Tanach
Shmuel I 3 שמואל א ג׳
Part of: Petuchah, I Samuel 3:1Petuchah, I Samuel 3:4Petuchah, I Samuel 3:11Petuchah, I Samuel 3:19Setumah, I Samuel 3:2Setumah, I Samuel 3:6Setumah, I Samuel 3:21
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וְהַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל מְשָׁרֵת אֶת־יְהֹוָה לִפְנֵי עֵלִי וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָה הָיָה יָקָר בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם אֵין חָזוֹן נִפְרָֽץ׃ {ס}
The youth Shmuel was serving Adonoy before Eili. The word of Adonoy was rare in those days; prophetic vision was not widespread.
The youth Shmuel was serving Adonoy before Eili. The word of Adonoy was rare in those days; prophetic vision was not widespread.
Rashi
אין חזון נפרץ. (תרגום:) לית נבואה גליא. נפרץ - לשון (בראשית כח יד): ופרצת ימה וקדמה:
Prophetic vision was not widespread. Prophecy was not revealed.3Not only were prophetic visions rare in those days, but even when they occurred they were not clear and concise, but rather cryptic and vague. Also, the prophecy that was received was of a private nature and not required by the people, so there was no need to reveal those visions. The prophets therefore kept their experiences to themselves and prophetic vision was rare and not widespread.נִפְרָץ is an expression similar to, "and you shall spread [וּפָרַצְתָּ] westward and eastward.4Bereishis 28:14.
וַֽיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וְעֵלִי שֹׁכֵב בִּמְקוֹמוֹ וְעֵינָו הֵחֵלּוּ כֵהוֹת לֹא יוּכַל לִרְאֽוֹת׃
It happened one day that Eili was lying in his place, and his eyes had begun to become dim, he was unable to see.
It happened one day that Eili was lying in his place, and his eyes had begun to become dim, he was unable to see.
וְנֵר אֱלֹהִים טֶרֶם יִכְבֶּה וּשְׁמוּאֵל שֹׁכֵב בְּהֵיכַל יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר־שָׁם אֲרוֹן אֱלֹהִֽים׃ {פ}
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Shmuel was lying in the Temple of Adonoy where the Ark of God was located.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Shmuel was lying in the Temple of Adonoy where the Ark of God was located.
Rashi
ושמואל שוכב. במקומו בעזרת הלוים השומרים בית המקדש, וכן תרגם יונתן: ושמואל שכיב בעזרת לואי:
And Shmuel was lying. In his place, in the court of the Levites who watch in the Temple. According to Targum Yonoson: "And Shmuel was lying in the court of the Levites."
בהיכל ה' אשר שם ארון האלהים.
In the Temple of Adonoy. Where the Ark of God was.
וַיִּקְרָא יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃
Adonoy called to Shmuel, and he said, "Here I am."
Adonoy called to Shmuel, and he said, "Here I am."
Rashi
ויקרא ה' וקול יצא מהיכל ה' מבית קדשי הקדשים, שקרא שמואל, סוף המקרא העליון מחובר לראש המקרא התחתון, זהו שאמר הכתוב (איוב לז ה): ירעם אל בקולו נפלאות, עלי היה כהן ושומר מבפנים, ושמואל היה לוי ושוכב מבחוץ, וקפץ הקול דרך עלי לשמואל, במסכת תמיד:
Adonoy called. And a voice emanated from the Temple of God, from the Holy of Holies, which called, "Shmuel!" The end of the above verse5As is indicated by the אֶתְנַחְתָּא under the word שֹׁכֵכ to separate it from ‘בְּהֵיכַל ה. is connected to the verse that follows. This is what is inferred by the verse, "the Lord thunders wonderously with His voice."6Iyov 37:5. Eili was a kohein, and was watching from within, while Shmuel was a Levite and lying without. Yet, the voice [of 'ה] jumped over Eili to Shmuel.
וַיָּרׇץ אֶל־עֵלִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְנִי כִּֽי־קָרָאתָ לִּי וַיֹּאמֶר לֹֽא־קָרָאתִי שׁוּב שְׁכָב וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ {ס}
He ran to Eili and said, "Here I am, for you have called me." But he replied, "I did not call; go back and lie down," so he went and lay down.
He ran to Eili and said, "Here I am, for you have called me." But he replied, "I did not call; go back and lie down," so he went and lay down.
וַיֹּסֶף יְהֹוָה קְרֹא עוֹד שְׁמוּאֵל וַיָּקׇם שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־עֵלִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְנִי כִּי קָרָאתָ לִי וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא־קָרָאתִֽי בְנִי שׁוּב שְׁכָֽב׃
Adonoy continued to call again, "Shmuel." Then Shmuel rose, went to Eili and said, "Here I am, for you have called me." But he replied, "I did not call, my son; go back and lie down."
Adonoy continued to call again, "Shmuel." Then Shmuel rose, went to Eili and said, "Here I am, for you have called me." But he replied, "I did not call, my son; go back and lie down."
וּשְׁמוּאֵל טֶרֶם יָדַע אֶת־יְהֹוָה וְטֶרֶם יִגָּלֶה אֵלָיו דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃
Shmuel had not yet [learned to] know [prophecy] from Adonoy, and it had not yet been revealed to him—the word of Adonoy.
Shmuel had not yet [learned to] know [prophecy] from Adonoy, and it had not yet been revealed to him—the word of Adonoy.
Rashi
טרם ידע את ה'. עדיין לא היה מכיר ענין קול נבואה, כל 'טרם' שבמקרא, לשון 'עדיין לא', כתרגומו: 'עד לא', ואינו לשון 'לפני', וזה יוכיח, ועוד, (שמות ט ל): כי טרם תיראון, מפורש ממנו, וכן (בראשית ב ה): כל שיח השדה טרם יהיה בארץ:
[Shmuel] had not yet known Adonoy. He had not yet recognized the nature of the prophetic voice.7He was thus unfamiliar with the ways ‘ה calls man, and he therefore thought that the voice was Eili’s. Every time the word 'טֶרֶם' appears in Scripture, it means 'not yet,' as rendered by the Targum 'עַד לָא' [not yet]. It does not mean 'before.' This verse proves it. And another [proof of this] is the verse כִּי טֶרֶם תִּירְאוּן which is rendered as "that you do not yet fear,"8Shemos 9:30. is a more explicit verse proving this. Also, וְכֹל שִֹיחַ הַשָֹּדֶה טֶרֶם יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ ["all plants of the field were not yet on the earth"].9Bereishis 2:5.
וַיֹּסֶף יְהֹוָה קְרֹֽא־שְׁמוּאֵל בַּשְּׁלִישִׁת וַיָּקׇם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־עֵלִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְנִי כִּי קָרָאתָ לִי וַיָּבֶן עֵלִי כִּי יְהֹוָה קֹרֵא לַנָּֽעַר׃
Adonoy continued to call, "Shmuel" yet a third time, and he rose and went to Eili and said, "Here I am, for you have called me." Now Eili understood that Adonoy was calling the lad.
Adonoy continued to call, "Shmuel" yet a third time, and he rose and went to Eili and said, "Here I am, for you have called me." Now Eili understood that Adonoy was calling the lad.
וַיֹּאמֶר עֵלִי לִשְׁמוּאֵל לֵךְ ׀ שְׁכָב וְהָיָה אִם־יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ דַּבֵּר יְהֹוָה כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ עַבְדֶּךָ וַיֵּלֶךְ שְׁמוּאֵל וַיִּשְׁכַּב בִּמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃
Eili said to Shmuel, "Go and lie down; and if He calls you, you should say, 'Speak, Adonoy, for Your servant is listening.'" Shmuel went and lay down in his place.
Eili said to Shmuel, "Go and lie down; and if He calls you, you should say, 'Speak, Adonoy, for Your servant is listening.'" Shmuel went and lay down in his place.
וַיָּבֹא יְהֹוָה וַיִּתְיַצַּב וַיִּקְרָא כְפַֽעַם־בְּפַעַם שְׁמוּאֵל ׀ שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל דַּבֵּר כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ {פ}
Adonoy came, stood, and called as the other times, "Shmuel, Shmuel," and Shmuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."
Adonoy came, stood, and called as the other times, "Shmuel, Shmuel," and Shmuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."
Rashi
ויאמר שמואל דבר. ולא הזכיר שם מקום כמו שציוהו עלי, אמר שמא קול אחר הוא:
And Shmuel said, "Speak." He did not mention the Name of the Deity as Eili had commanded him, because he said [to himself], 'Perhaps it is another voice.'10See Maseches Shabbos 113b.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עֹשֶׂה דָבָר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר כׇּל־שֹׁמְעוֹ תְּצִלֶּינָה שְׁתֵּי אׇזְנָֽיו׃
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "Behold, I am going to do something in Yisroel that when anyone hears about it, both of his ears will ring.
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "Behold, I am going to do something in Yisroel that when anyone hears about it, both of his ears will ring.
Rashi
עושה דבר. היא לקיחת הארון ביד פלשתים:
To do something. This refers to the capture of the Ark by the Philistines.11Also, this may be referring to the destruction of the Mishkon in Shiloh which happened after the Ark was captured.
תצלינה. לשון צלצלים, טנטיני"ר בלע"ז:
Will ring. An expression similar to [צִלְצָלִים], cymbals, tintiner, in O. F.
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָקִים אֶל־עֵלִי אֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ הָחֵל וְכַלֵּֽה׃
On that day, I will set up against Eili all that I have spoken concerning his family, [I will] begin to destroy.
On that day, I will set up against Eili all that I have spoken concerning his family, [I will] begin to destroy.
Rashi
החל וכלה. אותו היום תתחיל גזירתי על בית עלי, שימותו חפני ופנחס, ומכאן ואילך אכלה גזירתי ואשלימה עליהם מדור אל דור, להמיתם אנשים בני שמנה עשרה שנה:
I will begin to destroy. On that day, My decree upon Eili's family will begin, for Chofni and Pinchas shall die, and from then on, I shall finish my decree and complete it upon them from generation to generation, and cause them to die as young men at the age of eighteen years.
החל וכלה. אקומיינצ"ט אאישפליימנ"ט בלע"ז:
I will begin to destroy. Commencant e espleiant, in O. F.
וְהִגַּדְתִּי לוֹ כִּֽי־שֹׁפֵט אֲנִי אֶת־בֵּיתוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם בַּעֲוֺן אֲשֶׁר־יָדַע כִּֽי־מְקַלְלִים לָהֶם בָּנָיו וְלֹא כִהָה בָּֽם׃
I have told him that I am executing judgment against his family forever, for the sin of knowing that his sons were blaspheming themselves, yet he did not censure them.
I have told him that I am executing judgment against his family forever, for the sin of knowing that his sons were blaspheming themselves, yet he did not censure them.
Rashi
כי מקללים להם בניו. מקללים 'לי' היה לו לומר, אלא שכנה הכתוב:
That his sons were blaspheming themselves. It should properly state, 'blaspheming Me' but Scripture euphemized.12 See Mechilta Beshalach 15:7 for a listing of other places where Scripture euphemized out of reverence to ‘ה. Ralbag, however, interprets this verse that “they [Bnei Yisroel] cursed them [the sons of Eili].”
מקללים. מקילים, וכן כל קללה, לשון קלות ובזיון הוא:
Blaspheming. Meaning, acting irreverantly, and similarly, every curse [קְלָלָה] is an expression of irreverence and disgrace.
ולא כהה. לא הכהה פניהם להעבירם מגדולתן:
He did not censure. I.e., he did not darken [כהה] their faces by removing them from their high positions.
וְלָכֵן נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְבֵית עֵלִי אִֽם־יִתְכַּפֵּר עֲוֺן בֵּית־עֵלִי בְּזֶבַח וּבְמִנְחָה עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
Therefore I have sworn concerning the house of Eili, that the sin of of Eili's house shall not be atoned with sacrifice or meal-offering forever."
Therefore I have sworn concerning the house of Eili, that the sin of of Eili's house shall not be atoned with sacrifice or meal-offering forever."
וַיִּשְׁכַּב שְׁמוּאֵל עַד־הַבֹּקֶר וַיִּפְתַּח אֶת־דַּלְתוֹת בֵּית־יְהֹוָה וּשְׁמוּאֵל יָרֵא מֵהַגִּיד אֶת־הַמַּרְאָה אֶל־עֵלִֽי׃
Shmuel lay until the morning, when he opened the doors of the House of Adonoy; and Shmuel was afraid of relating the vision to Eili.
Shmuel lay until the morning, when he opened the doors of the House of Adonoy; and Shmuel was afraid of relating the vision to Eili.
וַיִּקְרָא עֵלִי אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל בְּנִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃
Eili called Shmuel and said, "Shmuel, my son," and he said, "Here I am."
Eili called Shmuel and said, "Shmuel, my son," and he said, "Here I am."
וַיֹּאמֶר מָה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלֶיךָ אַל־נָא תְכַחֵד מִמֶּנִּי כֹּה יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ אֱלֹהִים וְכֹה יוֹסִיף אִם־תְּכַחֵד מִמֶּנִּי דָּבָר מִכׇּל־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃
He said, "What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not withhold it from me. Such shall God do to you and such shall He do more, if you withhold from me anything from all that He spoke to you."
He said, "What is the word that He spoke to you? Please do not withhold it from me. Such shall God do to you and such shall He do more, if you withhold from me anything from all that He spoke to you."
Rashi
כה יעשה לך. כאותה קללה עצמה, שלא יהיה לך בנים הגונים, וכן עלתה בו, ואף על פי שהגיד לו ולא כחד, מכאן אמרו (מכות יא א): קללת חכם אפילו על תנאי היא באה:
Such shall [God] do to you. Like that very curse, that you shall not have worthy children. And that curse actually befell him even though he did tell him. And did not withhold. From here [the Sages concluded]: A curse of a wise man, even though pronounced on condition, will be realized.13Maseches Makos 11a.
וַיַּגֶּד־לוֹ שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת־כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִים וְלֹא כִחֵד מִמֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמַר יְהֹוָה הוּא הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינָו יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ {פ}
Shmuel told him everything and did not withhold [anything] from him. Then [Eili] said, "He is Adonoy; He will do what is proper in His eyes."
Shmuel told him everything and did not withhold [anything] from him. Then [Eili] said, "He is Adonoy; He will do what is proper in His eyes."
Rashi
ה' הוא. אדון הוא, והכל שלו:
He is Adonoy. He is the Master and everything is His.
וַיִּגְדַּל שְׁמוּאֵל וַֽיהֹוָה הָיָה עִמּוֹ וְלֹא־הִפִּיל מִכׇּל־דְּבָרָיו אָֽרְצָה׃
Shmuel grew up, and Adonoy was with him; He did not cast any of his words to the ground.
Shmuel grew up, and Adonoy was with him; He did not cast any of his words to the ground.
וַיֵּדַע כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִדָּן וְעַד־בְּאֵר שָׁבַע כִּי נֶאֱמָן שְׁמוּאֵל לְנָבִיא לַיהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
All of Yisroel, from Don to Beer Sheva knew, that Shmuel was as faithful as a prophet to Adonoy.
All of Yisroel, from Don to Beer Sheva knew, that Shmuel was as faithful as a prophet to Adonoy.
וַיֹּסֶף יְהֹוָה לְהֵרָאֹה בְשִׁלֹה כִּֽי־נִגְלָה יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל בְּשִׁלוֹ בִּדְבַר יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Adonoy continued to appear in Shiloh, for Adonoy revealed Himself to Shmuel in Shiloh, with the word of Adonoy.
Adonoy continued to appear in Shiloh, for Adonoy revealed Himself to Shmuel in Shiloh, with the word of Adonoy.
Rashi
כי נגלה ה' אל שמואל. לפי שאמר למעלה ודבר ה' היה יקר בימים ההם, אמר כאן כי מעתה בשביל שמואל, נגלה ושנה והרגיל להגלות:
For Adonoy revealed Himself to Shmuel. Because Scripture stated above, "The word of Adonoy was rare in those days,"14Above 3:1. it states here that from now on, for Shmuel's sake, He revealed Himself repeatedly.15Not only to Shmuel, but others also began to prophesy.
היה יקר. היה מנוע, וכן (משלי יז כז): יקר רוח איש תבונה, מנוע דברים, אדם מבין:
Was rare. Was withheld,1It was therefore considered precious and dear [=יָקָר]. as in, "and a man of understanding speaks sparingly ]יֲקר[",2Mishlei 17:27. meaning that who speaks sparingly is an understanding man.