Tanach
Shmuel I 16 שמואל א ט״ז
Part of: Petuchah, I Samuel 16:1Petuchah, I Samuel 16:12Petuchah, I Samuel 16:17Setumah, I Samuel 16:7
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וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל עַד־מָתַי אַתָּה מִתְאַבֵּל אֶל־שָׁאוּל וַאֲנִי מְאַסְתִּיו מִמְּלֹךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלֵּא קַרְנְךָ שֶׁמֶן וְלֵךְ אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ אֶל־יִשַׁי בֵּֽית־הַלַּחְמִי כִּֽי־רָאִיתִי בְּבָנָיו לִי מֶֽלֶךְ׃
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "How long will you mourn over Shaul, for I have rejected him from reigning over Yisroel. Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Yishay the Beis Lechemite, for I have seen among his sons, a king for Myself."
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "How long will you mourn over Shaul, for I have rejected him from reigning over Yisroel. Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Yishay the Beis Lechemite, for I have seen among his sons, a king for Myself."
Rashi
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֵיךְ אֵלֵךְ וְשָׁמַע שָׁאוּל וַהֲרָגָנִי וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה עֶגְלַת בָּקָר תִּקַּח בְּיָדֶךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ לִזְבֹּחַ לַיהֹוָה בָּֽאתִי׃
Shmuel said, "How can I go? If Shaul hears about it, he will kill me." Adonoy said, "Take a calf with you and say, 'I have come to bring an offering to Adonoy.'
Shmuel said, "How can I go? If Shaul hears about it, he will kill me." Adonoy said, "Take a calf with you and say, 'I have come to bring an offering to Adonoy.'
וְקָרָאתָ לְיִשַׁי בַּזָּבַח וְאָנֹכִי אוֹדִֽיעֲךָ אֵת אֲשֶֽׁר־תַּעֲשֶׂה וּמָשַׁחְתָּ לִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
Invite Yishay to the sacrificial meal, then I will tell you what to do, and you will anoint for Me the one whom I will tell you."
Invite Yishay to the sacrificial meal, then I will tell you what to do, and you will anoint for Me the one whom I will tell you."
וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁמוּאֵל אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה וַיָּבֹא בֵּית לָחֶם וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלֹם בּוֹאֶֽךָ׃
Shmuel did what Adonoy had spoken, and he came to Beis Lechem. The elders of the city hurried out to greet him, and [one of them] said, "Do you come in peace?"
Shmuel did what Adonoy had spoken, and he came to Beis Lechem. The elders of the city hurried out to greet him, and [one of them] said, "Do you come in peace?"
Rashi
ויחרדו. מהרו לצאת לקראתו:
Hurried. Hurried out toward him.3 The elders of the city who saw Shmuel approaching hurried out toward him thinking that they had committed a grave sin and that was why he was coming to their city. Therefore, Shmuel was asked whether he was coming in peace.—Radak
וַיֹּאמֶר ׀ שָׁלוֹם לִזְבֹּחַ לַֽיהֹוָה בָּאתִי הִֽתְקַדְּשׁוּ וּבָאתֶם אִתִּי בַּזָּבַח וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת־יִשַׁי וְאֶת־בָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא לָהֶם לַזָּֽבַח׃
He said, "Peace. It is to bring an offering to Adonoy that I have come. Prepare yourselves and come with me to the sacrificial feast." He invited Yishay and his sons, and called them to the sacrificial feast.
He said, "Peace. It is to bring an offering to Adonoy that I have come. Prepare yourselves and come with me to the sacrificial feast." He invited Yishay and his sons, and called them to the sacrificial feast.
וַיְהִי בְּבוֹאָם וַיַּרְא אֶת־אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ נֶגֶד יְהֹוָה מְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃ {ס}
As they arrived, he saw Eliov and he said, "Surely, before Adonoy is His anointed."
As they arrived, he saw Eliov and he said, "Surely, before Adonoy is His anointed."
Rashi
ויאמר אך נגד ה' משיחו. ויאמר בלבו, אך אמת הוא זה:
He said, "Surely, before Adonoy is His annointed." He said to himself, 'Surely, it is true that this one is fitting for the kingship.'
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל אַל־תַּבֵּט אֶל־מַרְאֵהוּ וְאֶל־גְּבֹהַּ קוֹמָתוֹ כִּי מְאַסְתִּיהוּ כִּי ׀ לֹא אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם כִּי הָאָדָם יִרְאֶה לַעֵינַיִם וַיהֹוָה יִרְאֶה לַלֵּבָֽב׃
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his great height, for I have rejected him. For it is not as man perceives it; man sees what is visible to the eyes, but Adonoy sees into the heart." For it is not as man perceives it; man sees what is visible to the eyes, but Adonoy sees into the heart."
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his great height, for I have rejected him. For it is not as man perceives it; man sees what is visible to the eyes, but Adonoy sees into the heart." For it is not as man perceives it; man sees what is visible to the eyes, but Adonoy sees into the heart."
Rashi
אל תבט אל מראהו אל יופי תארו:
Do not look at his appearance. Upon the beauty of his stature.
כי מאסתיהו. לפי שכעסן הוא, כמה שנאמר (לקמן יז כח): ויחר אף אליאב בדוד:
For I have rejected him. Because he is a quick tempered person, as it is stated, 'And Eliov became angry with Dovid.'4 Below 17:28. Also, see Maseches Pesachim 66b, that Eliov actually possessed the qualities of a king but ‘ה rejected him because he had a bad temper.
כי לא אשר יראה האדם. אף על פי שקראת לעצמך רואה, שאמרת לשאול (לעיל ט יט): אנכי הרואה, כאן אני מודיעך שאינך רואה:
For it is not as man perceives it. Even though you called yourself a seer, when you said to Shaul, 'I am the seer,'5Above 9:19. ה׳ punished Shmuel for inferring albeit an infinitesimal of pride by saying “I am the seer.” Moshe was similarly punished for saying “the matter that will be too difficult for you, present to me and I will hear it.” [Devarim 1:17]—Sifre, Devarim 1:17 here I am informing you that you do not see.
וַיִּקְרָא יִשַׁי אֶל־אֲבִינָדָב וַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּ לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־בָּזֶה לֹא־בָחַר יְהֹוָֽה׃
Yishay called Avinodov and brought him before Shmuel; but he said, "Adonoy did not choose this one either."
Yishay called Avinodov and brought him before Shmuel; but he said, "Adonoy did not choose this one either."
וַיַּעֲבֵר יִשַׁי שַׁמָּה וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־בָּזֶה לֹא־בָחַר יְהֹוָֽה׃
Yishay brought Shammoh, but he said, "Adonoy did not choose this one either."
Yishay brought Shammoh, but he said, "Adonoy did not choose this one either."
Rashi
ויעבר ישי שמה. הוא שמעא:
Yishay brought Shammoh. That is שַׁמְעָא.6I.e. שַׁמְעָא = שַׁמׇּה See II Shmuel 21:21 and I Divrei Hayomim 2:13.
וַיַּעֲבֵר יִשַׁי שִׁבְעַת בָּנָיו לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יִשַׁי לֹא־בָחַר יְהֹוָה בָּאֵֽלֶּה׃
Yishay presented his seven sons before Shmuel, but Shmuel said to Yishay, "Adonoy did not choose these."
Yishay presented his seven sons before Shmuel, but Shmuel said to Yishay, "Adonoy did not choose these."
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יִשַׁי הֲתַמּוּ הַנְּעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד שָׁאַר הַקָּטָן וְהִנֵּה רֹעֶה בַּצֹּאן וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יִשַׁי שִׁלְחָה וְקָחֶנּוּ כִּי לֹֽא־נָסֹב עַד־בֹּאוֹ פֹֽה׃
Shmuel said to Yishay, "Are there no more youths?" And he said, "The youngest one is still left, and he is tending the sheep now." Shmuel said to Yishay, "Send for him and bring him, for we will not sit until he comes here."
Shmuel said to Yishay, "Are there no more youths?" And he said, "The youngest one is still left, and he is tending the sheep now." Shmuel said to Yishay, "Send for him and bring him, for we will not sit until he comes here."
Rashi
שאר הקטן. נשאר הקטן:
The youngest one is still left. The youngest one is left.
לא נסוב. לא נשב לאכול, כל מושב סעודה קרויה הסבה:
We will not sit. We will not sit to eat; every instance of sitting for a meal is called הֲסִבׇּה [leaning].
וַיִּשְׁלַח וַיְבִיאֵהוּ וְהוּא אַדְמוֹנִי עִם־יְפֵה עֵינַיִם וְטוֹב רֹאִי {פ}
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה קוּם מְשָׁחֵהוּ כִּי־זֶה הֽוּא׃
He sent for him and brought him. He had a reddish complexion, with beautiful eyes and handsome. Adonoy then said, "Rise and anoint him, for this is he."
He sent for him and brought him. He had a reddish complexion, with beautiful eyes and handsome. Adonoy then said, "Rise and anoint him, for this is he."
וַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת־קֶרֶן הַשֶּׁמֶן וַיִּמְשַׁח אֹתוֹ בְּקֶרֶב אֶחָיו וַתִּצְלַח רֽוּחַ־יְהֹוָה אֶל־דָּוִד מֵהַיּוֹם הַהוּא וָמָעְלָה וַיָּקׇם שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃
Shmuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the spirit of Adonoy passed over Dovid from that day on. Then Shmuel rose and went to Romoh.
Shmuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the spirit of Adonoy passed over Dovid from that day on. Then Shmuel rose and went to Romoh.
Rashi
ותצלח רוח ה'. רוח גבורה:
And a spirit of Adonoy passed over. A spirit of strength.7Targum renders ‘a spirit of prophecy.’
וְרוּחַ יְהֹוָה סָרָה מֵעִם שָׁאוּל וּבִעֲתַתּוּ רֽוּחַ־רָעָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָֽה׃
The spirit of Adonoy left Shaul, and he was tormented by an evil spirit from Adonoy.
The spirit of Adonoy left Shaul, and he was tormented by an evil spirit from Adonoy.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַבְדֵֽי־שָׁאוּל אֵלָיו הִנֵּה־נָא רוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים רָעָה מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃
Shaul's servants said him, 'Look now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
Shaul's servants said him, 'Look now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
יֹֽאמַר־נָא אֲדֹנֵנוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ יְבַקְשׁוּ אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ מְנַגֵּן בַּכִּנּוֹר וְהָיָה בִּֽהְיוֹת עָלֶיךָ רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים רָעָה וְנִגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ וְטוֹב לָֽךְ׃ {פ}
Let our lord please tell your servants who are before you, that they should seek a man who knows how to play the harp, so that when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play music with his hand[s] and you will be well."
Let our lord please tell your servants who are before you, that they should seek a man who knows how to play the harp, so that when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play music with his hand[s] and you will be well."
Rashi
עבדיך לפניך. הנה עבדיך לפניך אשר יעשו מצותיך:
Your servants who are before you. Behold, your servants are before you, who will carry out your orders.
וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל־עֲבָדָיו רְאוּ־נָא לִי אִישׁ מֵיטִיב לְנַגֵּן וַהֲבִיאוֹתֶם אֵלָֽי׃
Shaul said to his servants, "Please find for me a man who plays well, and bring him to me."
Shaul said to his servants, "Please find for me a man who plays well, and bring him to me."
וַיַּעַן אֶחָד מֵהַנְּעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה רָאִיתִי בֵּן לְיִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי יֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן וְגִבּוֹר חַיִל וְאִישׁ מִלְחָמָה וּנְבוֹן דָּבָר וְאִישׁ תֹּאַר וַיהֹוָה עִמּֽוֹ׃
One of the youths responded and said, 'Behold, I have observed that a son of Yishay the Beis Lechemite, knows how to play; he is courageous and a warrior, who speaks wisely and is a handsome man; and Adonoy is with him."
One of the youths responded and said, 'Behold, I have observed that a son of Yishay the Beis Lechemite, knows how to play; he is courageous and a warrior, who speaks wisely and is a handsome man; and Adonoy is with him."
Rashi
אחד מהנערים. מיוחד שבהם, דואג האדומי:
One of the youths. The special one, [i.e.,] Do'eg, the Edomite.8See Maseches Sanhedrin 93b.
יודע נגן. כל עצמו נתכוון להכניס עין רעה של שאול בדוד, שיתקנא בו:
Knows how to play. His entire intention was to induce Shaul's evil eye into Dovid, that he envy him.9See Ibid., which states that it was Do’eg’s intention to arouse Shaul’s envy and therefore he gave Dovid excessive praise which was irrelevant to the position for which Shaul needed him. Do’eg neither described Dovid’s musical talents nor the instrument that he played.
וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁאוּל מַלְאָכִים אֶל־יִשָׁי וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁלְחָה אֵלַי אֶת־דָּוִד בִּנְךָ אֲשֶׁר בַּצֹּֽאן׃
Shaul sent messengers to Yishay, saying, "Send me Dovid your son who is with the sheep."
Shaul sent messengers to Yishay, saying, "Send me Dovid your son who is with the sheep."
וַיִּקַּח יִשַׁי חֲמוֹר לֶחֶם וְנֹאד יַיִן וּגְדִי עִזִּים אֶחָד וַיִּשְׁלַח בְּיַד־דָּוִד בְּנוֹ אֶל־שָׁאֽוּל׃
Yishay took a donkey [laden with] bread, a jug of wine, and one kid, and sent them with his son Dovid, to Shaul.
Yishay took a donkey [laden with] bread, a jug of wine, and one kid, and sent them with his son Dovid, to Shaul.
וַיָּבֹא דָוִד אֶל־שָׁאוּל וַֽיַּעֲמֹד לְפָנָיו וַיֶּאֱהָבֵהֽוּ מְאֹד וַֽיְהִי־לוֹ נֹשֵׂא כֵלִֽים׃
Dovid came to Shaul and stood before him; he loved him very much, and he became his arms bearer.
Dovid came to Shaul and stood before him; he loved him very much, and he became his arms bearer.
וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁאוּל אֶל־יִשַׁי לֵאמֹר יַעֲמׇד־נָא דָוִד לְפָנַי כִּי־מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינָֽי׃
Shaul sent [word] to Yishay, saying, "Please let Dovid stand before me, for he has found favor in my eyes."
Shaul sent [word] to Yishay, saying, "Please let Dovid stand before me, for he has found favor in my eyes."
וְהָיָה בִּֽהְיוֹת רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים אֶל־שָׁאוּל וְלָקַח דָּוִד אֶת־הַכִּנּוֹר וְנִגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ וְרָוַח לְשָׁאוּל וְטוֹב לוֹ וְסָרָה מֵעָלָיו רוּחַ הָרָעָֽה׃ {פ}
And it happened that whenever the [evil] spirit from God was upon Shaul, Dovid would take the harp and play with his hand[s], and Shaul would be relieved and feel well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.
And it happened that whenever the [evil] spirit from God was upon Shaul, Dovid would take the harp and play with his hand[s], and Shaul would be relieved and feel well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.
בית הלחמי. בבית לחם, וכן דרך כל דבר ששמו בשתי תיבות, כמו: בית לחם, בית שמש, בית אל, קרית ארבע, אם בא להטיל בו ה"א, מטיל בין שתי התיבות, כגון: קרית הארבע, בית האלי, בית הלחמי:
The Beis Lechemite. From Beis Lechem. The rule of every noun composed of two words, e.g., Beis Lechem, Beis Shemesh, Beis Eil, Kiryas Arba, if one wishes to add a 'ה' he adds it between the two words, e.g., Kiryas Ha'arba,1 Bereishis 35:27. Beis Ha'Eili,2 I Melachim 16:34. Beis Ha'lachmi.