Tanach
Melachim II 2:19-22 מלכים ב ב׳:י״ט-כ״ב
Part of: Chapter 2
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע הִנֵּה־נָא מוֹשַׁב הָעִיר טוֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲדֹנִי רֹאֶה וְהַמַּיִם רָעִים וְהָאָרֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃
And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord may see: but the water is bad, and the ground causes untimely births.
And the men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord may see: but the water is bad, and the ground causes untimely births.
Rashi
וַיֹּאמֶר קְחוּ־לִי צְלֹחִית חֲדָשָׁה וְשִׂימוּ שָׁם מֶלַח וַיִּקְחוּ אֵלָֽיו׃
And he said, Bring me a new flask, and put salt in it. And they brought it to him.
And he said, Bring me a new flask, and put salt in it. And they brought it to him.
וַיֵּצֵא אֶל־מוֹצָא הַמַּיִם וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־שָׁם מֶלַח וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּה־אָמַר יְהֹוָה רִפִּאתִי לַמַּיִם הָאֵלֶּה לֹא־יִהְיֶה מִשָּׁם עוֹד מָוֶת וּמְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃
And he went out to the spring of the waters, and cast salt in there, and said, Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; there shall not be from there any more death or miscarriage.
And he went out to the spring of the waters, and cast salt in there, and said, Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; there shall not be from there any more death or miscarriage.
Rashi
אל מוצא המים. שהיו נובעים משם:
To the source of the water. From where the water flowed.
וישלך שם מלח. והלא מלח דבר המקלקל את המים הוא, אלא נס בתוך נס:
And threw salt there. Now is not salt a thing that spoils water? This was a miracle within a miracle.20This miracle was similar to the one performed by Moshe in Marah. After traveling through the wilderness for three days without water, the Bnei Yisroel finally came to a spring only to find the water undrinkably bitter. Moshe threw a tree whose wood was bitter into the water and the water became sweet and drinkable. See Shemos 15:22-26.—Radak
וַיֵּרָפוּ הַמַּיִם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּדְבַר אֱלִישָׁע אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּֽר׃ {פ}
So the water was healed to this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spoke.
So the water was healed to this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spoke.
והמים רעים. ומחמת המים, הארץ משכלת את יושביה לקברם, אם כן מהו ומושב העיר טוב, מכאן אמרו חן מקום על יושביו (סוטה מז א):
But the water is bad. And because of the water, the land causes people to die, and send them to their graves. If so, what is the meaning of, “the city is a good place to live”?18Above, at the beginning of this verse. From here [we learn] that a place’s charm is perceived by its inhabitants.19Maseches Sotah 47a. Rabbi Yochonon said that there are three types of charm. 1. The charm a place that is perceived by its inhabitants. 2. The charm a woman holds for her husband. 3. The charm of a newly purchased item for its buyer.