Tanach
Shmuel I 8 שמואל א ח׳
Part of: Petuchah, I Samuel 8:1Petuchah, I Samuel 8:4Petuchah, I Samuel 8:7Petuchah, I Samuel 8:22Setumah, I Samuel 8:10Setumah, I Samuel 8:11
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר זָקֵן שְׁמוּאֵל וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־בָּנָיו שֹׁפְטִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
When Shmuel became old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Yisroel.
When Shmuel became old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Yisroel.
וַיְהִי שֶׁם־בְּנוֹ הַבְּכוֹר יוֹאֵל וְשֵׁם מִשְׁנֵהוּ אֲבִיָּה שֹׁפְטִים בִּבְאֵר שָֽׁבַע׃
The name of his firstborn son was Yoeil and the name of his second was Aviyah; they were judges in Beer Sheva.
The name of his firstborn son was Yoeil and the name of his second was Aviyah; they were judges in Beer Sheva.
וְלֹֽא־הָלְכוּ בָנָיו בִּדְרָכָו וַיִּטּוּ אַחֲרֵי הַבָּצַע וַיִּקְחוּ־שֹׁחַד וַיַּטּוּ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ {פ}
But his sons did not follow his ways. They were swayed after graft, took bribes and perverted justice.
But his sons did not follow his ways. They were swayed after graft, took bribes and perverted justice.
Rashi
ויטו. דבר אחר, דהיינו המשפט ורבותינו אמרו (שבת נו א): לא חטאו בני שמואל, אלא לא הלכו בדרכי אביהן, שהיה מחזר בכל מקומות ישראל ושופטן בעריהן, והם לא עשו כן, כדי להרבות שכר לחזניהם ולסופריהם:
[They] perverted. Something else, i.e., justice.2וַיַטּוּ is in the הִפֽעִיל [causative] form. Our Rabbis said3Maseches Shabbos 56a. that Shmuel's sons did not sin. They merely did not follow in their father's ways. Their father would travel to all places in Yisroel, and judge them in their cities. But they did not do so,4They did not travel, but rather settled in בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע and would summon litigants to their court. Because the litigants had to pay additional travel expenses to go to בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, many chose to forgo their claims and thereby corrupting the justice system. in order to increase the income of their agents and scribes.
וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצוּ כֹּל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל הָרָמָֽתָה׃
All the elders of Yisroel then gathered together and they came to Shmuel, to Romoh.
All the elders of Yisroel then gathered together and they came to Shmuel, to Romoh.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו הִנֵּה אַתָּה זָקַנְתָּ וּבָנֶיךָ לֹא הָלְכוּ בִּדְרָכֶיךָ עַתָּה שִֽׂימָה־לָּנוּ מֶלֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ כְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
They said to him, "Behold! You are old, and your sons did not follow your ways. Appoint for us now a king to judge us, like all the nations."
They said to him, "Behold! You are old, and your sons did not follow your ways. Appoint for us now a king to judge us, like all the nations."
וַיֵּרַע הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי שְׁמוּאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר אָֽמְרוּ תְּנָה־לָּנוּ מֶלֶךְ לְשׇׁפְטֵנוּ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
The matter was wrong in Shmuel's eyes when they said, "Give us a king to rule us," and Shmuel prayed to Adonoy.
The matter was wrong in Shmuel's eyes when they said, "Give us a king to rule us," and Shmuel prayed to Adonoy.
Rashi
וירע הדבר. לפי שאמרו לשפטנו ככל הגוים:
The matter was wrong. Because they said, "to judge us like all the nations."5 Shmuel was not displeased at the Bnei Yisroel’s request, because the Torah explicitly permits the institution of the monarchy in Devarim 17:15. It therefore seems that seeking to appoint a new king, now that the nation had settled in Eretz Yisroel was appropriate. What disturbed Shmuel was that the motive behind the request was not a desire to fulfill a mitzvah of appointing a king. Rather, they were complaining and rejecting Shmuel’s leadership [below verse 8] and their reason for seeking to appoint a king was because of their desire to be “…like all the nations…”
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל שְׁמַע בְּקוֹל הָעָם לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמְרוּ אֵלֶיךָ כִּי לֹא אֹֽתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי־אֹתִי מָאֲסוּ מִמְּלֹךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they tell you, for it is not you whom they have rejected, but it is Me whom they have rejected to reign over them.
Adonoy said to Shmuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they tell you, for it is not you whom they have rejected, but it is Me whom they have rejected to reign over them.
כְּכׇֽל־הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּ מִיּוֹם הַעֲלֹתִי אוֹתָם מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וַיַּעַזְבֻנִי וַיַּעַבְדוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים כֵּן הֵמָּה עֹשִׂים גַּם־לָֽךְ׃
Like all the deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day; they forsook Me and worshiped other gods. So are they doing to you, too.
Like all the deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day; they forsook Me and worshiped other gods. So are they doing to you, too.
וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע בְּקוֹלָם אַךְ כִּֽי־הָעֵד תָּעִיד בָּהֶם וְהִגַּדְתָּ לָהֶם מִשְׁפַּט הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יִמְלֹךְ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ {ס}
Now, obey their voice, but warn them and tell them about the manner of the king who will reign over them."
Now, obey their voice, but warn them and tell them about the manner of the king who will reign over them."
Rashi
העד תעיד בהם. התרה בהם, שתהא אימת מלכם עליהם:
But warn them.6See Bereishis 43:3. Warn them that the fear of their king be upon them.7In order to impress Bnei Yisroel with awe for the monarchy, i.e., the king’s position, Shmuel was instructed to teach them the honor due to a king of Yisroel.
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֵת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵי יְהֹוָה אֶל־הָעָם הַשֹּׁאֲלִים מֵאִתּוֹ מֶֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}
Shmuel told all the words of Adonoy to the people who were asking him for a king.
Shmuel told all the words of Adonoy to the people who were asking him for a king.
וַיֹּאמֶר זֶה יִֽהְיֶה מִשְׁפַּט הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר יִמְלֹךְ עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת־בְּנֵיכֶם יִקָּח וְשָׂם לוֹ בְּמֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו וְרָצוּ לִפְנֵי מֶרְכַּבְתּֽוֹ׃
He said, "This is the manner of the king who will reign over you; he will take away your sons and appoint them for his chariots and horsemen, and they will run before his chariot.
He said, "This is the manner of the king who will reign over you; he will take away your sons and appoint them for his chariots and horsemen, and they will run before his chariot.
וְלָשׂוּם לוֹ שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי חֲמִשִּׁים וְלַחֲרֹשׁ חֲרִישׁוֹ וְלִקְצֹר קְצִירוֹ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כְּלֵֽי־מִלְחַמְתּוֹ וּכְלֵי רִכְבּֽוֹ׃
And to appoint for himself officers over thousands and officers over fifty, and to plow his furrow and reap his harvest, and to produce his implements of war and equipment for his chariots.
And to appoint for himself officers over thousands and officers over fifty, and to plow his furrow and reap his harvest, and to produce his implements of war and equipment for his chariots.
Rashi
ולעשות כלי מלחמתו. לעשות אותם אומנים ונפחים ונגרים:
And to produce his implements of war. To train them as craftsmen, blacksmiths, and carpenters.
וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיכֶם יִקָּח לְרַקָּחוֹת וּלְטַבָּחוֹת וּלְאֹפֽוֹת׃
He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
Rashi
לרקחות. מתקנות מרקחים ובשמים, לתמרוקי נשיו:
For perfumers. Who prepare perfumes and spices for his wives' cosmetics.8 Being that this verse deals with the preparation of food, רַקָּחוֹת may also be translated as confectioners or as people who produce the various spices used in the preparation of meats.
וְאֶת־שְׂדֽוֹתֵיכֶם וְאֶת־כַּרְמֵיכֶם וְזֵיתֵיכֶם הַטּוֹבִים יִקָּח וְנָתַן לַעֲבָדָֽיו׃
And your fields, vineyards, and olive trees—the best [of which]— he will take and present them to his servants.
And your fields, vineyards, and olive trees—the best [of which]— he will take and present them to his servants.
וְזַרְעֵיכֶם וְכַרְמֵיכֶם יַעְשֹׂר וְנָתַן לְסָרִיסָיו וְלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃
He will tithe your grain and vineyards, and give them to his officers and servants.
He will tithe your grain and vineyards, and give them to his officers and servants.
וְֽאֶת־עַבְדֵיכֶם וְֽאֶת־שִׁפְחוֹתֵיכֶם וְאֶת־בַּחוּרֵיכֶם הַטּוֹבִים וְאֶת־חֲמוֹרֵיכֶם יִקָּח וְעָשָׂה לִמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃
He will take your servants, maidservants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and put them to do his work.
He will take your servants, maidservants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and put them to do his work.
צֹאנְכֶם יַעְשֹׂר וְאַתֶּם תִּֽהְיוּ־לוֹ לַעֲבָדִֽים׃
He will tithe your sheep, and you will become his servants.
He will tithe your sheep, and you will become his servants.
וּזְעַקְתֶּם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא מִלִּפְנֵי מַלְכְּכֶם אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתֶּם לָכֶם וְלֹא־יַעֲנֶה יְהֹוָה אֶתְכֶם בַּיּוֹם הַהֽוּא׃
On that day you will cry out because of your king whom you chose for yourselves; but Adonoy will not answer you on that day."
On that day you will cry out because of your king whom you chose for yourselves; but Adonoy will not answer you on that day."
וַיְמָאֲנוּ הָעָם לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹל שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹּא כִּי אִם־מֶלֶךְ יִֽהְיֶה עָלֵֽינוּ׃
The people refused to listen Shmuel's voice. They said, "No! We must have a king over us.
The people refused to listen Shmuel's voice. They said, "No! We must have a king over us.
וְהָיִינוּ גַם־אֲנַחְנוּ כְּכׇל־הַגּוֹיִם וּשְׁפָטָנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ וְיָצָא לְפָנֵינוּ וְנִלְחַם אֶת־מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃
We too, will be like all the nations; our king will judge us, and go forth before us, and wage our wars."
We too, will be like all the nations; our king will judge us, and go forth before us, and wage our wars."
וַיִּשְׁמַע שְׁמוּאֵל אֵת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵי הָעָם וַֽיְדַבְּרֵם בְּאׇזְנֵי יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Shmuel heard all the words of the people and told them to Adonoy.
Shmuel heard all the words of the people and told them to Adonoy.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל שְׁמַע בְּקוֹלָם וְהִמְלַכְתָּ לָהֶם מֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל־אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְכוּ אִישׁ לְעִירֽוֹ׃ {פ}
Adonoy told Shmuel, "Listen to their voice, and crown a king for them." Shmuel said to the people of Yisroel, "Every man, go to his city."
Adonoy told Shmuel, "Listen to their voice, and crown a king for them." Shmuel said to the people of Yisroel, "Every man, go to his city."
ויטו. הם עצמם:
They were swayed. Themselves.1 וַיִטּוּ is in the קַל [simple] form.