Chapter 15

1Some time later, in the season of the wheat harvest, Shimshon came to visit his wife, bringing a kid as a gift. He said, “Let me go into the chamber to my wife.” But her father would not let him go in.

vai-HEE mi-ya-MEEM bee-MAY k'-tzeer khi-TEEM va-yif-KOD shim-SHON et ish-TO big-DEE i-ZEEM va-YO-mer a-VO-ah el ish-TEE he-KHAD-rah v'-lo n'-ta-NO a-VEE-ha la-VO

אוַיְהִ֨י מִיָּמִ֜ים בִּימֵ֣י קְצִיר־חִטִּ֗ים וַיִּפְקֹ֨ד שִׁמְשׁ֤וֹן אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ בִּגְדִ֣י עִזִּ֔ים וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָבֹ֥אָה אֶל־אִשְׁתִּ֖י הֶחָ֑דְרָה וְלֹֽא־נְתָנ֥וֹ אָבִ֖יהָ לָבֽוֹא׃

2“I was sure,” said her father, “that you had taken a dislike to her, so I gave her to your wedding companion. But her younger sister is more beautiful than she; let her become your wife instead.”

va-YO-mer a-VEE-ha a-MOR a-MAR-tee kee sa-NO s'-nay-TAH va-e-t'-NE-nah l'-may-ray-E-kha ha-LO a-kho-TAH ha-k'-ta-NAH to-VAH mi-ME-nah t'-hee NA l'-KHA takh-TE-ha

בוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אָבִ֗יהָ אָמֹ֤ר אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ כִּי־שָׂנֹ֣א שְׂנֵאתָ֔הּ וָאֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה לְמֵרֵעֶ֑ךָ הֲלֹ֨א אֲחוֹתָ֤הּ הַקְּטַנָּה֙ טוֹבָ֣ה מִמֶּ֔נָּה תְּהִי־נָ֥א לְךָ֖ תַּחְתֶּֽיהָ׃

3Thereupon Shimshon declared, “Now the Philistines can have no claim against me for the harm I shall do them.”

va-YO-mer la-HEM shim-SHON ni-KAY-tee ha-PA-am mi-p'-lish-TEEM kee o-SEH a-NEE i-MAM ra-AH

גוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן נִקֵּ֥יתִי הַפַּ֖עַם מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים כִּי־עֹשֶׂ֥ה אֲנִ֛י עִמָּ֖ם רָעָֽה׃

4Shimshon went and caught three hundred foxes. He took torches and, turning [the foxes] tail to tail, he placed a torch between each pair of tails.

va-YAY-lekh shim-SHON va-yil-KOD sh'-losh may-OT shu-a-LEEM va-yi-KAKH la-pi-DEEM va-YE-fen za-NAV el za-NAV va-YA-sem la-PEED e-KHAD bayn sh'-NAY ha-z'-na-VOT ba-TA-vekh

דוַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד שְׁלֹשׁ־מֵא֣וֹת שׁוּעָלִ֑ים וַיִּקַּ֣ח לַפִּדִ֗ים וַיֶּ֤פֶן זָנָב֙ אֶל־זָנָ֔ב וַיָּ֨שֶׂם לַפִּ֥יד אֶחָ֛ד בֵּין־שְׁנֵ֥י הַזְּנָב֖וֹת בַּתָּֽוֶךְ׃

5He lit the torches and turned [the foxes] loose among the standing grain of the Philistines, setting fire to stacked grain, standing grain, vineyards, [and] olive trees.

va-yav-er AYSH ba-la-pee-DEEM vai-sha-LAKH b'-ka-MOT p'-lish-TEEM va-yav-AYR mi-ga-DEESH v'-ad ka-MAH v'-ad KE-rem ZA-yit

הוַיַּבְעֶר־אֵשׁ֙ בַּלַּפִּידִ֔ים וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח בְּקָמ֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּבְעֵ֛ר מִגָּדִ֥ישׁ וְעַד־קָמָ֖ה וְעַד־כֶּ֥רֶם זָֽיִת׃

6The Philistines asked, “Who did this?” And they were told, “It was Shimshon, the son-in-law of the Timnite, who took Shimshon's wife and gave her to his wedding companion.” Thereupon the Philistines came up and put her and her father to the fire.

va-yo-m'-RU f'-lish-TEEM MEE A-sah ZOT va-yo-m'-RU shim-SHON kha-TAN ha-tim-NEE KEE la-KAKH et ish-TO va-yi-t'-NAH l'-may-ray-AY-hu va-ya-a-LU f'-lish-TEEM va-yis-r'-FU o-TAH v'-et a-VEE-ha ba-AYSH

ווַיֹּאמְר֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּים֮ מִ֣י עָ֣שָׂה זֹאת֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ חֲתַ֣ן הַתִּמְנִ֔י כִּ֚י לָקַ֣ח אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ לְמֵֽרֵעֵ֑הוּ וַיַּעֲל֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ אוֹתָ֛הּ וְאֶת־אָבִ֖יהָ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

7Shimshon said to them, “If that is how you act, I will not rest until I have taken revenge on you.”

va-YO-mer la-HEM shim-SHON im ta-a-SUN ka-ZOT KEE im ni-KAM-tee va-KHEM v'-a-KHAR ekh-DAL

זוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אִֽם־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּן כָּזֹ֑את כִּ֛י אִם־נִקַּ֥מְתִּי בָכֶ֖ם וְאַחַ֥ר אֶחְדָּֽל׃

8He gave them a sound and thorough thrashing. Then he went down and stayed in the cave of the rock of Etam.

va-YAKH o-TAM SHOK al ya-RAYKH ma-KAH g'-do-LAH va-YAY-red va-YAY-shev bis-EEF SE-la ay-TAM

חוַיַּ֨ךְ אוֹתָ֥ם שׁ֛וֹק עַל־יָרֵ֖ךְ מַכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַיֵּ֣רֶד וַיֵּ֔שֶׁב בִּסְעִ֖יף סֶ֥לַע עֵיטָֽם׃

9The Philistines came up, pitched camp in Yehuda and spread out over Lehi.

va-ya-a-LU f'-lish-TEEM va-ya-kha-NU bee-hu-DAH va-yi-na-t'-SHU ba-LE-khee

טוַיַּעֲל֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ בַּלֶּֽחִי׃

10The men of Yehuda asked, “Why have you come up against us?” They answered, “We have come to take Shimshon prisoner, and to do to him as he did to us.”

va-yo-m'-RU EESH y'-hu-DAH la-MAH a-lee-TEM a-LAY-nu va-yo-m'-RU le-e-SOR et shim-SHON a-LEE-nu la-a-SOT LO ka-a-SHER A-sah LA-nu

יוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה לָמָ֖ה עֲלִיתֶ֣ם עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ לֶאֱס֤וֹר אֶת־שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ עָלִ֔ינוּ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת ל֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עָ֥שָׂה לָֽנוּ׃

11Thereupon three thousand men of Yehuda went down to the cave of the rock of Etam, and they said to Shimshon, “You knew that the Philistines rule over us; why have you done this to us?” He replied, “As they did to me, so I did to them.”

va-yay-r'-DU sh'-LO-shet a-la-FEEM EESH mee-hu-DAH el s'-EEF SE-la ay-TAM va-yo-m'-RU l'-shim-SHON ha-LO ya-DA-ta kee mo-sh'-LEEM BA-nu p'-lish-TEEM u-mah ZOT a-SEE-ta LA-nu va-YO-mer la-HEM ka-a-SHER A-su LEE KAYN a-SEE-tee la-HEM

יאוַיֵּֽרְד֡וּ שְׁלֹ֩שֶׁת֩ אֲלָפִ֨ים אִ֜ישׁ מִֽיהוּדָ֗ה אֶל־סְעִיף֮ סֶ֣לַע עֵיטָם֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְשִׁמְשׁ֗וֹן הֲלֹ֤א יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ כִּֽי־מֹשְׁלִ֥ים בָּ֙נוּ֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וּמַה־זֹּ֖את עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ עָ֣שׂוּ לִ֔י כֵּ֖ן עָשִׂ֥יתִי לָהֶֽם׃

12“We have come down,” they told him, “to take you prisoner and to hand you over to the Philistines.” “But swear to me,” said Shimshon to them, “that you yourselves will not attack me.”

va-YO-m'-ru LO le-e-sor-KHA ya-RAD-nu l'-ti-t'-KHA b'-yad p'-lish-TEEM va-YO-mer la-HEM shim-SHON hi-sha-v'-U LEE pen tif-g'-UN BEE a-TEM

יבוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֶאֱסׇרְךָ֣ יָרַ֔דְנוּ לְתִתְּךָ֖ בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן הִשָּׁבְע֣וּ לִ֔י פֶּֽן־תִּפְגְּע֥וּן בִּ֖י אַתֶּֽם׃

13“We won't,” they replied. “We will only take you prisoner and hand you over to them; we will not slay you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

va-YO-m'-ru LO lay-MOR LO kee a-SOR ne-e-sor-KHA un-ta-NU-kha v'-ya-DAM v'-ha-MAYT LO n'-mee-TE-kha va-ya-as-RU-hu bish-NA-yim a-vo-TEEM kha-da-SHEEM va-ya-a-LU-hu min ha-SA-la

יגוַיֹּ֧אמְרוּ ל֣וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר לֹ֚א כִּֽי־אָסֹ֤ר נֶאֱסׇרְךָ֙ וּנְתַנּ֣וּךָ בְיָדָ֔ם וְהָמֵ֖ת לֹ֣א נְמִיתֶ֑ךָ וַיַּאַסְרֻ֗הוּ בִּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ עֲבֹתִ֣ים חֲדָשִׁ֔ים וַֽיַּעֲל֖וּהוּ מִן־הַסָּֽלַע׃

14When he reached Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Thereupon the spirit of Hashem gripped him, and the ropes on his arms became like flax that catches fire; the bonds melted off his hands.

hu VA ad LE-khee uf-lish-TEEM hay-REE-u lik-ra-TO va-titz-LAKH a-LAV RU-akh a-do-NAI va-tih-YE-nah ha-a-vo-TEEM a-SHER al z'-ro-o-TAV ka-pish-TEEM a-SHER ba-a-RU va-AYSH va-yi-MA-su e-su-RAV may-AL ya-DAV

ידהוּא־בָ֣א עַד־לֶ֔חִי וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים הֵרִ֣יעוּ לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַתִּצְלַ֨ח עָלָ֜יו ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֗ה וַתִּהְיֶ֨ינָה הָעֲבֹתִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־זְרוֹעוֹתָ֗יו כַּפִּשְׁתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּעֲר֣וּ בָאֵ֔שׁ וַיִּמַּ֥סּוּ אֱסוּרָ֖יו מֵעַ֥ל יָדָֽיו׃

15He came upon a fresh jawbone of an ass and he picked it up; and with it he killed a thousand men.

va-yim-TZA l'-khee kha-MOR t'-ri-YAH va-yish-LAKH ya-DO va-yi-ka-KHE-ha va-yakh BAH E-lef EESH

טווַיִּמְצָ֥א לְחִי־חֲמ֖וֹר טְרִיָּ֑ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יָדוֹ֙ וַיִּקָּחֶ֔הָ וַיַּךְ־בָּ֖הּ אֶ֥לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

16Then Shimshon said: “With the jaw of an ass, Mass upon mass! With the jaw of an ass I have slain a thousand men.”

va-YO-mer shim-SHON bil-KHEE ha-kha-MOR kha-MOR kha-mo-ra-TA-yim bil-KHEE ha-kha-MOR hi-KAY-tee E-lef EESH

טזוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן בִּלְחִ֣י הַחֲמ֔וֹר חֲמ֖וֹר חֲמֹרָתָ֑יִם בִּלְחִ֣י הַחֲמ֔וֹר הִכֵּ֖יתִי אֶ֥לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

17As he finished speaking, he threw the jawbone away; hence that place was called Ramath-lehi.

vai-HEE kikh-LOT l'-da-BAYR va-yash-LAYKH ha-l'-KHEE mi-ya-DO va-yik-RA la-ma-KOM ha-HU RA-mat LE-khee

יזוַֽיְהִי֙ כְּכַלֹּת֣וֹ לְדַבֵּ֔ר וַיַּשְׁלֵ֥ךְ הַלְּחִ֖י מִיָּד֑וֹ וַיִּקְרָ֛א לַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא רָ֥מַת לֶֽחִי׃

18He was very thirsty and he called to Hashem, “You Yourself have granted this great victory through Your servant; and must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”

va-yitz-MA m'-OD va-yik-RA el a-do-NAI va-YO-mer a-TAH na-TA-tah v'-yad av-d'-KHA et ha-t'-shu-AH ha-g'-do-LAH ha-ZOT v'-a-TAH a-MUT ba-tza-MA v'-na-fal-TEE b'-YAD ha-a-ray-LEEM

יחוַיִּצְמָא֮ מְאֹד֒ וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר אַתָּה֙ נָתַ֣תָּ בְיַֽד־עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את וְעַתָּה֙ אָמ֣וּת בַּצָּמָ֔א וְנָפַלְתִּ֖י בְּיַ֥ד הָעֲרֵלִֽים׃

19So Hashem split open the hollow which is at Lehi, and the water gushed out of it; he drank, regained his strength, and revived. That is why it is called to this day “En-hakkore of Lehi.”

va-yiv-KA e-lo-HEEM et ha-makh-TAYSH a-sher ba-LE-khee va-yay-tz'-U mi-ME-nu MA-yim va-yaysht va-TA-shov ru-KHO va-YE-khee al KAYN ka-RA sh'-MAH AYN ha-ko-RAY a-SHER ba-LE-khee AD ha-YOM ha-ZEH

יטוַיִּבְקַ֨ע אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶת־הַמַּכְתֵּ֣שׁ אֲשֶׁר־בַּלֶּ֗חִי וַיֵּצְא֨וּ מִמֶּ֤נּוּ מַ֙יִם֙ וַיֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וַתָּ֥שׇׁב רוּח֖וֹ וַיֶּ֑חִי עַל־כֵּ֣ן ׀ קָרָ֣א שְׁמָ֗הּ עֵ֤ין הַקּוֹרֵא֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלֶּ֔חִי עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

20He led Yisrael in the days of the Philistines for twenty years.

va-yish-POT et yis-ra-AYL bee-MAY f'-lish-TEEM es-REEM sha-NAH

כוַיִּשְׁפֹּ֧ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בִּימֵ֥י פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃