Chapter 10

1And Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him. And he said, "Indeed, the Lord has anointed you to be a ruler over His inheritance.   אוַיִּקַּ֨ח שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־פַּ֥ךְ הַשֶּׁ֛מֶן וַיִּצֹ֥ק עַל־רֹאשׁ֨וֹ וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הֲל֗וֹא כִּֽי־מְשָׁחֲךָ֧ יְהֹוָ֛ה עַל־נַחֲלָת֨וֹ לְנָגִֽיד:
2When you go from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb, in the border of Benjamin, in Zelzah, and they will say to you, The she-asses which you went to seek, were found. And your father had abandoned the matter of the she-asses, and is worried about you, saying, What shall I do about my son?   בבְּלֶכְתְּךָ֚ הַיּוֹם֙ מֵעִמָּדִ֔י וּמָצָאתָ֩ שְׁנֵ֨י אֲנָשִׁ֜ים עִם־קְבֻרַ֥ת רָחֵ֛ל בִּגְב֥וּל בִּנְיָמִ֖ן בְּצֶלְצַ֑ח וְאָמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֗יךָ נִמְצְא֚וּ הָאֲתֹנוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֣כְתָּ לְבַקֵּ֔שׁ וְהִנֵּ֨ה נָטַ֚שׁ אָבִ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת וְדָאַ֚ג לָכֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֥ה אֶעֱשֶֹ֖ה לִבְנִֽי:
by Rachel’s tomb, in the border of Benjamin: Now, isn’t Rachel’s tomb in the border of Judah, in Bethlehem? Rather, (this is the meaning:) Now, they are by Rachel’s tomb, and when you will meet them, you will find them in the border of Benjamin, in Zelzah. Thus taught the Rabbis in the Tosefta of Tractate Sotah.   עם קבורת רחל בגבול בנימן: והלא קבורת רחל בגבול יהודה בבית לחם, אלא עכשיו הם בקבורת רחל, וכשתפגע בהם תמצאם בגבול בנימן בצלצח, כך שנויה בתוספתא דסוטה (פרק יא):
Zelzah: Zelzah is a combination of the words: ‘zel l’zah,’ the shadow of the Fair One, of the Holy One, Blessed be He, Who is fair and ruddy (So described in Song of Songs 5:10). And this is Jerusalem.   צלצח: צל לצח של הקב"ה, שהוא צח ואדום, והיא ירושלים:
is worried: fears concerning you, and likewise, every expression of worry (d’agah) is an expression of fear. Douter in French.   ודאג לכם: יירא עליכם, כל לשון 'דאגה', לשון 'יראה', דושטי"ר בלע"ז:
3And you shall go on forward from there, and you shall come to the plain of Tabor, and there will meet you there three men, going up (to bow) to (God), to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and one carrying three loaves of bread, and one carrying an earthenware jug of wine.   גוְחָלַפְתָּ֨ מִשָּׁ֜ם וָהָ֗לְאָה וּבָ֙אתָ֙ עַד־אֵל֣וֹן תָּב֔וֹר וּמְצָא֚וּךָ שָּׁם֙ שְׁלשָׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים עֹלִ֥ים אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל אֶחָ֞ד נֹשֵֹ֣א | שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְדָיִ֗ים וְאֶחָד֙ נֹשֵֹ֗א שְׁלֹ֙שֶׁת֙ כִּכְּר֣וֹת לֶ֔חֶם וְאֶחָ֥ד נֹשֵֹ֖א נֵֽבֶל־יָֽיִן:
אילון תבור: the plain of Tabor.   אילון תבור: מישר תבור:
4And they will greet you, and give you two cakes of bread, and you shall take (them) from their hand.   דוְשָׁאֲל֥וּ לְךָ֖ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וְנָתְנ֚וּ לְךָ֙ שְׁתֵּי־לֶ֔חֶם וְלָקַחְתָּ֖ מִיָּדָֽם:
5Afterwards, you shall come to the hill of God, where there are Philistine officers, and it will be, that when you come there to the city, you will meet a band of prophets descending from the high place, and before them will be a psaltery and a drum, and a flute and a harp, and they will prophesy.   האַ֣חַר כֵּ֗ן תָּבוֹא֙ גִּבְעַ֣ת הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם נְצִבֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וִיהִי֩ כְבֹאֲךָ֨ שָׁ֜ם הָעִ֗יר וּפָגַעְתָּ֞ חֶ֚בֶל נְבִאִים֙ יֹרְדִ֣ים מֵֽהַבָּמָ֔ה וְלִפְנֵיהֶ֞ם נֵ֚בֶל וְתֹף֙ וְחָלִ֣יל וְכִנּ֔וֹר וְהֵ֖מָּה מִֽתְנַבְּאִֽים:
the hill of God: the hill of Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark of God was now (stationed).   גבעת האלהים: גבעת קרית יערים, אשר עכשיו ארון האלהים שם:
Philistine officers: officers whom they had appointed over Israel for they were ruling over them and stationing officers in the cities of Israel.   נציבי פלשתים: סרדיוטות שמינו על ישראל, שהיו רודין בה, ומושיבים נציבים בערי ישראל:
a band of prophets: (Heb. ‘hevel n’viim’) Jonathan renders: a band of scribes. ‘Hevel’ is a band. Likewise, “The bands of sheol surrounded me” (II Sam. 22:6) is rendered: The camps of the wicked surrounded me.   חבל נביאים: תרגם יונתן: סיעת ספריא: חבל. סיעה, וכן (שמואל-ב כב ו): חבלי שאול סבוני, משרית רשיעיא אקפוני:
from the high place: Jonathan renders from the banquet hall.   מהבמה: תרגם יונתן: מבית אסחרותא:
6And the spirit of the Lord will pass over you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be turned into another man.   ווְצָלְחָ֚ה עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהִתְנַבִּ֖יתָ עִמָּ֑ם וְנֶהְפַּכְתָּ֖ לְאִ֥ישׁ אַחֵֽר:
7And it will be, that when these signs will come to you, do for yourself what your hand will find, for God is with you.   זוְהָיָ֗ה כִּ֥י תָבֹ֛אנָה (כתיב תָבֹ֛אינָה) הָאֹת֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ עֲשֵֹ֚ה לְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּמְצָ֣א יָדֶ֔ךָ כִּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ:
And it will be that when these signs will come to you: And you will know that my words are true, for just as these signs will have come to you, so will the matter of the kingdom be fulfilled.   כי תבאנה האותות האלה לך: ותדע כי דברי אמת, וכשם שבאו לך אותות הללו, כך יתקיים דבר המלוכה:
do for yourself what your hand will find: Prepare for yourself regal garments (Jonathan), and prepare for yourself the court ceremonial.   עשה לך אשר תמצא ידך: אתקין לך מאני מלכותא, והכן לך טכסיסי המלוכה כמו שתוכל:
8And you shall come down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I shall go down to you to offer up burnt offerings, and to slaughter peace-offerings. Seven days shall you wait until I come to you, and I shall let you know what you shall do."   חוְיָרַדְתָּ֣ לְפָנַי֘ הַגִּלְגָּל֒ וְהִנֵּ֚ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ יֹרֵ֣ד אֵלֶ֔יךָ לְהַעֲל֣וֹת עֹל֔וֹת לִזְבֹּ֖חַ זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֑ים שִׁבְעַ֨ת יָמִ֚ים תּוֹחֵל֙ עַד־בּוֹאִ֣י אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְהוֹדַעְתִּ֣י לְךָ֔ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶֹֽה:
And you shall come down before me to Gilgal: And after you reign, you shall come down to Gilgal before me, i.e., before I come down.   וירדת לפני הגלגל: ולאחר שתמלוך, תרד הגלגל לפני, קודם שארד אני:
and behold, I shall go down to you: at the termination of seven days after you will have gone down.   והנה אנכי ירד אליך: לסוף שבעת ימים שתרד אתה:
shall you wait: shall you wait.   תוחל: תמתין:
9And it was, when he turned his shoulder to go away from Samuel, that God gave him another heart, and all these signs came about on that day.   טוְהָיָ֗ה כְּהַפְנֹת֚וֹ שִׁכְמוֹ֙ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ מֵעִ֣ם שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיַּהֲפָךְ־ל֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵ֣ב אַחֵ֑ר וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ כָּל־הָאֹת֥וֹת הָאֵ֖לֶּה בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא:
another heart: a spirit of regal power.   לב אחר: רוח גבורת מלכות:
10And they came there to the hill, and behold, a band of prophets (came) toward him, and the spirit of God passed upon him, and he prophesied in their midst.   יוַיָּבֹ֚אוּ שָׁם֙ הַגִּבְעָ֔תָה וְהִנֵּ֥ה חֶֽבֶל־נְבִאִ֖ים לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַתִּצְלַ֚ח עָלָיו֙ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֖א בְּתוֹכָֽם:
11And it was, that all who had known him before, saw that behold, he was prophesying with the prophets. And the people said to one another, "What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"   יאוַיְהִ֗י כָּל־יֽוֹדְעוֹ֙ מֵאִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשׁ֔וֹם וַיִּרְא֕וּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה עִם־נְבִאִ֖ים נִבָּ֑א וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָעָ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ מַה־זֶּה֙ הָיָ֣ה לְבֶן־קִ֔ישׁ הֲגַ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל בַּנְּבִיאִֽים:
12And a man from there, answered and said, "And who was their father?" It, therefore became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"   יבוַיַּ֨עַן אִ֥ישׁ מִשָּׁ֛ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר וּמִ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם עַל־כֵּן֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֔ל הֲגַ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל בַּנְּבִאִֽים:
And who is their father?: Why do you wonder about the matter “Who is the father of the prophets? Is prophecy hereditary?”   ומי אביהם: מה תימה לך בדבר מי אביהם של נביאים, וכי נבואה ירושה היא:
13And he finished prophesying and came to the high place.   יגוַיְכַל֙ מֵֽהִתְנַבּ֔וֹת וַיָּבֹ֖א הַבָּמָֽה:
14And Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the she-asses. And when we saw that they were not (to be found), we came to Samuel."   ידוַיֹּאמֶר֩ דּ֨וֹד שָׁא֥וּל אֵלָ֛יו וְאֶֽל־נַעֲר֖וֹ אָ֣ן הֲלַכְתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲתֹנ֔וֹת וַנִּרְאֶ֣ה כִי־אַ֔יִן וַנָּב֖וֹא אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵֽל:
15And Saul's uncle said, "Now tell me what Samuel said to you."   טווַיֹּ֖אמֶר דּ֣וֹד שָׁא֑וּל הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א לִ֔י מָֽה־אָמַ֥ר לָכֶ֖ם שְׁמוּאֵֽל:
16And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us that the she-asses had been found," and the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him.   טזוַיֹּ֚אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־דּוֹד֔וֹ הַגֵּ֚ד הִגִּיד֙ לָ֔נוּ כִּ֥י נִמְצְא֖וּ הָאֲתֹנ֑וֹת וְאֶת־דְּבַ֚ר הַמְּלוּכָה֙ לֹֽא־הִגִּ֣יד ל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֥ר שְׁמוּאֵֽל:
and the matter of the kingdom he did not tell him.: He possessed the trait of discretion.   ואת דבר המלוכה לא הגיד: דרך צניעות היתה בו:
17And Samuel called the people together unto God to Mizpah.   יזוַיַּצְעֵ֚ק שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּֽה:
18And he said to the children of Israel, "So said the Lord, God of Israel, 'I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kingdoms which oppressed you.'   יחוַיֹּ֣אמֶר | אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל פ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֚ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אָנֹכִ֛י הֶעֱלֵ֥יתִי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וָאַצִּ֚יל אֶתְכֶם֙ מִיַּ֣ד מִצְרַ֔יִם וּמִיַּד֙ כָּל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת הַלֹּחֲצִ֖ים אֶתְכֶֽם:
19And today you have rejected your God, Who saves you from all your adversities and your troubles, and you have said to Him, 'But, a king You shall set over us.' And now, stand before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands."   יטוְאַתֶּ֨ם הַיּ֜וֹם מְאַסְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ לָכֶם֘ מִכָּל־רָעוֹתֵיכֶ֣ם וְצָרֹֽתֵיכֶם֒ וַתֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֔וֹ כִּי־מֶ֖לֶךְ תָּשִֹ֣ים עָלֵ֑ינוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה הִֽתְיַצְּבוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְשִׁבְטֵיכֶ֖ם וּלְאַלְפֵיכֶֽם:
20And Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.   כוַיַּקְרֵ֣ב שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת כָּל־שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד שֵׁ֥בֶט בִּנְיָמִֽן:
21And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near, by its families, and the family of the Matrites was taken, and Saul, the son of Kish, was taken. And they sought him, but he was not found.   כאוַיַּקְרֵ֞ב אֶת־שֵׁ֚בֶט בִּנְיָמִן֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו (כתיב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔ו) וַתִּלָּכֵ֖ד מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַמַּטְרִ֑י וַיִּלָּכֵד֙ שָׁא֣וּל בֶּן־קִ֔ישׁ וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ וְלֹ֥א נִמְצָֽא:
and Saul… was taken: Even though he was not there, the lot fell upon him, for their names were written on pieces of parchment and placed in a box. Now the Prophet would insert his hand and take one piece of parchment.   וילכד שאול: אף על פי שלא היה שם, נפל הגורל עליו, שהיו כתובין שמם באיגרות ונתונין בקופסא, והנביא מכניס ידו ונוטל איגרת אחת:
22And they asked of the Lord further, "Has the man come here yet?" And the Lord said, "Behold, he is hidden among the baggage."   כבוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־עוֹד֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה הֲבָ֥א ע֖וֹד הֲלֹ֣ם אִ֑ישׁ ס וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנֵּה־ה֥וּא נֶחְבָּ֖א אֶל־הַכֵּלִֽים:
is hidden among the baggage: (Heb. ‘el hakelim,’ lit., to the vessels,) to the house where the comers had placed their baggage. (He did this) because he was fleeing the high position. And the Midrash Agadah of Rabbi Tanhuma (Levit. 1) explains: ‘to the vessels’ as referring to the Urim and Tummim. He said, ‘Perhaps I am not worthy of this high position. (I shall not assume it) until they ask of the Urim and Tummim.’ Thereupon they asked, and he achieved it.   נחבא אל הכלים: בבית שנתנו שם הבאין כליהן, שהיה בורח מן הגדולה ומדרש אגדה רבי תנחומא: ואל הכלים, באורים ותומים, אמר: שמא איני ראוי לגדולה עד שישאלו באורים ותומים, ושאלו ועלה בידו:
23And they ran and took him from there, and he stood in the midst of the people, and he was taller than all the people from his shoulder and upward.   כגוַיָּרֻ֙צוּ֙ וַיִּקָּחֻ֣הוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּתְיַצֵּ֖ב בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֑ם וַיִּגְבַּהּ֙ מִכָּל־הָעָ֔ם מִשִּׁכְמ֖וֹ וָמָֽעְלָה:
24And Samuel said to all the people, "Have you seen (the one) whom the Lord has chosen, for there is none like him among all the people?" And all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!"   כדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם הַרְאִיתֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּֽחַר־בּ֣וֹ יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין כָּמֹ֖הוּ בְּכָל־הָעָ֑ם וַיָּרִ֧עוּ כָל־הָעָ֛ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
25And Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and he wrote (it) in a book, and placed (it) before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.   כהוַיְדַבֵּ֨ר שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶל־הָעָ֗ם ֤אֵת מִשְׁפַּ֣ט הַמְּלֻכָ֔ה וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב בַּסֵּ֔פֶר וַיַּנַּ֖ח לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיְשַׁלַּ֧ח שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ:
26And Saul too went to his house to Gibeah, and the band whose heart God had touched, went with him.   כווְגַ֨ם־שָׁא֔וּל הָלַ֥ךְ לְבֵית֖וֹ גִּבְעָ֑תָה וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ עִמּ֔וֹ הַחַ֕יִל אֲשֶׁר־נָגַ֥ע אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּלִבָּֽם:
whose heart God had touched: (Jonathan renders:) sin fearing men, in whose heart God had given fear.   אשר נגע אלהים: גברין דחלי חטאה דאתיהב דחלא מן קדם ה' בלבהון:
27And unscrupulous men said, "How will this one save us?" And they despised him and brought him no gift. And he was as one who kept his peace.   כזוּבְנֵ֧י בְלִיַּ֣עַל אָמְר֗וּ מַה־יֹּשִׁעֵ֙נוּ֙ זֶ֔ה וַיִּבְזֻ֕הוּ וְלֹֽא־הֵבִ֥יאוּ ל֖וֹ מִנְחָ֑ה וַיְהִ֖י כְּמַחֲרִֽישׁ: