Tanach
Shmuel I 6 שמואל א ו׳
Part of: Setumah, I Samuel 6:1Setumah, I Samuel 6:3Setumah, I Samuel 6:15Setumah, I Samuel 6:17Setumah, I Samuel 6:17Setumah, I Samuel 6:17Setumah, I Samuel 6:17Setumah, I Samuel 6:17Setumah, I Samuel 6:17Setumah, I Samuel 6:18
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיְהִי אֲרוֹן־יְהֹוָה בִּשְׂדֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים שִׁבְעָה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃
The Ark of Adonoy was in the land of the Philistines for seven months.
The Ark of Adonoy was in the land of the Philistines for seven months.
וַיִּקְרְאוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים לֵאמֹר מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂה לַאֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה הוֹדִעֻנוּ בַּמֶּה נְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ {ס}
The Philistines called upon the priests and the sorcerers, saying, "What shall we do about the Ark of Adonoy? Let us know how we should send it back to its place."
The Philistines called upon the priests and the sorcerers, saying, "What shall we do about the Ark of Adonoy? Let us know how we should send it back to its place."
Rashi
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִֽם־מְשַׁלְּחִים אֶת־אֲרוֹן אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אַל־תְּשַׁלְּחוּ אֹתוֹ רֵיקָם כִּי־הָשֵׁב תָּשִׁיבוּ לוֹ אָשָׁם אָז תֵּרָֽפְאוּ וְנוֹדַע לָכֶם לָמָּה לֹא־תָסוּר יָדוֹ מִכֶּֽם׃
They replied, "If you are sending [back] the Ark of the God of Yisroel, do not send it empty-handed; rather you must return a guilt-offering to Him. Then you will be healed, and you will realize why His hand would not turn away from [afflicting] you."
They replied, "If you are sending [back] the Ark of the God of Yisroel, do not send it empty-handed; rather you must return a guilt-offering to Him. Then you will be healed, and you will realize why His hand would not turn away from [afflicting] you."
Rashi
אשם. היכר דבר שאתם מודים שמעלתם בו:
A guilt-offering. As an indication that you confess that you have betrayed Him.
אז. תרפאו ונודע לכם שהוא עשה, כי למה לא תסור ידו אז מכם:
Then you will be healed, and you will realize. That He did this, for why wouldn't His hand turn away from you then?
וַיֹּאמְרוּ מָה הָאָשָׁם אֲשֶׁר נָשִׁיב לוֹ וַיֹּאמְרוּ מִסְפַּר סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים חֲמִשָּׁה (עפלי) [טְחֹרֵי] זָהָב וַחֲמִשָּׁה עַכְבְּרֵי זָהָב כִּֽי־מַגֵּפָה אַחַת לְכֻלָּם וּלְסַרְנֵיכֶֽם׃
They said, "What is the guilt-offering that we should return to Him?" They answered, "According to the number of Philistine rulers, five golden [images of] hemorrhoids and five golden [images of] mice; for the same plague is on all of you and upon your rulers.
They said, "What is the guilt-offering that we should return to Him?" They answered, "According to the number of Philistine rulers, five golden [images of] hemorrhoids and five golden [images of] mice; for the same plague is on all of you and upon your rulers.
Rashi
סרני פלשתים. חמשה הם, כמה שנאמר (ביהושע יג ג): העזתי והאשדודי האשקלוני הגתי והעקרוני:
Philistine rulers. They were five, as it is stated, "The Azites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites."1 Yehoshua 13:3.
וַעֲשִׂיתֶם צַלְמֵי (עפליכם) [טְחֹרֵיכֶם] וְצַלְמֵי עַכְבְּרֵיכֶם הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם אֶת־הָאָרֶץ וּנְתַתֶּם לֵאלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּבוֹד אוּלַי יָקֵל אֶת־יָדוֹ מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶם וּמֵעַל אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּמֵעַל אַרְצְכֶֽם׃
Make images of your hemorrhoids and images of your mice, which are destroying the land, and give [them] to honor the God of Yisroel, perhaps He will ease His hand from upon you and your gods, and from your land.
Make images of your hemorrhoids and images of your mice, which are destroying the land, and give [them] to honor the God of Yisroel, perhaps He will ease His hand from upon you and your gods, and from your land.
וְלָמָּה תְכַבְּדוּ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּבְּדוּ מִצְרַיִם וּפַרְעֹה אֶת־לִבָּם הֲלוֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר הִתְעַלֵּל בָּהֶם וַֽיְשַׁלְּחוּם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃
Why should you harden your hearts as Egypt and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After He mocked them did they not send them off, and they left?
Why should you harden your hearts as Egypt and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After He mocked them did they not send them off, and they left?
וְעַתָּה קְחוּ וַעֲשׂוּ עֲגָלָה חֲדָשָׁה אֶחָת וּשְׁתֵּי פָרוֹת עָלוֹת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָלָה עֲלֵיהֶם עֹל וַאֲסַרְתֶּם אֶת־הַפָּרוֹת בָּעֲגָלָה וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶם בְּנֵיהֶם מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם הַבָּֽיְתָה׃
Now, make one new wagon, and take two nursing cows which have not borne a yoke; tie the cows to the wagon, and turn their calves homeward from behind them.
Now, make one new wagon, and take two nursing cows which have not borne a yoke; tie the cows to the wagon, and turn their calves homeward from behind them.
Rashi
עלות. מניקות:
Nursing cows. Nursing.
אשר לא עלה עליהם עול. כל זה לנסיון, שאין אלו ראויות למשוך, ועוד שגועות אחר בניהם, ואם יהא כח בארון שיוליכו אותו מאליהם, נדע שהוא עשה לנו:
Which have not borne a yoke. All this is for the test. Since these cows are not capable of pulling [a load], and furthermore, they will yearn for their young. If the Ark will have the power to enable them to pull it by themselves, we shall know that He brought this upon us.
וּלְקַחְתֶּם אֶת־אֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה וּנְתַתֶּם אֹתוֹ אֶל־הָעֲגָלָה וְאֵת ׀ כְּלֵי הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר הֲשֵׁבֹתֶם לוֹ אָשָׁם תָּשִׂימוּ בָאַרְגַּז מִצִּדּוֹ וְשִׁלַּחְתֶּם אֹתוֹ וְהָלָֽךְ׃
Take the Ark of Adonoy and put it on the wagon, and the golden objects that you are returning to Him as a guilt-offering put in the box beside it. Send it off and it will go.
Take the Ark of Adonoy and put it on the wagon, and the golden objects that you are returning to Him as a guilt-offering put in the box beside it. Send it off and it will go.
Rashi
בארגז. שקריניי"ו בלע"ז:
In the box. Escrin in O. F.
וּרְאִיתֶם אִם־דֶּרֶךְ גְּבוּלוֹ יַֽעֲלֶה בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ הוּא עָשָׂה לָנוּ אֶת־הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת וְאִם־לֹא וְיָדַעְנוּ כִּי לֹא יָדוֹ נָגְעָה בָּנוּ מִקְרֶה הוּא הָיָה לָֽנוּ׃
Then you will see: If it goes up by the path to its own border, towards Beis Shemesh, then it was He Who caused us this great evil; but if not, we will know that it was not His hand that afflicted us, but what happened to us was all by chance."
Then you will see: If it goes up by the path to its own border, towards Beis Shemesh, then it was He Who caused us this great evil; but if not, we will know that it was not His hand that afflicted us, but what happened to us was all by chance."
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כֵּן וַיִּקְחוּ שְׁתֵּי פָרוֹת עָלוֹת וַיַּאַסְרוּם בָּעֲגָלָה וְאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם כָּלוּ בַבָּֽיִת׃
The men did so, they took two nursing cows and tied them to the wagon, and confined their calves in the house.
The men did so, they took two nursing cows and tied them to the wagon, and confined their calves in the house.
Rashi
כלו בבית. לשון כלא:
Confined in the house. 'כָּלוּ' is an expression of 'כֶּלֶא' [imprisonment].
וַיָּשִׂמוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה אֶל־הָעֲגָלָה וְאֵת הָאַרְגַּז וְאֵת עַכְבְּרֵי הַזָּהָב וְאֵת צַלְמֵי טְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
They put the Ark of Adonoy on the wagon, together with the box and the golden mice and the images of their hemorrhoids.
They put the Ark of Adonoy on the wagon, together with the box and the golden mice and the images of their hemorrhoids.
וַיִּשַּׁרְנָה הַפָּרוֹת בַּדֶּרֶךְ עַל־דֶּרֶךְ בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ בִּמְסִלָּה אַחַת הָלְכוּ הָלֹךְ וְגָעוֹ וְלֹא־סָרוּ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול וְסַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים הֹלְכִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם עַד־גְּבוּל בֵּית שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃
The cows set out on a straight course on the road to Beis Shemesh. They went on a single path, lowing as they walked, neither turning right nor left. The Philistine rulers went behind them until the border of Beis Shemesh.
The cows set out on a straight course on the road to Beis Shemesh. They went on a single path, lowing as they walked, neither turning right nor left. The Philistine rulers went behind them until the border of Beis Shemesh.
Rashi
וישרנה. הרי תיבה זו אנדרוגינוס, מלמד שאף הוולדות היו אומרים שירה: רוני רוני השיטה התנופפי וכו', כדאיתא במסכת עבודה זרה (כד ב). ולפי פשוטו, 'וישרנה', לשון 'ישר דרך', ישר היו הולכות:
Set on a straight course. This word is a grammatical hermaphrodite.2The “י” of וַיִשַּׁרְנָה is the masculine form and the “נה” is indicative of the feminine form. This teaches us that even the young recited a song,3 And, therefore, the combination of the masculine and feminine forms. "Sing aloud, sing aloud, O Ark of acacia wood! Exalt yourself…" as stated in Maseches Avodah Zorah.4 24b. The cows literally sang an intelligible praise to ‘ה. They were given the miraculous power to sing just as Bilam’s donkey was given the power of speech in Bamidbar 22:28-30. According to its simple meaning, 'וַיִשַּׁרְנָה' is an expression meaning 'straight,' i.e. they followed a straight path.
הלך וגעו. לשון צעקת בקר, געייה:
Lowing as they walked. This is an expression of the cry [גְּעִיָה] of cattle.
בית שמש. ישראל היו שם:
Beis Shemesh. Yisroel was there.5Although בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ was one of the cities belonging to kohanim [Yehosua 21:16], nonetheless man Bnei Yisroel lived there and in adjacent areas.—Da’as Sofrim
וּבֵית שֶׁמֶשׁ קֹצְרִים קְצִיר־חִטִּים בָּעֵמֶק וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת־הָאָרוֹן וַֽיִּשְׂמְחוּ לִרְאֽוֹת׃
[The people of] Beis Shemesh were reaping the wheat harvest in the valley. They raised their eyes and saw the Ark, and they rejoiced to see it.
[The people of] Beis Shemesh were reaping the wheat harvest in the valley. They raised their eyes and saw the Ark, and they rejoiced to see it.
Rashi
וישמחו לראות. היו מסתכלין היאך הוא בא לבדו, ומשמחתם נהגו בו קלות ראש, שלא היו מסתכלין בו באימה ודרך כבוד:
And they rejoiced to see. They were going to see how it came alone, and out of their joy, they behaved with levity, for they did not gaze at it with awe and respect.6They violated the commandment “and they shall not come in to see when the holy is being covered and [they will not] die,” in Bamidbar 4:20.
וְהָעֲגָלָה בָּאָה אֶל־שְׂדֵה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֵּֽית־הַשִּׁמְשִׁי וַתַּעֲמֹד שָׁם וְשָׁם אֶבֶן גְּדוֹלָה וַֽיְבַקְּעוּ אֶת־עֲצֵי הָעֲגָלָה וְאֶת־הַפָּרוֹת הֶעֱלוּ עֹלָה לַיהֹוָֽה׃ {ס}
The wagon came to the field of Yehoshua of Beis Shemesh, and stopped there, where there was a large rock. They split the boards of the wagon, and offered up the cows as a burnt-offering to Adonoy.
The wagon came to the field of Yehoshua of Beis Shemesh, and stopped there, where there was a large rock. They split the boards of the wagon, and offered up the cows as a burnt-offering to Adonoy.
וְהַלְוִיִּם הוֹרִידוּ ׀ אֶת־אֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה וְאֶת־הָאַרְגַּז אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ כְלֵֽי־זָהָב וַיָּשִׂמוּ אֶל־הָאֶבֶן הַגְּדוֹלָה וְאַנְשֵׁי בֵֽית־שֶׁמֶשׁ הֶעֱלוּ עֹלוֹת וַֽיִּזְבְּחוּ זְבָחִים בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לַיהֹוָֽה׃
The Levites had unloaded the Ark of Adonoy and the box that was with it, that contained the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. The people of Beis Shemesh brought burnt-offerings and sacrificed feast-offerings on that day to Adonoy.
The Levites had unloaded the Ark of Adonoy and the box that was with it, that contained the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. The people of Beis Shemesh brought burnt-offerings and sacrificed feast-offerings on that day to Adonoy.
וַחֲמִשָּׁה סַרְנֵֽי־פְלִשְׁתִּים רָאוּ וַיָּשֻׁבוּ עֶקְרוֹן בַּיּוֹם הַהֽוּא׃ {ס}
The five Philistine rulers saw all this and returned to Ekron on that day.
The five Philistine rulers saw all this and returned to Ekron on that day.
וְאֵלֶּה טְחֹרֵי הַזָּהָב אֲשֶׁר הֵשִׁיבוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אָשָׁם לַיהֹוָה {ס} לְאַשְׁדּוֹד אֶחָד {ס} לְעַזָּה אֶחָד {ס} לְאַשְׁקְלוֹן אֶחָד {ס} לְגַת אֶחָד {ס} לְעֶקְרוֹן אֶחָֽד׃ {ס}
These are the golden hemorrhoids that the Philistines sent as a guilt-offering to Adonoy: one for Ashdod; one for Gaza; one for Ashkelon; one for Gas; and one for Ekron.
These are the golden hemorrhoids that the Philistines sent as a guilt-offering to Adonoy: one for Ashdod; one for Gaza; one for Ashkelon; one for Gas; and one for Ekron.
וְעַכְבְּרֵי הַזָּהָב מִסְפַּר כׇּל־עָרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים לַחֲמֵשֶׁת הַסְּרָנִים מֵעִיר מִבְצָר וְעַד כֹּפֶר הַפְּרָזִי וְעַד ׀ אָבֵל הַגְּדוֹלָה אֲשֶׁר הִנִּיחוּ עָלֶיהָ אֵת אֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה בִּשְׂדֵה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֵּית הַשִּׁמְשִֽׁי׃
And golden mice [corresponding to] the number of all Philistine cities of the five rulers, from fortified city to open village, extending until the large rock on which they placed the Ark of Adonoy, which to this day is in the field of Yehoshua of Beis Shemesh.
And golden mice [corresponding to] the number of all Philistine cities of the five rulers, from fortified city to open village, extending until the large rock on which they placed the Ark of Adonoy, which to this day is in the field of Yehoshua of Beis Shemesh.
Rashi
כפר הפרזי. כפר שאין לו חומה:
Open village. A village without a wall.
אבל הגדולה. היא האבן הגדולה האמורה למעלה, שהלמ"ד באה במקום נו"ן, וכן 'נשכה' במקום 'לשכה', בספר נחמיה (יג ז), ומפני שאירע להם אבלות בדבר, קראה אבל:
The large rock. This is the large rock previously mentioned, for the 'ל' comes in place of the 'נ' [in the word 'אָבֵל'], similar to 'נִשְׁכָּה' instead of 'לִשְׁכָּה' [chamber], in the book of Nechemyah.7 13:7. And because they experienced mourning there,8 See below verse 19. they called it 'אָבֵל'.
וַיַּךְ בְּאַנְשֵׁי בֵֽית־שֶׁמֶשׁ כִּי רָאוּ בַּאֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה וַיַּךְ בָּעָם שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ חֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף אִישׁ וַיִּֽתְאַבְּלוּ הָעָם כִּֽי־הִכָּה יְהֹוָה בָּעָם מַכָּה גְדוֹלָֽה׃
Then He smote the men of Beis Shemesh because they had looked at the Ark of Adonoy. He killed of the people seventy men, [and] fifty thousand men. The people mourned because Adonoy had struck the people with a great blow.
Then He smote the men of Beis Shemesh because they had looked at the Ark of Adonoy. He killed of the people seventy men, [and] fifty thousand men. The people mourned because Adonoy had struck the people with a great blow.
Rashi
שבעים איש חמשים אלף איש. תרגם יונתן: וקטל בסבי עמא שבעין גברא, ובקהלא חמשין אלפי גברא. ורבותינו אמרו (סוטה לה ב): שבעים איש, שכל אחד היה שקול כחמשים אלף, או חמשים אלף איש, שכל אחד שקול כשבעים סנהדרין:
Seventy men, fifty thousand men.9 Targum Yonoson renders, 'And He killed of the elders of the people seventy men, and of the community fifty thousand men.'9Another opinion is that this figure also includes the number of Philistines that were killed as a result of their irreverence towards the Ark. Our Rabbis, however said, 'Seventy men, each of whom was equal to fifty thousand, or fifty thousand men each of whom was equal to the seventy of Sanhedrin.'10Maseches Sotah 35b.
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ אַנְשֵׁי בֵֽית־שֶׁמֶשׁ מִי יוּכַל לַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה הָאֱלֹהִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַזֶּה וְאֶל־מִי יַעֲלֶה מֵעָלֵֽינוּ׃
And the people of Beis Shemesh said, "Who can [possibly] stand before Adonoy, this Holy God? To whom among us can it go up?"
And the people of Beis Shemesh said, "Who can [possibly] stand before Adonoy, this Holy God? To whom among us can it go up?"
וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ מַלְאָכִים אֶל־יוֹשְׁבֵי קִרְיַת־יְעָרִים לֵאמֹר הֵשִׁבוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים אֶת־אֲרוֹן יְהֹוָה רְדוּ הַעֲלוּ אֹתוֹ אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
They sent emissaries to the inhabitants of Kiryas Ye'arim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the Ark of Adonoy. Come down and bring it up to you."
They sent emissaries to the inhabitants of Kiryas Ye'arim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the Ark of Adonoy. Come down and bring it up to you."
במה נשלחנו. באיזה ענין נשלחנו שלא יחרה אפו, וישוב חרונו ממנו:
How we should send it back. In what manner should we send it away, so that He will not be angry, and so that His wrath will be removed from us.