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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 11

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Nahash the Ammonite marched up and besieged Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh-gilead said to Nahash, “Make a pact with us, and we will serve you.”

vai-YA-al na-KHASH ha-a-MO-nee, vai-YI-khan al ya-VAYSH gil-AD, vai-YO-meru kol an-SHAY ya-VAYSH el na-KHASH, k'-ROT LA-nu b'-REET v'-na-a-VDAY-kha

אוַיַּ֗עַל נָחָשׁ֙ הָעַמּוֹנִ֔י וַיִּ֖חַן עַל־יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑ד וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ כׇּל־אַנְשֵׁ֤י יָבֵישׁ֙ אֶל־נָחָ֔שׁ כְּרׇת־לָ֥נוּ בְרִ֖ית וְנַֽעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃

2But Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “I will make a pact with you on this condition, that everyone's right eye be gouged out; I will make this a humiliation for all Yisrael.”

vai-YO-mer a-LAY-hem na-KHASH ha-a-MO-NEE b'-ZOT ekh-ROT LA-khem bin-KOR LA-khem kol-AYN ya-MEEN v'-sam-TEE-ha kher-PAH al-KOL yis-ra-AYL

בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם נָחָשׁ֙ הָעַמּוֹנִ֔י בְּזֹאת֙ אֶכְרֹ֣ת לָכֶ֔ם בִּנְק֥וֹר לָכֶ֖ם כׇּל־עֵ֣ין יָמִ֑ין וְשַׂמְתִּ֥יהָ חֶרְפָּ֖ה עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

3The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite, so that we may send messengers throughout the territory of Yisrael; if no one comes to our aid, we will surrender to you.”

vai-yo-M'RU e-LAV zik-NAY ya-VAYSH he-REF LA-nu shiv-AHT ya-MEEM v'-nish-le-KHAH mal-a-KHEEM b'-KOL g'-VUL yis-ra-AYL v'-IM-AYN mo-SHEE-a o-TA-nu v'-ya-TZA-nu e-LE-kha

גוַיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו זִקְנֵ֣י יָבֵ֗ישׁ הֶ֤רֶף לָ֙נוּ֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים וְנִשְׁלְחָה֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים בְּכֹ֖ל גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאִם־אֵ֥ין מוֹשִׁ֛יעַ אֹתָ֖נוּ וְיָצָ֥אנוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

4When the messengers came to Giva of Shaul and gave this report in the hearing of the people, all the people broke into weeping.

vai-ya-VO-u ha-mal-a-KHEEM gi-BAT sha-OO va-y'-da-b'-RU ha-d'-va-REEM b'-o-z'-NAY ha-AHM va-yi-SA-u kol ha-AHM et ko-LAM va-yiv-KU

דוַיָּבֹ֤אוּ הַמַּלְאָכִים֙ גִּבְעַ֣ת שָׁא֔וּל וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וַיִּשְׂא֧וּ כׇל־הָעָ֛ם אֶת־קוֹלָ֖ם וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃

5Shaul was just coming from the field driving the cattle; and Shaul asked, “Why are the people crying?” And they told him about the situation of the men of Jabesh.

v'-hi-NEH sha-UL ba-A-kha-RAY ha-ba-KAR min ha-sa-DEH, va-YO-mer sha-UL: mah la-AM kee yiv-KHU? va-y'-sa-pe-ROO-lo et div-RAY an-SHAY ya-VAYSH

הוְהִנֵּ֣ה שָׁא֗וּל בָּ֣א אַחֲרֵ֤י הַבָּקָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל מַה־לָּעָ֖ם כִּ֣י יִבְכּ֑וּ וַ֨יְסַפְּרוּ־ל֔וֹ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י אַנְשֵׁ֥י יָבֵֽישׁ׃

6When he heard these things, the spirit of Hashem gripped Shaul and his anger blazed up.

va-titz-LAKH ru-akh e-lo-HEEM al sha-UL (b'-sh'-MO-o) [k'-sh'-MO-o] et ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh va-yi-KHAR a-PO me-OD

ווַתִּצְלַ֤ח רֽוּחַ־אֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־שָׁא֔וּל (בשמעו) [כְּשׇׁמְע֖וֹ] אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיִּ֥חַר אַפּ֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃

7He took a yoke of oxen and cut them into pieces, which he sent by messengers throughout the territory of Yisrael, with the warning, “Thus shall be done to the cattle of anyone who does not follow Shaul and Shmuel into battle!” Terror from Hashem fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.

vai-yi-KAKH tze-MED ba-KAR va-y'-na-t'-KHE-hu va-y'-sha-LAKH b'-KOL g'-VUL yis-ra-AYL b'-yad ha-mal-a-KHEEM lay-MOR: a-SHER AY-n'-NU yo-TSE a-KHA-ray sha-UL v'-a-KHAR sh'-mu-AYL, ko y'-a-SEH liv-KA-ro, vai-YI-pol pa-KHAD a-do-NAI al-ha-AHM, vai-YAY-tse-u k'-EESH e-KHAD.

זוַיִּקַּח֩ צֶ֨מֶד בָּקָ֜ר וַֽיְנַתְּחֵ֗הוּ וַיְשַׁלַּ֞ח בְּכׇל־גְּב֣וּל יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ בְּיַ֣ד הַמַּלְאָכִ֣ים ׀ לֵאמֹר֒ אֲשֶׁר֩ אֵינֶ֨נּוּ יֹצֵ֜א אַחֲרֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ וְאַחַ֣ר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כֹּ֥ה יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה לִבְקָר֑וֹ וַיִּפֹּ֤ל פַּֽחַד־יְהֹוָה֙ עַל־הָעָ֔ם וַיֵּצְא֖וּ כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָֽד׃

8[Shaul] mustered them in Bezek, and the Israelites numbered 300,000, the men of Yehuda 30,000.

vai-YIF-k'-DEM b'-BA-zek, vai-Y'-hu v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, sh'-LOSH may-OT e-LEF, v'-ISH y'-hu-DAH, sh'-LO-sheem a-LEF.

חוַֽיִּפְקְדֵ֖ם בְּבָ֑זֶק וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אֶ֔לֶף וְאִ֥ישׁ יְהוּדָ֖ה שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃

9The messengers who had come were told, “Thus shall you speak to the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, when the sun grows hot, you shall be saved.” When the messengers came and told this to the men of Jabesh-gilead, they rejoiced.

vai-YO-meru la-mal-a-KHEEM ha-ba-EEM, KO to-M'-RU l'-EESH ya-VAYSH gil-AD, ma-KHAR ti-HEH la-KHEM t'-shu-AH (ba-KHAM) [k'-KHOM] ha-SHA-mesh, va-ya-VO-u ha-mal-a-KHEEM va-ya-GI-du l'-an-SHAY ya-VAYSH va-yis-ma-KHU

טוַיֹּאמְר֞וּ לַמַּלְאָכִ֣ים הַבָּאִ֗ים כֹּ֤ה תֹֽאמְרוּן֙ לְאִישׁ֙ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֔ד מָחָ֛ר תִּֽהְיֶֽה־לָכֶ֥ם תְּשׁוּעָ֖ה (בחם) [כְּחֹ֣ם] הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ הַמַּלְאָכִ֗ים וַיַּגִּ֛ידוּ לְאַנְשֵׁ֥י יָבֵ֖ישׁ וַיִּשְׂמָֽחוּ׃

10The men of Jabesh then told [the Ammonites], “Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you please.”

vai-YO-mer-U an-SHAY ya-VAYSH ma-KHAR n'-TZE a-LE-khem va-a-SEE-tem LA-nu k'-KOL ha-TOV b'-ay-NAY-khem. (s)

יוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יָבֵ֔ישׁ מָחָ֖ר נֵצֵ֣א אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם לָ֔נוּ כְּכׇל־הַטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

11The next day, Shaul divided the troops into three columns; at the morning watch they entered the camp and struck down the Ammonites until the day grew hot. The survivors scattered; no two were left together.

vai-HI mi-mo-KHO-rat va-YA-sem sha-UL et ha-AHM she-LO-sha ra-SHEEM, va-ya-VO-u ve-TOCH ha-ma-cha-NEH b'-ash-mo-RET ha-BO-ker, va-YA-khu et-a-MON ad-KHOM ha-YOM, vai-HI ha-nish-a-REEM va-ya-PU-tzu, ve-LO nish-a-ru-vam sh'-na-YIM ya-KHAD.

יאוַיְהִ֣י מִֽמׇּחֳרָ֗ת וַיָּ֨שֶׂם שָׁא֣וּל אֶת־הָעָם֮ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה רָאשִׁים֒ וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ בְתוֹךְ־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּכּ֥וּ אֶת־עַמּ֖וֹן עַד־חֹ֣ם הַיּ֑וֹם וַיְהִ֤י הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֙ וַיָּפֻ֔צוּ וְלֹ֥א נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָ֖ם שְׁנַ֥יִם יָֽחַד׃

12The people then said to Shmuel, “Who was it said, ‘Shall Shaul be king over us?' Hand the men over and we will put them to death!”

vai-YO-mer ha-AM el sh'-mu-AYL, mee ha-o-MER sha-UL yim-LOKH a-LE-nu, t'-NU ha-a-na-SHEEM u-ne-mee-TEM

יבוַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָעָם֙ אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל מִ֣י הָאֹמֵ֔ר שָׁא֖וּל יִמְלֹ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ינוּ תְּנ֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וּנְמִיתֵֽם׃

13But Shaul replied, “No man shall be put to death this day! For this day Hashem has brought victory to Yisrael.”

vai-YO-mer sha-UL lo yu-MAT eesh ba-YOM ha-ZEH, KEE ha-YOM a-SA a-do-NAI t'-shu-AH b'-yis-ra-AYL

יגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל לֹא־יוּמַ֥ת אִ֖ישׁ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֥י הַיּ֛וֹם עָשָֽׂה־יְהֹוָ֥ה תְּשׁוּעָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

14Shmuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there inaugurate the monarchy.”

va-YO-mer sh'-mu-AYL el ha-AM l'-KHU v'-nay-l'-KHAH ha-gil-GAL un-kha-DAYSH SHAM ha-m'-lu-KHAH

ידוַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם לְכ֖וּ וְנֵלְכָ֣ה הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל וּנְחַדֵּ֥שׁ שָׁ֖ם הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃

 11:14   Shmuel said to the people

Rashi (1040-1105)

Shmuel tells the people it is time to renew the monarchy, which leads to a second coronation of King Shaul and great rejoicing. Rashi explains the need for this renewal: Previously, not everyone had acquiesced to Shaul’s appointment. At this point, though, the entire nation willingly agrees. Monarchy, like all just forms of governments, requires the consent of the governed. Therefore, it is not surprising that Israel’s government in the contemporary pre-messianic era is a democracy. In fact, it is the only democracy in a region of autocracies and theocracies.

15So all the people went to Gilgal, and there at Gilgal they declared Shaul king before Hashem. They offered sacrifices of well-being there before Hashem; and Shaul and all the men of Yisrael held a great celebration there.

vai-YEL-khu kol ha-AM ha-gil-GAL va-yam-li-KHU sham et sha-UL lif-NEI a-do-NAI ba-gil-GAL va-yiz-b'-KHU sham ze-va-KHEEM sh'-la-MEEM lif-NEI a-do-NAI va-yis-MAKH sham sha-UL v'-kol an-SHAY yis-ra-AYL ad-m'-OD. (P)

טווַיֵּלְכ֨וּ כׇל־הָעָ֜ם הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל וַיַּמְלִ֩כוּ֩ שָׁ֨ם אֶת־שָׁא֜וּל לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ בַּגִּלְגָּ֔ל וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁ֛ם זְבָחִ֥ים שְׁלָמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׂמַ֨ח שָׁ֥ם שָׁא֛וּל וְכׇל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַד־מְאֹֽד׃