Tanach
Shmuel I 24:3-8 שמואל א כ״ד:ג׳-ח׳
Part of: Chapter 24
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיִּקַּח שָׁאוּל שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ בָּחוּר מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־דָּוִד וַאֲנָשָׁיו עַל־פְּנֵי צוּרֵי הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃
Shaul took three thousand chosen men from all of Yisroel, and he went to search for Dovid and his men, across the rocky land of the wild goats.
Shaul took three thousand chosen men from all of Yisroel, and he went to search for Dovid and his men, across the rocky land of the wild goats.
Rashi
וַיָּבֹא אֶל־גִּדְרוֹת הַצֹּאן עַל־הַדֶּרֶךְ וְשָׁם מְעָרָה וַיָּבֹא שָׁאוּל לְהָסֵךְ אֶת־רַגְלָיו וְדָוִד וַאֲנָשָׁיו בְּיַרְכְּתֵי הַמְּעָרָה יֹשְׁבִֽים׃
He came to the sheepfolds along the way, and there was a cave, which Shaul entered to relieve himself. Dovid and his men were sitting at the far end of the cave.
He came to the sheepfolds along the way, and there was a cave, which Shaul entered to relieve himself. Dovid and his men were sitting at the far end of the cave.
Rashi
להסך את רגליו. להפנות לנקבים גדולים:
To relieve himself. To defecate.1Maseches Yevamos 103a states that the term ‘לְהָסֵךְ אֶת דַגְלָיו’ is a euphamistic expression. Because of his extreme modesty, Shaul covered himself like a succah [Maseches Berachos 62b], with his clothing. The word לְהָסֵךְ originates from סִכוּדְ, which means covered.—Radak.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי דָוִד אֵלָיו הִנֵּה הַיּוֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־אָמַר יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן אֶת־[אֹֽיִבְךָ] (איביך) בְּיָדֶךָ וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִטַב בְּעֵינֶיךָ וַיָּקׇם דָּוִד וַיִּכְרֹת אֶת־כְּנַֽף־הַמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁר־לְשָׁאוּל בַּלָּֽט׃
Dovid's men said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which Adonoy said to you, 'Behold, I am delivering your enemy into your hand, and you will do to him as you please.'" Dovid rose and cut off a corner of Shaul's robe—stealthily.
Dovid's men said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which Adonoy said to you, 'Behold, I am delivering your enemy into your hand, and you will do to him as you please.'" Dovid rose and cut off a corner of Shaul's robe—stealthily.
וַֽיְהִי אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן וַיַּךְ לֵב־דָּוִד אֹתוֹ עַל אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אֶת־כָּנָף אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃
Afterwards, however, Dovid's heart pounded within him for having cut off the corner of Shaul's [robe].
Afterwards, however, Dovid's heart pounded within him for having cut off the corner of Shaul's [robe].
Rashi
ויהי אחרי כן וגו':
Afterwards … etc.
וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲנָשָׁיו חָלִילָה לִּי מֵיְהֹוָה אִם־אֶעֱשֶׂה אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה לַֽאדֹנִי לִמְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָה לִשְׁלֹחַ יָדִי בּוֹ כִּֽי־מְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָה הֽוּא׃
He said to his men, "Adonoy forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the anointed of Adonoy, to send forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Adonoy."
He said to his men, "Adonoy forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the anointed of Adonoy, to send forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Adonoy."
Rashi
ויאמר לאנשיו חלילה. שני מקראות הללו כתובין שלא כסדרן, אלא כיון שהתחיל לדבר בכריתת המעיל, כלה כל דבריו, ואמר שאף בכריתת המעיל נתחרט, ואחר כך חוזר לדברו הראשון, ואומר ; על שאמרו לו אנשיו הנה היום וגו', השיב להם, חלילה לי וגו':
He said to his men, "[Adonoy] forbid." These two verses are not written in sequence;2According to Radak, these verses are written in chronological sequence, and this conversation took place after Dovid returned to his men with the cut piece of Shaul’s robe. but since he began to speak regarding the cutting of the robe, he finished everything concerning it, and he said that he even regretted cutting the robe. Afterwards, he returns to the first subject, and says that regarding his men's comments, "Behold, concerning this day, etc." He replied to them, 'May Adonoy forbid that, etc.'
וַיְשַׁסַּע דָּוִד אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו בַּדְּבָרִים וְלֹא נְתָנָם לָקוּם אֶל־שָׁאוּל וְשָׁאוּל קָם מֵהַמְּעָרָה וַיֵּלֶךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ {ס}
Dovid pacified his men with words, and did not allow them to attack Shaul; Shaul rose from the cave and went on the way.
Dovid pacified his men with words, and did not allow them to attack Shaul; Shaul rose from the cave and went on the way.
Rashi
וישסע. הבדיל ודחה אותם בדברים:
Dovid pacified. He separated and held them off with these words.3The literal meaning of וַיְשַׁסַּע is ‘he divided or split’ as in Shoftim 14:6. By being tactful in speaking to his men, Dovid divided their unanimous opinion of wanting to attack Shaul.—Metzudos
צורי היעלים. סלעי היעלים:
The rocky land of the wild goats. The rocks of the wild goats.