TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
II - Chapter 7
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1And Elisha replied, “Hear the word of Hashem. Thus said Hashem: This time tomorrow, a se'ah of choice flour shall sell for a shekel at the gate of Shomron, and two se'eem of barley for a shekel.”
vai-YO-mer e-li-SHA, shim-U d'-var a-do-NAI, KOH a-MAR a-do-NAI, ka-AYT ma-KHAR, s'-AH-SO-let b'-she-KEL, v'-sa-TA-yim se-o-REEM b'-she-KEL, b'-sha-AR shom-RON
אוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע שִׁמְע֖וּ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה כָּעֵ֤ת ׀ מָחָר֙ סְאָה־סֹ֣לֶת בְּשֶׁ֗קֶל וְסָאתַ֧יִם שְׂעֹרִ֛ים בְּשֶׁ֖קֶל בְּשַׁ֥עַר שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃
2The aide on whose arm the king was leaning spoke up and said to the man of Hashem, “Even if Hashem were to make windows in the sky, could this come to pass?” And he retorted, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
vai-YA-an ha-sha-LEESH a-SHER la-ME-lekh nish-AAN al-YA-do et EESH ha-e-lo-HEEM, va-YO-mer: hi-NEH a-do-NAI o-SEH a-ru-VOT ba-sha-MA-yim, ha-YI-yeh ha-DA-var ha-ZEH? va-YO-mer: hi-NE-kha ro-EH b'-ay-NE-kha, u-mi-sham lo to-KHEL. (Pe)
בוַיַּ֣עַן הַשָּׁלִ֡ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־לַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩ נִשְׁעָ֨ן עַל־יָד֜וֹ אֶת־אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ הִנֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה עֹשֶׂ֤ה אֲרֻבּוֹת֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם הֲיִֽהְיֶ֖ה הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנְּכָ֤ה רֹאֶה֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽל׃
3There were four men, lepers, outside the gate. They said to one another, “Why should we sit here waiting for death?
v'-ar-ba-AH a-na-SHEEM ha-YU m'-tzo-ra-EEM PE-takh ha-SHA-ar va-yo-m'-RU EESH el ray-AY-hu MAH a-NAKH-nu yo-sh'-VEEM POH ad MAT-nu
גוְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה אֲנָשִׁ֛ים הָי֥וּ מְצֹרָעִ֖ים פֶּ֣תַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֔הוּ מָ֗ה אֲנַ֛חְנוּ יֹשְׁבִ֥ים פֹּ֖ה עַד־מָֽתְנוּ׃
7:3 There were four men, lepers, outside the gate.
Israeli postage stamp honoring Rabbi Aryeh Levin (1885-1969) circa 1982
One of the most righteous and pious Jerusalemites of the 20th century, Rabbi Aryeh Levin (1885-1969), was beloved for his visits to the sick. Rabbi Levin would go to the hospitals of Jerusalem every Friday and speak with the nurses to find out which patients received no visitors. At the beds of these forgotten souls whom no relatives came to see, he would sit for hours, caressing each one’s hand and offering words of encouragement and cheer. He was also a frequent visitor at hospitals for lepers, including a hospital in Bethlehem where most of the patients were Arabs. Rabbi Levin began this practice after he had found a woman weeping bitterly by the Western Wall. He asked her, “what makes you cry so intensely?” She explained that her child had no cure, and was locked up in the leper hospital. Rabbi Levin immediately decided to visit the young child, and when he arrived, all the patients burst into tears. It had been years since they had the privilege of seeing a visitor from the outside world.
4If we decide to go into the town, what with the famine in the town, we shall die there; and if we just sit here, still we die. Come, let us desert to the Aramean camp. If they let us live, we shall live; and if they put us to death, we shall but die.”
im-a-MAR-nu NA-vo ha-IR v'-ha-RAV ba-IR va-mat-NU SHAM v'-im-ya-SHAV-nu PO va-mat-NU v'-a-TAH le-KHU v'-ni-p'-LAH el-ma-cha-NEH a-RAM im-ye-cha-YU-nu ni-KHE-yeh v'-im-ye-mi-TU-nu va-mat-NU
דאִם־אָמַ֩רְנוּ֩ נָב֨וֹא הָעִ֜יר וְהָרָעָ֤ב בָּעִיר֙ וָמַ֣תְנוּ שָׁ֔ם וְאִם־יָשַׁ֥בְנוּ פֹ֖ה וָמָ֑תְנוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה לְכוּ֙ וְנִפְּלָה֙ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם אִם־יְחַיֻּ֣נוּ נִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְאִם־יְמִיתֻ֖נוּ וָמָֽתְנוּ׃
5They set out at twilight for the Aramean camp; but when they came to the edge of the Aramean camp, there was no one there.
vai-YA-koo-MU va-NE-shaf la-VO el ma-cha-NEH a-RAM, vai-ya-VO-u ad k'-TZEH ma-cha-NEH a-RAM, v'-hi-NEH AYN-sham EESH
הוַיָּקֻ֣מוּ בַנֶּ֔שֶׁף לָב֖וֹא אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ עַד־קְצֵה֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵֽין־שָׁ֖ם אִֽישׁ׃
6For Hashem had caused the Aramean camp to hear a sound of chariots, a sound of horses—the din of a huge army. They said to one another, “The king of Yisrael must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Mizraim to attack us!”
va-a-do-NAI his-MEE-a et ma-kha-NEH a-RAM, KOL re-KHEV, KOL SUS, KOL kha-YIL ga-DOL, va-YO-mer-U, EESH el a-KHEEV, hi-NEH sa-KHAR a-LE-nu me-lekh yis-ra-AYL et mal-KAY ha-KHEE-teem, v'-et mal-KAY mitz-RA-yim la-VO o-LE-nu.
ווַאדֹנָ֞י הִשְׁמִ֣יעַ ׀ אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֗ם ק֥וֹל רֶ֙כֶב֙ ק֣וֹל ס֔וּס ק֖וֹל חַ֣יִל גָּד֑וֹל וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֗יו הִנֵּ֣ה שָֽׂכַר־עָלֵ֩ינוּ֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־מַלְכֵ֧י הַֽחִתִּ֛ים וְאֶת־מַלְכֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם לָב֥וֹא עָלֵֽינוּ׃
7And they fled headlong in the twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and asses—the [entire] camp just as it was—as they fled for their lives.
va-ya-ku-MU va-ya-NU-su va-NE-shef va-ya-az-VU et o-ha-lay-HEM v'-ET su-say-HEM v'-et kha-MO-ray-HEM ha-ma-kha-NEH ka-a-SHER HEE va-ya-NU-su el naf-SHAM
זוַיָּק֘וּמוּ֮ וַיָּנ֣וּסוּ בַנֶּ֒שֶׁף֒ וַיַּעַזְב֣וּ אֶת־אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־סֽוּסֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־חֲמֹ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁר־הִ֑יא וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ אֶל־נַפְשָֽׁם׃
7:7 And they fled headlong in the twilight
Rabbi Shlomo Goren (1917-1994), Cheif Rabbi of the IDF
The enemies of Israel miraculously flee, abandoning their entire camp. Similarly, there have been times in the State of Israel’s history where the enemy fled before engaging the Israel Defense Forces. A famous example occurred during the Six Day War, when IDF Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren and his driver single-handedly captured the holy city of Chevron. When they drove into Chevron, mistakenly thinking IDF soldiers were already there, they were greeted with a city full of white flags and empty of soldiers. Hashem’s miracles are always in evidence among the soldiers of Israel.
8When those lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into one of the tents and ate and drank; then they carried off silver and gold and clothing from there and buried it. They came back and went into another tent, and they carried off what was there and buried it.
va-ya-VO-u ha-m'tzo-RA-eem ha-E-leh ad k'-TZAY ha-ma-cha-NEH va-ya-VO-u el o-HEL e-KHAD va-yo-KH'-lu va-yish-TOO va-yi-S'-U mi-SHAM ke-SEF v'-za-HAV u-ve-GA-deem va-YEL-khu va-ya-T'-MI-nu va-ya-SHU-vu va-ya-VO-u el o-HEL a-KHER va-yi-S'-U mi-SHAM va-YEL-khu va-ya-T'-MI-nu
חוַיָּבֹ֩אוּ֩ הַֽמְצֹרָעִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה עַד־קְצֵ֣ה הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־אֹ֤הֶל אֶחָד֙ וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֗ם כֶּ֤סֶף וְזָהָב֙ וּבְגָדִ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ וַיַּטְמִ֑נוּ וַיָּשֻׁ֗בוּ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל אַחֵ֔ר וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ וַיַּטְמִֽנוּ׃
9Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, and we are keeping silent! If we wait until the light of morning, we shall incur guilt. Come, let us go and inform the king's palace.”
va-yo-M'ru, eesh el ray-E-hu, lo-KHEN, a-naKH-nu o-SEEM ha-YOM ha-ZEH, YOM b'-so-RAH HU, va-a-naKH-nu ma-KH'-sheem v'-khee-NOO ad-or ha-BO-ker, u-m'-tza-NU a-VON, v'-a-TAH, l'-KHU v'-na-BO-a, v'-na-GEE-da, bayt ha-ME-lekh.
טוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֜הוּ לֹא־כֵ֣ן ׀ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹשִׂ֗ים הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ יוֹם־בְּשֹׂרָ֣ה ה֔וּא וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ מַחְשִׁ֗ים וְחִכִּ֛ינוּ עַד־א֥וֹר הַבֹּ֖קֶר וּמְצָאָ֣נוּ עָו֑וֹן וְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ וְנָבֹ֔אָה וְנַגִּ֖ידָה בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
10They went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We have been to the Aramean camp. There is not a soul there, nor any human sound; but the horses are tethered and the asses are tethered and the tents are undisturbed.”
vai-ya-VO-u vai-yik-RE-u el sho-ER ha-IR, vai-ya-GI-du la-HEM lay-MOR: BA-nu el ma-cha-NEH a-RAM, v'-hi-NEH AYN-sham EESH v'-KOL a-DAM, KI im-ha-SUS a-SUR v'-ha-cha-MOR a-SUR v'-o-ha-LEEM ka-a-SHER-h'-MAH
יוַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֮ אֶל־שֹׁעֵ֣ר הָעִיר֒ וַיַּגִּ֤ידוּ לָהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֚אנוּ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם וְהִנֵּ֧ה אֵֽין־שָׁ֛ם אִ֖ישׁ וְק֣וֹל אָדָ֑ם כִּ֣י אִם־הַסּ֤וּס אָסוּר֙ וְהַחֲמ֣וֹר אָס֔וּר וְאֹהָלִ֖ים כַּאֲשֶׁר־הֵֽמָּה׃
11The gatekeepers called out, and the news was passed on into the king's palace.
vai-YIK-ra ha-sho-a-REEM, va-ya-GI-du bayt ha-ME-lekh pe-NEE-mah
יאוַיִּקְרָ֖א הַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ פְּנִֽימָה׃
12The king rose in the night and said to his courtiers, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are starving, so they have gone out of camp and hidden in the fields, thinking: When they come out of the town, we will take them alive and get into the town.”
vai-YA-kom ha-ME-lekh la-YE-lah va-YO-mer el a-va-DAV a-gi-DA-na LA-khem et a-SHER a-SU LA-nu a-RAM, ya-D'-U kee-re-E-vim a-na-KH-nu va-YAY-tzu min ha-ma-cha-NEH le-he-KHA-veh ba-SA-deh lay-MOR: kee yay-tzu min ha-EER ve-nit-p'-SEM kha-YEEM ve-el ha-EER na-VO
יבוַיָּ֨קׇם הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַ֗יְלָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֔יו אַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥שׂוּ לָ֖נוּ אֲרָ֑ם יָדְע֞וּ כִּֽי־רְעֵבִ֣ים אֲנַ֗חְנוּ וַיֵּֽצְא֤וּ מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ לְהֵחָבֵ֤ה (בהשדה) [בַשָּׂדֶה֙] לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּֽי־יֵצְא֤וּ מִן־הָעִיר֙ וְנִתְפְּשֵׂ֣ם חַיִּ֔ים וְאֶל־הָעִ֖יר נָבֹֽא׃
13But one of the courtiers spoke up, “Let a few of the remaining horses that are still here be taken—they are like those that are left here of the whole multitude of Yisrael, out of the whole multitude of Yisrael that have perished—and let us send and find out.”
vai-YA-an e-KHAD may-a-va-DAV va-YO-mer v'-yik-KHU-na kha-mi-SHA min ha-su-SEE-eem ha-nish-a-REEM a-SHER nish-a-ROO-va-HA, hi-NAM k'-KOL ha-ha-MON yis-ra-AYL a-SHER nish-a-ROO-va-HA, hi-NAM k'-KOL ha-ha-MON yis-ra-AYL a-SHER-ta-MU, v'-nish-le-KHA v'-nir-EH
יגוַיַּ֩עַן֩ אֶחָ֨ד מֵעֲבָדָ֜יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וְיִקְחוּ־נָ֞א חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה מִן־הַסּוּסִים֮ הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָהּ֒ הִנָּ֗ם כְּכׇל־[הֲמ֤וֹן] (ההמון) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָ֔הּ הִנָּ֕ם כְּכׇל־הֲמ֥וֹן יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־תָּ֑מּוּ וְנִשְׁלְחָ֖ה וְנִרְאֶֽה׃
14They took two teams of horses and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and find out.”
vai-YIKH-khu sh'-NAY re-KHEV su-SIM, vai-YISH-lakh ha-ME-lekh a-kha-RAY ma-kha-NEH a-RAM, lay-MOR: le-KHU u-re-U
ידוַיִּקְח֕וּ שְׁנֵ֖י רֶ֣כֶב סוּסִ֑ים וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אַחֲרֵ֧י מַֽחֲנֵה־אֲרָ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר לְכ֥וּ וּרְאֽוּ׃
15They followed them as far as the Yarden, and found the entire road full of clothing and gear which the Arameans had thrown away in their haste; and the messengers returned and told the king.
vai-YEL-khu a-kha-RAY-hem ad ha-YAR-den, v'-hi-NEH kol ha-DE-rekh me-le-AH b'-ga-DIM v'-k'-LEEM a-SHER hish-LEE-khu a-RAM (b'-kho-f'-ZAM) [b'-kho-f'-ZAM], va-ya-SHU-vu ha-mal-a-KHEEM va-ya-GI-du la-ME-lekh
טווַיֵּלְכ֣וּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם֮ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ וְהִנֵּ֣ה כׇל־הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ מְלֵאָ֤ה בְגָדִים֙ וְכֵלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִ֥יכוּ אֲרָ֖ם (בהחפזם) [בְּחׇפְזָ֑ם] וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
16The people then went out and plundered the Aramean camp. So a se'ah of choice flour sold for a shekel, and two se'eem of barley for a shekel—as Hashem had spoken.
vai-YAY-tzay ha-AM va-ya-BO-zu et ma-kha-NEH a-RAM, vai-Y'-hee s'-AH-SO-let b'-she-KEL, v'-sa-TA-yim s'-o-REEM b'-she-KEL, kid-VAR a-do-NAI.
טזוַיֵּצֵ֣א הָעָ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֕זּוּ אֵ֖ת מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיְהִ֨י סְאָה־סֹ֜לֶת בְּשֶׁ֗קֶל וְסָאתַ֧יִם שְׂעֹרִ֛ים בְּשֶׁ֖קֶל כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃
17Now the king had put the aide on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate; and he was trampled to death in the gate by the people—just as the man of Hashem had spoken, as he had spoken when the king came down to him.
v'-ha-ME-lekh hi-F'-kid et ha-SHA-leesh a-SHER nish-AAN al-ya-DO al ha-SHA-ar va-yir-m'-SU-hu ha-AM ba-SHA-ar va-ya-MOT ka-a-SHER di-BER ish ha-e-lo-HEEM a-SHER di-BER b'-RE-det ha-ME-lekh e-LA-yu
יזוְהַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩ הִפְקִ֨יד אֶת־הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁעָ֤ן עַל־יָדוֹ֙ עַל־הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּרְמְסֻ֧הוּ הָעָ֛ם בַּשַּׁ֖עַר וַיָּמֹ֑ת כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר דִּבֶּר֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר בְּרֶ֥דֶת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵלָֽיו׃
18For when the man of Hashem said to the king, “This time tomorrow two se'eem of barley shall sell at the gate of Shomron for a shekel, and a se'ah of choice flour for a shekel,”
vai-HI k'-da-BAYR eesh ha-e-lo-HEEM el ha-ME-lekh lay-MOR: sa-TA-yim se-o-REEM b'-she-KEL u-se-a SO-let b'-she-KEL yi-h'-YE k'-AYT ma-KHAR b'-sha-AR sho-M'-RON
יחוַיְהִ֗י כְּדַבֵּר֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר סָאתַ֨יִם שְׂעֹרִ֜ים בְּשֶׁ֗קֶל וּֽסְאָה־סֹ֙לֶת֙ בְּשֶׁ֔קֶל יִֽהְיֶה֙ כָּעֵ֣ת מָחָ֔ר בְּשַׁ֖עַר שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃
19the aide answered the man of Hashem and said, “Even if Hashem made windows in the sky, could this come to pass?” And he retorted, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
vai-YA-an ha-sha-LEESH et EESH ha-e-lo-HEEM va-YO-mer, v'-hi-NEH a-do-NAI o-SEH a-ru-VOT ba-sha-MA-yim, ha-y'-HEH ka-da-VAR ha-ZEH? va-YO-mer, hi-N'-KHA ro-EH b'-ay-NE-kha, u-mi-sham lo to-KHEL.
יטוַיַּ֨עַן הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ אֶת־אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ וְהִנֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה עֹשֶׂ֤ה אֲרֻבּוֹת֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם הֲיִֽהְיֶ֖ה כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנְּךָ֤ רֹאֶה֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽל׃
20That is exactly what happened to him: The people trampled him to death in the gate.
vai-HI lo KEN, va-yir-M'-SU o-TO ha-AHM ba-SHA-ar, va-YA-mot. (S)
כוַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ כֵּ֑ן וַיִּרְמְס֨וּ אֹת֥וֹ הָעָ֛ם בַּשַּׁ֖עַר וַיָּמֹֽת׃
