Tanach
Melachim II 6:8-23 מלכים ב ו׳:ח׳-כ״ג
Part of: Chapter 6
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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)?
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.
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.