Tanach
Shmuel II 3:14-30 שמואל ב ג׳:י״ד-ל׳
Part of: Chapter 3
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד מַלְאָכִים אֶל־אִֽישׁ־בֹּשֶׁת בֶּן־שָׁאוּל לֵאמֹר תְּנָה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי אֶת־מִיכַל אֲשֶׁר אֵרַשְׂתִּי לִי בְּמֵאָה עׇרְלוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
And Dovid sent messengers to Ish Boshes, the son of Shaul saying, "Give me my wife Michal that I betrothed to me with the one hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim
And Dovid sent messengers to Ish Boshes, the son of Shaul saying, "Give me my wife Michal that I betrothed to me with the one hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim
וַיִּשְׁלַח אִישׁ בֹּשֶׁת וַיִּקָּחֶהָ מֵעִֽם אִישׁ מֵעִם פַּלְטִיאֵל בֶּן־[לָֽיִשׁ] (לוש)׃
And Ish Boshes sent [messengers] and took her from [her] husband from Paltiel, the son of Loyish.
And Ish Boshes sent [messengers] and took her from [her] husband from Paltiel, the son of Loyish.
Rashi
וַיֵּלֶךְ אִתָּהּ אִישָׁהּ הָלוֹךְ וּבָכֹה אַחֲרֶיהָ עַד־בַּחֻרִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְנֵר לֵךְ שׁוּב וַיָּשֹֽׁב׃
Her husband went with her following and crying after her until Bachurim. Avner said to him, "Go return." and he returned.
Her husband went with her following and crying after her until Bachurim. Avner said to him, "Go return." and he returned.
Rashi
הלוך ובכה. על מצוה ההולכת ממנו, שכל אותן השנים נעץ חרב בינו לבינה במטה, ולא נכשל בה:
Following and crying. Over the good deed [about to be] leaving him because all those years he thrust a sword into the bed [separating] between him and her and he did not stumble [into sinful intimacy] with her.13Shaul did not consider her married to Dovid because he considered Dovid’s Kiddushin having been done using a loan which is an invalid Kiddushin. However, in fact, Dovid had used regular material wealth as his means for Kiddushin which made Dovid halachically married to Michal. This meant that Paltiel Ben Loyish was living in the same house with another man’s wife. For all those years Paltiel made sure never to touch her and thus was spiritually elevated by subduing his lustful inclination. Now that she was leaving, he was saddenned to no longer have the opportunity for this type of spiritual greatness. (Sanhedrin, ibid).
וּדְבַר־אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר גַּם־תְּמוֹל גַּם־שִׁלְשֹׁם הֱיִיתֶם מְבַקְשִׁים אֶת־דָּוִד לְמֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
The word of Avner was [sent] to the elders of Yisroel, saying "Yesterday and also the day before yesterday, you requested that Dovid be king over you."
The word of Avner was [sent] to the elders of Yisroel, saying "Yesterday and also the day before yesterday, you requested that Dovid be king over you."
Rashi
ודבר אבנר היה. קודם לכן:
And the word of Avner was [sent] Before this [incident with Paltiel]
וְעַתָּה עֲשׂוּ כִּי יְהֹוָה אָמַר אֶל־דָּוִד לֵאמֹר בְּיַד ׀ דָּוִד עַבְדִּי הוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים וּמִיַּד כׇּל־אֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃
"And now, do it because Adonoy said about Dovid, 'through the hand of Dovid My servant I will save My people Yisroel from the hand of the Pelishtim and the hand of all their enemies.'"
"And now, do it because Adonoy said about Dovid, 'through the hand of Dovid My servant I will save My people Yisroel from the hand of the Pelishtim and the hand of all their enemies.'"
Rashi
אמר אל דוד. על דוד, ואינו זז ממשמעות אל:
Said about Dovid. About Dovid, and this is not [an instance of the usual] meaning of the word, אל, "to".
וַיְדַבֵּר גַּם־אַבְנֵר בְּאׇזְנֵי בִנְיָמִין וַיֵּלֶךְ גַּם־אַבְנֵר לְדַבֵּר בְּאׇזְנֵי דָוִד בְּחֶבְרוֹן אֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְעֵינֵי כׇּל־בֵּית בִּנְיָמִֽן׃
Avner also spoke to [the people] of Binyomin. Avner also went to speak to Dovid in Chevron all that seemed good in the eyes of Yisroel and in the eyes of all of the house of Binyomin [that Dovid should ascend the throne].
Avner also spoke to [the people] of Binyomin. Avner also went to speak to Dovid in Chevron all that seemed good in the eyes of Yisroel and in the eyes of all of the house of Binyomin [that Dovid should ascend the throne].
וַיָּבֹא אַבְנֵר אֶל־דָּוִד חֶבְרוֹן וְאִתּוֹ עֶשְׂרִים אֲנָשִׁים וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִד לְאַבְנֵר וְלַאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ מִשְׁתֶּֽה׃
Avner came to Dovid in Chevron, and with him were twenty men. Dovid made for Avner and the men with him, a feast.
Avner came to Dovid in Chevron, and with him were twenty men. Dovid made for Avner and the men with him, a feast.
וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְנֵר אֶל־דָּוִד אָקוּמָה ׀ וְֽאֵלֵכָה וְאֶקְבְּצָה אֶל־אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִכְרְתוּ אִתְּךָ בְּרִית וּמָלַכְתָּ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־תְּאַוֶּה נַפְשֶׁךָ וַיְשַׁלַּח דָּוִד אֶת־אַבְנֵר וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃
Avner said to Dovid, "I'll get up and go and I will gather for my master, the king, all of Yisroel. They will enact a convenant with you and you will reign over all that you desire." Dovid sent Avner [to do this] and he went in peace.
Avner said to Dovid, "I'll get up and go and I will gather for my master, the king, all of Yisroel. They will enact a convenant with you and you will reign over all that you desire." Dovid sent Avner [to do this] and he went in peace.
וְהִנֵּה עַבְדֵי דָוִד וְיוֹאָב בָּא מֵֽהַגְּדוּד וְשָׁלָל רָב עִמָּם הֵבִיאוּ וְאַבְנֵר אֵינֶנּוּ עִם־דָּוִד בְּחֶבְרוֹן כִּי שִׁלְּחוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃
And it was that the servants of Dovid and Yoav came back from an attack and brought with them a large booty. Avner was not with Dovid in Chevron because [Dovid] had sent him off and he had gone in peace.
And it was that the servants of Dovid and Yoav came back from an attack and brought with them a large booty. Avner was not with Dovid in Chevron because [Dovid] had sent him off and he had gone in peace.
Rashi
מהגדוד. פשטו בגדוד, לשלול על האויב:
From an attack. They sprung, attacking to take spoils from the enemy.
וְיוֹאָב וְכׇל־הַצָּבָא אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ בָּאוּ וַיַּגִּדוּ לְיוֹאָב לֵאמֹר בָּֽא־אַבְנֵר בֶּן־נֵר אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵהוּ וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם׃
Yoav and all of the army with him came and Yoav was told, "Avner, the son of Ner came to the king and [the king] sent him off, and he went in peace."
Yoav and all of the army with him came and Yoav was told, "Avner, the son of Ner came to the king and [the king] sent him off, and he went in peace."
וַיָּבֹא יוֹאָב אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר מֶה עָשִׂיתָה הִנֵּה־בָא אַבְנֵר אֵלֶיךָ לָמָּה־זֶּה שִׁלַּחְתּוֹ וַיֵּלֶךְ הָלֽוֹךְ׃
Yoav came to the king and said, "What did you do? Here Avner came to you, why did you send him off and he went?"
Yoav came to the king and said, "What did you do? Here Avner came to you, why did you send him off and he went?"
יָדַעְתָּ אֶת־אַבְנֵר בֶּן־נֵר כִּי לְפַתֹּתְךָ בָּא וְלָדַעַת אֶת־מוֹצָֽאֲךָ וְאֶת־[מוֹבָאֶךָ] (מבואך) וְלָדַעַת אֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה עֹשֶֽׂה׃
"You know Avner, the son of Ner, he came to seduce you and to know about your goings and comings and to know about everything you do."
"You know Avner, the son of Ner, he came to seduce you and to know about your goings and comings and to know about everything you do."
וַיֵּצֵא יוֹאָב מֵעִם דָּוִד וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אַחֲרֵי אַבְנֵר וַיָּשִׁבוּ אֹתוֹ מִבּוֹר הַסִּרָה וְדָוִד לֹא יָדָֽע׃
Yoav went out from [before] Dovid. [He then] sent messengers after Avner and they returned him from Bor HaSiroh. Dovid was unaware [of this].
Yoav went out from [before] Dovid. [He then] sent messengers after Avner and they returned him from Bor HaSiroh. Dovid was unaware [of this].
Rashi
מבור הסרה. שם מקום ורבותינו אמרו (סנהדרין מט א): בור וסירה גרמו לו לאבנר שיהרג, על שלא החזיק דברי דוד בצפחת המים אשר לקח מראשותיו של שאול, וגם על כנף המעיל של שאול אמר שמא אחד מן הסירים (קוצים) נאחז בו וקרעו:
From Bor HaSiroh. The name of a place [But] the Rabbis said: A well and a thorn caused Avner to be killed, by not grasping unto the deeds of Dovid, by [ignoring] the jug of water that [Dovid] took from [under] the head of Shaul14This is reference to Shmuel I, 26,12 where Dovid was being pursued by Shaul and Avner. Dovid found them sleeping and hence vulnerable. Not wanting to harm them but wanting to show Shaul he had been there, Dovid took the spear and the jug of water that was underneath Shaul’s head. and also [by ignoring] the corner of Shaul's garment15This is a reference to Shmuel I, 24,5 where Shaul, in pursuit of Dovid, stopped temporarily inside the cave where Dovid was hiding with his men. Dovid did not kill him but surreptitiously caught off the corner of Shaul’s garment. [Avner dismissed this and] he said "Perhaps one of the thorns caught upon [the garment] and tore it.
וַיָּשׇׁב אַבְנֵר חֶבְרוֹן וַיַּטֵּהוּ יוֹאָב אֶל־תּוֹךְ הַשַּׁעַר לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ בַּשֶּׁלִי וַיַּכֵּהוּ שָׁם הַחֹמֶשׁ וַיָּמׇת בְּדַם עֲשָׂהאֵל אָחִֽיו׃
Avner returned to Chevron and Yoav steered him to go within the gate to talk to him, deceptively, [Yoav] hit him there into the fifth rib and [Avner] died on account of the blood of Asoel, [Yoav's] brother.
Avner returned to Chevron and Yoav steered him to go within the gate to talk to him, deceptively, [Yoav] hit him there into the fifth rib and [Avner] died on account of the blood of Asoel, [Yoav's] brother.
Rashi
אל תוך השער. לפני סנהדרין, להשפט על דם עשהאל אחיו:
Within the gate. [Yoav brought Avner] before a sanhedrin to be judged16The word שַׁעַר often refers to judges who usually hold court at the gate of the city, cf. Devorim 22,15. for the [spilling of] blood of his brother, Asoel.
בשלי. בשגגה, שלא הבין אבנר שבלבו להרגו, וסרס המקרא, ויטהו יואב בשלי, אל תוך השער לדבר אתו:
Deceptively. In a mistake provoking [way] so that Avner would not realize that it is in [Yoav's] heart to kill him. Cut up the verse [to rearrange it's words as follows] "and Yoav steered him deceptively to go within the gate to talk to him."
וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִד מֵאַחֲרֵי כֵן וַיֹּאמֶר נָקִי אָנֹכִי וּמַמְלַכְתִּי מֵעִם יְהֹוָה עַד־עוֹלָם מִדְּמֵי אַבְנֵר בֶּן־נֵֽר׃
And afterwards, when Dovid heard [about this] he said, I and my kingdom are innocent, from [before] Adonoy forever, from the blood of Avner, the son of Ner.
And afterwards, when Dovid heard [about this] he said, I and my kingdom are innocent, from [before] Adonoy forever, from the blood of Avner, the son of Ner.
יָחֻלוּ עַל־רֹאשׁ יוֹאָב וְאֶל כׇּל־בֵּית אָבִיו וְֽאַל־יִכָּרֵת מִבֵּית יוֹאָב זָב וּמְצֹרָע וּמַחֲזִיק בַּפֶּלֶךְ וְנֹפֵל בַּחֶרֶב וַחֲסַר־לָֽחֶם׃
[The guilt] should fall on the head of Yoav and on his father's entire house. There should never cease from the house of Yoav, [the afflictions of] a discharging man, a leper, [a lame person] who leans on a cane, [a person] felled by the sword and [a person] lacking bread.
[The guilt] should fall on the head of Yoav and on his father's entire house. There should never cease from the house of Yoav, [the afflictions of] a discharging man, a leper, [a lame person] who leans on a cane, [a person] felled by the sword and [a person] lacking bread.
Rashi
יחולו. ינוחו, יחולו דמי אבנר על מקרא שלפניו הוא מוסב, שאמר 'נקי אני וממלכתי מדמי אבנר', יחולו דמיו על ראש יואב, 'דמי' הנזכרים במקרא שלפניו:
[The guilt] should fall. The [guilt of the] blood of Avner should rest, should fall. [This verse is] referring back to the preceding verse that stated, I and my kingdom are innocent from [the guilt of] the blood of Avner [The guilt of] his blood should fall on the head of Yoav. The blood [of Avner] that was mentioned in the previous verse.
ומחזיק בפלך. נשען על מקלו מחמת חולי הרגלים:
[A lame person] who leans on a cane. Who leans on his cane because of diseased feet.
וְיוֹאָב וַאֲבִישַׁי אָחִיו הָרְגוּ לְאַבְנֵר עַל אֲשֶׁר הֵמִית אֶת־עֲשָׂהאֵל אֲחִיהֶם בְּגִבְעוֹן בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ {ס}
Yoav and his brother Avishai killed Avner because he killed their brother Asoel in Givon, in battle.
Yoav and his brother Avishai killed Avner because he killed their brother Asoel in Givon, in battle.
Rashi
הרגו לאבנר. כמו את אבנר, ודומה לו (ישעיהו לח יד): 'עשקה לי ערבני', עשקה אותי ; וכן (במדבר יב יג): 'רפא נא לה', רפא אותה ; וכמוהו (דברי הימים-ב יז ז): שלח לשריו לבן חיל לעובדיה וגו' ללמד בערי יהודה, ופתרונו, שלח את שריו את בן חיל:
Killed Avner. [As if to say] Avner17Without the ל because it is the object of the verse’s verb “killed.” Whereas Avner with the prefix ל would usually mean “to Avner.” and similar to it [we find] "Snatch me, be my surety" (Yeshaiya 38, 14), Snatch me18Not “to me” despite the verse using the word לי. and also similarly (Bamidbar 12,13), "Please heal her" Heal her19Not “to her” despite the verse using the word לָהּ. and similarly to this (Divrei Hayomin II, 17, 7) "He sent his officers, Ben Chayil, and Ovadiah… to teach in the cities of Yehudah and it's meaning is: He sent his officers, Ben Chayil.20Not “to his officers, to Ben Chayil” despite the verse using the prefix ל.
מעם איש. תרגם יונתן: מלות בעלה:
From [her] man. Yonasan translated "from the company of her husband."