II - Chapter 9

1Then the Navi Elisha summoned one of the disciples of the Neviim and said to him, “Tie up your skirts, and take along this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead.

אוֶאֱלִישָׁע הַנָּבִיא קָרָא לְאַחַד מִבְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ חֲגֹר מָתְנֶיךָ וְקַח פַּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶן הַזֶּה בְּיָדֶךָ וְלֵךְ רָמֹת גִּלְעָד׃

2When you arrive there, go and see Yehu son of Yehoshafat son of Nimshi; get him to leave his comrades, and take him into an inner room.

בוּבָאתָ שָׁמָּה וּרְאֵה־שָׁם יֵהוּא בֶן־יְהוֹשָׁפָט בֶּן־נִמְשִׁי וּבָאתָ וַהֲקֵמֹתוֹ מִתּוֹך אֶחָיו וְהֵבֵיאתָ אֹתוֹ חֶדֶר בְּחָדֶר׃

3Then take the flask of oil and pour some on his head, and say, ‘Thus said Hashem: I anoint you king over Yisrael.' Then open the door and flee without delay.”

גוְלָקַחְתָּ פַךְ־הַשֶּׁמֶן וְיָצַקְתָּ עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וְאָמַרְתָּ כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה מְשַׁחְתִּיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפָתַחְתָּ הַדֶּלֶת וְנַסְתָּה וְלֹא תְחַכֶּה׃

4The young man, the servant of the Navi, went to Ramoth-gilead.

דוַיֵּלֶךְ הַנַּעַר הַנַּעַר הַנָּבִיא רָמֹת גִּלְעָד׃

5When he arrived, the army commanders were sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.” “For which one of us?” Yehu asked. He answered, “For you, commander.”

הוַיָּבֹא וְהִנֵּה שָׂרֵי הַחַיִל יֹשְׁבִים וַיֹּאמֶר דָּבָר לִי אֵלֶיךָ הַשָּׂר וַיֹּאמֶר יֵהוּא אֶל־מִי מִכֻּלָּנוּ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיךָ הַשָּׂר׃

6So [Yehu] arose and went inside; and [the disciple] poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael: I anoint you king over the people of Hashem, over Yisrael.

va-YA-kom va-ya-VO ha-BAItah va-yi-TZOK ha-SHE-men el ro-SHO va-YO-mer LO koh a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL m'-shakh-TEE-kha l'-ME-lekh el AM a-do-NAI el yis-ra-AYL

ווַיָּקָם וַיָּבֹא הַבַּיְתָה וַיִּצֹק הַשֶּׁמֶן אֶל־רֹאשׁוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשַׁחְתִּיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ אֶל־עַם יְהֹוָה אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

7You shall strike down the House of Achav your master; thus will I avenge on Jezebel the blood of My servants the Neviim, and the blood of the other servants of Hashem.

זוְהִכִּיתָה אֶת־בֵּית אַחְאָב אֲדֹנֶיךָ וְנִקַּמְתִּי דְּמֵי עֲבָדַי הַנְּבִיאִים וּדְמֵי כָּל־עַבְדֵי יְהֹוָה מִיַּד אִיזָבֶל׃

8The whole House of Achav shall perish, and I will cut off every male belonging to Achav, bond and free in Yisrael.

חוְאָבַד כָּל־בֵּית אַחְאָב וְהִכְרַתִּי לְאַחְאָב מַשְׁתִּין בְּקִיר וְעָצוּר וְעָזוּב בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃

9I will make the House of Achav like the House of Yerovam son of Nebat, and like the House of Basha son of Achiya.

טוְנָתַתִּי אֶת־בֵּית אַחְאָב כְּבֵית יָרָבְעָם בֶּן־נְבָט וּכְבֵית בַּעְשָׁא בֶן־אֲחִיָּה׃

10The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the field of Yizrael, with none to bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled.

יוְאֶת־אִיזֶבֶל יֹאכְלוּ הַכְּלָבִים בְּחֵלֶק יִזְרְעֶאל וְאֵין קֹבֵר וַיִּפְתַּח הַדֶּלֶת וַיָּנֹס׃

11Yehu went out to the other officers of his master, and they asked him, “Is all well? What did that madman come to you for?” He said to them, “You know the man and his ranting!”

יאוְיֵהוּא יָצָא אֶל־עַבְדֵי אֲדֹנָיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הֲשָׁלוֹם מַדּוּעַ בָּא־הַמְשֻׁגָּע הַזֶּה אֵלֶיךָ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אַתֶּם יְדַעְתֶּם אֶת־הָאִישׁ וְאֶת־שִׂיחוֹ׃

12“You're lying,” they said. “Tell us [the truth].” Then he replied, “Thus and thus he said: Thus said Hashem: I anoint you king over Yisrael!”

יבוַיֹּאמְרוּ שֶׁקֶר הַגֶּד־נָא לָנוּ וַיֹּאמֶר כָּזֹאת וְכָזֹאת אָמַר אֵלַי לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה מְשַׁחְתִּיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

13Quickly each man took his cloak and placed it under him, on the top step. They sounded the shofar and proclaimed, “Yehu is king!”

יגוַיְמַהֲרוּ וַיִּקְחוּ אִישׁ בִּגְדוֹ וַיָּשִׂימוּ תַחְתָּיו אֶל־גֶּרֶם הַמַּעֲלוֹת וַיִּתְקְעוּ בַּשּׁוֹפָר וַיֹּאמְרוּ מָלַךְ יֵהוּא׃

14Thus Yehu son of Yehoshafat son of Nimshi conspired against Yoram. Yoram and all Yisrael had been defending Ramoth-gilead against King Hazael of Aram,

ידוַיִּתְקַשֵּׁר יֵהוּא בֶּן־יְהוֹשָׁפָט בֶּן־נִמְשִׁי אֶל־יוֹרָם וְיוֹרָם הָיָה שֹׁמֵר בְּרָמֹת גִּלְעָד הוּא וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי חֲזָאֵל מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָם׃

15but King Yoram had gone back to Yizrael to recover from the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him in his battle with King Hazael of Aram. Yehu said, “If such is your wish, allow no one to slip out of the town to go and report this in Yizrael.”

טווַיָּשָׁב יְהוֹרָם הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהִתְרַפֵּא בִיְזְרְעֶאל מִן־הַמַּכִּים אֲשֶׁר יַכֻּהוּ אֲרַמִּים בְּהִלָּחֲמוֹ אֶת־חֲזָאֵל מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם וַיֹּאמֶר יֵהוּא אִם־יֵשׁ נַפְשְׁכֶם אַל־יֵצֵא פָלִיט מִן־הָעִיר לָלֶכֶת לגיד [לְהַגִּיד] בְּיִזְרְעֶאל׃

16Then Yehu mounted his chariot and drove to Yizrael; for Yoram was lying ill there, and King Achazyahu of Yehuda had gone down to visit Yoram.

טזוַיִּרְכַּב יֵהוּא וַיֵּלֶךְ יִזְרְעֶאלָה כִּי יוֹרָם שֹׁכֵב שָׁמָּה וַאֲחַזְיָה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה יָרַד לִרְאוֹת אֶת־יוֹרָם׃

17The lookout was stationed on the tower in Yizrael, and he saw the troop of Yehu as he approached. He called out, “I see a troop!” Yoram said, “Dispatch a horseman to meet them and let him ask: Is all well?”

יזוְהַצֹּפֶה עֹמֵד עַל־הַמִּגְדָּל בְּיִזְרְעֶאל וַיַּרְא אֶת־שִׁפְעַת יֵהוּא בְּבֹאוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁפְעַת אֲנִי רֹאֶה וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹרָם קַח רַכָּב וּשְׁלַח לִקְרָאתָם וְיֹאמַר הֲשָׁלוֹם׃

18The horseman went to meet him, and he said, “The king inquires: Is all well?” Yehu replied, “What concern of yours is it whether all is well? Fall in behind me.” The lookout reported: “The messenger has reached them, but has not turned back.”

יחוַיֵּלֶךְ רֹכֵב הַסּוּס לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ הֲשָׁלוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר יֵהוּא מַה־לְּךָ וּלְשָׁלוֹם סֹב אֶל־אַחֲרָי וַיַּגֵּד הַצֹּפֶה לֵאמֹר בָּא־הַמַּלְאָךְ עַד־הֵם וְלֹא־שָׁב׃

19So he sent out a second horseman. He came to them and said, “Thus says the king: Is all well?” Yehu answered, “What concern of yours is it whether all is well? Fall in behind me.”

יטוַיִּשְׁלַח רֹכֵב סוּס שֵׁנִי וַיָּבֹא אֲלֵהֶם וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁלוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר יֵהוּא מַה־לְּךָ וּלְשָׁלוֹם סֹב אֶל־אַחֲרָי׃

20And the lookout reported, “The messenger has reached them, but has not turned back. And it looks like the driving of Yehu son of Nimshi, who drives wildly.”

כוַיַּגֵּד הַצֹּפֶה לֵאמֹר בָּא עַד־אֲלֵיהֶם וְלֹא־שָׁב וְהַמִּנְהָג כְּמִנְהַג יֵהוּא בֶן־נִמְשִׁי כִּי בְשִׁגָּעוֹן יִנְהָג׃

21Yoram ordered, “Hitch up [the chariot]!” They hitched up his chariot; and King Yoram of Yisrael and King Achazyahu of Yehuda went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Yehu. They met him at the field of Navot the Yizraelite.

כאוַיֹּאמֶר יְהוֹרָם אֱסֹר וַיֶּאְסֹר רִכְבּוֹ וַיֵּצֵא יְהוֹרָם מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַאֲחַזְיָהוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה אִישׁ בְּרִכְבּוֹ וַיֵּצְאוּ לִקְרַאת יֵהוּא וַיִּמְצָאֻהוּ בְּחֶלְקַת נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי׃

22When Yoram saw Yehu, he asked, “Is all well, Yehu?” But Yehu replied, “How can all be well as long as your mother Jezebel carries on her countless harlotries and sorceries?”

כבוַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹת יְהוֹרָם אֶת־יֵהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר הֲשָׁלוֹם יֵהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר מָה הַשָּׁלוֹם עַד־זְנוּנֵי אִיזֶבֶל אִמְּךָ וּכְשָׁפֶיהָ הָרַבִּים׃

23Thereupon Yoram turned his horses around and fled, crying out to Achazyahu, “Treason, Achazyahu!”

כגוַיַּהֲפֹךְ יְהוֹרָם יָדָיו וַיָּנֹס וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־אֲחַזְיָהוּ מִרְמָה אֲחַזְיָה׃

24But Yehu drew his bow and hit Yoram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart; and he collapsed in his chariot.

כדוְיֵהוּא מִלֵּא יָדוֹ בַקֶּשֶׁת וַיַּךְ אֶת־יְהוֹרָם בֵּין זְרֹעָיו וַיֵּצֵא הַחֵצִי מִלִּבּוֹ וַיִּכְרַע בְּרִכְבּוֹ׃

25Yehu thereupon ordered his officer Bidkar, “Pick him up and throw him into the field of Navot the Yizraelite. Remember how you and I were riding side by side behind his father Achav, when Hashem made this pronouncement about him:

כהוַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־בִּדְקַר שלשה [שָׁלִשׁוֹ] שָׂא הַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בְּחֶלְקַת שְׂדֵה נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי כִּי־זְכֹר אֲנִי וָאַתָּה אֵת רֹכְבִים צְמָדִים אַחֲרֵי אַחְאָב אָבִיו וַיהֹוָה נָשָׂא עָלָיו אֶת־הַמַּשָּׂא הַזֶּה׃

26‘I swear, I have taken note of the blood of Navot and the blood of his sons yesterday—declares Hashem. And I will requite you in this plot—declares Hashem.' So pick him up and throw him unto the plot in accordance with the word of Hashem.”

כואִם־לֹא אֶת־דְּמֵי נָבוֹת וְאֶת־דְּמֵי בָנָיו רָאִיתִי אֶמֶשׁ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְשִׁלַּמְתִּי לְךָ בַּחֶלְקָה הַזֹּאת נְאֻם־יְהֹוָה וְעַתָּה שָׂא הַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בַּחֶלְקָה כִּדְבַר יְהֹוָה׃

27On seeing this, King Achazyahu of Yehuda fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Yehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him down too!” [And they shot him] in his chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there.

כזוַאֲחַזְיָה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה רָאָה וַיָּנָס דֶּרֶךְ בֵּית הַגָּן וַיִּרְדֹּף אַחֲרָיו יֵהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־אֹתוֹ הַכֻּהוּ אֶל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּמַעֲלֵה־גוּר אֲשֶׁר אֶת־יִבְלְעָם וַיָּנָס מְגִדּוֹ וַיָּמָת שָׁם׃

28His servants conveyed him in a chariot to Yerushalayim, and they buried him in his grave with his fathers, in the City of David.

כחוַיַּרְכִּבוּ אֹתוֹ עֲבָדָיו יְרוּשָׁלְָמָה וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אֹתוֹ בִקְבֻרָתוֹ עִם־אֲבֹתָיו בְּעִיר דָּוִד׃

29Achazyahu had become king over Yehuda in the eleventh year of Yoram son of Achav.)

כטוּבִשְׁנַת אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה לְיוֹרָם בֶּן־אַחְאָב מָלַךְ אֲחַזְיָה עַל־יְהוּדָה׃

30Yehu went on to Yizrael. When Jezebel heard of it, she painted her eyes with kohl and dressed her hair, and she looked out of the window.

לוַיָּבוֹא יֵהוּא יִזְרְעֶאלָה וְאִיזֶבֶל שָׁמְעָה וַתָּשֶׂם בַּפּוּךְ עֵינֶיהָ וַתֵּיטֶב אֶת־רֹאשָׁהּ וַתַּשְׁקֵף בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן׃

31As Yehu entered the gate, she called out, “Is all well, Zimri, murderer of your master?”

לאוְיֵהוּא בָּא בַשָּׁעַר וַתֹּאמֶר הֲשָׁלוֹם זִמְרִי הֹרֵג אֲדֹנָיו׃

32He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side, who?” And two or three eunuchs leaned out toward him.

לבוַיִּשָּׂא פָנָיו אֶל־הַחַלּוֹן וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אִתִּי מִי וַיַּשְׁקִיפוּ אֵלָיו שְׁנַיִם שְׁלֹשָׁה סָרִיסִים׃

33“Throw her down,” he said. They threw her down; and her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her.

לגוַיֹּאמֶר שמטהו [שִׁמְטוּהָ] וַיִּשְׁמְטוּהָ וַיִּז מִדָּמָהּ אֶל־הַקִּיר וְאֶל־הַסּוּסִים וַיִּרְמְסֶנָּה׃

34Then he went inside and ate and drank. And he said, “Attend to that cursed woman and bury her, for she was a king's daughter.”

לדוַיָּבֹא וַיֹּאכַל וַיֵּשְׁתְּ וַיֹּאמֶר פִּקְדוּ־נָא אֶת־הָאֲרוּרָה הַזֹּאת וְקִבְרוּהָ כִּי בַת־מֶלֶךְ הִיא׃

35So they went to bury her; but all they found of her were the skull, the feet, and the hands.

להוַיֵּלְכוּ לְקָבְרָהּ וְלֹא־מָצְאוּ בָהּ כִּי אִם־הַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת וְהָרַגְלַיִם וְכַפּוֹת הַיָּדָיִם׃

36They came back and reported to him; and he said, “It is just as Hashem spoke through His servant Eliyahu the Tishbite: The dogs shall devour the flesh of Jezebel in the field of Yizrael;

לווַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיַּגִּידוּ לוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר דְּבַר־יְהֹוָה הוּא אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּיַד־עַבְדּוֹ אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי לֵאמֹר בְּחֵלֶק יִזְרְעֶאל יֹאכְלוּ הַכְּלָבִים אֶת־בְּשַׂר אִיזָבֶל׃

37and the carcass of Jezebel shall be like dung on the ground, in the field of Yizrael, so that none will be able to say: ‘This was Jezebel.'”

לזוהית [וְהָיְתָה] נִבְלַת אִיזֶבֶל כְּדֹמֶן עַל־פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה בְּחֵלֶק יִזְרְעֶאל אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יֹאמְרוּ זֹאת אִיזָבֶל׃