TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
I - Chapter 13
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Shaul was… years old when he became king, and he reigned over Yisrael two years.
ben-SHA-na SHA-ul b'-mol-KHO u-sh'-TEI sha-NEEM ma-LAKH al yis-ra-AYL
אבֶּן־שָׁנָ֖ה שָׁא֣וּל בְּמׇלְכ֑וֹ וּשְׁתֵּ֣י שָׁנִ֔ים מָלַ֖ךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
2Shaul picked 3,000 Israelites, of whom 2,000 were with Shaul in Michmas and in the hill country of Beit El, and 1,000 with Yonatan in Giva of Binyamin; the rest of the troops he sent back to their homes.
vai-yiv-KHAR-lo sha-UL sh'-LO-shet a-la-FEEM mi-yis-ra-AYL, vai-YI-hu iM sha-UL al-PA-yim b'-mikh-MAS u-v'-har bAYT-EL, v'-E-lef ha-YU iM yo-na-TAN b'-gi-v'-AT b'-ni-ya-MEEN, v'-YE-ter ha-AHM shi-LAKH eesh l'-o-ha-LAV
בוַיִּבְחַר־ל֨וֹ שָׁא֜וּל שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֮ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיִּהְי֨וּ עִם־שָׁא֜וּל אַלְפַּ֗יִם בְּמִכְמָשׂ֙ וּבְהַ֣ר בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וְאֶ֗לֶף הָיוּ֙ עִם־י֣וֹנָתָ֔ן בְּגִבְעַ֖ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ין וְיֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם שִׁלַּ֖ח אִ֥ישׁ לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃
3Yonatan struck down the Philistine prefect in Geba; and the Philistines heard about it. Shaul had the shofar sounded throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.”
vai-YAKH yo-NA-tah et n'-TZIV p'-lish-TEEM a-SHER b'-GE-va, va-yish-MU p'-lish-TEEM, v'-sha-UL ta-KA ba-SHO-far b'-kol ha-A-retz lay-MOR: yish-MU ha-iv-REEM
גוַיַּ֣ךְ יוֹנָתָ֗ן אֵ֣ת נְצִ֤יב פְּלִשְׁתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּגֶ֔בַע וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וְשָׁאוּל֩ תָּקַ֨ע בַּשּׁוֹפָ֤ר בְּכׇל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יִשְׁמְע֖וּ הָעִבְרִֽים׃
4When all Yisrael heard that Shaul had struck down the Philistine prefect, and that Yisrael had incurred the wrath of the Philistines, all the people rallied to Shaul at Gilgal.
v'-kol yis-ra-AYL sha-MU lay-MOR hi-KAH sha-UL et n'-TZIV p'-lish-TIM v'-gam ni-V'-ash yis-ra-AYL ba-p'-lish-TIM va-yi-tza-a-KU ha-AHM a-kha-RAY sha-UL ha-gil-GAL
דוְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֞ל שָׁמְע֣וּ לֵאמֹ֗ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־נְצִ֣יב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַם־נִבְאַ֥שׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיִּצָּעֲק֥וּ הָעָ֛ם אַחֲרֵ֥י שָׁא֖וּל הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃
5The Philistines, in turn, gathered to attack Yisrael: 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sands of the seashore. They marched up and encamped at Michmas, east of Beit Aven.
u-f'-lis-TIM ne-e-S'-FU l'-hi-la-KHEM im yis-ra-AYL sh'-lo-SHEEM e-LEF re-KHEV v'-she-SHET a-la-FEEM pa-RA-sheem v'-AM ka-KHOL a-SHER al s'-fat ha-YAM la-ROV va-ya-a-LU va-ya-KHA-nu v'-mi-KH'-mas kid-MAT bayt a-VEN
הוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֞ים נֶאֶסְפ֣וּ ׀ לְהִלָּחֵ֣ם עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים אֶ֤לֶף רֶ֙כֶב֙ וְשֵׁ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ פָּרָשִׁ֔ים וְעָ֕ם כַּח֛וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־שְׂפַֽת־הַיָּ֖ם לָרֹ֑ב וַֽיַּעֲלוּ֙ וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ בְמִכְמָ֔שׂ קִדְמַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית אָֽוֶן׃
6When the men of Yisrael saw that they were in trouble—for the troops were hard pressed—the people hid in caves, among thorns, among rocks, in tunnels, and in cisterns.
v'-ish yis-ra-AYL ra-U ki tzar-LO, ki ni-GAS ha-AM, va-yi-tcha-BU ha-AM ba-m'-a-ROT u-va-cha-va-KHEEM u-va-s'-la-EEM u-va-tz'-ri-KHEEM u-va-bo-ROT.
ווְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל רָאוּ֙ כִּ֣י צַר־ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִגַּ֖שׂ הָעָ֑ם וַיִּֽתְחַבְּא֣וּ הָעָ֗ם בַּמְּעָר֤וֹת וּבַֽחֲוָחִים֙ וּבַסְּלָעִ֔ים וּבַצְּרִחִ֖ים וּבַבֹּרֽוֹת׃
7Some Hebrews crossed the Yarden, [to] the territory of Gad and Gilad. Shaul was still at Gilgal, and the rest of the people rallied to him in alarm.
v'-iv-RIM ov-ROO et ha-YAR-den, E-retz GAD v'-gil-AD, v'-sha-UL o-DE-nu va-gil-GAL, v'-kol ha-AM kha-r'-DU a-cha-RAV
זוְעִבְרִ֗ים עָֽבְרוּ֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֶ֥רֶץ גָּ֖ד וְגִלְעָ֑ד וְשָׁאוּל֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ בַגִּלְגָּ֔ל וְכׇל־הָעָ֖ם חָֽרְד֥וּ אַחֲרָֽיו׃
8He waited seven days, the time that Shmuel [had set]. But when Shmuel failed to come to Gilgal, and the people began to scatter,
(vai-YO-khel) [va-yo-KHEL] shi-VA-at ya-MEEM la-mo-ED a-SHER sh'-mu-AYL, v'-LO-va sh'-mu-AYL ha-gil-GAL, va-YA-fetz ha-AHM may-a-LAV.
ח(וייחל) [וַיּ֣וֹחֶל ׀] שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים לַמּוֹעֵד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וְלֹא־בָ֥א שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הַגִּלְגָּ֑ל וַיָּ֥פֶץ הָעָ֖ם מֵעָלָֽיו׃
9Shaul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the sacrifice of well-being”; and he presented the burnt offering.
vai-YO-mer sha-UL, ha-GI-shu e-LAI ha-o-LAH v'-ha-sh'-la-MEEM, vai-YA-al ha-o-LAH
טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל הַגִּ֣שׁוּ אֵלַ֔י הָֽעֹלָ֖ה וְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וַיַּ֖עַל הָעֹלָֽה׃
10He had just finished presenting the burnt offering when Shmuel arrived; and Shaul went out to meet him and welcome him.
vai-HI k'-kha-LO-to l'-ha-a-LOT ha-o-LAH, v'-hi-NEH sh'-mu-AYL BA, va-YAY-tzay sha-UL lik-RA-to l'-va-r'-KHO
יוַיְהִ֗י כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ לְהַעֲל֣וֹת הָעֹלָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בָּ֑א וַיֵּצֵ֥א שָׁא֛וּל לִקְרָאת֖וֹ לְבָרְכֽוֹ׃
11But Shmuel said, “What have you done?” Shaul replied, “I saw the people leaving me and scattering; you had not come at the appointed time, and the Philistines had gathered at Michmas.
vai-YO-mer sh'-mu-AYL meh a-SEE-ta, vai-YO-mer sha-UL kee-ra-EE-tee kee-na-FATZ ha-AM may-a-LAI, v'-a-TAH lo-va-TA l'-mo-ED ha-ya-MEEM, u-f'-lish-TEEYM ne-e-sa-FEEM mikh-MAHS
יאוַיֹּ֥אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֡וּל כִּֽי־רָאִ֩יתִי֩ כִֽי־נָפַ֨ץ הָעָ֜ם מֵעָלַ֗י וְאַתָּה֙ לֹֽא־בָ֙אתָ֙ לְמוֹעֵ֣ד הַיָּמִ֔ים וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים נֶאֱסָפִ֥ים מִכְמָֽשׂ׃
12I thought the Philistines would march down against me at Gilgal before I had entreated Hashem, so I forced myself to present the burnt offering.”
v'-o-MAR a-TAH ye-R'-DU fe-lis-TIM e-LAI ha-gil-GAL u-fe-NAY a-do-NAI lo khil-ee-TEE va-e-ta-PAK va-a-a-LEH ha-o-LAH. (S)
יבוָאֹמַ֗ר עַ֠תָּ֠ה יֵרְד֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים אֵלַי֙ הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל וּפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֣א חִלִּ֑יתִי וָֽאֶתְאַפַּ֔ק וָאַעֲלֶ֖ה הָעֹלָֽה׃
13Shmuel answered Shaul, “You acted foolishly in not keeping the commandments that Hashem your God laid upon you! Otherwise Hashem would have established your dynasty over Yisrael forever.
vai-YO-mer sh'-mu-AYL el sha-UL, nis-KOL-ta, lo sha-MAR-ta et mitz-VAHT a-do-NAI e-lo-HE-kha a-SHER tzi-VA-kha, kee a-TAH he-KHEEN a-do-NAI et mam-laKH-te-KHA el yis-ra-AYL ad o-LAM
יגוַיֹּ֧אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֛ל אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל נִסְכָּ֑לְתָּ לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֗רְתָּ אֶת־מִצְוַ֞ת יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔ךְ כִּ֣י עַתָּ֗ה הֵכִ֨ין יְהֹוָ֧ה אֶת־מַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
14But now your dynasty will not endure. Hashem will seek out a man after His own heart, and Hashem will appoint him ruler over His people, because you did not abide by what Hashem had commanded you.”
v'-a-TAH mam-lakh-TE-kha lo-ta-KUM bi-KE-sh a-do-NAI LO eeSH kil-va-VO va-y'-tza-VE-hu a-do-NAI l'-na-GID al a-MO, KEE LO sha-MAR-ta ET a-SHER-tzi-VE-kha a-do-NAI. (Selah)
ידוְעַתָּ֖ה מַמְלַכְתְּךָ֣ לֹֽא־תָק֑וּם בִּקֵּשׁ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה ל֜וֹ אִ֣ישׁ כִּלְבָב֗וֹ וַיְצַוֵּ֨הוּ יְהֹוָ֤ה לְנָגִיד֙ עַל־עַמּ֔וֹ כִּ֚י לֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶֽׁר־צִוְּךָ֖ יְהֹוָֽה׃
15Shmuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Giva of Binyamin. Shaul numbered the troops who remained with him—about 600 strong.
vai-YA-kom sh'-mu-AYL va-YA-al min ha-gil-GAL gi-BAT b'-ni-YA-min va-yif-KOD sha-UL et ha-AHM ha-nim-tze-EEM i-MO k'-shaysh may-OT eesh
טווַיָּ֣קׇם שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל וַיַּ֛עַל מִן־הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל גִּבְעַ֣ת בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד שָׁא֗וּל אֶת־הָעָם֙ הַנִּמְצְאִ֣ים עִמּ֔וֹ כְּשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִֽישׁ׃
16Shaul and his son Yonatan, and the troops who remained with them, stayed in Geba of Binyamin, while the Philistines were encamped at Michmas.
v'-sha-UL v'-yo-NA-taN b'-no v'-ha-AHM ha-nim-TZA i-MAHM yo-sh'-VEEM b'-ge-VA b'-ni-YA-min u-f'-lish-TIM cha-NU b'-mikh-MAS
טזוְשָׁא֞וּל וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֗וֹ וְהָעָם֙ הַנִּמְצָ֣א עִמָּ֔ם יֹשְׁבִ֖ים בְּגֶ֣בַע בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים חָנ֥וּ בְמִכְמָֽשׂ׃
17The raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three columns: One column headed for the Ophrah road that leads to the district of Shual,
vai-YAY-tzay ha-mash-KHEET mi-ma-kha-NEH f'-lish-TEEM sh'-LO-sha ra-SHEEM, ha-ROSH e-KHAD yif-NEH el DE-rekh o-f'-RAH el E-retz shu-AHL
יזוַיֵּצֵ֧א הַמַּשְׁחִ֛ית מִמַּחֲנֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה רָאשִׁ֑ים הָרֹ֨אשׁ אֶחָ֥ד יִפְנֶ֛ה אֶל־דֶּ֥רֶךְ עׇפְרָ֖ה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ שׁוּעָֽל׃
18another column headed for the Beth-horon road, and the third column headed for the border road that overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the desert.
v'-ha-ROSH e-KHAD yif-NEH DE-rekh bayt kho-RON v'-ha-ROSH e-KHAD yif-NEH DE-rekh ha-ge-VUL ha-nish-KAF al-GEY ha-tz'-BO-eem ha-mid-ba-RAH. (S)
יחוְהָרֹ֤אשׁ אֶחָד֙ יִפְנֶ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ בֵּ֣ית חֹר֑וֹן וְהָרֹ֨אשׁ אֶחָ֤ד יִפְנֶה֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַגְּב֔וּל הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף עַל־גֵּ֥י הַצְּבֹעִ֖ים הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃
19No smith was to be found in all the land of Yisrael, for the Philistines were afraid that the Hebrews would make swords or spears.
v'- kha-RASH LO yi-ma-TZAY b'-KHOL E-retz yis-ra-AYL kee a-m'-RU f'-lish-TEEM PEN ya-a-SU ha-iv-REEM KHE-rev O kha-NEET
יטוְחָרָשׁ֙ לֹ֣א יִמָּצֵ֔א בְּכֹ֖ל אֶ֣רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־[אָמְר֣וּ] (אמר) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּ֚ן יַעֲשׂ֣וּ הָעִבְרִ֔ים חֶ֖רֶב א֥וֹ חֲנִֽית׃
13:19 No smith was to be found in all the land of Yisrael

Ayalon Institute underground bullet factory
Under Philistine rule, the People of Israel are not allowed to engage in metal work, as the Philistines are afraid they will use these workshops to make weapons. Therefore, any time the Israelites need metal work, such as for sharpening plows, they have to travel and pay exorbitant prices to have the work done by Philistine craftsmen. Later, this becomes a model for oppressors of the Jews, who would control access to weapons and minimize economic opportunities. During British rule over the Land of Israel, Jews were similarly not allowed to maintain weapons. Like Shaul and Yonatan who made secret weapons to defend their people, there were brave Jews who secretly imported weapons and made bullets that later became critical in the War of Independence. For example, the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot was the site of a secret bullet factory, hidden under what was officially a kibbutz training center. Despite harsh conditions and life-threatening risks in the pre-State days, young Jews worked underground making bullets that would later be used to defend the newborn State of Israel against its enemies.
20So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, their mattocks, axes, and colters sharpened.
vai-YER-du kol yis-ra-AYL ha-p'-lish-TEEYM l'-l'-TOSH ish et ma-cha-RASH-to v'-et AY-to v'-et kar-DU-mo v'-ET ma-cha-RE-sha-TO
כוַיֵּרְד֥וּ כׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים לִ֠לְט֠וֹשׁ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־מַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤וֹ וְאֶת־אֵתוֹ֙ וְאֶת־קַרְדֻּמּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֖ת מַחֲרֵשָׁתֽוֹ׃
21The charge for sharpening was a pim for plowshares, mattocks, three-pronged forks, and axes, and for setting the goads.
v'-ha-YA-tah ha-p'-tzi-RA pim la-ma-cha-RESHOT v'-la-e-TIM v'-lish-LOSH ki-LE-shon u-l'-ha-kar-DU-mim u-l'-ha-tziV ha-do-r'-BAN
כאוְֽהָיְתָ֞ה הַפְּצִ֣ירָה פִ֗ים לַמַּֽחֲרֵשֹׁת֙ וְלָ֣אֵתִ֔ים וְלִשְׁלֹ֥שׁ קִלְּשׁ֖וֹן וּלְהַקַּרְדֻּמִּ֑ים וּלְהַצִּ֖יב הַדָּרְבָֽן׃
22Thus on the day of the battle, no sword or spear was to be found in the possession of any of the troops with Shaul and Yonatan; only Shaul and Yonatan had them.
v'-ha-YA b'-YOM mil-KHE-met, v'-LO nim-TZA khe-REV va-kha-NEET b'-YAD kol ha-AHM, a-SHER et-SHA-ul v'-et-yo-NA-tan, va-ti-ma-TZE l'-SHA-ul u-l'-yo-NA-tan b'-NO.
כבוְהָיָה֙ בְּי֣וֹם מִלְחֶ֔מֶת וְלֹ֨א נִמְצָ֜א חֶ֤רֶב וַֽחֲנִית֙ בְּיַ֣ד כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל וְאֶת־יוֹנָתָ֑ן וַתִּמָּצֵ֣א לְשָׁא֔וּל וּלְיוֹנָתָ֖ן בְּנֽוֹ׃
23Now the Philistine garrison had marched out to the pass of Michmas.
vai-YAY-tzay matz-ZAV p'-lish-TEEM el ma-a-VAR mikh-MASH
כגוַיֵּצֵא֙ מַצַּ֣ב פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֶֽל־מַעֲבַ֖ר מִכְמָֽשׂ׃