| 1And Shephatiah the son of Mattan and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur and Jucal the son of Shelemiah and Pashhur the son of Malkiah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying: |
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אוַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע שְׁפַטְיָ֣ה בֶן־מַתָּ֗ן וּגְדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־פַּשְׁח֔וּר וְיוּכַל֙ בֶּן־שֶׁ֣לֶמְיָ֔הוּ וּפַשְׁח֖וּר בֶּן־מַלְכִּיָּ֑ה אֶת־הַ֨דְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ מְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר: |
| 2So said the Lord: Whoever stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, or by pestilence, and whoever goes out to the Chaldeans shall live, and he shall have his life as a prey, and live. |
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בכֹּה֘ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֒ הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את יָמ֕וּת בַּחֶ֖רֶב בָּֽרָעָ֣ב וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וְהַיֹּצֵ֚א אֶל־הַכַּשְׂדִּים֙ וְחָיָ֔ה (כתיב יְחָיָ֔ה) וְהָיְתָה־לּ֥וֹ נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לְשָׁלָ֖ל וָחָֽי: |
| and he shall have his life as prey. His life shall be saved, as if had “plundered” his soul; just as a man profits from plundering booty, so this person will profit [by saving] his life. |
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והיתה לו נפשו לשלל.
והיו לו חייו הצלה כאילו שלל נפשו כאדם השולל שלל ומשתכר כך ישתכר זה נפשו:
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| 3So said the Lord: This city shall surely be given into the hand[s] of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. |
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גכֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה הִנָּתֹ֨ן תִּנָּתֵ֜ן הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֗את בְּיַ֛ד חֵ֥יל מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל וּלְכָדָֽהּ: |
| 4And the officers said to the king, "This man should be put to death now, since he weakens the hands of the men of war remaining in this city and the hands of all the people, to speak to them such words, for this man does not seek the welfare of this people but the harm." |
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דוַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ הַשָּׂרִ֜ים אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ י֣וּמַת נָא֘ אֶת־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּה֒ כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֡ן הֽוּא־מְרַפֵּ֡א אֶת־יְדֵי֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים | בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֗את וְאֵת֙ יְדֵ֣י כָל־הָעָ֔ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֣י | הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֗ה אֵינֶ֨נּוּ דֹרֵ֧שׁ לְשָׁל֛וֹם לָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כִּ֥י אִם־לְרָעָֽה: |
| since he weakens. (a lacher in O.F.), an expression of weakness. |
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על כן הוא מרפא.
אלאקנ"ץ בלע"ז לשון רפיון:
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| 5And King Zedekiah said, "Here he is in your hand[s], for the king cannot [reply] anything to you." |
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הוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ הִנֵּה־ה֖וּא בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם כִּי־אֵ֣ין הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יוּכַ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָֽר: |
| cannot. Heb. יוּכַל, like יָכוֹל, since he is weakening the hands of, etc. |
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יוכל.
כמו יכול על אשר הוא מרפא את וגו':
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| 6And they took Jeremiah and cast him into the pit of Malchiah the king's son, that is in the prison yard, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes, and in the pit there was no water but mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. |
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ווַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ אֹת֜וֹ אֶל־הַבּ֣וֹר | מַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּֽחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֶת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּֽחֲבָלִ֑ים וּבַבּ֚וֹר אֵין־מַ֙יִם֙ כִּ֣י אִם־טִ֔יט וַיִּטְבַּ֥ע יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּטִּֽיט: |
| the pit of Malchiah. lit. the pit Malchiah. |
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הבור מלכיהו.
של מלכיהו:
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| 7And Ebed-melech the Cushite, an officer who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the pit, and the king was sitting in the Benjamin gate. |
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זוַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אִ֣ישׁ סָרִ֗יס וְהוּא֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּי־נָֽתְנ֥וּ אֶת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־הַבּ֑וֹר וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר בִּנְיָמִֽן: |
| Ebed-melech. Baruch the son of Neriah. |
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עבד מלך.
ברוך בן נריה:
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| the Cushite. Zedekiah. Just as a Cushite is different in his skin, so was Zedekiah different in his righteousness, from all his generation (Moed Katan 16b). And there is a Midrash that expounds “the Cushite,” as referring to Baruch (Sifrei ibid.). |
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הכושי.
צדקיהו מה כושי משונה בעורו אף צדקיהו משונה בצדקו מכל דורו ויש מדרש דורש הכושי על ברוך:
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| an officer. Heb. סריס, a great man. |
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איש סריס.
גבר רב:
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| 8And Ebed-melech went out of the king's house and spoke to the king, saying, |
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חוַיֵּצֵ֥א עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֖לֶךְ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר: |
| 9"My lord the king, these men have done harm with all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, [let alone] that they cast [him] into the pit. He would have died in his place because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city." |
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טאֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הֵרֵ֜עוּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֚ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֚ר עָשׂוּ֙ לְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ אֶל־הַבּ֑וֹר וַיָּ֚מָת תַּחְתָּיו֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָֽרָעָ֔ב כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין הַלֶּ֛חֶם ע֖וֹד בָּעִֽיר: |
| He would have died in his place, etc.. If they had left him in his place, he would have died by himself in the famine, but they have done harm to bring his death closer. |
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וימת תחתיו וגו'.
אילו הניחו אותו במקומו היה מת מאליו ברעב והם הריעו לקרב מיתתו:
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| 10And the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying, "Take in your charge thirty men from here, and bring Jeremiah the prophet up from the pit while he has not yet died." |
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יוַיְצַוֶּ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֛ת עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֥לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר קַ֣ח בְּיָדְךָ֚ מִזֶּה֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְֽהַֽעֲלִ֜יתָ אֶת־יִרְמְיָ֧הוּ הַנָּבִ֛יא מִן־הַבּ֖וֹר בְּטֶ֥רֶם יָמֽוּת: |
| thirty men. Since they were weakened by the famine, all of them were required. |
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שלשים אנשים.
מתוך שכחן תש ברעב נצרכו כולן:
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| 11And Ebed-melech took the men in his charge and came to the king's house, under the treasury, and he took from there worn clouts and worn rags, and he let them down to Jeremiah into the pit with ropes. |
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יאוַיִּקַּ֣ח | עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ אֶת־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיָּבֹ֚א בֵֽית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־תַּ֣חַת הָֽאוֹצָ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֚ח מִשָּׁם֙ בְּלוֹיֵ֣ סְחָב֔וֹת (כתיב הסְחָב֔וֹת) וּבְלוֹיֵ֖ מְלָחִ֑ים וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֧ם אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ אֶל־הַבּ֖וֹר בַּֽחֲבָלִֽים: |
| worn clouts. Heb. בלוי סחבות, worn out garments, that are dragged. |
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בלויי סחבות.
בלואי בגדים הנסחבים:
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| 12And Ebed-melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Now put the clouts and the rags under your armpits under the ropes," and Jeremiah did so. |
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יבוַיֹּ֡אמֶר עֶבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ שִׂ֣ים נָ֠א בְּלוֹאֵ֨י הַסְּחָב֚וֹת וְהַמְּלָחִים֙ תַּחַת אַצִּיל֣וֹת יָדֶ֔יךָ מִתַּ֖חַת לַֽחֲבָלִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ כֵּֽן: |
| and the rags. Heb. והמלחים, an expression of decay. Cf. “shall vanish (נמלחוּ) like smoke” (Isa. 51:6). |
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והמלחים.
לשון רקבון כמו כעשן נמלחו (ישעיה נא):
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| under your armpits. So that the ropes should not harm you. |
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תחת אצילות ידיך.
שלא יזיקוך החבלים:
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| armpits. Heb. אצילות, aisseles in French. |
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אצילות.
איישילא"ש בלעז:
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| 13And they pulled Jeremiah with the ropes, and they drew him up from the pit, and Jeremiah stayed in the prison yard. |
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יגוַיִּמְשְׁכ֚וּ אֶת־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽחֲבָלִ֔ים וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ מִן־הַבּ֑וֹר וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּֽחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה: |
| 14And King Zedekiah sent and took Jeremiah the prophet to him, to the third entrance, that was in the house of the Lord, and the king said to Jeremiah, "I ask you a word; do not conceal a word from me." |
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ידוַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־יִרְמְיָ֚הוּ הַנָּבִיא֙ אֵלָ֔יו אֶל־מָבוֹא֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ שֹׁאֵ֨ל אֲנִ֚י אֹֽתְךָ֙ דָּבָ֔ר אַל־תְּכַחֵ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נִּי דָּבָֽר: |
| the third entrance. I do not know where it is. Perhaps it is in the Israelites’ Court. The appellation “third” is to say that the hel [the wall surrounding the Temple Court], and the Women’s Court are before it. |
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מבוא השלישי.
לא ידעתי היכן הוא ושמא בעזרת ישראל היא לומר שהחיל ועזרת נשים לפניה:
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| 15And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, will you not put me to death? And if I advise you, you will not listen to me." |
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טווַיֹּ֚אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּי אַגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ הֲל֖וֹא הָמֵ֣ת תְּמִיתֵ֑נִי וְכִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִשְׁמַ֖ע אֵלָֽי: |
| 16And King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah secretly, saying, "As the Lord lives who made for us this soul, I will neither put you to death nor will I deliver you into the hand[s] of these men who seek your life." |
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טזוַיִּשָּׁבַ֞ע הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּסֵּ֣תֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חַי־יְהֹוָ֞ה (כתיב את) אֲשֶׁר֩ עָשָׂה־לָ֨נוּ אֶת־הַנֶּ֚פֶשׁ הַזֹּאת֙ אִם־אֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ וְאִם־אֶתֶּנְךָ֗ בְּיַד֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ: |
| 17And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "So said the Lord God of Hosts, the God of Israel; If you go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burnt with fire, and you and your household shall live. |
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יזוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ אֶל־צִדְקִיָּ֡הוּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אִם־יָצֹ֨א תֵצֵ֜א אֶל־שָׂרֵ֚י מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ וְחָֽיְתָ֣ה נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ וְהָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לֹ֥א תִשָּׂרֵ֖ף בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְחָיִ֖תָה אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ: |
| 18But if you do not go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city shall be delivered into the hand[s] of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand[s]." |
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יחוְאִ֣ם לֹֽא־תֵצֵ֗א אֶל־שָׂרֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל וְנִתְּנָ֞ה הָעִ֚יר הַזֹּאת֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וּשְׂרָפ֖וּהָ בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹֽא־תִמָּלֵ֥ט מִיָּדָֽם: |
| 19And King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I fear the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hands and mock me." |
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יטוַיֹּ֛אמֶר הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ אֲנִ֧י דֹאֵ֣ג אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֚ר נָֽפְלוּ֙ אֶל־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים פֶּן־יִתְּנ֥וּ אֹתִ֛י בְּיָדָ֖ם וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־בִֽי: |
| “I fear”. Heb. דֹאֵג. |
|
דואג.
ירא:
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| lest they deliver me. [Lest] the Chaldeans [deliver me] into the hands of the Jews, saying, Your king shall be your slave since you have made peace with us first. |
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פן יתנו אותי.
הכשדים ביד היהודים לומר מלככם יהי עבדכם על שקדמתם להשלים עמנו:
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| and mock me. [i.e.,] the Jews [will mock me] (engregier in O.F.), complain. |
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והתעללו בי.
היהודים איגברונ"ט בלע"ז:
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| 20And Jeremiah said, "They shall not deliver [you]; hearken now to the voice of the Lord, that I speak to you, and it shall be good for you, and your soul shall live. |
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כוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֹ֣א יִתֵּ֑נוּ שְֽׁמַע־נָ֣א | בְּק֣וֹל יְהֹוָ֗ה לַֽאֲשֶׁ֚ר אֲנִי֙ דֹּבֵ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיִ֥יטַב לְךָ֖ וּתְחִ֥י נַפְשֶֽׁךָ: |
| 21But if you refuse to go out, this is the thing that the Lord has shown me. |
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כאוְאִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לָצֵ֑את זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִרְאַ֖נִי יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 22Behold, all the women who remained in the house of the king of Judah shall be taken out to the officers of the king of Babylon, and they shall say, 'Your cohorts have enticed you and prevailed over you. Your feet have sunk into the mire; they have turned back.' |
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כבוְהִנֵּ֣ה כָל־הַנָּשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֚ר נִשְׁאֲרוּ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֔ה מֽוּצָא֕וֹת אֶל־שָׂרֵ֖י מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל וְהֵ֣נָּה אֹֽמְרֹ֗ת הִסִּית֜וּךָ וְיָֽכְל֚וּ לְךָ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ הָטְבְּע֥וּ בַבֹּ֛ץ רַגְלֶ֖ךָ נָסֹ֥גוּ אָחֽוֹר: |
| “Your cohorts”. [lit. the men of your peace,] the false prophets, who told you that you would not be caught. |
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אנשי שלומך.
נביאי השקר שאמרו לך לא תלכד:
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| into the mire. Heb. בבץ, mire, an expression as in (Job 8:11): “Can the rush shoot up without mire (בצה)?” |
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בבוץ.
טיט לשון היגאה גומא בלי בצה:
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| 23And all your wives and your sons shall be brought out to the Chaldeans, and you shall not escape from their hand[s], for you shall be seized by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city you shall burn with fire." |
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כגוְאֶת־כָּל־נָשֶׁ֣יךָ וְאֶת־בָּנֶ֗יךָ מֽוֹצִאִים֙ אֶל־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹֽא־תִמָּלֵ֣ט מִיָּדָ֑ם כִּ֣י בְיַ֚ד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֙ תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ וְאֶת־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ: |
| and this city you shall burn with fire. It is as though you are burning it with your hands for you are causing it. |
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ואת העיר הזאת תשרף באש.
הרי אתה כאילו שורפה בידים שאתה גורם לה:
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| 24And Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Let no man know of these words, and you shall not die. |
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כדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יֵדַ֥ע בַּדְּבָרִֽים־הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְלֹ֥א תָמֽוּת: |
| 25And when the officers hear that I spoke with you, and they come to you and say to you. 'Tell us now what you spoke to the king, do not conceal from us and we will not put you to death, and what did the king speak to you?' |
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כהוְכִֽי־יִשְׁמְע֣וּ הַשָּׂרִים֘ כִּֽי־דִבַּ֣רְתִּי אִתָּךְ֒ וּבָ֣אוּ אֵלֶ֣יךָ וְֽאָֽמְר֪וּ אֵ֠֩לֶיךָ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֨א לָ֜נוּ מַה־דִּבַּ֧רְתָּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אַל־תְּכַחֵ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א נְמִיתֶ֑ךָ וּמַה־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ: |
| 26You shall say to them, 'I presented my supplication before the king that he return me not to the house of Jonathan to die there.' " |
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כווְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מַפִּיל־אֲנִ֥י תְחִנָּתִ֖י לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֧י הֲשִׁיבֵ֛נִי בֵּ֥ית יְהֽוֹנָתָ֖ן לָמ֥וּת שָֽׁם: |
| 27And all the officers came to Jeremiah and asked him, and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded, and they left off speaking with him, for the matter was not reported. |
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כזוַיָּבֹ֨אוּ כָל־הַשָּׂרִ֚ים אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וַיַּגֵּ֚ד לָהֶם֙ כְּכָל־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּֽחֲרִ֣שׁוּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־נִשְׁמַ֖ע הַדָּבָֽר: |
| 28And Jeremiah stayed in the prison yard until the day that Jerusalem was taken, and he was [there] when Jerusalem was taken. |
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כחוַיֵּ֚שֶׁב יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה עַד־י֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נִלְכְּדָ֣ה יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם ס וְהָיָ֕ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר נִלְכְּדָ֖ה יְרֽוּשָׁלִָֽם: |
