Chapter 9

1Now there was a man of Benjamin, and his name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite man, a mighty man of power.   אוַֽיְהִי־אִ֣ישׁ מִבִּן־מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ין (כתיב יָמִ֗ין) וּ֠שְׁמוֹ קִ֣ישׁ בֶּן־אֲבִיאֵ֞ל בֶּן־צְר֧וֹר בֶּן־בְּכוֹרַ֛ת בֶּן־אֲפִ֖יחַ בֶּן־אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִ֑י גִּבּ֖וֹר חָֽיִל:
2And he had a son whose name was Saul. He was young and handsome, there being no one of the children of Israel handsomer than he; from his shoulders and upwards he was taller than any of the people.   בוְלוֹ־הָיָ֨ה בֵ֜ן וּשְׁמ֚וֹ שָׁאוּל֙ בָּח֣וּר וָט֔וֹב וְאֵ֥ין אִ֛ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ט֣וֹב מִמֶּ֑נּוּ מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹ וָמַ֔עְלָה גָּבֹ֖הַּ מִכָּל־הָעָֽם:
3Now, the she-asses of Kish, Saul's father, became lost, and Kish said to Saul his son, "Now, take one of the servants and arise and go, seek the she-asses."   גוַתֹּאבַ֙דְנָה֙ הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת לְקִ֖ישׁ אֲבִ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וַיֹּ֨אמֶר קִ֜ישׁ אֶל־שָׁא֣וּל בְּנ֗וֹ קַח־נָ֚א אִתְּךָ֙ אֶת־אַחַ֣ד מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים וְק֣וּם לֵ֔ךְ בַּקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־הָאֲתֹנֹֽת:
4And he passed through Mt. Ephraim, and he passed through the land of Shalishah, and they did not find them, and they passed through the land of Shaalim and they were not there, and he passed through the land of Benjamin and they did not find them.   דוַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר בְּהַר־אֶפְרַ֛יִם וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־שָׁלִ֖שָׁה וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אוּ וַיַּעַבְר֚וּ בְאֶֽרֶץ־שַׁעֲלִים֙ וָאַ֔יִן וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־יְמִינִ֖י וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽאוּ:
5When they had come into the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease to worry about the she-asses, and worry about us."   ההֵ֗מָּה ֤בָּאוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ צ֔וּף וְשָׁא֥וּל אָמַ֛ר לְנַעֲר֥וֹ אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֖וֹ לְכָ֣ה וְנָשׁ֑וּבָה פֶּן־יֶחְדַּ֥ל אָבִ֛י מִן־הָאֲתֹנ֖וֹת וְדָ֥אַג לָֽנוּ:
into the land of Zuph. (Jonathan renders:) into the land wherein there was a prophet.   בארץ צוף.  בארעא דבה נביא:
Zuph. like ‘Zopheh,’ a prophet (or seer).   צוף.  כמו 'צופה':
lest my father cease to worry about the she-asses. because his worry for us will increase until he forgets the she-asses.   פן יחדל אבי מן האתונות.  שתגדל דאגה שלנו עליו, עד שישכח את האתונות:
and worry. doutera in French.   ודאג.  איטוביטאר"ה בלע"ז:
6And he said to him, "Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is held in high esteem; everything which he speaks, surely comes to pass. Now, let us go there; perhaps he will tell us our way upon which we have gone."   ווַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הִנֵּה־נָ֚א אִישׁ־אֱלֹהִים֙ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְהָאִ֣ישׁ נִכְבָּ֔ד כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יְדַבֵּ֖ר בּ֣וֹא יָב֑וֹא עַתָּה֙ נֵ֣לֲכָה שָּׁ֔ם אוּלַי֙ יַגִּ֣יד לָ֔נוּ אֶת־דַּרְכֵּ֖נוּ אֲשֶׁר־הָלַ֥כְנוּ עָלֶֽיהָ:
our way. The story of the she-asses, i.e., what has become of them, for whom we have gone all this way.   את דרכנו.  מעשה האתונות מה נהיתה בם, שבשבילם הלכנו את כל הדרך הזה:
7And Saul said to his servant, "And behold, if we go what shall we bring to the man, for the bread is used up from our vessels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God: what have we?"   זוַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל לְנַעֲר֗וֹ וְהִנֵּ֣ה נֵלֵךְ֘ וּמַה־נָּבִ֣יא לָאִישׁ֒ כִּ֚י הַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ אָזַ֣ל מִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּ וּתְשׁוּרָ֥ה אֵין־לְהָבִ֖יא לְאִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים מָ֖ה אִתָּֽנוּ:
and what shall we bring to the man. Jonathan paraphrases: If he accepts money, what shall we bring to the man? Saul was not familiar with Samuel’s practice and thought that he would ask for a reward.   ומה נביא לאיש.  תרגם יונתן: אם מקבל ממון, מה נעול לגברא. לא היה שאול מכיר במעשיו של שמואל, וסבר שישאל שכר:
and there is no present. (Heb ‘t’shurah’) Jonathan renders: and there is nothing proper. This is an expression of ‘yosher,’ propriety. (The root is ‘yashor.’ The yud is missing, and the ‘tav’ is a prefix.) Menahem, however, explains ‘t’shurah’ as an expression of an offering for the privilege of seeing a king or an important person. An expression related to ‘ashurenu,’ “I behold them” (Num. 24: 17). And his opinion is acceptable to me.   ותשורה.  תרגם יונתן: ומדעם דכשר, לשון יושר. ומנחם פירש: 'תשורה', לשון תקרובת, ראות פני מלך ואדם חשוב, לשון אשורנו (במדבר כד יז), ונראין דבריו:
8The lad answered Saul again, and said, "Behold, I have in my possession a fourth of a shekel of silver, and I shall give it to the man of God, that he may tell us our way."   חוַיֹּ֚סֶף הַנַּ֙עַר֙ לַעֲנ֣וֹת אֶת־שָׁא֔וּל וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּה֙ נִמְצָ֣א בְיָדִ֔י רֶ֖בַע שֶׁ֣קֶל כָּ֑סֶף וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ לְאִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּ֥יד לָ֖נוּ אֶת־דַּרְכֵּֽנוּ:
a fourth of a shekel. one zuz of silver (from Jonathan).   רבע שקל.  זוזא חדא דכספא:
9Formerly, in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he would say thus, "Come and let us go to the seer," for he who is called a prophet today, was formerly called a seer.   טלְפָנִ֣ים | בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּֽה־אָמַ֚ר הָאִישׁ֙ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה עַד־הָרֹאֶ֑ה כִּ֚י לַנָּבִיא֙ הַיּ֔וֹם יִקָּרֵ֥א לְפָנִ֖ים הָרֹאֶֽה:
Formerly in Israel. The author wrote this. This is not part of the statement of Saul’s servant.   לפנים בישראל.  הסופר כתב זאת, ואין זה מדברי נער שאול:
for he who is called prophet today. (lit., to the prophet today.) The one who is called a prophet today, was formerly called a seer.   כי לנביא היום.  למי שקורים אותו נביא היום, היו קורים לפנים 'רואה':
10And Saul said to his servant, "Well said, come, let us go." And they went to the city where the man of God was.   יוַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֧וּל לְנַעֲר֛וֹ ט֥וֹב דְּבָרְךָ֖ לְכָ֣ה | נֵלֵ֑כָה וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ אֶל־הָעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִֽים:
11As they were going up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens coming out to draw water, and they said to them, "Is the seer here?"   יאהֵ֗מָּה עֹלִים֙ בְּמַעֲלֵ֣ה הָעִ֔יר וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ מָצְא֣וּ נְעָר֔וֹת יֹצְא֖וֹת לִשְׁאֹ֣ב מָ֑יִם וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן הֲיֵ֥שׁ בָּזֶ֖ה הָרֹאֶֽה:
12And they answered them and said, "He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for today he has come to the city, for the people will have the sacrifice of the day in the high place.   יבוַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָה אוֹתָ֛ם וַתֹּאמַ֥רְנָה יֵּ֖שׁ הִנֵּ֣ה לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַהֵ֣ר | עַתָּ֗ה כִּ֚י הַיּוֹם֙ בָּ֣א לָעִ֔יר כִּ֣י זֶ֧בַח הַיּ֛וֹם לָעָ֖ם בַּבָּמָֽה:
13When you come to the city, straightway you will find him, before he ascends the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, for he will bless the sacrifice, and afterwards the invited guests will eat. Now go up, for at this time, you will find him.   יגכְּבֹאֲכֶ֣ם הָעִ֣יר כֵּ֣ן תִּמְצְא֣וּן אֹת֡וֹ בְּטֶרֶם֩ יַעֲלֶ֨ה הַבָּמָ֜תָה לֶאֱכֹ֗ל כִּ֠י לֹֽא־יֹאכַ֚ל הָעָם֙ עַד־בֹּא֔וֹ כִּֽי־הוּא֙ יְבָרֵ֣ךְ הַזֶּ֔בַח אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן יֹאכְל֣וּ הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים וְעַתָּ֣ה עֲל֔וּ כִּֽי־אֹת֥וֹ כְהַיּ֖וֹם תִּמְצְא֥וּן אֹתֽוֹ:
When you come to the city, straightway. They prolonged their conversation in order to gaze upon Saul’s handsomeness.   כבואכם העיר כן וגו'.  מאריכות היו בדברים, כדי להסתכל ביופיו של שאול:
to the high place. Jonathan renders: to the banquet hall. When Shiloh was destroyed, the high places were permitted, and they would sacrifice peace- offerings in the high place and eat together.   הבמתה.  תרגם יונתן: לבית אסחרותא. משחרבה שילה הותרו הבמות, והיו מקריבין שלמים בבמה, ואוכלים יחד:
for he will bless the sacrifice. Jonathan renders: for he will break bread. For the peace-offering they recited the following benediction: Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to eat the sacrifice.   כי הוא יברך הזבח.  תרגם יונתן: 'ארי הוא פריס מזונא', בוצע על המזון, על השלמים מברכין באכילתם: ברוך אתה ה' אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לאכול את הזבח:
at this time. just as the day exists.   כהיום.  כאשר היום קיים:
14And they went up to the city. As they were coming into the midst of the city, and behold, Samuel was coming out toward them, to ascend the high place.   ידוַֽיַּעֲל֖וּ הָעִ֑יר הֵ֗מָּה בָּאִים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֚ה שְׁמוּאֵל֙ יֹצֵ֣א לִקְרָאתָ֔ם לַעֲל֖וֹת הַבָּמָֽה:
15Now, the Lord had revealed to Samuel one day before Saul's coming, saying,   טווַֽיהֹוָ֔ה גָּלָ֖ה אֶת־אֹ֣זֶן שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד לִפְנֵ֥י בֽוֹא־שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹֽר:
16"At this time tomorrow, I shall send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be a ruler of my people Israel, and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines, for I have looked upon My people, for their cry has come to Me."   טזכָּעֵ֣ת | מָחָ֡ר אֶשְׁלַח֩ אֵלֶ֨יךָ אִ֜ישׁ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֗ן וּמְשַׁחְתּ֚וֹ לְנָגִיד֙ עַל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶת־עַמִּ֖י מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים כִּ֚י רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י בָּ֥אָה צַעֲקָת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי:
17And Samuel saw Saul, and the Lord said to him, "Behold, the man about whom I said to you, 'This one will rule over My people.' "   יזוּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל רָאָ֣ה אֶת־שָׁא֑וּל וַיהֹוָ֣ה עָנָ֔הוּ הִנֵּ֚ה הָאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ זֶ֖ה יַעְצֹ֥ר בְּעַמִּֽי:
will rule over My people. (Heb. ‘yazor,’ will restrain,) meaning ‘will rule,’ similar to “restrained (azur) and let free” (Deut. 32:36). So is the function of the ruler, viz., to restrain the people during a war, that they do not scatter, and that they do not spread out from one another, and to restrain everyone from doing evil. In our language, we call ‘maazor’ (restraint) contenir, in French.   יעצר בעמי.  ימשול, (ספרים אחרים אינו) כמו (דברים לב לו): עצור ועזוב. כך דרך המושל, לעצור העם במלחמה, שלא יתפזרו ולא יתפשטו זה מזה, ולעצור בכל אחד מעשות רעה בלשוננו קורין 'מעצור', קירשטני"ר בלע"ז:
18And Saul approached Samuel inside the gate, and said. "Tell me now, which is the house of the seer?"   יחוַיִּגַּ֥שׁ שָׁא֛וּל אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בְּת֣וֹךְ הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א לִ֔י אֵי־זֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית הָרֹאֶֽה:
approached Samuel. (The Heb. is ‘vayigash,’ accompanied by ‘eth’ instead of the usual ‘el’, to. Therefore,) Jonathan interprets this as: And Saul met Samuel (similar to ‘vayifgash’).   ויגש.  תרגם יונתן: וערע:
19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am the seer, and you shall eat with me today, and I shall send you away in the morning, and all that is on your mind, I shall tell you.   יטוַיַּ֨עַן שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־שָׁא֗וּל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אָנֹכִ֣י הָרֹאֶ֔ה עֲלֵ֚ה לְפָנַי֙ הַבָּמָ֔ה וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥ם עִמִּ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣יךָ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ אַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְ:
20And concerning the she-asses which are lost to you, (and you have sought them as of) today, three days, do not take them to heart, for they have been found; and to whom does all that is desirable in Israel belong? Is it not to you and to your father's house?   כוְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת הָאֹבְד֣וֹת לְךָ֗ הַיּוֹם֙ שְׁל֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֔ים אַל־תָּ֧שֶׂם אֶֽת־לִבְּךָ֛ לָהֶ֖ם כִּ֣י נִמְצָ֑אוּ וּלְמִי֙ כָּל־חֶמְדַּ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲל֣וֹא לְךָ֔ וּלְכֹ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ:
and to whom does all that is desirable in Israel belong?. He came here to hint to him the matter of the kingdom.   ולמי כל חמדת ישראל.  כאן בא לרמוז לו דבר המלוכה:
21And Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of Benjamin? Now, why have you spoken to me after this manner?   כאוַיַּ֨עַן שָׁא֜וּל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲל֨וֹא בֶן־יְמִינִ֚י אָ֙נֹכִי֙ מִקְּטַנֵּי֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי֙ הַצְּעִרָ֔ה מִכָּֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת שִׁבְטֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וְלָ֙מָּה֙ דִּבַּ֣רְתָּ אֵלַ֔י כַּדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה:
22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and he gave them a place at the head of the invited guests, who were about thirty men.   כבוַיִּקַּ֚ח שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶת־שָׁא֣וּל וְאֶֽת־נַעֲר֔וֹ וַיְבִיאֵ֖ם לִשְׁכָּ֑תָה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֚ם מָקוֹם֙ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הַקְּרוּאִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה כִּשְׁלשִׁ֥ם אִֽישׁ:
at the head of the invited guests. in the place where the most important people are seated, for from the manner of the seating, it was apparent in which place the most important person sat.   בראש הקרואים.  במקום מסיבת הגדולים, כי בדרך מסיבתן היה ניכר איזה מקום מיסב הגדול:
23And Samuel said to the cook, "Give the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, 'Keep it with you.' "   כגוַיֹּ֚אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ לַטַּבָּ֔ח תְּנָה֙ אֶת־הַמָּנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לָ֑ךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֵלֶ֔יךָ שִֹ֥ים אֹתָ֖הּ עִמָּֽךְ:
which I said to you. Since Samuel knew that Saul would come, he ordered to give him a handsome portion for his benefit.   אשר אמרתי אליך.  לפי שידע שמואל שיבא שאול, צוה לתת לו מנה יפה לצרכו:
24And the cook raised up the thigh and that which was upon it, and placed it before Saul, whereupon he said, "Behold that which has been reserved! Place (it) before you (and) eat, because for the appointed time it is reserved for you, by saying, 'I have invited the people.' " So Saul ate with Samuel on that day.   כדוַיָּ֣רֶם הַ֠טַּבָּח אֶת־הַשּׁ֨וֹק וְהֶעָלֶ֜יהָ וַיָּ֣שֶׂם | לִפְנֵ֣י שָׁא֗וּל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִנֵּ֚ה הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ שִׂים־לְפָנֶ֣יךָ אֱכֹ֔ל כִּ֧י לַמּוֹעֵ֛ד שָֽׁמוּר־לְךָ֥ לֵאמֹ֖ר הָעָ֣ם | קָרָ֑אתִי וַיֹּ֧אכַל שָׁא֛וּל עִם־שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא:
the thigh and that which was upon it. I.e., the thigh and the hip which is above it.   את השוק והעליה.  את השוק והירך שעליה:
Behold that which has been reserved. from the portions of the invited guests, and has been set aside for you.   הנה הנשאר.  מן המנות של הקרואים, והוצב לבד לצרכך:
Place (it) before you (and) eat. In the final chapter of Tractate Zeb. 119b, it is established that (the waving of) the breast and thigh is (practiced) in a large (public) high place, but the waving of the breast and thigh is not (practiced) in a small (private) high place. It was, therefore, permissible for Saul to eat.   שים לפניך אכול.  בפרק אחרון דזבחים (קכ א): קיימא לן חזה ושוק בבמה גדולה, ואין חזה ושוק בבמה קטנה, לפיכך הותר לאכול לשאול:
because for the appointed time it is reserved. because for the appointed time of the banquet, this thigh was reserved for you.   כי למועד שמור.  כי למועד האכילה היה השוק הזה שמור לצרכך:
by saying, “I have invited the people.”. My statement was to the cook, (as follows): ‘I invited the people to the feast, and I know their number. Be careful with their portions.’ And I gave (assigned) him the portions according to their number, and this was reserved for you.   לאמר העם קראתי.  אמירתי היתה לטבח העם, קראתי לסעודה, ויודע אני מספרם, והזהר במנותם, ונתתי לו המנות למספרם, וזו שמורה לצורכך:
25And they descended from the high place to the city, and he spoke with Saul on the roof.   כהוַיֵּרְד֥וּ מֵהַבָּמָ֖ה הָעִ֑יר וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר עִם־שָׁא֖וּל עַל־הַגָּֽג:
and he spoke with Saul on the roof. reproving him and teaching him to fear the Holy One, Blessed be He.   וידבר עם שאול על הגג.  מוכיחו ומלמדו ליראה את הקב"ה:
26And they arose early, and it was at dawn, that Samuel called Saul to the roof, saying, "Arise and I shall escort you." And Saul arose, and they went out, both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.   כווַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּ וַיְהִ֞י כַּעֲל֚וֹת הַשַּׁ֙חַר֙ וַיִּקְרָ֨א שְׁמוּאֵ֚ל אֶל־שָׁאוּל֙ הַגָּ֣גָה (כתיב הַגָּ֣גָ) לֵאמֹ֔ר ק֖וּמָה וַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּ֣קָם שָׁא֗וּל וַיֵּצְא֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם ה֥וּא וּשְׁמוּאֵ֖ל הַחֽוּצָה:
27As they were going down at the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go ahead of us," and he went ahead. "And you, stand still at this time, and I shall let you hear the word of God."   כזהֵ֗מָּה יֽוֹרְדִים֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הָעִ֔יר וּשְׁמוּאֵ֞ל אָמַ֣ר אֶל־שָׁא֗וּל אֱמֹ֥ר לַנַּ֛עַר וְיַעֲבֹ֥ר לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֑ר וְאַתָּה֙ עֲמֹ֣ד כַּיּ֔וֹם וְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֖ אֶת־דְּבַ֥ר אֱלֹהִֽים:
to go ahead of us. to go far from us so that he will not overhear our conversation.   ויעבר לפנינו.  וילך ברחוק ממנו, ולא ישמע את דברינו
and he went ahead. The servant went ahead of them, and to Saul he said, “And you stand still with me.”   ויעבר.  הנער לפניהם, ולשאול אמר: ואתה עמוד עמדי: