| 1And Ben-Hadad the king of Aram gathered all his army and thirty-two kings with him and horses and chariots, and he went up and besieged Samaria and waged war with it. |
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אוּבֶן־הֲדַ֣ד מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֗ם קָבַץ֙ אֶת־כָּל־חֵיל֔וֹ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֛לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ וְס֣וּס וָרָ֑כֶב וַיַּ֗עַל וַיָּ֙צַר֙ עַל־שֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בָּֽהּ: |
| 2And he sent messengers to Ahab the king of Israel to the city. |
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בוַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֶל־אַחְאָ֥ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָעִֽירָה: |
| 3And he said to him: "Thus said Ben-Hadad 'Your silver and gold are mine; your beautiful wives and children are mine.' " |
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גוַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כֹּה אָמַ֣ר בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד כַּסְפְּךָ֥ וּֽזְהָבְךָ֖ לִֽי־ה֑וּא וְנָשֶׁ֧יךָ וּבָנֶ֛יךָ הַטּוֹבִ֖ים לִי־הֵֽם: |
| 4And the king of Israel answered him and said: "As you say, my master, the king, I am yours as well as all that is mine." |
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דוַיַּ֚עַן מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר כִּדְבָרְךָ֖ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לְךָ֥ אֲנִ֖י וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי: |
| 5And the messengers returned and said, "Thus said Ben- Haddad, 'As I have sent to you saying, "Your silver and your gold, your wives, and your children you shall give to me." |
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הוַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר בֶּן־הֲדַ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֚חְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כַּסְפְּךָ֧ וּזְהָבְךָ֛ וְנָשֶׁ֥יךָ וּבָנֶ֖יךָ לִ֥י תִתֵּֽן: |
| As I have sent to you, saying, Your silver… you shall give to me.. As I have sent to you… you will give to me I know that you will give to me, but another thing I am decreeing upon you. |
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כִּי שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ וְגוֹ' לִי תִתֵּן.
יָדַעְתִּי כִּי תִתְּנֵם לִי, אֲבָל אַחֶרֶת אֲנִי גּוֹזֵר עָלֶיךָ.
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| 6But at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants, and anything you prize they will put in their hands and take it away." |
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וכִּ֣י | אִם־כָּעֵ֣ת מָחָ֗ר אֶשְׁלַ֚ח אֶת־עֲבָדַי֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחִפְּשׂוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣יתְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת בָּתֵּ֣י עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ וְהָיָה֙ כָּל־מַחְמַ֣ד עֵינֶ֔יךָ יָשִֹ֥ימוּ בְיָדָ֖ם וְלָקָֽחוּ: |
| anything you prize. [lit. anything desirable to your eyes.] Now were not the first things desirable things? What, then, is the meaning of “anything you prize” ? This means a prize within a prize [i.e., a possession prized more than any other prized possessions.] This is the sefer Torah, concerning which it is written, “… that are prized more than gold and much fine gold” (Ps. 19:11). Said Ahab to himself, He demands a great thing. This is not mine alone; this belongs to the elders of Israel. He, therefore, summoned all the elders of the land. Even though they worshipped idols, they respected the Torah. |
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כָּל מַחְמַד עֵינֶיךָ יָשִׂימוּ בְיָדָם וְלָקְחוּ.
וַהֲלֹא כָּל הָרִאשׁוֹנִים דִּבְרֵי חֶמְדָּה הֵם, אֶלָּא מַהוּ מַחְמַד עֵינֶיךָ, חֶמְדָּה מִתּוֹךְ חֶמְדָּה, זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ: הַנֶּחֱמָדִים מִזָּהָב וּמִפַּז רַב, אָמַר אַחְאָב בְּלִבּוֹ, דָּבָר גָּדוֹל זֶה מְבַקֵּשׁ, אֵין זֶה שֶׁלִּי לְבַדִּי, שֶׁל זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִיא, לְפִיכָךְ: וַיִּקְרָא לְכָל זִקְנֵי הָאָרֶץ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדִין עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, הָיוּ מְכַבְּדִין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה.
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| 7And the king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said, "Please realize and see that this [man] is looking to cause harm, for he has sent to me for my wives, my sons, and my silver and gold, and I have not denied him." |
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זוַיִּקְרָ֚א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְכָל־זִקְנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ דְּעֽוּ־נָ֣א וּרְא֔וּ כִּ֥י רָעָ֖ה זֶ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ כִּֽי־שָׁלַ֨ח אֵלַ֜י לְנָשַׁ֚י וּלְבָנַי֙ וּלְכַסְפִּ֣י וְלִזְהָבִ֔י וְלֹ֥א מָנַ֖עְתִּי מִמֶּֽנּוּ: |
| 8And all of the elders and all of the people said to him, "Do not obey and do not consent." |
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חוַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֛יו כָּל־הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים וְכָל־הָעָ֑ם אַל־תִּשְׁמַ֖ע וְל֥וֹא תֹאבֶֽה: |
| 9And he said to the messengers of Ben-Haddad, "Tell to your master the king, 'All that you have sent to your servant at first, I will do, but this matter I cannot do.' " And the messengers went, and they brought back the message to him. |
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טוַיֹּ֜אמֶר לְמַלְאֲכֵ֣י בֶן־הֲדַ֗ד אִמְר֞וּ לַֽאדֹנִ֚י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֨חְתָּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֚ בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ אֶעֱשֶֹ֔ה וְהַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לַעֲשֹ֑וֹת וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיְשִׁבֻ֖הוּ דָּבָֽר: |
| 10And Ben-Haddad sent to him and said, "So shall the gods do to me and so shall they continue if the earth of Samaria suffice for the footsteps of all the people who are with me." |
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יוַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשֹ֥וּן לִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִ֑פוּ אִם־יִשְׂפֹּק֙ עֲפַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֔וֹן לִשְׁעָלִ֕ים לְכָל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽי: |
| if the earth will suffice for the footsteps. [Jonathan renders:] To take with the footsteps of all the people who are with me, i.e., earth that adheres to the sole of the feet for the footsteps. |
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אִם יִשְׂפֹּק עֲפַר שֹׁמְרוֹן לִשְׁעָלִים וְגוֹ'.
(תַּרְגּוּם:) לְמֵיסַב בִּשְׁעוֹלֵי פַרְסַת רַגְלֵי עַמָּא דְעִמִּי, עָפָר שֶׁנִּדְבַּק בְּפַרְסַת רַגְלַיִם.
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| the footsteps. לשעלים is an expression of treading with the sole of the foot, similarly, (Num. 22:24) במשעול הכרמים, “in a path between the vineyards.” And similarly (Is. 40:12): מי מדד בשעלו מים, “Who measured the water with his step,” for he trod in the Sea of Reeds, as it is stated: (Hab. 3:15) “You trod in the sea with Your horses.” |
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לִשְׁעָלִים.
לְשׁוֹן מִדְרַךְ כַּף רָגֶל, וְכֵן: בְּמִשְׁעוֹל הַכְּרָמִים; וְכֵן: מִי מָדַד בְּשָׁעֳלוֹ מַיִם, שֶׁדָּרַךְ בְּיַם סוּף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר דָּרַכְתָּ בַּיָּם סוּסֶיךָ.
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| will suffice. Heb. אם ישפק, if there is enough. |
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אִם יִשְׂפֹּק.
אִם יֵשׁ דַּי.
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| 11And the king of Israel answered and said: "Say, 'One who girds [the sword] shall not boast as one who ungirds [the sword].' " |
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יאוַיַּ֚עַן מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דַּבְּר֔וּ אַל־יִתְהַלֵּ֥ל חֹגֵ֖ר כִּמְפַתֵּֽחַ: |
| Say, One who girds himself with the sword shall not boast as one who unties the sword. Say to him, One who girds himself and goes down to war shall not boast like a man who has been victorious and is coming up from it. One who girds his sword to go down to war, who does not know whether he will be victorious or not, should not boast. |
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דַּבְּרוּ אַל יִתְהַלֵּל חִגֵּר כִּמְפַתֵּחַ.
(תַּרְגּוּם:) אֱמַרוּ לֵהּ, לָא יִשְׁתַּבַּח דְּמִזְדְּרֵז וְנָחִית בִּקְרָבָא, כִּגְבָר דְּנַצַּח וְסָלִיק מִנַּהּ. אַל יִתְהַלֵּל הַחוֹגֵר חַרְבּוֹ לָרֶדֶת לַמִּלְחָמָה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ אִם יְנַצַּח אִם לָאו.
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| as one who ungirds the girdle of his sword,. who has already come up from the war victorious. Similarly, your master should not boast concerning a future thing. |
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כִּמְפַתֵּחַ.
חֲגוֹרַת חַרְבּוֹ, שֶׁעָלָה כְּבָר מִן הַמִּלְחָמָה וְנִצַּח, כָּךְ אֵין לַאֲדוֹנֵיכֶם לְהִתְהַלֵּל בִּדְבַר הֶעָתִיד.
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| 12And it was as he heard these words as he was drinking he and the kings who were with him in pavilions, that he said to his servants, "Lay on!" and they laid siege to the city. |
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יבוַיְהִ֗י כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וְה֥וּא שֹׁתֶ֛ה ה֥וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֖ים בַּסֻּכּ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֶל־עֲבָדָיו֙ שִֹ֔ימוּ וַיָּשִֹ֖ימוּ עַל־הָעִֽיר: |
| Lay on. the implements of siege against the city. |
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שִׂימוּ.
כְּלֵי הַמָּצוֹר עַל הָעִיר.
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| 13And behold a certain prophet approached Ahab, the king of Israel, and said, "So said the Lord, 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold! I am giving them into your hands today, and you will know that I am the Lord.' " |
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יגוְהִנֵּ֣ה נָבִ֣יא אֶחָ֗ד נִגַּשׁ֘ אֶל־אַחְאָ֣ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲֽרָאִ֔יתָ אֵ֛ת כָּל־הֶהָמ֥וֹן הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּ֑ה הִנְנִ֨י נֹתְנ֚וֹ בְיָֽדְךָ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְיָדַעְתָּ֖ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה: |
| a certain prophet. That was Micaiah the son of Imlah. |
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נָבִיא אֶחָד.
הוּא מִיכַיְהוּ בֶּן יִמְלָה.
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| 14And Ahab said, "With whom?" And he said, "Thus said the Lord, 'With the youths of the governors of the provinces.' " And he said: "Who will commandeer the battle?" And he said, "You." |
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ידוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ בְּמִ֔י וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּנַעֲרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מִֽי־יֶאְסֹ֥ר הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָֽתָּה: |
| With the youths of the governors of the providence.. They are the hostages for all the princes of the other nations would give their children into his custody lest they rebel against him. |
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בְּנַעֲרֵי שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת.
הֵם בְּנֵי הַתַּעֲרוֹבוֹת, שֶׁהָיוּ כָּל הַשָּׂרִים שֶׁל שְׁאָר הָאֻמּוֹת נוֹתְנִים בְּנֵיהֶם תַּחַת יָדוֹ עֲרֵבִים, שֶׁלֹּא יִמְרְדוּ בוֹ.
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| Who will commandeer the war?. Who will array [the battle] to command it. |
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מִי יֶאְסֹר הַמִּלְחָמָה.
יַעֲרֹךְ לְצַוּוֹת אוֹתָהּ.
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| You. You go forth first and so you shall kill him. [According to Shem Ephraim, the reading is:] And you shall not wait, and you shall array [the battle]. |
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אָתָּה.
צֵא אַתָּה תְּחִלָּה וְכֹה תְמִיתֶנּוּ (וְעַתָּה תָּרִיעוּ).
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| 15And he counted the youths of the governors of the provinces, and they were two hundred thirty-two, and afterwards he counted all the people, all the children of Israel, seven thousand. |
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טווַיִּפְקֹ֗ד אֶֽת־נַעֲרֵי֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֔וֹת וַיִּהְי֕וּ מָאתַ֖יִם שְׁנַ֣יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֑ים וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ם פָּקַ֧ד אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֛ם כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִֽים: |
| seven thousand. I say that they are the ones concerning whom Scripture stated (above 19:18), “all the knees that did not kneel to the Baal, seven thousand.” |
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שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים.
אוֹמֵר אֲנִי, הֵם שֶׁאָמַר עֲלֵיהֶם: כָּל הַבִּרְכַּיִם אֲשֶׁר לֹא כָרְעוּ לַבַּעַל שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים.
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| 16And they went out at noon and Ben-Haddad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings-the thirty-two kings who aided him. |
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טזוַיֵּצְא֖וּ בַּֽצָּהֳרָ֑יִם וּבֶן־הֲדַד֩ שֹׁתֶ֨ה שִׁכּ֜וֹר בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת ה֧וּא וְהַמְּלָכִ֛ים שְׁלשִֽׁים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם מֶ֖לֶךְ עֹזֵ֥ר אֹתֽוֹ: |
| in the pavilions. that they had made for themselves because of the sun. |
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בַּסֻּכּוֹת.
שֶׁעָשׂוּ לָהֶם מִפְּנֵי הַחַמָּה.
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| 17And the youths of the governors of the provinces went out first, and Ben-Haddad sent out, and they told him saying, "Men have come out of Samaria." |
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יזוַיֵּצְא֗וּ נַעֲרֵ֛י שָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח בֶּן־הֲדַ֗ד וַיַּגִּ֚ידוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אֲנָשִׁ֕ים יָצְא֖וּ מִשֹּׁמְרֽוֹן: |
| 18And he said, "If for peace they have come out, seize them alive; If for war they have come out, alive shall you seize them." |
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יחוַיֹּ֛אמֶר אִם־לְשָׁל֥וֹם יָצָ֖אוּ תִּפְשֹ֣וּם חַיִּ֑ים וְאִ֧ם לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה יָצָ֖אוּ חַיִּ֥ים תִּפְשֹֽוּם: |
| 19And it was these who had come out of the city, the youths of the governors of the provinces, and the army which was after them. |
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יטוְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָצְא֣וּ מִן־הָעִ֔יר נַעֲרֵ֖י שָׂרֵ֣י הַמְּדִינ֑וֹת וְהַחַ֖יִל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם: |
| 20And they killed every man his opponent, the Arameans fled and Israel chased them. And Ben-Haddad, the king of Aram escaped on horseback with horsemen. |
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כוַיַּכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אִישׁ֔וֹ וַיָּנֻ֣סוּ אֲרָ֔ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵ֖ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט בֶּן־הֲדַד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם עַל־ס֖וּס וּפָרָשִֽׁים: |
| 21And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and the chariots and inflicted upon Aram a great defeat. |
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כאוַיֵּצֵא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַסּ֖וּס וְאֶת־הָרָ֑כֶב וְהִכָּ֥ה בַאֲרָ֖ם מַכָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה: |
| 22And the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself and know and see what you shall do, for at the return of the year the king of Aram will come up against you." |
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כבוַיִּגַּ֚שׁ הַנָּבִיא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֚אמֶר לוֹ֙ לֵ֣ךְ הִתְחַזַּ֔ק וְדַ֥ע וּרְאֵ֖ה אֵ֣ת אֲשֶֽׁר־תַּעֲשֶֹ֑ה כִּי לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה מֶ֥לֶךְ אֲרָ֖ם עֹלֶ֥ה עָלֶֽיךָ: |
| at the return of the year. at the time of the end of the year. |
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לִתְשׁוּבַת הַשָּׁנָה.
(תַּרְגּוּם:) לִזְמַן סוֹפָא דְּשַׁתָּא.
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| 23And the servants of the king of Aram said to him: "A God of mountains is their God: therefore they overpowered us. However, if we fight them in the plains, [you will see] if we will not overpower them. |
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כגוְעַבְדֵ֨י מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֜ם אָמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֱלֹהֵ֚י הָרִים֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם עַל־כֵּ֖ן חָזְק֣וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְאוּלָ֗ם נִלָּחֵ֚ם אִתָּם֙ בַּמִּישׁ֔וֹר אִם־לֹ֥א נֶחֱזַ֖ק מֵהֶֽם: |
| 24And do this thing: Remove the kings, each man from his place, and place officers in their place. |
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כדוְאֶת־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה עֲשֵֹ֑ה הָסֵ֚ר הַמְּלָכִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִמְּקֹמ֔וֹ וְשִֹ֥ים פַּח֖וֹת תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם: |
| and place officers in their place. Since they are not of a highborn family, they will endeavor to exert themselves in order to find favor. |
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וְשִׂים פָּחוֹת תַּחְתֵּיהֶם.
מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ מִמִּשְׁפָּחָה רָמָה, יִתְּנוּ לֵב לְהִתְחַזֵּק, כְּדֵי לִמְצֹא חֵן.
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| 25And you shall number for yourself an army like the army that fell from you, and horse for horse and chariot for chariot, and we will fight against them in the plains, [you will see] if we will not overpower them." And he heeded them and did so. |
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כהוְאַתָּ֣ה תִֽמְנֶה־לְ֣ךָ | חַ֡יִל כַּחַיִל֩ הַנֹּפֵ֨ל מֵאוֹתָ֜ךְ וְס֣וּס כַּסּ֣וּס | וְרֶ֣כֶב כָּרֶ֗כֶב וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֚ה אוֹתָם֙ בַּמִּישׁ֔וֹר אִם־לֹ֥א נֶחֱזַ֖ק מֵהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע לְקֹלָ֖ם וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כֵּֽן: |
| if we will not overpower them. i.e., and you will see if we will not overpower them. |
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אִם לֹא נֶחֱזַק מֵהֶם.
כְּלוֹמַר, וְתִרְאֶה אִם לֹא נֶחֱזַק מֵהֶם.
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| 26And it was at the return of the year, that Ben-Haddad counted the Arameans, and he went up to Aphek to war with the children of Israel. |
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כווַֽיְהִי֙ לִתְשׁוּבַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֔ה וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד בֶּן־הֲדַ֖ד אֶת־אֲרָ֑ם וַיַּ֣עַל אֲפֵ֔קָה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 27And the children of Israel were counted and provisioned, and they went to meet them, and the children of Israel encamped against them like two flocks of goats, whereas the Arameans filled the land. |
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כזוּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הָתְפָּקְדוּ֙ וְכָלְכְּל֔וּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לִקְרָאתָ֑ם וַיַּחֲנ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל נֶגְדָּ֗ם כִּשְׁנֵי֙ חֲשִׂפֵ֣י עִזִּ֔ים וַאֲרָ֖ם מִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| and provisioned. provided with supplies for the war; they armed themselves with weapons and all necessities of war. |
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וְכָלְכְּלוּ.
פַּרְנָסַת צֵדָה לַמִּלְחָמָה הִצְטַיְּדוּ, הֵם כְּלֵי זַיִן וְכָל צָרְכֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה.
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| and provisioned. they were sustained. |
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וְכָלְכְּלוּ.
נִתְכַּלְכְּלוּ.
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| like two flocks of goats. Heb. עזים חשפי, flocks of goats, although there is no comparison [in the Bible]. Menahem, however, classifies this with the expression of revelation, like (Gen. 30:37) מַחשּׁוף הלבן“laying bare the white”; (Is. 47:2) חשפי שבל “uncover your locks.” The expression of revelation fits with flocks of goats, like (Song of Songs 4:1) “… who bared Mt. Gilead.” When they come down from the mountain, it is bared [or revealed]. |
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כִּשְׁנֵי חֲשִׂפֵי עִזִּים.
קְבוּצֵי עִזִּים, וְאֵין לוֹ דִּמְיוֹן. וּמְנַחֵם חִבְּרוֹ בִּלְשׁוֹן גִּלּוּי, כְּמוֹ: מַחְשׂוֹף הַלָּבָן: חֶשְׂפִּי שׁוֹבֶל, וּלְשׁוֹן גִּלּוּי נוֹפֵל עַל עֶדְרֵי עִזִּים, כְּמוֹ: שֶׁגָּלְשׁוּ מֵהַר גִּלְעָד, כְּשֶׁיּוֹרְדִין מִן הָהָר, נִתְגַּלֶּה הָהָר.
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| 28And the Man of God approached and said to the king of Israel. And he said, "Thus said the Lord, 'Because the Arameans said that God of the mountains is the Lord and He is not the God over the valleys, I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand and you will know that I am the Lord. ' " |
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כחוַיִּגַּ֞שׁ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיֹּאמֶר֘ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה יַ֠עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמְר֚וּ אֲרָם֙ אֱלֹהֵ֚י הָרִים֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־אֱלֹהֵ֥י עֲמָקִ֖ים ה֑וּא וְ֠נָתַתִּי אֶת־כָּל־הֶהָמ֨וֹן הַגָּ֚דוֹל הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה: |
| and said to the king of Israel. And he said. Said R. Johanan: Every place wherein it is stated, And he said… and he said, must be expounded. The first saying [refers to what] he said to him, “… I will deliver all the great multitude into your hand…” The second saying [alludes to an admonition that], “if Ben-Hadad falls into your hands, show him no clemency.” Therefore, when he took pity on him, he said to him (v.42) “Since you released the man I had designated for destruction…” |
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וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר וְגוֹ'.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיֹּאמֶר וַיֹּאמֶר, צָרִיךְ לִדְרשׁ. אֲמִירָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, אָמַר לוֹ וְנָתַתִּי אֶת כָּל הֶהָמוֹן הַזֶּה בְּיָדֶךָ, אֲמִירָה שְׁנִיָּה, אִם יִפֹּל בֶּן הֲדַד בְּיָדְךָ אַל תַחֲמֹל עָלָיו, לְפִיכָךְ כְּשֶׁחָמַל עָלָיו אָמַר לוֹ: יַעַן שִׁלַּחְתָּ אֶת אִישׁ חֶרְמִי מִיָּד וְגוֹ'.
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| 29And they were encamped opposite each other [for] seven days; and it was on the seventh day that [men of] battle drew closer and the children of Israel killed of Aram, one hundred thousand footmen in one day. |
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כטוַֽיַּחֲנ֧וּ אֵ֛לֶּה נֹ֥כַח אֵ֖לֶּה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וַיְהִ֣י | בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַתִּקְרַב֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיַּכּ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל אֶת־אֲרָ֛ם מֵאָה־אֶ֥לֶף רַגְלִ֖י בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָֽד: |
| 30And the survivors fled to Aphek, to the city, and the wall fell on the twenty-seven thousand men who had survived; Ben-Haddad fled and came into the city into a chamber within a chamber. |
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לוַיָּנֻ֨סוּ הַנּוֹתָרִ֥ים | אֲפֵקָה֘ אֶל־הָעִיר֒ וַתִּפֹּל֙ הַחוֹמָ֔ה עַל־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ הַנּוֹתָרִ֑ים וּבֶן־הֲדַ֣ד נָ֔ס וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָעִ֖יר חֶ֥דֶר בְּחָֽדֶר: |
| 31And his servants said to him, "Behold; we have now heard that the kings of the House of Israel are kindly kings. Let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads and let us go out to the king of Israel, perhaps he will spare your life." |
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לאוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָיו֘ עֲבָדָיו֒ הִנֵּֽה־נָ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ כִּ֗י מַלְכֵי֙ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּֽי־מַלְכֵ֥י חֶ֖סֶד הֵ֑ם נָשִֹ֣ימָה נָּא֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמָתְנֵ֜ינוּ וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרֹאשֵׁ֗נוּ וְנֵצֵא֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אוּלַ֖י יְחַיֶּ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ: |
| 32So they girded sackcloth on their loins and ropes on their heads, and they came to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-Haddad said, "Please, may my life be spared." And he said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother." |
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לבוַיַּחְגְּרוּ֩ שַׂקִּ֨ים בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֜ם וַחֲבָלִ֣ים בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ עַבְדְּךָ֧ בֶן־הֲדַ֛ד אָמַ֖ר תְּחִֽי־נָ֣א נַפְשִׁ֑י וַיֹּ֛אמֶר הַעוֹדֶ֥נּוּ חַ֖י אָחִ֥י הֽוּא: |
| 33And the people took it for an omen, and they hastened and caught it from him and said, "Your brother Ben-Haddad." And he said, "Come and take him." Ben-Haddad went out to him, and he helped him climb up into the chariot. |
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לגוְהָאֲנָשִׁים֩ יְנַחֲשׁ֨וּ וַֽיְמַהֲר֜וּ וַיַּחְלְט֣וּ הֲמִמֶּ֗נּוּ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אָחִ֣יךָ בֶן־הֲדַ֔ד וַיֹּ֖אמֶר בֹּ֣אוּ קָחֻ֑הוּ וַיֵּצֵ֚א אֵלָיו֙ בֶּן־הֲדַ֔ד וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֖הוּ עַל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָֽה: |
| took it for an omen, and they hastened and caught it from him. Heb. יְנַחֲשׁוּ is an expression of divining. They said: Since words of peace fell from his mouth, even inadvertently, it is a good sign, and they hastened to confirm the matter. |
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יְנַחֲשׁוּ וַיְמַהֲרוּ וַיַּחְלְטוּ הֲמִמֶּנּוּ.
יְנַחֲשׁוּ לְשׁוֹן מְנַחֵשׁ, אָמְרוּ כֵּיוָן שֶׁנָּפְלוּ דִּבְרֵי שָׁלוֹם בְּפִיו אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא בְּמִתְכַּוֵּן, סִימָן טוֹב הוּא זֶה, וַיְמַהֲרוּ לְהַחֲזִיק הַדָּבָר.
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| . |
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וַיַּחְלְטוּ.
לְשׁוֹן: צְמִיתוּת, כָּרְתוּ הַדָּבָר מִפִּיו שֶׁלֹּא יַחֲזֹר בּוֹ, וְהַהֵ"א שֶׁל הֲמִמֶּנּוּ נוֹטֶה בְּמָסֹרֶת לִשְׁתֵּי הַתֵּבוֹת, כְּאִלּוּ נִכְתַּב וַיַּחְלְטוּהָ מִמֶּנּוּ, אִם מִמֶּנּוּ יֵצֵא הַדָּבָר בְּכַוָּנַת הַלֵּב.
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| 34And he said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I will return, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus as my father had made in Samaria. And I will," [said Ahab] "release him with this treaty." And he forged with him a treaty, and he released him. |
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לדוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֡יו הֶעָרִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־לָֽקַח־אָבִי֩ מֵאֵ֨ת אָבִ֜יךָ אָשִׁ֗יב וְ֠חֻצוֹת תָּשִֹ֨ים לְךָ֚ בְדַמֶּ֙שֶׂק֙ כַּאֲשֶׁר־שָֹ֚ם אָבִי֙ בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן וַאֲנִ֖י בַּבְּרִ֣ית אֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיִּכְרָת־ל֥וֹ בְרִ֖ית וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ: |
| And he said to him. i.e., Ben-Hadad said to Ahab, The cities that my father took from your father Omri, I will return to you. |
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וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו.
בֶּן הֲדַד, הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר לָקַח אָבִי מֵאֵת אָבִיךָ עָמְרִי, אָשִׁיב לְךָ.
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| and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus. and rule therein, although it is the capital of my kingdom. |
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וְחוּצוֹת תָּשִׂים לְךָ בְדַמֶּשֶׂק.
וּתְהִי מוֹשֵׁל בָּהּ, וְהִיא רֹאשׁ לְמַלְכוּתִי.
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| as my father had made in Samaria. your city against your will. He was saying all this out of fear. Said Ahab to him, And I will, with this treaty, release you. |
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כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׂם אָבִי בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן.
עִירְךָ עַל כָּרְחֲךָ, וְכָל זֶה הָיָה אוֹמֵר מִיִּרְאָה, אָמַר לוֹ אַחְאָב, וַאֲנִי בַּבְּרִית הַזֹּאת אֲשַׁלְּחֶ§.
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| 35And a certain man of the disciples of the prophets said to his friend, "By the word of the Lord, strike me now." And the man refused to hit him. |
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להוְאִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד מִבְּנֵ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים אָמַ֧ר אֶל־רֵעֵ֛הוּ בִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה הַכֵּ֣ינִי נָ֑א וַיְמָאֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ לְהַכֹּתֽוֹ: |
| Strike me now. This sign was bad for Ahab, for the prophet said to him by the word of the Lord to kill Ben-Hadad, and he did not kill him. Also, this one to whom the prophet said by the word of the Lord, “Strike me,” and he did not strike him, just as He punished him, he would punish Ahab. |
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הַכֵּנִי נָא.
סִימָן זֶה רַע עַל אַחְאָב, שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַנָּבִיא עַל פִּי הַגְּבוּרָה לְהַכּוֹת אֶת בֶּן הֲדַד וְלֹא הִכָּהוּ. וְאַף זֶה שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַנָּבִיא בִּדְבַר ה' הַכֵּנִי, וְלֹא הִכָּהוּ, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּפְרַע מִזֶּה, יִפָּרַע מֵאַחְאָב.
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| By the word of the Lord. The Holy One, blessed be He, said that you shall strike me. |
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בִּדְבַר ה'.
הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר שֶׁתַּכֶּה אוֹתִי.
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| 36And he said to him, "because you have not obeyed the Lord, who you depart from me, a lion will strike you." And he went away from him, and a lion found him and struck him. |
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לווַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ יַעַן אֲשֶׁ֚ר לֹֽא־שָׁמַ֙עְתָּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנְּךָ֚ הוֹלֵךְ֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וְהִכְּךָ֖ הָאַרְיֵ֑ה וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ מֵֽאֶצְל֔וֹ וַיִּמְצָאֵ֥הוּ הָאַרְיֵ֖ה וַיַּכֵּֽהוּ: |
| 37And he found another man and he said, "Strike me, please." And the man struck him, striking and wounding him. |
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לזוַיִּמְצָא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֔ר וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הַכֵּ֣ינִי נָ֑א וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ הָאִ֖ישׁ הַכֵּ֥ה וּפָצֹֽעַ: |
| and wounding him. [He struck him] a wounding blow. |
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וּפָצֹע.
מַכַּת חַבּוּרָה.
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| 38And the prophet went and waited for the king on the way, and he disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. |
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לחוַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֥שׂ בָּאֲפֵ֖ר עַל־עֵינָֽיו: |
| and he disguised himself with his headband. He changed his headband so that they would not recognize him. Any change of clothes is an expression of disguise. |
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וַיִּתְחַפֵּשׂ בָּאֲפֵר.
שִׁנָּה אֶת מַעְפָּרְתּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַכִּירוּהוּ, כָּל שִׁנּוּי בְּגָדִים הוּא לְשׁוֹן חִפּוּשׂ.
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| with his headband. Heb. באפר. Jonathan rendered this במעפרה, [that is] a headband. |
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בָּאֲפֵר.
תִּרְגְּמוֹ יוֹנָתָן: בְּמַעֲפָרָא, הוּא סוּדָר.
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| 39And it was when the king was passing, that he cried out to the king, and he said, "Your servant went out in the thick of the battle, and behold a man turned aside, and he brought to me a man and said, "Watch this man for me; if he will be missing, your life will be instead of his life, or else you shall weigh out a talent of silver." |
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לטוַיְהִ֚י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ עֹבֵ֔ר וְה֖וּא צָעַ֣ק אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֜אמֶר עַבְ֣דְּךָ | יָצָ֣א בְקֶֽרֶב־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְהִנֵּֽה־אִ֨ישׁ סָ֜ר וַיָּבֵ֧א אֵלַ֣י אִ֗ישׁ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ שְׁמֹר֙ אֶת־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה אִם־הִפָּקֵד֙ יִפָּקֵ֔ד וְהָיְתָ֚ה נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ א֥וֹ כִּכַּר־כֶּ֖סֶף תִּשְׁקֽוֹל: |
| and behold, a man turned aside. from the road to me. |
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וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ סָר.
מִן הַדֶּרֶךְ אֵלַי.
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| and he brought to me a man. a prisoner of war. |
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וַיָּבֵא אֵלַי אִישׁ.
שָׁבוּי מִן הַמִּלְחָמָה.
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| if he will be missing. If he escapes, an expression similar to (Num. 31: 49) “and no man was missing from us (ולא נפקדו);” an expression of a lack. |
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אִם הִפָּקֵד יִפָּקֵד.
אִם יִבְרַח, לְשׁוֹן: לֹא נִפְקַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ, לְשׁוֹן חִסָּרוֹן.
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| 40And your servant was busy here and there, and he was gone." And the king of Israel said to him, "So is your verdict; you have pronounced [it]." |
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מוַיְהִ֣י עַבְדְּךָ֗ עֹשֵֹ֥ה הֵ֛נָּה וָהֵ֖נָּה וְה֣וּא אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֧יו מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל כֵּ֥ן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֖ךָ אַתָּ֥ה חָרָֽצְתָּ: |
| and he was gone. He ran away. |
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וְהוּא אֵינֶנּוּ.
בָּרַח לוֹ.
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| you have pronounced it. Either your life or a talent of silver. |
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אַתָּה חָרַצְתָּ.
אוֹ נֶפֶשׁ, אוֹ כִּכַּר כֶּסֶף.
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| 41And he hastened and removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him, that he was one of the prophets. |
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מאוַיְמַהֵ֕ר וַיָּ֙סַר֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲפֵ֔ר מֵעֲלֵ֖י (כתיב מֵעֲלֵ֖) עֵינָ֑יו וַיַּכֵּ֚ר אֹתוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י מֵֽהַנְּבִאִ֖ים הֽוּא: |
| 42And he (the prophet) said to him, "Thus said the Lord, 'Because you have released the man whom I designated for destruction, from your hand, it will be your life instead of his life and your people instead of his people.' " |
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מבוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו כֹּה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה יַ֛עַן שִׁלַּ֥חְתָּ אֶת־אִישׁ־חֶרְמִ֖י מִיָּ֑ד וְהָיְתָ֚ה נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ וְעַמְּךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת עַמּֽוֹ: |
| the man whom I designated for destruction. the man of My war, an expression of חרם, strife. Now, the expression of strife fits with war, and similarly, (Is. 34:5) “… on Edom it will descend and on the nation with whom I war (חרמי).” [Thus we render, “the man with whom I war.” [According to the] Midrash Aggadah: Many traps and nets have I spread for you until he fell into your hand. |
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אִישׁ חֶרְמִי.
אִישׁ מִלְחַמְתִּי, לְשׁוֹן חֵירוּם, וּלְשׁוֹן חֵירוּם נוֹפֵל בְּמִלְחָמָה, וְכֵן: עַל אֱדוֹם תֵּרֵד וְעַל עַם חֶרְמִי. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה כַּמָּה מְצוּדוֹת וַחֲרָמִים פָּרַשְׂתִּי לְךָ עַד שֶׁנָּפַל בְּיָדְךָ.
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| 43And the king of Israel went to his home sad and upset, and he came to Samaria. |
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מגוַיֵּ֧לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַל־בֵּית֖וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֑ף וַיָּבֹ֖א שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה: |
| sad and upset. Heb. סר וזעף. [Jonathan renders:] נסים ודוי, his spirit turned away from him. [These are expressions of sadness.] His spirit turned away from him. |
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סָר וְזָעֵף.
(תַּרְגּוּם:) נְסִיס וְדַוָּי, רוּחוֹ סָרָה מִמֶּנּוּ.
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