Tanach
Shmuel I 4:1-17 שמואל א ד׳:א׳-י״ז
Part of: Chapter 4
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיְהִי דְבַר־שְׁמוּאֵל לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל לִקְרַאת פְּלִשְׁתִּים לַמִּלְחָמָה וַֽיַּחֲנוּ עַל־הָאֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר וּפְלִשְׁתִּים חָנוּ בַאֲפֵֽק׃
The word of Shmuel went out to all of Yisroel. Yisroel went out to war against the Philistines. They camped at Even Haezer, and the Philistines camped at Aphek.
The word of Shmuel went out to all of Yisroel. Yisroel went out to war against the Philistines. They camped at Even Haezer, and the Philistines camped at Aphek.
Rashi
האבן העזר. עדיין לא היה כן שמה, כי בימי שמואל נקראת כן (לקמן ז יב), וכאן קרא על שם סופה:
Even Haezer [Lit. the rock of help]. This was not yet its name,2 Obviously, because they were soundly defeated now. for it was first called this name [later] in Shmuel's time, but here Scripture calls it by its future name.
וַיַּעַרְכוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל וַתִּטֹּשׁ הַמִּלְחָמָה וַיִּנָּגֶף יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיַּכּוּ בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה בַּשָּׂדֶה כְּאַרְבַּעַת אֲלָפִים אִֽישׁ׃
The Philistines arrayed themselves against Yisroel and the war spread and Yisroel was smitten before the Philistines; in the battlefield they slew about four thousand men.
The Philistines arrayed themselves against Yisroel and the war spread and Yisroel was smitten before the Philistines; in the battlefield they slew about four thousand men.
Rashi
ותטש המלחמה. ותתפשט המלחמה, כמו (לקמן ל טז): והנם נטושים על פני הארץ, וכן (שופטים טו ט): וינטשו בלחי:
And the war spread. And the war spread. Similar to, "and behold they were spread out [נְטוּשִׁים] across the face of the entire land"3 Below 30:16. and to "and they were spread out [וַיִנָּטְשׁוּ] at Lehi."4Shoftim 15:9.
וַיָּבֹא הָעָם אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָמָּה נְגָפָנוּ יְהֹוָה הַיּוֹם לִפְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים נִקְחָה אֵלֵינוּ מִשִּׁלֹה אֶת־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית יְהֹוָה וְיָבֹא בְקִרְבֵּנוּ וְיֹשִׁעֵנוּ מִכַּף אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃
The people came to the camp, and the elders of Yisroel said, "Why did Adonoy smite us today before the Philistines? Let us take with us from Shiloh, the Ark of the Covenant of Adonoy, that He will come in our midst and save us from the hand of our enemies."
The people came to the camp, and the elders of Yisroel said, "Why did Adonoy smite us today before the Philistines? Let us take with us from Shiloh, the Ark of the Covenant of Adonoy, that He will come in our midst and save us from the hand of our enemies."
וַיִּשְׁלַח הָעָם שִׁלֹה וַיִּשְׂאוּ מִשָּׁם אֵת אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים וְשָׁם שְׁנֵי בְנֵֽי־עֵלִי עִם־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית הָאֱלֹהִים חׇפְנִי וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃
The people sent to Shiloh and carried from there the Ark of the Covenant of Adonoy, Master of Hosts, Who is enthroned on the Cherubim; and there were Eili's two sons along with the Ark of the Covenant of God—Chofni and Pinchas.
The people sent to Shiloh and carried from there the Ark of the Covenant of Adonoy, Master of Hosts, Who is enthroned on the Cherubim; and there were Eili's two sons along with the Ark of the Covenant of God—Chofni and Pinchas.
וַיְהִי כְּבוֹא אֲרוֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיָּרִעוּ כׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּרוּעָה גְדוֹלָה וַתֵּהֹם הָאָֽרֶץ׃
When it arrived—the Ark of the Covenant of Adonoy—at the camp, all of Yisroel sounded a great shofar blast and the ground shook.
When it arrived—the Ark of the Covenant of Adonoy—at the camp, all of Yisroel sounded a great shofar blast and the ground shook.
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אֶת־קוֹל הַתְּרוּעָה וַיֹּאמְרוּ מֶה קוֹל הַתְּרוּעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת בְּמַחֲנֵה הָעִבְרִים וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי אֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה בָּא אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
The Philistines heard the sound of the blast and said, "What is the sound of this great blast in the Hebrew camp?" And they realized that the Ark of Adonoy had come to the camp.
The Philistines heard the sound of the blast and said, "What is the sound of this great blast in the Hebrew camp?" And they realized that the Ark of Adonoy had come to the camp.
וַיִּֽרְאוּ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים כִּי אָֽמְרוּ בָּא אֱלֹהִים אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ אוֹי לָנוּ כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה כָּזֹאת אֶתְמוֹל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃
The Philistines were frightened, for they said, "[The Ark of] God has come to the camp!" And they said, "Woe unto us, for something like this had not happened yesterday or the day before!
The Philistines were frightened, for they said, "[The Ark of] God has come to the camp!" And they said, "Woe unto us, for something like this had not happened yesterday or the day before!
אוֹי לָנוּ מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד הָאֱלֹהִים הָאַדִּירִים הָאֵלֶּה אֵלֶּה הֵם הָאֱלֹהִים הַמַּכִּים אֶת־מִצְרַיִם בְּכׇל־מַכָּה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
Woe unto us! Who will save us from the hand of this mighty God? This is the God Who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness!
Woe unto us! Who will save us from the hand of this mighty God? This is the God Who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness!
Rashi
בכל מכה במדבר. על ים סוף ויונתן תרגם: ולעמיה עבד פרישן במדברא. ובספרי שנינו: שהפרשה הזו עירוב דברים, מי שאמר זה לא אמר זה, כשרין שבהם אמרו: מי יצילנו מיד האלהים האדירים האלה, והרשעים אמרו: אלה הם האלהים המכים את מצרים בכל מכה, כל מכות שהיו לו, על המצרים הביאם, אין לו עוד מכה מעתה:
With every sort of plague in the wilderness. By the Sea of Reeds. Targum Yonoson however, renders, 'and for His people He performed wonders in the wilderness.' In Sifrei we learn that this passage is a combination of statements, whoever made one statement did not make the other. The worthy among them said, "Who will save us from the hand of this mighty God?" while the wicked retorted, "This is the God Who smote the Egyptians with every plague. All the plagues which He had, He brought upon the Egyptians. He has no more plagues [to inflict]."
הִֽתְחַזְּקוּ וִֽהְיוּ לַֽאֲנָשִׁים פְּלִשְׁתִּים פֶּן תַּעַבְדוּ לָֽעִבְרִים כַּאֲשֶׁר עָבְדוּ לָכֶם וִהְיִיתֶם לַאֲנָשִׁים וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃
Be strong! Be men, O Philistines, lest you become enslaved to the Hebrews as they have been enslaved to you. Be men and fight!"
Be strong! Be men, O Philistines, lest you become enslaved to the Hebrews as they have been enslaved to you. Be men and fight!"
וַיִּלָּחֲמוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיִּנָּגֶף יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּנֻסוּ אִישׁ לְאֹהָלָיו וַתְּהִי הַמַּכָּה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד וַיִּפֹּל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף רַגְלִֽי׃
The Philistines fought and Yisroel was defeated and each man ran to his tents. The blow was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers of Yisroel fell.
The Philistines fought and Yisroel was defeated and each man ran to his tents. The blow was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers of Yisroel fell.
וַאֲרוֹן אֱלֹהִים נִלְקָח וּשְׁנֵי בְנֵֽי־עֵלִי מֵתוּ חׇפְנִי וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃
The Ark of God was taken; and Eili's two sons, Chofni and Pinchas, died.
The Ark of God was taken; and Eili's two sons, Chofni and Pinchas, died.
וַיָּרׇץ אִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִן מֵהַמַּעֲרָכָה וַיָּבֹא שִׁלֹה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וּמַדָּיו קְרֻעִים וַאֲדָמָה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃
And a Binyaminite man ran from the battlefield and came to Shiloh that day, his clothes were torn and there was earth upon his head.
And a Binyaminite man ran from the battlefield and came to Shiloh that day, his clothes were torn and there was earth upon his head.
Rashi
איש בנימן. זה היה שאול, שחטף את הלוחות מיד גלית וברח לו:
A Binyaminite man. This was Shaul,5Perhaps the reason for Scripture not revealing that it was Shaul, was to protect the honor of his kingship being that he was responsible in part for Eili’s death.—Da’as Sofrim who grabbed the Tablets from the hands of Golyas and fled.
וַיָּבוֹא וְהִנֵּה עֵלִי יֹשֵׁב עַֽל־הַכִּסֵּא (יך) [יַד] דֶּרֶךְ מְצַפֶּה כִּֽי־הָיָה לִבּוֹ חָרֵד עַל אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וְהָאִישׁ בָּא לְהַגִּיד בָּעִיר וַתִּזְעַק כׇּל־הָעִֽיר׃
When he arrived, Eili was sitting on a chair by the road, looking out, for his heart was fearful about the Ark of God. The man came to inform the city, and the entire city cried out.
When he arrived, Eili was sitting on a chair by the road, looking out, for his heart was fearful about the Ark of God. The man came to inform the city, and the entire city cried out.
Rashi
יד דרך מצפה. אצל יד הדרך היה מצפה:
By the road looking out. By the side of the road, he was anxiously waiting.6He wanted to be situated in a place where a messenger would have to pass him first, and thus give him the news.
וַיִּשְׁמַע עֵלִי אֶת־קוֹל הַצְּעָקָה וַיֹּאמֶר מֶה קוֹל הֶהָמוֹן הַזֶּה וְהָאִישׁ מִהַר וַיָּבֹא וַיַּגֵּד לְעֵלִֽי׃
Eili heard the sound of the outcry and said, "What is the uproar of this multitude?" The man came quickly and told Eili.
Eili heard the sound of the outcry and said, "What is the uproar of this multitude?" The man came quickly and told Eili.
וְעֵלִי בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִים וּשְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנָה וְעֵינָיו קָמָה וְלֹא יָכוֹל לִרְאֽוֹת׃
Eili was ninety-eight years old, his eyes had become motionless and he could not see.
Eili was ninety-eight years old, his eyes had become motionless and he could not see.
וַיֹּאמֶר הָאִישׁ אֶל־עֵלִי אָֽנֹכִי הַבָּא מִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָה וַאֲנִי מִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָה נַסְתִּי הַיּוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר מֶה־הָיָה הַדָּבָר בְּנִֽי׃
The man said to Eili, "I am the one who came from the battlefield and I fled from the battlefield today." And he said, "What was the outcome, my son?"
The man said to Eili, "I am the one who came from the battlefield and I fled from the battlefield today." And he said, "What was the outcome, my son?"
וַיַּעַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂר וַיֹּאמֶר נָס יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וְגַם מַגֵּפָה גְדוֹלָה הָיְתָה בָעָם וְגַם־שְׁנֵי בָנֶיךָ מֵתוּ חׇפְנִי וּפִינְחָס וַאֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים נִלְקָֽחָה׃ {פ}
The bearer of the news answered him and said, "Yisroel fled from the Philistines; and there also was a great massacre among the nation; also, your two sons, Chofni and Pinchas died, and the Ark of God was taken!"
The bearer of the news answered him and said, "Yisroel fled from the Philistines; and there also was a great massacre among the nation; also, your two sons, Chofni and Pinchas died, and the Ark of God was taken!"
ויהי דבר שמואל לכל ישראל. נהיה הדבר שנאמר לשמואל, ובא לכל ישראל, והאיך היה הפורענות, ויצא ישראל לקראת פלשתים למלחמה:
The word of Shmuel went out to all of Yisroel. The word which was said to Shmuel, was fulfilled, and came to all Yisroel. How did this misfortune befall them? "Yisroel went out to war against the Philistines."1When Bnei Yisroel deserved punishment, ‘ה sometimes commanded them to go out and battle the Philistines even though it would end in their defeat.—Radak