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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 4

Translation and Transliteration of 

1and Shmuel's word went forth to all Yisrael.Yisrael marched out to engage the Philistines in battle; they encamped near Even Ha-Ezer, while the Philistines encamped at Aphek.

vai-Y'-hee d'-var sh'-mu-AYL l'-kol yis-ra-AYL, va-y'-tze Yis-ra-AYL lik-RA-at p'-lish-TEEM la-mil-KHA-mah, va-ya-KHA-nu al ha-E-ven ha-E-zer, u-p'-lish-TEEM kha-NU va-a-FEK

אוַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּצֵ֣א יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ לִקְרַ֨את פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וַֽיַּחֲנוּ֙ עַל־הָאֶ֣בֶן הָעֵ֔זֶר וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים חָנ֥וּ בַאֲפֵֽק׃

2The Philistines arrayed themselves against Yisrael; and when the battle was fought, Yisrael was routed by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the field of battle.

vai-ya-a-RA-khu p'-lish-TEEM lik-RA-at yis-ra-AYL va-ti-TOSH ha-mil-kha-MAH vai-n'-GAF yis-ra-AYL lif-NAY p'-lish-TEEM vai-KHU va-ma-a-RA-khah ba-sa-DEH k'-ar-ba-at a-la-FEEM eesh

בוַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים לִקְרַ֣את יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַתִּטֹּשׁ֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּכּ֤וּ בַמַּֽעֲרָכָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כְּאַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃

3When the [Israelite] troops returned to the camp, the elders of Yisrael asked, “Why did Hashem put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the Aron Brit Hashem from Shilo; thus He will be present among us and will deliver us from the hands of our enemies.”

va-ya-VO ha-AM el ha-ma-kha-NEH, va-yo-m'-RU zik-NAY yis-ra-AYL, LA-mah n'-ga-FA-nu a-do-NAI ha-YOM lif-NAY f'-lish-TEEM, nik-KHA ay-LAY-nu mi-shi-LOH, et a-RON b'-REET a-do-NAI, v'-ya-VO v'-kir-BAY-nu, v'-yo-shi-AY-nu mi-KAF o-y'-VAY-nu

גוַיָּבֹ֣א הָעָם֮ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָ֣מָּה נְגָפָ֧נוּ יְהֹוָ֛ה הַיּ֖וֹם לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים נִקְחָ֧ה אֵלֵ֣ינוּ מִשִּׁלֹ֗ה אֶת־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיָבֹ֣א בְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּ וְיֹשִׁעֵ֖נוּ מִכַּ֥ף אֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃

4So the troops sent men to Shilo; there Eli's two sons, Chofni and Pinchas, were in charge of the Aron Brit Hashem, and they brought down from there the Aron Habrit of the lord of Hosts Enthroned on the Keruvim.

vai-YISH-lakh ha-AM shi-LO va-yi-SU mi-SHAM et a-RON b'-REET a-do-NAI t'-va-OT yo-SHEV ha-ke-ru-VIM v'-SHAM sh'-NAY v'-NAY e-LI im a-RON b'-REET ha-e-lo-HEEM kha-f'-NEE u-fi-N'-KHAS

דוַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח הָעָם֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֧וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים וְשָׁ֞ם שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִ֗י עִם־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים חׇפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃

5When the Aron Brit Hashem entered the camp, all Yisrael burst into a great shout, so that the earth resounded.

vai-HI k'-VO a-ROn b'-REET a-do-NAI el ha-ma-kha-NEH va-ya-REE-u kol yis-ra-AYL t'-ru-AH g'-do-LAH va-TE-hom ha-A-retz

הוַיְהִ֗י כְּב֨וֹא אֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַיָּרִ֥עוּ כׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַתֵּהֹ֖ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃

6The Philistines heard the noise of the shouting and they wondered, “Why is there such a loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they learned that the Aron of Hashem had come to the camp,

vai-YISH-m'u f'-lish-TEEM et-KOL ha-t'-ru-AH, vai-YO-mer-U: meh KOL ha-t'-ru-AH ha-g'-DO-lah ha-ZOT b'-ma-cha-NEH ha-i-v'-REEM, vai-YAY-du KI a-RON a-do-NAI BA el ha-ma-cha-NEH

ווַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַתְּרוּעָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֶ֠ה ק֣וֹל הַתְּרוּעָ֧ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֛ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה הָעִבְרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ כִּ֚י אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֔ה בָּ֖א אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃

7the Philistines were frightened; for they said, “Hashem has come to the camp.” And they cried, “Woe to us! Nothing like this has ever happened before.

vai-YI-ru ha-p'-lis-TIM KI a-M'-RU BA e-lo-HEEM el ha-ma-kha-NEH, vai-YO-meru, OY LA-nu KI lo ha-Y'-ta ka-ZOT et-MOL shil-SHOM

זוַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ בָּ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ א֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ כִּ֣י לֹ֥א הָיְתָ֛ה כָּזֹ֖את אֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם׃

8Woe to us! Who will save us from the power of this mighty Hashem? He is the same Hashem who struck the Egyptians with every kind of plague in the wilderness!

OY la-NU, mee ya-tzee-LE-nu, mee-YAD ha-e-lo-HEEM ha-a-DEE-reem ha-E-leh, E-leh HEM ha-e-lo-HEEM ha-ma-KEEM et-mitz-RA-yim b'-KOL ma-KAH ba-mid-BAR

חא֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ מִ֣י יַצִּילֵ֔נוּ מִיַּ֛ד הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים הָאַדִּירִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה אֵ֧לֶּה הֵ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים הַמַּכִּ֧ים אֶת־מִצְרַ֛יִם בְּכׇל־מַכָּ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

9Brace yourselves and be men, O Philistines! Or you will become slaves to the Hebrews as they were slaves to you. Be men and fight!”

hi-t'cha-Z'-KU vi-h'-yu la-a-na-SHEEM p'-lish-TIM, PEN ta-a-v'-DU la-i-v'-REEM, ka-a-SHER a-v'-DU la-KHEM, vi-h'-yi-TEM la-a-na-SHEEM vi-nil-chaM'-TEM

טהִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ וִֽהְי֤וּ לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ לָֽעִבְרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבְד֖וּ לָכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃

10The Philistines fought; Yisrael was routed, and they all fled to their homes. The defeat was very great, thirty thousand foot soldiers of Yisrael fell there.

vai-yi-la-kha-MU p'-lish-TIM, vai-n'-GEF yis-ra-AYL, vai-ya-NU-su ish l'-o-ha-LAV, va-TE-hi ha-ma-KAH g'-DO-la m'-OD, vai-YI-pol mi-yis-ra-AYL sh'-lo-SHEEM e-LEF rag-LEE

יוַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיִּנָּ֤גֶף יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וַיָּנֻ֙סוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְאֹהָלָ֔יו וַתְּהִ֥י הַמַּכָּ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּפֹּל֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף רַגְלִֽי׃

11The Aron of Hashem was captured, and Eli's two sons, Chofni and Pinchas, were slain.

va-a-RON e-lo-HEEM nil-KACH u-sh'-NAY v'-nay e-LEE may-TOO kho-f'-NEE u-fee-N'-KHAS

יאוַאֲר֥וֹן אֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָ֑ח וּשְׁנֵ֤י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִי֙ מֵ֔תוּ חׇפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃

12A Binyaminite ran from the battlefield and reached Shilo the same day; his clothes were rent and there was earth on his head.

vai-YA-retz eesh-bi-NYA-min me-ha-ma-a-RA-khah, vai-ya-VO shee-LO ba-YOM ha-HU, u-ma-DA-yav k'-ru-EEM, va-a-da-MAH al-RO-sho

יבוַיָּ֤רׇץ אִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִן֙ מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שִׁלֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וּמַדָּ֣יו קְרֻעִ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃

13When he arrived, he found Eli sitting on a seat, waiting beside the road—his heart trembling for the Aron of Hashem. The man entered the city to spread the news, and the whole city broke out in a cry.

va-ya-VO v'-hi-NAY ay-LEE yo-SHAYV al ha-ki-SAY YAD DE-rekh m'-tza-PEH kee ha-YAH li-BO kha-RAYD AL a-RON ha-e-lo-HEEM v'-ha-EESH BA l'-ha-GEED ba-EER va-tiz-AK kol ha-EER

יגוַיָּב֗וֹא וְהִנֵּ֣ה עֵ֠לִ֠י יֹשֵׁ֨ב עַֽל־הַכִּסֵּ֜א (יך) [יַ֥ד] דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ מְצַפֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־הָיָ֤ה לִבּוֹ֙ חָרֵ֔ד עַ֖ל אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְהָאִ֗ישׁ בָּ֚א לְהַגִּ֣יד בָּעִ֔יר וַתִּזְעַ֖ק כׇּל־הָעִֽיר׃

 4:13   The whole city broke out in a cry

After the terrible battlefield loss to the Philistines, a man from the tribe of Binyamin runs to Shilo to deliver the news to Eli. Rashi reports a tradition that this man was none other than Shaul, who would later be selected as the first king of Israel. This is significant, as leaders of Israel are often military men. For example, Avraham (see Genesis 14, which describes the war he fought to save his nephew Lot), Moshe (see Numbers 21, where he leads Israel in battle against Sihon and Og) and Yehoshua were all spiritual and military figures. Fighting just wars is an imperative, and it is the responsibility of the Israelite leader to lead his troops into battle. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the first king of Israel is also a soldier.

14And when Eli heard the sound of the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” the man rushed over to tell Eli.

vai-YISH-ma e-LEE et-KOL ha-tze-a-KAH, vai-YO-mer MEH KOL he-ha-MON ha-ZEH, v'-ha-EESH mi-HAR, vai-YA-vo vai-YA-ged l'-e-LEE

ידוַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע עֵלִי֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַצְּעָקָ֔ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֶ֛ה ק֥וֹל הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה וְהָאִ֣ישׁ מִהַ֔ר וַיָּבֹ֖א וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לְעֵלִֽי׃

15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes were fixed in a blind stare.

v'-E-li ben-tish-EEM u-sh'-MO-neh sha-NAH v'-ei-NAV ka-MAH v'-lo ya-KHOL lir-Ot

טווְעֵלִ֕י בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה וְעֵינָ֣יו קָ֔מָה וְלֹ֥א יָכ֖וֹל לִרְאֽוֹת׃

16The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battlefield; I have just fled from the battlefield.” [Eli] asked, “What happened, my son?”

vai-YO-mer ha-EESH el E-li: a-NO-khee ha-BA min ha-ma-a-ra-KHA, va-a-NEE min ha-ma-a-ra-KHA nas-TEE ha-YOM, vai-YO-mer meh-ha-YAH ha-DA-var b'-NEE

טזוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִ֜ישׁ אֶל־עֵלִ֗י אָֽנֹכִי֙ הַבָּ֣א מִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָ֔ה וַאֲנִ֕י מִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָ֖ה נַ֣סְתִּי הַיּ֑וֹם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מֶה־הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּנִֽי׃

17The bearer of the news replied, “Yisrael fled before the Philistines and the troops also suffered a great slaughter. Your two sons, Chofni and Pinchas, are dead, and the Aron of Hashem has been captured.”

vai-YA-an ha-m'-va-SAYR va-YO-mer NAS yis-ra-AYL lif-NAY p'-lish-TEEM v'-GAM ma-GAY-fah g'-do-LAH ha-Y'-ta va-AM v'-GAM sh'-NAY va-NE-kha MAY-tu kha-f'-NEE u-fi-N'-KHAS va-a-ROHN ha-e-lo-HEEM nil-ka-KHAH

יזוַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וְגַ֛ם מַגֵּפָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה הָיְתָ֣ה בָעָ֑ם וְגַם־שְׁנֵ֨י בָנֶ֜יךָ מֵ֗תוּ חׇפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס וַאֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נִלְקָֽחָה׃

18When he mentioned the Aron of Hashem, [Eli] fell backward off the seat beside the gate, broke his neck and died; for he was an old man and heavy. He had been a chieftain of Yisrael for forty years.

vai-HI k'-ha-z'-KI-ro et a-RON ha-e-lo-HEEM va-YI-pol may-al ha-ki-SAY a-KHO-ra-NEET b'-AD yad ha-sha-AR va-ti-sha-VAYR maf-RAK-to va-YA-mot kee-za-KAYN ha-EESH v'-ka-VAYD v'-HU sha-FAT et yis-ra-AYL ar-ba-EEM sha-NAH

יחוַיְהִ֞י כְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ ׀ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיִּפֹּ֣ל מֵֽעַל־הַ֠כִּסֵּ֠א אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית בְּעַ֣ד ׀ יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֗עַר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת כִּֽי־זָקֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ וְכָבֵ֑ד וְה֛וּא שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃

19His daughter-in-law, the wife of Pinchas, was with child, about to give birth. When she heard the report that the Aron of Hashem was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she was seized with labor pains, and she crouched down and gave birth.

v'-kha-LA-to e-SHET pi-N'-khas ha-RA la-LAT va-tish-MA et ha-sh'-mu-AH el hi-la-KH a-RON ha-e-lo-HEEM u-MET kha-MI-ha v'-i-SHAH va-tikh-RA va-tay-LED ki-nef-KHU a-LE-ha tzi-RE-ha

יטוְכַלָּת֣וֹ אֵשֶׁת־פִּֽינְחָס֮ הָרָ֣ה לָלַת֒ וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־הַשְּׁמוּעָ֔ה אֶל־הִלָּקַח֙ אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וּמֵ֥ת חָמִ֖יהָ וְאִישָׁ֑הּ וַתִּכְרַ֣ע וַתֵּ֔לֶד כִּֽי־נֶהֶפְכ֥וּ עָלֶ֖יהָ צִרֶֽיהָ׃

20As she lay dying, the women attending her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not respond or pay heed.

u-k'-AYT mo-TAH va-t'-da-bayr-NAH ha-ni-tza-VOT a-LE-ha al-ti-ri KI vayn ya-la-D'-t v'-lo a-n'-TAH v'-lo-SHA-tah li-BAH

כוּכְעֵ֣ת מוּתָ֗הּ וַתְּדַבֵּ֙רְנָה֙ הַנִּצָּב֣וֹת עָלֶ֔יהָ אַל־תִּֽירְאִ֖י כִּ֣י בֵ֣ן יָלָ֑דְתְּ וְלֹ֥א עָנְתָ֖ה וְלֹא־שָׁ֥תָה לִבָּֽהּ׃

21She named the boy Ichabod, meaning, “The glory has departed from Yisrael”—referring to the capture of the Aron of Hashem and to [the death of] her father-in-law and her husband.

va-tik-RA la-NA-ar i-KHA-vod lay-MOR: ga-LAH ka-VOD mi-yis-ra-AYL el hi-la-KHAKH a-ron ha-e-lo-HEEM v'-el kha-MI-ha v'-i-SHAH

כאוַתִּקְרָ֣א לַנַּ֗עַר אִֽיכָבוֹד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר גָּלָ֥ה כָב֖וֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֶל־הִלָּקַח֙ אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאֶל־חָמִ֖יהָ וְאִישָֽׁהּ׃

22“The glory is gone from Yisrael,” she said, “for the Aron of Hashem has been captured.”

va-TO-mer ga-LAH ka-VOD mi-yis-ra-AYL, KEE nil-KAKH a-ROHN ha-e-lo-HEEM.

כבוַתֹּ֕אמֶר גָּלָ֥ה כָב֖וֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֥י נִלְקַ֖ח אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃