DENISON

[column A]

fílius Jémini? Dimíttite eum ut maledícat juxta præcéptum Dómini: si forte respíciat Dóminus afflictiónem meam, et reddat mihi Dóminus bonum pro maledictióne hac hodiérna. Ambulábat ítaque David et sócii ejus per viam cum eo. Sémei autem per jugum montis ex látere contra illum gradiebátur, maledícens, et mittens lápides advérsum eum, terrámque spargens. Venit ítaque rex, et univérsus pópulus cum eo lassus, et refocilláti sunt ibi. Absálom autem et omnis pópulus ejus ingréssi sunt Jerúsalem, sed et Achítophel cum eo. Cum autem venísset Chúsai Aráchites amícus David ad Absálom, locútus est ad eum: Salve rex, salve rex. Ad quem Absálom: Hæc est, inquit, grátia tua ad amícum tuum? quare non ivísti cum amíco tuo? Respondítque Chúsai ad Absálom: Nequáquam: quia illíus ero, quem elégit Dóminus, et omnis hic pópulus, et univérsus Israël: et cum eo manébo. Sed ut et hoc ínferam, cui ego servitúrus sum? nonne fílio regis? Sicut párui patri tuo, ita parébo et tibi. Dixit autem Absálom ad Achítophel: Ínite consílium quid ágere debeámus. Et ait Achítophel ad Absálom: Ingrédere ad concubínas patris tui, quas dimísit ad custodiéndam domum: ut cum audíerit omnis Israël quod fœdáveris patrem tuum, roboréntur tecum manus eórum. Tetendérunt ergo Absálom tabernáculum in solário, ingressúsque est ad concubínas patris sui coram univérso Israël. Consílium autem Achítophel quod dabat in diébus illis, quasi si quis consúleret Deum: sic erat omne consílium Achítophel, et cum esset cum David, et cum esset cum Absálom. XVII. Dixit ergo Achítophel ad Absálom: Éligam mihi duódecim míllia virórum, et consúrgens pérsequar David hac nocte. Et írruens super eum (quíppe qui lassus est, et solútis mánibus), percútiam eum: cumque fúgerit omnis pópulus qui cum eo est, percútiam regem desolátum. Et redúcam univérsum pópulum, quómodo unus homo revérti solet: unum enim virum tu quæris: et omnis pópulus erit in pace. Placuítque sermo ejus Absálom, et cunctis majóribus natu Israël. Ait autem Absálom: Vocáte Chúsai Aráchiten, et audiámus quid étiam ipse dicat. Cumque venísset Chúsai ad Absálom, ait Absálom ad eum: Hujuscémodi sermónem locútus est Achítophel: fácere debémus an non? quod das consílium? Et dixit Chúsai ad Absálom: Non est bonum consílium quod dedit Achítophel hac vice. Et rursum íntulit Chúsai: Tu nosti patrem tuum, et viros qui cum eo sunt, esse fortíssimos et amáro ánimo, velúti si ursa raptis cátulis in saltu sǽviat: sed et pater tuus vir bellátor est, nec morábitur cum pópulo. Fórsitan nunc látitat in fóveis, aut in uno, quo volúerit, loco: et cum cecíderit unus quilíbet in princípio, áudiet quicúmque audíerit, et dicet: Facta est plaga in pópulo qui sequebátur Absálom. Et fortíssimus quisque, cujus cor est quasi leónis, pavóre solvétur:

[column B]

scit enim omnis pópulus Israël fortem esse patrem tuum, et robústos omnes qui cum eo sunt. Sed hoc mihi vidétur rectum esse consílium. Congregétur ad te univérsus Israël, a Dan usque Bersabée, quasi aréna maris innumerábilis: et tu eris in médio eórum. Et irruémus super eum in quocúmque loco invéntus fúerit, et operiémus eum, sicut cádere solet ros super terram: et non relinquémus de viris qui cum eo sunt, ne unum quidem. Quod si urbem áliquam fúerit ingréssus, circúmdabit omnis Israël civitáti illi funes, et trahémus eam in torréntem, ut non reperiátur ne cálculus quidem ex ea. Dixítque Absálom, et omnes viri Israël: Mélius est consílium Chúsai Aráchitæ, consílio Achítophel: Dómini autem nutu dissipátum est consílium Achítophel útile, ut indúceret Dóminus super Absálom malum. Et ait Chúsai Sadoc et Abiáthar sacerdótibus: Hoc et hoc modo consílium dedit Achítophel Absálom et senióribus Israël: et ego tale et tale dedi consílium. Nunc ergo míttite cito, et nuntiáte David, dicéntes: Ne moréris nocte hac in campéstribus desérti, sed absque dilatióne transgrédere: ne forte absorbeátur rex, et omnis pópulus qui cum eo est. Jónathas autem et Achímaas stabant juxta fontem Rogel: ábiit ancílla et nuntiávit eis. Et illi profécti sunt, ut reférrent ad regem David núntium: non enim póterant víderi, aut introíre civitátem. Vidit autem eos quidam puer, et indicávit Absálom: illi vero cóncito gradu ingréssi sunt domum cujúsdam viri in Bahúrim, qui habébat púteum in vestíbulo suo: et descendérunt in eum. Tulit autem múlier, et expándit velámen super os pútei, quasi siccans ptisánas: et sic látuit res. Cumque veníssent servi Absálom in domum, ad mulíerem dixérunt: Ubi est Achímaas et Jónathas? Et respóndit eis múlier: Transiérunt festinánter, gustáta páululum aqua. At hi qui quærébant, cum non reperíssent, revérsi sunt in Jerúsalem. Cumque abiíssent, ascendérunt illi de púteo, et pergéntes nuntiavérunt regi David, et dixérunt: Súrgite, et transíte cito flúvium: quóniam hujuscémodi dedit consílium contra vos Achítophel. Surréxit ergo David, et omnis pópulus qui cum eo erat, et transiérunt Jordánem, donec dilucésceret: et ne unus quidem resíduus fuit, qui non transísset flúvium. Porro Achítophel videns quod non fuísset factum consílium suum, stravit ásinum suum, surrexítque, et ábiit in domum suam et in civitátem suam: et dispósita domo sua, suspéndio intériit, et sepúltus est in sepúlchro patris sui. David autem venit in castra, et Absálom transívit Jordánem, ipse et omnes viri Israël cum eo. Amásam vero constítuit Absálom pro Joab super exércitum: Amása autem erat fílius viri qui vocabátur Jetra de Jezráëli, qui ingréssus est ad Abígail fíliam Naas, sorórem Sárviæ, quæ fuit mater Joab. Et castrametátus est Israël cum Absálom in terra Gálaad. Cumque venísset David in castra, Sobi fílius Naas de Rabbath filiórum Ammon, et Machir fílius Ámmihel de Lodábar, et Berzéllai Galaádites de Rógelim, obtulérunt ei stratória, et tapétia, et vasa

[2 Kings 16:10-17:28]

...Sarvia? Let him alone and let him curse: for the Lord hath bid him curse David: and who is he that shall dare say, why hath he done so? 11 And the king said to Abisai, and to all his servants: Behold my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now a son of Jemini? let him alone that he may curse as the Lord hath bidden him. 12 Perhaps the Lord may look upon my affliction, and the Lord may render me good for the cursing of this day. 13 And David and his men with him went by the way. And Semei by the hill's side went over against him, cursing, and casting stones at him, and scattering earth. 14 And the king and all the people with him came weary, and refreshed themselves there. 15 But Absalom and all his people came into Jerusalem, and Achitophel was with him. 16 And when Chusai the Arachite, David's friend, was come to Absalom, he said to him: God save thee, O king, God save thee, O king. 17 And Absalom said to him: Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend? 18 And Chusai answered Absalom: Nay: for I will be his, whom the Lord hath chosen, and all this people, and all Israel, and with him will I abide. 19 Besides this, whom shall I serve? is it not the king's son? as I have served thy father, so will I serve thee also. 20 And Absalom said to Achitophel: Consult what we are to do. 21 And Achitophel said to Absalom: Go in to the concubines of thy father, whom he hath left to keep the house: that when all Israel shall hear that thou hast disgraced thy father, their hands may be strengthened with thee. 22 So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and he went in to his father's concubines before all Israel. 23 Now the counsel of Achitophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man should consult God: so was all the counsel of Achitophel, both when he was with David, and when he was with Absalom.

1 And Achitophel said to Absalom: I will choose me twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night. 2 And coming upon him (for he is now weary, and weak handed) I will defeat him: and when all the people is put to flight that is with him, I will kill the king who will be left alone. 3 And I will bring back all the people, as if they were but one man: for thou seekest but one man: and all the people shall be in peace. 4 And his saying pleased Absalom, and all the ancients of Israel. 5 But Absalom said: Call Chusai the Arachite, and let us hear what he also saith. 6 And when Chusai was come to Absalom, Absalom said to him: Achitophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do it or not? what counsel dost thou give? 7 And Chusai said to Absalom: The counsel that Achitophel hath given this time is not good. 8 And again Chusai said: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that are with him, that they are very valiant, and bitter in their mind, as a bear raging in the wood when her whelps are taken away: and thy father is a warrior, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Perhaps he now lieth hid in pits, or in some other place where he list: and when any one shall fall at the first, every one that heareth it shall say: There is a slaughter among the people that followed Absalom. 10 And the most valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall melt for fear: for all the people of Israel know thy father to be a valiant man, and that all who are with him are valiant. 11 But this seemeth to me to be good counsel: Let all Israel be gathered to thee, from Dan to Bersabee, as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbered: and thou shalt be in the midst of them. 12 And we shall come upon him in what place soever he shall be found: and we shall cover him, as the dew falleth upon the ground, and we shall not leave of the men that are with him, not so much as one. 13 And if he shall enter into any city, all Israel shall cast ropes round about that city, and we will draw it into the river, so that there shall not be found so much as one small stone thereof. 14 And Absalom, and all the men of Israel said: The counsel of Chusai the Arachite is better than the counsel of Achitophel: and by the will of the Lord the profitable counsel of Achitophel was defeated, that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. 15 And Chusai said to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests: Thus and thus did Achitophel counsel Absalom, and the ancients of Israel: and thus and thus did I counsel them. 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying: Tarry not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but without delay pass over: lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that is with him. 17 And Jonathan and Achimaas stayed by the fountain Rogel: and there went a maid and told them: and they went forward, to carry the message to king David, for they might not be seen, nor enter into the city. 18 But a certain boy saw them, and told Absalom: but they making haste went into the house of a certain man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went down into it. 19 And a woman took, and spread a covering over the mouth of the well, as it were to dry sodden barley: and so the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom's servants were come into the house, they said to the woman: Where is Achimaas and Jonathan? and the woman answered them: They passed on in haste, after they had tasted a little water. But they that sought them, when they found them not, returned into Jerusalem. 21 And when they were gone, they came up out of the well, and going on told king David, and said: Arise, and pass quickly over the river: for this manner of counsel has Achitophel given against you. 22 So David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan, until it grew light, and not one of them was left that was not gone over the river. 23 But Achitophel seeing that his counsel was not followed, saddled his ass, and arose and went home to his house and to his city, and putting his house in order, hanged himself, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. 24 But David came to the camp, and Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Now Absalom appointed Amasa in Joab's stead over the army: and Amasa was the son of a man who was called Jethra of Jezrael, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Naas, the sister of Sarvia who was the mother of Joab. 26 And Israel camped with Absalom in the land of Galaad. 27 And when David was come to the camp, Sobi the son of Naas of Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammihel of Lodabar, and Berzellai the Galaadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought him beds, and tapestry, and earthen vessels...

[column A]

fictília, fruméntum, et hórdeum, et farínam, et poléntam, et fabam, et lentem, et frixum cicer, et mel, et butýrum, oves, et pingues vítulos: dederúntque David, et pópulo qui cum eo erat, ad vescéndum: suspicáti enim sunt pópulum fame et siti fatigári in desérto. XVIII. Ígitur consideráto David pópulo suo, constítuit super eos tribúnos et centuriónes, et dedit pópuli tértiam partem sub manu Joab, et tértiam partem sub manu Abísai fílii Sárviæ fratris Joab, et tértiam partem sub manu Éthai, qui erat de Geth. Dixítque rex ad pópulum: Egrédiar et ego vobíscum. Et respóndit pópulus: Non exíbis: sive enim fugérimus, non magnópere ad eos de nobis pertinébit: sive média pars cecíderit e nobis, non satis curábunt, quia tu unus pro decem míllibus computáris: mélius est ígitur ut sis nobis in urbe præsídio. Ad quos rex ait: Quod vobis vidétur rectum, hoc fáciam. Stetit ergo rex juxta portam: egrediebatúrque pópulus per turmas suas centéni et milléni. Et præcépit rex Joab, et Abísai, et Éthai, dicens: Serváte mihi púerum Absálom. Et omnis pópulus audiébat præcipiéntem regem cunctis princípibus pro Absálom. Ítaque egréssus est pópulus in campum contra Israël, et factum est prǽlium in saltu Éphraim. Et cæsus est ibi pópulus Israël ab exércitu David, factáque est plaga magna in die illa, vigínti míllium. Fuit autem ibi prǽlium dispérsum super fáciem omnis terræ, et multo plures erant quos saltus consúmpserat de pópulo, quam hi quos voráverat gládius in die illa. Áccidit autem ut occúrreret Absálom servis David, sedens mulo: cumque ingréssus fuísset mulus subter condénsam quercum et magnam, adhǽsit caput ejus quércui: et illo suspénso inter cælum et terram, mulus cui inséderat, pertransívit. Vidit autem hoc quíspiam, et nuntiávit Joab, dicens: Vidi Absálom péndere de quercu. Et ait Joab viro qui nuntiáverat ei: Si vidísti, quare non confodísti eum cum terra, et ego dedíssem tibi decem argénti siclos, et unum bálteum? Qui dixit ad Joab: Si appénderes in mánibus meis mille argénteos, nequáquam mítterem manum meam in fílium regis: audiéntibus enim nobis præcépit rex tibi, et Abísai, et Éthai, dicens: Custodíte mihi púerum Absálom. Sed etsi fecíssem contra ánimam meam audácter, nequáquam hoc regem látere potuísset, et tu stares ex advérso? Et ait Joab: Non sicut tu vis, sed aggrédiar eum coram te. Tulit ergo tres lánceas in manu sua, et infíxit eas in corde Absálom: cumque adhuc palpitáret hærens in quercu, cucurrérunt decem júvenes armígeri Joab, et percutiéntes interfecérunt eum. Cécinit autem Joab búccina, et retínuit pópulum, ne persequerétur fugiéntem Israël, volens párcere multitúdini. Et tulérunt Absálom, et projecérunt eum in saltu, in fóveam grandem, et comportavérunt super eum acérvum lápidum magnum nimis: omnis autem Israël fugit in tabernácula sua. Porro Absálom eréxerat sibi, cum adhuc víveret, títulum qui est in Valle regis: díxerat enim: Non hábeo fílium, et hoc erit moniméntum nóminis mei. Vocavítque títulum nómine

[column B]

suo, et appellátur Manus Absálom, usque ad hanc diem. Achímaas autem fílius Sadoc, ait: Curram, et nuntiábo regi quia judícium fécerit ei Dóminus de manu inimicórum ejus. Ad quem Joab dixit: Non eris núntius in hac die, sed nuntiábis in ália: hódie nolo te nuntiáre: fílius enim regis est mórtuus. Et ait Joab Chusi: Vade, et núntia regi quæ vidísti. Adorávit Chusi Joab, et cucúrrit. Rursus autem Achímaas fílius Sadoc dixit ad Joab: Quid ímpedit si étiam ego curram post Chusi? Dixítque ei Joab: Quid vis cúrrere, fili mi? non eris boni núntii bájulus. Qui respóndit: Quid enim si cucúrrero? Et ait ei: Curre. Currens ergo Achímaas per viam compéndii, transívit Chusi. David autem sedébat inter duas portas: speculátor vero, qui erat in fastígio portæ super murum, élevans óculos, vidit hóminem curréntem solum. Et exclámans indicávit regi: dixítque rex: Si solus est, bonus est núntius in ore ejus. Properánte autem illo, et accedénte própius, vidit speculátor hóminem álterum curréntem, et vocíferans in cúlmine, ait: Appáret mihi alter homo currens solus. Dixítque rex: Et iste bonus est núntius. Speculátor autem: Contémplor, ait, cursum prióris, quasi cursum Achímaas fílii Sadoc. Et ait rex: Vir bonus est, et núntium portans bonum venit. Clamans autem Achímaas, dixit ad regem: Salve rex. Et adórans regem coram eo pronus in terram, ait: Benedíctus Dóminus Deus tuus, qui conclúsit hómines qui levavérunt manus suas contra dóminum meum regem. Et ait rex: Estne pax púero Absálom? Dixítque Achímaas: Vidi tumúltum magnum cum mítteret Joab servus tuus, o rex, me servum tuum: néscio áliud. Ad quem rex: Transi, ait, et sta hic. Cumque ille transísset, et staret, appáruit Chusi: et véniens ait: Bonum appórto núntium, dómine mi rex: judicávit enim pro te Dóminus hódie de manu ómnium qui surrexérunt contra te. Dixit autem rex ad Chusi: Estne pax púero Absálom? Cui respóndens Chusi: Fiant, inquit, sicut puer, inimíci dómini mei regis, et univérsi qui consúrgunt advérsus eum in malum. Contristátus ítaque rex, ascéndit cœnáculum portæ, et flevit. Et sic loquebátur, vadens: Fili mi Absálom, Absálom fili mi: quis mihi tríbuat ut ego móriar pro te, Absálom fili mi, fili mi Absálom? XIX. Nuntiátum est autem Joab quod rex fleret et lugéret fílium suum, et versa est victória in luctum in die illa omni pópulo: audívit enim pópulus in die illa dici: Dolet rex super fílio suo. Et declinávit pópulus in die illa íngredi civitátem, quómodo declináre solet pópulus versus et fúgiens de prǽlio. Porro rex opéruit caput suum, et clamábat voce magna: Fili mi Absálom, Absálom fili mi, fili mi. Ingréssus ergo Joab ad regem in domum, dixit: Confudísti hódie vultus ómnium servórum

[2 Kings 17:28-19:5]

...and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and fried pulse, 29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and fat calves, and they gave to David and the people that were with him, to eat: for they suspected that the people were faint with hunger and thirst in the wilderness.

1 And David having reviewed his people, appointed over them captains of thousands and of hundreds, 2 And sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abisai the son of Sarvia Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also will go forth with you. 3 And the people answered: Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not much mind us: or if half of us should fall, they will not greatly care: for thou alone art accounted for ten thousand: it is better therefore that thou shouldst be in the city to succour us. 4 And the king said to them: What seemeth good to you, that will I do. And the king stood by the gate: and all the people went forth by their troops, by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save me the boy Absalom. And all the people heard the king giving charge to all the princes concerning Absalom. 6 So the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the people of Israel were defeated there by David's army, and a great slaughter was made that day of twenty thousand men. 8 And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the country, and there were many more of the people whom the forest consumed, than whom the sword devoured that day. 9 And it happened that Absalom met the servants of David, riding on a mule: and as the mule went under a thick and large oak, his head stuck in the oak: and while he hung between the heaven and the earth, the mule on which he rode passed on. 10 And one saw this and told Joab, saying: I saw Absalom hanging upon an oak. 11 And Joab said to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not stab him to the ground, and I would have given thee ten sicles of silver, and a belt? 12 And he said to Joab: If thou wouldst have paid down in my hands a thousand pieces of silver, I would not lay my hands upon the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Save me the boy Absalom. 13 Yea and if I should have acted boldly against my own life, this could not have been hid from the king, and wouldst thou have stood by me? 14 And Joab said: Not as thou wilt, but will set upon him in thy sight. So he took three lances in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom: and whilst he yet panted for life, sticking on the oak, 15 Ten young men, armourbearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him slew him. 16 And Joab sounded the trumpet, and kept back the people from pursuing after Israel in their flight, being willing to spare the multitude. 17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and they laid an exceeding great heap of stones upon him: but all Israel fled to their own dwellings. 18 Now Absalom had reared up for himself, in his lifetime, a pillar, which is in the king's valley: for he said: I have no son, and this shall be the monument of my name. And he called the pillar by his own name, and it is called the hand of Absalom, to this day. 19 And Achimaas the son of Sadoc said: I will run and tell the king, that the Lord hath done judgment for him from the hand of his enemies. 20 And Joab said to him: Thou shalt not be the messenger this day, but shalt bear tidings another day: this day I will not have thee bear tidings, because the king's son is dead. 21 And Joab said to Chusai: Go, and tell the king what thou hast seen. Chusai bowed down to Joab, and ran. 22 Then Achimaas the son of Sadoc said to Joab again: Why might not I also run after Chusai? And Joab said to him: Why wilt thou run, my son? thou wilt not be the bearer of good tidings. 23 He answered: But what if I run? And he said to him: Run. Then Achimaas running by a nearer way passed Chusai. 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman that was on the top of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone. 25 And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tidings in his mouth. And as he was coming apace, and drawing nearer, 26 The watchman saw another man running, and crying aloud from above, he said: I see another man running alone. And the king said: He also is a good messenger. 27 And the watchman said: The running of the foremost seemeth to me like the running of Achimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man: and cometh with good news. 28 And Achimaas crying out, said to the king: God save thee, O king. And falling down before the king with his face to the ground, he said: Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath shut up the men that have lifted up their hands against the lord my king. 29 And the king said: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Achimaas said: I saw a great tumult, O king, when thy servant Joab sent me thy servant: I know nothing else. 30 And the king said to him: Pass, and stand here. 31 And when he had passed, and stood still, Chusai appeared: and coming up he said: I bring good tidings, my lord, the king, for the Lord hath judged for thee this day from the hand of all that have risen up against thee. 32 And the king said to Chusai: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Chusai answering him, said: Let the enemies of my lord, the king, and all that rise against him unto evil, be as the young man is. 33 The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom.

1 And it was told Joab, that the king wept and mourned for his son: 2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day: The king grieveth for his son. 3 And the people shunned the going into the city that day as a people would do that hath turned their backs, and fled away from the battle. 4 And the king covered his head, and cried with a loud voice: O my son Absalom, O Absalom my son, O my son. 5 Then Joab going into the house to the king, said: Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants...