2 Samuel 17

1 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

1 亞希多弗又對押沙龍說：「求你准我挑選一萬二千人，今夜我就起身追趕大衛，

2 I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

2 趁他疲乏手軟，我忽然追上他，使他驚惶；跟隨他的民必都逃跑，我就單殺王一人，

3 and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”

3 使眾民都歸順你。你所尋找的人既然死了，眾民就如已經歸順你；這樣，也都平安無事了。」

4 This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

4 押沙龍和以色列的長老都以這話為美。

5 Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.”

5 押沙龍說：「要召亞基人戶篩來，我們也要聽他怎樣說。」

6 So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”

6 戶篩到了押沙龍面前，押沙龍向他說：「亞希多弗是如此如此說的，我們照着他的話行可以不可以？若不可，你就說吧！」

7 Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.”

7 戶篩對押沙龍說：「亞希多弗這次所定的謀不善。」

8 He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.

8 戶篩又說：「你知道，你父親和跟隨他的人都是勇士，現在他們心裏惱怒，如同田野丟崽子的母熊一般，而且你父親是個戰士，必不和民一同住宿。

9 Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’

9 他現今或藏在坑中或在別處，若有人首先被殺，凡聽見的必說：『跟隨押沙龍的民被殺了。』

10 Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.

10 雖有人膽大如獅子，他的心也必消化；因為以色列人都知道你父親是英雄，跟隨他的人也都是勇士。

11 Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle.

11 依我之計，不如將以色列眾人－從但直到別是巴，如同海邊的沙那樣多－聚集到你這裏來，你也親自率領他們出戰。

12 Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain.

12 這樣，我們在何處遇見他，就下到他那裏，如同露水下在地上一般，連他帶跟隨他的人，一個也不留下。

13 If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.”

13 他若進了哪一座城，以色列眾人必帶繩子去，將那城拉到河裏，甚至連一塊小石頭都不剩下。」

14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

14 押沙龍和以色列眾人說：「亞基人戶篩的計謀比亞希多弗的計謀更好！」這是因耶和華定意破壞亞希多弗的良謀，為要降禍與押沙龍。

15 So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised.

15 戶篩對祭司撒督和亞比亞他說：「亞希多弗為押沙龍和以色列的長老所定的計謀是如此如此，我所定的計謀是如此如此。

16 Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”

16 現在你們要急速打發人去，告訴大衛說：『今夜不可住在曠野的渡口，務要過河，免得王和跟隨他的人都被吞滅。』」

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.

17 那時，約拿單和亞希瑪斯在隱‧羅結那裏等候，不敢進城，恐怕被人看見。有一個使女出來，將這話告訴他們，他們就去報信給大衛王。

18 But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

18 然而有一個童子看見他們，就去告訴押沙龍。他們急忙跑到巴戶琳某人的家裏；那人院中有一口井，他們就下到井裏。

19 Then the man’s wife took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

19 那家的婦人用蓋蓋上井口，又在上頭鋪上碎麥，事就沒有洩漏。

20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

20 押沙龍的僕人來到那家，問婦人說：「亞希瑪斯和約拿單在哪裏？」婦人說：「他們過了河了。」 僕人找他們，找不着，就回耶路撒冷去了。

21 After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”

21 他們走後，二人從井裏上來，去告訴大衛王說：「亞希多弗如此如此定計害你，你們務要起來，快快過河。」

22 So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan.

22 於是大衛和跟隨他的人都起來，過約旦河。到了天亮，無一人不過約旦河的。

23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

23 亞希多弗見不依從他的計謀，就備上驢，歸回本城；到了家，留下遺言，便吊死了，葬在他父親的墳墓裏。

24 Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.

24 大衛到了瑪哈念，押沙龍和跟隨他的以色列人也都過了約旦河。

25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.

25 押沙龍立亞瑪撒作元帥，代替約押。亞瑪撒是以實瑪利人 以特拉的兒子。以特拉曾與拿轄的女兒亞比該親近；這亞比該與約押的母親洗魯雅是姊妹。

26 So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

26 押沙龍和以色列人都安營在基列地。

27 When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim.

27 大衛到了瑪哈念，亞捫族的拉巴人拿轄的兒子朔比，羅‧底巴人亞‧米利的兒子瑪吉，基列的羅基琳人巴西萊，

28 They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,

28 帶着被、褥、盆、碗、瓦器、小麥、大麥、麥麵、炒穀、豆子、紅豆、炒豆、

29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

29 蜂蜜、奶油、綿羊、奶餅，供給大衛和跟隨他的人吃；他們說：「民在曠野，必飢渴困乏了。」