-Boshet, and buried it in the kever of Avner in Chevron.

5 Then came kol Shivtei Yisroel to Dovid unto Chevron, and spoke, saying, Hineni, we are thy etzem and thy basar.

² Also in time past, when Sha’ul was melech over us, thou wast he that didst lead out and brought in Yisroel; and Hashem said to thee, Thou shalt feed [like a shepherd] My people Yisroel, and thou shalt become Nagid over Yisroel.

³ So all the zekenim of Yisroel came to HaMelech at Chevron; and Dovid HaMelech cut a Brit with them in Chevron before Hashem; v’yimshechu (and they anointed) Dovid Melech Yisroel.

⁴ Dovid was in age shloshim shanah when he began to reign, and he reigned arba’im shanim.

⁵ In Chevron he reigned over Yehudah sheva shanim and shishah chodashim; and in Yerushalayim he reigned shloshim v’shalosh shanah over kol Yisroel and Yehudah.

⁶ And HaMelech and his anashim went to Yerushalayim unto the Yevusi, the inhabitants of the land; which spoke unto Dovid, saying, Thou shalt not come in here; but the ivrim (blind ones) and the pisechim (lame ones) shall repel thee; thinking, Dovid cannot come in here.

⁷ Nevertheless Dovid captured the Metzudat Tziyon (Fortress of Zion); the same is Ir Dovid (City of Dovid).

⁸ And Dovid said on that day, Anyone that striketh the Yevusi will have to reach the water shaft, the pisechim and the ivrim whom the nefesh Dovid hates ; thus the saying... The ivver and the piseach are here, he will not enter the bais.

⁹ So Dovid dwelt in the Metzudah, and called it Ir Dovid. And Dovid built [Ir Dovid] all around from Millo and inward.

¹⁰ And Dovid went on, and grew gadol, and Hashem Elohei Tzva’os was with him.

¹¹ And Chiram Melech Tzor sent malachim to Dovid, and cedar trees, and charashim of etz (carpenters) and charashim of even (stone masons) kir (wall, i.e., masons of wall stones); and they built Dovid a Bais (Palace).

¹² And Dovid had da’as that Hashem had established him Melech Yisroel, and that he had exalted his mamlachah for the sake of His people Yisroel.

¹³ And Dovid took him more pilagshim and nashim out of Yerushalayim after he was come from Chevron; and there were more banim and banot born to Dovid.

¹⁴ And these are the shmot of those that were born unto him in Yerushalayim: Shammua, and Shovav, and Natan, and Sh’lomo,

¹⁵ Yivchar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Yaphia,

¹⁶ And Elishama, and Elyada, and Eliphelet.

¹⁷ But when the Pelishtim heard that they had mashechu (anointed) Dovid Melech over Yisroel, all the Pelishtim came up to seek Dovid; but Dovid heard of it, and went down to the metzudah (stronghold).

¹⁸ The Pelishtim also came and spread themselves in the Emek Repha’im.

¹⁹ And Dovid inquired of Hashem, saying, Shall I go up against the Pelishtim? Wilt Thou deliver them into mine yad? And Hashem said unto Dovid, Go up; for I will doubtless deliver the Pelishtim into thine yad.

²⁰ So Dovid came to Baal-Peratzim, and Dovid struck them there, and said, Hashem hath paratz (broken out) upon mine enemies before me, as of peretz mayim. Therefore he called the shem of that place Baal-Peratzim.

²¹ And there they left their atzabim, and Dovid and his anashim burned them.

²² And the Pelishtim came up yet again, and spread themselves out in the Emek Repha’im.

²³ And when Dovid inquired of Hashem, He said, Thou shalt not go up; but circle around behind them, and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees.

²⁴ And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then shall Hashem go out before thee, to strike the machaneh of the Pelishtim.

²⁵ And Dovid did so, as Hashem had commanded him; and struck the Pelishtim from Geva until thou come to Gazer.

6 Again, Dovid gathered together kol bachur b’Yisroel, shloshim elef.

² And Dovid arose, and went with kol HaAm that were with him from Ba’ale-Yehudah, to bring up from there the Aron HaElohim which is called by the Shem; the Shem Hashem Tzva’os that is enthroned on the keruvim is upon it.

³ And they set the Aron HaElohim upon an agalah chadashah (new wagon, cart), and brought it out of the bais of Avinadav that was in Giveah; and Uzzah and Achyo, the Bnei Avinadav, guided the agalah chadashah.

⁴ And they brought it out of the bais Avinadav which was at Giveah, with the Aron HaElohim; and Achyo walked before the Aron.

⁵ And Dovid and all Bais Yisroel rejoiced before Hashem on all manner of instruments made of cypress, even on kinnorot, on nevalim (lyres), on tambourines, on castanets, and on cymbals.

⁶ And when they came to goren Nachon, Uzzah reached forth to the Aron HaElohim, and took hold of it; for the ox tilted it.

⁷ And the Af Hashem was kindled against Uzzah; and HaElohim struck him down there for the shal (error); and there he died by the Aron HaElohim.

⁸ And Dovid burned with anger, because Hashem had made a peretz (outburst), breaking out upon Uzzah; and he called the shem of the makom (place) Peretz-Uzzah, which is what it is called to this day.

⁹ And Dovid was afraid of Hashem that day, and said, How can the Aron Hashem come to me?

¹⁰ So Dovid would not move the Aron Hashem unto him in Ir Dovid; but Dovid carried it aside into the bais Oved-Edom the Gitti.

¹¹ And the Aron Hashem remained in the bais Oved-Edom the Gitti three months; and Hashem blessed Oved-Edom, and all his bais.

¹² And it was told Dovid HaMelech, saying, Hashem hath blessed the bais Oved-Edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the Aron HaElohim. So Dovid went and brought up the Aron HaElohim from the bais Oved-Edom into Ir Dovid with simchah.

¹³ And it was so, that when they that nosei Aron Hashem (carried the Aron HaShem) had gone six steps, he sacrificed ox and fattened calf.

¹⁴ And Dovid danced before Hashem with kol oz; and Dovid was girded with an ephod bad (linen ephod).

¹⁵ So Dovid and kol Bais Yisroel brought up the Aron Hashem with ter’uah (shout) and with the sound of the shofar.

¹⁶ And as the Aron Hashem came into Ir Dovid, Michal Bat Sha’ul looked through a chalon (window), and saw Dovid HaMelech leaping and dancing before Hashem; and she despised him in her lev.

¹⁷ And they brought in the Aron Hashem, and set it in its makom, inside the ohel that Dovid had pitched for it; and Dovid offered olot (burnt offerings) and shelamim (peace offerings) before Hashem.

¹⁸ And as soon as Dovid had made an end of offering the olah (burnt offering) and the shelamim (peace offering), he made brocha on HaAm b’Shem Hashem Tzva’os.

¹⁹ And he apportioned among kol HaAm, even among kol hamon Yisroel, to isha as well as ish, to every one challat lechem, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake. So kol HaAm departed, each to his bais.

²⁰ Then Dovid returned to make brocha on his bais. And Michal Bat Sha’ul came out to meet Dovid, and said, How distinquished was the Melech Yisroel today, who disrobed today in the eyes of the amehot (handmaids) of his avadim, as one of the rekim (vain, empty fellows, indecent boors) shamelessly uncovereth himself!

²¹ And Dovid said unto Michal, It was before Hashem, which chose me rather than thy av, and rather than all his bais, to appoint me Nagid over Am Hashem, over Yisroel: therefore will I rejoice before Hashem.

²² And I will yet be more undignified than this, and will be shafal (lowly) in mine own eyes; and of the amahot (maidservants) which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be held in honor.

²³ Therefore Michal Bat Sha’ul had no yeled unto her yom mot.

7 And it came to pass, when HaMelech sat in his Bais, and Hashem had given him rest round about from all his oyevim;

² That HaMelech said unto Natan HaNavi, See now, I dwell in a Bais of cedar, but the Aron HaElohim dwelleth within the curtain.

³ And Natan said to HaMelech, Go, do all that is in thine lev; for Hashem is with thee.

⁴ And it came to pass that lailah, that the Devar Hashem came unto Natan, saying,

⁵ Go and tell Avdi Dovid, Thus saith Hashem, Shalt thou build Me a Bais for Me to dwell in?

⁶ Whereas I have not dwelt in any Bais since the time that I brought up the Bnei Yisroel out of Mitzrayim, even to this day, but have walked in an Ohel and in a Mishkan.

⁷ In all the places wherein I have walked with kol Bnei Yisroel spoke I a word with any of the Shivtei Yisroel, whom I commanded, to shepherd My people Yisroel, saying, Why build ye not Me a Bais of cedar?

⁸ Now therefore so shalt thou say unto Avdi Dovid, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, I took thee from the sheepfold, from following the tzon, to be Nagid over My people, over Yisroel:

⁹ And I was with thee whithersoever thou didst go, and have cut off all thine oyevim out of thy sight, and have made thee a shem gadol, like unto the shem of the Gedolim that are on ha’aretz.

¹⁰ Moreover I will appoint makom (place, home) for My people Yisroel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be disturbed no more; neither shall the bnei avlah (children of wickedness) afflict them any more, as in former times,

¹¹ Even since the time that I commanded Shofetim to be over My people Yisroel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine oyevim. Also Hashem declareth to thee that He will make thee a Bais.

¹² And when thy yamim be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy Avot, I will raise up thy Zera after thee, which shall proceed out of thy loins, and I will establish his Mamlachah (Kingdom).

¹³ He shall build a Bais for My Shem, and I will establish the kisse (throne) of his Mamlachah ad olam.

¹⁴ I will be his Av, and he shall be My Ben [HaElohim]. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the shevet anashim, and with the floggings of bnei adam;

¹⁵ But My chesed shall not be taken away from him, as I took it from Sha’ul, whom I removed from before thee.

¹⁶ And thine Bais and thy Mamlachah shall be established ad olam before thee; thy kisse (throne) shall be established ad olam (forever) [See Ps 89:36-39]).

¹⁷ According to all these devarim, and according to all this chizzayon (revelation), so did Natan speak unto Dovid.

¹⁸ Then went HaMelech Dovid in, and sat before Hashem, and he said, Who am I, Adonoi Hashem? And what is my Bais, that Thou hast brought me this far?

¹⁹ And as if this were a small thing in Thy sight, Adonoi Hashem, Thou hast spoken also the future of Bais Avdecha. And is this fitting for haAdam [such as me], Adonoi Hashem?

²⁰ And what can Dovid say more unto Thee? For Thou, Adonoi Hashem, knowest Avdecha.

²¹ For the sake of Thy word, and according to Thine own lev, hast Thou done all this gedullah (great thing), and made it known to Avdecha.

²² Wherefore Thou art great, Adonoi Hashem; for there is none like Thee, neither is there any Elohim but Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

²³ And what Goy echad in ha’aretz is like Thy people, even like Yisroel, whom Elohim went to redeem for an Am for Himself, and to make Him a Shem, and to do for Thee hagedullah (the great thing) and nora’ot, for Thy land, before Thy people, which Thou redeemedst to Thee from Mitzrayim, from the Goyim and their g-ds?

²⁴ For Thou hast confirmed to Thyself Thy people Yisroel to be an Am unto Thee ad olam; and Thou, Hashem, art become their Elohim.

²⁵ And now, Hashem Elohim, the davar (word, promise) that Thou hast spoken concerning Avdecha, and concerning his Bais, establish it ad olam, and do just as Thou hast said.

²⁶ And let Thy Shem be magnified ad olam, saying, Hashem Tzivos is Elohim over Yisroel; and let the Bais of Avdecha Dovid be established before Thee.

²⁷ For Thou, Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, hast revealed to ozen Avdecha, saying, I will build thee a Bais; therefore hath Avdecha found in his lev to pray this tefillah unto Thee.

²⁸ And now, Adonoi Hashem Atah hu HaElohim, and Thy devarim are emes, and Thou hast promised hatovah hazot unto Avdecha;

²⁹ Therefore now let it please Thee to bless the Bais Avdecha, that it may continue l’olam before Thee; for Thou, Adonoi Hashem, hast spoken it; and with Thy brocha let the Bais Avdecha be blessed l’olam.