Tanach
Shmuel II 12:1-6 שמואל ב י״ב:א׳-ו׳
Part of: Chapter 12
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהֹוָה אֶת־נָתָן אֶל־דָּוִד וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים הָיוּ בְּעִיר אֶחָת אֶחָד עָשִׁיר וְאֶחָד רָֽאשׁ׃
Adonoy sent Noson to Dovid. He came to him and said to him, "Two men were in the [same] one city, one rich and one poor.
Adonoy sent Noson to Dovid. He came to him and said to him, "Two men were in the [same] one city, one rich and one poor.
לְעָשִׁיר הָיָה צֹאן וּבָקָר הַרְבֵּה מְאֹֽד׃
The rich one possesed very many flocks and cattle.
The rich one possesed very many flocks and cattle.
וְלָרָשׁ אֵֽין־כֹּל כִּי אִם־כִּבְשָׂה אַחַת קְטַנָּה אֲשֶׁר קָנָה וַיְחַיֶּהָ וַתִּגְדַּל עִמּוֹ וְעִם־בָּנָיו יַחְדָּו מִפִּתּוֹ תֹאכַל וּמִכֹּסוֹ תִשְׁתֶּה וּבְחֵיקוֹ תִשְׁכָּב וַתְּהִי־לוֹ כְּבַֽת׃
The poor one had nothing but one little lamb that he had bought and nourished it and it grew up with him and his sons together. It ate from his bread and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom and was like a daughter to him.
The poor one had nothing but one little lamb that he had bought and nourished it and it grew up with him and his sons together. It ate from his bread and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom and was like a daughter to him.
וַיָּבֹא הֵלֶךְ לְאִישׁ הֶעָשִׁיר וַיַּחְמֹל לָקַחַת מִצֹּאנוֹ וּמִבְּקָרוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָאֹרֵחַ הַבָּא־לוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־כִּבְשַׂת הָאִישׁ הָרָאשׁ וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂהָ לָאִישׁ הַבָּא אֵלָֽיו׃
A traveler came to the rich man, [who] had pity and took from his flocks and his cattle to make [a meal] for the guest that had come to him. He took the poor man's lamb and made it [a meal] for the man that had come to him.
A traveler came to the rich man, [who] had pity and took from his flocks and his cattle to make [a meal] for the guest that had come to him. He took the poor man's lamb and made it [a meal] for the man that had come to him.
Rashi
וַיִּחַר־אַף דָּוִד בָּאִישׁ מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־נָתָן חַי־יְהֹוָה כִּי בֶן־מָוֶת הָאִישׁ הָעֹשֶׂה זֹֽאת׃
Dovid became very angry with the man and he said to Noson, "[By] the life of God, the man who does this is worthy of death.
Dovid became very angry with the man and he said to Noson, "[By] the life of God, the man who does this is worthy of death.
Rashi
כי בן מות. הגוזל את העני, כאלו נוטל את נפשו, שנאמר (משלי א יט): את נפש בעליו יקח:
Is worthy of death. Someone who steals from a poor person is tantamount to taking his life2See Baba Kama 119a. Stealing a pruta from anyone is tantamount to killing him. as it is said, "He has taken it's owner's life."3Mishlei 1:19.
וְאֶת־הַכִּבְשָׂה יְשַׁלֵּם אַרְבַּעְתָּיִם עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְעַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא־חָמָֽל׃ {ס}
And for the lamb he should pay fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity."
And for the lamb he should pay fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity."
Rashi
ישלם ארבעתים. כך אירע לו, שלקה בארבעה בנים, הילד ואמנון תמר ואבשלום:
Pay fourfold. This is what [eventually] happened, he was punished with [problems concerning] four children the child4Related further on in verse 15. and Amnon Tomor and Avsholom.5The events with Amnon, Tomor and Avsholom start in chapter 13.
ויבא הלך. דימה את יצר הרע תחלה להלך, שעובר לדרכו, ואחר כך לאורח, שנעשה אכסנאי, ואחר כך לאיש, שהוא בעל הבית:
A traveler came. [Noson] compared the evil inclination at first to a sojourner that is [quickly] going on his way. Afterwords he is compared to a guest that has become a resident and afterwords he is compared to a man who is the owner of the house.1This verse is Noson’s parable alluding to the evil inclination. The visiton is first referred to as הֵלֶךְ, then אׂרֵחַ and finally as an אִישׁ, representing the evil inclination’s ability to take more and more control over its victim’s life.