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7:3

וְאַרְבָּעָה אֲנָשִׁים הָיוּ מְצֹרָעִים פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ מָה אֲנַחְנוּ יֹשְׁבִים פֹּה עַד־מָֽתְנוּ׃

And there were four men afflicted with żara῾at at the entrance of the gate: and they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die?

And there were four men afflicted with żara῾at at the entrance of the gate: and they said to one another, Why do we sit here until we die?

Rashi

וארבעה אנשים. גיחזי ובניו (סוטה מז א):

There were four men. Geichazi and his sons.1See Maseches Sanhedrin 107b. 2These four were the only people suffering from tzora’as. Elisha had healed all other Bnei Yisroel suffering from tzora’as.—Malbim

פתח השער. כמו שנאמר (ויקרא יג מו): בדד ישב מחוץ למחנה מושבו:

At the entrance of the gate. As it is stated, “He shall live alone; outside the camp shall be his habitation.”3Vayikra 13:46. This is proscribed by the Torah for people who suffer from tzora’as.

7:4

אִם־אָמַרְנוּ נָבוֹא הָעִיר וְהָרָעָב בָּעִיר וָמַתְנוּ שָׁם וְאִם־יָשַׁבְנוּ פֹה וָמָתְנוּ וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנִפְּלָה אֶל־מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם אִם־יְחַיֻּנוּ נִֽחְיֶה וְאִם־יְמִיתֻנוּ וָמָֽתְנוּ׃

If we say, We will enter the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we will die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of Aram: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

If we say, We will enter the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we will die also. Now therefore come, and let us go over to the camp of Aram: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

7:5

וַיָּקֻמוּ בַנֶּשֶׁף לָבוֹא אֶל־מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד־קְצֵה מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם וְהִנֵּה אֵֽין־שָׁם אִֽישׁ׃

And they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of Aram: and when they were come to the outer edge of the camp of Aram, behold, there was no man there.

And they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of Aram: and when they were come to the outer edge of the camp of Aram, behold, there was no man there.

7:6

וַאדֹנָי הִשְׁמִיעַ ׀ אֶת־מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם קוֹל רֶכֶב קוֹל סוּס קוֹל חַיִל גָּדוֹל וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו הִנֵּה שָֽׂכַר־עָלֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־מַלְכֵי הַחִתִּים וְאֶת־מַלְכֵי מִצְרַיִם לָבוֹא עָלֵֽינוּ׃

For the Lord had made the camp of Aram to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, the noise of a great host: and they said to one another, Lo, the king of Yisra᾽el has hired against us the kings of the Ḥittites, and the kings of Miżrayim, to come upon us.

For the Lord had made the camp of Aram to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, the noise of a great host: and they said to one another, Lo, the king of Yisra᾽el has hired against us the kings of the Ḥittites, and the kings of Miżrayim, to come upon us.

Rashi

השמיע את מחנה ארם. נדמה להם כאלו שומעין:

Had caused the camp of Arom to hear. It seemed to them as though they were hearing.

7:7

וַיָּקוּמוּ וַיָּנוּסוּ בַנֶּשֶׁף וַיַּעַזְבוּ אֶת־אׇהֳלֵיהֶם וְאֶת־סֽוּסֵיהֶם וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵיהֶם הַֽמַּחֲנֶה כַּאֲשֶׁר־הִיא וַיָּנֻסוּ אֶל־נַפְשָֽׁם׃

So they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

So they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

7:8

וַיָּבֹאוּ הַֽמְצֹרָעִים הָאֵלֶּה עַד־קְצֵה הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־אֹהֶל אֶחָד וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיִּשְׂאוּ מִשָּׁם כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב וּבְגָדִים וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּטְמִנוּ וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־אֹהֶל אַחֵר וַיִּשְׂאוּ מִשָּׁם וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּטְמִֽנוּ׃

And when these diseased men came to the outer edge of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried from there silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came back, and entered into another tent, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.

And when these diseased men came to the outer edge of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried from there silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came back, and entered into another tent, and carried from there also, and went and hid it.

7:9

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ לֹא־כֵן ׀ אֲנַחְנוּ עֹשִׂים הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יוֹם־בְּשֹׂרָה הוּא וַאֲנַחְנוּ מַחְשִׁים וְחִכִּינוּ עַד־אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר וּמְצָאָנוּ עָווֹן וְעַתָּה לְכוּ וְנָבֹאָה וְנַגִּידָה בֵּית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Then they said to one another, We do not behave correctly: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.

Then they said to one another, We do not behave correctly: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.

Rashi

ומצאנו עון. מתחייבין אנו למלכות:

We will be considered guilty. We will be held guilty by the throne.

7:10

וַיָּבֹאוּ וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־שֹׁעֵר הָעִיר וַיַּגִּידוּ לָהֶם לֵאמֹר בָּאנוּ אֶל־מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם וְהִנֵּה אֵֽין־שָׁם אִישׁ וְקוֹל אָדָם כִּי אִם־הַסּוּס אָסוּר וְהַחֲמוֹר אָסוּר וְאֹהָלִים כַּאֲשֶׁר־הֵֽמָּה׃

So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of Aram, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of Aram, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.

Rashi

כאשר המה. כמו שהיו מלאים מתחלתם, לא הוציאו מה שבתוכם:

As they were. As they were full at the beginning; they did not take out what was in them.

7:11

וַיִּקְרָא הַשֹּׁעֲרִים וַיַּגִּידוּ בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ פְּנִֽימָה׃

And he called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king’s house within.

And he called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king’s house within.

7:12

וַיָּקׇם הַמֶּלֶךְ לַיְלָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו אַגִּֽידָה־נָּא לָכֶם אֵת אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּ לָנוּ אֲרָם יָדְעוּ כִּֽי־רְעֵבִים אֲנַחְנוּ וַיֵּֽצְאוּ מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה לְהֵחָבֵה (בהשדה) [בַשָּׂדֶה] לֵאמֹר כִּֽי־יֵצְאוּ מִן־הָעִיר וְנִתְפְּשֵׂם חַיִּים וְאֶל־הָעִיר נָבֹֽא׃

And the king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now tell you what Aram has done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

And the king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now tell you what Aram has done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.

Rashi

כי רעבים אנחנו. ותאבים לצאת אל השלל ואל המזון:

We are starving. And long to go out to the loot and to the food.4Their enemy figured that the Bnei Yisroel are desperately starving and will therefore leave the city without first investigating whether the enemy is waiting in ambush.—Metzudas Dovid

7:13

וַיַּעַן אֶחָד מֵעֲבָדָיו וַיֹּאמֶר וְיִקְחוּ־נָא חֲמִשָּׁה מִן־הַסּוּסִים הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִים אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָהּ הִנָּם כְּכׇל־[הֲמוֹן] (ההמון) יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָהּ הִנָּם כְּכׇל־הֲמוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר־תָּמּוּ וְנִשְׁלְחָה וְנִרְאֶֽה׃

And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Yisra᾽el that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of Yisra᾽el that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Yisra᾽el that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of Yisra᾽el that are consumed:) and let us send and see.

Rashi

אשר נשארו בה. בתוך העיר, שלא מתו ברעב:

That are left in it [the city]. Within the city, that did not die of hunger.

הנם ככל המון ישראל אשר נשארו בה. אם יאמרו מסוכנין הם שלא יהרגם אדם, הרי הנם בעיר הזאת בסכנת הרעב כשאר כל המון ישראל אשר נשארו בה, ואם ימותו הנם ככל המון ישראל, אשר תמו ברעב:

Behold, they are like all the multitude of Yisroel that are left in [the city]. If they will say that they are in danger of being killed by the Aromeans, behold, [if they remain] in this city they are in danger like the rest of all the multitude of Yisroel that are left there, and if they die, they are like all the multitude of Yisroel that have perished from hunger.

7:14

וַיִּקְחוּ שְׁנֵי רֶכֶב סוּסִים וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ אַחֲרֵי מַֽחֲנֵה־אֲרָם לֵאמֹר לְכוּ וּרְאֽוּ׃

They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the camp of Aram, saying, Go and see.

They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the camp of Aram, saying, Go and see.

7:15

וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן וְהִנֵּה כׇל־הַדֶּרֶךְ מְלֵאָה בְגָדִים וְכֵלִים אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִיכוּ אֲרָם (בהחפזם) [בְּחׇפְזָם] וַיָּשֻׁבוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים וַיַּגִּדוּ לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

And they went after them to the Yarden: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which Aram had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

And they went after them to the Yarden: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which Aram had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.

Rashi

בחפזם. במהרם לנוס:

In their haste. In their hurry to escape.

7:16

וַיֵּצֵא הָעָם וַיָּבֹזּוּ אֵת מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם וַיְהִי סְאָה־סֹלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל וְסָאתַיִם שְׂעֹרִים בְּשֶׁקֶל כִּדְבַר יְהֹוָֽה׃

And the people went out, and plundered the camp of Aram. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.

And the people went out, and plundered the camp of Aram. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.

7:17

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ הִפְקִיד אֶת־הַשָּׁלִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁעָן עַל־יָדוֹ עַל־הַשַּׁעַר וַיִּרְמְסֻהוּ הָעָם בַּשַּׁעַר וַיָּמֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּרֶדֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלָֽיו׃

And the king appointed the officer on whose hand he had leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trampled upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

And the king appointed the officer on whose hand he had leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trampled upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.

Rashi

אשר נשען על ידו. אתמול כשבא לבית אלישע:

Upon whose hand he leaned. On the day before, when he came to Elisha’s house.5See above v. 2. Initially he scoffed at Elisha’s prophecy. The king assigned him to stand guard at the gate to prevent looting of the camp. This would have kept the price of grain higher than predicted by the prophet. However, he was trampled by the people at the gate and he died, to fulfill the prophecy of Elisha.—Malbim

7:18

וַיְהִי כְּדַבֵּר אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ לֵאמֹר סָאתַיִם שְׂעֹרִים בְּשֶׁקֶל וּֽסְאָה־סֹלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל יִֽהְיֶה כָּעֵת מָחָר בְּשַׁעַר שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃

And it came to pass when the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Shomeron,

And it came to pass when the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Shomeron,

7:19

וַיַּעַן הַשָּׁלִישׁ אֶת־אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמַר וְהִנֵּה יְהֹוָה עֹשֶׂה אֲרֻבּוֹת בַּשָּׁמַיִם הֲיִֽהְיֶה כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְּךָ רֹאֶה בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּמִשָּׁם לֹא תֹאכֵֽל׃

that that officer answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thy eyes, but shalt not eat of it.

that that officer answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thy eyes, but shalt not eat of it.

7:20

וַֽיְהִי־לוֹ כֵּן וַיִּרְמְסוּ אֹתוֹ הָעָם בַּשַּׁעַר וַיָּמֹֽת׃ {ס}        

And so it happened to him: for the people trampled upon him in the gate, and he died.

And so it happened to him: for the people trampled upon him in the gate, and he died.

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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