Tanach
Shoftim 4 שופטים ד׳
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וַיֹּסִפוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה וְאֵהוּד מֵֽת׃
The Bnei Yisroel resumed acting wickedly in the eyes of Adonoy. Ehud died.
The Bnei Yisroel resumed acting wickedly in the eyes of Adonoy. Ehud died.
וַיִּמְכְּרֵם יְהֹוָה בְּיַד יָבִין מֶלֶךְ־כְּנַעַן אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ בְּחָצוֹר וְשַׂר־צְבָאוֹ סִֽיסְרָא וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב בַּחֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
Adonoy delivered them into the hand of Yavin, the Canaanite king, who reigned in Chatzor. His army chief of staff was Sisera, who dwelt in Charoshes Hagoyim.
Adonoy delivered them into the hand of Yavin, the Canaanite king, who reigned in Chatzor. His army chief of staff was Sisera, who dwelt in Charoshes Hagoyim.
Rashi
וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־יְהֹוָה כִּי תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת רֶֽכֶב־בַּרְזֶל לוֹ וְהוּא לָחַץ אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחׇזְקָה עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָֽה׃ {פ}
The B'nei Yisroel cried out to Adonoy, as he had nine hundred armored chariots, and he oppressed the B'nei Yisroel intensely for twenty years.
The B'nei Yisroel cried out to Adonoy, as he had nine hundred armored chariots, and he oppressed the B'nei Yisroel intensely for twenty years.
Rashi
לחץ את בני ישראל בחזקה. דרש רבי תנחומא (צו ב): בגידופין, וכן הוא אומר (מלאכי ג יג): חזקו עלי דבריכם:
Oppressed the Bnei Yisroel intensely. R' Tanchuma expounded, through ridicule. Similarly, it is said, "Your remarks offend me intensely."2Malachi, 3:13. Vs. 14, 15 there define the offensive remarks as ridicule of the worship of Adonoy.
וּדְבוֹרָה אִשָּׁה נְבִיאָה אֵשֶׁת לַפִּידוֹת הִיא שֹׁפְטָה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵת הַהִֽיא׃
Devorah the prophetess was the wife of Lapidos. She judged the B'nei Yisroel at that time.
Devorah the prophetess was the wife of Lapidos. She judged the B'nei Yisroel at that time.
Rashi
אשת לפידות. שהיתה עושה פתילות למקדש:
The wife of Lapidos. She fashioned wicks for the sanctuary.3Megilah, 14:a. לַפּׅיד is translated as “torch”.
וְהִיא יוֹשֶׁבֶת תַּחַת־תֹּמֶר דְּבוֹרָה בֵּין הָרָמָה וּבֵין בֵּֽית־אֵל בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם וַיַּעֲלוּ אֵלֶיהָ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
She stationed herself under Devorah's date tree, between Romoh and Beis El, on Mount Ephrayim. The Bnei Yisroel went up to her for judgement.
She stationed herself under Devorah's date tree, between Romoh and Beis El, on Mount Ephrayim. The Bnei Yisroel went up to her for judgement.
Rashi
תחת תומר. תמרים היו לה ביריחו:
Under [Devorah's] date tree. She owned date trees in Yericho.
בין הרמה ובין בית אל בהר אפרים. לפי תרגומו של יונתן יש ללמוד שאין מקרא זה כמשמעו, ואין אלו סימני מקום ישיבתה, אלא למדנו שאשה עשירה היתה ומן המקומות האלו היתה פרנסתה, והיא יושבת בעירה, עטרות שמה:
Between Ramah and Beis El, on Mount Ephrayim. From Yonasan's translation4Targum Yonasan renders, “She lived in the city of Ataros. Devorah was financially independent. She owned date trees in Yericho, orchards in Ramah, oil producing olive trees in the wetlands of the Beis Eil plateau, white soil in Tur Malka.” we infer that this passage is not meant literally—that these are not intended to identify her dwelling place. Rather, we learn that she was an affluent woman, with financial interests in these places. She lived in a city named Ataros.
תחת תומר. תמרים היו לה ביריחו, וכרמים ברמה, וזיתים בבקעת בית אל, שהוא מקום שמן, ועפר חיוור בהר אפרים, (תרגום:) 'בטור מלכא', אומר אני שמוכרין אותה ליוצרי חרש. ויש פותרין: 'עפר חיוור', שדה זרע, כמו (שביעית ב א): שדה הלבן:
Under [Devorah's] date tree. She owned date trees in Yericho, vineyards in Rama, olive trees in the Bethel plateau, a fertile area, and white soil in Mount Ephrayim, at Tur Malka. In my opinion, this was sold for ceramic use. Some interpret "white soil" as grain fields, as in "the grain [lit. "white"] field."5The Talmud [Moed Katan, 6:b, etc.] refers to the grain field as שֽׂדֵה לׇכׇן, literally “white field.” Rashi [Pe’ah, 3:1] explains that this is because grain whitens when ripe for harvesting. Or, to distinguish between the grain field, which is subject to the sun’s white glare, and the orchard, which is darkened by the shade of the trees.
וַתִּשְׁלַח וַתִּקְרָא לְבָרָק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹעַם מִקֶּדֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִי וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הֲלֹא צִוָּה ׀ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵךְ וּמָֽשַׁכְתָּ בְּהַר תָּבוֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ עִמְּךָ עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי וּמִבְּנֵי זְבֻלֽוּן׃
She dispatched a call summoning Barak ben Avinoam of Kedesh Naftoli. She said to him, "Has not Adonoy, the Lord of Yisroel commanded? Go, draw near Mount Tavor, and take, with you, ten thousand men of the Bnei Naftoli and Zevulun.
She dispatched a call summoning Barak ben Avinoam of Kedesh Naftoli. She said to him, "Has not Adonoy, the Lord of Yisroel commanded? Go, draw near Mount Tavor, and take, with you, ten thousand men of the Bnei Naftoli and Zevulun.
Rashi
הלא צוה. ביד משה (דברים כ יז): כי החרם תחרימם, כך שנויה במכילתא (בא יב):
Has not….commanded? Through Moshe, "For you shall totally annihilate them."6Devarim, 20:17 Mechilta teaches this.7Yalkut, 4:43.
וּמָשַׁכְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶל־נַחַל קִישׁוֹן אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא שַׂר־צְבָא יָבִין וְאֶת־רִכְבּוֹ וְאֶת־הֲמוֹנוֹ וּנְתַתִּיהוּ בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃
I shall lure, to you, at the Kishon stream, Sisera, Yavin's army chief of staff, his chariots, and his multitudes. I shall deliver him into your hand."
I shall lure, to you, at the Kishon stream, Sisera, Yavin's army chief of staff, his chariots, and his multitudes. I shall deliver him into your hand."
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ בָּרָק אִם־תֵּלְכִי עִמִּי וְהָלָכְתִּי וְאִם־לֹא תֵֽלְכִי עִמִּי לֹא אֵלֵֽךְ׃
Barak replied to her: "If you accompany me, I will go; if you do not accompany me, I will not go."
Barak replied to her: "If you accompany me, I will go; if you do not accompany me, I will not go."
וַתֹּאמֶר הָלֹךְ אֵלֵךְ עִמָּךְ אֶפֶס כִּי לֹא תִֽהְיֶה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ עַל־הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ כִּי בְֽיַד־אִשָּׁה יִמְכֹּר יְהֹוָה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא וַתָּקׇם דְּבוֹרָה וַתֵּלֶךְ עִם־בָּרָק קֶֽדְשָׁה׃
She said, "I will certainly accompany you. However, you will not be glorified by the course you follow, because it is into a woman's hand that Adonoy will deliver Sisera." Devorah rose and accompanied Barak to Kedesh.
She said, "I will certainly accompany you. However, you will not be glorified by the course you follow, because it is into a woman's hand that Adonoy will deliver Sisera." Devorah rose and accompanied Barak to Kedesh.
וַיַּזְעֵק בָּרָק אֶת־זְבוּלֻן וְאֶת־נַפְתָּלִי קֶדְשָׁה וַיַּעַל בְּרַגְלָיו עֲשֶׂרֶת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ וַתַּעַל עִמּוֹ דְּבוֹרָֽה׃
Barak mobilized Zevulun and Naftoli to Kedesh, and he brought up ten thousand men at his heels; Devorah accompanied him.
Barak mobilized Zevulun and Naftoli to Kedesh, and he brought up ten thousand men at his heels; Devorah accompanied him.
Rashi
ויעל ברגליו. עמו:
At his heels. With him.
וְחֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי נִפְרָד מִקַּיִן מִבְּנֵי חֹבָב חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּט אׇֽהֳלוֹ עַד־אֵילוֹן (בצענים) [בְּצַעֲנַנִּים] אֲשֶׁר אֶת־קֶֽדֶשׁ׃
Chever the Kenite parted from Kayin, a descendant of Chovov, Moshe's father-in-law. He spread his tents until Elon Betza'anayim, near Kedesh.
Chever the Kenite parted from Kayin, a descendant of Chovov, Moshe's father-in-law. He spread his tents until Elon Betza'anayim, near Kedesh.
Rashi
אילון בצעננים. (תרגום:) מישר אגניא, מקום מישר של בצעים, מריש"ק בלע"ז והוא אגניא גבים, כמין גומות שהמים נקבצים שם, 'אגני דארעא מקרון' (קידושין סא א):
Elon Betza'anayim. The marshland plain.8This is Targum Yonasan’s rendition. A plateau area with marshes, "mariscum", "morass" in old French. This is called אַגָנַיָא—pools, similar to ditches where water settles, "entitled 'the earth's flasks.'"9Kiddushin, 61:a, notes that water filed ditches are entitled אַגׇּנֵי דּֽאַרְעָא, “the earth’s flasks.” Thus, אַגָנַיׇא, “flasks,” refer to the marshland pools.
וַיַּגִּדוּ לְסִֽיסְרָא כִּי עָלָה בָּרָק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹעַם הַר־תָּבֽוֹר׃
Sisera was informed that Barak ben Avinoam had ascended Mount Tabor.
Sisera was informed that Barak ben Avinoam had ascended Mount Tabor.
וַיַּזְעֵק סִֽיסְרָא אֶת־כׇּל־רִכְבּוֹ תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ מֵחֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם אֶל־נַחַל קִישֽׁוֹן׃
Sisera then mobilized all of his chariots—nine hundred armored vehicles—together with all the people with him, from Charoshes Hagoyim to Kishon stream.
Sisera then mobilized all of his chariots—nine hundred armored vehicles—together with all the people with him, from Charoshes Hagoyim to Kishon stream.
Rashi
מחרושת הגוים אל נחל קישון. הזעיקם שילכו אל נחל קישון מחרושת הגוים שהוא יושב שם:
From Charoshes Hagoyim to Kishon stream. He mobilized them to proceed to the stream of Kishon from Charoshes Hagoyim where he was stationed.
וַתֹּאמֶר דְּבֹרָה אֶל־בָּרָק קוּם כִּי זֶה הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהֹוָה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא בְּיָדֶךָ הֲלֹא יְהֹוָה יָצָא לְפָנֶיךָ וַיֵּרֶד בָּרָק מֵהַר תָּבוֹר וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ אַחֲרָֽיו׃
Devorah said to Barak, "Go ahead! For this is the day when Adonoy has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not Adonoy gone out before you?" Barak then descended from Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.
Devorah said to Barak, "Go ahead! For this is the day when Adonoy has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not Adonoy gone out before you?" Barak then descended from Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.
וַיָּהׇם יְהֹוָה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָרֶכֶב וְאֶת־כׇּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה לְפִי־חֶרֶב לִפְנֵי בָרָק וַיֵּרֶד סִֽיסְרָא מֵעַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה וַיָּנׇס בְּרַגְלָֽיו׃
Adonoy overwhelmed Sisera, all his chariots, and the entire force by the sword before Barak. Sisera dismounted from the chariot, and fled on foot.
Adonoy overwhelmed Sisera, all his chariots, and the entire force by the sword before Barak. Sisera dismounted from the chariot, and fled on foot.
וּבָרָק רָדַף אַחֲרֵי הָרֶכֶב וְאַחֲרֵי הַֽמַּחֲנֶה עַד חֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם וַיִּפֹּל כׇּל־מַחֲנֵה סִֽיסְרָא לְפִי־חֶרֶב לֹא נִשְׁאַר עַד־אֶחָֽד׃
Barak pursued the chariots and the forces until Charoshes Hagoyim. All of Sisera's forces fell by the sword, no one was spared.
Barak pursued the chariots and the forces until Charoshes Hagoyim. All of Sisera's forces fell by the sword, no one was spared.
וְסִֽיסְרָא נָס בְּרַגְלָיו אֶל־אֹהֶל יָעֵל אֵשֶׁת חֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי כִּי שָׁלוֹם בֵּין יָבִין מֶלֶךְ־חָצוֹר וּבֵין בֵּית חֶבֶר הַקֵּינִֽי׃
Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Yael, wife of Chever the Kenite, as there was peace between Yavin, king of Chatzor, and the house of Chever the Kenite.
Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Yael, wife of Chever the Kenite, as there was peace between Yavin, king of Chatzor, and the house of Chever the Kenite.
וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל לִקְרַאת סִֽיסְרָא וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו סוּרָה אֲדֹנִי סוּרָה אֵלַי אַל־תִּירָא וַיָּסַר אֵלֶיהָ הָאֹהֱלָה וַתְּכַסֵּהוּ בַּשְּׂמִיכָֽה׃
Yael went out toward Sisera and said to him, "Come over, my lord, come over to me, have no fear." He went over to her to the tent, and she covered him with a cloak.
Yael went out toward Sisera and said to him, "Come over, my lord, come over to me, have no fear." He went over to her to the tent, and she covered him with a cloak.
Rashi
בשמיכה. תרגם יונתן: בגונכא, ופירש רב האי (שבת נא א): גונכא - גלופקרין, קוט"א בלע"ז:
With a cloak. Yonasan renders גוֹנְכׇא. R' Hai translates גוֹנְכׇא as cloak, "Coate" in old French.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ הַשְׁקִינִי־נָא מְעַט־מַיִם כִּי צָמֵאתִי וַתִּפְתַּח אֶת־נֹאוד הֶחָלָב וַתַּשְׁקֵהוּ וַתְּכַסֵּֽהוּ׃
He said to her, "Please, give me some water to drink, as I am thirsty." She opened the milk pouch, gave him a drink, and covered him.
He said to her, "Please, give me some water to drink, as I am thirsty." She opened the milk pouch, gave him a drink, and covered him.
Rashi
נאד החלב. שהחלב מכביד את הגוף להיות נרדם:
The milk pouch. Since milk induces drowsiness, then slumber.10He requested water. Why did she give him milk? To make him drowsy.
וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ עֲמֹד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהָיָה אִם־אִישׁ יָבֹא וּשְׁאֵלֵךְ וְאָמַר הֲיֵֽשׁ־פֹּה אִישׁ וְאָמַרְתְּ אָֽיִן׃
He told her, "Stand at the entrance to the tent; should anyone come asking, saying 'Is anyone here?' Say, 'No one.'"
He told her, "Stand at the entrance to the tent; should anyone come asking, saying 'Is anyone here?' Say, 'No one.'"
Rashi
עמוד פתח האהל. זרזי עצמך בדבר ויש פותרים: 'עמוד', כמו לעמוד:
Stand at the entrance to the tent. Be zealous about it. Some interpret עֲמֹד [lit. "stand"] as לַעֲמוֹד, "to stand".11This interpretation adds the ל, which does not actually appear in the text, so that the reading is “He told her to stand at the entrance.” According to the literal textual interpretation, the reading is, “He told her, stand at the entrance.” This is problematic, as the masculine עֲמוֹד, rather than עִמֽדִי, is inappropriate in addressing a woman. The additional ל solves this difficulty by transforming the command, עֲמוֹד, “stand”, into the infinitive לַעֲמוֹד, “to stand.”
וַתִּקַּח יָעֵל אֵֽשֶׁת־חֶבֶר אֶת־יְתַד הָאֹהֶל וַתָּשֶׂם אֶת־הַמַּקֶּבֶת בְּיָדָהּ וַתָּבוֹא אֵלָיו בַּלָּאט וַתִּתְקַע אֶת־הַיָּתֵד בְּרַקָּתוֹ וַתִּצְנַח בָּאָרֶץ וְהֽוּא־נִרְדָּם וַיָּעַף וַיָּמֹֽת׃
Yael, the wife of Chever the Kenite, took a tent peg, placed a hammer into her hand, and stole furtively to him. She embedded the peg in his forehead, and impaled it into the ground. He was asleep and exhausted, and died.
Yael, the wife of Chever the Kenite, took a tent peg, placed a hammer into her hand, and stole furtively to him. She embedded the peg in his forehead, and impaled it into the ground. He was asleep and exhausted, and died.
Rashi
יתד האהל. קבילי"ל בלע"ז, שתוקעין בארץ עם שיפולי האהל לפושטו:
A tent peg. "Chevilles" in old French. This is embedded in the ground with the lower flap of the tent in order to extend it fully.
המקבת. (תרגום:) ארזפתא, מרטי"ל בלע"ז:
A hammer. Hammer, "martel" in old French.
בלאט. (תרגום:) ברז, חרש:
Furtively. Stealthily, in secret.
ותצנח בארץ. (תרגום:) ונעצת בארעא:
And impaled it into the ground.וּנְעַצַתְּ בְּאַרְעָא,12This is Targum Yonasan’s rendition. and impaled it into the ground.
וְהִנֵּה בָרָק רֹדֵף אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל לִקְרָאתוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ לֵךְ וְאַרְאֶךָּ אֶת־הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ וְהִנֵּה סִֽיסְרָא נֹפֵל מֵת וְהַיָּתֵד בְּרַקָּתֽוֹ׃
Now Barak was pursuing Sisera; Yael went out to him, and told him, "Come, let me show you the man you seek." He went to her, and there was Sisera, lying lifeless, the peg in his forehead.
Now Barak was pursuing Sisera; Yael went out to him, and told him, "Come, let me show you the man you seek." He went to her, and there was Sisera, lying lifeless, the peg in his forehead.
Rashi
ברקתו. (תרגום:) בצידעיה, ניל"ה טימפי"ה בלע"ז, ותחבה ברקתו ובארץ:
In his forehead.בְּצִידֽעֵיה, "tenplia" in old French. She had penetrated his forehead and the ground.
וַיַּכְנַע אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֵת יָבִין מֶֽלֶךְ־כְּנָעַן לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Adonoy subjugated, that day, Yavin, king of Canaan, before the Bnei Yisroel.
Adonoy subjugated, that day, Yavin, king of Canaan, before the Bnei Yisroel.
וַתֵּלֶךְ יַד בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלוֹךְ וְקָשָׁה עַל יָבִין מֶלֶךְ־כְּנָעַן עַד אֲשֶׁר הִכְרִיתוּ אֵת יָבִין מֶלֶךְ־כְּנָֽעַן׃ {פ}
The power of the Bnei Yisroel constantly increased in intensity over Yavin, king of Canaan, until they annihilated Yavin, king of Canaan.
The power of the Bnei Yisroel constantly increased in intensity over Yavin, king of Canaan, until they annihilated Yavin, king of Canaan.
בחרושת הגוים. שם עיר, על שם שהיתה חזקה ושולטת:
Charoshes Hogoyim. The name of a city, so entitled because it was a stronghold, and the seat of authority.1This is based on Targum Yonasan, who translates חֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיׅם as “the stronghold, metropolis of nations”.