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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
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I - Chapter 17

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Eliyahu the Tishbite, an inhabitant of Gilad, said to Achav, “As Hashem lives, the God of Yisrael whom I serve, there will be no dew or rain except at my bidding.”

vai-YO-mer e-li-YA-hu ha-tish-BEE mit-to-SHA-vee gil-AHD el a-KHA-av, khai a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL a-SHER a-MAHD-tee l'-fa-NAV, im yi-HE-yeh ha-sha-NEEM ha-EL-leh TAL u-ma-TAR, kee im l'-fi d'-va-REE. (SAH)

אוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י מִתֹּשָׁבֵ֣י גִלְעָד֮ אֶל־אַחְאָב֒ חַי־יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו אִם־יִֽהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי׃

2The word of Hashem came to him:

vai-HI d'-var a-do-NAI e-LAV lay-MOR

בוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֥יו לֵאמֹֽר׃

3“Leave this place; turn eastward and go into hiding by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Yarden.

LEKH mi-ZEH u-fa-NI-ta LE-kha KE-demah ve-nis-TAR-ta be-NA-khal ke-RIT a-SHER al-pe-NEI ha-YAR-den

גלֵ֣ךְ מִזֶּ֔ה וּפָנִ֥יתָ לְּךָ֖ קֵ֑דְמָה וְנִסְתַּרְתָּ֙ בְּנַ֣חַל כְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃

4You will drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

v'-ha-YA me-ha-NA-khal tish-TEH, v'-et ha-o-r'-VEEM tzi-VEE-tee l'-khal-KEL-kha sham

דוְהָיָ֖ה מֵהַנַּ֣חַל תִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְאֶת־הָעֹרְבִ֣ים צִוִּ֔יתִי לְכַלְכֶּלְךָ֖ שָֽׁם׃

5He proceeded to do as Hashem had bidden: he went, and he stayed by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Yarden.

vai-YAY-lekh vai-YA-as ki-D'-var a-do-NAI vai-YAY-lekh vai-YAY-shev b'-na-KHAL k'-REET a-SHER al p'-NAY ha-YAR-den

הוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַיַּ֖עַשׂ כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בְּנַ֣חַל כְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃

6The ravens brought him bread and meat every morning and every evening, and he drank from the wadi.

v'-ha-o-r'-VEEM me-vi-IM LO le-KHEM u-va-SAR ba-bo-KER u-le-KHEM u-va-SAR ba-a-REV u-min ha-NA-khal yish-TEH

ווְהָעֹרְבִ֗ים מְבִאִ֨ים ל֜וֹ לֶ֤חֶם וּבָשָׂר֙ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְלֶ֥חֶם וּבָשָׂ֖ר בָּעָ֑רֶב וּמִן־הַנַּ֖חַל יִשְׁתֶּֽה׃

7After some time the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

vai-HI mi-KETZ ya-MEEM va-yi-VASH ha-NA-khal, KEE lo-HA-ya GE-shem ba-A-retz. (SAH)

זוַיְהִ֛י מִקֵּ֥ץ יָמִ֖ים וַיִּיבַ֣שׁ הַנָּ֑חַל כִּ֛י לֹא־הָיָ֥ה גֶ֖שֶׁם בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

8And the word of Hashem came to him:

vai-HI d'-var a-do-NAI e-LAV lay-MOR

חוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֥יו לֵאמֹֽר׃

9“Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there; I have designated a widow there to feed you.”

KUM LEKH tza-RE-fa-TAH a-SHER le-TZI-don v'-ya-SHAV-ta SHAM, hi-NEH tzi-VI-tee SHAM i-SHA al-MA-na le-khal-KE-le-KHA

טק֣וּם לֵ֤ךְ צָֽרְפַ֙תָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְצִיד֔וֹן וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖ שָׁ֑ם הִנֵּ֨ה צִוִּ֥יתִי שָׁ֛ם אִשָּׁ֥ה אַלְמָנָ֖ה לְכַלְכְּלֶֽךָ׃

10So he went at once to Zarephath. When he came to the entrance of the town, a widow was there gathering wood. He called out to her, “Please bring me a little water in your pitcher, and let me drink.”

vai-YA-kom vai-YAY-lekh tza-ro-FA-ta va-ya-VO el pe-TAKH ha-EEER v'-hi-NEH-SHAM i-SHA al-ma-NAH me-ko-SHE-shet e-TZEEM va-YIK-ra e-LE-ha va-YO-mer ke-KHI-na lee me-at-MA-yim ba-KE-lee v'-esh-TEH

יוַיָּ֣קׇם ׀ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ צָֽרְפַ֗תָה וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֛ם אִשָּׁ֥ה אַלְמָנָ֖ה מְקֹשֶׁ֣שֶׁת עֵצִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר קְחִי־נָ֨א לִ֧י מְעַט־מַ֛יִם בַּכְּלִ֖י וְאֶשְׁתֶּֽה׃

11As she went to fetch it, he called out to her, “Please bring along a piece of bread for me.”

va-TE-lekh la-ka-KHA-t va-yi-k'-RA e-LE-ha va-yo-MAR li-k'-khi-NAH li PAT-le-KHEM b'-ya-DEKH

יאוַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לָקַ֑חַת וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר לִֽקְחִי־נָ֥א לִ֛י פַּת־לֶ֖חֶם בְּיָדֵֽךְ׃

12“As Hashem your God lives,” she replied, “I have nothing baked, nothing but a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am just gathering a couple of sticks, so that I can go home and prepare it for me and my son; we shall eat it and then we shall die.”

va-TO-mer kha-Y a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha, im YESH li ma-OG, KI im me-LO kaf-KE-makh ba-KAD, u-me-AT she-MEN ba-tza-PA-khat, v'-hin-NI me-ko-SHE-shet sh'-NA-yim e-TZIM, u-va-a-TEE va-a-see-TEE-hu li u-li-v'-NEE, va-a-khal-NU-hu va-ma-t'-NU.

יבוַתֹּ֗אמֶר חַי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אִם־יֶשׁ־לִ֣י מָע֔וֹג כִּ֣י אִם־מְלֹ֤א כַף־קֶ֙מַח֙ בַּכַּ֔ד וּמְעַט־שֶׁ֖מֶן בַּצַּפָּ֑חַת וְהִנְנִ֨י מְקֹשֶׁ֜שֶׁת שְׁנַ֣יִם עֵצִ֗ים וּבָ֙אתִי֙ וַעֲשִׂיתִ֙יהוּ֙ לִ֣י וְלִבְנִ֔י וַאֲכַלְנֻ֖הוּ וָמָֽתְנוּ׃

13“Don't be afraid,” said Eliyahu to her. “Go and do as you have said; but first make me a small cake from what you have there, and bring it out to me; then make some for yourself and your son.

vai-YO-mer e-LE-ha e-li-YA-hu al ti-RE-i, BO-i a-SI k'-d'-va-REKH, AKH a-SI-lee-MI-shaM u-GA k'-ta-NA va-REE-sho-NAH, v'-ho-TZEYT lee v'-LAKH v'-liv-NAYKH ta-a-SI ba-a-kha-RO-na

יגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלֶ֤יהָ אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י בֹּ֖אִי עֲשִׂ֣י כִדְבָרֵ֑ךְ אַ֣ךְ עֲשִׂי־לִֽי־מִ֠שָּׁ֠ם עֻגָ֨ה קְטַנָּ֤ה בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ וְהוֹצֵ֣את לִ֔י וְלָ֣ךְ וְלִבְנֵ֔ךְ תַּעֲשִׂ֖י בָּאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃

14For thus said Hashem, the God of Yisrael: The jar of flour shall not give out and the jug of oil shall not fail until the day that Hashem sends rain upon the ground.”

KEE KHO a-MAR a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL KAD ha-KE-makh LO tikh-LAH v'-tza-PA-khat ha-SHE-men LO tekh-SAR AD YOM tayt a-do-NAI GE-shem al p'-NAY ha-a-da-MAH

ידכִּ֣י כֹה֩ אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּ֤ד הַקֶּ֙מַח֙ לֹ֣א תִכְלָ֔ה וְצַפַּ֥חַת הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן לֹ֣א תֶחְסָ֑ר עַ֠ד י֧וֹם (תתן) [תֵּת־]יְהֹוָ֛ה גֶּ֖שֶׁם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃

 17:14   The jar of flour shall not give out and the jug of oil shall not fail 

An earthenware jar from the era of King David

The contents of the widow’s jug of oil and jar of flour, both of which are close to empty, do not diminish during the entire period of drought. This miracle follows a familiar pattern. In general, when Hashem performs miracles, He does so by using that which is already in existence. Thus, He does not create flour or oil where there is nothing, but rather extends the supply of the quantity that is already present. This is similar to the miracles performed in the establishment and subsequent flourishing of the State of Israel. The People of Israel had to do real work, and to be willing to give up their lives for a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. After they had done so, God then met the people more than halfway by performing miracles of truly biblical proportions. For example, though the Jewish people have always been vastly outnumbered by their enemies, Hashem continually grants victory to the Israel Defense Forces. Similarly, the massive ingathering of the exiles from all corners of the Earth is a miraculous fulfillment of the biblical prophecy, “Your children shall return to their country” (Jeremiah 31:16).

15She went and did as Eliyahu had spoken, and she and he and her household had food for a long time.

va-TE-lekh va-ta-a-SEH kid-VAHR e-li-YA-hu va-TO-khal (HU v'-HEE) [hee-v'-ha-VOO] u-VEE-tah ya-MEEM

טווַתֵּ֥לֶךְ וַֽתַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה כִּדְבַ֣ר אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ וַתֹּ֧אכַל (הוא והיא) [הִֽיא־וָה֛וּא] וּבֵיתָ֖הּ יָמִֽים׃

16The jar of flour did not give out, nor did the jug of oil fail, just as Hashem had spoken through Eliyahu.

kad ha-KE-makh lo kha-LA-ta, v'-za-PA-khat ha-SHE-men lo kha-SER, kid-var a-do-NAI a-SHER di-BER b'-yad e-li-YA-hu. (P)

טזכַּ֤ד הַקֶּ֙מַח֙ לֹ֣א כָלָ֔תָה וְצַפַּ֥חַת הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן לֹ֣א חָסֵ֑ר כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּיַ֥ד אֵֽלִיָּֽהוּ׃

17After a while, the son of the mistress of the house fell sick, and his illness grew worse, until he had no breath left in him.

vai-HI a-KHAR ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh kha-LAH ben ha-i-SHA ba-a-LAT ha-BA-yit, vai-HI kha-LA-yo kha-ZAK m'-OD, ad a-SHER lo-no-t'-RAH-BO n'-sha-MAH

יזוַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה חָלָ֕ה בֶּן־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה בַּעֲלַ֣ת הַבָּ֑יִת וַיְהִ֤י חׇלְיוֹ֙ חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֔ד עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־נֽוֹתְרָה־בּ֖וֹ נְשָׁמָֽה׃

18She said to Eliyahu, “What harm have I done you, O man of Hashem, that you should come here to recall my sin and cause the death of my son?”

va-TOM-er el e-li-YA-hu, ma li va-LAKH, eesh ha-e-lo-HEEM? BA-ta e-LAI l'-haz-KIR et a-VO-nee u-l'-ha-MEET et b'-NEE

יחוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ מַה־לִּ֥י וָלָ֖ךְ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים בָּ֧אתָ אֵלַ֛י לְהַזְכִּ֥יר אֶת־עֲוֺנִ֖י וּלְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־בְּנִֽי׃

19“Give me the boy,” he said to her; and taking him from her arms, he carried him to the upper chamber where he was staying, and laid him down on his own bed.

vai-YO-mer e-LE-ha te-NEE-lee et b'-NEKH va-yi-ka-KHE-hu me-KHEE-kah va-yi-a-LE-hu el ha-a-li-YAH a-SHER hu yo-SHEV SHAM va-yash-ki-VE-hu al mi-TA-to

יטוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלֶ֖יהָ תְּנִי־לִ֣י אֶת־בְּנֵ֑ךְ וַיִּקָּחֵ֣הוּ מֵחֵיקָ֗הּ וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־הָעֲלִיָּ֗ה אֲשֶׁר־הוּא֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב שָׁ֔ם וַיַּשְׁכִּבֵ֖הוּ עַל־מִטָּתֽוֹ׃

20He cried out to Hashem and said, “Hashem my God, will You bring calamity upon this widow whose guest I am, and let her son die?”

vai-YIK-ra el a-do-NAI vai-YO-mer, a-do-NAI e-lo-HAI, ha-GAM al ha-al-ma-NAH a-SHER a-NEE mit-go-RAYR i-MAH, ha-RAY-o-TAT l'-ha-MEET et b'-NAH

כוַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י הֲ֠גַ֠ם עַֽל־הָאַלְמָנָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֨י מִתְגּוֹרֵ֥ר עִמָּ֛הּ הֲרֵע֖וֹתָ לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־בְּנָֽהּ׃

21Then he stretched out over the child three times, and cried out to Hashem, saying, “Hashem my God, let this child's life return to his body!”

vai-yit-mo-DAYD al ha-YE-led sha-LOSH p'-a-MEEM vai-yik-RA el a-do-NAI vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI e-lo-HAI ta-SHOV NA NE-fesh ha-YE-led ha-ZEH al-KIR-bo

כאוַיִּתְמֹדֵ֤ד עַל־הַיֶּ֙לֶד֙ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֔ים וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔י תָּ֥שׇׁב נָ֛א נֶפֶשׁ־הַיֶּ֥לֶד הַזֶּ֖ה עַל־קִרְבּֽוֹ׃

22Hashem heard Eliyahu's plea; the child's life returned to his body, and he revived.

va-yish-MA a-do-NAI b'-KOL e-li-YA-hu, va-ta-SHOV NE-fesh ha-ye-LED al-KIR-bo, va-ye-KHI

כבוַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּק֣וֹל אֵֽלִיָּ֑הוּ וַתָּ֧שׇׁב נֶֽפֶשׁ־הַיֶּ֛לֶד עַל־קִרְבּ֖וֹ וַיֶּֽחִי׃

23Eliyahu picked up the child and brought him down from the upper room into the main room, and gave him to his mother. “See,” said Eliyahu, “your son is alive.”

vai-YI-kakh e-li-YA-hu et ha-YE-led vai-YO-ri-de-HU min ha-a-li-YAH ha-ba-YE-ta vai-YI-t'-NE-hu l'-i-MO vai-YO-mer e-li-YA-hu r'-EE khai b'-NEKH

כגוַיִּקַּ֨ח אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֶת־הַיֶּ֗לֶד וַיֹּרִדֵ֤הוּ מִן־הָֽעֲלִיָּה֙ הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ לְאִמּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ רְאִ֖י חַ֥י בְּנֵֽךְ׃

24And the woman answered Eliyahu, “Now I know that you are a man of Hashem and that the word of Hashem is truly in your mouth.”

va-TOMER ha-i-SHA el e-li-YA-hu a-TAH a-TAH ZEH ya-DA-ti KI eesh e-lo-HEEM a-TAH u-d'-VAR a-do-NAI b'-fi-KHA e-MET.

כדוַתֹּ֤אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ עַתָּה֙ זֶ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י אִ֥ישׁ אֱלֹהִ֖ים אָ֑תָּה וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֥ה בְּפִ֖יךָ אֱמֶֽת׃