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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 41

Translation and Transliteration of 

1In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, who was of royal descent and one of the king's commanders, came with ten men to Gedalya son of Achikam at Mitzpa; and they ate together there at Mitzpa.

vai-Y'-hee ba-KHO-desh ha-sh'-vee-EE, ba YISH-ma-AYL ben ne-TAN-ya ben e-li-SHA-ma miz-ZE-ra ha-m'-LU-kha, v'-ra-BAY ha-ME-lekh, va-a-SA-ra a-na-SHEEM i-TO el g'-da-LI-a-HU ben a-khee-KAM ha-mit-SPA-ta, va-YO-kh'-lu SHAM le-KHEM ya-kh'-DAV ba-mit-SPA.

אוַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י בָּ֣א יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֣ה בֶן־אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע מִזֶּ֣רַע הַ֠מְּלוּכָ֠ה וְרַבֵּ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אִתּ֛וֹ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וַיֹּ֨אכְלוּ שָׁ֥ם לֶ֛חֶם יַחְדָּ֖ו בַּמִּצְפָּֽה׃

2Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and struck down Gedalya son of Achikam son of Shafan with the sword and killed him, because the king of Babylon had put him in charge of the land.

va-YA-kom yish-ma-AYL ben n'-tan-YAH va-a-SE-ret ha-a-na-SHEEM a-sher ha-YU i-TO va-ya-KU et g'-dal-YA-hu ven a-khee-KAM ben sha-FAN ba-KHE-rev va-YA-met o-TO a-sher hif-KEED me-lekh ba-VEL ba-A-retz

בוַיָּ֩קׇם֩ יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֜ה וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֣ים ׀ אֲשֶׁר־הָי֣וּ אִתּ֗וֹ וַ֠יַּכּ֠וּ אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֧ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֛ן בַּחֶ֖רֶב וַיָּ֣מֶת אֹת֑וֹ אֲשֶׁר־הִפְקִ֥יד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

 41:2   And struck down Gedalya

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865-1935)

Gedalya son of Achikam is appointed by the Babylonians as governor of Yehuda after the destruction of Yerushalayim. A small band of Jewish fanatics, led by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, take advantage of Gedalya’s hospitality and assassinate him on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. As a result, the few Jews remaining in Israel flee to Egypt to avoid the vengeance of the Babylonian army, ridding the Holy Land of a Jewish presence for the remainder of the Babylonian exile. The death of the last Jewish leader in Israel marked the end of the First Israelite Commonwealth. Since then, for over two thousand years, Jews have fasted in commemoration of Gedalyah’s death on the day after Rosh Hashana, to remind them how hatred and zealousness cost them their sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook taught that since Yerushalayim was destroyed on account of hatred and factionalism (Yoma 9b), it is through love and kindness that the Jews will return to the land and the Beit Hamikdash will be rebuilt.

3Ishmael also killed all the Judeans who were with him—with Gedalya in Mitzpa—and the Chaldean soldiers who were stationed there.

v'-ET kol ha-y'-hu-DEEM a-SHER ha-YU i-TO et g'-da-la-YA-hu ba-mit-SPA v'-ET ha-kas-DEEM a-SHER nim-tze-U-sham, et an-SHAY ha-mil-kha-MAH hi-KA yi-sh'-MA-eL

גוְאֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר־הָי֨וּ אִתּ֤וֹ אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה וְאֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצְאוּ־שָׁ֑ם אֵ֚ת אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הִכָּ֖ה יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃

4The second day after Gedalya was killed, when no one yet knew about it,

vai-HI ba-YOM ha-SHE-ni l'-ha-MEET et g'-da-lya-HU v'-ISH lo ya-DA

דוַיְהִ֛י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשֵּׁנִ֖י לְהָמִ֣ית אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֑הוּ וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א יָדָֽע׃

5eighty men came from Shechem, Shilo, and Shomron, their beards shaved, their garments torn, and their bodies gashed, carrying meal offerings and frankincense to present at the House of Hashem.

va-ya-VO-u a-NA-sheem mi-SHE-khem mi-SHI-lo u-mi-sho-ME-ron, sh'-mo-NEEM EESH me-gul-le-KHEI za-KAN u-k'-ru-EI ve-ga-DEEM u-mit-go-DED-eem, u-mi-N'-cha u-l'-vo-NAH b'-ya-DAM l'-ha-VEE bayt a-do-NAI.

הוַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֲ֠נָשִׁ֠ים מִשְּׁכֶ֞ם מִשִּׁל֤וֹ וּמִשֹּֽׁמְרוֹן֙ שְׁמֹנִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ מְגֻלְּחֵ֥י זָקָ֛ן וּקְרֻעֵ֥י בְגָדִ֖ים וּמִתְגֹּֽדְדִ֑ים וּמִנְחָ֤ה וּלְבוֹנָה֙ בְּיָדָ֔ם לְהָבִ֖יא בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

6Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mitzpa to meet them, weeping as he walked. As he met them, he said to them, “Come to Gedalya son of Achikam.”

vai-YAY-tzay yish-ma-AYL ben ne-tan-YAH lik-ra-TAM min ha-mitz-PAH ho-LEKH ha-LOKH u-BO-khe va-Y'-hee ki-F'-gosh o-TAM va-YO-mer a-LE-hem BO-u el g'-dal-YA-hu ben a-khi-KHAM

ווַ֠יֵּצֵ֠א יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֤ה לִקְרָאתָם֙ מִן־הַמִּצְפָּ֔ה הֹלֵ֥ךְ הָלֹ֖ךְ וּבֹכֶ֑ה וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּפְגֹ֣שׁ אֹתָ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם בֹּ֖אוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָֽם׃

7When they came inside the town, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them [and threw their bodies] into a cistern.

vai-HI k'-vo-AM el tokh ha-EER va-yish-KHA-tem yish-ma-AYL ben ne-tan-YA el tokh ha-BOR, HU v'-ha-a-na-SHEEM a-SHER i-TO

זוַיְהִ֕י כְּבוֹאָ֖ם אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֞ם יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָה֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַבּ֔וֹר ה֖וּא וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּֽוֹ׃

8But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Don't kill us! We have stores hidden in a field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey.” So he stopped, and did not kill them along with their fellows.—

va-a-sa-RAH a-na-SHEEM nim-tze-U-bam va-yo-MER-u el yish-ma-EYL al-t'-mi-TE-nu, kee-yesh-la-NU mat-mo-NEEM ba-sa-DEH, khee-TEEM u-s'-o-REEM v'-she-MEN u-d'-VASH, va-yeh-DAL v'-lo he-MEE-tam b'-to-KH a-kh'-AY-hem.

חוַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה אֲנָשִׁ֜ים נִמְצְאוּ־בָ֗ם וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֶל־יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ אַל־תְּמִתֵ֔נוּ כִּֽי־יֶשׁ־לָ֤נוּ מַטְמֹנִים֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה חִטִּ֥ים וּשְׂעֹרִ֖ים וְשֶׁ֣מֶן וּדְבָ֑שׁ וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל וְלֹ֥א הֱמִיתָ֖ם בְּת֥וֹךְ אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃

9The cistern into which Ishmael threw all the corpses of the men he had killed in the affair of Gedalya was the one that King Asa had constructed on account of King Basha of Yisrael. That was the one which Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled with corpses.—

v'-ha-BOR a-SHER hi-SLIKH sham yish-ma-EEL et kol-pi-GREI ha-a-NA-shim a-SHER hi-KHA b'-yad-g'-da-LYAHU, HU a-SHER a-SA ha-ME-lekh a-SA mi-p'-NEI ba-a-SHA me-lekh-yis-ra-AYL, o-TO mi-LE yish-ma-EEL ben-ne-tan-YAHU kha-la-LEEM.

טוְהַבּ֗וֹר אֲשֶׁר֩ הִשְׁלִ֨יךְ שָׁ֤ם יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ אֵ֣ת ׀ כׇּל־פִּגְרֵ֣י הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִכָּה֙ בְּיַד־גְּדַלְיָ֔הוּ ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָסָ֔א מִפְּנֵ֖י בַּעְשָׁ֣א מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֹת֗וֹ מִלֵּ֛א יִשְׁמָעֵ֥אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֖הוּ חֲלָלִֽים׃

10Ishmael carried off all the rest of the people who were in Mitzpa, including the daughters of the king—all the people left in Mitzpa, over whom Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, had appointed Gedalya son of Achikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah carried them off, and set out to cross over to the Amonites.

vai-yish-BAY yish-ma-AYL et-KOL she-a-REET ha-AM a-SHER ba-mitz-PAH et b'-NOT ha-ME-lekh v'-et-KOL ha-AM ha-nish-a-REEM ba-mitz-PAH a-SHER hif-KEED ne-vu-ZAR-a-DAN rav-ta-BA-kheem et ge-da-lya-HU ben a-khee-KAM vai-yish-BAYM yish-ma-AYL ben ne-tan-YA vai-YAY-lekh la-a-VOR el b'-NAY a-MON.

יוַיִּ֣שְׁבְּ ׀ יִ֠שְׁמָעֵ֠אל אֶת־כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִ֨ית הָעָ֜ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּמִּצְפָּ֗ה אֶת־בְּנ֤וֹת הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָעָם֙ הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִפְקִ֗יד נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ רַב־טַבָּחִ֔ים אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֑ם וַיִּשְׁבֵּם֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔ה וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ לַעֲבֹ֖ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן׃

11Yochanan son of Kareah, and all the army officers with him, heard of all the crimes committed by Ishmael son of Nethaniah.

vai-YISH-ma YO-kha-NAN ben-ka-RAY-a, v'-kol sa-RAY ha-kha-YA-leem a-SHER i-TO, AYT kol-ha-ra-AH a-SHER a-SA YISH-ma-EEL ben-ne-ta-NYA

יאוַיִּשְׁמַע֙ יוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וְכׇל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַחֲיָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ אֵ֤ת כׇּל־הָרָעָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָֽה׃

12They took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah; and they encountered him by the great pool in Givon.

vai-YIKH-khu et-KOL ha-a-na-SHEEM va-YEL-khu l'-hi-la-KHEM im yish-ma-AYL ben ne-tan-YA, va-yim-TZE-u o-TO el-MA-yim ra-BEEM a-SHER b'-gi-v'-ON.

יבוַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עִם־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֑ה וַיִּמְצְא֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ אֶל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃

13When all the people held by Ishmael saw Yochanan son of Kareah and all the army officers with him, they were glad;

vai-HI, kir-OT kol ha-AHM, a-SHER et yish-ma-AYL, et yo-kha-NAN ben ka-RAY-akh, v'-AYT kol sa-RAY ha-kha-ya-LEEM, a-SHER i-TO, va-yis-ma-KHU

יגוַיְהִ֗י כִּרְא֤וֹת כׇּל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל אֶת־יֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַחֲיָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיִּשְׂמָֽחוּ׃

14all the people whom Ishmael had carried off from Mitzpa turned back and went over to Yochanan son of Kareah.

vai-ya-SO-vu kol-ha-AM a-SHER sha-VAH yish-ma-EYL min ha-mitz-PAH vai-YA-shu-VU vai-YEL-khu el yo-KHA-nan ben-ka-RE-akh

ידוַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־שָׁבָ֥ה יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל מִן־הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ אֶל־יוֹחָנָ֖ן בֶּן־קָרֵֽחַ׃

15But Ishmael son of Nethaniah escaped from Yochanan with eight men, and went to the Amonites.

v'-yish-ma-E-el ben ne-tan-YAH nim-LAT bi-sh'-mo-NAH a-na-SHEEM mi-p'-NEI yo-cha-NAN va-YAY-lekh el b'-NAY a-MON.

טווְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֗ה נִמְלַט֙ בִּשְׁמֹנָ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים מִפְּנֵ֖י יוֹחָנָ֑ן וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן׃

16Yochanan son of Kareah and all the army officers with him took all the rest of the people whom he had rescued from Ishmael son of Nethaniah from Mitzpa after he had murdered Gedalya son of Achikam—the men, soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs whom [Yochanan] had brought back from Givon.

vai-yi-KAKH yo-KHA-nan ben-ka-RAY-akh v'-kol sa-RAY ha-kha-ya-LEEM a-SHER i-TO, et kol sh'-AY-REET ha-AHM a-SHER he-SHEEV may-ET yish-ma-AYL ben-ne-ta-NYAH min ha-mitz-PAH, a-KHAR hi-KAH et g'-da-LYAH ben-a-khee-KAM, g'-va-REEM an-SHAY ha-mil-kha-MAH v'-na-SHEEM v'-TAF v'-sa-REE-SEEM a-SHER he-SHEEV mi-gi-VE-on.

טזוַיִּקַּח֩ יוֹחָנָ֨ן בֶּן־קָרֵ֜חַ וְכׇל־שָׂרֵ֧י הַחֲיָלִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִ֤ית הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵ֠שִׁ֠יב מֵאֵ֨ת יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָה֙ מִן־הַמִּצְפָּ֔ה אַחַ֣ר הִכָּ֔ה אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֖ה בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֑ם גְּבָרִ֞ים אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְנָשִׁ֤ים וְטַף֙ וְסָ֣רִסִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵשִׁ֖יב מִגִּבְעֽוֹן׃

17They set out, and they stopped at Geruth Chimham, near Beit Lechem, on their way to go to Egypt

vai-YEL-khu vai-YESH-vu b'-ge-ROOT (k'-mo-HEM) [k'-m'-HAM] a-SHER ay-TSEL bayt LA-khem la-LE-khet la-VO mitz-RA-yim

יזוַיֵּֽלְכ֗וּ וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּגֵר֣וּת (כמוהם) [כִּמְהָ֔ם] אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֖צֶל בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם לָלֶ֖כֶת לָב֥וֹא מִצְרָֽיִם׃

18because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedalya son of Achikam, whom the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land.

mi-p'-NEI ha-kas-DEEM, kee ya-RE-u mi-p'-NE-hem, kee-hi-KA yish-ma-EEL ben ne-tan-YA, et g'-da-lya-HU ben a-khee-KAM, a-SHER hi-f'-KEED me-lekh ba-VEL ba-A-retz. (P)

יחמִפְּנֵי֙ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים כִּ֥י יָֽרְא֖וּ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־הִכָּ֞ה יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֗ה אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הִפְקִ֥יד מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל בָּאָֽרֶץ׃