| 1And it was [after] many days that the word of God came to Elijah in the third year saying, "Go, appear to Ahab and I will give rain upon the surface of the earth. |
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אוַיְהִי֙ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה הָיָה֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖ית לֵאמֹ֑ר לֵךְ הֵרָאֵ֣ה אֶל־אַחְאָ֔ב וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה מָטָ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה: |
| 2And Elijah went to appear to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in the land. |
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בוַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֵֽלִיָּ֔הוּ לְהֵרָא֖וֹת אֶל־אַחְאָ֑ב וְהָרָעָ֖ב חָזָ֥ק בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן: |
| 3Ahab had called to Obadiah, who was over the household, and Obadiah feared of the Lord greatly. |
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גוַיִּקְרָ֣א אַחְאָ֔ב אֶל־עֹבַדְיָ֖הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַבָּ֑יִת וְעֹבַדְיָ֗הוּ הָיָ֥ה יָרֵ֛א אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה מְאֹֽד: |
| 4And it was when Jezebel cut off of the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them fifty men in a cave, and he nourished them with bread and water. |
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דוַיְהִי֙ בְּהַכְרִ֣ית אִיזֶ֔בֶל אֵ֖ת נְבִיאֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֨ח עֹבַדְיָ֜הוּ מֵאָ֣ה נְבִיאִ֗ים וַֽיַּחְבִּיאֵ֞ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִישׁ֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וְכִלְכְּלָ֖ם לֶ֥חֶם וָמָֽיִם: |
| And it was when Jezebel cut off: [Scripture] comes to tell [us] how Obadiah feared the Lord. |
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וַיְהִי בְּהַכְרִית אִיזֶבֶל:
לְהַגִּיד בָּא אֵיךְ הָיָה עוֹבַדְיָהוּ יָרֵא אֶת ה'.
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| fifty men in a cave: [i.e., fifty men in one cave] and fifty men in another cave. |
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חֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ בִּמְעָרָה אַחַת:
וַחֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ בִּמְעָרָה אַחֶרֶת.
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| 5And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go in the land to all the wells of water and to all the brooks, maybe we will find grass, and we will save the lives of horse and mule and we will not lose all our beasts. |
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הוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ אֶל־עֹ֣בַדְיָ֔הוּ לֵ֚ךְ בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶל־כָּל־מַעְיְנֵ֣י הַמַּ֔יִם וְאֶ֖ל כָּל־הַנְּחָלִ֑ים אוּלַ֣י | נִמְצָ֣א חָצִ֗יר וּנְחַיֶּה֙ ס֣וּס וָפֶ֔רֶד וְל֥וֹא נַכְרִ֖ית מֵהַבְּהֵמָֽה: |
| and we will not lose all our beasts: all our beasts will not be cut off from us. |
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וְלוֹא נַכְרִית מֵהַבְּהֵמָה:
לֹא תִכָּרֵת כָּל בְּהֶמְתֵּנוּ מִמֶּנּוּ.
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| 6They divided the land between them to pass through it; Ahab went on one way by himself and Obadiah went on one way by himself. |
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ווַֽיְחַלְּק֥וּ לָהֶ֛ם אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לַֽעֲבָר־בָּ֑הּ אַחְאָ֞ב הָלַ֨ךְ בְּדֶ֚רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ לְבַדּ֔וֹ וְעֹֽבַדְיָ֛הוּ הָלַ֥ךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ־אֶחָ֖ד לְבַדּֽוֹ: |
| 7Now Obadiah was on the road and behold Elijah was in front of him. He recognized him and fell on his face, and he said, "Is this you, my master, Elijah? " |
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זוַיְהִ֚י עֹבַדְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ לִקְרָאת֑וֹ וַיַּכִּרֵ֙הוּ֙ וַיִּפֹּ֣ל עַל־פָּנָ֔יו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַאַתָּ֥ה זֶ֖ה אֲדֹנִ֥י אֵלִיָּֽהוּ: |
| 8And he said to him, "This is I Go and tell your master 'Here is Elijah.' " |
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חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ אָ֑נִי לֵ֛ךְ אֱמֹ֥ר לַאדֹנֶ֖יךָ הִנֵּ֥ה אֵלִיָּֽהוּ: |
| 9And he said, "What have I sinned that you have delivered your servant into the hands of Ahab to kill me? |
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טוַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה חָטָ֑אתִי כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה נֹתֵ֧ן אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֛ בְּיַד־אַחְאָ֖ב לַהֲמִיתֵֽנִי: |
| to kill me: as he goes on to explain (v. 12) “And a wind from the Lord will carry you to a place I know not where.” |
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לַהֲמִיתֵנִי:
כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפָרֵשׁ וְאוֹמֵר: וְרוּחַ ה' יִשָּׂאֲךָ עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא אֵדַע.
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| 10As the Lord your God lives, if there is a nation or a kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you, and they have said, 'He is not there,' and he adjured the kingdom and nation that they did not find you. |
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יחַ֣י | יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ אִם־יֶשׁ־גּ֚וֹי וּמַמְלָכָה֙ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹֽא־שָׁלַ֨ח אֲדֹנִ֥י שָׁם֙ לְבַקֶּשְׁךָ֔ וְאָמְר֖וּ אָ֑יִן וְהִשְׁבִּ֚יעַ אֶת־הַמַּמְלָכָה֙ וְאֶת־הַגּ֔וֹי כִּ֖י לֹ֥א יִמְצָאֶֽכָּה: |
| that they did not find you: [i.e., he made them swear] that the nation was unable to find you. |
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כִּי לֹא יִמְצָאֶכָּה:
שֶׁאֵין הָעָם יָכוֹל לִמְצֹא אוֹתְךָ.
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| 11And now you say, 'Go tell your master, Here is Elijah.' |
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יאוְעַתָּ֖ה אַתָּ֣ה אֹמֵ֑ר לֵ֛ךְ אֱמֹ֥ר לַאדֹנֶ֖יךָ הִנֵּ֥ה אֵלִיָּֽהוּ: |
| 12And it will be that I will go from here, and a wind from the Lord will carry you to [a place] I know not where, and I will come to tell Ahab, and he will not find you and he will kill me; yet your servant fears the Lord from my youth. |
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יבוְהָיָ֞ה אֲנִ֣י | אֵלֵ֣ךְ מֵאִתָּ֗ךְ וְר֨וּחַ יְהֹוָ֚ה | יִֽשָּׂאֲךָ֙ עַל אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־אֵדָ֔ע וּבָ֨אתִי לְהַגִּ֧יד לְאַחְאָ֛ב וְלֹ֥א יִֽמְצָאֲךָ֖ וַהֲרָגָ֑נִי וְעַבְדְּךָ֛ יָרֵ֥א אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה מִנְּעֻרָֽי: |
| 13My master was surely told what I did when Jezebel killed all the prophets of the Lord. I hid one hundred men of the prophets of the Lord by fifty men in a cave, and provided them with bread and water. |
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יגהֲלֹֽא־הֻגַּ֚ד לַֽאדֹנִי֙ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשִֹ֔יתִי בַּהֲרֹ֣ג אִיזֶ֔בֶל אֵ֖ת נְבִיאֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וָאַחְבִּא֩ מִנְּבִיאֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה מֵ֣אָה אִ֗ישׁ חֲמִשִּׁ֨ים חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִישׁ֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וָאֲכַלְכְּלֵ֖ם לֶ֥חֶם וָמָֽיִם: |
| 14And now you say 'Go tell your master, "Here is Elijah" '; and he will kill me." |
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ידוְעַתָּה֙ אַתָּ֣ה אֹמֵ֔ר לֵ֛ךְ אֱמֹ֥ר לַֽאדֹנֶ֖יךָ הִנֵּ֣ה אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ וַהֲרָגָֽנִי: |
| 15And Elijah said, "As the Lord of Hosts before whom I have stood, lives, I will appear to him today." |
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טווַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֵֽלִיָּ֔הוּ חַי יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָמַ֖דְתִּי לְפָנָ֑יו כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם אֵרָאֶ֥ה אֵלָֽיו: |
| 16And Obadiah went towards Ahab and he told him, and Ahab went towards Elijah. |
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טזוַיֵּ֧לֶךְ עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ לִקְרַ֥את אַחְאָ֖ב וַיַּגֶּד־ל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אַחְאָ֖ב לִקְרַ֥את אֵלִיָּֽהוּ: |
| 17And it was when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is this you, the one who brings trouble upon Israel?" |
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יזוַיְהִ֛י כִּרְא֥וֹת אַחְאָ֖ב אֶת־אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֚אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ אֵלָ֔יו הַאַתָּ֥ה זֶ֖ה עֹכֵ֥ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 18And he said, "I have not brought trouble upon Israel, but you and your father's house, since you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you went after the Baalim. |
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יחוַיֹּ֗אמֶר לֹ֚א עָכַ֙רְתִּי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י אִם־אַתָּ֖ה וּבֵ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ בַּֽעֲזָבְכֶם֙ אֶת־מִצְוֹ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ אַחֲרֵ֥י הַבְּעָלִֽים: |
| 19And now, send and gather for me all of Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of the Baal four hundred and fifty and the prophets of the Ashera four hundred who eat at Jezebel's table. |
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יטוְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁלַ֨ח קְבֹ֥ץ אֵלַ֛י אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־הַ֣ר הַכַּרְמֶ֑ל וְאֶת־נְבִיאֵ֨י הַבַּ֜עַל אַרְבַּ֧ע מֵא֣וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֗ים וּנְבִיאֵ֚י הָֽאֲשֵׁרָה֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֔וֹת אֹכְלֵ֖י שֻׁלְחַ֥ן אִיזָֽבֶל: |
| 20And Ahab sent among all of the Children of Israel, and he gathered the prophets to Mount Carmel. |
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כוַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אַחְאָ֖ב בְּכָל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּקְבֹּ֥ץ אֶת־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים אֶל־הַ֥ר הַכַּרְמֶֽל: |
| 21And Elijah drew near to all the people and said, "Until when are you hopping between two ideas? If the Lord is God, go after Him, and if the Baal, go after him." And the people did not answer him a word. |
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כאוַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עַד־מָתַ֞י אַתֶּ֣ם פֹּסְחִים֘ עַל־שְׁתֵּ֣י הַסְּעִפִּים֒ אִם־יְהֹוָ֚ה הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְאִם־הַבַּ֖עַל לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־עָנ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָֽר: |
| two ideas: two thoughts, for you do not know to decide who is God. |
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שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים:
שְׁתֵּי הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת, שֶׁאֵינְכֶם מְבִינִים לְהַכְרִיעַ מִי הָאֱלֹהִים.
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| and if the Baal: is God, go after him. |
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וְאִם הַבַּעַל:
הָאֱלֹהִים, לְכוּ אַחֲרָיו.
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| And the people did not answer him a word: because they did not know to distinguish. |
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וְלֹא עָנוּ הָעָם אוֹתוֹ דָּבָר:
שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין לְהַבְחִין.
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| 22And Elijah spoke to the people, "I have remained a prophet to the Lord by myself, and the prophets of the Baal are four hundred and fifty men. |
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כבוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם אֲנִ֞י נוֹתַ֧רְתִּי נָבִ֛יא לַיהֹוָ֖ה לְבַדִּ֑י וּנְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל אַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים אִֽישׁ: |
| 23And let them give us two bulls and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it up and place it on the wood, but fire they shall not put, and I will prepare one bull, and I will put it on the wood, and fire will I not place. |
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כגוְיִתְּנוּ־לָ֜נוּ שְׁנַ֣יִם פָּרִ֗ים וְיִבְחֲר֣וּ לָהֶם֩ הַפָּ֨ר הָאֶחָ֜ד וִֽינַתְּחֻ֗הוּ וְיָשִֹ֙ימוּ֙ עַל־הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֣א יָשִֹ֑ימוּ וַאֲנִ֞י אֶעֱשֶֹ֣ה | אֶת־הַפָּ֣ר הָאֶחָ֗ד וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ עַל־הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א אָשִֹֽים: |
| 24And you will call in the name of your deity, and I will call in the name of the Lord, and it will be the God that will answer with fire, he is God." And all of the people answered and said, "The thing is good." |
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כדוּקְרָאתֶ֞ם בְּשֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם וַֽאֲנִי֙ אֶקְרָ֣א בְשֵׁם־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהָיָ֧ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲנֶ֥ה בָאֵ֖שׁ ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּ֧עַן כָּל־הָעָ֛ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ ט֥וֹב הַדָּבָֽר: |
| 25And Elijah said to the prophets of the Baal, "Choose for yourselves the one bull and prepare it first since you are the majority, and call in the name of your deity, and fire place not." |
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כהוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ לִנְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל בַּחֲר֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם הַפָּ֚ר הָֽאֶחָד֙ וַעֲשּׂ֣וּ רִאשֹׁנָ֔ה כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֖ם הָרַבִּ֑ים וְקִרְאוּ֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א תָשִֹֽימוּ: |
| 26They took the bull that he gave them and prepared [it]. And they called in the name of the Baal from the morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice and no answer, and they hopped on the altar that they had made. |
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כווַ֠יִּקְחוּ אֶת־הַפָּ֨ר אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֣ן לָהֶם֘ וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֒ וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ בְשֵׁם־הַבַּ֠עַל מֵהַבֹּ֨קֶר וְעַד־הַצָּהֳרַ֚יִם לֵאמֹר֙ הַבַּ֣עַל עֲנֵ֔נוּ וְאֵ֥ין ק֖וֹל וְאֵ֣ין עֹנֶ֑ה וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֹֽה: |
| that he gave them: For he slipped away from them lest he be offered to the idol. He escaped under the skirt of Elijah’s cloak. He said to him, Go! Through both of you the Omnipresent will be sanctified. |
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אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָהֶם:
שֶׁהָיָה נִשְׁמַט מֵהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא יִקָּרֵב לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וּבָרַח לוֹ תַּחַת כְּנָפָיו שֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ, אָמַר לוֹ: לֵךְ, בִּשְׁנֵיכֶם יִתְקַדֵּשׁ הַמָּקוֹם.
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| and they hopped on the altar that they had made: Jonathan renders: And they raved. They were dancing according to their custom, on their altars. |
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וַיִּפְסְחוּ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה:
תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן: וְאִשְׁתַּטּוּ, הָיוּ מְרַקְּדִין כְּמִשְׁפָּטָן עַל מִזְבְּחוֹתָם.
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| and they hopped: Heb. ויפסחו, like ויפסעו, and they stepped. |
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וַיִּפְסְחוּ:
כְּמוֹ וַיִּפְסְעוּ.
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| 27And it was at noon that Elijah scoffed at them, and he said, "Call with a loud voice, for he is a god. [Perhaps] he is talking or he is pursuing [enemies] or he is on a journey; perhaps he is sleeping and will awaken. |
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כזוַיְהִ֨י בַֽצָּהֳרַ֜יִם וַיְהַתֵּ֧ל בָּהֶ֣ם אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ קִרְא֚וּ בְקוֹל־גָּדוֹל֙ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים ה֔וּא כִּ֣י שִֹ֧יחַ וְכִֽי־שִֹ֛יג ל֖וֹ וְכִֽי־דֶ֣רֶךְ ל֑וֹ אוּלַ֛י יָשֵׁ֥ן ה֖וּא וְיִקָֽץ: |
| for he is a god: for you say he is one to be feared. |
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כִּי אֱלֹהִים הוּא:
(תַּרְגּוּם:) אֲרֵי אַתּוּן אָמְרִין דַּחֲלָא הוּא.
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| Perhaps he is talking or he is pursuing: Perhaps he is having a conference with his advisors now, or he is overtaking and pursuing his enemies in war. |
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כִּי שִׂיחַ וְכִי שִׂיג לוֹ:
שֶׁמָּא יֵשׁ לוֹ דָּבָר עִם יוֹעֲצָיו עַכְשָׁיו, אוֹ מַשִּׂיג וְרוֹדֵף הוּא עַכְשָׁיו בַּמִּלְחָמָה.
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| or he is on a journey: to the water closet. |
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וְכִי דֶרֶךְ לוֹ:
לְבֵית הַכִּסֵּא.
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| 28And they called with a loud voice and gashed themselves as was their custom, with swords and lances, until blood gushed on them. |
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כחוַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וַיִּתְגֹּֽדְדוּ֙ כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֔ם בַּחֲרָב֖וֹת וּבָֽרְמָחִ֑ים עַד־שְׁפָךְ־דָּ֖ם עֲלֵיהֶֽם: |
| and gashed themselves: an expression of tearing [the flesh] with an instrument. Such was their custom. |
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וַיִּתְגֹּדְדוּ:
לְשׁוֹן שְׂרִיטָה בִּכְלִי, וְכֵן הָיָה נִימוּסֵיהֶן.
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| 29And as the afternoon passed and they feigned to prophesy until the time of the sacrifice of the [evening] offering, and there was no voice and no answer and no one was listening. |
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כטוַֽיְהִי֙ כַּעֲבֹ֣ר הַֽצָּהֳרַ֔יִם וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֔וּ עַ֖ד לַעֲל֣וֹת הַמִּנְחָ֑ה וְאֵֽין־ק֥וֹל וְאֵין־עֹנֶ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין קָֽשֶׁב: |
| and they feigned to prophesy: and they raved. |
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וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ:
(תַּרְגּוּם:) וְאִשְׁתַּטִּיאוּ.
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| 30And Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me," and all the people came near to him and he repaired the torn down altar of the Lord. |
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לוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֚הוּ לְכָל־הָעָם֙ גְּשׁ֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וַיִּגְּשׁ֥וּ כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו וַיְרַפֵּ֛א אֶת־מִזְבַּ֥ח יְהֹוָ֖ה הֶהָרֽוּס: |
| and he repaired the torn down altar of the Lord: He built an altar and reminded Israel that the altar of the Lord should enter their thoughts and should be spoken of with fluency, for it was torn down and destroyed and its name and its mention had ceased from the mouth of all the ten tribes. Thus I heard its simple interpretation. And its Midrashic interpretation I have heard, that Saul built an altar on Mt. Carmel. That is what [Scripture means when] it states: (I Sam. 15:12) “Saul has come to Carmel, and behold, he is setting up a place,” and there (Gen. 33:20) it says: “And he set up an altar there.” [By a gezerah shavah, analogous expression, we deduce that Saul too, set up an altar]. And the kings of Israel tore down all the altars and high places in their land that were made in the name of Heaven, and Elijah built this altar of Saul that was torn down. |
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וַיְרַפֵּא אֶת מִזְבַּח ה' הֶהָרוּס:
בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ, וְהִזְכִּיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל לִהְיוֹת מִזְבַּח ה' עוֹלֶה עַל לִבָּם וְשָׁגוּר בְּפִיהֶם, שֶׁהָיָה הָרוּס וְנִפְגָּר וּבָטֵל שְׁמוֹ וְהַזְכָּרָתוֹ מִפִּי כָּל עֲשֶׂרֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים, כָּךְ שָׁמַעְתִּי פְּשׁוּטוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ שָׁמַעְתִּי, שֶׁשָּׁאוּל בָּנָה מִזְבֵּחַ בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר: בָּא שָׁאוּל הַכַּרְמֶלָה וְהִנֵּה מַצִּיב לוֹ יָד, וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר: וַיַּצֵּב שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ, וּמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָרְסוּ כָּל הַמִּזְבְּחוֹת וְהַבָּמוֹת שֶׁבְּאַרְצָם שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, וּבָנָה אֵלִיָּהוּ מִזְבֵּחַ זֶה שֶׁל שָׁאוּל, שֶׁהָיָה הָרוּס.
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| 31Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be your name." |
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לאוַיִּקַּ֣ח אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ שְׁתֵּ֚ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ אֲבָנִ֔ים כְּמִסְפַּ֖ר שִׁבְטֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־יַעֲקֹ֑ב אֲשֶׁר֩ הָיָ֨ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֚ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִהְיֶ֥ה שְׁמֶֽךָ: |
| to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”: Why is this stated here? Because on the day that the Shechinah was revealed to Jacob in Bethel and called him Israel, on that day He said to him, “A nation and a congregation of nations will be from you” (Gen. 35:11). Your children are destined to congregate like other nations and build an altar to burn sacrifices on it during the time when the high places are proscribed. Nevertheless, I will consent to it (Gen. Rabbah 82:6). |
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אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְּבַר ה' אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר יִשְׂרָאֵל יִהְיֶה שְׁמֶךָ:
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר כָּאן, לְפִי שֶׁבְּיוֹם שֶׁנִּגְלְתָה שְׁכִינָה עַל יַעֲקֹב בְּבֵית אֵל וּקְרָאוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם אָמַר לוֹ: גּוֹי וּקְהַל גּוֹיִם יִהְיֶה מִמֶּ§, עֲתִידִין בָּנֶיךָ לְהִקָּהֵל כִּשְׁאָר עַמִּים, וְלִבְנוֹת מִזְבֵּחַ לְהַקְטִיר עָלָיו בִּשְׁעַת אִסּוּר הַבָּמוֹת, וַאֲנִי מִתְרַצֶּה בַדָּבָר, בִּבְרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה.
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| 32He built the stones into an altar in the name of the Lord and he made a trench as great as would contain two se'ah of seed, around the altar. |
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לבוַיִּבְנֶ֧ה אֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֛ים מִזְבֵּ֖חַ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּ֣עַשׂ תְּעָלָ֗ה כְּבֵית֙ סָאתַ֣יִם זֶ֔רַע סָבִ֖יב לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ: |
| a trench: fosse in French. |
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תְּעָלָה:
פושאד"ו בְּלַעַ"ז (חֲפִירָה).
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| as great as would contain two se’ah: Its width was as great as to hold two se’ah, one hundred cubits by fifty cubits like the court of the mishkan. |
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כְּבֵית סָאתַיִם:
רָחְבּוֹ בֵּית סָאתַיִם, מֵאָה עַל חֲמִשִּׁים, כַּחֲצַר הַמִּשְׁכָּן.
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| 33And he arranged the wood, and he cut up the bull and placed [it] upon the wood. |
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לגוַֽיַּעֲרֹ֖ךְ אֶת־הָֽעֵצִ֑ים וַיְנַתַּח֙ אֶת־הַפָּ֔ר וַיָּ֖שֶׂם עַל־הָעֵצִֽים: |
| 34And he said, "Fill me four pitchers of water and pour them on the burnt-offerings and on the wood." And he said, "Repeat it," and they repeated it. And he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. |
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לדוַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִלְא֨וּ אַרְבָּעָ֚ה כַדִּים֙ מַ֔יִם וְיִֽצְק֥וּ עַל־הָעֹלָ֖ה וְעַל־הָעֵצִ֑ים וַיֹּ֚אמֶר שְׁנוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁנ֔וּ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר שַׁלֵּ֖שׁוּ וַיְשַׁלֵּֽשׁוּ: |
| pitchers of water: to make the miracle greater. |
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כַּדִּים מַיִם:
לְהַגְדִּיל אֶת הַנֵּס.
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| and pour: Elisha poured on his hands, and his fingers became like springs, and the trench became full. This is the meaning of what is stated (II Kings 3:11): “Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat who poured water on Elijah’s hands, and a miracle took place with the water through him.” He is fit that a miracle should take place with water through him. |
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וְיִצְקוּ:
אֱלִישָׁע (יָצַק) עַל יָדָיו, וְנַעֲשׂוּ אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו כְּמַעְיָנוֹת וְנִתְמַלְּאָה הַתְּעָלָה, הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: פֹּה אֱלִישָׁע בֶּן שָׁפָט אֲשֶׁר יָצַק מַיִם עַל יְדֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, וְנַעֲשָׂה נֵס בַּמַּיִם עַל יָדָיו, רָאוּי הוּא שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה הַנֵּס בַּמַּיִם עַל יָדָיו.
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| 35And the water went around the altar, and also the trench he filled with water. |
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להוַיֵּלְכ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם סָבִ֖יב לַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַתְּעָלָ֖ה מִלֵּא־מָֽיִם: |
| 36And it was when the evening sacrifice was offered that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and at Your word have I done all these things. |
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לווַיְהִ֣י | בַּעֲל֣וֹת הַמִּנְחָ֗ה וַיִּגַּ֞שׁ אֵלִיָּ֣הוּ הַנָּבִיא֘ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהֹוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אַבְרָהָם֙ יִצְחָ֣ק וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֣וֹם יִוָּדַ֗ע כִּֽי־אַתָּ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וּבִדְבָרְךָ֣ (כתיב וּבִדְבָרְיךָ֣) עָשִֹ֔יתִי אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה: |
| and at Your word I have done: that I sacrificed on a high place at the time of the prohibition of high places. |
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וּבִדְבָרְךָ עָשִׂיתִי:
שֶׁהִקְרַבְתִּי בַּבָּמָה בִּשְׁעַת אִסּוּר הַבָּמוֹת.
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| 37Answer me, O Lord, answer me, and this people shall know that You are the Lord God, and You have turned their hearts backwards." |
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לזעֲנֵ֚נִי יְהֹוָה֙ עֲנֵ֔נִי וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְאַתָּ֛ה הֲסִבֹּ֥תָ אֶת־לִבָּ֖ם אֲחֹרַנִּֽית: |
| Answer me, O Lord, Answer me: Answer me with fire, answer me with rain. So did Jonathan render this. Our Rabbis, however, said: Answer me with fire, answer me that they do not say that these deeds were accomplished by sorcery. |
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עֲנֵנִי ה' עֲנֵנִי:
עֲנֵנִי בָּאֵשׁ, עֲנֵנִי בַּמָּטָר, כָּךְ תִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ: עֲנֵנִי בָּאֵשׁ (וּבַמַּיִם), עֲנֵנִי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ מַעֲשֵׂה כְשָׁפִים הֵם.
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| shall know that You are the Lord: and I am Your servant, and when You send me to bring them tidings [of the forthcoming redemption], they will believe me if You answer me today. |
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וְיֵדְעוּ וְגוֹ' כִּי אַתָּה ה':
וַאֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ. וּכְשֶׁתִּשְׁלָחֵנִי לְבַשְּׂרָם לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, יַאֲמִינוּ בִּי אִם הַיּוֹם תַּעֲנֵנִי.
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| and You have turned their hearts backwards: You have given them a place to turn away from following You, although You were able to direct their hearts toward You. And according to Midrash Agadah, if You do not answer me, I will deny and say, You turned their hearts. And so did Moses say (Num. 16:29), “If these people die the death of all men, I, too, will deny and I will say that the Lord did not send me to speak [the words of] the Torah and the commandments,” and so said Micaiah (below 22:28), “If you return safely, God did not speak through me.” |
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וְאַתָּה הֲסִבֹּתָ אֶת לִבָּם:
נָתַתָּ לָהֶם מָקוֹם לָסוּר מֵאַחֲרֶיךָ, וּבְיָדְךָ הָיָה לְהָכִין לְבָבָם אֵלֶיךָ. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: אִם לֹא תַּעֲנֵנִי, אַף אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה כּוֹפֵר וְאוֹמֵר, אַתָּה הֲסִבּוֹתָ אֶת לִבָּם, וְכֵן אָמַר משֶׁה: אִם כְּמוֹת כָּל הָאָדָם יְמוּתוּן אֵלֶּה, אַף אֲנִי כּוֹפֵר וְאוֹמֵר, לֹא ה' שְׁלָחַנִי לְדַבֵּר אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמִּצְוֹת, וְכָךְ אָמַר מִיכַיְהוּ: אִם שׁוֹב תָּשׁוּב בְּשָׁלוֹם, לֹא דִּבֵּר ה' בִּי.
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| 38And the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offerings and the wood and the stones and the earth, and the water which was in the trench it licked up. |
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לחוַתִּפֹּ֣ל אֵשׁ־יְהֹוָ֗ה וַתֹּ֚אכַל אֶת־הָֽעֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵצִ֔ים וְאֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הֶעָפָ֑ר וְאֶת־הַמַּ֥יִם אֲשֶׁר־בַּתְּעָלָ֖ה לִחֵֽכָה: |
| 39And all the people saw and fell on their faces, and they said, "The Lord is God, the Lord is God." |
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לטוַיַּרְא֙ כָּל־הָעָ֔ם וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֥וּא הָאֱלֹהִֽים: |
| The Lord is God: and the Baal is not God. |
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ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים:
וְלֹא הַבַּעַל הָאֱלֹהִים.
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| 40Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of the Baal; let no one of them escape." And they seized them. Elijah took them down the brook Kishon and slew them there. |
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מוַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ לָהֶ֜ם תִּפְשֹ֣וּ | אֶת־נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יִמָּלֵ֥ט מֵהֶ֖ם וַֽיִּתְפְּשֹ֑וּם וַיּוֹרִדֵ֚ם אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֔וֹן וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם שָֽׁם: |
| 41And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for now you will hear the rumbling sound of the rain. |
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מאוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ לְאַחְאָ֔ב עֲלֵ֖ה אֱכֹ֣ל וּשְׁתֵ֑ה כִּי־ק֖וֹל הֲמ֥וֹן הַגָּֽשֶׁם: |
| 42And Ahab went up to eat and drink. Elijah went up to the top of Mt. Carmel and crouched on the ground, and he put his head between his knees. |
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מבוַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה אַחְאָ֖ב לֶאֱכֹ֣ל וְלִשְׁתּ֑וֹת וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ עָלָ֨ה אֶל־רֹ֚אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶל֙ וַיִּגְהַ֣ר אַ֔רְצָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם פָּנָ֖יו בֵּ֥ין בִּרְכָּֽיו (כתיב בִּרְכָּֽו) : |
| and he crouched on the ground: And he crouched on the ground to pray for rain. |
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וַיִּגְהַר אַרְצָה:
(תַּרְגּוּם:) וּגְחִין לְאַרְעָא, לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל הַגְּשָׁמִים.
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| 43And he said to his servant, "Please go up and look toward the sea." And he went up and looked, and he said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again" seven times. |
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מגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶֽל־נַעֲר֗וֹ עֲלֵֽה־נָא֙ הַבֵּ֣ט דֶּֽרֶךְ־יָ֔ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ וַיַּבֵּ֔ט וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵ֣ין מְא֑וּמָה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שֻׁ֖ב שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים: |
| toward the sea: If you see a cloud ascending from the sea. |
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דֶּרֶךְ יָם:
אִם תִּרְאֶה עָנָן עוֹלֶה מִן הַיָּם.
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| 44And it was on the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud as small as a man's palm, rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, "Hitch up [the horses to the chariot] and descend, lest the rain stop you." |
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מדוַֽיְהִי֙ בַּשְּׁבִעִ֔ית וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה־עָ֛ב קְטַנָּ֥ה כְּכַף־אִ֖ישׁ עֹלָ֣ה מִיָּ֑ם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר עֲלֵ֨ה אֱמֹ֚ר אֶל־אַחְאָב֙ אֱסֹ֣ר וָרֵ֔ד וְלֹ֥א יַעַצָרְכָ֖ה הַגָּֽשֶׁם: |
| Hitch up and descend: Hitch up your chariots and descend quickly from Mt. Carmel, to return to your house, lest the rain oppress you on the way. |
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אֱסֹר וָרֵד:
אֱסֹר מַרְכְּבוֹתֶיךָ וְרֵד מַהֵר הַכַּרְמֶל לָשׁוּב לְבֵיתְךָ, פֶּן יִדְחַק אוֹתְךָ הַגֶּשֶׁם בַּדֶּרֶךְ.
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| 45Meanwhile, the heavens grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain; and Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. |
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מהוַיְהִ֣י | עַד־כֹּ֣ה וְעַד־כֹּ֗ה וְהַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ הִֽתְקַדְּרוּ֙ עָבִ֣ים וְר֔וּחַ וַיְהִ֖י גֶּ֣שֶׁם גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּרְכַּ֥ב אַחְאָ֖ב וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה: |
| Meanwhile: While the messenger went, and while he hitched up the chariot, the heavens grew dark. |
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עַד כֹּה וְעַד כֹּה:
בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁהָלַךְ הַשָּׁלִיחַ וּבְתוֹךְ שֶׁאָסַר הַמֶּרְכָּבָה, וְהַשָּׁמַיִם הִתְקַדְּרוּ.
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| 46And a spirit of strength from the Lord was with Elijah, and he girded his loins and ran before Ahab until coming to Jezreel. |
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מווְיַד־יְהֹוָ֗ה הָֽיְתָה֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ וַיְשַׁנֵּ֖ס מָתְנָ֑יו וַיָּ֙רָץ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אַחְאָ֔ב עַד־בֹּאֲכָ֖ה יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה: |
| And a spirit of strength from the Lord: A spirit of strength from before the Lord. He became invested with strength to run before the chariot on foot, so that Ahab would not go alone, for he paid regards to royalty. |
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וְיַד ה':
(תַּרְגּוּם:) רוּחַ גְּבוּרָה מִן קֳדָם ה', נִתְלַבֵּשׁ כֹּחַ לָרוּץ לִפְנֵי הַמֶּרְכָּבָה בְּרַגְלָיו, שֶׁלֹּא יֵלֵךְ אַחְאָב יְחִידִי, שֶׁחָלַק כָּבוֹד לַמַּלְכוּת.
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| and he girded his loins: Heb. וישנס, like ויאזר, yet there is no similar word [in the Bible], and even this one came only to teach us an expression of quickness, i.e., he was as quick as a strong man. |
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וַיְשַׁנֵּס מָתְנָיו:
כְּמוֹ וַיֶּאֱזֹר, וְאֵין לוֹ דִמְיוֹן, וְאַף הוּא לֹא בָּא אֶלָּא לְלַמֵּד לְשׁוֹן זֵרוּז, נִזְדָּרֵז כְּגִבּוֹר.
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