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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 24

Translation and Transliteration of 

1David went from there and stayed in the wildernesses of Ein Gedi.

vai-YA-al DA-vid mi-SHAM va-YAY-shev b'-m'-tza-DOT AYIN-ge-DEE

אוַיַּ֥עַל דָּוִ֖ד מִשָּׁ֑ם וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בִּמְצָד֥וֹת עֵֽין־גֶּֽדִי׃

2When Shaul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness of Ein Gedi.

vai-HI ka-a-SHER sha-UL me-a-kha-RAY p'-lish-TIM, va-YA-gi-DO lo lay-MOR: hi-NEH da-VID b'-mid-BAR ayn ge-DEE. (SELAH)

בוַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁ֣ב שָׁא֔וּל מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃

3So Shaul took three thousand picked men from all Yisrael and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the rocks of the wild goats;

vai-YI-kakh sha-UL sh'-LO-shet a-la-FEEM eesh ba-KHUR mi-KOL yis-ra-AYL va-YE-lekh l'-va-KAYSH et da-VID va-a-na-SHAV al p'-NAY tzu-REI ha-ye-e-LEEM

גוַיִּקַּ֣ח שָׁא֗וּל שְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֛ים אִ֥ישׁ בָּח֖וּר מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ אֶת־דָּוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עַל־פְּנֵ֖י צוּרֵ֥י הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃

4and he came to the sheepfolds along the way. There was a cave there, and Shaul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the back of the cave.

vai-YA-vo el gid-ROT ha-TZON al ha-DE-rekh, va-SHAM m'-a-RAH, vai-YA-vo sha-UL l'-ha-SEKH et rag-LA-yav, v'-da-VID va-a-na-SHA-yav b'-yar-K'-tei ha-m'-a-RAH yosh-VEEM.

דוַ֠יָּבֹ֠א אֶל־גִּדְר֨וֹת הַצֹּ֤אן עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ וְשָׁ֣ם מְעָרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שָׁא֖וּל לְהָסֵ֣ךְ אֶת־רַגְלָ֑יו וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמְּעָרָ֖ה יֹשְׁבִֽים׃

5David's men said to him, “This is the day of which Hashem said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy into your hands; you can do with him as you please.'” David went and stealthily cut off the corner of Shaul's cloak.

vai-YO-meru an-SHAY da-VID ay-LAV, hi-NEH ha-YOM a-SHER a-MAR a-do-NAI ay-LE-kha, hi-NEH a-NO-khi no-TAYN et [o-YIV-kha] (ee-VAY-kha) b'-ya-DE-kha, v'-a-see-TA LO ka-a-SHER yi-TAV b'-ay-NE-kha, vai-YA-kom da-VID vai-yikh-ROT et k'-NAF ha-m'-EEL a-SHER l'-sha-UL ba-LAT

הוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י דָוִ֜ד אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּ֨ה הַיּ֜וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־אָמַ֧ר יְהֹוָ֣ה אֵלֶ֗יךָ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י נֹתֵ֤ן אֶת־[אֹֽיִבְךָ֙] (איביך) בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר יִטַ֣ב בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וַיָּ֣קׇם דָּוִ֗ד וַיִּכְרֹ֛ת אֶת־כְּנַֽף־הַמְּעִ֥יל אֲשֶׁר־לְשָׁא֖וּל בַּלָּֽט׃

6But afterward David reproached himself for cutting off the corner of Shaul's cloak.

vai-HI, a-kha-RAY-khen, va-YAKH layv da-VID o-TO, aL a-SHER ka-RAT et-ka-NAF a-SHER le-SHA-ul

ווַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן וַיַּ֥ךְ לֵב־דָּוִ֖ד אֹת֑וֹ עַ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֔ת אֶת־כָּנָ֖ף אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְשָׁאֽוּל׃

7He said to his men, “Hashem forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord—Hashem's anointed—that I should raise my hand against him; for he is Hashem's anointed.”

va-YO-mer l'-a-na-SHAV kha-LEE-lah LEE may-a-do-NAI im e-e-SEH et ha-da-VAR ha-ZEH la-do-NEE lim-SHEE-akh a-do-NAI lish-LO-akh ya-DEE BO kee m'-SHEE-akh a-do-NAI HU

זוַיֹּ֨אמֶר לַאֲנָשָׁ֜יו חָלִ֧ילָה לִּ֣י מֵיְהֹוָ֗ה אִם־אֶעֱשֶׂה֩ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֨ר הַזֶּ֤ה לַֽאדֹנִי֙ לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ יָדִ֖י בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

24:7   Hashem forbid that I

Though David could have legitimately killed King Shaul in self-defense, he merely cuts his royal cloak, and refrains from harming him physically. However, despite this extreme restraint, after the fact David greatly regrets his act, feeling that he has shown disrespect to the king of Israel. Despite everything Shaul had done to him, David honors King Shaul and his position as the anointed king of Israel. This esteem continues until the very end, expressed in the beautiful eulogy he delivers for Shaul after his death (see II Samuel 1:17-27).  The leaders of the nation must be respected by all, as they are chosen by Hashem and charged with the responsibility of leading His people and guiding them in their holy mission. David has the strength and wisdom to understand this, even while being pursued by the king whose throne he would later inherit.

8David rebuked his men and did not permit them to attack Shaul. Shaul left the cave and started on his way.

vai-sha-SA da-VID et a-na-SHA-v b'-d'-va-REEM v'-LO n'-ta-NAM la-KUM el sha-UL, v'-sha-UL KAM me-ha-m'-a-RAH va-YAY-lekh ba-DA-rekh. (S)

חוַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע דָּוִ֤ד אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א נְתָנָ֖ם לָק֣וּם אֶל־שָׁא֑וּל וְשָׁא֛וּל קָ֥ם מֵהַמְּעָרָ֖ה וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

9Then David also went out of the cave and called after Shaul, “My lord king!” Shaul looked around and David bowed low in homage, with his face to the ground.

vai-YA-kom da-VID a-kha-RAY-khen va-YAY-tze (min ha-ma-a-RAH) [me-ha-m'-a-RAH] va-YIK-ra a-kha-RAY-sha-UL lay-MOR a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh va-YA-bet sha-UL a-kha-RAV va-YI-kod da-VID a-PA-yim ar-TZA va-YISH-ta-KHU.

טוַיָּ֨קׇם דָּוִ֜ד אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן וַיֵּצֵא֙ (מן המערה) [מֵֽהַמְּעָרָ֔ה] וַיִּקְרָ֧א אַחֲרֵי־שָׁא֛וּל לֵאמֹ֖ר אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּבֵּ֤ט שָׁאוּל֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וַיִּקֹּ֨ד דָּוִ֥ד אַפַּ֛יִם אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃

10And David said to Shaul, “Why do you listen to the people who say, ‘David is out to do you harm?'

vai-YO-mer da-VID l'-sha-UL, la-MAH tish-MA et di-v'-RAY a-DAM lay-MOR: hi-NEH da-VID m'-va-KEH ra-a-TE-kha

יוַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לְשָׁא֔וּל לָ֧מָּה תִשְׁמַ֛ע אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י אָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָעָתֶֽךָ׃

11You can see for yourself now that Hashem delivered you into my hands in the cave today. And though I was urged to kill you, I showed you pity; for I said, ‘I will not raise a hand against my lord, since he is Hashem's anointed.'

hi-NEH ha-YOM ha-ZEH ra-U a-YE-ne-KHA ET a-SHER n'-ta-N'-KHA a-do-NAI ha-YOM b'-ya-DEE ba-m'-a-RAH va-a-MAR la-ha-ROG-kha va-ta-KHOS a-LE-kha va-o-MAR lo-ESH-lakh ya-DEE ba-a-do-NEE kee m'-shee-AKH a-do-NAI HU

יאהִנֵּה֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה רָא֣וּ עֵינֶ֗יךָ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־נְתָנְךָ֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ הַיּ֤וֹם ׀ בְּיָדִי֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וְאָמַ֥ר לַהֲרׇגְךָ֖ וַתָּ֣חׇס עָלֶ֑יךָ וָאֹמַ֗ר לֹֽא־אֶשְׁלַ֤ח יָדִי֙ בַּאדֹנִ֔י כִּֽי־מְשִׁ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

12Please, sir, take a close look at the corner of your cloak in my hand; for when I cut off the corner of your cloak, I did not kill you. You must see plainly that I have done nothing evil or rebellious, and I have never wronged you. Yet you are bent on taking my life.

v'-a-VEE re-EH gam re-EH et k'-NAF m'-ee-L'-KHA b'-ya-DEE, kee b'-khor-TEE et k'-NAF m'-ee-L'-KHA, v'-LO ha-ra-G'-TEE-kha, da v'-REH kee AYN b'-ya-DEE ra-AH v'-PE-sha v'-LO kha-ta-TEE LAKH, v'-a-TAH tzo-DEH et naf-SHEE l'-ka-KH'-TAH

יבוְאָבִ֣י רְאֵ֔ה גַּ֗ם רְאֵ֛ה אֶת־כְּנַ֥ף מְעִֽילְךָ֖ בְּיָדִ֑י כִּ֡י בְּכׇרְתִי֩ אֶת־כְּנַ֨ף מְעִֽילְךָ֜ וְלֹ֣א הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ דַּ֤ע וּרְאֵה֙ כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין בְּיָדִ֜י רָעָ֤ה וָפֶ֙שַׁע֙ וְלֹא־חָטָ֣אתִי לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֛ה צֹדֶ֥ה אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃

13May Hashem judge between you and me! And may He take vengeance upon you for me, but my hand will never touch you.

yish-POT a-do-NAI BAY-nee u-VEY-ne-KHA u-ne-ka-MA-nee a-do-NAI mi-ME-kha ve-YA-dee lo ti-HE-yeh-BAKH

יגיִשְׁפֹּ֤ט יְהֹוָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּנְקָמַ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמֶּ֑ךָּ וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃

14As the ancient proverb has it: ‘Wicked deeds come from wicked men!' My hand will never touch you.

ka-a-SHER yo-MAR m'-shal ha-kad-mo-NEE me-r'-sha-EEM yay-TSEH re-SHA v'-ya-DEE lo tih-YE-bakh

ידכַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֹאמַ֗ר מְשַׁל֙ הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים יֵ֣צֵא רֶ֑שַׁע וְיָדִ֖י לֹ֥א תִֽהְיֶה־בָּֽךְ׃

15Against whom has the king of Yisrael come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?

a-kha-RAY mi ya-TZAV me-LEKH yis-ra-AYL a-kha-RAY mi a-TAH ro-DEF a-kha-RAY KE-lev MEYT a-kha-RAY par-OSH e-KHAD

טואַחֲרֵ֨י מִ֤י יָצָא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַחֲרֵ֥י מִ֖י אַתָּ֣ה רֹדֵ֑ף אַֽחֲרֵי֙ כֶּ֣לֶב מֵ֔ת אַחֲרֵ֖י פַּרְעֹ֥שׁ אֶחָֽד׃

16May Hashem be arbiter and may He judge between you and me! May He take note and uphold my cause, and vindicate me against you.”

v'-ha-YA a-do-NAI l'-da-YAN v'-sha-FAT be-NI u-ve-NE-kha, v'-ye-RA v'-ya-REV et-ree-BI v'-yish-p'-TE-ni mi-YA-de-kha.

טזוְהָיָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לְדַיָּ֔ן וְשָׁפַ֖ט בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְיֵ֙רֶא֙ וְיָרֵ֣ב אֶת־רִיבִ֔י וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃

17When David finished saying these things to Shaul, Shaul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Shaul broke down and wept.

vai-HI, k'-kha-LOT da-VID l'-da-BAYR et ha-d'-va-REEM ha-EL-leh el sha-UL, va-YO-mer sha-UL, ha-KOL-kha ZEH b'-NEE da-VID, va-YI-sa sha-UL KO-lo va-YAY-kh'-k.

יזוַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלּ֣וֹת דָּוִ֗ד לְדַבֵּ֞ר אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל הֲקֹלְךָ֥ זֶ֖ה בְּנִ֣י דָוִ֑ד וַיִּשָּׂ֥א שָׁא֛וּל קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃

18He said to David, “You are right, not I; for you have treated me generously, but I have treated you badly.

vai-YO-mer el da-VID, tza-DEEK a-TAH mi-ME-ni, KEE a-TAH g'-mal-TA-nee ha-TO-va, va-a-NEE g'-mal-TEE-kha ha-ra-AH

יחוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד צַדִּ֥יק אַתָּ֖ה מִמֶּ֑נִּי כִּ֤י אַתָּה֙ גְּמַלְתַּ֣נִי הַטּוֹבָ֔ה וַאֲנִ֖י גְּמַלְתִּ֥יךָ הָרָעָֽה׃

19Yes, you have just revealed how generously you treated me, for Hashem delivered me into your hands and you did not kill me.

(v'-at) [v'-a-TAH] hi-GAD-tah ha-YOM et a-SHER a-SEE-tah i-TI to-VAH et a-SHER si-GE-ra-NEE a-do-NAI b'-ya-d'-KHA v'-LO ha-RAK-ta-NEE

יט(ואת) [וְאַתָּה֙] הִגַּ֣דְתָּ הַיּ֔וֹם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתָה אִתִּ֖י טוֹבָ֑ה אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר סִגְּרַ֧נִי יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיָדְךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א הֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃

20If a man meets his enemy, does he let him go his way unharmed? Surely, Hashem will reward you generously for what you have done for me this day.

v'-khee yim-TZA ish et-o-YVO v'-shi-LE-kho b'-DE-rekh to-VAH va-a-do-NAI y'-sha-LEM-kha to-VAH ta-KHAT ha-YOM ha-ZEH a-SHER a-see-TA lee

כוְכִֽי־יִמְצָ֥א אִישׁ֙ אֶת־אֹ֣יְב֔וֹ וְשִׁלְּח֖וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ טוֹבָ֑ה וַֽיהֹוָה֙ יְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ טוֹבָ֔ה תַּ֚חַת הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתָה לִֽי׃

21I know now that you will become king, and that the kingship over Yisrael will remain in your hands.

v'-a-TAH hi-NEH ya-DA-ti KI ma-LOKH tim-LOKH v'-ka-MAH b'-ya-d'-KHA mam-LE-khet yis-ra-AYL

כאוְעַתָּה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י מָלֹ֖ךְ תִּמְל֑וֹךְ וְקָ֙מָה֙ בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ מַמְלֶ֖כֶת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

22So swear to me by Hashem that you will not destroy my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's house.”

v'-a-TAH hi-SHA-va-AH LEE ba-do-NAI, im-takh-REET et-zar-EE a-cha-RAI, v'-im-tash-MEED et-sh'-MEE mi-BAYT a-VEE

כבוְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה לִּי֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה אִם־תַּכְרִ֥ית אֶת־זַרְעִ֖י אַחֲרָ֑י וְאִם־תַּשְׁמִ֥יד אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י מִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

23David swore to Shaul, Shaul went home, and David and his men went up to the strongholds.

vai-yi-SHA-vah da-VID l'-sha-UL, va-YAY-lekh sha-UL el b'-TO, v'-da-VID va-a-na-SHAV a-LU al ha-m'-tzu-DAH. (s)

כגוַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע דָּוִ֖ד לְשָׁא֑וּל וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו עָל֖וּ עַל־הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃