Tanach
Shmuel I 12:18-25 שמואל א י״ב:י״ח-כ״ה
Part of: Chapter 12
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָה וַיִּתֵּן יְהֹוָה קֹלֹת וּמָטָר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיִּירָא כׇל־הָעָם מְאֹד אֶת־יְהֹוָה וְאֶת־שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃
Shmuel called to Adonoy, and Adonoy sent thunder and rain on that day; and all the people greatly feared Adonoy and Shmuel.
Shmuel called to Adonoy, and Adonoy sent thunder and rain on that day; and all the people greatly feared Adonoy and Shmuel.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ כׇל־הָעָם אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל הִתְפַּלֵּל בְּעַד־עֲבָדֶיךָ אֶל־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְאַל־נָמוּת כִּֽי־יָסַפְנוּ עַל־כׇּל־חַטֹּאתֵינוּ רָעָה לִשְׁאֹל לָנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ׃
All the people said to Shmuel, "Pray on behalf of your servants to Adonoy, your God, that we not die; for we have added evil upon all of our sins, by demanding a king for ourselves."
All the people said to Shmuel, "Pray on behalf of your servants to Adonoy, your God, that we not die; for we have added evil upon all of our sins, by demanding a king for ourselves."
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־הָעָם אַל־תִּירָאוּ אַתֶּם עֲשִׂיתֶם אֵת כׇּל־הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת אַךְ אַל־תָּסוּרוּ מֵאַחֲרֵי יְהֹוָה וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֶת־יְהֹוָה בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶֽם׃
Shmuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this evil, but do not turn away from following Adonoy, rather serve Adonoy with all your hearts.
Shmuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this evil, but do not turn away from following Adonoy, rather serve Adonoy with all your hearts.
וְלֹא תָּסוּרוּ כִּי ׀ אַחֲרֵי הַתֹּהוּ אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־יוֹעִילוּ וְלֹא יַצִּילוּ כִּי־תֹהוּ הֵֽמָּה׃
Do not turn away, for [then you would] pursue futilities that cannot help or save, for they are futile.
Do not turn away, for [then you would] pursue futilities that cannot help or save, for they are futile.
כִּי לֹֽא־יִטֹּשׁ יְהֹוָה אֶת־עַמּוֹ בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל כִּי הוֹאִיל יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶתְכֶם לוֹ לְעָֽם׃
For Adonoy shall not abandon His people for the sake of His great Name; for Adonoy has sworn to make you for a nation [dedicated] to Him.
For Adonoy shall not abandon His people for the sake of His great Name; for Adonoy has sworn to make you for a nation [dedicated] to Him.
Rashi
הואיל ה'. נשבע, כמו (לקמן יד כה): ויואל שאול את העם:
Adonoy has sworn.הוֹאִיל meaning he swore, as in, "And Shaul made the people swear ]וַיֹאֶל[."13 Below 14:24.
גַּם אָנֹכִי חָלִילָה לִּי מֵחֲטֹא לַיהֹוָה מֵחֲדֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעַדְכֶם וְהוֹרֵיתִי אֶתְכֶם בְּדֶרֶךְ הַטּוֹבָה וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה׃
And as for me, far be it from me to sin against Adonoy and ceasing to pray on your behalf; I shall instruct you in the good and proper path.
And as for me, far be it from me to sin against Adonoy and ceasing to pray on your behalf; I shall instruct you in the good and proper path.
Rashi
גם אנכי חלילה לי. מאחר שתעשו אתם את שלכם לשוב אל ה', גם אנכי חלילה לי מחדול מהתפלל בעדכם:
And as for me, far be it from me. Since you will do your part by returning to 'ה, I also, far be it from me to stop praying on your behalf.14 From this verse, the Gemara in Maseches Berachos 12b, derives, that if a person knows that his prayers will be answered if he prays for mercy for his fellow but refrains from doing so, he is considered to have sinned.
אַךְ ׀ יְראוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֹתוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶם כִּי רְאוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר־הִגְדִּל עִמָּכֶֽם׃
Only fear Adonoy and worship Him faithfully, with all your hearts; for look at the great things He did for you.
Only fear Adonoy and worship Him faithfully, with all your hearts; for look at the great things He did for you.
וְאִם־הָרֵעַ תָּרֵעוּ גַּם־אַתֶּם גַּֽם־מַלְכְּכֶם תִּסָּפֽוּ׃ {פ}
But if you act wickedly, both you and your king will perish."
But if you act wickedly, both you and your king will perish."
בעבור שמו הגדול. אשר יצא שמו עליכם שהוא מושיעכם, ולמען לא יתמעט שם גדלו:
For the sake of His great Name. For His fame has spread because of you, that He is your savior, and lest the fame of His greatness be lessened.12 This verse indicates that ‘ה will not abandon the Bnei Yisroel because of the lack of their own merits, in order to uphold His own Name.—Radak