Tanach
Shmuel II 15:19-24 שמואל ב ט״ו:י״ט-כ״ד
Part of: Chapter 15
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־אִתַּי הַגִּתִּי לָמָּה תֵלֵךְ גַּם־אַתָּה אִתָּנוּ שׁוּב וְשֵׁב עִם־הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי־נׇכְרִי אַתָּה וְגַם־גֹּלֶה אַתָּה לִמְקוֹמֶֽךָ׃
The king said to Itai the Gitite, "Why are you going with us? Return and stay with the king because you are a foreigner and even if you are estranged [from Avsholom] you can go to your home.
The king said to Itai the Gitite, "Why are you going with us? Return and stay with the king because you are a foreigner and even if you are estranged [from Avsholom] you can go to your home.
Rashi
כי נכרי אתה. ואנחנו בורחים מאין צידה ומזון, ומתוך שאתה נכרי לא תמצא מרחמים:
Because you are a foreigner. We are fleeing without provisions and food, and because you are a foreigner you will not find people that will have pity on you.
וגם גולה אתה למקומך. וגם אם גולה אתה מעם המלך שאינך רוצה להיות עמו, למקומך חזור לך, כי לא טוב לכתך עמי, שהרי תמול באת:
And even if you are estranged [from Avsholom]. And even if you are exiled from the king [Avsholom] because you do not want to be with him, then return to your home because it is not good to go with me because you [just] came yesterday.7This verse blends into verse 20 where Dovid explains more about why it is disadvantageous for Itai to stay with him.
תְּמוֹל ׀ בּוֹאֶךָ וְהַיּוֹם (אנועך) [אֲנִֽיעֲךָ] עִמָּנוּ לָלֶכֶת וַאֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ עַל אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי הוֹלֵךְ שׁוּב וְהָשֵׁב אֶת־אַחֶיךָ עִמָּךְ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃
You [just] came yesterday and should I today cause you to move out with us. I am going to where [circumstances have] me go. Return and take back your brethren with you. I will consider it kindness and truth."
You [just] came yesterday and should I today cause you to move out with us. I am going to where [circumstances have] me go. Return and take back your brethren with you. I will consider it kindness and truth."
Rashi
והיום אניעך עמנו. ואין לי מקום שאוכל להושיבך שם ולהמלט, כי אני הולך אל אשר יקרני המקרה ללכת, יום יום כשאשמע שהרודפים כאן, אני בורח כאן, וכן תרגם יונתן 'וגם גולה אתה למקומך': ואף אם גלי את אזיל לך לאתרך:
And should I today cause you to move with us. I have no place that I can settle you there to escape because I am going to where circumstances have me go each day. When I hear that the pursuers are here I flee here. And so Yonasan translates [the verse], "And if you are estranged [from Avsholom] you can go home" [as:] "And if you you are estranged go [back] to your city."
חסד ואמת. אני מחזיק בך טובת חסד ואמת שעשית עמדי:
I will consider it kindness and truth. I will credit you the favor of kindness and truth that you have done for me.
וַיַּעַן אִתַּי אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמַר חַי־יְהֹוָה וְחֵי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי (אם) בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה־שָּׁם ׀ אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אִם־לְמָוֶת אִם־לְחַיִּים כִּי־שָׁם יִהְיֶה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃
Itai replied to the king and said, "As Adonoy lives and as my master the king lives, only in the place where my master the king will be whether for death or for life [that is] where your servant will be."
Itai replied to the king and said, "As Adonoy lives and as my master the king lives, only in the place where my master the king will be whether for death or for life [that is] where your servant will be."
וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־אִתַּי לֵךְ וַעֲבֹר וַֽיַּעֲבֹר אִתַּי הַגִּתִּי וְכׇל־אֲנָשָׁיו וְכׇל־הַטַּף אֲשֶׁר אִתּֽוֹ׃
Dovid said to Itai, "Go and pass by." And Itai the Gitite passed by [together with] all his men and all the children that were with him.
Dovid said to Itai, "Go and pass by." And Itai the Gitite passed by [together with] all his men and all the children that were with him.
Rashi
לך ועבור. עם שאר העם, אחר אשר אינך רוצה להפרד ממני:
"Go and pass" Together with the rest of the people now that you do not want to part from me.
וְכׇל־הָאָרֶץ בּוֹכִים קוֹל גָּדוֹל וְכׇל־הָעָם עֹבְרִים וְהַמֶּלֶךְ עֹבֵר בְּנַחַל קִדְרוֹן וְכׇל־הָעָם עֹבְרִים עַל־פְּנֵי־דֶרֶךְ אֶת־הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃
All the [people of] the land were crying with a loud voice as all the people were passing by. As the king passed by Nachal Kidron all the people were passing along the width of the highway towards the desert.
All the [people of] the land were crying with a loud voice as all the people were passing by. As the king passed by Nachal Kidron all the people were passing along the width of the highway towards the desert.
Rashi
וכל העם עוברים. מן המלך והלאה, לפי שהוא עומד, קורא אותם עוברים:
And all the people were passing. From the king and onwards according to his location they are called passers by.8Even though he was also passing by, since they were ahead of him, they are called passers by relative to his location.
וְהִנֵּה גַם־צָדוֹק וְכׇֽל־הַלְוִיִּם אִתּוֹ נֹֽשְׂאִים אֶת־אֲרוֹן בְּרִית הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּצִּקוּ אֶת־אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּעַל אֶבְיָתָר עַד־תֹּם כׇּל־הָעָם לַעֲבוֹר מִן־הָעִֽיר׃ {ס}
And also Tzodok and all the Levites with him who were carrying the Ark of the convenant of God. They set down the Ark of Elokim and Evyosor went off [to the side] until all the people finished passing out of the city.
And also Tzodok and all the Levites with him who were carrying the Ark of the convenant of God. They set down the Ark of Elokim and Evyosor went off [to the side] until all the people finished passing out of the city.
Rashi
ויציקו. כמו ויציגו, (תרגום:) ואקימו ית ארונא, העמידוהו לצד אחד, והעם עוברים, שהיה דוד רוצה לשאתו עמו:
They set down. Like, "They stopped,"9Previously in 6:17. [Yonasan translates:] "They stopped the Ark." They stood it off to one side and the people passed by because Dovid wanted it brought with him.
ויעל אביתר עד תם וגו'. הרי זה מקרא מסורס, ויציקו את ארון האלהים עד תום כל העם לעבור:
And Evyosor went off [to the side] until [all the people] finished etc. This is a shortened verse they set down the Ark of God until all the people finished travelling.10The words ויעל אביתר need to be placed at the end of the verse for interpretation.
ויעל אביתר. אותו היום נסתלק מן הכהונה, ששאל באורים ותומים ולא נענה, ונכנס צדוק תחתיו וכן שנינו בסדר עולם ובסדר יומא (עג ב):
Evyosor went off [to the side]. That day he was removed from the Kohanite service.11As the Kohen Gadol. because He inquired of the Urim and Tumim but was not answered,12This showed that he was no longer qualified for this lofty position. The Urim and Tumim lit up certain letters on the kohen Gadol’s breastplate as a means for God to communicate to His people. See Shemos 28:30. Tzodok then replaced him. This is what we learned in Seder Olam in tractate Yuma.13
עם המלך. עם אבשלום:
With the king. With Avsholom.