Tanach
Shmuel I 12:1-5 שמואל א י״ב:א׳-ה׳
Part of: Chapter 12
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל הִנֵּה שָׁמַעְתִּי בְקֹֽלְכֶם לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־אֲמַרְתֶּם לִי וָאַמְלִיךְ עֲלֵיכֶם מֶֽלֶךְ׃
Shmuel said to all of Yisroel, "Behold, I have listened to you, to everything that you have said to me, and I crowned a king over you.
Shmuel said to all of Yisroel, "Behold, I have listened to you, to everything that you have said to me, and I crowned a king over you.
וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ ׀ מִתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם וַֽאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי וָשַׂבְתִּי וּבָנַי הִנָּם אִתְּכֶם וַֽאֲנִי הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶם מִנְּעֻרַי עַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
Now, behold, the king marches before you. I have aged and become gray, and my sons are here with you. And as for me, I have led you from my youth until this day.
Now, behold, the king marches before you. I have aged and become gray, and my sons are here with you. And as for me, I have led you from my youth until this day.
Rashi
הִנְנִי עֲנוּ בִי נֶגֶד יְהֹוָה וְנֶגֶד מְשִׁיחוֹ אֶת־שׁוֹר ׀ מִי לָקַחְתִּי וַחֲמוֹר מִי לָקַחְתִּי וְאֶת־מִי עָשַׁקְתִּי אֶת־מִי רַצּוֹתִי וּמִיַּד־מִי לָקַחְתִּי כֹפֶר וְאַעְלִים עֵינַי בּוֹ וְאָשִׁיב לָכֶֽם׃
Here I am; testify against me in Adonoy's presence and in the presence of His anointed one. Whose ox have I taken or whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I robbed? Whom have I oppressed? From whom have I taken a bribe to look away from him? [Tell me,] and I will give it back to you."
Here I am; testify against me in Adonoy's presence and in the presence of His anointed one. Whose ox have I taken or whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I robbed? Whom have I oppressed? From whom have I taken a bribe to look away from him? [Tell me,] and I will give it back to you."
Rashi
את שור מי לקחתי. לעבודתי:
Whose ox have I taken? For my work.
וחמור מי לקחתי. כשהייתי הולך מעיר לעיר לשפוט אותם על עסקי צרכיהם, הייתי הולך על החמור שלי, והיה לי ליטול משלהם:
Whose donkey have I taken? When I used to travel from city to city to judge them concerning their matters, I used to travel on my donkey, although I should have taken theirs.2 See Bamidbar Rabbah 18:10. And when I brought a sacrifice for their sake, I should have taken their ox. Shmuel took this extra precaution because he witnessed how severely Eili’s sons were punished for having abused the privileges of their office. He therefore avoided any action that could be misconstrued as resembling their behavior.
את מי רצותי. כל לשון מרוצה הסמוך לעושק, לשון עשוק ורצוץ הוא, חומס דלים ורוצץ:
Whom have I oppressed? Every expression of מְרַצֶּה which follows עשֶׁק [robbery], is an expression of "robbed and oppressed,3 Devarim 28:33. one who robs the poor and oppresses them.
ואעלים עיני בו. כדי להעלים עיני מן המשפט בשביל הממון:
To look away from him. In order to hide my eyes from the judgment because of the money [bribe].
ואשיב לכם. כל מה שתאמרו:
And I will give it back to you. Whatever you will say.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא עֲשַׁקְתָּנוּ וְלֹא רַצּוֹתָנוּ וְלֹא־לָקַחְתָּ מִיַּד־אִישׁ מְאֽוּמָה׃
And they said, "You have neither robbed us nor have you oppressed us; nor you have taken anything from anyone."
And they said, "You have neither robbed us nor have you oppressed us; nor you have taken anything from anyone."
וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם עֵד יְהֹוָה בָּכֶם וְעֵד מְשִׁיחוֹ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּי לֹא מְצָאתֶם בְּיָדִי מְאוּמָה וַיֹּאמֶר עֵֽד׃ {פ}
He said to them, "Adonoy is your witness, and His anointed one is a witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said [as one], "Witnessed."
He said to them, "Adonoy is your witness, and His anointed one is a witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said [as one], "Witnessed."
Rashi
ויאמר עד. בת קול יוצאת ואומרת: 'עד', וזה אחד משלשה מקומות שהופיעה רוח הקודש בבית דין של מטה, כדאיתא במסכת מכות (כג ב):
And they said [as one], "Witnessed." A heavenly voice came out and said, '[I am] a witness.' This is one of three places in which the holy spirit entered the earthly court, as it is stated in Maseches Makos.4 23b. The other two places in which the holy spirit entered the earthly court are in the court of Sheim and in the court of Shlomo.
ואני זקנתי ושבתי. אמרו רבותינו: זקנה קפצה עליו, כדאיתא במסכת תענית (ה ב):
I have aged and become gray. Our Rabbis said that he aged prematurely, as stated in Maseches Ta'anis.1 5b.