TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
I - Chapter 29
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The Philistines mustered all their forces at Aphek, while Yisrael was encamping at the spring in Yizrael.
vai-yik-B'-tzu p'-lish-TEEM et-KOL ma-cha-NE-hem a-f'-KAH, v'-yis-ra-AYL kho-NEEM ba-a-YIN a-SHER b'-yiz-re-A-EL
אוַיִּקְבְּצ֧וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אֶת־כׇּל־מַחֲנֵיהֶ֖ם אֲפֵ֑קָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל חֹנִ֔ים בַּעַ֖יִן אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
2The Philistine lords came marching, each with his units of hundreds and of thousands; and David and his men came marching last, with Achish.
v'-sar-NAY f'-lish-TEEM o-v'-REEM l'-may-OT v'-la-a-la-FEEM v'-da-VID va-a-na-SHAV o-v'-REEM ba-a-kha-ro-NAH im a-KHEESH
בוְסַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ עֹֽבְרִ֔ים לְמֵא֖וֹת וְלַאֲלָפִ֑ים וְדָוִ֣ד וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו עֹ֥בְרִ֛ים בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֖ה עִם־אָכִֽישׁ׃
29:2 David and his men came marching last, with Achish
Commemorative stamps of the martyrs of the struggle for Israeli independance. Eli Cohen (1924-1965), bottom left
It is certainly impossible that David would have been willing, as this verse implies, to wage war against Israel. Though he was fleeing from King Shaul, David remains completely loyal to his people throughout his travails. In this instance, he feigns loyalty to Achish and uses the advantage gained by his trust to spy against the Philistines, gaining information which will later helps him defeat this enemy. This is reminiscent of a more recent Israeli spy, Eli Cohen. During the 1960’s Cohen managed to infiltrate the highest echelons of the Syrian army, to spy on Israel’s behalf. He provided the I.D.F. with critical information that would assist Israel in the Six Day War and enable it to liberate the Golan Heights. Though Cohen was captured and executed by the Syrians, the State and People of Israel continue to benefit from his sacrifice to this very day. The Golan Heights is home to flourishing communities, and provides great strategic value to Israel.
3The Philistine officers asked, “Who are those Hebrews?” “Why, that's David, the servant of King Shaul of Yisrael,” Achish answered the Philistine officers. “He has been with me for a year or more, and I have found no fault in him from the day he defected until now.”
vai-YO-meru sa-RAY p'-lish-TEEM, MA ha-eev-REEM ha-EL-leh? vai-YO-mer a-KHEESH el sa-RAY p'-lish-TEEM, ha-LO ZEH da-VID e-VEID sha-UL me-lekh yis-ra-AYL, a-SHER ha-YAH i-TEE ZEH ya-MEEM o-ZEH sha-NEEM, v'-LO ma-TZA-tee BO me-u-MAH mi-YOM no-FLO ad ha-YOM ha-ZEH.
גוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים מָ֖ה הָעִבְרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים הֲלוֹא־זֶ֨ה דָוִ֜ד עֶ֣בֶד ׀ שָׁא֣וּל מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה אִתִּי֙ זֶ֤ה יָמִים֙ אוֹ־זֶ֣ה שָׁנִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־מָצָ֤אתִי בוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה מִיּ֥וֹם נׇפְל֖וֹ עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
4But the Philistine officers were angry with him; and the Philistine officers said to him, “Send the man back; let him go back to the place you assigned him. He shall not march down with us to the battle, or else he may become our adversary in battle. For with what could that fellow appease his master if not with the heads of these men?
vai-yik-TZE-fu a-LAV sa-RAY p'-lish-TEEM va-YO-meru LO sa-RAY p'-lish-TEEM ha-SHEV et ha-EESH v'-ya-SHOV el m'-KO-mo a-SHER hif-ka-DO-to SHAM v'-LO ye-RED i-ma-NU ba-mil-KHA-ma v'-LO yi-HE-yeh-la-NU l'-sa-TAN ba-mil-KHA-ma u-va-MEH yit-ra-TZEH ZEH el a-do-NAV ha-LO b'-ra-SHEI ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-HEM
דוַיִּקְצְפ֨וּ עָלָ֜יו שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לוֹ֩ שָׂרֵ֨י פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים הָשֵׁ֣ב אֶת־הָאִ֗ישׁ וְיָשֹׁב֙ אֶל־מְקוֹמוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִפְקַדְתּ֣וֹ שָׁ֔ם וְלֹא־יֵרֵ֤ד עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֥נוּ לְשָׂטָ֖ן בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וּבַמֶּ֗ה יִתְרַצֶּ֥ה זֶה֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֲל֕וֹא בְּרָאשֵׁ֖י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָהֵֽם׃
5Remember, he is the David of whom they sang as they danced: Shaul has slain his thousands; David, his tens of thousands.”
ha-LO zeh da-VID a-SHER ya-a-NU-lo ba-me-KHO-lot lay-MOR hi-KA sha-UL ba-a-la-FAV v'-da-VID b'-riv-vo-TAV. (S)
ההֲלוֹא־זֶ֣ה דָוִ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר יַעֲנוּ־ל֛וֹ בַּמְּחֹל֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽו׃
6Achish summoned David and said to him, “As Hashem lives, you are an honest man, and I would like to have you serve in my forces; for I have found no fault with you from the day you joined me until now. But you are not acceptable to the other lords.
vai-yik-RA a-KHISH el da-VID va-YO-mer e-LAV kha-Y'-a-do-NAI, kee-ya-SHAR a-TAH v'-TOV b'-ay-NAI, tzei-t'-KHA u-BO-a-KHA i-TI ba-ma-kha-NEH, kee lo-ma-TZA-tee ve-KHA ra-AH, mi-YOM bo-a-KHA e-LAI ad ha-YOM ha-ZEH, u-ve-ay-NAY ha-s'-ra-NEEM lo-TOV a-TAH.
ווַיִּקְרָ֨א אָכִ֜ישׁ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לָ֠יו חַי־יְהֹוָ֞ה כִּֽי־יָשָׁ֣ר אַתָּ֗ה וְט֣וֹב בְּ֠עֵינַ֠י צֵאתְךָ֨ וּבֹאֲךָ֤ אִתִּי֙ בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה כִּ֠י לֹֽא־מָצָ֤אתִֽי בְךָ֙ רָעָ֔ה מִיּ֛וֹם בֹּאֲךָ֥ אֵלַ֖י עַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וּבְעֵינֵ֥י הַסְּרָנִ֖ים לֹא־ט֥וֹב אָֽתָּה׃
7So go back in peace, and do nothing to displease the Philistine lords.”
v'-a-TAH shuv v'-LEKH b'-sha-LOM v'-lo ta-a-SEH ra b'-ay-NAY sar-NAY f'-lish-TEEM.
זוְעַתָּ֥ה שׁ֖וּב וְלֵ֣ךְ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם וְלֹא־תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה רָ֔ע בְּעֵינֵ֖י סַרְנֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃
8David, however, said to Achish, “But what have I done, what fault have you found in your servant from the day I appeared before you to this day, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
vai-YO-mer da-VID el a-KHEESH, KEE meh a-SEE-tee u-mah ma-TZA-ta v'-av-d'-KHA, mi-YOM a-SHER ha-YEE-tee l'-fa-NE-kha ad ha-YOM ha-ZEH, KEE lo a-VO v'-nil-kham-TEE b'-o-y'-VAY a-do-NEE ha-ME-lekh
חוַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־אָכִ֗ישׁ כִּ֣י מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ וּמַה־מָּצָ֣אתָ בְעַבְדְּךָ֔ מִיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיִ֣יתִי לְפָנֶ֔יךָ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אָבוֹא֙ וְנִלְחַ֔מְתִּי בְּאֹיְבֵ֖י אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
9Achish replied to David, “I know; you are as acceptable to me as an angel of Hashem. But the Philistine officers have decided that you must not march out with us to the battle.
vai-YA-an a-KHISH va-YO-mer el da-VID, ya-da-TI ki TOV a-TAH b'-ay-NAI k'-ma-L'-akh e-lo-HEEM, akh sa-RAY f'-lish-TIM a-M'-RU lo ya-a-LEH i-ma-NU ba-mil-kha-MAH
טוַיַּ֣עַן אָכִישׁ֮ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־דָּוִד֒ יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּ֣י ט֥וֹב אַתָּ֛ה בְּעֵינַ֖י כְּמַלְאַ֣ךְ אֱלֹהִ֑ים אַ֣ךְ שָׂרֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֥ה עִמָּ֖נוּ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃
10So rise early in the morning, you and your lord's servants who came with you—rise early in the morning, and leave as soon as it is light.”
v'-a-TAH ha-sh'-KEM ba-BO-ker v'-av-DAY a-do-NE-kha a-SHER-ba-U i-TAKH v'-hish-KAM-TEM ba-BO-ker v'-OR la-KHEM va-LE-khu
יוְעַתָּה֙ הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְעַבְדֵ֥י אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ אִתָּ֑ךְ וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֣ם בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וְא֥וֹר לָכֶ֖ם וָלֵֽכוּ׃
11Accordingly, David and his men rose early in the morning to leave, to return to the land of the Philistines, while the Philistines marched up to Yizrael.
vai-YASH-kem da-VID, HU va-a-na-SHA-v la-LE-khet ba-BO-ker la-SHU-v el E-rets p'-lish-TIM, u-p'-lish-TIM a-LU yiz-re-A-EL. (SAH)
יאוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם דָּוִ֜ד ה֤וּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת בַּבֹּ֔קֶר לָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים עָל֥וּ יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
