Tanach
Shmuel I 21 שמואל א כ״א
Part of: Petuchah, I Samuel 21:1Petuchah, I Samuel 21:6Setumah, I Samuel 21:10Setumah, I Samuel 21:10Setumah, I Samuel 21:15
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיָּקׇם וַיֵּלַךְ וִיהוֹנָתָן בָּא הָעִֽיר׃
He [Dovid] rose and left, and Yonoson returned to the city.
He [Dovid] rose and left, and Yonoson returned to the city.
וַיָּבֹא דָוִד נֹבֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶלֶךְ הַכֹּהֵן וַיֶּחֱרַד אֲחִימֶלֶךְ לִקְרַאת דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מַדּוּעַ אַתָּה לְבַדֶּךָ וְאִישׁ אֵין אִתָּֽךְ׃
Dovid came to Noveh, to Achimelech the kohein. Achimelech came trembling toward Dovid, and said to him, "Why are you alone, with no one accompanying you?"
Dovid came to Noveh, to Achimelech the kohein. Achimelech came trembling toward Dovid, and said to him, "Why are you alone, with no one accompanying you?"
וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לַאֲחִימֶלֶךְ הַכֹּהֵן הַמֶּלֶךְ צִוַּנִי דָבָר וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי אִישׁ אַל־יֵדַע מְאוּמָה אֶת־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחֲךָ וַאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ וְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִים יוֹדַעְתִּי אֶל־מְקוֹם פְּלֹנִי אַלְמוֹנִֽי׃
Dovid said to Achimelech the kohein, "The king ordered me on a mission, and told me, 'Let no man know anything of the matter about which I am sending you and have commanded you.' And as for the youths, I have sent them ahead to a certain secret place.
Dovid said to Achimelech the kohein, "The king ordered me on a mission, and told me, 'Let no man know anything of the matter about which I am sending you and have commanded you.' And as for the youths, I have sent them ahead to a certain secret place.
Rashi
יודעתי. כמו (שופטים ח טז): ויודע בהם את אנשי סכות:
I have troubled. Similar to, 'And with them he broke [וַידַׁע] the men of Succos.'1 Shoftim 8:16.
פלוני אלמוני. 'אלמון' מאין שם, שאיני חפץ להזכיר, כי דבר סתר הוא:
Certain secret. [אַלְמֹנִי is derived from] 'אַלְמוֹן' [=widower], bereft of a name; for I do not want to mention it, because it is a secret matter.
פלוני. כמו (דברים יז ח): 'כי יפלא', יתכסה:
Hidden. Similar to כִּי יִפָּלֵא [=will be concealed],2Devarim 17:8. will be hidden.
וְעַתָּה מַה־יֵּשׁ תַּחַת־יָדְךָ חֲמִשָּׁה־לֶחֶם תְּנָה בְיָדִי אוֹ הַנִּמְצָֽא׃
And now, what do you have available? Five loaves of bread? Give them, or whatever there is, into my hand."
And now, what do you have available? Five loaves of bread? Give them, or whatever there is, into my hand."
Rashi
או הנמצא. אם אין חמשה, תן לי מה שנמצא בידך:
Or whatever there is. If there are not five,3Talmud Yerushalmi Succah 5:8 explains why Dovid asked for five loaves of bread. Dovid asked for bread from Achimelech who was a member of the family of kohanim that had just completed its service; and their share was five loaves of the showbread. give me whatever is in your possession.
וַיַּעַן הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר אֵֽין־לֶחֶם חֹל אֶל־תַּחַת יָדִי כִּֽי־אִם־לֶחֶם קֹדֶשׁ יֵשׁ אִם־נִשְׁמְרוּ הַנְּעָרִים אַךְ מֵאִשָּֽׁה׃ {פ}
The kohein answered Dovid, saying, "I have no ordinary bread available, there is only sacred bread; provided the youths have kept themselves at least from women."
The kohein answered Dovid, saying, "I have no ordinary bread available, there is only sacred bread; provided the youths have kept themselves at least from women."
Rashi
אך מאשה. בקושי אני מאכילן לזרים, אך זה אי אפשר שאכילנו לטמאים:
From women. With difficulty, I give them to non-kohanim to eat, but it is impossible to give it to unclean people to eat.
וַיַּעַן דָּוִד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵן וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כִּי אִם־אִשָּׁה עֲצֻֽרָה־לָנוּ כִּתְמוֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם בְּצֵאתִי וַיִּהְיוּ כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִים קֹדֶשׁ וְהוּא דֶּרֶךְ חֹל וְאַף כִּי הַיּוֹם יִקְדַּשׁ בַּכֶּֽלִי׃
Dovid answered the kohein, saying to him, "Women have been kept from us yesterday and the day before, when I left; the garments of the youths were pure, even though it is an ordinary mission, even more so today it will remain sacred in the vessel."
Dovid answered the kohein, saying to him, "Women have been kept from us yesterday and the day before, when I left; the garments of the youths were pure, even though it is an ordinary mission, even more so today it will remain sacred in the vessel."
Rashi
עצורה לנו. עצורה ממנו:
Have been kept from us. Withheld from us.4They seem to have treated even ordinary food as if it were holy food as in above 20:26.
ויהיו כלי הנערים קדש. טהורים:
The garments of the youths were pure. [Literally 'holy'] pure.
והוא דרך חול. והלחם משנסתלק מעל השולחן והקטירו הבזיכין, קרוב הוא להיות חולין, שיצא מידי מעילה משיהיה לו שעת היתר לכהנים:
Even though it is an ordinary mission. And the bread, once it has been removed from the table, and they have burned the spoonfuls [of frankincense], it is almost common, because it has been excluded from [the prohibition of] מְעִילָה as soon as it becomes permitted for the kohanim [to eat].5The phrase וְהוּא דֶרֶךְ הֹל can then be translated as ‘it has already been made non-sacred’ referring to the showbreads [not to the mission], that they had lost some of their sanctity once the frankincense had been burnt.
ואף כי היום יקדש בכלי. ואפילו אם היום היתה תחלת קדושתו על השלחן, הייתי זקוק ליטלו משם ולהאכילנו, שאחזו בולמוס ומסוכן הוא, כך מפורש במנחות:
Even more so today it will remain sacred in the vessel. Even if today were the beginning of its sanctity on the table, I would be obliged to take it from there and feed ourselves, for a ravenous hunger has seized us, and our lives are in danger. Thus it is explained in [Maseches] Menachos.6
וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן קֹדֶשׁ כִּי לֹא־הָיָה שָׁם לֶחֶם כִּֽי־אִם־לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים הַמּֽוּסָרִים מִלִּפְנֵי יְהֹוָה לָשׂוּם לֶחֶם חֹם בְּיוֹם הִלָּֽקְחֽוֹ׃
The kohein gave him sacred [bread], for there was no [other] bread there, except for the showbread that was removed from before Adonoy, in order to put hot bread on the day it was taken off.
The kohein gave him sacred [bread], for there was no [other] bread there, except for the showbread that was removed from before Adonoy, in order to put hot bread on the day it was taken off.
Rashi
לשום לחם חם. אחר, ביום הלקח זה ורבותינו אמרו (יומא כא א): חם ביום הלקחו, גם ביום סלוקו, חם כיום סדורו:
In order to put hot bread. Other warm bread on the day this was removed. Our Rabbis said, that it was warm on the day it was taken, i.e., it was as warm on the day it was removed as it was on the day it was arranged.7See Maseches Menachos 96a and Chagigah 26b which describes the miracle of the showbread; it retained its warmth and freshness after lying on the table more than a week. The preservation of warmth and freshness symbolized that ה׳ preserves the strength of the Bnei Yisroel and never allows it to fully dissipate.
וְשָׁם אִישׁ מֵעַבְדֵי שָׁאוּל בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא נֶעְצָר לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה וּשְׁמוֹ דֹּאֵג הָאֲדֹמִי אַבִּיר הָרֹעִים אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃
One of Shaul's servants was there on that day, who remained before Adonoy; his name was Do'eg the Edomite, chief of Shaul's shepherds.
One of Shaul's servants was there on that day, who remained before Adonoy; his name was Do'eg the Edomite, chief of Shaul's shepherds.
Rashi
נעצר לפני ה'. עוצר עצמו לפני אהל מועד, לעסוק בתורה:
Who remained before Adonoy. He tarried before the Tent of Meeting to engage in the study of Torah.
אביר הרועים. אב בית דין:
Chief of Shaul's shepherds. The head of the tribunal.
וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לַאֲחִימֶלֶךְ וְאִין יֶשׁ־פֹּה תַֽחַת־יָדְךָ חֲנִית אוֹ־חָרֶב כִּי גַם־חַרְבִּי וְגַם־כֵּלַי לֹא־לָקַחְתִּי בְיָדִי כִּֽי־הָיָה דְבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ נָחֽוּץ׃ {ס}
Dovid then said to Achimelech, "Perhaps you have in your possession a spear or a sword, for my sword and my weapons I did not take with me, because the king's mission was urgent."
Dovid then said to Achimelech, "Perhaps you have in your possession a spear or a sword, for my sword and my weapons I did not take with me, because the king's mission was urgent."
Rashi
ואין יש פה. ואם יש פה:
Perhaps you have in your possession. And if there is here.
נחוץ. בבהילות:
Urgent. Hurried.
וַיֹּאמֶר הַכֹּהֵן חֶרֶב גׇּלְיָת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי אֲשֶׁר־הִכִּיתָ ׀ בְּעֵמֶק הָאֵלָה הִנֵּה־הִיא לוּטָה בַשִּׂמְלָה אַחֲרֵי הָאֵפוֹד אִם־אֹתָהּ תִּֽקַּח־לְךָ קָח כִּי אֵין אַחֶרֶת זוּלָתָהּ בָּזֶה {ס} וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֵין כָּמוֹהָ תְּנֶנָּה לִּֽי׃
The kohein said, "The sword of Golyos the Philistine, whom you slew in the Eiloh Valley, behold it is here, wrapped up in a cloth behind the eiphod; if you will take it, take it, for there is no other but that one." Dovid said, "There is none like it; give it to me."
The kohein said, "The sword of Golyos the Philistine, whom you slew in the Eiloh Valley, behold it is here, wrapped up in a cloth behind the eiphod; if you will take it, take it, for there is no other but that one." Dovid said, "There is none like it; give it to me."
Rashi
לוטה. כרוכה, וכן (מלכים-א יט יג): וילט פניו באדרתו:
Wrapped. It was wrapped, and similarly, 'and he wrapped [וַיָלֶט] his face in his mantle.'8I Melachim 19:13.
אחרי האפוד. אחר ששאלו באורים ותומים, אמר לו כן וכן תרגם יונתן: בתר דשאיל ליה באפודא:
Behind the eiphod. After having consulted the Urim and Tumim he said this [statement]. And so did Targum Yonoson render, 'after he had consulted the eiphod for him.'9I.e., אַחֲרֵי הָאֵפוֹד is not part of Achimelech’s reply to Dovid, rather it relates to the sequence of events. Only after asking the Urim and Tumim did Achimelech tell Dovid to take the sword.
וַיָּקׇם דָּוִד וַיִּבְרַח בַּיּוֹם־הַהוּא מִפְּנֵי שָׁאוּל וַיָּבֹא אֶל־אָכִישׁ מֶלֶךְ גַּֽת׃
Dovid rose and fled from Shaul on that day, and he came to Achish, king of Gas.
Dovid rose and fled from Shaul on that day, and he came to Achish, king of Gas.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַבְדֵי אָכִישׁ אֵלָיו הֲלוֹא־זֶה דָוִד מֶלֶךְ הָאָרֶץ הֲלוֹא לָזֶה יַעֲנוּ בַמְּחֹלוֹת לֵאמֹר הִכָּה שָׁאוּל בַּאֲלָפָו וְדָוִד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽו׃
The servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not Dovid, the king of the land? Is it not of him that they sing and play with musical instruments, saying, 'Shaul has slain his thousands, and Dovid his tens of thousands?'"
The servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not Dovid, the king of the land? Is it not of him that they sing and play with musical instruments, saying, 'Shaul has slain his thousands, and Dovid his tens of thousands?'"
Rashi
הלא זה דוד מלך הארץ. אמרו לו לאכיש, תנאי היה בינינו (לעיל יז ט): 'אם יוכל להלחם אתי והכני והיינו לכם לעבדים', אין לך אלא שתרד מכסאך, ויהיה מלך הארץ הזאת:
Is this not Dovid, the king of the land. They said to Achish, "There was a stipulation between us: 'If he will be able to fight me and kill me, then we will become your slaves.'10Above 17:9. You have no choice but to get off your throne and let him become king of this land."
וַיָּשֶׂם דָּוִד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה בִּלְבָבוֹ וַיִּרָא מְאֹד מִפְּנֵי אָכִישׁ מֶלֶךְ־גַּֽת׃
Dovid took this matter to heart and was very afraid of Achish, king of Gas.
Dovid took this matter to heart and was very afraid of Achish, king of Gas.
וַיְשַׁנּוֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ בְּעֵינֵיהֶם וַיִּתְהֹלֵל בְּיָדָם וַיְתָו עַל־דַּלְתוֹת הַשַּׁעַר וַיּוֹרֶד רִירוֹ אֶל־זְקָנֽוֹ׃ {ס}
He changed his behavior in front of them and feigned madness while he was with them; he scribbled on the doors of the gate and let his saliva drip on his beard.
He changed his behavior in front of them and feigned madness while he was with them; he scribbled on the doors of the gate and let his saliva drip on his beard.
Rashi
את טעמו. את דבריו:
His behavior. His words.
ויתהולל. נשתטה:
And feigned madness. He acted insane.11The Midrash relates that Dovid said to ה׳ that he understood all creation of ה׳ with the exception of madness, for which he saw no purpose. ה׳ then responded that He will demonstrate to him the value of madness and that Dovid will need it.12I.e., he wrote in a normal handwriting, irrational statements.
ויתו. ויכתוב:
He scribbled. He wrote.13He wrote, ‘Ochish the King of Gas owes me one hundred thousand gold coins and his wife owes me fifty.’
רירו. רוקו, דבר הנוטף קרוי ריר, וכן (איוב ו ו): בריר חלמות ; וכן (ויקרא טו ג): רר בשרו:
His saliva. His saliva; anything which drips is called 'ריר' as in, 'in saliva [בְּרִיר] of health',14Iyov 6:6. and as in, '[whether] his flesh run [דָר]'.15Vayikra 15:3.
וַיֹּאמֶר אָכִישׁ אֶל־עֲבָדָיו הִנֵּה תִרְאוּ אִישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ לָמָּה תָּבִיאוּ אֹתוֹ אֵלָֽי׃
Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me?
Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me?
חֲסַר מְשֻׁגָּעִים אָנִי כִּֽי־הֲבֵאתֶם אֶת־זֶה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ עָלָי הֲזֶה יָבוֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִֽי׃ {פ}
Do I lack madmen that you brought this one to display his madness in front of me? Should such [a person] come into my house?"
Do I lack madmen that you brought this one to display his madness in front of me? Should such [a person] come into my house?"
Rashi
הזה יבא אל ביתי. לשון תמיהה, ולכך נקוד חטף פתח, ורפי:
Should such [a person] come into my house. This is in the form of a question; it is [i.e., the 'ה'] therefore punctuated by a חֲטַף פַּתָּח and [the ז] is not punctuated by a דָגֵּשׁ.
ואת הנערים יודעתי. לשון טורח, הנערים אשר יצאו עמי, הטרחתים לרוץ לפני אל מקום פלוני אלמוני:
And as for the youths, I have sent them ahead. An expression of troubling; the young men who came out with me, I have troubled them to go before me to a secret, hidden place.