Tanach
Nechemyah 4 נחמיה ד׳
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיְהִי כַאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע סַנְבַלַּט וְטוֹבִיָּה וְהָעַרְבִים וְהָעַמֹּנִים וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִים כִּֽי־עָלְתָה אֲרוּכָה לְחֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם כִּי־הֵחֵלּוּ הַפְּרֻצִים לְהִסָּתֵם וַיִּחַר לָהֶם מְאֹֽד׃
And it was, when Sanvalet and Toviah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been "healed," that the "breached ones" [(the Jews of the city)] had [now] been closed in, they were extremely wroth.
And it was, when Sanvalet and Toviah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem had been "healed," that the "breached ones" [(the Jews of the city)] had [now] been closed in, they were extremely wroth.
Rashi
ארוכה. ענין חובש ותרופה:
repaired A [word having the] meaning of bandaging and healing.
כי החלו הפרוצים להסתם. אשר התחילו אנשי העיר שהיו פרוצים עד עתה מאין חומה היו עתה סתומים בבנין החומה:
that the people who were exposed had commenced to be closed in that the people of the city, who had heretofore been exposed without a wall, were now closed in by the building of the wall.
וַיִּקְשְׁרוּ כֻלָּם יַחְדָּו לָבוֹא לְהִלָּחֵם בִּירוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וְלַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ תּוֹעָֽה׃
And they all banded together to come to war against Jerusalem and to render it [(the wall)] a ruin.
And they all banded together to come to war against Jerusalem and to render it [(the wall)] a ruin.
Rashi
ולעשות לו תועה. לעשות לו בבנין החומה קלקול והשחתה תועה כמו ולדבר אל ה' תועה (ישעיהו ל״ב:ו׳):
and to wreak destruction therein to wreak upon the building of the wall ruin and destruction. It is like (Isa. 32:5): “...and to speak destructively (תּוֹעָה) about the Lord.”
וַנִּתְפַּלֵּל אֶל־אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַנַּעֲמִיד מִשְׁמָר עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
And we prayed to our G-d, and we set up a guard for them [(the builders)] day and night against them [(the invaders)].
And we prayed to our G-d, and we set up a guard for them [(the builders)] day and night against them [(the invaders)].
Rashi
עליהם. על הבונים:
over them over the builders.
מפניהם. מפני האויבים:
because of them because of the enemies.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה כָּשַׁל כֹּחַ הַסַּבָּל וְהֶעָפָר הַרְבֵּה וַאֲנַחְנוּ לֹא נוּכַל לִבְנוֹת בַּחוֹמָֽה׃
And Judah said [(in fear of the foe)]: The strength of the workers has waned and the earth [(for building)] is much [i.e., there is yet much for us to build], and we shall not be able to build the wall.
And Judah said [(in fear of the foe)]: The strength of the workers has waned and the earth [(for building)] is much [i.e., there is yet much for us to build], and we shall not be able to build the wall.
Rashi
ויאמר יהודה. כך היו אומרים ומתאוננים אנשי יהודה:
And Judea said So were the people of Judea saying and complaining.
כשל כח הסבל. הסובלים ועומסים האבנים והעצים לבנין החומה נכשלו בכחם שאין בהם כח לבנות מפני האויבים:
The porter’s strength has failed Those who bear and load the stones and the wood for the building of the wall have failed in their strength, for they have no more strength to build because of the enemies.
ועפר הרבה. עדיין יש טיט וחומר הרבה ליתן בבנין החומה לומר שעדיין המלאכה גדולה עלינו לבנות ואנחנו לא נוכל לבנות בחומה מפני פחד האויבים:
and there is much earth There is still much mud and clay to place into the wall, meaning that we still have much work, but we cannot build because of fear of the enemies.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ צָרֵינוּ לֹא יֵדְעוּ וְלֹא יִרְאוּ עַד אֲשֶׁר־נָבוֹא אֶל־תּוֹכָם וַהֲרַגְנוּם וְהִשְׁבַּתְנוּ אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃
[(Nechemiah says what follows:)] And our foes said: They [(Israel)] will not know [(of our presence)] and they will not see until we come into their midst and we will halt the work.
[(Nechemiah says what follows:)] And our foes said: They [(Israel)] will not know [(of our presence)] and they will not see until we come into their midst and we will halt the work.
Rashi
ויאמרו צרינו. כך היה נחמיה מספר והולך:
And our adversaries said Nehemiah proceeds to tell this.
לא ידעו ולא יראו. כך היו אומרים צרינו עלינו לא ידעו ולא יכירו ישראל בנו עד אשר נבוא פתאום לתוכם ונהרוג אותם ובדבר זה נשבות ונבטל הבנין:
They will not know, and they will not see So were our adversaries saying about us: “They will not know, and the Israelites will not recognize us until we come suddenly into their midst and kill them, and with this plot we will stop and curtail the building.”
וַֽיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּאוּ הַיְּהוּדִים הַיֹּשְׁבִים אֶצְלָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָנוּ עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים מִכׇּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר־תָּשׁוּבוּ עָלֵֽינוּ׃
And it was, when the Jews who dwelt with them came and told us ten times: From all the places [(where you find yourselves engaged in the work of the wall, assemble when they attack until)] you return upon us [(to fight us)].
And it was, when the Jews who dwelt with them came and told us ten times: From all the places [(where you find yourselves engaged in the work of the wall, assemble when they attack until)] you return upon us [(to fight us)].
Rashi
ויהי כאשר באו היהודים. ועתה נאספו הצרים אשר נתקשרו יחד לבא להלחם בנו עם היהודים אשר היו בינותם בארצותם ואותם היהודים אשר נתחברו עמהם באו לפני החיל כדרך אנשי המלחמה לדבר אלינו ובענין הזה הערימו היהודים את האויבים ויהי כאשר באו היהודים היושבים אצלם וגו':
Now it came to pass when the Jews came And now, the adversaries who had conspired together to wage war against us gathered with the Jews who were among them in their lands, and those Jews who had joined them came before the army, as is customary for soldiers to do, to speak to us, and in this manner the Jews conspired against the enemies. Now it came to pass when the Jews who dwelt beside them came, etc.
ויאמרו לנו עשר פעמים. התרו בנו אותם היהודים עד עשר פעמים להלחם באויבינו כי הם באים למלחמה וכך אמרו לנו מכל המקומות וגו' מכל אותן המקומות שתהיו נפוצים שם בבנין החומה אנה ואנה תהיו זהירים להיות נאספים יחד עד אשר תשובו עלינו ביחד להלחם בנו:
that they said to us ten times Those Jews warned us as many as ten times to wage war against our enemies because they were coming to war. And this is what they said to us, “From all the places, etc.” From all those places where you will be scattered while building the wall, here and there, be careful to assemble until you return upon us together to wage war against us.
וָֽאַעֲמִיד מִֽתַּחְתְּיוֹת לַמָּקוֹם מֵאַחֲרֵי לַחוֹמָה (בצחחיים) [בַּצְּחִיחִים] וָֽאַעֲמִיד אֶת־הָעָם לְמִשְׁפָּחוֹת עִם־חַרְבֹתֵיהֶם רׇמְחֵיהֶם וְקַשְּׁתֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
And I positioned beneath that place [(around Jerusalem)] behind the wall [(on the outside)] (and) on the rocks — I positioned the people by [the strongest of] their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
And I positioned beneath that place [(around Jerusalem)] behind the wall [(on the outside)] (and) on the rocks — I positioned the people by [the strongest of] their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
Rashi
ואעמיד מתחתיות. לחומה, כאשר שמעתי דבריהם העמדתי מתחתיות לאותו מקום סביב לירושלים מאחורי לחומת העיר:
So I stationed from below...the wall When I heard their words, I stationed [mighty men] from below that place around Jerusalem, from behind the wall of the city and on the bare rocks.
בצחיחים. למשפחות מן העם מגבורים שבהם עם כלי זיין שבהם להלחם באויבינו כאשר יבאו:
according to families of the people, of the mighty men among them with their weapons, to fight against our enemies when they would come.
ואעמיד מתחתיות וגו'. ואעמיד את העם וגו' מקרא זה דוגמת והיו המים אשר תקח מן היאור וגו' והיו לדם ביבשת (שמות ד׳:ט׳) כי הנה אויביך ה' כי הנה אויביך יאבדו (תהילים צ״ב:י׳) עורי עורי דבורה עורי עורי דברי שיר (שופטים ה׳:י״ב) לא לנו ה' לא לנו (תהילים קט״ו:א׳):
And I stationed from below, etc. and I stationed the people, etc. This verse follows the pattern of (Exod. 4:9): “...and the water that you will take from the river will be...will become blood on the dry land;” (Ps. 92:10): “For behold, Your enemies, O Lord, for behold, Your enemies shall perish;” (Jud. 5:12): “Praise! Praise! Deborah. Praise! Praise! Utter a song;” (Ps. 115:1): “Not to us, O Lord, not to us.”
וָאֵרֶא וָאָקוּם וָאֹמַר אֶל־הַחֹרִים וְאֶל־הַסְּגָנִים וְאֶל־יֶתֶר הָעָם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ מִפְּנֵיהֶם אֶת־אֲדֹנָי הַגָּדוֹל וְהַנּוֹרָא זְכֹרוּ וְהִֽלָּחֲמוּ עַל־אֲחֵיכֶם בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶם נְשֵׁיכֶם וּבָתֵּיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
And when I saw [(the foe approaching)], I arose and said to the nobles, the officers, and the rest of the people: Do not fear them. Remember the great, awesome L-rd, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!
And when I saw [(the foe approaching)], I arose and said to the nobles, the officers, and the rest of the people: Do not fear them. Remember the great, awesome L-rd, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!
Rashi
וארא ואקום. וכאשר ראיתי האויבים באים קמתי לדבר אל החורים והסגנים לזרזם להלחם באויבינו:
And I saw, and I arose And when I saw the enemies coming, I arose to speak to the nobles and to the prefects to spur them to fight against our enemy.
על אחיכם. בשביל אחיכם:
for your brethren Heb. עַל אֲחֵיכֶם, for the sake of your brethren.
וַיְהִי כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־שָׁמְעוּ אוֹיְבֵינוּ כִּי־נוֹדַֽע לָנוּ וַיָּפֶר הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת־עֲצָתָם (ונשוב) [וַנָּשׇׁב] כֻּלָּנוּ אֶל־הַחוֹמָה אִישׁ אֶל־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃
And it was, when our foes heard that [their intent] was known to us, G-d destroyed their counsel and we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
And it was, when our foes heard that [their intent] was known to us, G-d destroyed their counsel and we all returned to the wall, each to his work.
Rashi
כי נודע לנו. הדבר אשר באו להלחם בנו:
that it had become known to us that they were coming to fight against us.
ונשב כלנו. חזרנו כלנו ממקום שנאספנו יחד לקראת האויבים כל אחד ואחד במלאכתו לבנין החומה:
and we all returned We all returned from the place where we had gathered to meet the enemies, each one to his work in the building of the wall.
וַיְהִי ׀ מִן־הַיּוֹם הַהוּא חֲצִי נְעָרַי עֹשִׂים בַּמְּלָאכָה וְחֶצְיָם מַחֲזִיקִים וְהָרְמָחִים הַמָּגִנִּים וְהַקְּשָׁתוֹת וְהַשִּׁרְיֹנִים וְהַשָּׂרִים אַחֲרֵי כׇּל־בֵּית יְהוּדָֽה׃
And it was, from that day on, that half of my [strong] youths did the work [on the wall] while the [other] half held the spears, the shields, the bows and the armor. And the chiefs backed up all [the tribes of] the house of Judah.
And it was, from that day on, that half of my [strong] youths did the work [on the wall] while the [other] half held the spears, the shields, the bows and the armor. And the chiefs backed up all [the tribes of] the house of Judah.
Rashi
ויהי מן היום ההוא. ומאותו יום והלאה היו חצי הגבורים עושים בבנין החומה ושאר חצי הגבורים היו מזויינים בכלי זיינם לשמור אחיהם העושים במלאכה:
And it was from that day on And from that day on, half the mighty men worked at the building of the wall, and the remaining half of the mighty men were armed with weapons to guard their brethren who were doing the work.
והרמחים. וי"ו יתירה כמו וי"ו של ואיה וענה (ראשית לו):
spears Heb. וְהָרְמָחִים. The “vav” is superfluous, like the “vav” of (Gen. 36: 24): “And these are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah (וְאַיָה) and Anah.”
והשרים. היו מחוברים אחרי כל שבט יהודה להיות זהירים במלחמה:
and the rulers were close behind the entire tribe of Judah to be cautious in the battle.
הַבּוֹנִים בַּחוֹמָה וְהַנֹּשְׂאִים בַּסֶּבֶל עֹמְשִׂים בְּאַחַת יָדוֹ עֹשֶׂה בַמְּלָאכָה וְאַחַת מַחֲזֶקֶת הַשָּֽׁלַח׃
The builders of the wall and the carriers of the loads, with one hand did their work, and with the other held a weapon.
The builders of the wall and the carriers of the loads, with one hand did their work, and with the other held a weapon.
Rashi
הבונים בחומה וגו'. אותם שהיו בונין ואותן שהיו עומסים ונושאים המשאות ביד אחת היו עושים מלאכתן וביד אחת היו נושאים כלי זיין:
The builders of the wall, etc. Those who were building the wall and those who were loading and carrying the loads were working with one hand, and carrying weapons with the other.
השלח. כלי קרב כמו מעבור בשלח (איוב ל״ג:י״ח) וכן חברו מנחם:
the sword Heb. הַשָּׁלַח, an implement of war, like (Job 33:18): “...from perishing by the sword (מֵעֲבֹר בַּשָּׁלַח). And so did Menahem associate it (Machbereth Menahem p. 174).
וְהַבּוֹנִים אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ אֲסוּרִים עַל־מׇתְנָיו וּבוֹנִים וְהַתּוֹקֵעַ בַּשּׁוֹפָר אֶצְלִֽי׃
And each man built, with his sword tied to his thighs; and the blower of the shofar [(to alert the men in case of an attack)] was [always] at my side.
And each man built, with his sword tied to his thighs; and the blower of the shofar [(to alert the men in case of an attack)] was [always] at my side.
Rashi
והבונים. כיצד הם בונים שהיו כולם חגורים איש חרבו על מתניו ובונים:
And the builders How were they building? They were all girded, each one with his sword on his waist, and thus did they build.
אצלי. הוא היה תדיר אצלי:
beside me He was always beside me.
וָאֹמַר אֶל־הַחֹרִים וְאֶל־הַסְּגָנִים וְאֶל־יֶתֶר הָעָם הַמְּלָאכָה הַרְבֵּה וּרְחָבָה וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִפְרָדִים עַל־הַחוֹמָה רְחוֹקִים אִישׁ מֵאָחִֽיו׃
And I said to the nobles and to the officers and to the rest of the people: The work is great and wide [spread], and we are separated on the wall, distant, one from the other.
And I said to the nobles and to the officers and to the rest of the people: The work is great and wide [spread], and we are separated on the wall, distant, one from the other.
Rashi
הרבה. היא גדולה:
much Heb. הַרְבֵּה, a great [amount of work].
בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת־קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר שָׁמָּה תִּקָּבְצוּ אֵלֵינוּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ יִלָּחֶם לָֽנוּ׃
In the place where you hear the sound of the shofar, there shall you gather to us, (and) G-d shall fight for us.
In the place where you hear the sound of the shofar, there shall you gather to us, (and) G-d shall fight for us.
Rashi
ילחם לנו. ילחם בעדינו:
will fight for us [as translated,] will fight for us.
וַאֲנַחְנוּ עֹשִׂים בַּמְּלָאכָה וְחֶצְיָם מַחֲזִיקִים בָּֽרְמָחִים מֵעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר עַד צֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִֽים׃
And we did the work, and half held the spears, from dawn until dusk.
And we did the work, and half held the spears, from dawn until dusk.
גַּם בָּעֵת הַהִיא אָמַרְתִּי לָעָם אִישׁ וְנַעֲרוֹ יָלִינוּ בְּתוֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וְהָֽיוּ־לָנוּ הַלַּיְלָה מִשְׁמָר וְהַיּוֹם מְלָאכָֽה׃
Also at that time I said to the people: Let each man and his youth spend the night in Jerusalem — so that the night was for us for guarding, and the day for work.
Also at that time I said to the people: Let each man and his youth spend the night in Jerusalem — so that the night was for us for guarding, and the day for work.
Rashi
איש ונערו. כל אחד ואחד מן הבונים ובחור אחד עמו:
Let each man and his youth each of the builders and a youth with him.
ילינו בתוך ירושלים. והלילה היה להם למשמר והיום עושים מלאכה נמצא שלא היו ישנים כלום:
lodge in the midst of Jerusalem And the night was for their watch, and [during] the day they were doing work. The result was that they did not sleep at all.
וְאֵין אֲנִי וְאַחַי וּנְעָרַי וְאַנְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁמָר אֲשֶׁר אַחֲרַי אֵין־אֲנַחְנוּ פֹשְׁטִים בְּגָדֵינוּ אִישׁ שִׁלְחוֹ הַמָּֽיִם׃ {פ}
And neither I, nor my brethren, nor my youths, nor the men of the watch after me took off our clothes [to sleep] or [to wash them] in water.
And neither I, nor my brethren, nor my youths, nor the men of the watch after me took off our clothes [to sleep] or [to wash them] in water.
Rashi
אין אנחנו פושטים בגדינו. תמיד היינו זריזים במשמר:
we did not take off our clothes We were always zealous in guarding.
איש שלחו המים. מיסב על אין שלמעלה כמו (שמואל א' ב') יצא עתק מפיכם אין איש ממנו פושט בגדיו לשכב או לרחוץ אותם במים וכפל לשון הוא על אין אנחנו פושטים:
man took it even to the water This refers back to “not” above, like (I Sam. 2:3): “...let not arrogance come out of your mouth.” None of us would take off his clothes to lie down or to wash them with water, and this is a double expression, [repeating,] we did not undress.
שלחו. הפשט כמו (ויקרא ו׳:ד׳) ופשט את בגדיו דמתורגם ושלח:
took it off Heb. שִּׁלְחוֹ, taking off, like (Lev. 6: 4): “He shall then take off his garments,” which is translated by Targum as וְיִשְּׁלַח.
כי עלתה ארוכה. שנבנתה החומה:
was repaired Heb. עָלְתָה אָרוּכָה, [lit. attained a cure,] that the wall was built.