TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
I - Chapter 26
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The Ziphites came to Shaul at Giva and said, “David is hiding in the hill of Hachilah facing Jeshimon.”
אוַיָּבֹאוּ הַזִּפִים אֶל־שָׁאוּל הַגִּבְעָתָה לֵאמֹר הֲלוֹא דָוִד מִסְתַּתֵּר בְּגִבְעַת הַחֲכִילָה עַל פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹן׃
2Shaul went down at once to the wilderness of Ziph, together with three thousand picked men of Yisrael, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph,
בוַיָּקָם שָׁאוּל וַיֵּרֶד אֶל־מִדְבַּר־זִיף וְאִתּוֹ שְׁלֹשֶׁת־אֲלָפִים אִישׁ בְּחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־דָּוִד בְּמִדְבַּר־זִיף׃
3and Shaul encamped on the hill of Hachilah which faces Jeshimon, by the road. When David, who was then living in the wilderness, learned that Shaul had come after him into the wilderness,
גוַיִּחַן שָׁאוּל בְּגִבְעַת הַחֲכִילָה אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹן עַל־הַדָּרֶךְ וְדָוִד יֹשֵׁב בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיַּרְא כִּי בָא שָׁאוּל אַחֲרָיו הַמִּדְבָּרָה׃
4David sent out scouts and made sure that Shaul had come.
דוַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד מְרַגְּלִים וַיֵּדַע כִּי־בָא שָׁאוּל אֶל־נָכוֹן׃
5David went at once to the place where Shaul had encamped, and David saw the spot where Shaul and his army commander, Avner son of Ner, lay asleep. Shaul lay asleep inside the barricade and the troops were posted around him.
הוַיָּקָם דָּוִד וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר חָנָה־שָׁם שָׁאוּל וַיַּרְא דָּוִד אֶת־הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר שָׁכַב־שָׁם שָׁאוּל וְאַבְנֵר בֶּן־נֵר שַׂר־צְבָאוֹ וְשָׁאוּל שֹׁכֵב בַּמַּעְגָּל וְהָעָם חֹנִים סביבתו [סְבִיבֹתָיו׃]
6David spoke up and asked Achimelech the Hittite and Avishai son of Tzeruya, Yoav's brother, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Shaul?” And Avishai answered, “I will go down with you.”
ווַיַּעַן דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־אֲחִימֶלֶךְ הַחִתִּי וְאֶל־אֲבִישַׁי בֶּן־צְרוּיָה אֲחִי יוֹאָב לֵאמֹר מִי־יֵרֵד אִתִּי אֶל־שָׁאוּל אֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶה וַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִישַׁי אֲנִי אֵרֵד עִמָּךְ׃
7So David and Avishai approached the troops by night, and found Shaul fast asleep inside the barricade, his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Avner and the troops sleeping around him.
זוַיָּבֹא דָוִד וַאֲבִישַׁי אֶל־הָעָם לַיְלָה וְהִנֵּה שָׁאוּל שֹׁכֵב יָשֵׁן בַּמַּעְגָּל וַחֲנִיתוֹ מְעוּכָה־בָאָרֶץ מראשתו [מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו] וְאַבְנֵר וְהָעָם שֹׁכְבִים סביבתו [סְבִיבֹתָיו׃]
8And Avishai said to David, “Hashem has delivered your enemy into your hands today. Let me pin him to the ground with a single thrust of the spear. I will not have to strike him twice.”
חוַיֹּאמֶר אֲבִישַׁי אֶל־דָּוִד סִגַּר אֱלֹהִים הַיּוֹם אֶת־אוֹיִבְךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וְעַתָּה אַכֶּנּוּ נָא בַּחֲנִית וּבָאָרֶץ פַּעַם אַחַת וְלֹא אֶשְׁנֶה לוֹ׃
9But David said to Avishai, “Don't do him violence! No one can lay hands on Hashem's anointed with impunity.”
טוַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־אֲבִישַׁי אַל־תַּשְׁחִיתֵהוּ כִּי מִי שָׁלַח יָדוֹ בִּמְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָה וְנִקָּה׃
10And David went on, “As Hashem lives, Hashem Himself will strike him down, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go down to battle and perish.
יוַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד חַי־יְהֹוָה כִּי אִם־יְהֹוָה יִגָּפֶנּוּ אוֹ־יוֹמוֹ יָבוֹא וָמֵת אוֹ בַמִּלְחָמָה יֵרֵד וְנִסְפָּה׃
11But Hashem forbid that I should lay a hand on Hashem's anointed! Just take the spear and the water jar at his head and let's be off.”
יאחָלִילָה לִּי מֵיהֹוָה מִשְּׁלֹחַ יָדִי בִּמְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָה וְעַתָּה קַח־נָא אֶת־הַחֲנִית אֲשֶׁר מראשתו [מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו] וְאֶת־צַפַּחַת הַמַּיִם וְנֵלֲכָה לָּנוּ׃
12So David took away the spear and the water jar at Shaul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew or woke up; all remained asleep; a deep sleep from Hashem had fallen upon them.
יבוַיִּקַּח דָּוִד אֶת־הַחֲנִית וְאֶת־צַפַּחַת הַמַּיִם מֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵי שָׁאוּל וַיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶם וְאֵין רֹאֶה וְאֵין יוֹדֵעַ וְאֵין מֵקִיץ כִּי כֻלָּם יְשֵׁנִים כִּי תַּרְדֵּמַת יְהֹוָה נָפְלָה עֲלֵיהֶם׃
13David crossed over to the other side and stood afar on top of a hill; there was considerable distance between them.
יגוַיַּעֲבֹר דָּוִד הָעֵבֶר וַיַּעֲמֹד עַל־רֹאשׁ־הָהָר מֵרָחֹק רַב הַמָּקוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם׃
14And David shouted to the troops and to Avner son of Ner, “Avner, aren't you going to answer?” And Avner shouted back, “Who are you to shout at the king?”
ידוַיִּקְרָא דָוִד אֶל־הָעָם וְאֶל־אַבְנֵר בֶּן־נֵר לֵאמֹר הֲלוֹא תַעֲנֶה אַבְנֵר וַיַּעַן אַבְנֵר וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אַתָּה קָרָאתָ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ׃
15And David answered Avner, “You are a man, aren't you? And there is no one like you in Yisrael! So why didn't you keep watch over your lord the king? For one of [our] troops came to do violence to your lord the king.
טווַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־אַבְנֵר הֲלוֹא־אִישׁ אַתָּה וּמִי כָמוֹךָ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְלָמָּה לֹא שָׁמַרְתָּ אֶל־אֲדֹנֶיךָ הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי־בָא אַחַד הָעָם לְהַשְׁחִית אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲדֹנֶיךָ׃
16You have not given a good account of yourself! As Hashem lives, [all of] you deserve to die, because you did not keep watch over your lord, Hashem's anointed. Look around, where are the king's spear and the water jar that were at his head?”
טזלֹא־טוֹב הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ חַי־יְהֹוָה כִּי בְנֵי־מָוֶת אַתֶּם אֲשֶׁר לֹא־שְׁמַרְתֶּם עַל־אֲדֹנֵיכֶם עַל־מְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָה וְעַתָּה רְאֵה אֵי־חֲנִית הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאֶת־צַפַּחַת הַמַּיִם אֲשֶׁר מראשתו [מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו׃]
17Shaul recognized David's voice, and he asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And David replied, “It is, my lord king.”
יזוַיַּכֵּר שָׁאוּל אֶת־קוֹל דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר הֲקוֹלְךָ זֶה בְּנִי דָוִד וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד קוֹלִי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ׃
18And he went on, “But why does my lord continue to pursue his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?
יחוַיֹּאמֶר לָמָּה זֶּה אֲדֹנִי רֹדֵף אַחֲרֵי עַבְדּוֹ כִּי מֶה עָשִׂיתִי וּמַה־בְּיָדִי רָעָה׃
19Now let my lord the king hear his servant out. If Hashem has incited you against me, let Him be appeased by an offering; but if it is men, may they be accursed of Hashem! For they have driven me out today, so that I cannot have a share in Hashem's possession, but am told, ‘Go and worship other gods.'
v'-a-TAH yish-ma NA a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh AYT div-RAY av-DO im a-do-NAI he-see-t'-KHA VEE ya-RAKH min-KHAH v'-IM b'-NAY ha-a-DAM a-ru-REEM HAYM lif-NAY a-do-NAI kee gay-r'-SHU-nee ha-YOM may-his-ta-PAY-akh b'-na-kha-LAT a-do-NAI lay-MOR LAYKH a-VOD e-lo-HEEM a-khay-REEM
יטוְעַתָּה יִשְׁמַע־נָא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת דִּבְרֵי עַבְדּוֹ אִם־יְהֹוָה הֱסִיתְךָ בִי יָרַח מִנְחָה וְאִם בְּנֵי הָאָדָם אֲרוּרִים הֵם לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה כִּי־גֵרְשׁוּנִי הַיּוֹם מֵהִסְתַּפֵּחַ בְּנַחֲלַת יְהֹוָה לֵאמֹר לֵךְ עֲבֹד אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים׃
26:19 Go and worship other gods
As Rashi explains, David makes the surprising claim that God told him to go and worship other gods, because he was compelled to run away to the land of the Philistines, and in a certain sense, leaving the Land of Israel is tantamount to worshipping idols. This is reflected in the Talmudic statement (Ketubot 110a), “one who lives outside of Eretz Yisrael is like one who has no God.” The Rabbis make this dramatic statement because the People of Israel are commanded to live in Eretz Yisrael, and it is the only place in the world where one can fulfill all of the commandments. It is also the place that Hashem has chosen to reveal Himself through awe inspiring miracles, from biblical through modern times. Hence, leaving the Land of Israel greatly reduces a person’s relationship with God, and is somewhat similar to idolatry.
20Oh, let my blood not fall to the ground, away from the presence of Hashem! For the king of Yisrael has come out to seek a single flea—as if he were hunting a partridge in the hills.”
כוְעַתָּה אַל־יִפֹּל דָּמִי אַרְצָה מִנֶּגֶד פְּנֵי יְהֹוָה כִּי־יָצָא מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־פַּרְעֹשׁ אֶחָד כַּאֲשֶׁר יִרְדֹּף הַקֹּרֵא בֶּהָרִים׃
21And Shaul answered, “I am in the wrong. Come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, seeing how you have held my life precious this day. Yes, I have been a fool, and I have erred so very much.”
כאוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל חָטָאתִי שׁוּב בְּנִי־דָוִד כִּי לֹא־אָרַע לְךָ עוֹד תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר יָקְרָה נַפְשִׁי בְּעֵינֶיךָ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה הִנֵּה הִסְכַּלְתִּי וָאֶשְׁגֶּה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד׃
22David replied, “Here is Your Majesty's spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.
כבוַיַּעַן דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה החנית [חֲנִית] הַמֶּלֶךְ וְיַעֲבֹר אֶחָד מֵהַנְּעָרִים וְיִקָּחֶהָ׃
23And Hashem will requite every man for his right conduct and loyalty—for this day Hashem delivered you into my hands and I would not raise a hand against Hashem's anointed.
כגוַיהֹוָה יָשִׁיב לָאִישׁ אֶת־צִדְקָתוֹ וְאֶת־אֱמֻנָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר נְתָנְךָ יְהֹוָה הַיּוֹם בְּיָד וְלֹא אָבִיתִי לִשְׁלֹחַ יָדִי בִּמְשִׁיחַ יְהֹוָה׃
24And just as I valued your life highly this day, so may Hashem value my life and may He rescue me from all trouble.”
כדוְהִנֵּה כַּאֲשֶׁר גָּדְלָה נַפְשְׁךָ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה בְּעֵינָי כֵּן תִּגְדַּל נַפְשִׁי בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה וְיַצִּלֵנִי מִכָּל־צָרָה׃
25Shaul answered David, “May you be blessed, my son David. You shall achieve, and you shall prevail.” David then went his way, and Shaul returned home.
כהוַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל־דָּוִד בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה בְּנִי דָוִד גַּם עָשֹׂה תַעֲשֶׂה וְגַם יָכֹל תּוּכָל וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד לְדַרְכּוֹ וְשָׁאוּל שָׁב לִמְקוֹמוֹ׃
