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Nach YomiI Samuel ยท ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืณChapter 13

I Samuel 13

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืณ ืคืจืง ื™ืดื’

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 13 of 31 | Day: 58 of 742

Date: April 10, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Chapter 13 marks the decisive turning point in Saulโ€™s reign, the moment when the promise of dynastic continuity is revoked before it ever takes root. The chapter opens with a textual crux โ€” the corrupted verse stating Saulโ€™s age at accession (ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืžืœื›ื•), which Rashi explains as indicating that Saul was as innocent as a one-year-old child when he began to rule, free of sin. This interpretive move transforms a scribal difficulty into a poignant theological statement: Saul begins his kingship in a state of purity, making his subsequent failure all the more tragic. Jonathanโ€™s bold strike against the Philistine garrison at Geba (ื ืฆื™ื‘ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื) ignites the conflict, and the narrative immediately establishes a contrast between the sonโ€™s decisive military courage and the fatherโ€™s growing paralysis under pressure.

The Philistine response is overwhelming. Their mobilization โ€” chariots, cavalry, and infantry โ€œas numerous as the sands of the seashoreโ€ (ื›ื—ื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ืขืœ ืฉืคืช ื”ื™ื) โ€” encamped at Michmas, sends the Israelite populace into hiding. The text paints a vivid picture of a people cowering in caves, thorns, rocks, tunnels, and cisterns, with some fleeing across the Jordan entirely. Saul, stationed at Gilgal with a rapidly dwindling force, faces the defining test of his kingship. Samuel had instructed him at his anointing to wait seven days at Gilgal (see 10:8), and Saul does wait โ€” but when the seventh day arrives and Samuel has not appeared, and the troops are scattering before his eyes, Saul takes it upon himself to offer the burnt offering (ื•ื™ืขืœ ื”ืขืœื”). Radak notes that Saulโ€™s error was not merely a ritual violation but a fundamental failure of faith: he could not endure the uncertainty of waiting, could not trust that Godโ€™s prophet would arrive in time. Metzudat David emphasizes that Saulโ€™s excuse โ€” โ€œI forced myselfโ€ (ื•ืืชืืคืง) โ€” reveals a man who knew what he was doing was wrong yet convinced himself that circumstances justified the transgression.

Samuelโ€™s arrival, coming just as the offering is completed, has the dramatic precision of prophetic narrative. His rebuke is devastating in its finality: โ€œYou acted foolishlyโ€ (ื ืกื›ืœืช). Had Saul obeyed, Samuel declares, God would have established his dynasty over Israel forever (ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ื”ืณ ืืช ืžืžืœื›ืชืš ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื). Instead, โ€œGod will seek out a man after His own heartโ€ (ื‘ืงืฉ ื”ืณ ืœื• ืื™ืฉ ื›ืœื‘ื‘ื•) โ€” a phrase that resonates forward to Davidโ€™s selection and backward to the entire theology of kingship in Israel. The contrast is not between a competent king and an incompetent one, but between a king who trusts his own judgment under pressure and one who subordinates his will to divine command. Rashi explains that โ€œafter His own heartโ€ means one who will act according to Godโ€™s will, not one who will reason his way into disobedience.

The chapterโ€™s closing verses shift from theological crisis to military reality, and the picture is grim. Saulโ€™s army has shrunk to a mere 600 men. Philistine raiding parties fan out in three columns, ravaging the countryside with impunity. Most strikingly, the narrator reveals the Philistine iron monopoly: no smith could be found in all the land of Israel (ื•ื—ืจืฉ ืœื ื™ืžืฆื ื‘ื›ืœ ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ), because the Philistines had deliberately prevented the Hebrews from forging weapons. The Israelites must go down to their oppressors even to sharpen agricultural tools. On the day of battle, only Saul and Jonathan possess sword and spear. This detail is not merely military intelligence โ€” it is a theological statement about the depth of Israelโ€™s subjugation and the impossibility of deliverance by human means alone. The chapter thus sets the stage for Jonathanโ€™s extraordinary faith in chapter 14, where he will declare that โ€œnothing prevents God from saving by many or by fewโ€ โ€” a faith his father could not sustain at Gilgal.

The interplay between Saulโ€™s failed test and the iron monopoly that leaves Israel defenseless creates a powerful double portrait of vulnerability. Saul is spiritually disarmed by his inability to wait, just as Israel is physically disarmed by Philistine domination. The kingdom that began with such promise in chapters 9-11 โ€” the tall, handsome young man seized by the spirit of God, the liberator of Jabesh-gilead โ€” now stands exposed as tragically fragile. Chapter 13 does not yet narrate Saulโ€™s total rejection (that comes in chapter 15), but it initiates the irreversible process by which the first king of Israel becomes a cautionary tale about the insufficiency of human kingship without complete obedience to the prophetic word.

ืคืจืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Chapter 13

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื‘ึผึถืŸึพืฉืึธื ึธึ–ื” ืฉืึธืึฃื•ึผืœ ื‘ึผึฐืžื‡ืœึฐื›ึ‘ื•ึน ื•ึผืฉืึฐืชึผึตึฃื™ ืฉืึธื ึดึ”ื™ื ืžึธืœึทึ–ืšึฐ ืขึทืœึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

Saul was โ€ฆaโ€ฆ The number is lacking in the Heb. text; also, the precise context of the โ€œtwo yearsโ€ is uncertain. The verse is lacking in the Septuagint. years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel two years.

This verse is one of the most famous textual difficulties in all of Tanakh -- the number for Saul's age at accession is missing from the Hebrew text. Rashi, drawing on the Talmud (Yoma 22b), interprets 'ben shanah' to mean Saul was like a one-year-old child, innocent and free of sin when he began to rule. Radak offers both the midrashic reading and a chronological one: that one year had passed since his anointing when these events occurred. The ambiguity itself may be theologically significant, highlighting that Saul's kingship was always incomplete and contested from its very beginning.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
One year was Shaul in his reign. Our Rabbis, of sainted memory, said,1 Maseches Yoma 22b. [Shaul was] like a one year old, who did not experience the taste of sin. It may also be interpreted, "Shaul was a year in his reign," i.e., in the first year in which he was made king, though he actually ruled over Yisroel two years, in the first year, immediately, "Shaul chose for himself three thousand [men]."", hebrewText: "ื‘ึถึผืŸ ืฉึธืื ึธื” ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ ื‘ึฐึผืžึธืœึฐื›ื•ึน. ืึธืžึฐืจื•ึผ ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึนืชึตื™ื ื•ึผ ื–ืดืœ (ื™ื•ืžื ื›ื‘ ื‘): ื›ึฐึผื‘ึถืŸ ืฉึธืื ึธื”, ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ื˜ึธืขึทื ื˜ึทืขึทื ื—ึตื˜ึฐื. ื•ึฐื™ึตืฉื ืœึดืคึฐืชึผื•ึนืจ: ื‘ึถึผืŸ ืฉึธืื ึธื” ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ ื‘ึฐึผืžึธืœึฐื›ื•ึน, ื‘ึฐึผืฉึธืื ึธื” ืจึดืืฉืื•ึนื ึธื” ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผืžึฐืœึทืšึฐ ื‘ึธึผื”ึผ, ื•ึฐื”ื•ึผื ืžึธืœึทืšึฐ ืฉึฐืืชึตึผื™ ืฉึธืื ึดื™ื ืขึทืœ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ, ื•ึผื‘ึทืฉึธึผืื ึธื” ืจึดืืฉืื•ึนื ึธื”, ืžึดื™ึธึผื“: ืดื•ึทื™ึดึผื‘ึฐื—ึทืจ ืœื•ึน ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ ืฉึฐืืœึนืฉึถืืช ืึฒืœึธืคึดื™ืืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื”. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื›ืฉื ืžืœืš, ื›ืœืชื” ืฉื ื” ืžื–ืžืŸ ืžืฉื™ื—ืชื•. ืื• ืžื•ืกื‘ ืœืžืงืจื ืฉืœืื—ืจื™ื•, ืœื•ืžืจ: ื‘ืฉื ื” ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื• ืฉืœืฉืช ืืœืคื™ื ื•ื›ื•ืณ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืžืœื›ื•. ืคื™' ืื– ื›ืฉื”ื™ื• ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ืฉื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืฉื ื” ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืžืชื—ืœืช ืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ื•ืฉืชื™ ืฉื ื™ื ืžืœืš ืื—ืจ ื›ืŸ ืื• ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืœ ืœื ืžืœืš ืืœื ืฉืชื™ ืฉื ื™ื ื›ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื‘ืขืœ ืกื“ืจ ืขื•ืœื ื•ื™"ืช ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื” ื›ื‘ืจ ืฉื ื” ื“ืœื™ืช ื‘ื™ื” ื—ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ื›ื“ ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืŸ ืคื™ืจืฉื• ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–"ืœ ื•ืขื•ื“ ื‘ื“ืจืฉ ื›ื™ ื›ืฉืžืœืš ื ืžื—ืœื• ืขื•ื ื•ืชื™ื• ืขื“ ืื•ืชื• ื”ื™ื•ื ื•ืืžืจื• ืฉืœืฉื” ื ืžื—ืœื• ืœื”ื ืขื•ื ื•ืชื™ื”ื ื—ืชืŸ ื—ื›ื ื•ื ืฉื™ื ื ืฉื™ื ืžื ื™ื™ืŸ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืžืœื›ื• ื•ื›ื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื” ื”ื™ื” ืืœื ืžื” ืชื™ื ื•ืง ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืžื• ื ืงื™ ืžืขื•ืŸ ื›ืš ื”ื™ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืžืœื›ื• ื ืงื™ ืžืขื•ื ื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฉืžืœืš:

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดื‘ึฐื—ึทืจึพืœึจื•ึน ืฉืึธืึœื•ึผืœ ืฉืึฐืœึนึฃืฉืึถืช ืึฒืœึธืคึดื™ืึฎ ืžึดื™ึผึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœึ’ ื•ึทื™ึผึดื”ึฐื™ึจื•ึผ ืขึดืึพืฉืึธืึœื•ึผืœ ืึทืœึฐืคึผึทึ—ื™ึดื ื‘ึผึฐืžึดื›ึฐืžึธืฉื‚ึ™ ื•ึผื‘ึฐื”ึทึฃืจ ื‘ึผึตึฝื™ืชึพืึตึ”ืœ ื•ึฐืึถึ—ืœึถืฃ ื”ึธื™ื•ึผึ™ ืขึดืึพื™ึฃื•ึนื ึธืชึธึ”ืŸ ื‘ึผึฐื’ึดื‘ึฐืขึทึ–ืช ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™ึธืžึดึ‘ื™ืŸ ื•ึฐื™ึถึฃืชึถืจ ื”ึธืขึธึ”ื ืฉืึดืœึผึทึ–ื— ืึดึฅื™ืฉื ืœึฐืึนื”ึธืœึธึฝื™ื•ืƒ

English:

Saul picked 3,000 Israelites, of whom 2,000 were with Saul in MichmasbMichmas So in oldest mss.; other mss. and editions read โ€œMichmashโ€ throughout the chapter. and in the hill country of Bethel, and 1,000 with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the rest of the troops he sent back to their homes.

Saul organizes a standing army of 3,000 men, dividing them between two strategic positions: 2,000 with himself at Michmas and the hill country of Bethel, and 1,000 with his son Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. Radak explains that this selection occurred while Saul was still at Gilgal after the renewal of the monarchy, choosing an elite force from the assembled Israelites. The division of forces between father and son foreshadows the contrasting roles they will play throughout this chapter -- and the sending home of the remaining troops reflects the new king's attempt to establish a professional military rather than relying solely on tribal levies.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
in order to be ready to serve in times of need some in michmas some in bet kel", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืขื ืฉืื•ืœ. ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ื›ื•ื ื™ื ืœืฉืžืฉื• ื‘ืขืช ื”ืฆื•ืจืš: ื‘ืžื›ืžืฉ ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ืžื”ื ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ืžื›ืžืฉ, ื•ืžื”ื ื‘ื”ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื• ืฉืื•ืœ. ื‘ืขื•ื“ื ื• ื‘ื’ืœื’ืœ ื•ื”ื™ื• ืฉื ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื—ื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื• ืžื”ื ืฉืœืฉืช ืืœืคื™ื ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืขืžื• ื‘ืžื›ืžืฉ ืืœืคื™ื ื•ืขื ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืืœืฃ ื•ื™ืชืจ ื”ืขื ืฉืœื— ื•ื‘ืžืกืจื” ืžืŸ ืจื™ืฉ ืกืคืจื ืขื“ ื ืคืฉ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืื™ืชืงืจื™ ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืจ ืžืŸ ื‘' ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืืœ ื”ื ืขืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื” ื•ืžืŸ ื ืคืฉ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืขื“ ืกื•ืคื• ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทึฃืšึฐ ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธึ—ืŸ ืึตึฃืช ื ึฐืฆึดึคื™ื‘ ืคึผึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดื™ืึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื‘ึผึฐื’ึถึ”ื‘ึทืข ื•ึทึฝื™ึผึดืฉืึฐืžึฐืขึ–ื•ึผ ืคึผึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึฐืฉืึธืื•ึผืœึฉ ืชึผึธืงึทึจืข ื‘ึผึทืฉืึผื•ึนืคึธึคืจ ื‘ึผึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื”ึธืึธึ™ืจึถืฅึ™ ืœึตืืžึนึ”ืจ ื™ึดืฉืึฐืžึฐืขึ–ื•ึผ ื”ึธืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

Jonathan struck down the Philistine prefect in Geba;cGeba Apparently identical with Gibeah in v. 2. and the Philistines heard about it. Saul had the ramโ€™s horn sounded throughout the land, saying, โ€œLet the Hebrews hear.โ€dSaul had the ramโ€™s horn sounded โ€ฆ โ€œLet the Hebrews hear.โ€ Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

Jonathan's bold strike against the Philistine garrison officer (netziv) at Geba is the act that ignites the entire crisis of this chapter. Rashi explains that the Philistines had stationed a government official over Israel as a symbol of their dominion, and Jonathan's killing of him was an open act of rebellion. Radak clarifies that the shofar blast was Saul's command to alert all Israel to prepare for the inevitable Philistine retaliation. The verse subtly credits the daring act to Jonathan while Saul takes the public role of rallying the nation -- a dynamic that will recur throughout their relationship.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
The Philistine governor. They had a government official [who ruled] over Yisroel and they stationed him in Givas Binyomin.2Yonoson assassinated him as an open act of rebellion against the Philistines.โ€”Radak Let the Hebrews hear. That we have rebelled against the Philistines and they should beware of them.", hebrewText: "ืึถืช ื ึฐืฆึดื™ื‘ ืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื. ืกึทืจึฐื“ึฐึผื™ื•ึนื˜ ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ึธื” ืœึธื”ึถื ืขึทืœ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ, ื•ึฐื”ื•ึนืฉึดืื™ื‘ื•ึผื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐึผื’ึดื‘ึฐืขึทืช ื‘ึดึผื ึฐื™ึธืžึดืŸ: ื™ึดืฉึฐืืžึฐืขื•ึผ ื”ึธืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดื™ื. ืฉึถืืžึธึผืจึทื“ึฐื ื•ึผ ื‘ึทึผืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื, ื•ึฐื™ึดืฉึธึผืืžึฐืจื•ึผ ืžึตื”ึถื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื™ืฉืžืขื• ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื‘ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืฉืืœื• ืžื” ื–ื” ืงื•ืœ ื”ืฉื•ืคืจ, ื™ื“ืขื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื–ื” ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ืฉืžืจื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ืคืœืฉืชื™ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืืช ื ืฆื™ื‘ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื. ื›ื‘ืจ ืคื™ืจืฉืชื™ื• ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ืจื’ื• ื›ื“ื™ ืœืžืจื•ื“ ื‘ืคืœืฉืชื™ื: ืืฉืจ ื‘ื’ื‘ืข. ื’ื‘ืข ืื™ื ื• ื’ื‘ืขืช ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื›ื™ ืฉื ื™ ืžืงื•ืžื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืกืคืจ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข: ื•ืฉืื•ืœ ืชืงืข. ืฆื•ื” ืœืชืงื•ืข ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื›ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื ื™ื•ืฆื ืžื”ื’ืœื’ืœ: ื™ืฉืžืขื• ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื. ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืฉืžืขื• ื•ื™ืฉืžืจื• ืžืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ืขื•ื“ ืฉื™ืฆืื• ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื›ื™ ื™ื“ืข ื›ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืžืขื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืฉื ื”ืจื’ ื ืฆื™ื‘ื ื™ืืกืคื• ืœื”ืœื—ื ืขื ื™ืฉืจืืœ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึžืœ ืฉืึธืžึฐืขึฃื•ึผ ืœึตืืžึนึ—ืจ ื”ึดื›ึผึธึคื” ืฉืึธืื•ึผืœึ™ ืึถืชึพื ึฐืฆึดึฃื™ื‘ ืคึผึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึฐื’ึทืึพื ึดื‘ึฐืึทึฅืฉื ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึทืคึผึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฆึผึธืขึฒืงึฅื•ึผ ื”ึธืขึธึ›ื ืึทื—ึฒืจึตึฅื™ ืฉืึธืึ–ื•ึผืœ ื”ึทื’ึผึดืœึฐื’ึผึธึฝืœืƒ

English:

When all Israel heard that Saul had struck down the Philistine prefect, and that Israel had incurred the wrath ofeincurred the wrath of Lit. โ€œbecame malodorous to.โ€ the Philistines, all the people rallied to Saul at Gilgal.

The news spreads that Saul struck down the Philistine prefect -- though it was actually Jonathan who did it. Metzudat David explains that since Saul was king, the act was attributed to him, as all military deeds are credited to the monarch. The expression 'nivash' (became malodorous) vividly conveys that Israel had become utterly detested by the Philistines. Rashi connects the rallying at Gilgal to Samuel's earlier instruction in 10:8, establishing that Saul's fateful test of obedience was already set in motion. The people's gathering at Gilgal sets the stage for the central drama of the chapter.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
And that Yisroel has become hateful. Literally, they have come in bad odor with the Philistines, an expression of hatred. To follow Shaul to Gilgol. This is what Shmuel had said to him, "you shall go down to Gilgol ahead of me."3Above 10:8.", hebrewText: "ื•ึฐื’ึทื ื ึดื‘ึฐืึทืฉื ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ. ื ึดื‘ึฐืึทืฉื ืจึตื™ื—ึธื ื‘ึทึผืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื, ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืณืฉึดื‚ื ึฐืึธื”ืณ: ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ ื”ึทื’ึดึผืœึฐื’ึธึผืœ. ื”ื•ึผื ืฉึถืืึธืžึทืจ ืœื•ึน ืฉึฐืืžื•ึผืึตืœ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื™:ื—) ืดื•ึฐื™ึธืจึทื“ึฐืชึธึผ ืœึฐืคึธื ึทื™ ื”ึทื’ึดึผืœึฐื’ึธึผืœืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื”ื›ื” ืฉืื•ืœ. ืืฃ ืฉื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื›ื”ื•, ื™ื—ืฉื‘ ืœืฉืื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื™ืงืจื ืขืœ ืฉืžื•: ื ื‘ืืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื ืžืืก ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื, ื›ื“ืจืš ืฉืžืžืืกื™ืŸ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื ื‘ืืฉ: ื•ื™ืฆืขืงื•. ื ืืกืคื• ืื—ืจื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœืœื›ืช ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื”ื›ื” ืฉืื•ืœ. ื›ืŸ ื—ืฉื‘ื• ื”ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ื›ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ื›ื”ื• ืื• ืฆื•ื” ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœื”ื›ื•ืชื•: ื ื‘ืืฉ. ื ืชืขื‘ ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืชืขื‘ ื”ืื“ื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžื‘ืื™ืฉ: ืื—ืจื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ. ื›ื™ ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืžื–ืžืŸ ื—ื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ื•ึผืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึžื™ื ื ึถืึถืกึฐืคึฃื•ึผโ€‰ื€ ืœึฐื”ึดืœึผึธื—ึตึฃื ืขึดืึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ—ืœ ืฉืึฐืœึนืฉืึดึจื™ื ืึถึคืœึถืฃ ืจึถึ™ื›ึถื‘ึ™ ื•ึฐืฉืึตึคืฉืึถืช ืึฒืœึธืคึดื™ืึ™ ืคึผึธืจึธืฉืึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึฐืขึธึ•ื ื›ึผึทื—ึ›ื•ึนืœ ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืขึทืœึพืฉื‚ึฐืคึทึฝืชึพื”ึทื™ึผึธึ–ื ืœึธืจึนึ‘ื‘ ื•ึทึฝื™ึผึทืขึฒืœื•ึผึ™ ื•ึทื™ึผึทื—ึฒื ึฃื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืžึดื›ึฐืžึธึ”ืฉื‚ ืงึดื“ึฐืžึทึ–ืช ื‘ึผึตึฅื™ืช ืึธึฝื•ึถืŸืƒ

English:

The Philistines, in turn, gathered to attack Israel: 30,000f30,000 Septuagint and other versions read โ€œthree thousand.โ€ chariots and 6,000 riders,griders Or โ€œhorsesโ€; force of Heb. parash(im) uncertain. and troops as numerous as the sands of the seashore. They marched up and encamped at Michmas, east of Beth-aven.

The Philistine response to the garrison's destruction is overwhelming and deliberately terrifying -- chariots, cavalry, and infantry 'as numerous as the sands of the seashore.' The staggering numbers emphasize the hopelessness of Israel's military position and set up the theological point that any victory must come from God, not human arms. Their encampment at Michmas, east of Beth-aven, places them in a commanding strategic position in the heart of Benjaminite territory. Rashi and Metzudat David note the geographic detail, placing Beth-aven to the east, underscoring how deeply the Philistines have penetrated into Israelite land.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
To the east of Beis Oven. [ืงึดื“ึฐืžึทืช] meaning the east of Beis Oven.", hebrewText: "ืงึดื“ึฐืžึทืช ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืึธื•ึถืŸ. ื‘ึฐึผืžึดื–ึฐืจึทื— ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืึธื•ึถืŸ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืงื“ืžืช. ืœืžื–ืจื—ื” ืฉืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืื•ืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืึดึจื™ืฉื ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึคืœ ืจึธืื•ึผึ™ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืฆึทืจึพืœึ”ื•ึน ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ื ึดื’ึผึทึ–ืฉื‚ ื”ึธืขึธึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดึฝืชึฐื—ึทื‘ึผึฐืึฃื•ึผ ื”ึธืขึธึ—ื ื‘ึผึทืžึผึฐืขึธืจึคื•ึนืช ื•ึผื‘ึทึฝื—ึฒื•ึธื—ึดื™ืึ™ ื•ึผื‘ึทืกึผึฐืœึธืขึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึผื‘ึทืฆึผึฐืจึดื—ึดึ–ื™ื ื•ึผื‘ึทื‘ึผึนืจึฝื•ึนืชืƒ

English:

hMeaning of Heb. uncertain. When Israelโ€™s side saw that they were in troubleโ€”for the troops were hard pressedโ€”the people hid in caves, among thorns, among rocks, in tunnels, and in cisterns.

The Israelite populace, seeing the overwhelming Philistine force, scatters into hiding in a vivid catalogue of desperate refuges: caves, thorns, rocks, tunnels, and cisterns. Metzudat David explains that the people were pressed (nigash) by the Philistine advance and hid themselves. Radak notes this happened suddenly, catching Israel unprepared. The list of hiding places paints a picture of utter demoralization -- this is a people reduced to cowering in the landscape itself, a stark contrast to the triumphant Israel that defeated the Ammonites at Jabesh-gilead just chapters earlier.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
In thorn bushes. A place where thorns are concentrated; espineid in O.F. In the towers. Pleisiz in O.F. And in pits. Cisterns.", hebrewText: "ื•ึผื‘ึทื—ื•ึนื—ึดื™ื. ืžึฐืงื•ึนื ืงึฐื‘ื•ึผืฆึทืช ื—ื•ึนื—ึดื™ื, ืฉืคื ืดื™ ื‘ืœืขืดื–: ื•ึผื‘ึทืฆึฐึผืจึดื—ึดื™ื. ืคืœื™ื™ืฉื™ืดืฅ ื‘ืœืขืดื–: ื•ึผื‘ึทื‘ึนึผืจื•ึนืช. ื’ึผึปืžึผื•ึนืช:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื›ื™ ื ื’ืฉ ื”ืขื. ื ืœื—ืฆื• ืžืคืœืฉืชื™ื: ื•ื™ืชื—ื‘ืื•. ื”ื—ื‘ื™ืื• ืืช ืขืฆืžืŸ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื›ื™ ื ื’ืฉ ื”ืขื. ื ื“ื—ืง ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื‘ื ืœื”ื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืคืชืื•ื: ื•ื‘ื—ื•ื—ื™ื. ื‘ืžืฆื“ื•ืช ื›ืžื• ืฉืช"ื™ ื•ื‘ืžืฆื“ืชื: ื•ื‘ืฆืจื™ื—ื™ื. ื‘ืžืงื•ืžื•ืช ื”ื’ื‘ื•ื”ื™ื ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืืœ ืฆืจื™ื—:

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดึ—ื™ื ืขึธึฝื‘ึฐืจื•ึผึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึทื™ึผึทืจึฐื“ึผึตึ”ืŸ ืึถึฅืจึถืฅ ื’ึผึธึ–ื“ ื•ึฐื’ึดืœึฐืขึธึ‘ื“ ื•ึฐืฉืึธืื•ึผืœึ™ ืขื•ึนื“ึถึฃื ึผื•ึผ ื‘ึทื’ึผึดืœึฐื’ึผึธึ”ืœ ื•ึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ–ื ื—ึธึฝืจึฐื“ึฅื•ึผ ืึทื—๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝืจึธึฝื™ื•ืƒ

English:

Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan, [to] the territory of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and the rest of the people rallied to him in alarm.

While some Israelites hide locally, others flee across the Jordan entirely to the Transjordanian territories of Gad and Gilead. Rashi explains they fled eastward because the Philistines controlled the western side of the land. Metzudat David notes the wordplay 'ivrim avru' (Hebrews crossed) as an elegant literary device. Meanwhile, Saul remains at Gilgal with a dwindling, fearful force -- the text emphasizes they 'trembled after him,' conveying not confident loyalty but terrified reluctance. Saul's army is literally melting away before his eyes, creating the pressure that leads to his fateful decision.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Crossed the Yardein to the land of Gad. To escape from the Philistines, because the Philistines were in the land of Canaan on the west side of the Yardein. Hurried after him. They hurried to go after him.4 I.e., to join forces with Shaul.", hebrewText: "ืขึธื‘ึฐืจื•ึผ ืึถืช ื”ึทื™ึทึผืจึฐื“ึตึผืŸ ืึถืจึถืฅ ื’ึธึผื“. ืœึดื‘ึฐืจึนื—ึท ืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื, ืฉึถืื”ึทืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐึผืึถืจึถืฅ ื›ึฐึผื ึทืขึทืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืขึตื‘ึถืจ ื”ึทื™ึทึผืจึฐื“ึตึผืŸ ื™ึธืžึธึผื”: ื—ึธืจึฐื“ื•ึผ ืึทื—ึฒืจึธื™ื•. ืžึดื”ึฒืจื•ึผ ืœึธืœึถื›ึถืช ืึทื—ึฒืจึธื™ื•:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืขื‘ืจื•. ืืžืจ ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื ื•ืคืœ ืขืœ ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ, ื•ื”ื•ื ืžื“ืจืš ืฆื—ื•ืช, ื•ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืงืฆืชื ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ืจื• ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ื‘ืจื—ื• ืœืืจืฅ ื’ื“ ื•ื’ืœืขื“: ืขื•ื“ื ื• ื‘ื’ืœื’ืœ. ื•ืœื ื™ืจื“ ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืงืจืืช ื”ืžืœื—ืžื”: ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื. ืืฉืจ ืœื ื ืชื—ื‘ืื• ื•ืœื ื‘ืจื—ื•, ื—ืจื“ื• ืœืœื›ืช ืื—ืจื™ื• ืœืžืœื—ืžื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืขื‘ืจื•. ืžืงืฆืชื ื”ืชื—ื‘ืื• ื•ืžืงืฆืชื ืขื‘ืจื• ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ื‘ืจื—ื• ืฉื ื•ื”ืฉืืจ ื—ืจื“ื• ืื—ืจื™ ืฉืื•ืœ: ื•ื—ืจื“ื•. ืขื ื™ื™ื ื• ื”ืชื ื•ืขืขื• ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ื—ืจื“ื• ื–ืงื ื™ ื”ืขื™ืจ ืœืงืจืืชื•, ื•ืืžืจ ืืจืฅ ื’ื“ ื•ื’ืœืขื“ ื•ืœื ื–ื›ืจ ืืจืฅ ืจืื•ื‘ืŸ ืื•ืœื™ ื”ื ื”ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื ืœื™ืจื“ืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

(ื•ื™ื™ื—ืœ) [ื•ึทื™ึผึฃื•ึนื—ึถืœโ€‰ื€] ืฉืึดื‘ึฐืขึทึฃืช ื™ึธืžึดึ—ื™ื ืœึทืžึผื•ึนืขึตื“ึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ”ืœ ื•ึฐืœึนืึพื‘ึธึฅื ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ–ืœ ื”ึทื’ึผึดืœึฐื’ึผึธึ‘ืœ ื•ึทื™ึผึธึฅืคึถืฅ ื”ึธืขึธึ–ื ืžึตืขึธืœึธึฝื™ื•ืƒ

English:

He waited seven days, the time that Samuel [had set].i[had set] So some Heb. mss.; other mss., Septuagint, and Targum read โ€œsaid.โ€ Cf. 10.8. But when Samuel failed to come to Gilgal, and the people began to scatter,

This verse directly connects to Samuel's earlier command in 10:8, where he instructed Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal. Rashi notes the verse is grammatically incomplete -- 'the appointed time which Samuel' lacks a verb, and should read 'which Samuel had set.' Radak explains the two variant readings (written 'vayichel' vs. read 'vayochel') both mean the same thing: he waited. The critical detail is that when the seventh day arrived and Samuel had not yet appeared, and the troops were visibly deserting, Saul faced his defining test of faith. Could he endure the uncertainty of waiting, trusting that God's prophet would arrive?
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
He waited. He waited.5 See Bereishis 8:10. Till the time set by Shmuel. This verse has a missing word. [The verse means to say], "till the appointed time set by Shmuel," or "to the appointed time of Shmuel." An example of this is, "And two men, officers of troops were the son of Shaul." Scripture should have written, "were to the son of Shaul."6 II Shmuel 4:2. Here too, "which was set by Shmuel," who had said to him, "Wait seven days until I come to you."7Above 10:8.", hebrewText: "ื•ึทื™ึผื•ึนื—ึถืœ. ื”ึดืžึฐืชึดึผื™ืŸ: ืœึทืžึผื•ึนืขึตื“ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืฉึฐืืžื•ึผืึตืœ. ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื–ึถื” ืžึดืงึฐืจึธื ื—ึธืกึตืจ ืชึตึผื‘ึธื” ืึทื—ึทืช, ืณืœึทืžึผื•ึนืขึตื“ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืฉึธื‚ื ืฉึฐืืžื•ึผืึตืœืณ ืื•ึน ืณืœึทืžึผื•ึนืขึตื“ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึดืฉึฐืืžื•ึผืึตืœืณ, ื•ึฐื“ื•ึผื’ึฐืžึธื ืœื•ึน (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื“:ื‘): ืดื•ึผืฉึฐืื ึตื™ ืึฒื ึธืฉึดืื™ื ืฉึธื‚ืจึตื™ ื’ึฐื“ื•ึผื“ึดื™ื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื‘ึถืŸ ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœืด, ื”ึธื™ึธื” ืœื•ึน ืœึดื›ึฐืชึนึผื‘ ืณืœึฐื‘ึถืŸ ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœืณ, ืึทืฃ ื›ึธึผืืŸ ืณืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึดืฉึฐืืžื•ึผืึตืœืณ, ืฉึถืืึธืžึทืจ ืœื•ึน (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื™:ื—) ืดืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึทืช ื™ึธืžึดื™ื ืชึผื•ึนื—ึตืœ ืขึทื“ ื‘ึผื•ึนืึดื™ ืึตืœึถื™ืšึธืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ื•ื—ืœ. ื”ืžืชื™ืŸ ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืžืขืช ื‘ื•ืื• ืืœ ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ: ืœืžื•ืขื“ ืืฉืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ. ื›ืžื• ืœืžื•ืขื“ ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ, ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืœื”ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืงื‘ืข ืœื• ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžืื– ืžืฉื—ื• ืœืžืœืš ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœืžืขืœื” (ื™ ื—): ื•ื™ืคืฅ ื”ืขื. ื ืชืคื–ืจื• ื•ื”ืœื›ื• ืžืžื ื•:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ื™ื—ืœ. ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ืงืจื™ ื•ื™ื•ื—ืœ ื•ื”ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ื—ืœ ืขื•ื“ ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ื•ื”ืงืจื™ ื•ื™ื•ื—ืœ ืžื‘ื ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ืคืขื™ืœ ื•ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื—ื“: ืœืžื•ืขื“ ืืฉืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ. ื—ืกืจ ื•ืจ"ืœ ืœืžื•ืขื“ ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ื›ืŸ ืช"ื™ ืœื–ืžื ื ื“ืืžืจ ืœื™ื” ืฉืžื•ืืœ: ื•ื™ืคืฅ ื”ืขื ืžืขืœื™ื•. ืคื•ืขืœ ืขื•ืžื“ ื•ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืคืฅ ื”ืขื ื‘ื›ืœ ืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ืฉืึธืึ”ื•ึผืœ ื”ึทื’ึผึดึฃืฉืื•ึผ ืึตืœึทึ”ื™ ื”ึธืขึนืœึธึ–ื” ื•ึฐื”ึทืฉืึผึฐืœึธืžึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึทื™ึผึทึ–ืขึทืœ ื”ึธืขึนืœึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Saul said, โ€œBring me the burnt offering and the sacrifice of well-beingโ€; and he presented the burnt offering.

Saul takes the fateful step of offering the burnt offering himself rather than waiting for Samuel. Rashi makes the important halakhic note that a non-kohen was permitted to sacrifice on a bamah (high place), so the sin was not in who offered the sacrifice but in the failure to wait as commanded. Radak elaborates that Samuel had explicitly told Saul he would come to offer the sacrifices, and Saul's error was acting on the morning of the seventh day rather than waiting until evening. This moment of impatience -- understandable yet inexcusable -- becomes the hinge on which Saul's entire dynasty turns.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Bring me the burnt-offering. A non-kohein is permitted to sacrifice on a high place.", hebrewText: "ื”ึทื’ึดึผืฉืื•ึผ ืึตืœึทื™ ื”ึธืขึนืœึธื”. ื–ึธืจ ืžึปืชึธึผืจ ืœึฐื”ึทืงึฐืจึดื™ื‘ ื‘ึทึผื‘ึธึผืžึธื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื”ื’ื™ืฉื• ืืœื™ ื”ืขื•ืœื”. ื›ื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ืฉื ืœืกื•ืฃ ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ืขื•ืœื•ืช ืœื–ื‘ื•ื— ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืฉืœืžื™ื ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ืชื•ื—ืœ ืขื“ ื‘ื•ืื™ ืืœื™ืš ื•ื›ืืฉืจ ืจืื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื›ื™ ืœื ื‘ื ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื” ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ื”ืขื•ืœื” ื•ื”ืฉืœืžื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืžืจ ืฉืื•ืœ ืฉื™ื’ื™ืฉื• ืืœื™ื• ื”ืขื•ืœื” ื•ื”ืฉืœืžื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ืขืœื” ืื•ืชื ื•ื—ื˜ื ื‘ื–ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœื”ื•ื—ื™ืœ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืขื“ ื”ืขืจื‘ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื–ืžื ื• ื‘ื ื‘ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ื›ืœื•ืชื• ืื‘ืœ ื‘ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื•ื”ื•ื ื–ืจ ืœื ื—ื˜ื ื‘ื–ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื™ืชืจ ื”ื‘ืžื•ืช ื”ื™ื” ืื– ื•ื–ืจ ืžืงืจื™ื‘ ื‘ื‘ืžืช ื™ื—ื™ื“:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืด ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดึ—ื™ ื›ึผึฐื›ึทืœึผึนืชื•ึนึ™ ืœึฐื”ึทืขึฒืœึฃื•ึนืช ื”ึธืขึนืœึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึฅื” ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึธึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึตืฆึตึฅื ืฉืึธืึ›ื•ึผืœ ืœึดืงึฐืจึธืืชึ–ื•ึน ืœึฐื‘ึธืจึฐื›ึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

He had just finished presenting the burnt offering when Samuel arrived; and Saul went out to meet him and welcome him.

The dramatic timing is devastating: Samuel arrives at the precise moment Saul finishes the offering. Had Saul waited just a little longer, the crisis would have been averted. Radak explains that 'levarekho' (to welcome him) means Saul went out to greet Samuel with a show of respect, as if nothing were wrong. Metzudat David, following Targum Jonathan, interprets the word as 'to give him peace' -- a greeting. The irony is profound: Saul goes out to bless or greet the very prophet who is about to pronounce his dynasty's doom. This narrative precision is characteristic of biblical prophetic storytelling, where a moment's failure carries eternal consequences.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืœื‘ืจื›ื•. ืœืชืช ืœื• ืฉืœื•ื, ื›ืŸ ืชืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืœื‘ืจื›ื•. ืœืชืช ืœื• ืฉืœื•ื ื›ืžื• ื›ื™ ืชืžืฆื ืื™ืฉ ืœื ืชื‘ืจื›ื ื• ื•ื›ืŸ ืชื™ืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืžืฉืืœ ื‘ืฉืœืžื™ื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฅืืžึถืจ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ–ืœ ืžึถึฃื” ืขึธืฉื‚ึดึ‘ื™ืชึธ ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ืฉืึธืึกื•ึผืœ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืจึธืึดึฉื™ืชึดื™ึฉ ื›ึดึฝื™ึพื ึธืคึทึจืฅ ื”ึธืขึธึœื ืžึตืขึธืœึทึ—ื™ ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึธื”ึ™ ืœึนึฝืึพื‘ึธึ™ืืชึธึ™ ืœึฐืžื•ึนืขึตึฃื“ ื”ึทื™ึผึธืžึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึผืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ–ื™ื ื ึถืึฑืกึธืคึดึฅื™ื ืžึดื›ึฐืžึธึฝืฉื‚ืƒ

English:

But Samuel said, โ€œWhat have you done?โ€ Saul replied, โ€œI saw the people leaving me and scattering; you had not come at the appointed time, and the Philistines had gathered at Michmas.

Samuel's opening question -- 'What have you done?' -- is devastating in its simplicity. Rashi explains that Samuel is saying: did I not tell you that I would come to offer the burnt offering, not you? Saul's defense reveals a man reasoning through his circumstances rather than trusting the prophetic command: the people were deserting, Samuel had not arrived 'at the beginning of the day' (as Rashi explains 'the appointed time'), and the Philistines were massing at Michmas. Radak notes that Samuel knew through prophecy what Saul had done even before arriving. Each of Saul's three justifications is reasonable by human logic, yet each represents a failure to subordinate his judgment to divine command.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
What have you done? Did I not say to you, "I will go down to you to offer the burnt-offering?" I will offer it up, and not you. At the appointed day. At the beginning of the [appointed] day.", hebrewText: "ืžึถื” ืขึธืฉึดื‚ื™ืชึธ. ื”ึฒืœึนื ืึธืžึทืจึฐืชึดึผื™ ืœึฐืšึธ ืดื”ึดื ึฐื ึดื™ ื™ื•ึนืจึตื“ ืึตืœึถื™ืšึธ ืœึฐื”ึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืช ื”ึธืขึนืœึธื”ืด, ืึฒื ึดื™ ืึทืขึฒืœึถื” ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ, ื•ึฐืœึนื ืึทืชึธึผื”: ืœึฐืžื•ึนืขึตื“ ื”ึทื™ึธึผืžึดื™ื. ื‘ึดึผืชึฐื—ึดืœึทึผืช ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžื” ืขืฉื™ืช. ื›ื™ ื”ืœื ืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ืฉืชื•ื—ื™ืœ ืขื“ ื‘ื•ืื™, ื•ืื ื™ ืืขืœื” ื”ืขื•ืœื”: ืœืžื•ืขื“ ื”ื™ืžื™ื. ืœื–ืžืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ืฉืงื‘ืขืช:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืžื” ืขืฉื™ืช. ื™ื“ืข ื‘ื“ืจืš ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื›ื™ ื”ืขืœื” ื”ืขื•ืœื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื•ึธืึนืžึทึ—ืจ ืขึทึ ืชึผึธึ ื” ื™ึตืจึฐื“ึจื•ึผ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึคื™ื ืึตืœึทื™ึ™ ื”ึทื’ึผึดืœึฐื’ึผึธึ”ืœ ื•ึผืคึฐื ึตึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืœึนึฃื ื—ึดืœึผึดึ‘ื™ืชึดื™ ื•ึธึฝืึถืชึฐืึทืคึผึทึ”ืง ื•ึธืึทืขึฒืœึถึ–ื” ื”ึธืขึนืœึธึฝื”ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

I thought the Philistines would march down against me at Gilgal before I had entreated GOD, so I forced myselfjforced myself Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to present the burnt offering.โ€

Saul concludes his defense with the revealing phrase 'va-etapak' -- 'I forced myself.' Rashi explains this means Saul overcame his own will, for his heart told him to keep waiting for Samuel, but he suppressed that instinct and offered the sacrifice against his better judgment. Metzudat David elaborates that Saul felt compelled to entreat God through the offering before the Philistines attacked. Radak explains that the root of 'hitapek' means strengthening oneself to act against one's own desire. This self-awareness makes Saul's failure all the more tragic -- he knew what he was doing was wrong, yet convinced himself that circumstances demanded it.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
So I forced myself. I overcame my will, for my heart told me to wait for you, and against my will I suppressed my heart, and offered the burnt-offering.8 Shaul realized that it was not proper for him to offer the sacrifice. But he saw that the people who had gathered became impatient and began to desert him for his not taking action. Therefore, in desperation he overcame his inclination to wait longer for Shmuel's arrival and acted against his better judgement.", hebrewText: "ื•ึธืึถืชึฐืึทืคึทึผืง. ื ึดืชึฐื—ึทื–ึทึผืงึฐืชึดึผื™ ืขึทืœ ืจึฐืฆื•ึนื ึดื™, ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ึธื” ืœึดื‘ึดึผื™ ืื•ึนืžึตืจ ืœึฐื”ึทืžึฐืชึดึผื™ืŸ ืœึฐืšึธ, ืขึทืœ ื›ึธึผืจึฐื—ึดื™ ื”ึถืขึฑืžึทื“ึฐืชึดึผื™ ืึถืช ืœึดื‘ึดึผื™ ื•ึธืึทืขึฒืœึถื” ื”ึธืขึนืœึธื”:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืขืชื” ื™ืจื“ื•. ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ื ืืกืคื•, ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ื™ืจื“ื• ื•ื‘ืขืœ ื›ืจื—ื™ ืืœื—ื ืขืžื”ื ืขื“ ืœื ื—ืœื™ืชื™ ืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื‘ืขืช ื”ื‘ืืช ื”ืงืจื‘ืŸ: ื•ืืชืืคืง. ืœื–ื” ื”ืชื—ื–ืงืชื™ ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœ ืจืฆื•ื ื™ ื•ืœื‘ืœ ื”ืžืชืŸ ืขื•ื“, ื•ืืขืœื” ื”ืขื•ืœื” ืœื—ืœื•ืช ืืช ืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื‘ืขืช ื”ืขืœื•ืชื™, ืขื“ ืœื ื™ืจื“ื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืœื ื—ืœื™ืชื™. ืข"ื™ ื”ืขื•ืœื•ืช ื”ื™ืชื” ืชืคืœืชื ื‘ืจื•ื‘: ื•ืืชืืคืง. ื”ืชื—ื–ืงืชื™ ื•ืขื‘ืจืชื™ ืขืœ ืจืฆื•ื ื™ ื•ืขืœ ืžืฆื•ืชืš ื›ื™ ื›ืœ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืชืืคืงื•ืช ืœื—ื–ืง ืœื‘ื• ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœ ืจืฆื•ื ื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึงืืžึถืจ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ›ืœ ืึถืœึพืฉืึธืึ–ื•ึผืœ ื ึดืกึฐื›ึผึธึ‘ืœึฐืชึผึธ ืœึนึฃื ืฉืึธืžึทึ—ืจึฐืชึผึธ ืึถืชึพืžึดืฆึฐื•ึทึžืช ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึคื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ™ื™ืšึธึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืฆึดื•ึผึธึ”ืšึฐ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืขึทืชึผึธึ—ื” ื”ึตื›ึดึจื™ืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึงื” ืึถืชึพืžึทึฝืžึฐืœึทื›ึฐืชึผึฐืšึธึ› ืึถืœึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืขึทื“ึพืขื•ึนืœึธึฝืืƒ

English:

Samuel answered Saul, โ€œYou acted foolishly in not keeping the commandment that the ETERNAL your God laid upon you! OtherwisekYou acted โ€ฆ Otherwise Change of vocalization yields, โ€œYou acted foolishly. If you had kept the commandment the ETERNAL your God laid upon youโ€ฆโ€ GOD would have established your dynasty over Israel forever.

Samuel's rebuke -- 'niskaltha' (you acted foolishly) -- is followed by the most consequential conditional statement in Saul's story: had he obeyed, God would have established his dynasty over Israel forever. Rashi, citing Megillah 13b, explains that when greatness is granted to a person, it is granted to him and his descendants. Metzudat David clarifies that Samuel's command was not personal but divine -- 'the commandment of the Lord your God' -- making Saul's disobedience not merely a breach of protocol but a violation of God's explicit will. Radak adds that Saul's failure demonstrated a fundamental lack of trust: he could not believe that waiting would lead to salvation.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
For now. Before you had done this, Adonoy would have established your kingship โ€ฆ forever. Because when a high position is assigned to a person, it is assigned to him and to his descendants.9 See Maseches Megillah 13b.", hebrewText: "ื›ึดึผื™ ืขึทืชึธึผื”. ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืชึฐืšึธ ื–ึนืืช: ื”ึตื›ึดื™ืŸ ื”ืณ ืึถืช ืžึทืžึฐืœึทื›ึฐืชึฐึผืšึธ ืขึทื“ ืขื•ึนืœึธื. ืฉึถืื›ึฐึผืฉึถืืคึผื•ึนืกึฐืงึดื™ืŸ ืœื•ึน ื’ึฐึผื“ึปืœึธึผื” ืœึฐืึธื“ึธื, ืคึผื•ึนืกึฐืงึดื™ืŸ ืœื•ึน ื•ึผืœึฐื“ื•ึนืจื•ึนืชึธื™ื• (ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื™ื’ ื‘):
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื ืกื›ืœืช. ืขืฉื™ืช ืกื›ืœื•ืช ื‘ืžื” ืฉืœื ื”ืžืชื ืช ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืขื“ ื‘ื•ืื™: ืืช ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืณ. ื›ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื, ื•ืœื ืžืืœื™ ืืžืจืชื™: ื›ื™ ืขืชื”. ืื ืžืฉืžืจ ื”ื™ื™ืช ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืณ, ืื– ืขืชื” ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื–ื›ื•ืช ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืžื›ื™ืŸ ืžืœื›ื•ืชืš ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื ืกื›ืœืช. ื›ื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ืจืื™ืช ืžื” ืฉืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ื•ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื›ืœ ืžืชืงื™ื™ื ื•ืขืชื” ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ืืžื ืช ืฉืื‘ื ื‘ื–ืžื ื™ ื›ืคืจืช ื‘ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื‘ื•ืืชื™ ื•ืœื ืฉืžืจืช ืืช ืžืฆื•ืช ื”' ืืœื”ื™ืš ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ืš ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ื•ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืฉืžื• ื•ืœื ืชืžืจื• ืืช ืคื™ ื”' ื•ื”ื ื” ืืชื” ืžืจื™ืช ืืช ืคื™ื• ื›ื™ ืžื” ืฉืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืคื™ื• ื•ื“ื‘ืจื• ื”ื•ื ื•ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ืฉืชื•ื—ืœ ืœื™ ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื•ืช ื•ื›ืืฉืจ ืœื ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ืŸ ื•ืคื—ื“ืช ื›ื“ื‘ืจื™ืš ื”ื ื” ืžืจื™ืช ืืช ืคื™ ื”' ื•ืกืœืงืช ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ื ื• ืžืœื‘ืš ื›ื™ ื—ืฉื‘ืช ืฉืœื ืชื•ืฉืข ืืชื” ื•ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื ืชื•ื—ื™ืœ ืขื•ื“: ืืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื›ืžื• ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืžืœื™ื›ื•ื”ื• ืืœ ื”ื’ืœืขื“:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืขึทืชึผึธึ–ื” ืžึทืžึฐืœึทื›ึฐืชึผึฐืšึธึฃ ืœึนึฝืึพืชึธืงึ‘ื•ึผื ื‘ึผึดืงึผึตืฉืึฉ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึจื” ืœึœื•ึน ืึดึฃื™ืฉื ื›ึผึดืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ึ—ื•ึน ื•ึทื™ึฐืฆึทื•ึผึตึจื”ื•ึผ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึคื” ืœึฐื ึธื’ึดื™ื“ึ™ ืขึทืœึพืขึทืžึผึ”ื•ึน ื›ึผึดึšื™ ืœึนึฃื ืฉืึธืžึทึ”ืจึฐืชึผึธ ืึตึฅืช ืึฒืฉืึถึฝืจึพืฆึดื•ึผึฐืšึธึ– ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

But now your dynasty will not endure. GOD will seek out a man with a more willing heart,lwith a more willing heart Trad. โ€œafter His own heart.โ€ Cf. 14.7; 2 Sam. 7.21; Ps. 20.5. and GOD will appoint him ruler over this covenanted people, because you did not abide by what GOD had commanded you.โ€

The sentence is pronounced: Saul's dynasty will not endure, and God has already sought out 'a man after His own heart' to be the new leader. Rashi connects this to Deuteronomy 17:20, explaining that the Torah's promise of a long reign is conditional on not straying from the commandment -- even a prophet's commandment, not only Torah law. Radak notes that Samuel spoke this through prophecy but did not yet know the identity of the chosen successor. Metzudat David explains that God's 'seeking' began at the very moment of Saul's transgression. The phrase 'ish kilvavo' (a man after His heart) will resonate throughout the rest of Samuel as it points forward to David's selection.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
But now, your kingship shall not endure. Because Moshe said so in the Torah, "[and] he does not stray from the commandment right or left, so that days of his reign are lengthyโ€ฆ."10 Devarim 17:20. Hence, if he does stray, the days [of his reign] will not be lengthy. And if you will argue that this was not said in reference to a Prophet's commandment, but only in reference to a commandment of the Torah, [I will answer that] it was already stated, "[and] to guard every word of this Torah" and afterwards, "that his pride not increaseโ€ฆ and he turn not stray from the commandment"11Devarim 18:19. And now that you failed to obey the commandment of 'ื” to obey His word as delivered by His prophets, you will be held accountable for your actions. [to include] even a prophet's commandment.", hebrewText: "ื•ึฐืขึทืชึธึผื” ืžึทืžึฐืœึทื›ึฐืชึฐึผืšึธ ืœึนื ืชึธืงื•ึผื. ืฉึถืื›ึตึผืŸ ืึธืžึทืจ ืžึนืฉึถืื” ื‘ึทึผืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื–:ื›): ืดืœึฐื‘ึดืœึฐืชึดึผื™ ืกื•ึผืจ ืžึดืŸ ื”ึทืžึดึผืฆึฐื•ึธื” ื™ึธืžึดื™ืŸ ื•ึผืฉึฐื‚ืžึนืืœ ืœึฐืžึทืขึทืŸ ื™ึทืึฒืจึดื™ืšึฐ ื™ึธืžึดื™ื ื•ึฐื’ื•ึนืณืด, ื”ึธื ืึดื ืกึธืจ, ืœึนื ื™ึทืึฒืจึดื™ืšึฐ ื™ึธืžึดื™ื, ื•ึฐืึดื ืชึนึผืืžึทืจ ืœึนื ืขึทืœ ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึทืช ื ึธื‘ึดื™ื ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ, ืึถืœึธึผื ืขึทืœ ืžึดืฆึฐื•ึทืช ื”ึทืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”, ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ื›ึฐึผื‘ึธืจ ื ึถืึฑืžึทืจ (ืฉื): ืดืœึดืฉึฐืืžึนืจ ืึถืช ื›ึธึผืœ ื“ึดึผื‘ึฐืจึตื™ ื”ึทืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ื”ึทื–ึนึผืืชืด, ื•ึฐืึทื—ึทืจ ื›ึธึผืšึฐ: ืดืœึฐื‘ึดืœึฐืชึดึผื™ ืจื•ึผื ืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ื•ึน ื•ึผืœึฐื‘ึดืœึฐืชึดึผื™ ืกื•ึผืจ ืžึดืŸ ื”ึทืžึดึผืฆึฐื•ึธื”ืด, ืึฒืคึดืœึผื•ึผ ืžึดืžึดึผืฆึฐื•ึทืช ื ึธื‘ึดื™ื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืขืชื”. ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ืœื ืฉืžืจืช, ืœื ืชืชืงื™ื™ื ืžืžืœื›ืชืš: ื‘ืงืฉ ื”ืณ ืœื•. ื‘ืขืฉื•ืชืš ื–ืืช, ื‘ืงืฉ ื”ืณ ืœื• ืื™ืฉ ื”ืขื•ืฉื” ื›ืœื‘ื‘ื• ื•ืฉื•ืžืจ ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื•: ื•ื™ืฆื•ื”ื• ื”ืณ. ื’ื–ืจ ืขืœื™ื• ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื ื’ื™ื“:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื‘ืงืฉ ื”' ืœื• ืื™ืฉ ื›ืœื‘ื‘ื•. ื‘ืจื•ื— ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืืžืจ ืœื• ื–ื” ืื‘ืœ ืœื ื™ื“ืข ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืžื™ ื”ื•ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึธึฃืงื‡ื ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตึ—ืœ ื•ึทื™ึผึทึ›ืขึทืœ ืžึดืŸึพื”ึทื’ึผึดืœึฐื’ึผึธึ–ืœ ื’ึผึดื‘ึฐืขึทึฃืช ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™ึธืžึดึ‘ืŸ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืคึฐืงึนึฃื“ ืฉืึธืึ—ื•ึผืœ ืึถืชึพื”ึธืขึธืึ™ ื”ึทื ึผึดืžึฐืฆึฐืึดึฃื™ื ืขึดืžึผึ”ื•ึน ื›ึผึฐืฉืึตึฅืฉื ืžึตืึ–ื•ึนืช ืึดึฝื™ืฉืืƒ

English:

Samuel arose and went up from GilgalmSamuel arose and went up from Gilgal Septuagint reads here, โ€œSamuel rose and left Gilgal and went his way. The rest of the people followed Saul to meet the soldiers, and they went from Gilgal.โ€ to GibeahnGibeah Sometimes called Geba; cf. vv. 3, 16; 14.5. of Benjamin. Saul numbered the troops who remained with himโ€”about 600 strong.

After the devastating pronouncement, Samuel departs from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin, and the narrative shifts to a grim military census: only about 600 men remain with Saul. Rashi explains that these were the ones who stayed after the rest had scattered. Radak clarifies that Samuel and Saul traveled together to Gibeah, and only there did Saul count his remaining forces. The number 600 is strikingly small compared to the 330,000 who rallied at Bezek (11:8), illustrating the catastrophic collapse of morale. Saul, having just lost God's promise of a dynasty, now faces a military reality that matches his spiritual desolation.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Who were [still] with him. For the people had scattered from him, and these remained.", hebrewText: "ื”ึทื ึดึผืžึฐืฆึธืึดื™ื ืขึดืžึผื•ึน. ื›ึดึผื™ ื”ึธืขึธื ื ึธืคื•ึนืฆื•ึผ ืžึตืขึธืœึธื™ื•, ื•ึฐืึตืœึผื•ึผ ื ึดืฉึฐืืชึทึผื™ึฐึผืจื•ึผ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืงื ืฉืžื•ืืœ. ื•ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ื ืžืฉืš ืื—ืจื™ื•: ื”ื ืžืฆืื™ื ืขืžื•. ืžืื•ืชืŸ ืฉืœื ื ืคื•ืฆื• ืžืขืœื™ื•:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืงื ืฉืžื•ืืœ. ื•ืฉืื•ืœ ืขืžื• ื•ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื’ื‘ืข ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื•ืคืงื“ ื”ืขื ื”ื ืžืฆืื™ื ืขืžื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืขืžื• ืืœื ื›ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืื™ืฉ ื›ื™ ื ืคืฅ ื”ืขื ืžืขืœื™ื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืฉืึธืึžื•ึผืœ ื•ึฐื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธึฃืŸ ื‘ึผึฐื ึ—ื•ึน ื•ึฐื”ึธืขึธืึ™ ื”ึทื ึผึดืžึฐืฆึธึฃื ืขึดืžึผึธึ”ื ื™ึนืฉืึฐื‘ึดึ–ื™ื ื‘ึผึฐื’ึถึฃื‘ึทืข ื‘ึผึดื ึฐื™ึธืžึดึ‘ืŸ ื•ึผืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ–ื™ื ื—ึธื ึฅื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืžึดื›ึฐืžึธึฝืฉื‚ืƒ

English:

Saul and his son Jonathan, and the troops who remained with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines were encamped at Michmas.

The verse establishes the precarious military standoff: Saul, Jonathan, and their tiny force of 600 hold Geba of Benjamin while the massive Philistine army occupies Michmas. Metzudat David simply notes they were 'lingering' in Geba -- the Hebrew 'yoshvim' suggests a static, defensive posture rather than active campaign. The two positions face each other across a valley, creating the geographic setting for Jonathan's daring raid in chapter 14. This is the low point of Saul's military fortunes: a king with a condemned dynasty, a handful of soldiers, and a superior enemy force encamped nearby.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื. ื”ื™ื• ืžืชืขื›ื‘ื™ื ื‘ื’ื‘ืข:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึตืฆึตึงื ื”ึทืžึผึทืฉืึฐื—ึดึ›ื™ืช ืžึดืžึผึทื—ึฒื ึตึฅื” ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ–ื™ื ืฉืึฐืœึนืฉืึธึฃื” ืจึธืืฉืึดึ‘ื™ื ื”ึธืจึนึจืืฉื ืึถื—ึธึฅื“ ื™ึดืคึฐื ึถึ›ื” ืึถืœึพื“ึผึถึฅืจึถืšึฐ ืขื‡ืคึฐืจึธึ–ื” ืึถืœึพืึถึฅืจึถืฅ ืฉืื•ึผืขึธึฝืœืƒ

English:

The raiders came out of the Philistine camp in three columns: One column headed for the Ophrah road that leads to the district of Shual,

The Philistines dispatch raiding parties (hamashchit -- literally 'the destroyer') in three columns to systematically devastate the surrounding Israelite territory. Metzudat David explains these were armed warriors skilled in destruction. Radak describes them as elite soldiers bearing swords and spears. The three-pronged raiding strategy shows the Philistines are not merely defending their position but actively projecting power throughout the Israelite heartland, ravaging the countryside with impunity while Saul's tiny garrison can only watch helplessly from Geba.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืช. ื”ื ืื—ื•ื–ื™ ื—ืจื‘ ืžืœื•ืžื“ื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื™ื ื‘ืขื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฆื ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืช. ื‘ื ื™ ื—ื™ืœ ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืื•ื—ื–ื™ ื—ืจื‘ื•ืช ื•ืจืžื—ื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ื ื›ื™ ื”ื ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื™ื: ืืœ ืืจืฅ ืฉื•ืขืœ. ืช"ื™ ืœืืจืขื ื“ืจื•ืžื ื›ืžื• ืฉืชืจื’ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืฉื•ืขืœื™ื ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื‘ืืจืขื ื“ืจื•ืžื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึธืจึนึคืืฉื ืึถื—ึธื“ึ™ ื™ึดืคึฐื ึถึ”ื” ื“ึผึถึ–ืจึถืšึฐ ื‘ึผึตึฃื™ืช ื—ึนืจึ‘ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐื”ึธืจึนึจืืฉื ืึถื—ึธึคื“ ื™ึดืคึฐื ึถื”ึ™ ื“ึผึถึฃืจึถืšึฐ ื”ึทื’ึผึฐื‘ึ”ื•ึผืœ ื”ึทื ึผึดืฉืึฐืงึธึ›ืฃ ืขึทืœึพื’ึผึตึฅื™ ื”ึทืฆึผึฐื‘ึนืขึดึ–ื™ื ื”ึทืžึผึดื“ึฐื‘ึผึธึฝืจึธื”ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

another column headed for the Beth-horon road, and the third column headed for the borderothe border Septuagint reads โ€œGeba.โ€ road that overlooks the valley of Zeboim toward the desert.

The second and third Philistine raiding columns head toward Beth-horon and the border road overlooking the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness, completing the three-directional devastation. Rashi identifies the 'tzevo'im' of the valley as the creature mentioned by Rabbi Meir in Bava Kamma 16a -- either a hyena or a type of venomous snake, reflecting the desolate and dangerous character of the terrain. Radak similarly connects it to the Talmudic identification of the tzavua as a serpent (efeh). The geographic detail emphasizes the totality of Philistine domination: every direction from Saul's position is under enemy control.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
The Valley of the Tzvo'im. Where the Tzvo'im are found. This is the animal referred to by R. Meir when he said, 'also the '.12 Maseches Bava Kama 16a.ืฆึผึธื‘ื•ึนืขึท Targum Yonoson renders, ''13 Perhaps it is the hyena or the fox.ืึฒืคึธืขึทื™ึธื and so did our Rabbis of sainted memory, explain, ืฆึธื‘ื•ึนืขึท is ,14 A particular species of snake.ืึถืคึฐืขึถื” a species of fierce and destructive animals.", hebrewText: "ื’ึตึผื™ ื”ึทืฆึฐึผื‘ึนืขึดื™ื. ืฉึถืืžึฐึผืฆื•ึผื™ึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผื•ึน ื”ึทืฆึฐึผื‘ื•ึนืขึดื™ื, ื”ื•ึผื ืฉึถืืฉึธึผืื ึดื™ื ื•ึผ, ืจึทื‘ึดึผื™ ืžึตืึดื™ืจ ืื•ึนืžึตืจ: ืึทืฃ ื”ึทืฆึธึผื‘ื•ึผืขึท. ื•ึฐืชึดืจึฐื’ึตึผื ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธืŸ: ืดืึทืคึฐืขึทื™ึธึผืืด. ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืคึตึผืจึฐืฉืื•ึผ ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึนืชึตื™ื ื•ึผ ื–ืดืœ (ื‘ื‘ื ืงืžื ื˜ื– ื): ืฆึธื‘ื•ึผืขึท ื–ึถื” ืึทืคึฐืขึถื”, ืžึดื™ืŸ ืฉึถืืจึถืฅ ืจึทืข ื•ึผืžึทื–ึดึผื™ืง:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื”ื ืฉืงืฃ. ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื”ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื ืจืื” ืœื”ืขื•ืžื“ ืขืœ ื’ื™ ื”ืฆื‘ื•ืขื™ื: ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจื”. ืžื•ืกื‘ ืขืœ ื”ื“ืจืš, ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ื“ืจืš ื™ืคื ื” ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืขืœ ื’ื™ ื”ืฆื‘ืขื™ื. ื›ืชืจื’ื•ืžื• ืœื—ื™ืœืช ืืคืขื™ื ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–"ืœ ืจ' ืžืื™ืจ ืื•ืžืจ ืืฃ ื”ืฆื‘ื•ืข ื•ืืžืจื• ืฆื‘ื•ืข ื–ื” ืืคื” ื•ืคื™' ืืคื” ืืคืขื” ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ืžื ื”ื’ื ืœื”ืกืชื™ืจ ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ื”ื’ืจื•ืŸ ื•ื ืงืจื ื”ืืคืขื” ืฆื‘ื•ืข ืœืคื™ ืฉืขืฉื•ื™ ื‘ื’ื•ื•ื ื™' ื•ื‘ืžื™ื ื™ ื”ืฆื‘ืขื™ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื—ึธืจึธืฉืึ™ ืœึนึฃื ื™ึดืžึผึธืฆึตึ”ื ื‘ึผึฐื›ึนึ–ืœ ืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ‘ืœ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพ[ืึธืžึฐืจึฃื•ึผ] (ืืžืจ) ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ”ื™ื ืคึผึถึšืŸ ื™ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึฃื•ึผ ื”ึธืขึดื‘ึฐืจึดึ”ื™ื ื—ึถึ–ืจึถื‘ ืึฅื•ึน ื—ึฒื ึดึฝื™ืชืƒ

English:

No smith was to be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines were afraid that the Hebrews would make swords or spears.

This verse reveals the depth of Philistine subjugation: they had imposed a complete iron monopoly on Israel, removing every blacksmith from the land to prevent weapons production. Rashi explains this policy was established at the beginning of Saul's reign as a deliberate act of disarmament. Radak provides extensive context, noting that Philistine control had been so prolonged -- stretching back even through the era of Samson -- that they systematically relocated all iron workers to Philistine territory. This detail is not merely military intelligence but a theological statement about how utterly dependent Israel was on divine deliverance rather than human armament.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
A blacksmith was not to be found. I.e., was not available at the beginning of Shaul's reign, because the Philistines who ruled over Yisroel, eliminated all the iron smiths from Yisroel, lest they make weapons to wage war.", hebrewText: "ื•ึฐื—ึธืจึธืฉื ืœึนื ื™ึดืžึธึผืฆึตื. ืœึนื ื”ึธื™ึธื” ืžึธืฆื•ึผื™ ื‘ึดึผืชึฐื—ึดืœึทึผืช ืžึทืœึฐื›ื•ึผืช ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ, ื›ึดึผื™ ื”ึทืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืฉึฐืืœึดื™ื ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ, ื”ึถืขึฑื‘ึดื™ืจื•ึผ ื›ึธึผืœ ื—ึธืจึธืฉึตืื™ ื‘ึทึผืจึฐื–ึถืœ ืžึดื™ึดึผืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ, ืคึถึผืŸ ื™ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึผ ื›ึฐึผืœึตื™ ื–ึทื™ึดืŸ ืœึฐื”ึดืœึธึผื—ึตื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืคืŸ ื™ืขืฉื• ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ื•ืœื–ื” ืœื ื”ื ื™ื—ื• ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื”ื ื—ืจืฉ ื‘ืจื–ืœ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื—ืจืฉ ืœื ื™ืžืฆื. ื™ืฉ ืœืชืžื•ื” ืื™ืš ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื—ืจืฉื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืจื‘ื™ื ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ืœืคื™ ืฉืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืžืฉืœื• ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื ื™ื ืจื‘ื•ืช ื›ื™ ืืฃ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืฉืžืฉื•ืŸ ืžื•ืฉื™ืข ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืžืจื• ื”ืœื ื™ื“ืขืช ื›ื™ ืžื•ืฉืœื™ื ื‘ื ื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ืืขืค"ื™ ืฉื‘ื™ืžื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื›ื ืขื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ืฉื‘ื• ื”ืขืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœืงื—ื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืขืค"ื™ ื›ืŸ ืžืขืช ืืฉืจ ื–ืงืŸ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืชื—ืช ืžืžืฉืœืชื ื”ื™ื• ื•ื”ื™ื• ืœื”ื ื ืฆื™ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฃ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ื•ื‘ืขืช ืžืฉืœื ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ื™ื“ื ืชืงื™ืคื” ืขืœื™ื”ื ื”ื•ืจื™ื“ื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื›ืœ ื—ืจืฉื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืžืŸ ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืœืืจืฅ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ืœื ื”ืฉืื™ืจื• ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ืจืฉ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืืฃ ืœืชืงืŸ ื›ืœื™ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ื•ื›ืœื™ ื—ืจื™ืฉื” ื›ื™ ืืžืจื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืคืŸ ื™ืขืฉื• ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื ื—ืจื‘ ืื• ื—ื ื™ืช ื•ื™ืžืจื“ื• ื‘ื ื•, ืžื ื”ื’ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื”ื”ื ืœืจื“ืช ืืจืฅ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืœืชืงืŸ ื›ืœื™ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ื•ื›ืœื™ ื—ืจื™ืฉื” ื•ืืคืฉืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ืจื‘ื•ืช ื•ืจืžื—ื™ื ื•ื—ื ื™ืชื•ืช ืžืื•ืชื ืืฉืจ ื ืขืฉื• ืงื•ื“ื ื”ื–ืžืŸ ื”ื”ื•ื ืื‘ืœ ืžืขื˜ื™ื ื”ื™ื• ื•ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื” ื”ื–ืืช ืœื ื ืžืฆื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื—ื ื™ืช ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืจื• ืขื ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืืœืฃ ืืฉืจ ืขื ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ืืฉืจ ืืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืืช ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ื‘ืœืชื™ ื›ืœื™ ื–ื™ื™ืŸ ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื”ื ืื‘ืœ ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื ืงืฉืชื•ืช ื•ืžืงืœื™ ื™ื“ ื•ืงืœืขื™ื ื•ืจื•ื‘ ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ื•ืื ืฉื™ ื—ื™ืœ ื‘ืื•ืชื• ื”ื–ืžืŸ ื‘ื—ืฆื™ื ื•ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืžืœื—ืžืชื ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ืกืคื•ืจ ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืžื™ืžื™ื ื™ื ื•ืžืฉืžืื™ืœื™ื ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ื•ื‘ืงืฉืช ื•ื ืืžืจ ื‘ืžืœื—ืžืช ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ืกื•ื‘ื• ื”ืงืœืขื™ื ื•ื™ื›ื•ื” ื•ื ืืžืจ ื‘ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืงืœืขื• ื‘ื™ื“ื• ื•ืืขืค"ื™ ื›ืŸ ื—ืกืจื•ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ืืฆืœื ื›ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ื ืžืฆืื™ื ืืฆืœื ื—ืจื‘ื•ืช ื•ื—ื ื™ืชื•ืช ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืกืคื•ืจ ื”ื ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ื ืžืฆื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื—ื ื™ืช ื‘ื™ื“ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื›ื™ ืื ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ื›ื™ ืœื ื‘ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื—ื ื™ืช ื™ื•ืฉื™ืข ื”' ื•ืœื”' ืœื‘ื“ื• ื”ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืœื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื—ื ื™ืช ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืืœื ืืœืฃ ื•ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืื™ืฉ ื•ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื”ื™ื• ืฉืœืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ ืจื›ื‘ ื•ืฉืฉืช ืืœืคื™ื ืคืจืฉื™ื ื•ืขื ื›ื—ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืขื“ ื›ื™ ื ืกื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืžืคื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื›ื•ื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื›ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”: ื›ื™ ืืžืจ. ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ืงืจื™ ืืžืจื• ื•ื”ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื›ืœืœ ื•ื”ืงืจื™ ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ืคืจื˜:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึตืจึฐื“ึฅื•ึผ ื›ื‡ืœึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื”ึทืคึผึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ‘ื™ื ืœึดึ ืœึฐื˜ึ ื•ึนืฉื ืึดึฃื™ืฉื ืึถืชึพืžึทื—ึฒืจึทืฉืึฐืชึผึคื•ึน ื•ึฐืึถืชึพืึตืชื•ึนึ™ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพืงึทืจึฐื“ึผึปืžึผึ”ื•ึน ื•ึฐืึตึ–ืช ืžึทื—ึฒืจึตืฉืึธืชึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to have their plowshares, their mattocks, axes, and colterspcolters Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Septuagint reads โ€œsickle.โ€ sharpened.

The humiliating practical consequence of the iron monopoly: Israelites had to travel to Philistine territory just to sharpen their agricultural tools. Rashi identifies each implement -- the plowshare (soc), the mattock (coltre), the axe (besague), and the tool (fosoir) -- all basic farming equipment. Metzudat David explains that this was the established custom whenever sharpening was needed. Radak offers extensive discussion of each tool's function. The verse paints a picture of total economic dependency: Israel could not even maintain its farming equipment without Philistine permission, let alone forge weapons of war.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
And all of Yisroel would go down to the Philistines. And when Yiroel needed iron smiths to sharpen mattocks, axes and tools, they had to go down to the land of the Philistines. His plowshare. Soc in O.F. His mattock. Coltre in O.F. His axe. Besague in O.F. His tools. Fosoir in O.F.", hebrewText: "ื•ึทื™ึตึผืจึฐื“ื•ึผ ื›ึธืœ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื”ึทืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื. ื•ึผื›ึฐืฉึถืื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ืฆึฐืจึดื™ื›ึดื™ืŸ ืœึฐื—ึธืจึธืฉึตืื™ ื‘ึทึผืจึฐื–ึถืœ ืœึดืœึฐื˜ื•ึนืฉื ืึดืชึดึผื™ื ื•ึฐืงึทืจึฐื“ึปึผืžึผื•ึนืช ื•ึผืžึทื—ึฒืจึตืฉืื•ึนืช, ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื–ึฐืงื•ึผืงึดื™ื ืœึตื™ืจึตื“ ืึถืœ ืึถืจึถืฅ ืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื: ืžึทื—ึฒืจึทืฉึฐืืชึผื•ึน. ืฉื•ืดืง ื‘ืœืขืดื–: ืึตืชื•ึน. ืงื•ืœื˜ืจืดื ื‘ืœืขืดื–: ืงึทืจึฐื“ึปึผืžึผื•ึน. ื‘ืฉื’ื•ืดืจ ื‘ืœืขืดื–: ืžึทื—ึฒืจึทืฉึฐืืชึผื•ึน. ืคื™ืฉื•ื™ื™ืจืดื ื‘ืœืขืดื–:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืจื“ื•. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื•ืžืื– ื›ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ื ืœืœื˜ื•ืฉ ื“ื‘ืจ ืžื”, ื”ื™ื• ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ื ืืœ ืืจืฅ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื, ืœืœื˜ื•ืฉ ืฉื ืืฆืœ ื”ื—ืจืฉ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื. ืคื™' ืืจืฅ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ื›ืŸ ืชื™ืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืืจืข ืคืœืฉืชืื™: ืœืœื˜ื•ืฉ. ืœื—ื“ื“: ืžื—ืจืฉืชื•. ื”ื•ื ื›ืœื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืฉื—ื•ืจืฉื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื•ื™"ืช ืคืจืฉื™ื” ื•ื›ืŸ ืชืจื’ื ื‘ืžืœืžื“ ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื‘ืคืจืฉื™ื” ื“ืชื•ืจื: ืืชื•. ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ืœื™ ืฉื—ื•ืคืจื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื•ื™"ืช ืกื™ื›ืช ืคื“ื ื™ื” ืจ"ืœ ื™ืชื“ ื”ืฉื•ื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืชื“ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืื•ืœื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ื™ืชื“ ืฉืžื›ื ื™ืกื™ืŸ ื‘ืขื•ืœ ืœื—ื‘ืจ ืฉื ื™ ื”ืฉื•ื•ืจื™ื ื™ื—ื“ ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืชืจื’ื ืคื“ื ื™ื” ื›ื™ ืคื“ื ื ื“ืชื•ืจื™ ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ื’ืžืจื ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ืฆืžื“ ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื›ืŸ ืชืจื’ื ืฆืžื“ ื‘ืงืจ ืคื“ืŸ ื“ืชื•ืจื™ ื•ื’ื ืื•ืชื• ื”ื›ืœื™ ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื—ื“ื“ื• ื‘ืจืืฉื• ื”ื' ื•ืฉืžืขืชื™ ื›ื™ ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ ืงื•ืจื™ืŸ ืœืžื—ืจื™ืฉื” ืกื›ื: ืงืจื“ื•ืžื•. ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ืœื™ ืฉื—ื•ื˜ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื”ืขืฆื™ื ื•ืช"ื™ ื›ื•ืœื‘ื™ ื•ื‘ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ื•ื ื‘ืœื” ืฉื ืฉืคืชื ืžืฉืคืชื ืืขืฉื” ื ื‘ืœื” ื”ื•ื” ืืžืจ ื—ื“ ืœื—ื‘ืจื™ื” ืื™ื™ืชื™ ืœื™ ื›ื•ืœื‘ ื—ื“ ื•ืžื™ื™ืชื™ ืœื™ื” ืžื’ืจื•ืคื™ ื”ื•ื” ืžื—ื™ ืœื™ื” ื•ืคืฆืข ืžื•ื—ื™ื” ื•ื™"ืž ื›ื•ืœื‘ ืฆื‘ืช ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ื ืงืจื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืขืจื‘ื™ ื›ื•ืœื"ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉ ืฉืงื•ืจืื™ื ื”ืชืจื’ื•ื ื›ื•ืœื›ื™ ื‘ื›"ืฃ ื’ื ื”ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ื•ื›ืŸ ื ืžืฆื ื‘ืžืงืฆืช ื”ื ื•ืกื—ืื•ืช: ืžื—ืจืฉืชื•. ื›ืœื™ ืื•ืžื ื•ืช ืžืŸ ื—ืจืฉ ืขืฆื™ื ื—ืจืฉ ืื‘ืŸ ื•ื™"ืช ืขื•ืฉืคื™ื ื•ื›ืŸ ืชืจื’ื ืœืžื—ืจืฉื•ืช ืœืขื•ืฉืคื™ื ื•ื‘ืžืฉื ืช ืžืกื›ืช ื›ืœื™ื ืงืจื“ื•ื ืฉื ื˜ืœ ืขืฉืคื• ื˜ืžื ืžืคื ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื‘ืงื•ืขื• ื ื˜ืœ ื‘ืงื•ืขื• ื˜ืžื ืžืคื ื™ ืขืฉื•ืคื• ื ืฉื‘ืจ ืžืงื•ืคื• ื˜ื”ื•ืจ ื ืจืื” ืžื“ืขืช ื”ืžืชืจื’ื ื›ื™ ื’ื ืžื—ืจืฉืชื• ื”ื•ื ื›ืœื™ ื”ืžื—ืจื™ืฉื” ืฉื—ื•ืจืฉื™ื ื‘ื• ืฉืขื•ืฉื™ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ื“ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื—ืจื™ืฉื” ื•ืชืจื’ื ืขื•ืฉืคื™ื ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืฆื“ ื”ื—ื“ ืฉืœ ื”ืงื•ืจื“ื•ื ื›ื™ ืœืงื•ืจื“ื•ื ืฉื ื™ ืคื™ื•ืช ื”ืื—ื“ ื—ื“ ื•ื”ืื—ื“ ืจื—ื‘ ื•ื”ืจื—ื‘ ื‘ื•ืงืขื™ื ื‘ื• ืขืฆื™ื ื‘ืจื•ื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื ืงืจื ื‘ืžืฉื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื‘ืงื•ืขื• ื•ื”ืฆื“ ื”ื—ื“ ืฉืœื• ื‘ื• ื‘ื•ืงืขื™ื ื’ื ื›ืŸ ืœืคืขืžื™ื ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื ืงืจื ื‘ืžืฉื ื” ืขื•ืฉืคื• ื•ื”ื•ื ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืžื—ืจื™ืฉื” ื‘ื—ื“ื•ื“ื• ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืืžืจื• ื‘ืžืฉื ืช ืžืกื›ืช ื‘ื™ืฆื” ืื™ืŸ ืžื‘ืงื™ืขื™ืŸ ืœื ื‘ืงืจื“ื•ื ื•ืœื ื‘ืžื’ืœ ื•ืืžืจื• ื‘ื’ืžืจื ืœื ื‘ืงืจื“ื•ื ืœื ืฉื ื• ืืœื ื‘ื ืงื‘ืช ืฉืœื• ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืฆื“ ื”ืจื—ื‘ ืฉื‘ื•ืงืขื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื‘ืจื•ื‘ ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืื™ืŸ ืžื‘ืงืขื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ื˜ื•ื‘ ืฉื ืจืื” ื›ืžืœืื›ืช ื—ื•ืœ ืื‘ืœ ื‘ื–ื›ืจื•ืช ืฉืœื• ืžื•ืชืจ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืฆื“ ื”ื—ื“ ืฉืœื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื“ืจืš ืœื‘ืงื•ืข ื‘ื• ื‘ืจื•ื‘ ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืžืงื•ืคื• ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ืžืฉื ื” ื”ื•ื ื ืงื‘ ื”ืงืจื“ื•ื ืฉื ื›ื ืกืช ื‘ื• ื™ื“ ื”ืงืจื“ื•ื ื•ืคื™' ื›ืžื• ื ืงื‘ ื”ืžื—ื˜ ืฉื ืงืจื ืงื•ืคื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐึฝื”ึธ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึฐืชึธึžื” ื”ึทืคึผึฐืฆึดึฃื™ืจึธื” ืคึดึ—ื™ื ืœึทืžึผึทึฝื—ึฒืจึตืฉืึนืชึ™ ื•ึฐืœึธึฃืึตืชึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืœึนึฅืฉื ืงึดืœึผึฐืฉืึ–ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึผืœึฐื”ึทืงึผึทืจึฐื“ึผึปืžึผึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึผืœึฐื”ึทืฆึผึดึ–ื™ื‘ ื”ึทื“ึผึธืจึฐื‘ึธึฝืŸืƒ

English:

qMeaning of several terms in this verse uncertain. The charge for sharpening was a pim rpim I.e., two-thirds of a shekel. for plowshares, mattocks, three-pronged forks, and axes, and for setting the goads.

This technically difficult verse describes either the cost or the method of sharpening. Rashi interprets 'petzirah pim' as a multi-edged file with many sharp surfaces that those who could not travel to the Philistines used to sharpen their own tools -- a crude workaround for the smithing ban. Radak similarly explains it as an abrasive tool with many 'mouths' (piyyot) or cutting edges. The 'kilshon' is a three-pronged pitchfork, and the 'dorvan' is the metal goad-tip inserted into the ox-driver's staff. The verse's accumulation of agricultural terminology emphasizes that Israel's entire economy was held hostage by Philistine control of metalworking.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
There was a multi-edged file that was used for the tools. For those who found it troublesome to go down to the Philistines to sharpen, had the ืคึผึฐืฆึดื™ืจึธื” ืคึดื™ื, lime in O.F., which has many mouths, i.e. many sharp and jagged surfaces to sharpen the tools and mattocks. Three pronged pitchforks. A fork similar to a pitchfork, which is called 'forche' [in O.F.], having three prongs. And for setting the yoke. To sharpen the tip, and to insert it and set it into the handle.", hebrewText: "ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื”ึทืคึฐึผืฆึดื™ืจึธื” ืคึดื™ื ืœึทืžึทึผื—ึฒืจึตืฉืื•ึนืช. ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ืœึธื”ึถื ืœึฐืื•ึนืชึธื ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ึธื” ืœึธื”ึถื ื˜ื•ึนืจึทื— ืœึธืจึถื“ึถืช ืึถืœ ื”ึทืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื ืœึดืœึฐื˜ื•ึนืฉื, ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื”ึทืคึฐึผืฆึดื™ืจึธื” ืคึดื™ื ืœื™ืžืดื ื‘ืœืขืดื–, ืฉึถืื™ึตึผืฉื ืœึธื”ึผ ื”ึทืคึฐืฆึทืจ ืคึดึผื™ึผื•ึนืช, ื›ึฐึผืœื•ึนืžึทืจ ืคึดึผื™ึผื•ึนืช ื•ึฐื—ึดื“ึผื•ึผื“ึดื™ื ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึตึผื”, ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ืœึธื”ึถื ืœึฐื—ึทื“ึตึผื“ ื”ึทืžึทึผื—ึฒืจึถืฉึถืืช ื•ึฐื”ึธืึดืชึดึผื™ื: ื•ึผืœึฐืฉึธืืœึนืฉื ืงึดืœึฐึผืฉืื•ึนืŸ. ืžึทื–ึฐืœึตื’ ืขึธืฉื‚ื•ึผื™ ื›ึฐึผืžึดื™ืŸ ืขึธืชึตืจ, ืฉึถืืงึผื•ึนืจึดื™ืŸ ืคื•ืจืงื“ืดื, ื•ึฐืœื•ึน ืฉึธืืœื•ึนืฉื ืฉึดืื ึดึผื™ื: ื•ึผืœึฐื”ึทืฆึดึผื™ื‘ ื”ึทื“ึธึผืจึฐื‘ึธืŸ. ืœึฐื—ึทื“ึฐึผื“ื•ึน ื‘ึฐึผืจึนืืฉืื•ึน ืœึฐื ื•ึนืขึฒืฆื•ึน ื•ึผืœึฐื”ึทืฆึดึผื™ื‘ื•ึน ื‘ึฐึผืชื•ึนืšึฐ ื”ึทืžึทึผืจึฐื“ึตึผืขึท:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื•ืžื™ ืฉืœื ืจืฆื” ืœืจื“ืช ืœืคืœืฉืชื™ื, ื”ื™ื” ืœื•ื˜ืฉ ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ืืช ื”ืžื—ืจืฉื•ืช ื•ื›ื•ืณ, ืขื ื”ื›ืœื™ ื”ืงืจื•ื™ื” ืณืคืฆื™ืจื” ืคื™ืืณ, ื”ืขืฉื•ื™ื” ื‘ื”ืจื‘ื” ืคื™ื•ืช ื•ื—ืจื™ืฆื™ื, ื•ื ื•ื— ืœืœื˜ื•ืฉ ื‘ื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื”ืคืฆื™ืจื” ืคื™ื. ืฉืชื™ ืžื™ืœื•ืช ื•ืคื™' ืคืฆื™ืจื” ืจื‘ื” ืžืœืฉื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืคืฆืจ ื‘ื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืจื‘ื•ื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ืชื—ื ื•ื ื™ื ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืคื™ื ืคื™ื•ืช ืจ"ืœ ืจื‘ืช ืคื™ื•ืช ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื” ื—ื“ื•ื“ื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื” ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื ืงืจื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืชืจื’ื•ื ืฉื•ืคื™ื ื ื•ื‘ืœืข"ื– ืœื™ืž"ื ื•ืžื—ื“ื“ื™ืŸ ื‘ื” ื›ืœ ื›ืœื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื•ืื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ื‘ืคืฆื™ืจ ื”ืคื™ื ื”ื™ื• ืžื—ื“ื“ื™ื ื›ืœื™ื”ื ืžื™ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืคื ืื™ ืœืจื“ืช ื‘ืืจืฅ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืœืœื˜ื•ืฉ ื”ื›ืœื™: ื•ืœืฉืœืฉ ืงืœืฉื•ืŸ. ื”ื•ื ื›ืœื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ืฉื™ื ื™ื ื•ืžืกืœืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื”ื–ื‘ืœ ื•ื”ืชื‘ืŸ ื•ืฉื ื”ื›ืœื™ ืงืœืฉื•ืŸ ื•ื‘ืืž' ืœืฉืœืฉ ืงืœืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืื™ืœื• ืืžืจ ืงืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฉืœืฉ ื”ืฉื™ื ื™' ื•ืงื•ืจื™ืŸ ืœื• ื‘ืœืข"ื– ืคื•ืจืง"ื ื•ื™"ืช ืžืฆืœืช ืงืฆืจื™ื ื“ื™ ืœื” ืชืœืช ืฉื ื™ืŸ ื•ืงืฆืจื ื”ื•ื ืชืจื’ื•ื ื›ื•ื‘ืก ื•ืจ"ืœ ื›ื™ ืื•ืชื• ื”ื›ืœื™ ื”ื•ื ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ืฉื™ื ื™ื ื•ืžื•ืชื—ื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื”ื›ื•ื‘ืกื™ืŸ ื”ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื›ื‘ื™ืกืชืŸ: ื•ืœื”ืงืจื“ืžื™ื. ื ื›ืชื‘ื” ื‘ื• ื”"ื ื”ื™ื“ื™ืขื” ืขื ืœืž"ื“ ื”ืฉืžื•ืฉ ื›ืžืฉืคื˜ื• ืฉืœื ื›ืžื ื”ื’ ื›ื™ ืื ืžืขื˜ื™ื ื ืžืฆืื™ื ื›ืžื•ื”ื• ื›ืžื• ืœื”ื’ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ืœื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ื•ื”ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœื”ื: ื•ืœื”ืฆื™ื‘ ื”ื“ืจื‘ืŸ. ื›ื•ืœื• ืงืžืฅ ืœื‘ืŸ ื ืคืชืœื™ ื•ืœื‘ืŸ ืืฉืจ ื”ื‘ื™"ืช ื‘ืคืชื— ื•ื”ื“ืœื™"ืช ืœืฉื ื™ื”ื ืžืขืžื“ืช ื‘ื’ืขื™ื ื•ืคื™' ื”ื“ืจื‘ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืžื—ื˜ ื”ืžืœืžื“ ื›ื™ ื”ืขืฅ ื ืงืจื ืžืœืžื“ ื•ื”ืžื—ื˜ ื”ืชื—ื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื•ื›ื• ืฉื“ื•ืงืจ ื‘ื• ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื ืงืจื ื“ืจื‘ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื‘ืžืฉื ื” ืžืœืžื“ ืฉื‘ืœืข ืืช ื”ื“ืจื‘ืŸ ื•ืคื™' ืœื”ืฆื™ื‘ ืœืกื“ืจื• ื‘ืจืืฉื• ื•ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ืžืœืžื“ ื•ื™"ืช ื•ืœืื ืฆื‘ื ื–ืงืช:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื”ึ™ ื‘ึผึฐื™ึฃื•ึนื ืžึดืœึฐื—ึถึ”ืžึถืช ื•ึฐืœึนึจื ื ึดืžึฐืฆึธึœื ื—ึถึคืจึถื‘ ื•ึทึฝื—ึฒื ึดื™ืชึ™ ื‘ึผึฐื™ึทึฃื“ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ”ื ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืึถืชึพืฉืึธืึ–ื•ึผืœ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธึ‘ืŸ ื•ึทืชึผึดืžึผึธืฆึตึฃื ืœึฐืฉืึธืึ”ื•ึผืœ ื•ึผืœึฐื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธึ–ืŸ ื‘ึผึฐื ึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

Thus on the day of the battle, no sword or spear was to be found in the possession of any of the troops with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and Jonathan had them.

The iron monopoly reaches its devastating military conclusion: on the day of battle, not a single sword or spear could be found among the 600 troops -- only Saul and Jonathan possessed weapons. Rashi, citing Vayikra Rabbah 25:8, states that even their weapons came 'by means of a miracle.' Radak elaborates that while Israel may have had some older weapons from before the Philistine ban, none were available to these soldiers, and the midrash suggests an angel provided them to Saul and Jonathan. This detail sets up the theological message of chapter 14, where Jonathan will declare that 'nothing prevents God from saving by many or by few' -- victory depends on faith, not armament.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
But they could be found with Shaul. By means of a miracle.15 See Vayikra Rabbah 25:8.", hebrewText: "ื•ึทืชึดึผืžึธึผืฆึตื ืœึฐืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ. ืขึทืœ ื™ึฐื“ึตื™ ื ึตืก:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ืžืœื—ืžืช. ื‘ืขืช ืฉื ืœื—ืžื• ืขื ืคืœืฉืชื™ื: ืœื ื ืžืฆื ื—ืจื‘. ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ืจืฉ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืœืขืฉื•ืชื: ื•ืชืžืฆื. ืื‘ืœ ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืœื™ื•ื ืชืŸ, ืœื”ื ืœื‘ื“ื ื ืžืฆื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื—ื ื™ืช:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ืžืœื—ืžืช. ืžื•ื›ืจืช ื›ืžื• ืžืฉืžืจืช ื›ื™ ื™ื‘ื ื–ื” ื”ืžืฉืงืœ ืกืžื•ืš ื•ืžื•ื›ืจืช ื•ืคื™' ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืขื•ืจื›ื™ื ืžืœื—ืžื” ืืœื” ืขื ืืœื” ืœื ื ืžืฆื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื—ื ื™ืช ื‘ื™ื“ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืœื ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืœื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ืขืœ ื”ื“ืจืš ื”ื–ื” ืช"ื™ ื•ื”ื•ื” ื‘ื™ื•ืžื ื“ืงืจื‘ื ืœื ืžืฉืชื›ื— ื—ืจื‘ื, ื•ื‘ื“ืจืฉ ืžื”ื• ื•ืชืžืฆื ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืืฃ ื‘ื™ื“ื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืืœื ืฉื”ืžืœืืš ื”ืžืฆื™ืื” ืœื”ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึตืฆึตืึ™ ืžึทืฆึผึทึฃื‘ ืคึผึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ”ื™ื ืึถึฝืœึพืžึทืขึฒื‘ึทึ–ืจ ืžึดื›ึฐืžึธึฝืฉื‚ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Now the Philistine garrison had marched out to the pass of Michmas.

The chapter closes with the Philistine garrison advancing to the pass of Michmas, tightening the noose around Israel's position. Rashi provides crucial geographic context: Michmas and Geba were on opposing mountains with a valley between them, and the garrison moved to the Michmas side facing Geba -- positioning itself for a direct confrontation. Radak explains that 'matzav' refers to the military command staff who separated from the main Philistine camp to take a forward position. This verse directly sets the stage for chapter 14, where Jonathan and his armor-bearer will cross this very pass in a daring act of faith that contrasts sharply with his father's failure at Gilgal.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
A Philistine garrison. It is the custom of soldiers to form a garrison and a raiding party, [the latter] spread out into a city and seek its plunder. It is called 'cenbel' in O.F. Garrison. They are the ones who stand guard that no raiders come out of the city against them. Towards the Pass of Michmos. The Philistines were camped in Michmos, and Michmos was on a mountain. Yisroel was in a city named Geva, and Geva was also on top of a mountain, and those two mountains were opposite each other. The valley was between them, as is stated in this episode, "and the Phillistine garrison went out toward the Pass of Michmos," which is on the side toward Geva, to the valley between them.", hebrewText: "ืžึทืฆึทึผื‘ ืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื. ื“ึถึผืจึถืšึฐ ืึทื ึฐืฉึตืื™ ืฆึธื‘ึธื ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ืžึตื”ึถื ืžึทืฆึธึผื‘ ื•ึผืžึทืฉึฐืื—ึดื™ืช, ื”ึตื ื”ึทืคึผื•ึนืฉึฐืื˜ึดื™ื ื•ึฐืจึธืฆึดื™ื ืึทื—ึทืจ ื”ึทืฉึธึผืืœึธืœ ืึถืœ ื”ึธืขึดื™ืจ, ืฉึถืืงึผื•ึนืจึดื™ืŸ ืฆื ื‘ื™ืดืœ ื‘ืœืขืดื–: ืžึทืฆึธึผื‘. ื”ึตื ื ึฐืฆึดื™ื‘ึดื™ื ืœึดืฉึฐืืžึนืจ ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ื™ึตืฆึฐืื•ึผ ืžึดืŸ ื”ึธืขึดื™ืจ ืžึทืฉึฐืื—ึดื™ืชึดื™ื ื‘ึธึผื”ึถื: ืึถืœ ืžึทืขึฒื‘ึทืจ ืžึดื›ึฐืžึธืฉื‚. ื”ึทืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื—ื•ึนื ึดื™ื ื‘ึฐึผืžึดื›ึฐืžึธืฉื‚, ื•ึผืžึดื›ึฐืžึธืฉื‚ ื‘ึธึผื”ึธืจ, ื•ึฐื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื‘ึฐึผืขึดื™ืจ ืฉึถืืฉึฐึผืืžึธื”ึผ ื’ึถึผื‘ึทืข ื•ึฐื’ึถื‘ึทืข ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื‘ึฐึผืจึนืืฉื ื”ึธื”ึธืจ, ื•ึผืฉึฐืื ึตื™ ื”ึธืจึดื™ื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื–ึถื” ื›ึฐึผื ึถื’ึถื“ ื–ึถื”, ื•ึฐื”ึทื’ึทึผื™ึฐื ื‘ึตึผื™ื ึตื™ื”ึถื, ื›ึฐึผืžื•ึน ืฉึถืืึธืžื•ึผืจ ื‘ึธึผืขึดื ึฐื™ึธืŸ. ื•ึผืžึทืฆึทึผื‘ ืคึฐึผืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื ื ึดื’ึทึผืฉื ืึถืœ ืขึตื‘ึถืจ ืžึดื›ึฐืžึธืฉื‚ ืฉึถืืœึฐึผืฆึทื“ ื’ึถึผื‘ึทืข, ืึถืœ ื”ึทื’ึทึผื™ึฐื ืฉึถืื‘ึตึผื™ื ึตื™ื”ึถื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืืœ ืžืขื‘ืจ ืžื›ืžืฉ. ืžื”ืขื‘ืจ ืžื–ื”, ืœื”ืชืงืจื‘ ืืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืขื” ืžืงื•ื ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฆื ืžืฆื‘ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื. ืคื™' ืฉืจื™ ื”ื—ื™ืœ ื•ื›ืŸ ืชื™ืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืืกื˜ืจื˜ื™ื’, ื•ื›ืŸ ืชืจื’ื ื ืฆื™ื‘ ื ืฆื™ื‘ื™ื ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ืฉืจื™ื ื•ื‘ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ื•ื™ื‘ื“ืœ ืืœื”ื™ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืื•ืจ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื—ืฉืš ืจ' ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ ื•ืจื™ืฉ ืœืงื™ืฉ ืžืฉืœ ืœืžืœืš ืฉื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืฉื ื™ ืืกื˜ืจื˜ื™ื’ื™ืŸ ื' ืฉืœื™ื˜ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื•ื' ื‘ืœื™ืœื” ื•ื™ืฆื ื–ื” ื”ืžืฆื‘ ื›ื™ ื›ืœื ื—ื ื• ื‘ืžื›ืžืฉ ื•ื ืคืจื“ ื–ื” ื”ืžืฆื‘ ืžืžื—ื ื” ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ื‘ื ืœื• ืืœ ืžืขื‘ืจ ืื—ืจ ืžืžื›ืžืฉ ืœื”ืชืงืจื‘ ืืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืขื” ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื• ืฉื ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ:

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