Tanach
Shmuel II 1 שמואל ב א׳
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וַֽיְהִי אַֽחֲרֵי מוֹת שָׁאוּל וְדָוִד שָׁב מֵהַכּוֹת אֶת־הָעֲמָלֵק וַיֵּשֶׁב דָּוִד בְּצִֽקְלָג יָמִים שְׁנָֽיִם׃
And after the death of Shaul, Dovid returned from defeating Amoleik. Dovid dwelled in Tziklog for two days.
And after the death of Shaul, Dovid returned from defeating Amoleik. Dovid dwelled in Tziklog for two days.
וַיְהִי ׀ בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ בָּא מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה מֵעִם שָׁאוּל וּבְגָדָיו קְרֻעִים וַאֲדָמָה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וַֽיְהִי בְּבֹאוֹ אֶל־דָּוִד וַיִּפֹּל אַרְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃
On the third day behold a man came from the camp, from Shaul's people. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. And when he came to Dovid, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
On the third day behold a man came from the camp, from Shaul's people. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. And when he came to Dovid, he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
Rashi
וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ דָּוִד אֵי מִזֶּה תָּבוֹא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו מִמַּחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל נִמְלָֽטְתִּי׃
Dovid said to him, "From where are you coming?" The man replied to him, "I have escaped from the Yisroelite camp."
Dovid said to him, "From where are you coming?" The man replied to him, "I have escaped from the Yisroelite camp."
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו דָּוִד מֶה־הָיָה הַדָּבָר הַגֶּד־נָא לִי וַיֹּאמֶר אֲשֶׁר־נָס הָעָם מִן־הַמִּלְחָמָה וְגַם־הַרְבֵּה נָפַל מִן־הָעָם וַיָּמֻתוּ וְגַם שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ מֵֽתוּ׃
Dovid said to him, "What happened, please tell me?" The man replied, "The people fled from the war. In addition, many of the people fell and died. And Shaul and his son Yohonoson also died."
Dovid said to him, "What happened, please tell me?" The man replied, "The people fled from the war. In addition, many of the people fell and died. And Shaul and his son Yohonoson also died."
וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־הַנַּעַר הַמַּגִּיד לוֹ אֵיךְ יָדַעְתָּ כִּֽי־מֵת שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן בְּנֽוֹ׃
Dovid said to the young man who was informing him, "How do you know that Shaul and his son Yohonoson have died?"
Dovid said to the young man who was informing him, "How do you know that Shaul and his son Yohonoson have died?"
וַיֹּאמֶר הַנַּעַר ׀ הַמַּגִּיד לוֹ נִקְרֹא נִקְרֵיתִי בְּהַר הַגִּלְבֹּעַ וְהִנֵּה שָׁאוּל נִשְׁעָן עַל־חֲנִיתוֹ וְהִנֵּה הָרֶכֶב וּבַעֲלֵי הַפָּרָשִׁים הִדְבִּקֻֽהוּ׃
The young man who was informing him replied, I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa and there was Shaul impaled upon his spear. Presently, the chariots and horsemen were coming close to him.
The young man who was informing him replied, I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa and there was Shaul impaled upon his spear. Presently, the chariots and horsemen were coming close to him.
וַיִּפֶן אַחֲרָיו וַיִּרְאֵנִי וַיִּקְרָא אֵלַי וָאֹמַר הִנֵּֽנִי׃
He turned around and saw me and he called to me, I said, 'Here I am.'
He turned around and saw me and he called to me, I said, 'Here I am.'
וַיֹּאמֶר לִי מִי־אָתָּה (ויאמר) [וָאֹמַר] אֵלָיו עֲמָלֵקִי אָנֹֽכִי׃
He said to me, 'Who are you?' I replied to him, 'I am an Amoleikite.'
He said to me, 'Who are you?' I replied to him, 'I am an Amoleikite.'
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי עֲמׇד־נָא עָלַי וּמֹתְתֵנִי כִּי אֲחָזַנִי הַשָּׁבָץ כִּֽי־כׇל־עוֹד נַפְשִׁי בִּֽי׃
He said to me, 'Stand over me and kill me—because I am gripped with convulsions—while I am still alive.'
He said to me, 'Stand over me and kill me—because I am gripped with convulsions—while I am still alive.'
Rashi
אחזני השבץ. (תרגום:) אחדני רתיתא. ומדרש אגדה (ראה ילקוט שמעוני רמז קמא): משום עון הכהנים שהרג, וכתוב בהן (שמות כח ד): כתנת תשבץ:
I am gripped with convulsions. I am gripped with convulsions.4This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. The Midrash Aggadah5Tanchuma Metzoro 2. explains that this6Shaul’s death in this manner was retribution for that sin. occurred because of Shaul's sin of killing the Kohanim7Of the city of Nov, see Shmuel 1,22:18. as it is written concerning them,8The Kohanim in general. "a checkered shirt."9Shemot, 28:4 lists the כתנת תשבץ as one of the garments worn by the Kohanim. Both the word תַּשְׁבֵּץ there and the word הַשָּׁבָץ here share the same three letters, ש־ב־ץ.
כי כל עוד נפשי בי. מהר ומותתני, טוב לי שתמותתני אתה, ואל יהרגוני אלה ויתעללו בי:
While I am still alive. Hurry and kill me. I prefer that you kill me and not they10The Pelishtim. kill and torture me.11Prior to my death.
וָאֶעֱמֹד עָלָיו וַאֲמֹתְתֵהוּ כִּי יָדַעְתִּי כִּי לֹא יִֽחְיֶה אַחֲרֵי נִפְלוֹ וָאֶקַּח הַנֵּזֶר ׀ אֲשֶׁר עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וְאֶצְעָדָה אֲשֶׁר עַל־זְרֹעוֹ וָאֲבִיאֵם אֶל־אֲדֹנִי הֵֽנָּה׃
I stood over him and killed him because I knew he would not live after his fall. I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and I have brought them here to my master."
I stood over him and killed him because I knew he would not live after his fall. I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and I have brought them here to my master."
Rashi
ואצעדה אשר על זרועו. (תרגום:) וטוטפתא דעל דרעיה:
And the bracelet that was on his arm. The tefilin that was on his arm.12This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. He refuses to explain it to literally mean bracelet because that would have been taken by the Pelishtim as part of the spoils of war (Meam Loez).
וַיַּחֲזֵק דָּוִד בִּבְגָדָו וַיִּקְרָעֵם וְגַם כׇּל־הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר אִתּֽוֹ׃
Dovid took hold of his clothes and ripped them as did all the men that were with him.
Dovid took hold of his clothes and ripped them as did all the men that were with him.
וַֽיִּסְפְּדוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ וַיָּצֻמוּ עַד־הָעָרֶב עַל־שָׁאוּל וְעַל־יְהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ וְעַל־עַם יְהֹוָה וְעַל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי נָפְלוּ בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ {פ}
The eulogized, they cried and they fasted until the evening over Shaul, and over his son Yohonoson, over the people of Adonoy and over the house of Yisroel because they fell by the sword.
The eulogized, they cried and they fasted until the evening over Shaul, and over his son Yohonoson, over the people of Adonoy and over the house of Yisroel because they fell by the sword.
וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־הַנַּעַר הַמַּגִּיד לוֹ אֵי מִזֶּה אָתָּה וַיֹּאמֶר בֶּן־אִישׁ גֵּר עֲמָלֵקִי אָנֹֽכִי׃
Dovid said to the young man who informed him, "Where are you from?" He replied, "I am the son of an Amoleikite convert."
Dovid said to the young man who informed him, "Where are you from?" He replied, "I am the son of an Amoleikite convert."
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו דָּוִד אֵיךְ לֹא יָרֵאתָ לִשְׁלֹחַ יָֽדְךָ לְשַׁחֵת אֶת־מְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָֽה׃
Dovid told him, "How did you not fear thrusting your hand forth to destroy Adonoy's anointed one?"
Dovid told him, "How did you not fear thrusting your hand forth to destroy Adonoy's anointed one?"
וַיִּקְרָא דָוִד לְאַחַד מֵֽהַנְּעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר גַּשׁ פְּגַע־בּוֹ וַיַּכֵּהוּ וַיָּמֹֽת׃
Dovid called one of the young men and said, "Come here. Execute him." He struck him and he died.
Dovid called one of the young men and said, "Come here. Execute him." He struck him and he died.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו דָּוִד (דמיך) [דָּמְךָ] עַל־רֹאשֶׁךָ כִּי פִיךָ עָנָה בְךָ לֵאמֹר אָנֹכִי מֹתַתִּי אֶת־מְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
Dovid said to him, "Your blood is on your own head because your own mouth testified against yourself, saying, 'I killed Adonoy's anointed one.'"
Dovid said to him, "Your blood is on your own head because your own mouth testified against yourself, saying, 'I killed Adonoy's anointed one.'"
Rashi
דמך על ראשך. (תרגום:) חובת קטולך תהי ברישך, אין עונש במיתתך אלא לעצמך:
Your blood is on your own head. The responsibility for your death rests on your own head.13This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. There is no one to punish for your death but yourself.
וַיְקֹנֵן דָּוִד אֶת־הַקִּינָה הַזֹּאת עַל־שָׁאוּל וְעַל־יְהוֹנָתָן בְּנֽוֹ׃
Dovid composed this lamentation on Shaul and his son Yohonoson.
Dovid composed this lamentation on Shaul and his son Yohonoson.
וַיֹּאמֶר לְלַמֵּד בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה קָשֶׁת הִנֵּה כְתוּבָה עַל־סֵפֶר הַיָּשָֽׁר׃
He said, "To teach the Bnei Yehudah archery behold it is written in the Seifer HaYoshor.
He said, "To teach the Bnei Yehudah archery behold it is written in the Seifer HaYoshor.
Rashi
ויאמר ללמד בני יהודה קשת. ויאמר דוד, מעתה שנפלו גבורי ישראל, צריכין בני יהודה ללמדם מלחמה ולמשוך בקשת:
He said, "To teach the Bnei Yehudah archery. David said, "Now that mighty among Yisroel have fallen, the Bnei Yehudah need to be taught how to make war and how to pull back a bow.
הנה כתובה על ספר הישר. הלא היא כתובה על ספר בראשית שהיא ספר ישרים, אברהם יצחק ויעקב, והיכן רמיזא, (בראשית מט ח): ידך בעורף אויביך, איזו היא מלחמה שמכוין בה ידו כנגד פדחתו שהוא מול ערפו, הוי אומר זה קשת:
Behold it is written in the Seifer HaYoshor. This is written in Seifer Bereishis, which is the Seifer of the righteous,14Rashi is citing the opinion of Rav Yochonon in Avodah Zarah, 25a. Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov. And where [In Bereishis] is it hinted at? "Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies."15Bereishis 49:8. What type of warfare is it where he places his hand next to his forehead,16When pulling back the string of his bow. Rashi in Avodah Zarah, ibid writes the archer places his hand next to his eyes. This is how they sight their targets. which is opposite his neck?17This interpretation reads the verse in Bereishis differently: “your hand will be on your neck.” See Marsho, Avodah Zarah ibid. One must say: this is archery.
הַצְּבִי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל־בָּמוֹתֶיךָ חָלָל אֵיךְ נָפְלוּ גִבּוֹרִֽים׃
Pillar of Yisroel, on your heights [you have been rendered] a corpse. How the mighty have fallen.
Pillar of Yisroel, on your heights [you have been rendered] a corpse. How the mighty have fallen.
Rashi
הצבי ישראל על במותיך חלל. מצבן של ישראל, על תוקף מעוזכם נפלתם חללים, כן תרגם יונתן:
Pillar of Yisroel, on your heights [you have been rendered] a corpse. Pillars of Yisroel, on the mightiest point of your stronghold you have fallen as corpses. This is Yonasan's translation.
אַל־תַּגִּידֽוּ בְגַת אַֽל־תְּבַשְּׂרוּ בְּחוּצֹת אַשְׁקְלוֹן פֶּן־תִּשְׂמַחְנָה בְּנוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים פֶּֽן־תַּעֲלֹזְנָה בְּנוֹת הָעֲרֵלִֽים׃
Do not tell [this] in Gass, do not announce [this] in the streets of Ashkelon. Lest the daughters of Plishtim rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumsized regale.
Do not tell [this] in Gass, do not announce [this] in the streets of Ashkelon. Lest the daughters of Plishtim rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumsized regale.
הָרֵי בַגִּלְבֹּעַ אַל־טַל וְאַל־מָטָר עֲלֵיכֶם וּשְׂדֵי תְרוּמֹת כִּי שָׁם נִגְעַל מָגֵן גִּבּוֹרִים מָגֵן שָׁאוּל בְּלִי מָשִׁיחַ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃
Mountains in Gilboa, the dew and the rain should not [fall] upon you nor fields [yielding enough for] baking offerings. Because there, the shield of soldiers spit out, the shield of Shaul was not smeared with oil.
Mountains in Gilboa, the dew and the rain should not [fall] upon you nor fields [yielding enough for] baking offerings. Because there, the shield of soldiers spit out, the shield of Shaul was not smeared with oil.
Rashi
הרי בגלבוע. ההרים שבגלבוע:
Mountains in Gilboa. The mountains in Gilboa.
ושדי תרומות. (תרגום:) לא תהי בכון עללא כמיסת דיעבדון מניה חלתא:
Nor fields [yielding enough for] baking offerings. There will be no harvest among [the fields] that have the amount [that necessitates] making the baking offering.18If one prepares the amount of omer’s worth of dough then one must take off a portion of the mixture and give it to a kohein, see Shelach 15,20. An omer is the equivalent of forty-three and one-fifth eggs by volume.
כי שם נגעל מגן גבורים. מגיני עור היו להם, וכשיוצאים למלחמה מושחין אותן בשמן, כדי שיהא כלי זיין המכה עליו מחליק, כמה דאת אמר (ישעיהו כא ה): קומו השרים משחו מגן. וכאן כך היה מקונן הקינה, שם נגעל מגן גבורים, פלט שומנו ולא נדבק בו, ונעשה כאלו לא נמשח בשמן כל 'הגעלה' לשון דבר הפולט מה שנותנין בו, כמו (איוב כא י): שורו עבר ולא יגעיל:
Because there, the shield of soldiers spit out. They had shields made of skins and when they went to war, they smeared them with oil so that a weapon hitting [the shield] should slip [off of it]. As it is said [in Scriptures] "Get up officers, smear [your] shield with oil. And here this is what the Lamentation means, "There, the shield of soldiers spit out," it spit out its oil and [the oil] did not stick to it and rendered [the shield] as if it wasn't smeared with oil. All [uses of the word] הַגְעָלָה is a language of rejecting what had been put into it as [we find] "His oxen will impregnate, [the seed] will not be rejected."
מִדַּם חֲלָלִים מֵחֵלֶב גִּבּוֹרִים קֶשֶׁת יְהוֹנָתָן לֹא נָשׂוֹג אָחוֹר וְחֶרֶב שָׁאוּל לֹא תָשׁוּב רֵיקָֽם׃
[Without drawing] from the blood of corpses, [without cutting] from the fat of soldiers, the bow of Yohonasan would not be pulled back. The sword of Shaul was not returned empty.
[Without drawing] from the blood of corpses, [without cutting] from the fat of soldiers, the bow of Yohonasan would not be pulled back. The sword of Shaul was not returned empty.
Rashi
לא נשוג אחור. לא היה רגיל להיות נסוג אחור:
Would not be pulled back. Was not used to being pulled back.19Without hitting Yohanasan’s targets, thereby spilling his enemies’ blood and cutting through their fat.
שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן הַנֶּאֱהָבִים וְהַנְּעִימִם בְּחַיֵּיהֶם וּבְמוֹתָם לֹא נִפְרָדוּ מִנְּשָׁרִים קַלּוּ מֵאֲרָיוֹת גָּבֵֽרוּ׃
Shaul and Yohonasan, loved and Cherished during their lifetime, During their deaths, they were not separated [from being loved], they were lighter then eagles, they were stronger then lions.
Shaul and Yohonasan, loved and Cherished during their lifetime, During their deaths, they were not separated [from being loved], they were lighter then eagles, they were stronger then lions.
Rashi
מנשרים קלו. לעשות רצון בוראם:
They were lighter then eagles. To do the will of their Creator.20Rashi is paraphrasing Pirkei Avos 5,23.
בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־שָׁאוּל בְּכֶינָה הַמַּלְבִּֽשְׁכֶם שָׁנִי עִם־עֲדָנִים הַֽמַּעֲלֶה עֲדִי זָהָב עַל לְבוּשְׁכֶֽן׃
Daughters of Yisroel, weep over Shaul who has clothed you in scarlet clothing together with other delights, who has adorned your garments with gold jewelry.
Daughters of Yisroel, weep over Shaul who has clothed you in scarlet clothing together with other delights, who has adorned your garments with gold jewelry.
Rashi
המלבישכם שני עם עדנים. (תרגום:) דהוה מלביש לכון לבושי צבעונין ומוביל לכון תפנוקין (לשון תרגום יונתן):
Who has clothed you in scarlet clothing together with other delights. That clothed you in coloured garments and loaded you with delights.
אֵיךְ נָפְלוּ גִבֹּרִים בְּתוֹךְ הַמִּלְחָמָה יְהוֹנָתָן עַל־בָּמוֹתֶיךָ חָלָֽל׃
How the mighty have fallen during battle. Yohanasan, on your heights, [you were] slain.
How the mighty have fallen during battle. Yohanasan, on your heights, [you were] slain.
Rashi
על במותיך חלל. (תרגום:) על בית תוקפך איתקטלתא:
On your heights, you were slain. On your strong point you have been killed.
צַר־לִי עָלֶיךָ אָחִי יְהוֹנָתָן נָעַמְתָּ לִּי מְאֹד נִפְלְאַתָה אַהֲבָֽתְךָ לִי מֵאַהֲבַת נָשִֽׁים׃
I anguish over you, my brother Yohansan you were very cherished to me. Your love was more wondrous to me then the love of women.
I anguish over you, my brother Yohansan you were very cherished to me. Your love was more wondrous to me then the love of women.
אֵיךְ נָפְלוּ גִבּוֹרִים וַיֹּאבְדוּ כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָֽה׃ {פ}
How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war lost.
How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war lost.
Rashi
כלי מלחמה. שאול ויהונתן, שהיו כלי זיין של ישראל:
The weapons of war. [Referring to] Shaul and Yohanasan who were Yisroel's weapons.
והנה איש בא מן המחנה. יש בפסיקתא שזה דואג ואינו מיושב על לבי:
Behold a man came from the camp. The Pesikta1Pesikta Rabosi 12,9. brings an opinion that this man is Doeig,2Doeig HaEdomi is first mentioned in Shmuel 1,21:8. but the explanation is indefensible in my heart.3It is clear from Shmuel 1, 22:18 that Shaul knew Doeig. Therefore, if in fact this man is Doeig, why did Shaul have to ask later in v. 8, “Who are you?” (Seder Hadoros, p. 102).