Tanach
Shmuel II 15:7-9 שמואל ב ט״ו:ז׳-ט׳
Part of: Chapter 15
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלְכָה נָּא וַאֲשַׁלֵּם אֶת־נִדְרִי אֲשֶׁר־נָדַרְתִּי לַיהֹוָה בְּחֶבְרֽוֹן׃
At the end of forty years, Avsholom said to the king, "I would like to go and fulfill my vows [of bringing sacrifices] that I [previously] vowed to God in Chevron [so I may fulfill them].
At the end of forty years, Avsholom said to the king, "I would like to go and fulfill my vows [of bringing sacrifices] that I [previously] vowed to God in Chevron [so I may fulfill them].
Rashi
אלכה נא. לחברון:
I would like to go. To Chevron.
ואשלם את נדרי. אמרו רבותינו (סוטה לד ב): להביא כבשים מחברון, כי שם היו כבשים שמנים:
And fulfill the vows [of bringing sacrifices] Our Rabbis said, "[Avsholom wanted] to bring lambs from Chevron3Ibid. because there, the lambs were fat."4Rashi there brings the Talmud in Menachos 87a that discusses the quality of the lambs of Chevron.
כִּי־נֵדֶר נָדַר עַבְדְּךָ בְּשִׁבְתִּי בִגְשׁוּר בַּאֲרָם לֵאמֹר אִם־[יָשׁוֹב] (ישיב) יְשִׁיבֵנִי יְהֹוָה יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם וְעָבַדְתִּי אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃
For your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Arom saying, 'If God returns me to Yerusholayim, I will worship God [with sacrifices].' "
For your servant made a vow while I was staying in Geshur in Arom saying, 'If God returns me to Yerusholayim, I will worship God [with sacrifices].' "
וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ לֵךְ בְּשָׁלוֹם וַיָּקׇם וַיֵּלֶךְ חֶבְרֽוֹנָה׃ {פ}
The king said to him "Go in peace." He [Avsholom] got up and went to Chevron.
The king said to him "Go in peace." He [Avsholom] got up and went to Chevron.
מקץ ארבעים שנה. ששאלו ישראל מלך משמואל, נתגלגל דבר מרד והשפלה במלכות:
At the end of forty years. [After] Yisroel had asked Shmuel for a king this rebellion and weakening of the kingdom occurred.2This is the opinion of Rebe Nehuroi in the name of Rebbe Yohoshua brought in Temurah 14b. Rashi is explaining that these forty years are not describing how long Avsholom was engaged in his intriguing against the king. Rather, the verse is informing us that forty years after their improper request, the kingdom was weakened.