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6:1

וַיֹּאמְרוּ בְנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִים אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע הִנֵּה־נָא הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אֲנַחְנוּ יֹשְׁבִים שָׁם לְפָנֶיךָ צַר מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too small for us.

And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too small for us.

Rashi

ויאמרו בני הנביאים. נסים שנעשו לו מסדר והולך רבותינו אמרו (סוטה מז א): מכאן שהיה גיחזי דוחה התלמידים מלפניו, וכשנטרד באו תלמידים רבים, ונדחק המקום מהם:

The disciples of the prophets said. The miracles that were performed through him, he continues to list. Our Rabbis said, that from here [we deduce] that Geichazi would reject the students [who came] before him,1I.e., many of the students who came previously, found Geichazi’s behavior and bad character repulsive and did not stay while he was around. and when he was banished, many students came, and the place became cramped on account of them.2See Maseches Sotah 47a.

6:2

נֵלְכָה־נָּא עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן וְנִקְחָה מִשָּׁם אִישׁ קוֹרָה אֶחָת וְנַעֲשֶׂה־לָּנוּ שָׁם מָקוֹם לָשֶׁבֶת שָׁם וַיֹּאמֶר לֵֽכוּ׃

Let us go, we pray thee, to the Yarden, and take from there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go.

Let us go, we pray thee, to the Yarden, and take from there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go.

6:3

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאֶחָד הוֹאֶל נָא וְלֵךְ אֶת־עֲבָדֶיךָ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי אֵלֵֽךְ׃

And one said, Be pleased to go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

And one said, Be pleased to go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

Rashi

הואל. התרצה:

Agree. Be willing.

6:4

וַיֵּלֶךְ אִתָּם וַיָּבֹאוּ הַיַּרְדֵּנָה וַֽיִּגְזְרוּ הָעֵצִֽים׃

So he went with them, And when they came to the Yarden, they cut down wood.

So he went with them, And when they came to the Yarden, they cut down wood.

6:5

וַיְהִי הָֽאֶחָד מַפִּיל הַקּוֹרָה וְאֶת־הַבַּרְזֶל נָפַל אֶל־הַמָּיִם וַיִּצְעַק וַיֹּאמֶר אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנִי וְהוּא שָׁאֽוּל׃

But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

Rashi

ואת הברזל. הנסורת:

The iron [ax blade]. The ax head.

והוא שאול. שאלתיו, ואין לי ממה לשלם:

It is borrowed. I borrowed it, and I have no funds to pay [for it].

6:6

וַיֹּאמֶר אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים אָנָה נָפָל וַיַּרְאֵהוּ אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם וַיִּקְצׇב־עֵץ וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־שָׁמָּה וַיָּצֶף הַבַּרְזֶֽל׃

And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and made the iron float.

And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and made the iron float.

Rashi

ויצף. צף על המים:

Floated up. Floated upon the water.3Elisha cut a new handle to fit the head of the ax and threw it into the water. The new handle found the hole in the blade, went into it, and floated back up with the blade attached.—Radak

6:7

וַיֹּאמֶר הָרֶם לָךְ וַיִּשְׁלַח יָדוֹ וַיִּקָּחֵֽהוּ׃ {פ}

Then he said, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

Then he said, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

6:8

וּמֶלֶךְ אֲרָם הָיָה נִלְחָם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּוָּעַץ אֶל־עֲבָדָיו לֵאמֹר אֶל־מְקוֹם פְּלֹנִי אַלְמֹנִי תַּחֲנֹתִֽי׃

Then the king of Aram warred against Yisra᾽el, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

Then the king of Aram warred against Yisra᾽el, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

Rashi

פלוני אלמוני. כסי וטמיר, פלוני, לשון (דברים יז יח):

Concealed, secret. [Targum Yonoson rendered,] “covered and hidden.” “פלוני” is an expression of, “If it be concealed [=יפלא],”4Devarim 17:8. it will be covered.5See Megillas Rus 4:1 and Rashi there.

כי יפלא יתכסי, אלמוני. מבלי שם, שלא היה רוצה להתגלות:

Secret. Without a name, for he did not want it to be revealed.

תחנותי. שם אתנה, ואארוב את מלך ישראל או את גדודיו העוברים לשלול בארצי דרך אותו המקום:

I will make my camp. There I will encamp and ambush the king of Yisroel or his bands who pass to plunder in my land through that place.

6:9

וַיִּשְׁלַח אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר הִשָּׁמֶר מֵעֲבֹר הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה כִּי־שָׁם אֲרָם נְחִתִּֽים׃

And the man of God sent to the king of Yisra᾽el, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for there Aram are hidden.

And the man of God sent to the king of Yisra᾽el, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for there Aram are hidden.

Rashi

מעבור המקום הזה. מלכת שם:

Not to pass by this place. From going there.

נחתים. חונים:

Are encamped. Are encamped.

6:10

וַיִּשְׁלַח מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶֽל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר־לוֹ אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים וְהִזְהִירֹה וְנִשְׁמַר שָׁם לֹא אַחַת וְלֹא שְׁתָּֽיִם׃

And the king of Yisra᾽el sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

And the king of Yisra᾽el sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

Rashi

וישלח מלך ישראל. היה שולח ורואה אם אמת הוא:

The king of Yisroel dispatched [scouts]. He would send and see whether it was true.

והזהירו. שהזהיר איש האלהים מעבור שם:

And warned him. The man of God had warned him passing there.

לא אחת ולא שתים. עשה לו כך, כי אם פעמים רבות:

Not once and not twice. Did he do so for him, but many times.

6:11

וַיִּסָּעֵר לֵב מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָם עַל־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיִּקְרָא אֶל־עֲבָדָיו וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם הֲלוֹא תַּגִּידוּ לִי מִי מִשֶּׁלָּנוּ אֶל־מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Therefore the heart of the king of Aram was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Yisra᾽el?

Therefore the heart of the king of Aram was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Yisra᾽el?

Rashi

על הדבר הזה. מי הוא מגלה סודו:

Over this situation. Who was revealing his secret.

6:12

וַיֹּאמֶר אַחַד מֵעֲבָדָיו לוֹא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּֽי־אֱלִישָׁע הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יַגִּיד לְמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר תְּדַבֵּר בַּחֲדַר מִשְׁכָּבֶֽךָ׃

And one of his servants said, No, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Yisra᾽el, tells the king of Yisra᾽el the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

And one of his servants said, No, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Yisra᾽el, tells the king of Yisra᾽el the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

6:13

וַיֹּאמֶר לְכוּ וּרְאוּ אֵיכֹה הוּא וְאֶשְׁלַח וְאֶקָּחֵהוּ וַיֻּגַּד־לוֹ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה בְדֹתָֽן׃

And he said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dotan.

And he said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dotan.

Rashi

איכה. היכן הוא:

Where he is. Where he is.6See Shir Hashirim 1:7 for a similar expression.7According to Malbim, this was not a hostile act. The king sent his men to invite Elisha to his court in the hope of winning him over.

6:14

וַיִּשְׁלַח־שָׁמָּה סוּסִים וְרֶכֶב וְחַיִל כָּבֵד וַיָּבֹאוּ לַיְלָה וַיַּקִּפוּ עַל־הָעִֽיר׃

Therefore he sent there horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and surrounded the city.

Therefore he sent there horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and surrounded the city.

6:15

וַיַּשְׁכֵּם מְשָׁרֵת אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים לָקוּם וַיֵּצֵא וְהִנֵּה־חַיִל סוֹבֵב אֶת־הָעִיר וְסוּס וָרָכֶב וַיֹּאמֶר נַעֲרוֹ אֵלָיו אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנִי אֵיכָה נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

And the servant of the man of God rose early, and went out, and behold, an army surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! what shall we do?

And the servant of the man of God rose early, and went out, and behold, an army surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! what shall we do?

6:16

וַיֹּאמֶר אַל־תִּירָא כִּי רַבִּים אֲשֶׁר אִתָּנוּ מֵאֲשֶׁר אוֹתָֽם׃

And he answered, Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.

And he answered, Fear not: for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.

Rashi

אשר אתנו. בעזרתנו:

Those who are with us. To help us.

6:17

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֱלִישָׁע וַיֹּאמַר יְהֹוָה פְּקַח־נָא אֶת־עֵינָיו וְיִרְאֶה וַיִּפְקַח יְהֹוָה אֶת־עֵינֵי הַנַּעַר וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הָהָר מָלֵא סוּסִים וְרֶכֶב אֵשׁ סְבִיבֹת אֱלִישָֽׁע׃

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

6:18

וַיֵּרְדוּ אֵלָיו וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֱלִישָׁע אֶל־יְהֹוָה וַיֹּאמַר הַךְ־נָא אֶת־הַגּוֹי־הַזֶּה בַּסַּנְוֵרִים וַיַּכֵּם בַּסַּנְוֵרִים כִּדְבַר אֱלִישָֽׁע׃

And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray Thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray Thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

Rashi

ויאמר הך נא וגו'. על הקללה לא הזכיר את השם, אבל על הפקיחה הזכיר את השם על שתיהן, על של נער ועל של גדוד:

And said, “Please strike, etc.” On the curse he did not mention the Name [of God],8Because it is not proper that G’s Name be associated with evil and curses. See Bereishis Rabbah 3:6. but for opening [the eyes] he mentioned the Name [of God] on both of them, concerning opening the attendant’s [eyes], and concerning opening the troop’s eyes.

סנורים. חולי של שממון, רואה ואינו יודע מה הוא רואה:

With blindness. A sickness of confusion; one sees, yet does not know what he sees.9See Bereishis 19:11.

6:19

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אֱלִישָׁע לֹא זֶה הַדֶּרֶךְ וְלֹא זֹה הָעִיר לְכוּ אַחֲרַי וְאוֹלִיכָה אֶתְכֶם אֶל־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר תְּבַקֵּשׁוּן וַיֹּלֶךְ אוֹתָם שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃

And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Shomeron.

And Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Shomeron.

Rashi

ולא זה העיר. שהנביא בתוכה, ואמת אמר להם, שכבר יצא ממנה:

Nor is this the city. Wherein the prophet is found. He told them the truth because he had already left it.

6:20

וַיְהִי כְּבֹאָם שֹׁמְרוֹן וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלִישָׁע יְהֹוָה פְּקַח אֶת־עֵֽינֵי־אֵלֶּה וְיִרְאוּ וַיִּפְקַח יְהֹוָה אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה בְּתוֹךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃

And it came to pass, when they were come to Shomeron, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Shomeron.

And it came to pass, when they were come to Shomeron, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Shomeron.

6:21

וַיֹּאמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע כִּרְאֹתוֹ אוֹתָם הַאַכֶּה אַכֶּה אָבִֽי׃

And the king of Yisra᾽el said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

And the king of Yisra᾽el said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?

6:22

וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא תַכֶּה הַאֲשֶׁר שָׁבִיתָ בְּחַרְבְּךָ וּֽבְקַשְׁתְּךָ אַתָּה מַכֶּה שִׂים לֶחֶם וָמַיִם לִפְנֵיהֶם וְיֹֽאכְלוּ וְיִשְׁתּוּ וְיֵלְכוּ אֶל־אֲדֹנֵיהֶֽם׃

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldst thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldst thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.

Rashi

האשר שבית וגו'. וכי דרכך להרוג, אותם שאתה מביא שבייה (ומשבית אותם):

[Would you slay] those you captured, etc. Is it your custom to slay those whom you bring into captivity (and destroy them)?

6:23

וַיִּכְרֶה לָהֶם כֵּרָה גְדוֹלָה וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵם וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶל־אֲדֹֽנֵיהֶם וְלֹא־יָסְפוּ עוֹד גְּדוּדֵי אֲרָם לָבוֹא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {פ}

And he prepared a great feast for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Aram came no more into the land of Yisra᾽el.

And he prepared a great feast for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Aram came no more into the land of Yisra᾽el.

Rashi

ויכרה. לשון תיקון סעודה:

He prepared. An expression of preparing a meal.

6:24

וַֽיְהִי אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן וַיִּקְבֹּץ בֶּן־הֲדַד מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָם אֶת־כׇּל־מַחֲנֵהוּ וַיַּעַל וַיָּצַר עַל־שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃

And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Shomeron.

And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Shomeron.

6:25

וַיְהִי רָעָב גָּדוֹל בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן וְהִנֵּה צָרִים עָלֶיהָ עַד הֱיוֹת רֹאשׁ־חֲמוֹר בִּשְׁמֹנִים כֶּסֶף וְרֹבַע הַקַּב (חרי) [דִּב־]יוֹנִים בַּחֲמִשָּׁה־כָֽסֶף׃

And there was a great famine in Shomeron: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a qav of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.

And there was a great famine in Shomeron: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a qav of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.

Rashi

דביונים. זבל הזב מן היונים:

Pigeon dung. Dung that flows from the doves.10When they no longer had wood to cook with, they used dung for fuel.

6:26

וַֽיְהִי מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹבֵר עַל־הַחֹמָה וְאִשָּׁה צָעֲקָה אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר הוֹשִׁיעָה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

And as the king of Yisra᾽el was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

And as the king of Yisra᾽el was passing by upon the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

Rashi

הושיעה אדני המלך. כסבור ששואלת מזונות:

“Save me, my master, the king!” He thought that she was asking for food.

6:27

וַיֹּאמֶר אַל־יוֹשִׁעֵךְ יְהֹוָה מֵאַיִן אוֹשִׁיעֵךְ הֲמִן־הַגֹּרֶן אוֹ מִן־הַיָּֽקֶב׃

And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

6:28

וַיֹּאמֶר־לָהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ מַה־לָּךְ וַתֹּאמֶר הָאִשָּׁה הַזֹּאת אָמְרָה אֵלַי תְּנִי אֶת־בְּנֵךְ וְנֹאכְלֶנּוּ הַיּוֹם וְאֶת־בְּנִי נֹאכַל מָחָֽר׃

And the king said to her, What ails thee? And she answered, This woman said to me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

And the king said to her, What ails thee? And she answered, This woman said to me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

6:29

וַנְּבַשֵּׁל אֶת־בְּנִי וַנֹּאכְלֵהוּ וָאֹמַר אֵלֶיהָ בַּיּוֹם הָאַחֵר תְּנִי אֶת־בְּנֵךְ וְנֹאכְלֶנּוּ וַתַּחְבִּא אֶת־בְּנָֽהּ׃

So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said to her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she has hid her son.

So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said to her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she has hid her son.

Rashi

ותחבא את בנה. מת, ורוצה לאוכלו לבדה (ילקוט שמעוני רמז רלא):

But she has hidden her son. [Who was] dead, and she wants to eat him by herself.11Alternatively, the other woman’s child was alive and she was hiding him to save his life.—Radak

6:30

וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הָֽאִשָּׁה וַיִּקְרַע אֶת־בְּגָדָיו וְהוּא עֹבֵר עַל־הַחֹמָה וַיַּרְא הָעָם וְהִנֵּה הַשַּׂק עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ מִבָּֽיִת׃

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

Rashi

וירא העם. דרך הקרע, את השק תחת בגדיו:

The people saw. Through the tear [they saw] the sackcloth under his garments.

6:31

וַיֹּאמֶר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשֶׂה־לִּי אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִף אִֽם־יַעֲמֹד רֹאשׁ אֱלִישָׁע בֶּן־שָׁפָט עָלָיו הַיּֽוֹם׃

Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shafat, shall stand on him this day.

Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shafat, shall stand on him this day.

Rashi

אם יעמוד ראש אלישע. שהיכולת בידו לבקש רחמים:

If the head of Elisha son of Shophot stands. For he is able to beg for mercy.12He could have ended the hunger through prayer as Eliyahu had done. See I Melochim 18:41-45. But he failed to do so.

6:32

וֶאֱלִישָׁע יֹשֵׁב בְּבֵיתוֹ וְהַזְּקֵנִים יֹשְׁבִים אִתּוֹ וַיִּשְׁלַח אִישׁ מִלְּפָנָיו בְּטֶרֶם יָבֹא הַמַּלְאָךְ אֵלָיו וְהוּא ׀ אָמַר אֶל־הַזְּקֵנִים הַרְּאִיתֶם כִּֽי־שָׁלַח בֶּן־הַֽמְרַצֵּחַ הַזֶּה לְהָסִיר אֶת־רֹאשִׁי רְאוּ ׀ כְּבֹא הַמַּלְאָךְ סִגְרוּ הַדֶּלֶת וּלְחַצְתֶּם אֹתוֹ בַּדֶּלֶת הֲלוֹא קוֹל רַגְלֵי אֲדֹנָיו אַחֲרָֽיו׃

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?

Rashi

וישלח איש מלפניו. המלך שלח להרגו, ובטרם יבא אותו המלאך אל אלישע, והוא נגלה לו ברוח הקודש, ואמר אל הזקנים: והנה המלאך יורד אליו והמלך אחריו:

And he sent a man from his presence. The king sent [a man] to kill him, and before the messenger had come to Elisha, it was revealed to him through the Divine Spirit, and he said to the elders, etc., [after which Scripture states,] “and behold the messenger was coming down to him,” and the king was after him.

6:33

עוֹדֶנּוּ מְדַבֵּר עִמָּם וְהִנֵּה הַמַּלְאָךְ יֹרֵד אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה־זֹאת הָרָעָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה מָה־אוֹחִיל לַיהֹוָה עֽוֹד׃ {פ}

And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down to him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?

And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down to him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the Lord; why should I wait for the Lord any longer?

Rashi

ויאמר. המלך:

He said. The king.

הנה זאת הרעה מאת ה'. זאת אחת מן הקללות שקלל על ידי משה (דברים כח נג): ואכלת פרי בטנך במצור ובמצוק וגו':

“Behold, this tragedy is from Adonoy.” This is one of the curses that He cursed through Moshe, “And you will eat the flesh of your womb, etc., in the siege and in the distress, etc.”13Devarim 28:53.

מה אוחיל לה' עוד. להושיע, הלא לא יועיל

What more can I hope for from Adonoy? To save, it will surely not avail.14Alternatively, מָה אוֹחִיל means “what more can I pray [=אוֹחִיל] before God?”—Targum

Texts

  • Hebrew: Miqra according to the Masorah · License: CC-BY-SA
  • English: The Koren Jerusalem Bible · License: CC-BY-NC
  • Hebrew: On Your Way -- new · License: PD
  • English: The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J · License: CC-BY

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