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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 28

Translation and Transliteration of 

1At that time the Philistines mustered their forces for war, to take the field against Yisrael. Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must march out with my forces.”

vai-HI ba-ya-MEEM ha-HEM va-yik-B'-tzu f'-lish-TEEYM et ma-kha-NE-hem la-tza-VAH l'-hi-la-KHEM b'-yis-ra-AYL, va-YO-mer a-KHEESH el da-VEED, ya-DO-a tay-DA k'-ee i-TEE tay-TZE b'-ma-cha-NEH, a-TAH va-a-NA-she-KHA

אוַֽיְהִי֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וַיִּקְבְּצ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים אֶת־מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָכִישׁ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד יָדֹ֣עַ תֵּדַ֗ע כִּ֤י אִתִּי֙ תֵּצֵ֣א בַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה אַתָּ֖ה וַאֲנָשֶֽׁיךָ׃

2David answered Achish, “You surely know what your servant will do.” “In that case,” Achish replied to David, “I will appoint you my bodyguard for life.”

vai-YO-mer da-VID el a-KHISH, la-KHEN a-TAH tay-DA, ET a-SHER ya-a-SEH av-DE-kha, vai-YO-mer a-KHISH el da-VID, la-KHEN sho-MER l'-ro-SHEE a-si-M'-KHA kol ha-ya-MEEM. (pey)

בוַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־אָכִ֔ישׁ לָכֵן֙ אַתָּ֣ה תֵדַ֔ע אֵ֥ת אֲשֶֽׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָכִישׁ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד לָכֵ֗ן שֹׁמֵ֧ר לְרֹאשִׁ֛י אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖ כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

3Now Shmuel had died and all Yisrael made lament for him; and he was buried in his own town of Rama. And Shaul had forbidden [recourse to] ghosts and familiar spirits in the land.

ush-mu-AYL MAYT va-yis-p'-du LO kol yis-ra-AYL va-yik-b'-RU-hu va-ra-MAH uv-ee-RO v'-sha-UL hay-SEER ha-o-VOT v'-et ha-yi-d'-o-NEEM may-ha-A-retz

גוּשְׁמוּאֵ֣ל מֵ֔ת וַיִּסְפְּדוּ־לוֹ֙ כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בָרָמָ֖ה וּבְעִיר֑וֹ וְשָׁא֗וּל הֵסִ֛יר הָאֹב֥וֹת וְאֶת־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים מֵהָאָֽרֶץ׃

 28:3 And he was buried in his own town of Rama

Traditional Tomb of Shmuel the Prophet

When the prophet Shmuel dies on the twenty-eighth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, he is buried in Rama. According to tradition, Shmuel’s burial site is in the northwest outskirts of modern Jerusalem, near the neighborhood of Ramot. It has long been a place of prayer and study for the Jewish people. Given its strategic location along the road between Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv, the Arabs used it during the War of Independence and the Six Day War as a base from which to fire at Israeli soldiers. This holy site was liberated by the Israeli Army during the Six Day War.

4The Philistines mustered and they marched to Shunem and encamped; and Shaul gathered all Yisrael, and they encamped at Gilboa.

vai-yi-ka-VE-tzu f'-lish-TEEM, vai-ya-VO-u vai-ya-kha-NU b'-shu-NEM, vai-yi-K'-BOTZ sha-UL et-KOL yis-ra-AYL, vai-ya-kha-NU ba-gil-BO-a

דוַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ בְשׁוּנֵ֑ם וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃

5When Shaul saw the Philistine force, his heart trembled with fear.

vai-YAR sha-UL et ma-kha-NEH fe-lish-TEEM, vai-YI-ra vai-ye-khe-RAD li-BO me-OD

הוַיַּ֥רְא שָׁא֖וּל אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיִּרָ֕א וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד לִבּ֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃

6And Shaul inquired of Hashem, but Hashem did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by Neviim.

vai-YISH-al sha-UL ba-do-NAI v'-LO a-NA-hu a-do-NAI, GAM ba-kha-LO-mot, GAM ba-u-REEM, GAM ba-ne-vee-EEM

ווַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל שָׁאוּל֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָ֖הוּ יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֧ם בַּחֲלֹמ֛וֹת גַּ֥ם בָּאוּרִ֖ים גַּ֥ם בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃

7Then Shaul said to his courtiers, “Find me a woman who consults ghosts, so that I can go to her and inquire through her.” And his courtiers told him that there was a woman in En-dor who consulted ghosts.

vai-YO-mer sha-UL la-a-va-DAV ba-K'-shu-LEE e-SHET ba-a-LAT-ov v'-el-KHA e-LE-ha v'-ed-r'-SHA-ba-HA vai-YO-mer-U a-va-DAV e-LA-yav hi-NEH e-SHET ba-a-LAT-ov b'-EYN dor

זוַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל לַעֲבָדָ֗יו בַּקְּשׁוּ־לִי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת בַּעֲלַת־א֔וֹב וְאֵלְכָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יהָ וְאֶדְרְשָׁה־בָּ֑הּ וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ עֲבָדָיו֙ אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּ֛ה אֵ֥שֶׁת בַּעֲלַת־א֖וֹב בְּעֵ֥ין דּֽוֹר׃

8Shaul disguised himself; he put on different clothes and set out with two men. They came to the woman by night, and he said, “Please divine for me by a ghost. Bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”

vai-yit-cha-PESH sha-UL vai-yil-BASH b'-ga-DIM a-KHE-rim vai-YE-lekh HU u-sh'-NAY a-na-SHEEM i-MO vai-ya-VO-u el ha-i-SHA la-Y'-LA vai-YO-mer (ka-SO-mi) [ka-so-MI-]NA li ba-OB v'-ha-a-LEE li ET a-SHER o-MAR e-la-YIKH

חוַיִּתְחַפֵּ֣שׂ שָׁא֗וּל וַיִּלְבַּשׁ֙ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ ה֗וּא וּשְׁנֵ֤י אֲנָשִׁים֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה לָ֑יְלָה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (קסומי) [קָסֳמִי־]נָ֥א לִי֙ בָּא֔וֹב וְהַ֣עֲלִי לִ֔י אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־אֹמַ֖ר אֵלָֽיִךְ׃

9But the woman answered him, “You know what Shaul has done, how he has banned [the use of] ghosts and familiar spirits in the land. So why are you laying a trap for me, to get me killed?”

va-TOM-er ha-i-SHA e-LAV hi-NEH a-TAH ya-DA-at ET a-SHER o-SA SHA-UL a-SHER hikh-REET ET ha-o-VOT v'-ET ha-yi-de-O-NEE min ha-A-retz v'-la-MAH a-TAH mit-NA-kesh b'-naf-SHEE la-ha-MEE-te-NEE

טוַתֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִשָּׁ֜ה אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּ֨ה אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֣ה שָׁא֔וּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִכְרִ֛ית אֶת־הָאֹב֥וֹת וְאֶת־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖י מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָמָ֥ה אַתָּ֛ה מִתְנַקֵּ֥שׁ בְּנַפְשִׁ֖י לַהֲמִיתֵֽנִי׃

10Shaul swore to her by Hashem: “As Hashem lives, you won't get into trouble over this.”

vai-yi-SHA-vah LAH sha-UL ba-do-NAI lay-MOR: khai a-do-NAI, im yi-ke-REKH a-VON ba-da-VAHR ha-ZEH

יוַיִּשָּׁ֤בַֽע לָהּ֙ שָׁא֔וּל בַּיהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר חַי־יְהֹוָ֕ה אִֽם־יִקְּרֵ֥ךְ עָוֺ֖ן בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

11At that, the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He answered, “Bring up Shmuel for me.”

va-TA-mer ha-i-SHA et-MEE a-a-LEH-LAKH va-YO-mer et-sh'-mu-AYL ha-a-LEE-LEE

יאוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הָאִשָּׁ֔ה אֶת־מִ֖י אַעֲלֶה־לָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הַֽעֲלִי־לִֽי׃

12Then the woman recognized Shmuel, and she shrieked loudly, and said to Shaul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Shaul!”

va-TER-eh ha-i-SHA et sh'-mu-AYL va-TIZ-a-AK b'-KOL ga-DOL va-TO-mer ha-i-SHA el sha-UL lay-MOR: la-MAH ri-MEE-ta-NEE v'-a-TAH sha-UL

יבוַתֵּ֤רֶא הָאִשָּׁה֙ אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַתִּזְעַ֖ק בְּק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל וַתֹּ֩אמֶר֩ הָאִשָּׁ֨ה אֶל־שָׁא֧וּל ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר לָ֥מָּה רִמִּיתָ֖נִי וְאַתָּ֥ה שָׁאֽוּל׃

13The king answered her, “Don't be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Shaul, “I see a divine being coming up from the earth.”

vai-YO-mer LAH ha-ME-lekh al-ti-RE-i KI MAH ra-IT va-TO-mer ha-I-sha el sha-UL e-lo-HEEM ra-EE-tee o-LEEM min ha-A-retz

יגוַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֥הּ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אַל־תִּֽירְאִ֖י כִּ֣י מָ֣ה רָאִ֑ית וַתֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל אֱלֹהִ֥ים רָאִ֖יתִי עֹלִ֥ים מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

14“What does he look like?” he asked her. “It is an old man coming up,” she said, “and he is wrapped in a robe.” Then Shaul knew that it was Shmuel; and he bowed low in homage with his face to the ground.

vai-YO-mer LAH, mah-to-RO, va-TO-mer, eesh za-KEN o-LEH, v'-HU o-TEH me-EEL, va-YAY-da sha-UL kee-sh'-mu-AYL HU, va-YI-kod a-PA-yim ar-TZA, va-YISH-ta-KHU. (S)

ידוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַֽה־תׇּאֳר֔וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר אִ֤ישׁ זָקֵן֙ עֹלֶ֔ה וְה֥וּא עֹטֶ֖ה מְעִ֑יל וַיֵּ֤דַע שָׁאוּל֙ כִּֽי־שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל ה֔וּא וַיִּקֹּ֥ד אַפַּ֛יִם אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃

15Shmuel said to Shaul, “Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?” And Shaul answered, “I am in great trouble. The Philistines are attacking me and Hashem has turned away from me; He no longer answers me, either by Neviim or in dreams. So I have called you to tell me what I am to do.”

vai-YO-mer sh'-mu-AYL el sha-UL: la-MA hiR-gaz-TA-nee l'-ha-a-LOT o-TEE? vai-YO-mer sha-UL: tzar-LEE me-OD u-f'-lish-TEEM ni-l'-kha-MEEM BEE, v'-e-lo-HEEM sar me-a-LAI, v'-lo-a-NA-nee OHD, gam b'-yad ha-ne-vee-EEM, gam ba-kha-LO-mot, va-e-k'-RA-e L'-KHA l'-ho-dee-A-nee MAH e-a-SEH. (s)

טווַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל לָ֥מָּה הִרְגַּזְתַּ֖נִי לְהַעֲל֣וֹת אֹתִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁ֠א֠וּל צַר־לִ֨י מְאֹ֜ד וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים ׀ נִלְחָמִ֣ים בִּ֗י וֵאלֹהִ֞ים סָ֤ר מֵֽעָלַי֙ וְלֹא־עָנָ֣נִי ע֗וֹד גַּ֤ם בְּיַֽד־הַנְּבִיאִים֙ גַּם־בַּ֣חֲלֹמ֔וֹת וָאֶקְרָאֶ֣ה לְךָ֔ לְהוֹדִיעֵ֖נִי מָ֥ה אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃

16Shmuel said, “Why do you ask me, seeing that Hashem has turned away from you and has become your adversary?

vai-YO-mer sh'-mu-AYL v'-la-MAH tish-a-LE-ni, va-a-do-NAI sar me-a-LE-kha, vai-Y'-hee a-RE-kha

טזוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וְלָ֖מָּה תִּשְׁאָלֵ֑נִי וַיהֹוָ֛ה סָ֥ר מֵעָלֶ֖יךָ וַיְהִ֥י עָרֶֽךָ׃

17Hashem has done for Himself as He foretold through me: Hashem has torn the kingship out of your hands and has given it to your fellow, to David,

vai-YA-as a-do-NAI LO ka-a-SHER di-BER b'-ya-DEE, vai-YIK-ra a-do-NAI et ha-mam-la-KHA mi-YA-de-KHA, vai-t'-NAH l'-re-a-KHA l'-da-VID

יזוַיַּ֤עַשׂ יְהֹוָה֙ ל֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר בְּיָדִ֑י וַיִּקְרַ֨ע יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־הַמַּמְלָכָה֙ מִיָּדֶ֔ךָ וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ לְרֵעֲךָ֥ לְדָוִֽד׃

18because you did not obey Hashem and did not execute His wrath upon the Amalekites. That is why Hashem has done this to you today.

ka-a-SHER lo sha-MA-ta b'-KOL a-do-NAI v'-lo a-SEE-ta kha-RON a-PO ba-a-ma-LEK, al-KEN ha-DA-var ha-ZEH a-SA-le-KHA a-do-NAI ha-YOM ha-ZEH

יחכַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־שָׁמַ֙עְתָּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹֽא־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֲרוֹן־אַפּ֖וֹ בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק עַל־כֵּן֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה עָשָֽׂה־לְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

19Further, Hashem will deliver the Israelites who are with you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow your sons and you will be with me; and Hashem will also deliver the Israelite forces into the hands of the Philistines.”

v'-yi-TEN a-do-NAI gam et yis-ra-AYL i-m'-KHA b'-yad p'-lish-TIM u-ma-KHAR a-TAH u-va-NE-kha i-MI gam et ma-kha-NEH yis-ra-AYL yi-TEN a-do-NAI b'-yad p'-lish-TIM

יטוְיִתֵּ֣ן יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה גַּ֣ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל עִמְּךָ֙ בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמָחָ֕ר אַתָּ֥ה וּבָנֶ֖יךָ עִמִּ֑י גַּ֚ם אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יִתֵּ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

20At once Shaul flung himself prone on the ground, terrified by Shmuel's words. Besides, there was no strength in him, for he had not eaten anything all day and all night.

vai-ma-HEIR sha-UL va-yi-POL m'-LO ko-MA-to a-RETZ va-yi-RA m'-OD mi-di-v'-REI sh'-mu-AYL, gam-KO-akh lo-HA-ya BO, ki lo a-KHAL LE-khem kol ha-YOM v'-kol ha-la-YE-lah

כוַיְמַהֵ֣ר שָׁא֗וּל וַיִּפֹּ֤ל מְלֹא־קֽוֹמָתוֹ֙ אַ֔רְצָה וַיִּרָ֥א מְאֹ֖ד מִדִּבְרֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל גַּם־כֹּ֙חַ֙ לֹא־הָ֣יָה ב֔וֹ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אָכַל֙ לֶ֔חֶם כׇּל־הַיּ֖וֹם וְכׇל־הַלָּֽיְלָה׃

21The woman went up to Shaul and, seeing how greatly disturbed he was, she said to him, “Your handmaid listened to you; I took my life in my hands and heeded the request you made of me.

va-ta-VO ha-i-SHA el SHA-ul va-TE-re KI ni-VHAL me-OD va-TO-mer e-LAV hi-NEH sha-ME-a SHIF-kha-TE-kha b'-ko-LE-kha va-a-SIM naf-SHI b'-ka-PI va-eSH-MA et d'-va-RE-kha a-SHER di-BAR-ta e-LAI

כאוַתָּב֤וֹא הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַתֵּ֖רֶא כִּֽי־נִבְהַ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּ֨ה שָֽׁמְעָ֤ה שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ בְּקוֹלֶ֔ךָ וָאָשִׂ֤ים נַפְשִׁי֙ בְּכַפִּ֔י וָֽאֶשְׁמַע֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ אֵלָֽי׃

22So now you listen to me: Let me set before you a bit of food. Eat, and then you will have the strength to go on your way.”

v'-a-TAH sh'-MA-na gam a-TAH b'-KOL shif-KHA-te-KHA v'-a-SI-mah l'-fa-NE-kha pat-LE-khem ve-e-KHOL vi-HI b'-KHA ko-ACH ki te-LEKH ba-DA-rekh

כבוְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁמַֽע־נָ֤א גַם־אַתָּה֙ בְּק֣וֹל שִׁפְחָתֶ֔ךָ וְאָשִׂ֧מָה לְפָנֶ֛יךָ פַּת־לֶ֖חֶם וֶאֱכ֑וֹל וִיהִ֤י בְךָ֙ כֹּ֔חַ כִּ֥י תֵלֵ֖ךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

23He refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But when his courtiers as well as the woman urged him, he listened to them; he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

vai-ma-EN, vai-YO-mer: lo o-KHAL, vai-yif-r'-TZU-vo a-va-DAV v'-gam ha-i-SHA, vai-yish-MA l'-ko-LAM, vai-YA-kom me-ha-A-retz, vai-YAY-shev el ha-mi-TAH

כגוַיְמָאֵ֗ן וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל וַיִּפְרְצוּ־ב֤וֹ עֲבָדָיו֙ וְגַם־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע לְקֹלָ֑ם וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ מֵֽהָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב אֶל־הַמִּטָּֽה׃

24The woman had a stall-fed calf in the house; she hastily slaughtered it, and took flour and kneaded it, and baked some unleavened cakes.

v'-la-i-SHA e-GEL mar-BEK ba-BA-yit va-t'-ma-HER va-tiz-BA-khe-HU va-ti-KAkh-KE-makh va-ta-LASH va-to-FE-HU mat-ZOT

כדוְלָאִשָּׁ֤ה עֵֽגֶל־מַרְבֵּק֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת וַתְּמַהֵ֖ר וַתִּזְבָּחֵ֑הוּ וַתִּקַּח־קֶ֣מַח וַתָּ֔לָשׁ וַתֹּפֵ֖הוּ מַצּֽוֹת׃

25She set this before Shaul and his courtiers, and they ate. Then they rose and left the same night.

va-ta-GAYSH li-f'-nay sha-UL v'-li-f'-nay a-va-DAV va-yo-KHE-lu va-ya-KU-mu va-ye-l'-KHU ba-la-YLA ha-HU.

כהוַתַּגֵּ֧שׁ לִפְנֵי־שָׁא֛וּל וְלִפְנֵ֥י עֲבָדָ֖יו וַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּ וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַהֽוּא׃