The Jerusalem Bridge

II Kings 11

מְלָכִים ב׳ 11

20 verses · Hebrew with nikud, English alongside · tap 🔊 to hear a verse

1

וַֽעֲתַלְיָה֙ אֵ֣ם אֲחַזְיָ֔הוּ (וראתה) [רָאֲתָ֖ה] כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת בְּנָ֑הּ וַתָּ֙קׇם֙ וַתְּאַבֵּ֔ד אֵ֖ת כׇּל־זֶ֥רַע הַמַּמְלָכָֽה׃

va'atalyah em akhazyahu (vrth) [ra'atah] ki met benah vattaqom vatte'abbed et kol-zera hammamlakhah

When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son was dead, she promptly killed off all who were of royal stock.

2

וַתִּקַּ֣ח יְהוֹשֶׁ֣בַע בַּת־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־י֠וֹרָ֠ם אֲח֨וֹת אֲחַזְיָ֜הוּ אֶת־יוֹאָ֣שׁ בֶּן־אֲחַזְיָ֗ה וַתִּגְנֹ֤ב אֹתוֹ֙ מִתּ֤וֹךְ בְּנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (הממותתים) [הַמּ֣וּמָתִ֔ים] אֹת֥וֹ וְאֶת־מֵינִקְתּ֖וֹ בַּחֲדַ֣ר הַמִּטּ֑וֹת וַיַּסְתִּ֧רוּ אֹת֛וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א הוּמָֽת׃

vattiqqakh yehosheva bat-hammelekh-yoram akhot akhazyahu et-yo'ash ben-akhazyah vattignov oto mittokh bene-hammelekh (hmmvttym) [hammumatim] oto ve'et-meniqto bakhadar hammittot vayyastiru oto mippene atalyahu velo humat

But Jehosheba, daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, secretly took Ahaziah’s son Joash away from among the princes who were being slain, and [put] him and his nurse in a bedroom. And they kept him hidden from Athaliah so that he was not put to death.

3

וַיְהִ֤י אִתָּהּ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה מִתְחַבֵּ֖א שֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים וַעֲתַלְיָ֖ה מֹלֶ֥כֶת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ {פ}

vayehi ittah bet Adonai mitkhabbe shesh shanim va'atalyah molekhet al-ha'arets

He stayed with her for six years, hidden in the House of GOD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

4

וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַ֠שְּׁבִיעִ֠ית שָׁלַ֨ח יְהוֹיָדָ֜ע וַיִּקַּ֣ח ׀ אֶת־שָׂרֵ֣י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֗וֹת] לַכָּרִי֙ וְלָ֣רָצִ֔ים וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתָ֛ם אֵלָ֖יו בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּכְרֹת֩ לָהֶ֨ם בְּרִ֜ית וַיַּשְׁבַּ֤ע אֹתָם֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥רְא אֹתָ֖ם אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

uvashanah hashevi'it shalakh yehoyada vayyiqqakh et-sare (hmyvt) [hamme'ot] lakkari velaratsim vayyave otam elayw bet Adonai vayyikhrot lahem berit vayyashba otam bevet Adonai vayyar otam et-ben-hammelekh

In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the chiefs of the hundreds of the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the House of GOD. He made a pact with them, exacting an oath from them in the House of GOD, and he showed them the king’s son.

5

וַיְצַוֵּ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר זֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשׂ֑וּן הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֤ית מִכֶּם֙ בָּאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת וְשֹׁ֣מְרֵ֔י מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

vayetsavvem lemor zeh haddavar asher ta'asun hashelishit mikkem ba'e hashabbat veshomere mishmeret bet hammelekh

He instructed them: “This is what you must do: One-third of those who are on duty for the week shall maintain guard over the royal palace;

6

וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ בְּשַׁ֣עַר ס֔וּר וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֥ית בַּשַּׁ֖עַר אַחַ֣ר הָרָצִ֑ים וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֛ם אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַבַּ֖יִת מַסָּֽח׃

vehashelishit besha'ar sur vehashelishit basha'ar akhar haratsim ushemartem et-mishmeret habbayit massakh

another third shall be [stationed] at the Sur Gate; and the other third shall be at the gate behind the guards; you shall keep guard over the House on every side.

7

וּשְׁתֵּ֤י הַיָּדוֹת֙ בָּכֶ֔ם כֹּ֖ל יֹצְאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וְשָׁ֥מְר֛וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

ushete hayyadot bakhem kol yotse'e hashabbat veshameru et-mishmeret bet-Adonai el-hammelekh

The two divisions of yours who are off duty this week shall keep guard over the House of GOD for the protection of the king.

8

וְהִקַּפְתֶּ֨ם עַל־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ סָבִ֗יב אִ֚ישׁ וְכֵלָ֣יו בְּיָד֔וֹ וְהַבָּ֥א אֶל־הַשְּׂדֵר֖וֹת יוּמָ֑ת וִֽהְי֥וּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּצֵאת֥וֹ וּבְבֹאֽוֹ׃

vehiqqaftem al-hammelekh saviv ish vekhelayw beyado vehabba el-hassederot yumat vihyu et-hammelekh betseto uvevo'o

You shall surround the king on every side, with your arms at the ready; and whoever breaks through the ranks shall be killed. Stay close to the king in his comings and goings.”

9

וַֽיַּעֲשׂ֞וּ שָׂרֵ֣י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֗וֹת] כְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה֮ יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵן֒ וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אֲנָשָׁ֔יו בָּאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת עִ֖ם יֹצְאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־יְהוֹיָדָ֥ע הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

vayya'asu sare (hmyvt) [hamme'ot] kekhol asher-tsivvah yehoyada hakkohen vayyiqkhu ish et-anashayw ba'e hashabbat im yotse'e hashabbat vayyavo'u el-yehoyada hakkohen

The chiefs of hundreds did just as Jehoiada ordered: Each took his men—those who were on duty that week and those who were off duty that week—and they presented themselves to Jehoiada the priest.

10

וַיִּתֵּ֨ן הַכֹּהֵ֜ן לְשָׂרֵ֣י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֗וֹת] אֶֽת־הַחֲנִית֙ וְאֶת־הַשְּׁלָטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

vayyitten hakkohen lesare (hmyvt) [hamme'ot] et-hakhanit ve'et-hashelatim asher lammelekh david asher bevet Adonai

The priest gave the chiefs of hundreds King David’s spears and quivers that were kept in the House of GOD.

11

וַיַּעַמְד֨וּ הָרָצִ֜ים אִ֣ישׁ ׀ וְכֵלָ֣יו בְּיָד֗וֹ מִכֶּ֨תֶף הַבַּ֤יִת הַיְמָנִית֙ עַד־כֶּ֤תֶף הַבַּ֙יִת֙ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔ית לַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ וְלַבָּ֑יִת עַל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ סָבִֽיב׃

vayya'amdu haratsim ish vekhelayw beyado mikketef habbayit hayemanit ad-ketef habbayit hassemalit lammizbeakh velabbayit al-hammelekh saviv

The guards, with their arms at the ready, stationed themselves—from the south end of the House to the north end of the House, at the altar and the House—to guard the king on every side.

12

וַיּוֹצִ֣א אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ אֶת־הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵד֔וּת וַיַּמְלִ֥כוּ אֹת֖וֹ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֑הוּ וַיַּ֨כּוּ־כָ֔ף וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}

vayyotsi et-ben-hammelekh vayyitten alayw et-hannezer ve'et-ha'edut vayyamlikhu oto vayyimshakhuhu vayyakku-khaf vayyomeru yekhi hammelekh

[Jehoiada] then brought out the king’s son, and placed upon him the crown and the insignia. They anointed him and proclaimed him king; they clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

13

וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲתַלְיָ֔ה אֶת־ק֥וֹל הָרָצִ֖ין הָעָ֑ם וַתָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָעָ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

vattishma atalyah et-qol haratsin ha'am vattavo el-ha'am bet Adonai

When Athaliah heard the shouting of the guards [and] the people, she came out to the people in the House of GOD.

14

וַתֵּ֡רֶא וְהִנֵּ֣ה הַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩ עֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־הָעַמּ֜וּד כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט וְהַשָּׂרִ֤ים וְהַחֲצֹֽצְרוֹת֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכׇל־עַ֤ם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ שָׂמֵ֔חַ וְתֹקֵ֖עַ בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֑וֹת וַתִּקְרַ֤ע עֲתַלְיָה֙ אֶת־בְּגָדֶ֔יהָ וַתִּקְרָ֖א קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃

vattere vehinneh hammelekh omed al-ha'ammud kammishpat vehassarim vehakhatsotserot el-hammelekh vekhol-am ha'arets sameakh vetoqea bakhatsotserot vattiqra atalyah et-begadeha vattiqra qesher qasher

She looked about and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, the chiefs with their trumpets beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah rent her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”

15

וַיְצַו֩ יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־שָׂרֵ֥י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֣וֹת ׀] פְּקֻדֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הוֹצִ֤יאוּ אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־מִבֵּ֣ית לַשְּׂדֵרֹ֔ת וְהַבָּ֥א אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ הָמֵ֣ת בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אַל־תּוּמַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

vayetsav yehoyada hakkohen et-sare (hmyvt) [hamme'ot ] pequde hakhayil vayyomer alehem hotsi'u otah el-mibbet lassederot vehabba akhareha hamet bekharev ki amar hakkohen al-tumat bet Adonai

Then the priest Jehoiada gave the command to the army officers, the chiefs of hundreds, and said to them, “Take her out between the ranks and, if anyone follows her, put him to the sword.” For the priest thought: “Let her not be put to death in the House of GOD.”

16

וַיָּשִׂ֤מוּ לָהּ֙ יָדַ֔יִם וַתָּב֛וֹא דֶּרֶךְ־מְב֥וֹא הַסּוּסִ֖ים בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתּוּמַ֖ת שָֽׁם׃ {ס}

vayyasimu lah yadayim vattavo derekh-mevo hassusim bet hammelekh vattumat sham

They cleared a passageway for her and she entered the royal palace through the horses’ entrance: there she was put to death.

17

וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת יְהוֹיָדָ֜ע אֶֽת־הַבְּרִ֗ית בֵּ֤ין יְהֹוָה֙ וּבֵ֤ין הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָעָ֔ם לִהְי֥וֹת לְעָ֖ם לַיהֹוָ֑ה וּבֵ֥ין הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וּבֵ֥ין הָעָֽם׃

vayyikhrot yehoyada et-habberit ben Adonai uven hammelekh uven ha'am lihyot le'am la-Adonai uven hammelekh uven ha'am

And Jehoiada solemnized the covenant between GOD, on the one hand, and the king and the people, on the other—as well as between the king and the people—that they should be GOD’s people.

18

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ כׇל־עַם֩ הָאָ֨רֶץ בֵּית־הַבַּ֜עַל וַֽיִּתְּצֻ֗הוּ אֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֤ו וְאֶת־צְלָמָיו֙ שִׁבְּר֣וּ הֵיטֵ֔ב וְאֵ֗ת מַתָּן֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הַבַּ֔עַל הָרְג֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י הַֽמִּזְבְּח֑וֹת וַיָּ֧שֶׂם הַכֹּהֵ֛ן פְּקֻדֹּ֖ת עַל־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

vayyavo'u khol-am ha'arets bet-habba'al vayyittetsuhu et-mizbekhotav ve'et-tselamayw shibberu hetev ve'et mattan kohen habba'al haregu lifne hammizbekhot vayyasem hakkohen pequddot al-bet Adonai

Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal. They tore it down and smashed its altars and images to bits, and they slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. [Jehoiada] the priest then placed guards over the House of GOD.

19

וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־שָׂרֵ֣י הַ֠מֵּא֠וֹת וְאֶת־הַכָּרִ֨י וְאֶת־הָרָצִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֗רֶץ וַיֹּרִ֤ידוּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיָּב֛וֹאוּ דֶּרֶךְ־שַׁ֥עַר הָרָצִ֖ים בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־כִּסֵּ֥א הַמְּלָכִֽים׃

vayyiqqakh et-sare hamme'ot ve'et-hakkari ve'et-haratsim ve'et kol-am ha'arets vayyoridu et-hammelekh mibbet Adonai vayyavo'u derekh-sha'ar haratsim bet hammelekh vayyeshev al-kisse hammelakhim

He took the chiefs of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they escorted the king from the House of GOD into the royal palace by the gate of the guards. And he ascended the royal throne.

20

וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח כׇּל־עַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהָעִ֣יר שָׁקָ֑טָה וְאֶת־עֲתַלְיָ֛הוּ הֵמִ֥יתוּ בַחֶ֖רֶב בֵּ֥ית (מלך) [הַמֶּֽלֶךְ]׃ {ס}

vayyismakh kol-am-ha'arets veha'ir shaqatah ve'et-atalyahu hemitu vakherev bet (mlkh) [hammelekh]

All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. As for Athaliah, she had been put to the sword in the royal palace.

Hebrew text and English translation from Sefaria, under their Creative Commons licence.

Yaacov, native Jerusalemite

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