Holy Orthodox Bible, Volume II(b)

[Panayioti]

Opps. I forgot my two messly little footnotes to Ch.14. Here you go:

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “intelligent”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “thy handmaid said”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 14

And Joab, the son of Sarouia, realized that the heart of the king was upon Abessalom. 2 And Joab sent to Thekoe, and took from there a * wise woman, and said to her, Do mourn, and put on mourning apparel, and do not anoint thyself with oil, and thou shall be like a woman mourning over one who has been dead for many days. 3 And thou shall go to the king, and speak to him according to this matter. And Joab put the words into her mouth. 4 So the Thekoite woman went in to the king and fell upon her face to the ground, and did him obeisance, and said, Save, O king, save! 5 And the king said to her, What is it with thee? And she said, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband has died. 6 And moreover thy handmaid had two sons, and they fought together in the field, and there was no one to pull them apart; and the one struck down his brother and, and killed him. 7 And behold the whole family rose up against thine handmaid, and they said, Give over the one that struck his brother, and we will put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and we will take away even your heir. And they will quench my only remaining ember, so as not to establish any remnant and name for my husband upon the face of the earth. 8 And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house in good health, and I will give instructions concerning thee. 9 And the Thekoite woman said to the king, On me, my lord, O king, and on my father’s house be the iniquity, and the king and his throne be blameless. 10 And the king said, Who was it that was speaking to thee? Thou shall also bring him to me, and he shall not touch him any longer. 11 And she said, Let now the king remember concerning the Lord, his God, so that a relative of blood may not succeed in destroying him. Then they shall not remove my son. And he said, As the lord lives, not a hair of thy son shall fall to the ground. 12 And the woman said, Let now thy servant speak a word to my lord the king. And he said, Do speak. 13 And the woman said, Why have thou devised this thing against the people of God? Truly, this word out of the king’s mouth is like a transgression, insofar as the king has not brought back his banished? 14 For by death we shall die, and be like water poured upon the earth, which shall not be gathered up, and God shall take a life, even as He devises to thrust forth from him his outcast. 15 And now whereas I came to speak this word to my lord the king, the reason is that the people will see me, and thy handmaid will say, Let one now speak to my lord the king, if somehow the king will enact the request of his handmaid; 16 for the king will hear, and so to rescue his handmaid from out of the hand of the man that seeks to remove me and my son from the inheritance of God. 17 And * the woman said, may the word of my lord the king truly be as an offering. For as an angel of God, so is my lord the king, to hear the good and the evil, and the Lord thy God shall be with thee. 18 And the king answered, and said to the woman, Do not hide from me a thing that I ask of thee. And the woman said, Do let my lord the king speak. 19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab in all this with thee? And the woman said to the king, As thy soul lives, my lord, O king, there is no deviating to the right hand or to the left from all that my lord the king has spoken! For thy servant Joab himself commanded me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid. 20 In order that the facade of this matter may come about, thy servant Joab concocted this tale; but my lord is wise like the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 21 And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done to thee according to this thy word; go, bring back the young man Abessalom. 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground, and did obeisance, and blessed the king, and Joab said, Today thy servant knows that I have found favor in thy sight, my lord, O king, for my lord the king has performed the word of his servant. 23 And Joab arose, and went to Gedsour, and brought Abessalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, Let him return to his house, but let him not see my face. And Abessalom returned to his house, and did not see the king’s face. 25 And there was not a man in Israel as so praiseworthy as Abessalom; from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he sheared his head, (and it was at the beginning of every year that he sheared it because it grew heavy upon him,) even after he sheared it, he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels according to the royal shekel. 27 And there were born to Abessalom three sons and one daughter, and her name was Themar; she was a very beautiful woman, and she became the wife of Roboam, the son of Solomon, and she bore to him Abia. 28 And Abessalom remained in Jerusalem two full years in days, and he did not see the king’s face. 29 And Abessalom sent to Joab to send him in to the king, but he did not want to come to him. And he sent to him a second time, but he did not want to come. 30 And Abessalom said to his servants, Behold, Joab’s portion in the field is next to mine, and he has in it barley; go and burn it with fire. And the servants of Abessalom set them on fire. And the servants of Joab came to him with their clothes torn, and they said to him, The servants of Abessalom have burned your portion with fire. 31 And Joab arose, and came to Abessalom into his house, and said to him, Why have thy servants burned my portion with fire? 32 And Abessalom said to Joab, Behold, I sent to thee, saying, Come here, and I will send thee to the king, saying, Why did I come from Gedsour? It would have been better for me to have remained there. And now, behold, I have not seen the face of the king; but if there is iniquity in me, then put me to death.
33 And Joab went in to the king, and told him, and he summoned Abessalom. And he went in to the king, and did him obeisance, and fell upon his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Abessalom.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “intelligent”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “thy handmaid said”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 15

And it came to pass after this that Abessalom obtained for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run along before him. 2 And Abessalom rose early, and stood by the road of the gate, and it came to pass that every man who had a case, came to the king for judgment, and Abessalom called out to him, and would say to him, From what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Abessalom said to him, Behold, thy affairs are good and easy, yet there is no one from the king appointed to hear thee. 4 And Abessalom said, Who would make me a judge in the land? Then every man who may have a dispute and a case would come to me, and I would give him justice. 5 And it came to pass when a man came near to do him obeisance that he would stretched out his hand and take hold of him, and would kiss him. 6 And Abessalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Abessalom gained the hearts of the men of Israel.

[Panayioti]

Hi Everybody:

Just wanted to throw this out in regards to my friend Michael Asser's English Translation of the LXX:
___________________
I am glad to inform you that, provided I can have my text proof-read, corrected and theologically scrutinised by 1st March 2013, My English Translation of the Septuagint (LXX) will be published with the blessing of Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britan (ROCOR) by the St Innocent of Moscow Press Indiana USA by September 2013.


With best wishes for Great Lent,
Yours in Christ,

Michael
michael.asser@btinternet.com
___________

Be on the lookout

Peter A. Papoutsis

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 15

And it came to pass after this that Abessalom obtained for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run along before him. 2 And Abessalom rose early, and stood by the road of the gate, and it came to pass that every man who had a case, came to the king for judgment, and Abessalom called out to him, and would say to him, From what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Abessalom said to him, Behold, thy affairs are good and easy, yet there is no one from the king appointed to hear thee. 4 And Abessalom said, Who would make me a judge in the land? Then every man who may have a dispute and a case would come to me, and I would give him justice. 5 And it came to pass when a man came near to do him obeisance that he would stretched out his hand and take hold of him, and would kiss him. 6 And Abessalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Abessalom gained the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And it came to pass at the end of * forty years, that Abessalom said to his father, I will go now, and pay my vows, which I vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow when I lived in Gedsour in Syria, saying, If by returning the Lord should return me to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. 9 And the king said to him, Go in peace. And he arose and went to Hebron. 10 And Abessalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the horn, then shall ye say, Abessalom has become king in Hebron. 11 And there went with Abessalom two hundred men from out of Jerusalem, being invited and going naively, and they did not know anything. 12 And Abessalom sent and summoned Achitophel the * Gelmonite, the counselor of David, from his city, from Gola, when he was offering sacrifices. And there was a strong * conspiracy; and the people with Abessalom were increasingly numerous. 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, the heart of the men of Israel has gone after Abessalom. 14 And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, Rise, and let us flee, for we have no deliverance from before the face of Abessalom. Make haste and go, lest he overtake us speedily, and thrust evil upon us, and strike the city with * the edge of the dagger. 15 And the king’s servants said to the king, According to everything which our lord the king chooses, behold we are thy servants. 16 And the king and his entire house went out on foot, and the king left ten women of his concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king and all his servants went out on foot; and abode in a distant house. 18 And all his servants passed on by his side, and every Helethi, and every Phelethi, and they stood by the olive tree in the wilderness. And all the people passed by near him, and all those about him, and all the men of prominence, and all the warriors, altogether six hundred men, and they were passing by at his hand, and every Helethi, and every Phelethi, and all the Geththites, six hundred men, who came by foot from out of Geth, and they passed before the face of the king. 19 And the king said to Eththi the Giththite, Why dose thou also go with us? Turn back, and live with the king, for thou art a stranger, and because thou have changed thy abode from out of thy place. 20 If thou had come yesterday, shall I even today cause thee to travel with us, and shall thou thus change thy place? Since thou came yesterday, then today shall I set thee in motion to go along with us? I will go wherever I may go. Turn back, and cause thy brothers to turn back with thee, and the Lord will deal mercifully and truthfully with thee. 21 And Eththi answered the king and said, As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, in the place wherever my lord shall be, whether it is for death or it is for life, for there thy servant will be. 22 And the king said to Eththi, Come and pass over with me. So Eththi the Geththite * and the king passed over, and all his servants, and the entire multitude that was with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people passed by over the torrents of Kedron; and the king passed over the torrents of Kedron, and all the people and the king were leaving on the way to the wilderness. 24 And behold, and truly Sadok, and all the Levites were with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant * of the Lord from Baithar; and they set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people ceased to pass out of the city.

* Lucian’s LXX recension reads: “four years”. Most Septuagint (LXX) codices read “forty years,” as does the Masoretic Text (MT). However, the context cannot not justify a period of forty years prior to the rebellion of Abessalom. Thus Lucian’s LXX recension (τέσσαρα ἔτη, tessara ete), the Syriac Peshitta’s (’arba’ sanin), and the Latin Vulgate’s (post quattuor autem annos) in fact have the correct reading of “four years.”

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Thekonite”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “deliberation”.

* The phrase “στόματι μαχαίρας” is literally translated as: “the mouth of the dagger.” The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “the edge (i.e. mouth) of the broadsword.”

* Codex Vaticanus omits: “and the king”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “of God”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 15

And it came to pass after this that Abessalom obtained for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run along before him. 2 And Abessalom rose early, and stood by the road of the gate, and it came to pass that every man who had a case, came to the king for judgment, and Abessalom called out to him, and would say to him, From what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Abessalom said to him, Behold, thy affairs are good and easy, yet there is no one from the king appointed to hear thee. 4 And Abessalom said, Who would make me a judge in the land? Then every man who may have a dispute and a case would come to me, and I would give him justice. 5 And it came to pass when a man came near to do him obeisance that he would stretched out his hand and take hold of him, and would kiss him. 6 And Abessalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Abessalom gained the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And it came to pass at the end of * forty years, that Abessalom said to his father, I will go now, and pay my vows, which I vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow when I lived in Gedsour in Syria, saying, If by returning the Lord should return me to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. 9 And the king said to him, Go in peace. And he arose and went to Hebron. 10 And Abessalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the horn, then shall ye say, Abessalom has become king in Hebron. 11 And there went with Abessalom two hundred men from out of Jerusalem, being invited and going naively, and they did not know anything. 12 And Abessalom sent and summoned Achitophel the * Gelmonite, the counselor of David, from his city, from Gola, when he was offering sacrifices. And there was a strong * conspiracy; and the people with Abessalom were increasingly numerous. 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, the heart of the men of Israel has gone after Abessalom. 14 And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, Rise, and let us flee, for we have no deliverance from before the face of Abessalom. Make haste and go, lest he overtake us speedily, and thrust evil upon us, and strike the city with * the edge of the dagger. 15 And the king’s servants said to the king, According to everything which our lord the king chooses, behold we are thy servants. 16 And the king and his entire house went out on foot, and the king left ten women of his concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king and all his servants went out on foot; and abode in a distant house. 18 And all his servants passed on by his side, and every Helethi, and every Phelethi, and they stood by the olive tree in the wilderness. And all the people passed by near him, and all those about him, and all the men of prominence, and all the warriors, altogether six hundred men, and they were passing by at his hand, and every Helethi, and every Phelethi, and all the Geththites, six hundred men, who came by foot from out of Geth, and they passed before the face of the king. 19 And the king said to Eththi the Giththite, Why dose thou also go with us? Turn back, and live with the king, for thou art a stranger, and because thou have changed thy abode from out of thy place. 20 If thou had come yesterday, shall I even today cause thee to travel with us, and shall thou thus change thy place? Since thou came yesterday, then today shall I set thee in motion to go along with us? I will go wherever I may go. Turn back, and cause thy brothers to turn back with thee, and the Lord will deal mercifully and truthfully with thee. 21 And Eththi answered the king and said, As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, in the place wherever my lord shall be, whether it is for death or it is for life, for there thy servant will be. 22 And the king said to Eththi, Come and pass over with me. So Eththi the Geththite * and the king passed over, and all his servants, and the entire multitude that was with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people passed by over the torrents of Kedron; and the king passed over the torrents of Kedron, and all the people and the king were leaving on the way to the wilderness. 24 And behold, and truly Sadok, and all the Levites were with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant * of the Lord from Baithar; and they set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people ceased to pass out of the city. 25 And the king said to Sadok, Return the ark of God to the city. If I should find favor in the eyes of the Lord, then will He bring me back, and He will show me it and its beauty. 26 But if He should say thus, I have no want in thee; behold, here I am, let Him do to me according to * that which is good in His eyes. 27 And the king said to Sadok the priest, Behold, thou shall return to the city in peace, and Achimaas thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons with you. 28 Behold, * I am at arms in Araboth of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me. 29 So Sadok and Abiathar returned the ark * of God to Jerusalem, and it stayed there. 30 And David went up by the ascent of the * Mount of Olives, ascending and weeping, and had his head covered, and went barefooted, and all the people that were with him every man covered his head; and they went up, ascending and weeping. 31 And it was reported to David, saying, Achitophel also is among the conspirators with Abessalom. And David said, O Lord my God, scatter afar the counsel of Achitophel. 32 And David came as far as * Roos, there where he did obeisance to God, and behold, Chousi the chief friend of David came out to meet him, with his tunic torn, and dirt upon his head. 33 And David said to him, If thou should cross over with me, then thou will be a * burden to me. 34 But if thou shall return to the city, and shall say to Abessalom, Thy brothers have passed through, and thy father the king has passed through behind me, and now I am thy servant, O king, allow me to live; I was previously and recently the servant of thy father, and now I am thy servant, then thou will scatter afar for me, the counsel of Achitophel. 35 And, behold, Sadok and Abiathar the priests are there with thee, and it shall be that every word that thou might hear from the house of the king, thou shall report it to Sadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, there are there with them their two sons, Achimaas the son of Sadok, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, and by their hand ye shall report to me every word which ye shall hear. 37 So Chousi, the friend of David, went into the city, and Abessalom was going into Jerusalem.

* Lucian’s LXX recension reads: “four years”. Most Septuagint (LXX) codices read “forty years,” as does the Masoretic Text (MT). However, the context cannot not justify a period of forty years prior to the rebellion of Abessalom. Thus Lucian’s LXX recension (τέσσαρα ἔτη, tessara ete), the Syriac Peshitta’s (’arba’ sanin), and the Latin Vulgate’s (post quattuor autem annos) in fact have the correct reading of “four years.”

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Thekonite”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “deliberation”.

* The phrase “στόματι μαχαίρας” is literally translated as: “the mouth of the dagger.” The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “the edge (i.e. mouth) of the broadsword.”

* Codex Vaticanus omits: “and the king”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “of God”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “that which is pleasing before Him”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “I wait for thee in the wilderness of the desert”.

* Codex Vaticanus omits: “of God”.

* Or olive groves.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ros”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “great weight” or “heavy load”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 16

And David passed on a little way from * Roos, and, behold, * Siba the servant of Memphibosthe came to meet him; and he had a couple of donkeys fully laden, and upon them two hundred bread loaves, and one hundred raisins, and one hundred dates, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to * Siba, Why do you have these things? And * Siba, said, The donkeys are for the household of the king to sit upon, and the bread loaves and the dates are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for them that are faint in the wilderness to drink. 3 And the king said, And where is the son of thy master? And * Siba said to the king, Behold, he stays in Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel shall return to me the kingdom of my father. 4 And the king said to * Siba, Behold, everything that is Memphibosthe’s is thine. And * Siba did obeisance and said, My lord, O king, let me find favor in thy eyes. 5 And King David came to Baourim; and, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul, and his name was * Semei the son of Gera; he came forth and cursed as he went, 6 and threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the powerful men were on the right and on the left of the king. 7 And thus * Semei said when he cursed him, Get out, get out, man of blood and man of lawlessness. 8 The Lord has returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, because thou became king in his stead, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of Abessalom thy son. And, behold, you are overtaken in thy own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed. 9 And Abessa the son of Sarouia said to the king, Why does this dead dog curse my lord the king? I will undoubtedly walk over and take off his head. 10 And the king said *, What concern is this to me and to thee, ye sons of Sarouia? Leave him alone, and so let him curse, for the Lord has told him to curse David, and who shall say, Why have thou done this?

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ros”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “to Abessa”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 16

And David passed on a little way from * Roos, and, behold, * Siba the servant of Memphibosthe came to meet him; and he had a couple of donkeys fully laden, and upon them two hundred bread loaves, and one hundred raisins, and one hundred dates, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to * Siba, Why do you have these things? And * Siba, said, The donkeys are for the household of the king to sit upon, and the bread loaves and the dates are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for them that are faint in the wilderness to drink. 3 And the king said, And where is the son of thy master? And * Siba said to the king, Behold, he stays in Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel shall return to me the kingdom of my father. 4 And the king said to * Siba, Behold, everything that is Memphibosthe’s is thine. And * Siba did obeisance and said, My lord, O king, let me find favor in thy eyes. 5 And King David came to Baourim; and, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul, and his name was * Semei the son of Gera; he came forth and cursed as he went, 6 and threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the powerful men were on the right and on the left of the king. 7 And thus * Semei said when he cursed him, Get out, get out, man of blood and man of lawlessness. 8 The Lord has returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, because thou became king in his stead, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of Abessalom thy son. And, behold, you are overtaken in thy own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed. 9 And Abessa the son of Sarouia said to the king, Why does this dead dog curse my lord the king? I will undoubtedly walk over and take off his head. 10 And the king said *, What concern is this to me and to thee, ye sons of Sarouia? Leave him alone, and so let him curse, for the Lord has told him to curse David, and who shall say, Why have thou done this? 11 And David said to Abessa and to all his servants, Behold, my son who came forth out of my bowels seeks my life; and moreover now, this son of Benjamin! Allow him to curse, because the Lord has told him. 12 If by any means the Lord may look on my humiliation, then He will return to me good things in place of His curse this day.13 And David and all the men with him went on the way, and * Semei went by the side of the mountain next to him, cursing as he went, and throwing stones at him, and sprinkling him with dirt. 14 And the king, and all the people with him, came away exhausted and refreshed themselves there. 15 And Abessalom and all the men of Israel went into Jerusalem and Achitophel was with him. 16 And it came to pass when Chousi, the chief friend of David, came to Abessalom, that Chousi said to Abessalom, * Let the king live! 17 And Abessalom said to Chousi, Is this thy act of mercy towards thy friend? Why did you not go forth with thy friend? 18 And Chousi said to Abessalom, Nay, but following whom the Lord, and this people, and all Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will stay. 19 And second, to whom will I be subject? Should I not in the presence of his son? Just as I served in the presence of thy father, so I will be in thy presence. 20 And Abessalom said to Achitophel, Deliberate among yourselves concerning what we should do. 21 And Achitophel said to Abessalom, Go in to thy father’s concubines, whom he left behind to keep his house; and all Israel will hear that thou have dishonored thy father; and the hands of all of those who are with thee will be strengthened. 22 And they pitched a tent for Abessalom on the roof, and Abessalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Achitophel, which he consulted in the former days, was as if one were to inquire of the word of God; so was all the counsel of Achitophel, also to David and also to Abessalom.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ros”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Seiba”; Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sibba”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “to Abessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Or “Long live the king!” The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Let the king live, let the king live!” or “Long live the king, love live the king!”

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 17

And Achitophel said to Abessalom, I will now choose for myself twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night. 2 And I will come upon him, and he will be exhausted and slack of hands, and I will startle him, and all the people with him shall flee, and I will strike down only the king. 3 And I will return all the people to thee, as a bride returns to her husband, except for the life of one man whom you are seeking, and all the people will be at peace. 4 And the saying was right in the eyes of Abessalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel. 5 And Abessalom said, Summon now forthwith Chousi the Arachi, and let us hear what is in his mouth, [what are] truly his [words].

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 17

And Achitophel said to Abessalom, I will now choose for myself twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night. 2 And I will come upon him, and he will be exhausted and slack of hands, and I will startle him, and all the people with him shall flee, and I will strike down only the king. 3 And I will return all the people to thee, as a bride returns to her husband, except for the life of one man whom you are seeking, and all the people will be at peace. 4 And the saying was right in the eyes of Abessalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel. 5 And Abessalom said, Summon now forthwith Chousi the Arachi, and let us hear what is in his mouth, what are truly his words. 6 And Chousi went in to Abessalom, and Abessalom spoke to him, saying, Here is what Achitophel has advised. Shall we follow his advice? If we do not, what do you recommend? 7 And Chousi said to Abessalom, This counsel that Achitophel has advised this one time, is not good. 8 And Chousi said, Thou know thy father and his men, that they are very powerful, and very bitter in their soul, just like a bear bereft of her cubs in a field, and like a wild boar in the plain. And thy father is a man of war, and will not give the people rest. 9 For, behold, he is now hidden in one of the hills or in some other place. And it shall come to pass when he falls upon them at the beginning, that some one will certainly hear, and say, There has been a slaughter among the people that follow after Abessalom. 10 Then even a son of power, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, it shall utterly melt away, for all Israel knows that thy father is mighty, and those who are with him are sons of power. 11 For in counseling I have so advised, that all Israel, in being gathered, be assembled to thee, from Dan even to Bersabee, like the sand that is upon the sea for a multitude, and that thy * presence go in the midst of them. 12 And we will come upon him in one of the places where we shall find him, and we will encamp against him, as the dew falls upon the ground, and we will not leave of him and of his men so much as one. 13 And if he regroups in a city, then shall all Israel take ropes to that city, and we shall drag it as far as the rushing river, that there may not be left behind there even a stone. 14 And Abessalom, and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Chousi the Arachi is better than the counsel of Achitophel. For the Lord ordained to scatter afar the good counsel of Achitophel so that the Lord might bring all evil upon Abessalom. 15 And Chousi the son of the Arachi said to Sadok and Abiathar the priests, Thus and so Achitophel advised Abessalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. 16 And now send quickly and report to David, saying, Do not lodge this night in Araboth of the wilderness, and truly make haste crossing over, lest one swallow up the king and all the people who are with him. 17 And Jonathan and Achimaas stood by the Spring of Rogel, and a maid-servant went and reported to them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen going into the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Abessalom, and the two went quickly, and entered into the house of a man in Baourim, and he had a well in his courtyard, and they went down there into it. 19 And his wife took a covering, and spread it over the * face of the well, and ground corn upon it to dry, and the thing was not known. 20 And the servants of Abessalom came to the woman into the house, and said, Where are Achimaas and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They passed by a little way from the water. And they searched and did not find them, and returned to Jerusalem. 21 And it came to pass after they were gone, that they came up out of the well, and went on their way and reported to King David, and they said to * David, Arise ye and go quickly over the water, for thus has Achitophel counseled concerning you. 22 And David rose up and all the people with him, and they passed over the Jordan until the morning light; there was not one noticed who did not pass over the Jordan. 23 And Achitophel saw that his counsel was not followed, and he saddled his donkey, and rose and departed to his house into his city; and he gave orders to his household, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father. 24 And David passed over to Manaim, and Abessalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Abessalom appointed Amessai instead of Joab over the * army. And Amessai was the son of a man whose name was * Jothor the * Israelite; it was he who went in to Abigaia the daughter of Naas, the sister of Sarouia the mother of Joab. 26 And all Israel and Abessalom encamped in the land of Galaad. 27 And it came to pass when David came to Manaim, that * Ouesbi the son of Naas from * Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and Mahir the son of Amiel from Lodabar, and * Berzelli the Galaadite from Rogellim, 28 brought ten beds and double-sided rugs and ten caldrons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and barley-meal, and beans, and lentils, 29 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese from cows, and they brought them to David and to the people with him to eat, for they said, The people are hungry and faint and thirsty in the wilderness.

* Literally: “face”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “mouth”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “him”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “military”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Jether”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Ishmaelite”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sobi”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Rabath”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Berzellei”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 17

And Achitophel said to Abessalom, I will now choose for myself twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night. 2 And I will come upon him, and he will be exhausted and slack of hands, and I will startle him, and all the people with him shall flee, and I will strike down only the king. 3 And I will return all the people to thee, as a bride returns to her husband, except for the life of one man whom you are seeking, and all the people will be at peace. 4 And the saying was right in the eyes of Abessalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel. 5 And Abessalom said, Summon now forthwith Chousi the Arachi, and let us hear what is in his mouth, what are truly his words. 6 And Chousi went in to Abessalom, and Abessalom spoke to him, saying, Here is what Achitophel has advised. Shall we follow his advice? If we do not, what do you recommend? 7 And Chousi said to Abessalom, This counsel that Achitophel has advised this one time, is not good. 8 And Chousi said, Thou know thy father and his men, that they are very powerful, and very bitter in their soul, just like a bear bereft of her cubs in a field, and like a wild boar in the plain. And thy father is a man of war, and will not give the people rest. 9 For, behold, he is now hidden in one of the hills or in some other place. And it shall come to pass when he falls upon them at the beginning, that some one will certainly hear, and say, There has been a slaughter among the people that follow after Abessalom. 10 Then even a son of power, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, it shall utterly melt away, for all Israel knows that thy father is mighty, and those who are with him are sons of power. 11 For in counseling I have so advised, that all Israel, in being gathered, be assembled to thee, from Dan even to Bersabee, like the sand that is upon the sea for a multitude, and that thy * presence go in the midst of them. 12 And we will come upon him in one of the places where we shall find him, and we will encamp against him, as the dew falls upon the ground, and we will not leave of him and of his men so much as one. 13 And if he regroups in a city, then shall all Israel take ropes to that city, and we shall drag it as far as the rushing river, that there may not be left behind there even a stone. 14 And Abessalom, and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Chousi the Arachi is better than the counsel of Achitophel. For the Lord ordained to scatter afar the good counsel of Achitophel so that the Lord might bring all evil upon Abessalom. 15 And Chousi the son of the Arachi said to Sadok and Abiathar the priests, Thus and so Achitophel advised Abessalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. 16 And now send quickly and report to David, saying, Do not lodge this night in Araboth of the wilderness, and truly make haste crossing over, lest one swallow up the king and all the people who are with him. 17 And Jonathan and Achimaas stood by the Spring of Rogel, and a maid-servant went and reported to them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen going into the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Abessalom, and the two went quickly, and entered into the house of a man in Baourim, and he had a well in his courtyard, and they went down there into it. 19 And his wife took a covering, and spread it over the * face of the well, and ground corn upon it to dry, and the thing was not known. 20 And the servants of Abessalom came to the woman into the house, and said, Where are Achimaas and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, They passed by a little way from the water. And they searched and did not find them, and returned to Jerusalem. 21 And it came to pass after they were gone, that they came up out of the well, and went on their way and reported to King David, and they said to * David, Arise ye and go quickly over the water, for thus has Achitophel counseled concerning you. 22 And David rose up and all the people with him, and they passed over the Jordan until the morning light; there was not one noticed who did not pass over the Jordan. 23 And Achitophel saw that his counsel was not followed, and he saddled his donkey, and rose and departed to his house into his city; and he gave orders to his household, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father. 24 And David passed over to Manaim, and Abessalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Abessalom appointed Amessai instead of Joab over the * army. And Amessai was the son of a man whose name was * Jothor the * Israelite; it was he who went in to Abigaia the daughter of Naas, the sister of Sarouia the mother of Joab. 26 And all Israel and Abessalom encamped in the land of Galaad. 27 And it came to pass when David came to Manaim, that * Ouesbi the son of Naas from * Rabbath of the sons of Ammon, and Mahir the son of Amiel from Lodabar, and * Berzelli the Galaadite from Rogellim, 28 brought ten beds and double-sided rugs and ten caldrons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and barley-meal, and beans, and lentils, 29 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese from cows, and they brought them to David and to the people with him to eat, for they said, The people are hungry and faint and thirsty in the wilderness.

* Literally: “face”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “mouth”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “him”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “military”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Jether”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Ishmaelite”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sobi”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Rabath”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Berzellei”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 18

And David inspected the people who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the people, one-third by the hand of Joab, and one-third by the hand of Abessa the son of Sarouia, the brother of Joab, and one-third by the hand of * Eththi the Geththite. And David said to the people, In going out I will go out most assuredly with you.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ethi the Gethite”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 18

And David inspected the people who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the people, one-third by the hand of Joab, and one-third by the hand of Abessa the son of Sarouia, the brother of Joab, and one-third by the hand of * Eththi the Geththite. And David said to the people, In going out I will go out most assuredly with you.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ethi the Gethite”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 18

And David inspected the people who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent out the people, one-third by the hand of Joab, and one-third by the hand of Abessa the son of Sarouia, the brother of Joab, and one-third by the hand of * Eththi the Geththite. And David said to the people, In going out I will go out most assuredly with you. 3 And they said, Thou shall not go out. For if we should indeed flee, * they will not have any concern for us; and if half of us should die, * they will not have any concern for us; for thou art like ten thousand of us, and now it is good that thou shall be to us an aid to help us in the city. 4 And the king said to them, Whatever shall seem pleasing * in your eyes I will do. And the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab and * Abessa and * Eththi, saying, Spare for my sake the young man Abessalom. And all the people heard the king charging all the commanders concerning Abessalom. 6 And all the people went out * into the forest opposite Israel; and the battle occurred in the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the people of Israel fell there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter in that day, even twenty thousand men. 8 And the battle there was scattered over the face of all the land and the forest consumed more of the people than the * dagger consumed among the people in that day. 9 And Abessalom met before the servants of David, and Abessalom was mounted on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of the great oak; and his head was entangled in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and between earth; and the mule passed on from under him. 10 And a man saw it, and reported it to Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Abessalom hanging in an oak. 11 And Joab said to the man who reported it to him, And behold, thou have seen him! Why did thou not strike him to the ground? And I would have given thee ten * pieces of silver, and one belt. 12 And the man said to Joab, Were I even to receive a thousand shekels of silver unto my hands, I would not put my hand upon the king’s son; for in our ears the king charged thee and * Abessa and * Eththi, saying, Protect for my sake the young man Abessalom, 13 so as to do no wrong to his life; and nothing of this will escape notice from the king, even you would have stood opposed against me. 14 And Joab said, I will commence this; I will not wait thus before you. And Joab took three spears in his hand, and stuck them in the heart of Abessalom, while he was yet alive in the heart of the oak. 15 And ten young men that bore the weapons of Joab encompassed Abessalom, and struck him and killed him. 16 And Joab trumpeted with a * horn, and the people turned back from pursuing Israel, for Joab spared the people. 17 And he took Abessalom, and threw him into a great chasm in the forest, into a great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every man to his tent. 18 And Abessalom, while still alive, had taken and set up for himself a pillar near which he was taken, and set it up so as to have the pillar in the valley of the king, for he said, He has no son to keep his name in remembrance, and he called the pillar, the Hand of Abessalom, until this day.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ethi the Gethite”.

* Literally: “they will not place their heart upon us”.

* Literally: “they will not place their heart upon us”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “before you”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ethi”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “into the field to meet Israel in battle”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “broadsword”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “shekels”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ethi”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “trumpet”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 19

And it was told to Joab, saying, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Abessalom. 2 And the deliverance in that day turned into mourning to all the people, for the people heard say that day, The king grieves after his son. 3 And the people stole away that day to go into the city, as people steal away when they are ashamed as they flee in battle. 4 And the king hid his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, saying, My son Abessalom! Abessalom my son! 5 And Joab went in to the king, into the house, and said, Thou have this day shamed the faces of all thy servants who have delivered thee this day, and the life of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the life of thy wives, and of thy concubines, 6 forasmuch as thou loves those who hate thee, and hates those who love thee; and thou hast this day declared, that thy rulers and thy servants are nothing in thy sight, for I have perceived this day, that if Abessalom were alive, and all of us dead today, then it would have been right in thy sight. 7 And now arise, and go forth, and speak unto the heart of thy servants; for I have sworn by the Lord, that unless thou will go forth today, there shall not a man remain with thee this night, and know this for thyself, this thing will indeed be evil to thee beyond all the evil that has come upon thee from thy youth until now. 8 Then the king arose, and sat at the gate. And all the people proclaimed, saying, Behold, the king sits at the gate. And all the people went in before the king * at the gate; and Israel had fled * every man to his tent. 9 And all the people disputed among all the tribes of Israel, saying, King David delivered us from all our enemies, and he rescued us from the hand of the * Philistines, and now he has fled from the land, * and from his kingdom, and from Abessalom. 10 And Abessalom, whom we anointed over us, died in the battle. And now why are ye silent about bringing back the king? And the word of all Israel came to the king. 11 And King David sent to Sadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring back the king to his house? And the word of all Israel came to the king to his house. 12 Ye are my brothers, ye are my bones and my flesh, why are ye the last to bring back the king to his house? 13 And ye shall say to * Amessai, Art thou not of my bone and of my flesh? And now God do so to me and more also, if thou shall not be * commander of the army before me for all of my days instead of Joab. 14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah as that of one man; and they sent to the king, saying, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15 And the king returned, and came as far as Jordan, and the men of Judah came to Galgala on their way to meet the king, to bring the king over Jordan. 16 And * Semei the son of Gera, the son of the Benjamite, from Baourim, hastened and went down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17 And a thousand men of Benjamin were with him, and Siba, the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons with him, and his twenty servants with him, and they went directly down to the Jordan before the king, 18 and they performed the service of bringing the king over; and there went over a ferry boat to remove the household of the king, and to do that which was right in His eyes. And * Semei the son of Gera fell on his face before the king, as he crossed over the Jordan; 19 and said to the king, Let not my lord consider my lawlessness, and remember not how much thy servant did wrong in the day in which my lord * went out from Jerusalem, so that the king should put it in his heart. 20 For thy servant knows that I have sinned, and, behold, I have come today * first of all of Israel and the house of Joseph, to go down and meet my lord the king. 21 And * Abessa the son of Sarouia answered and said, Shall not * Semei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed? 22 And David said, What concern is this to me and to thee, ye sons of Sarouia, that ye become so treacherous to me this day? Today no man in Israel shall be put to death, for I do not know if I am king over Israel this day. 23 And the king said to * Semei, Thou shall not die. And the king swore to him. 24 And Memphibosthe * the son of Saul’s son, went down to meet the king, and had not attend to his feet, * nor pared his nails, nor prepared his mustache, neither had he washed his garments, from the day that the king departed, until the day when he arrived in peace. 25 And it came to pass, when he went into Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why did thou not go with me, Memphibosthe? 26 And Memphibosthe said to him, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for thy servant said to him, Saddle me the donkey, and I will mount upon it, and go with the king; for thy servant is lame. 27 And he has dealt deceitfully with thy servant against my lord the king; but my lord the king is like an angel of God, and does what is good in thy eyes. 28 For all the house of my father were but as dead men before my lord the king; yet thou have set thy servant among those who eat at thy table. And what right have I any longer even to still cry to the king? 29 And the king said to him, Why do you continue to speak of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Siba shall together divide the field. 30 And Memphibosthe said to the king, Yea, let him surely take all, since my lord the king has come in peace to his house. 31 And Berzelli the Galaadite came down from Rogellim, and crossed over the Jordan with the king, so as to send him forth from the Jordan. 32 And Berzelli was a very old man, a son of eighty years; and he supported the king while he lived in Manaim, for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said to Berzelli, Thou shall cross over with me, and I will support your old age with me in Jerusalem. 34 And Berzelli said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am this day a son of eighty years; can I then distinguish between good and evil? Can thy servant taste any longer what I eat or drink? Can I any longer hear the voice of singing men and singing women? And wherefore shall thy servant any longer be a burden to my lord the king? 36 Thy servant will cross over the Jordan and go a little way with the king. And why does the king compensate me so with this reward? 37 Do let thy servant remain, and I shall die in my city, near the tomb of my father and of my mother. And, behold, thy servant * Chamaam will cross over with my lord the king, and do thou to him as it seems good in thine eyes. 38 And the king said, Let * Chamaam cross over with me, and I will do to him what is good * in my eyes; and * whatever thou shall choose in my power, I will do for thee. 39 And all the people passed over the Jordan, and the king passed over; and the king kissed Berzelli, and blessed him; and he returned to his place. 40 And the king crossed over to Galgala, and * Chamaam crossed over with him, and all the people of Judah crossed over with the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen thee away, and brought the king and all his house to pass over the Jordan, and all the men of David with him? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, and said, Because the king is near of kin to us. And why were you thus angry concerning this matter? We have truly not eaten any of the king’s food? Or has he given us a gift, or has he lifted a burden for us? 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten hands in the king, and we are the firstborn rather than you, and truly in David we are over you. And why have ye thus insulted us, and why was our word not taken first * to bring back our king? And the speech of the men of Judah grew harder than the speech of the men of Israel.

* Codex Vaticanus omits: “at the gate”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “everyone to his tent”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omits: “and from his kingdom, and from Abessalom”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Amissai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “commander-in-chief”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “the king”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “first of the entire house of Joseph”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abisai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”.

* Alfred Rahlf’s Septuaginta and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text read: “the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omits: “nor pared his nails”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Chanaan”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Chimaan”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Chanaan”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Chimaan”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “before thee”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “whatever thou shall ask of me, I will do for thee”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Chanaan”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Chimaan”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “before that of Judah”.