Tanach
Shoftim 17:7-13 שופטים י״ז:ז׳-י״ג
Part of: Chapter 17
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַֽיְהִי־נַעַר מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת יְהוּדָה וְהוּא לֵוִי וְהוּא גָֽר־שָֽׁם׃
There was a young man from Bais Lechem in Yehudah, of the family of Yehudah. He was a Leivi, and he lived there.
There was a young man from Bais Lechem in Yehudah, of the family of Yehudah. He was a Leivi, and he lived there.
Rashi
וַיֵּלֶךְ הָאִישׁ מֵהָעִיר מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה לָגוּר בַּאֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא וַיָּבֹא הַר־אֶפְרַיִם עַד־בֵּית מִיכָה לַעֲשׂוֹת דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃
The man departed from the city—from Bais Lechem, in Yehudah—to live anywhere he would find. He arrived at Mount Efraim, at Michah's Temple, intending to make his way.
The man departed from the city—from Bais Lechem, in Yehudah—to live anywhere he would find. He arrived at Mount Efraim, at Michah's Temple, intending to make his way.
Rashi
לעשות דרכו. דרך הליכתו:
To make his way. The way by which he would journey.
וַיֹּֽאמֶר־לוֹ מִיכָה מֵאַיִן תָּבוֹא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לֵוִי אָנֹכִי מִבֵּית לֶחֶם יְהוּדָה וְאָנֹכִי הֹלֵךְ לָגוּר בַּאֲשֶׁר אֶמְצָֽא׃
Michah said to him, "Where have you come from?" He said to him, "I am a Levi, from Bais Lechem of Yehudah. I am going to live anywhere I will find."
Michah said to him, "Where have you come from?" He said to him, "I am a Levi, from Bais Lechem of Yehudah. I am going to live anywhere I will find."
Rashi
באשר אמצא. פרנסתי להשתכר:
Anywhere I will find a profitable livelihood.
וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מִיכָה שְׁבָה עִמָּדִי וֶֽהְיֵה־לִי לְאָב וּלְכֹהֵן וְאָנֹכִי אֶֽתֶּן־לְךָ עֲשֶׂרֶת כֶּסֶף לַיָּמִים וְעֵרֶךְ בְּגָדִים וּמִחְיָתֶךָ וַיֵּלֶךְ הַלֵּוִֽי׃
Michah told him, "Remain with me, and serve as my patron and priest. I shall provide you with ten silver pieces per year. an appropriate wardrobe, and your board." The Leivi acquiesced.
Michah told him, "Remain with me, and serve as my patron and priest. I shall provide you with ten silver pieces per year. an appropriate wardrobe, and your board." The Leivi acquiesced.
Rashi
לימים. לסוף שנה:
Per year At the year's end.
וערך בגדים. זוג חליפת בגדים שהם ערך וסדר לכל בני אדם כפי הראוי להם לשנה:
An appropriate wardrobe A pair of outfits appropriate for everyone's yearly requirements.
וערך בגדים. אפרליימנ"ט בלע"ז:
An appropriate wardrobe. "Appareillement" in old French.
ומחיתך. ומזונותיך:
And your board Your meals.
וילך הלוי. אחר עצתו:
The Levi acquiesced [lit. went] Followed his advice.
וַיּוֹאֶל הַלֵּוִי לָשֶׁבֶת אֶת־הָאִישׁ וַיְהִי הַנַּעַר לוֹ כְּאַחַד מִבָּנָֽיו׃
The Levi consented to remain with the man. The young man was like one of his sons to him.
The Levi consented to remain with the man. The young man was like one of his sons to him.
וַיְמַלֵּא מִיכָה אֶת־יַד הַלֵּוִי וַֽיְהִי־לוֹ הַנַּעַר לְכֹהֵן וַיְהִי בְּבֵית מִיכָֽה׃
Michah inducted the Leivi. The young man became his priest, and he remained at Michah's temple.
Michah inducted the Leivi. The young man became his priest, and he remained at Michah's temple.
וַיֹּאמֶר מִיכָה עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּֽי־יֵיטִיב יְהֹוָה לִי כִּי הָֽיָה־לִי הַלֵּוִי לְכֹהֵֽן׃ {פ}
Michah declared, "Now I know that Adonoy will be benevolent to me, since the Levi has become my priest."
Michah declared, "Now I know that Adonoy will be benevolent to me, since the Levi has become my priest."
ממשפחת יהודה. והוא לוי מן האם ורבותינו אמרו (בבא בתרא קט ב): לפי שעשה מעשה מנשה שבא מיהודה, קראו ממשפחת יהודה, והוא לוי בן גרשום בן משה רבינו היה, כמו שמפורש בענין (לקמן יח ל): ויהונתן בן גרשום וגו':
Of the clan of Yehudah. He was a Leivi maternally.14Paternally, he was descended from Yehudah. This explains why he was both “of the clan of Yehudah”, and a Levi. However, the Rabbis15Bava Basra, 109:b. interpret that, because he behaved like Menasheh,16The king who instituted idol worship throughout Eretz Yisroel. (Melachim 2, 21). who was descended from Yehudah, he is described as "of the clan of Yehudah." He was actually a Leivi, the son of Gershom, son of our master Moshe, as stated explicitly below, "Yehonasan, son of Gershom, etc."17