Shoftim 9:6-21 · Pshat

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9:6

וַיֵּאָסְפוּ כׇּל־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְכׇל־בֵּית מִלּוֹא וַיֵּלְכוּ וַיַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לְמֶלֶךְ עִם־אֵלוֹן מֻצָּב אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁכֶֽם׃

All the citizens of Shechem assembled, and all of Beis Melo, and they proceeded to coronate Avimelech, king near the plain of the pillar at Shechem.

All the citizens of Shechem assembled, and all of Beis Melo, and they proceeded to coronate Avimelech, king near the plain of the pillar at Shechem.

Rashi

עם אלון מצב. (תרגום:) מישר קמתא - מישור שהיו בו מצבות:

Near the plain of the pillar. "The plain of monuments"—¹This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. A plain in which monuments stood.

9:7

וַיַּגִּדוּ לְיוֹתָם וַיֵּלֶךְ וַֽיַּעֲמֹד בְּרֹאשׁ הַר־גְּרִזִים וַיִּשָּׂא קוֹלוֹ וַיִּקְרָא וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע אֲלֵיכֶם אֱלֹהִֽים׃

This was related to Yosam, who proceeded to station himself at the summit of Mount Gerizim. He raised his voice, and cried out: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, and God will hear you.

This was related to Yosam, who proceeded to station himself at the summit of Mount Gerizim. He raised his voice, and cried out: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, and God will hear you.

9:8

הָלוֹךְ הָֽלְכוּ הָעֵצִים לִמְשֹׁחַ עֲלֵיהֶם מֶלֶךְ וַיֹּאמְרוּ לַזַּיִת (מלוכה) [מׇלְכָה] עָלֵֽינוּ׃

The trees went about resolutely to anoint themselves a king. They told the olive tree, 'Be our sovereign!'.

The trees went about resolutely to anoint themselves a king. They told the olive tree, 'Be our sovereign!'.

Rashi

הלוך הלכו העצים. משל הוא:

The trees went about resolutely. This is a parable.²Yalkut, 65.

לזית. עתניאל בן קנז (שופטים א יג), הבא משבט יהודה שנקרא זית, שנאמר (ירמיהו יא טז): זית רענן יפה פרי תואר וגו':

The olive tree. Asniel ben Kenaz,³Above, 3; 9–11. (Yalkut, ibid) a tribesman of Judah, who are entitled "olive", as it is said, "Refreshed olive tree, with fruit beautiful in appearance, etc."⁴Yirmiyahu, 11:16. The chapter is addressed to “the men of Yehudah” (v.1).

9:9

וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַזַּיִת הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־דִּשְׁנִי אֲשֶׁר־בִּי יְכַבְּדוּ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִֽים׃

The Olive tree replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue the richness of my oil by which God and man are glorified, and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

The Olive tree replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue the richness of my oil by which God and man are glorified, and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

Rashi

דשני. לשון שומן:

The richness of my oil. The connotation here is fattiness.

9:10

וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעֵצִים לַתְּאֵנָה לְכִי־אַתְּ מׇלְכִי עָלֵֽינוּ׃

The trees then said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our sovereign'.

The trees then said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our sovereign'.

Rashi

לתאנה. דבורה:

To the fig tree. This refers to Devorah.⁵ Above, 4:4. (Yalkut, ibid.)

9:11

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַתְּאֵנָה הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־מׇתְקִי וְאֶת־תְּנוּבָתִי הַטּוֹבָה וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִֽים׃

The fig tree replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue my sweetness and my excellent fruit and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

The fig tree replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue my sweetness and my excellent fruit and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

Rashi

את מתקי. דבש דבורים:

My sweetness. the honey of dates.

9:12

וַיֹּאמְרוּ הָעֵצִים לַגָּפֶן לְכִי־אַתְּ (מלוכי) [מׇלְכִי] עָלֵֽינוּ׃

The trees then said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our sovereign.'

The trees then said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our sovereign.'

Rashi

לגפן. גדעון, שהוא מזרע יוסף (שופטים ו יא), שנאמר בו (בראשית מט כב) בן פורת, (ותרגם שם אונקלוס:) כגופן דנציב וכו':

To the grapevine. This refers to Gidon,⁶Yalkut, ibid. a descendant of Yoseif, of whom it is said, "A flourishing son"—"like a grapevine positioned, etc."⁷“A flourishing son over a wellspring”. (Bereishis, 49:22). Targum Onkelos there interprets, “like a grapevine positioned over a wellspring.”

9:13

וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַגֶּפֶן הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־תִּירוֹשִׁי הַֽמְשַׂמֵּחַ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִֽים׃

The grapevine replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue my wine, which brings joy to God and man, and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

The grapevine replied to them, 'Shall I discontinue my wine, which brings joy to God and man, and move on to hold sway over the trees?'

Rashi

המשמח אלהים. שאין אומרים הלוים שיר של הקרבן אלא על הנסכים:

Which brings joy to God. As the Levi'im chant the hymns of glory only during the wine libation ceremony.⁸Berachos, 35:b.

9:14

וַיֹּאמְרוּ כׇל־הָעֵצִים אֶל־הָאָטָד לֵךְ אַתָּה מְלׇךְ־עָלֵֽינוּ׃

All the trees then said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our sovereign.'

All the trees then said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our sovereign.'

Rashi

אל האטד. ספינ"ה בלע"ז:

The thornbush. "epine" in old French.

9:15

וַיֹּאמֶר הָאָטָד אֶל־הָעֵצִים אִם בֶּאֱמֶת אַתֶּם מֹשְׁחִים אֹתִי לְמֶלֶךְ עֲלֵיכֶם בֹּאוּ חֲסוּ בְצִלִּי וְאִם־אַיִן תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִן־הָאָטָד וְתֹאכַל אֶת־אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃

The thornbush replied to the trees, 'If you genuinely wish to anoint me as your sovereign, you may come and shelter yourselves in my shade. But if not, then flame shall burst forth from the thornbush, and engulf the cedars of Lebanon.'

The thornbush replied to the trees, 'If you genuinely wish to anoint me as your sovereign, you may come and shelter yourselves in my shade. But if not, then flame shall burst forth from the thornbush, and engulf the cedars of Lebanon.'

Rashi

אם באמת. שאני הגון למלכות:

If you genuinely. Because I qualify as a sovereign.

9:16

וְעַתָּה אִם־בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים עֲשִׂיתֶם וַתַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְאִם־טוֹבָה עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם־יְרֻבַּעַל וְעִם־בֵּיתוֹ וְאִם־כִּגְמוּל יָדָיו עֲשִׂיתֶם לֽוֹ׃

Now, if you have acted with integrity and sincerely in coronating Avimelech, if you have dealt benevolently with Yerubaal and his house, if you have rewarded him as befits his actions.

Now, if you have acted with integrity and sincerely in coronating Avimelech, if you have dealt benevolently with Yerubaal and his house, if you have rewarded him as befits his actions.

9:17

אֲשֶׁר־נִלְחַם אָבִי עֲלֵיכֶם וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ מִנֶּגֶד וַיַּצֵּל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד מִדְיָֽן׃

After my father went to war for you, risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midyon.

After my father went to war for you, risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midyon.

9:18

וְאַתֶּם קַמְתֶּם עַל־בֵּית אָבִי הַיּוֹם וַתַּהַרְגוּ אֶת־בָּנָיו שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ עַל־אֶבֶן אֶחָת וַתַּמְלִיכוּ אֶת־אֲבִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן־אֲמָתוֹ עַל־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם כִּי אֲחִיכֶם הֽוּא׃

You then rose against my father's house, murdered his sons—seventy men on a single stone—and coronated his maid servant's son, Avimelech, over the men of Shechem because he is your kinsman.

You then rose against my father's house, murdered his sons—seventy men on a single stone—and coronated his maid servant's son, Avimelech, over the men of Shechem because he is your kinsman.

9:19

וְאִם־בֶּאֱמֶת וּבְתָמִים עֲשִׂיתֶם עִם־יְרֻבַּעַל וְעִם־בֵּיתוֹ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה שִׂמְחוּ בַּאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְיִשְׂמַח גַּם־הוּא בָּכֶֽם׃

If you have acted with integrity and sincerely towards Yerubaal and his house on this day; then you may rejoice with Avimelech, and let him rejoice with you as well.

If you have acted with integrity and sincerely towards Yerubaal and his house on this day; then you may rejoice with Avimelech, and let him rejoice with you as well.

9:20

וְאִם־אַיִן תֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מֵאֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְתֹאכַל אֶת־בַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וְאֶת־בֵּית מִלּוֹא וְתֵצֵא אֵשׁ מִבַּעֲלֵי שְׁכֶם וּמִבֵּית מִלּוֹא וְתֹאכַל אֶת־אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃

But if not, let a flame burst forth from Avimelech and engulf the men of Shechem and Beis Milo, and let a flame burst forth from the men of Shechem and Beis Milo and engulf Avimelech.'

But if not, let a flame burst forth from Avimelech and engulf the men of Shechem and Beis Milo, and let a flame burst forth from the men of Shechem and Beis Milo and engulf Avimelech.'

9:21

וַיָּנׇס יוֹתָם וַיִּבְרַח וַיֵּלֶךְ בְּאֵרָה וַיֵּשֶׁב שָׁם מִפְּנֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ אָחִֽיו׃ {פ}

Yosam escaped and fled. He went to B'er, and remained there because of his brother Avimelech.

Yosam escaped and fled. He went to B'er, and remained there because of his brother Avimelech.

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