
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
I - Chapter 21
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1David then went his way, and Yehonatan returned to the town.
va-YA-kom va-YAY-lakh vi-ho-NA-tan ba AYR
אוַיָּ֖קׇם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן בָּ֥א הָעִֽיר׃
2David went to the Kohen Achimelech at Nov. Achimelech came out in alarm to meet David, and he said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”
vai-YA-voh da-VEED no-VAY el a-KHEE-mel-KHAY ha-ko-HAYN va-ye-khe-RAD a-KHEE-mel-KHAY lik-RA-at da-VEED va-YO-mer LO: ma-DO-a a-TAH l'-va-DE-kha v'-EESH AYN i-TAKH
בוַיָּבֹ֤א דָוִד֙ נֹ֔בֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד אֲחִימֶ֜לֶךְ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ מַדּ֤וּעַ אַתָּה֙ לְבַדֶּ֔ךָ וְאִ֖ישׁ אֵ֥ין אִתָּֽךְ׃
3David answered the Kohen Achimelech, “The king has ordered me on a mission, and he said to me, ‘No one must know anything about the mission on which I am sending you and for which I have given you orders.' So I have directed [my] young men to such and such a place.
vai-YO-mer da-VID la-a-KHEE-mekh ha-ko-HAYN ha-ME-lekh tzi-VA-nee da-VAR, vai-YO-mer e-LAI eesh al-ya-DA m'-U-ma et ha-DA-var a-SHER a-NO-khi sho-le-KHA-kha va-a-SHER tzi-VEE-tee-KHA, v'-et ha-ne-a-REEM yo-DA-ti el m'-KOM p'-LO-nee al-mo-NEE
גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הַמֶּ֘לֶךְ֮ צִוַּ֣נִי דָבָר֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יֵ֧דַע מְא֛וּמָה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵחֲךָ֖ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ וְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֣ים יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי אֶל־מְק֥וֹם פְּלֹנִ֖י אַלְמוֹנִֽי׃
4Now then, what have you got on hand? Any loaves of bread? Let me have them—or whatever is available.”
v'-a-TAH mah-YESH ta-KHAT ya-d'-KHA, kha-mi-SHA-le-KHEM te-NAH b'-ya-DEE o ha-nim-TZA
דוְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־יֵּ֧שׁ תַּחַת־יָדְךָ֛ חֲמִשָּׁה־לֶ֖חֶם תְּנָ֣ה בְיָדִ֑י א֖וֹ הַנִּמְצָֽא׃
5The Kohen answered David, “I have no ordinary bread on hand; there is only consecrated bread—provided the young men have kept away from women.”
vai-YA-an ha-ko-HAYN et da-VID va-YO-mer AYN le-KHEM KHOHL el-TA-khat ya-DEE, kee-im le-KHEM ko-DAYSH YAYSH, im-nish-M'-RU ha-ne-a-REEM akh me-i-SHAH. (pey)
הוַיַּ֨עַן הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר אֵֽין־לֶ֥חֶם חֹ֖ל אֶל־תַּ֣חַת יָדִ֑י כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יֵ֔שׁ אִם־נִשְׁמְר֥וּ הַנְּעָרִ֖ים אַ֥ךְ מֵאִשָּֽׁה׃
6In reply to the Kohen, David said, “I assure you that women have been kept from us, as always. Whenever I went on a mission, even if the journey was a common one, the vessels of the young men were consecrated; all the more then may consecrated food be put into their vessels today.”
vai-YA-an da-VID et ha-ko-HAYN va-YO-mer LO: kee im i-sha a-tzu-RAH-la-NU kit-MOL shil-SHOM b'-tze-i-TEE va-y'-HI-yu k'-LAY ha-ne-a-REEM ko-DAYSH v'-HU de-REKH KHOHL v'-AF kee ha-YOM yik-DASH ba-KE-lee
ווַיַּ֩עַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל וְאַ֕ף כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם יִקְדַּ֥שׁ בַּכֶּֽלִי׃
7So the Kohen gave him consecrated bread, because there was none there except the bread of display, which had been removed from the presence of Hashem, to be replaced by warm bread as soon as it was taken away.—
va-yi-ten LO ha-ko-HAYN KO-desh KEE lo ha-YAH SHAM LE-khem kee im LE-khem ha-pa-NEEM ha-mu-sa-REEM mi-lif-NAY a-do-NAI la-SUM LE-khem KHOM b'-YOM hi-la-k'-KHO
זוַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן קֹ֑דֶשׁ כִּי֩ לֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֜ם לֶ֗חֶם כִּֽי־אִם־לֶ֤חֶם הַפָּנִים֙ הַמּֽוּסָרִים֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לָשׂוּם֙ לֶ֣חֶם חֹ֔ם בְּי֖וֹם הִלָּקְחֽוֹ׃
21:7 Bread of display
The term ‘bread of display,’ or ‘shewbread,’ refers to twelve special loaves that were placed on the Table, one of the vessels in the sanctuary of the Mishkan, and later in the Beit Hamikdash. Each loaf represents one tribe of Israel. Each week, the loaves are replaced and the old ones are then eaten by the Kohanim, priests. As Rashi notes, Jewish tradition teaches that a miracle surrounded the bread of display. When the priests received them a full week after being placed on the Table, the loaves were still as warm and fresh as they were when they were first baked. This was a reminder of Hashem’s constant watch over His sanctuary and His people.
8Now one of Shaul's officials was there that day, detained before Hashem; his name was Doeg Ha'adomi, Shaul's chief herdsman.
v'-SHAM eesh may-av-DAY sha-UL ba-YOM ha-HU ne-TZAR lif-NEY a-do-NAI u-sh'-MO DO-eg ha-a-do-MEE a-BEER ha-ro-EEM a-SHER l'-sha-UL
חוְשָׁ֡ם אִישׁ֩ מֵעַבְדֵ֨י שָׁא֜וּל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נֶעְצָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וּשְׁמ֖וֹ דֹּאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִ֑י אַבִּ֥יר הָרֹעִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃
9David said to Achimelech, “Haven't you got a spear or sword on hand? I didn't take my sword or any of my weapons with me, because the king's mission was urgent.”
vai-YO-mer da-VID la-a-KHEE-mekh, v'-AYN YESH-PO t'-KHAT ya-d'-KHA, kha-NEET o-KHA-rev, KEE gam-khar-BEE v'-gam-KE-lai lo-la-KAKH-tee v'-ya-DEE, KEE ha-YA d'-VAR ha-ME-lekh na-KHUTZ. (SELAH)
טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְאִ֛ין יֶשׁ־פֹּ֥ה תַֽחַת־יָדְךָ֖ חֲנִ֣ית אוֹ־חָ֑רֶב כִּ֣י גַם־חַרְבִּ֤י וְגַם־כֵּלַי֙ לֹא־לָקַ֣חְתִּי בְיָדִ֔י כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נָחֽוּץ׃
10The Kohen said, “There is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom you slew in the valley of Elah; it is over there, wrapped in a cloth, behind the ephod. If you want to take that one, take it, for there is none here but that one.” David replied, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
vai-YO-mer ha-ko-HAYN khe-REV gol-YAT ha-p'-lish-TEE a-SHER hi-KHEE-ta b'-E-mek ha-E-la, hi-NEH hi LU-ta va-sim-LAH a-kha-RAY ha-E-fod, im o-TAH ti-KAKH-l'-KHA kaKH, kee AYN a-KHE-ret zu-la-TAH ba-ZEH. vai-YO-mer da-VID, AYN ka-MO-ha te-NE-na LEE.
יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן חֶ֩רֶב֩ גׇּלְיָ֨ת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜י אֲשֶׁר־הִכִּ֣יתָ ׀ בְּעֵ֣מֶק הָאֵלָ֗ה הִנֵּה־הִ֞יא לוּטָ֣ה בַשִּׂמְלָה֮ אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאֵפוֹד֒ אִם־אֹתָ֤הּ תִּֽקַּח־לְךָ֙ קָ֔ח כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין אַחֶ֛רֶת זוּלָתָ֖הּ בָּזֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֵ֥ין כָּמ֖וֹהָ תְּנֶ֥נָּה לִּֽי׃
11That day David continued on his flight from Shaul and he came to King Achish of Gath.
vai-YA-kom da-VID va-yi-VRAKH ba-YOM ha-HU mi-p'-NAY sha-UL va-ya-VO el a-KHISH me-lekh GAT
יאוַיָּ֣קׇם דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּבְרַ֥ח בַּיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא מִפְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיָּבֹ֕א אֶל־אָכִ֖ישׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ גַּֽת׃
12The courtiers of Achish said to him, “Why, that's David, king of the land! That's the one of whom they sing as they dance: Shaul has slain his thousands; David, his tens of thousands.”
vai-YO-meru av-DAY a-KHEESH e-LAV: ha-LO ZEH da-VID me-LEKH ha-A-retz? ha-LO la-ZEH ya-a-NU va-m'-kho-LOT lay-MOR: hi-KA sha-UL ba-a-la-FAV, v'-da-VID b'-riv-vo-TAV
יבוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ עַבְדֵ֤י אָכִישׁ֙ אֵלָ֔יו הֲלוֹא־זֶ֥ה דָוִ֖ד מֶ֣לֶךְ הָאָ֑רֶץ הֲל֣וֹא לָזֶ֗ה יַעֲנ֤וּ בַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ בַּאֲלָפָ֔ו וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽו׃
13These words worried David and he became very much afraid of King Achish of Gath.
vai-YA-sem da-VID et ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh bil-va-VO va-yi-RA me-OD mi-p'-NEE a-KHISH me-lekh-GAT
יגוַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּלְבָב֑וֹ וַיִּרָ֣א מְאֹ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֖י אָכִ֥ישׁ מֶלֶךְ־גַּֽת׃
14So he concealed his good sense from them; he feigned madness for their benefit. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.
vai-sha-NO et-ta-MO b'-ay-NAY-hem va-yi-t'-HO-lel b'-ya-DAM va-YA-v al dal-TOT ha-sha-AR va-YO-red ree-RO el z'-ka-NO. (S)
ידוַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל בְּיָדָ֑ם וַיְתָו֙ עַל־דַּלְת֣וֹת הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיּ֥וֹרֶד רִיר֖וֹ אֶל־זְקָנֽוֹ׃
15And Achish said to his courtiers, “You see the man is raving; why bring him to me?
vai-YO-mer a-KHISH el a-va-DAV, hi-NEH tir-U, EESH mish-ta-GAY-a, la-MAH ta-VEE-u o-TO e-LAI
טווַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָכִ֖ישׁ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֑יו הִנֵּ֤ה תִרְאוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ לָ֛מָּה תָּבִ֥יאוּ אֹת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי׃
16Do I lack madmen that you have brought this fellow to rave for me? Should this fellow enter my house?”
kha-SAR m'-shu-GA-im a-NEE, kee-ha-VE-tem et-ZEH l'-hish-ta-GAY-a a-LAI, ha-ZEH ya-VO el b'-TI.
טזחֲסַ֤ר מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ אָ֔נִי כִּֽי־הֲבֵאתֶ֣ם אֶת־זֶ֔ה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ עָלָ֑י הֲזֶ֖ה יָב֥וֹא אֶל־בֵּיתִֽי׃