Tanach
Shmuel I 21:10-14 שמואל א כ״א:י׳-י״ד
Part of: Chapter 21Setumah, I Samuel 21:10
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
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
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.
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.