Torah Reading for Rosh Hashanah 1

Tzvi Freeman

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First Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

1And the Lord remembered Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as He had spoken.		אוַֽיהֹוָ֛ה פָּקַ֥ד אֶת־שָׂרָ֖ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמָ֑ר וַיַּ֧עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֛ה לְשָׂרָ֖ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר:
And the Lord remembered Sarah, etc.. (B.K 92a) This section was placed next to [the preceding section] to teach you that whoever begs for mercy for his friend, when he needs the same thing, he is answered first, for it is said (verse 17) “And Abraham prayed, etc.,” and immediately following it, “And the Lord remembered Sarah,” i.e., He had already remembered her before He healed Abimelech. —		וה' פָּקַד אֶת־שָׂרָה וגו'. סָמַך פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ לְלַמֶּדְךָ, שֶׁכָּל הַמְבַקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים עַל חֲבֵרוֹ וְהוּא צָרִיךְ לְאוֹתוֹ דָבָר, הוּא נַעֲנֶה תְחִלָּה (בבא קמא צ"ב), שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל וְגוֹ', וּסְמִיךְ לֵיהּ וה' פָּקַד אֶת שָׂרָה, שֶׁפְּקָדָהּ כְּבָר קֹדֶם שֶׁרִפֵּא אֶת אֲבִימֶלֶךְ:
remembered Sarah as He had said. Concerning [the promise of] conception. —		פָּקַד אֶת־שָׂרָה כַּֽאֲשֶׁר אָמָר. בְּהֵרָיוֹן:
as He had spoken. Concerning [the promise of] birth. Now where is [the expression] “saying” and where is [the expression] “speaking” ? “Saying” (אִמִירה) is mentioned (above 17:19): “And God said (וַיֹאמֶר): Indeed, your wife Sarah, etc…” “Speaking” (דִבוּר) [is mentioned] (above 15:1): “The word of (דְבַר) the Lord came to Abram,” in the Covenant Between the Parts, where it is stated (ibid. 4): “This one [Eliezer] will not inherit you, etc.” and He brought forth the heir from Sarah.		כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּֽר. בְּלֵדָה. וְהֵיכָן הִיא אֲמִירָה, וְהֵיכָן הוּא דִּבּוּר? אֲמִירָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֲבָל שָׂרָה אִשְׁתְּךָ וְגוֹ '(בראשית י"ז), דִּבּוּר הָיָה דְבַר ה' אֶל אַבְרָם בִּבְרִית בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים, וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר לֹא יִירָשְׁךָ זֶה וְגוֹ' (שם ט"ו), וְהֵבִיא הַיּוֹרֵשׁ מִשָּׂרָה:
and the Lord did to Sarah as He had spoken. to Abraham.		וַיַּעַשׂ ה' לְשָׂרָה כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּֽר. לְאַבְרָהָם:
2And Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him.		בוַתַּ֩הַר֩ וַתֵּ֨לֶד שָׂרָ֧ה לְאַבְרָהָ֛ם בֵּ֖ן לִזְקֻנָ֑יו לַמּוֹעֵ֕ד אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים:
at the time of which [He] had spoken. Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Chama dispute. Rabbi Yudan says: This teaches us that he was born after nine months, so that it should not be said that he was [conceived] in Abimelech’s household, and Rabbi Chama says: After seven months. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:6]		לַמּוֹעֵד אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אֹתוֹ. רַבִּי יוּדָן וְרַבִּי חָמָא. רַבִּי יוּדָן אוֹמֵר: מְלַמֵד שֶׁנוֹלַד לְט' חָדָשִׁים, שֶׁלֹא יֹאמְרוּ: מִבֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבִימֶלֶךְ הוּא, רַבִּי חָמָא אוֹמֵר: לְז' חָדָשִׁים:
at the time of which God had spoken. Heb. אֹתוֹ. [Onkelos and Jonathan render:] דְמַלֵיל יָתֵי, i.e., the time that He had spoken and fixed, when he [the angel] said to him (18:14): “At the appointed time, I will return to you.” He made a scratch on the wall, and said to him,“ When the sun reaches this scratch next year, she will give birth.” - [from Tan. Buber, Vayera 36]		לַמּוֹעֵד אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אֹתוֹ. דִּי מַלִּיל יָתֵהּ, אֶת הַמּוֹעֵד דִּבֵּר וְקָבַע כְּשֶׁאָמַר לוֹ לַמּוֹעֵד אָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ (שם י"ח), שָׂרַט לוֹ שְׂרִיטָה בַּכֹּתֶל, אָמַר לוֹ כְּשֶׁתַּגִּיעַ חַמָּה לִשְׂרִיטָה זוֹ בַּשָּׁנָה הָאַחֶרֶת, תֵּלֵד:
in his old age. לִזְקֻנָיו means that his [Isaac’s] facial features were like his. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:6]		לִזְקֻנָיו. שהיה זיו אקונין שלו דומה לו:
3And Abraham named his son who had been born to him, whom Sarah had borne to him, Isaac.		גוַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שֶׁם־בְּנ֧וֹ הַנּֽוֹלַד־ל֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־יָֽלְדָה־לּ֥וֹ שָׂרָ֖ה יִצְחָֽק:
4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.		דוַיָּ֤מָל אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־שְׁמֹנַ֖ת יָמִ֑ים כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים:

Second Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

5And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born to him.		הוְאַבְרָהָ֖ם בֶּן־מְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִוָּ֣לֶד ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת יִצְחָ֥ק בְּנֽוֹ:
6And Sarah said, "God has made joy for me; whoever hears will rejoice over me."		ווַתֹּ֣אמֶר שָׂרָ֔ה צְחֹ֕ק עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֱלֹהִ֑ים כָּל־הַשֹּׁמֵ֖עַ יִֽצֲחַק־לִֽי:
will rejoice over me. Heb. יִצְחַק will rejoice for me (Targum Onkelos). And the Midrashic interpretation (Gen. Rabbah 53:8) is: Many barren women were remembered with her; many sick people were healed on that very day; many prayers were answered with hers, and there was much joy in the world.		יִֽצֲחַק־לִי. יִשְׂמַח עָלַי. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה הַרְבֵּה עֲקָרוֹת נִפְקְדוּ עִמָּהּ, הַרְבֵּה חוֹלִים נִתְרַפְּאוּ בוֹ בַיּוֹם, הַרְבֵּה תְפִלּוֹת נַעֲנוּ עִמָּהּ, וְרֹב שְׂחוֹק הָיָה בָעוֹלָם:
7And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, for I have borne a son to his old age!"		זוַתֹּ֗אמֶר מִ֤י מִלֵּל֙ לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם הֵינִ֥יקָה בָנִ֖ים שָׂרָ֑ה כִּֽי־יָלַ֥דְתִּי בֵ֖ן לִזְקֻנָֽיו:
Who would have said to Abraham. An expression of praise and esteem, as in (Isa. 41:4): “Who has wrought and done?”; (ibid. 40:26): “Who has created these?” See what He is and Who He is (and how great He is), He Who keeps His promise! The Holy One, blessed be He, promises and does. — [based on Targum Onkelos]		מִי מִלֵּל לְאַבְרָהָם. לְשׁוֹן שֶׁבַח וַחֲשִׁיבוּת, רְאוּ, מִי הוּא וְכַמָּה הוּא שׁוֹמֵר הַבְטָחָתוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַבְטִיחַ וְעוֹשֶׂה.
said. Heb. מִלֵל. Scripture uses an unusual word and does not say דִבֶּר because its numerical value [of מִלֵל] is 100, i.e., at the end of one hundred [years] of Abraham. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:3]		מִלֵּל. שִׁנָּה הַכָּתוּב וְלֹא אָמַר דִּבֵּר – גִּימַטְרִיָּא שֶׁלּוֹ ק', כְּלוֹמַר לְסוֹף מֵאָה לְאַבְרָהָם:
Sarah would nurse children. Why is “children” in the plural? On the day of the feast, the princesses brought their children with them, and she nursed them, for they were saying, “Sarah did not give birth, but brought in a foundling from the street.” - [from B.M. 87a] See above 17:16.		הֵינִיקָה בָנִים שָׂרָה. וּמַהוּ בָנִים לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים? בְּיוֹם הַמִּשְׁתֶּה הֵבִיאוּ הַשָּׂרוֹת בְּנֵיהֶן עִמָּהֶן וְהֵנִיקָה אוֹתָם, שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרוֹת לֹא יָלְדָה שָׂרָה, אֶלָֹּא אֲסוּפִי הֵבִיאָה מִן הַשּׁוּק:
8And the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.		חוַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־יִצְחָֽק:
and was weaned. At the end of twenty-four months. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:10, Keth. 60a]		וַיִּגָּמַל. לְסוֹף כ"ד חֹדֶשׁ (גיטין ע"ה):
a great feast. for all the prominent people of the generation were there: Shem, Eber, and Abimelech. — [from Tan. Buber, Vayishlach 23] Cf. Gen. Rabbah 53:10.		מִשְׁתֶּה גָדוֹל. שֶׁהָיוּ שָׁם גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר שֵׁם וָעֵבֶר וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ (בראשית רבה):

Third Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, making merry.		טוַתֵּ֨רֶא שָׂרָ֜ה אֶת־בֶּן־הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית אֲשֶׁר־יָֽלְדָ֥ה לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם מְצַחֵֽק:
making merry. Heb. מְצַחֵק. An expression of idolatry, as it is said (Exod. 32:6): “and they rose up to make merry” (לְצַחֵק) . Another explanation: An expression of illicit sexual relations, as it is said (below 39:17): “to mock (לְצַחֶק) me.” Another explanation: An expression of murder, as it is said (II Sam. 2:14): “Let the boys get up now and sport (וַיִשַׂחֲקוּ) before us, etc.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 53:11]		מְצַחֵֽק. לְשׁוֹן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיָּקֻמוּ לְצַחֵק (שמות ל"ב), דָּבָר אַחֵר לְשׁוֹן גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, כְּמָה דְּתֵימָא לְצַחֶק בִּי (בראשית ל"ט), דָּבָר אַחֵר לְשׁוֹן רְצִיחָה, כְּמוֹ יָקוּמוּ נָא הַנְּעָרִים וִישַׂחֲקוּ לְפָנֵינוּ וְגוֹ' (שמואל ב ב'):
10And Sarah said to Abraham, "Drive out this handmaid and her son, for the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son, with Isaac."		יוַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם גָּרֵ֛שׁ הָֽאָמָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את וְאֶת־בְּנָ֑הּ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יִירַשׁ֙ בֶּן־הָֽאָמָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את עִם־בְּנִ֖י עִם־יִצְחָֽק:
with my son, etc.. From Sarah’s reply, “For the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son,” you learn that he would quarrel with Isaac regarding the inheritance and say,“ I am the firstborn and should take two portions,” and they would go out to the field, and he would take his bow and shoot arrows at him, as it is said (Prov. 26:18f.): “Like one who wearies himself shooting firebrands, etc. and says: Am I not joking?” - [from above source]		עִם־בְּנִי וגו'. שֶׁהָיָה מֵרִיב עִם יִצְחָק עַל הַיְרֻשָּׁה וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי בְּכוֹר וְנוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם, וְיוֹצְאִים בַּשָּׂדֶה וְנוֹטֵל קַשְׁתּוֹ וְיוֹרֶה בוֹ חִצִּים, כְּמָה דְּתֵימָא כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶה זִקִּים וְגוֹ' וְאָמַר הֲלֹא מְשַׂחֵק אָנִי (משלי כ"ו):
with my son, with Isaac. (Gen. Rabbah 53:11) Just because he is my son, even if he were not as deserving as Isaac, or [if he were] as deserving as Isaac, even if he were not my son, this one [Ishmael] does not deserve to inherit with him. How much more so [does he not deserve to inherit] with my son, with Isaac, who has both qualities!-		עִם־בְּנִי עִם־יִצְחָֽק. מִכֵּיוָן שֶׁהוּא בְנִי אֲפִלּוּ אִם אֵינוֹ הָגוּן כְּיִצְחָק, אוֹ הָגוּן כְּיִצְחָק אֲפִלּוּ אֵינוֹ בְנִי, אֵין זֶה כְדַאי לִירַשׁ עִמּוֹ, קַל וָחֹמֶר עִם בְּנִי עִם יִצְחָק, שֶׁשְּׁתֵיהֶן בּוֹ (בראשית רבה):
11But the matter greatly displeased Abraham, concerning his son.		יאוַיֵּ֧רַע הַדָּבָ֛ר מְאֹ֖ד בְּעֵינֵ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם עַ֖ל אוֹדֹ֥ת בְּנֽוֹ:
concerning his son. Because he heard that he had fallen to wicked ways (Tan. Shemoth 1). According to its simple meaning, however, [it means] because she told him to send him away.		עַל אודות בְּנֽוֹ. שֶׁשָּׁמַע שֶׁיָּצָא לְתַרְבּוּת רָעָה (בראשית רבה), וּפְשׁוּטוֹ עַל שֶׁאָמְרָה לוֹ לְשַׁלְּחוֹ:
12And God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased concerning the lad and concerning your handmaid; whatever Sarah tells you, hearken to her voice, for in Isaac will be called your seed.		יבוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֗ם אַל־יֵרַ֤ע בְּעֵינֶ֨יךָ֙ עַל־הַנַּ֣עַר וְעַל־אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֛יךָ שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמַ֣ע בְּקֹלָ֑הּ כִּ֣י בְיִצְחָ֔ק יִקָּרֵ֥א לְךָ֖ זָֽרַע:
hearken to her voice. (to the voice of the holy spirit within her.) We learn from here that Abraham was inferior to Sarah in prophecy. — [from Exod. Rabbah 1:1, Tan. Shemoth 1]		שְׁמַע בקולה. (בקול רוח הקודש שבה.) לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהָיָה אַבְרָהָם טָפֵל לְשָׂרָה בִּנְבִיאוּת:

Fourth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

13But also the son of the handmaid I will make into a nation, because he is your seed."		יגוְגַ֥ם אֶת־בֶּן־הָֽאָמָ֖ה לְג֣וֹי אֲשִׂימֶ֑נּוּ כִּ֥י זַרְעֲךָ֖ הֽוּא:
14And Abraham arose early in the morning, and he took bread and a leather pouch of water, and he gave [them] to Hagar, he placed [them] on her shoulder, and the child, and he sent her away; and she went and wandered in the desert of Beer sheba.		ידוַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם אַבְרָהָ֣ם \| בַּבֹּ֡קֶר וַיִּקַּח־לֶ֩חֶם֩ וְחֵ֨מַת מַ֜יִם וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֶל־הָ֠גָ֠ר שָׂ֧ם עַל־שִׁכְמָ֛הּ וְאֶת־הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיְשַׁלְּחֶ֑הָ וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ וַתֵּ֔תַע בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע:
bread and a leather pouch of water. But not silver and gold, because he hated him for falling to evil ways. — [from Tan. Shemoth 1]		לֶחֶם וְחֵמַת מַיִם. וְלֹא כֶסֶף וְזָהָב, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה שׂוֹנְאוֹ עַל שֶׁיָּצָא לְתַרְבּוּת רָעָה:
and the child. (Gen. Rabbah 53:13) He also placed the child on her shoulder, because Sarah had cast an evil eye upon him, and he was seized by a fever so that he could not walk on his feet.		וְאֶת־הַיֶּלֶד. אַף הַיֶּלֶד שָׂם עַל שִׁכְמָהּ, שֶׁהִכְנִיסָה בוֹ שָׂרָה עַיִן רָעָה וַאֲחָזַתּוּ חַמָּה וְלֹא יָכוֹל לֵילֵךְ בְּרַגְלָיו (בראשית רבה):
and she went and wandered. She reverted to the idols of her father’s house. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 30]		וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתֵּתַע. חָזְרָה לְגִלּוּלֵי בֵית אָבִיהָ (פרקי דרבי אליעזר פ' ל'):
15And the water was depleted from the leather pouch, and she cast the child under one of the bushes.		טווַיִּכְל֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם מִן־הַחֵ֑מֶת וַתַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְ אֶת־הַיֶּ֔לֶד תַּ֖חַת אַחַ֥ד הַשִּׂיחִֽם:
And the water was depleted. Because sick people habitually drink great amounts. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:13]		וַיִּכְלוּ הַמַּיִם. לְפִי שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ חוֹלִים לִשְׁתּוֹת הַרְבֵּה:
16And she went and sat down from afar, at about the distance of two bowshots, for she said, "Let me not see the child's death." And she sat from afar, and she raised her voice and wept.		טזוַתֵּ֩לֶךְ֩ וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב לָ֜הּ מִנֶּ֗גֶד הַרְחֵק֙ כִּמְטַֽחֲוֵ֣י קֶ֔שֶׁת כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֔ה אַל־אֶרְאֶ֖ה בְּמ֣וֹת הַיָּ֑לֶד וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב מִנֶּ֔גֶד וַתִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹלָ֖הּ וַתֵּֽבְךְּ:
from afar. Heb. מִנֶגֶד, from afar. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:13]		מִנֶּגֶד. מֵרָחוֹק:
the distance of two bowshots. As far as two bowshots, and it is an expression of shooting an arrow. [It is used so] in the language of the Mishnah (Yev. 90b, Sanh. 46a): “who cohabited (הֵטִיח) with his wife,” because the semen shoots like an arrow. Now if you ask: it should have been כִּמְטַחֵי קֶשֶׁת, [I will answer you that] it is grammatically correct to insert a “vav” here, as in (Song 2:14): “in the clefts of (בְּחַגְוָי) the rock,” from the [same] root as (Isa. 19:17): “And the land of Judah will be to Egypt for a breach (לְחָגָא),” and from the [same] root as (Ps. 107:27): “They reeled (יָחוֹגוּ) and staggered like a drunkard.” Similarly (ibid. 65:6): “the ends of (קַצְוָי) the earth,” being derived from קָצֶה (end).		כִּמְטַֽחֲוֵי קֶשֶׁת. כִּשְׁתֵּי טִיחוֹת (בראשית רבה), וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן יְרִיַּת חֵץ, בִּלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה שֶׁהֵטִיחַ בְאִשְׁתּוֹ, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהַזֶּרַע יוֹרֶה כַּחֵץ; וְאִם תֹּאמַר הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב כִּמְטַחֵי קֶשֶׁת, מִשְׁפַּט הַוָּי"ו לִכָּנֵס לְכָאן, כְּמוֹ בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע (שיר השירים ב'), מִגִּזְרַת וְהָיְתָה אַדְמַת יְהוּדָה לְמִצְרַיִם לְחָגָּא (ישעיהו י"ט), וּמִגִּזְרַת יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר (תהילים ק"ז), וְכֵן קַצְוֵי אֶרֶץ (תהילים ס"ה), מִגִּזְרַת קָצֶה:
And she sat from afar. When he drew near death, she went further away.		וַתֵּשֶׁב מִנֶּגֶד. כֵּיוָן שֶׁקָּרַב לָמוּת הוֹסִיפָה לְהִתְרַחֵק:
17And God heard the lad's voice, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What is troubling you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the lad's voice in the place where he is.		יזוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אֱלֹהִים֘ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַנַּ֒עַר֒ וַיִּקְרָא֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ אֱלֹהִ֤ים \| אֶל־הָגָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָ֖הּ מַה־לָּ֣ךְ הָגָ֑ר אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֧ע אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶל־ק֥וֹל הַנַּ֖עַר בַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם:
the lad’s voice. From here [we learn] that the sick person’s prayer is more effective than the prayer of others on his behalf, and is the first to be accepted. — [from Gen. Rabbah 53:14]		אֶת־קוֹל הַנַּעַר. מִכָּאן שֶׁיָּפָה תְּפִלַּת הַחוֹלֶה מִתְּפִלַּת אֲחֵרִים עָלָיו וְהִיא קוֹדֶמֶת לְהִתְקַבֵּל (בראשית רבה):
where he is. According to the deeds that he does now he is judged and not according to what he is destined to do (Rosh Hashanah 16b). For the ministering angels were accusing and saying,“ O Lord of the Universe, for one who is destined to kill Your children with thirst, You are bringing up a well?!” And He answered them, “What is he now, righteous or wicked?” They replied, “Righteous.” He said to them, “According to his present deeds I judge him” (Gen. Rabbah 53:14). And that is the meaning of “where he is.” Now where did he kill the Israelites with thirst? When Nebuchadnezzar exiled them, as it is stated (Isa. 21: 13f.): “The harsh prophecy concerning Arabia, etc. Toward the thirsty bring ye water, etc.” When they led them beside the Arabs, the Israelites said to their captors, “Please lead us beside the children of our uncle Ishmael, and they will have mercy on us,” as it is stated: “the caravans of the Dedanites.” Do not read דְדָנִים (Dedanites) but דְוֹדִים (uncles). And these [Ishmaelites] went forth toward them and brought them salted meat and fish and inflated skins. The Israelites thought that they were full of water, but when one would place it into one’s mouth and open it, the air would enter his body and he would die (Tan. Yithro 5).		בַּֽאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָֽׁם. לְפִי מַעֲשִׂים שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה עַכְשָׁו הוּא נִדּוֹן, וְלֹא לְפִי מַה שֶּׁהוּא עָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת (ראש השנה ט"ז), לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מְקַטְרְגִים וְאוֹמְרִים רִבּוֹנו שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מִי שֶׁעָתִיד זַרְעוֹ לְהָמִית בָּנֶיךָ בַּצָּמָא אַתָּה מַעֲלֶה לוֹ בְּאֵר, וְהוּא מְשִׁיבָם עַכְשָׁו מַה הוּא, צַדִּיק אוֹ רָשָׁע? אָמְרוּ לוֹ צַדִּיק, אָמַר לָהֶם לְפִי מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁל עַכְשָׁו אֲנִי דָנוֹ, וְזֶהוּ בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם. וְהֵיכָן הֵמִית אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּצָּמָא? כְּשֶׁהֶגְלָם נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר מַשָּׂא בַּעְרָב וְגוֹ' לִקְרַאת צָמֵא הֵתָיוּ מָיִם וְגוֹ' (ישעיהו כ"א), כְּשֶׁהָיוּ מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתָם אֵצֶל עַרְבִיִּים, הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לְשׁוֹבֵיהֶם בְּבַקָּשָׁה מִכֶּם הוֹלִיכוּנוּ אֵצֶל בְּנֵי דוֹדֵנוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל וִירַחֲמוּ עָלֵינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֹרְחוֹת דְּדָנִים (שם) – אַל תִּקְרֵי דְּדָנִים אֶלָּא דּוֹדִים – וְאֵלּוּ יוֹצְאִים לִקְרָאתָם וּמְבִיאִין לָהֶם בָּשָׂר וְדָג מָלוּחַ וְנוֹדוֹת נְפוּחִים, כִּסְבוּרִים יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהֵם מְלֵאִים מַיִם, וּכְשֶׁמַּכְנִיסוֹ לְתוֹךְ פִּיו וּפוֹתְחוֹ, הָרוּחַ נִכְנֶסֶת בְּגוּפוֹ וּמֵת:

Fifth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

18Rise, pick up the lad and grasp your hand upon him, for I shall make him into a great nation."		יחק֚וּמִי שְׂאִ֣י אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר וְהַֽחֲזִ֥יקִי אֶת־יָדֵ֖ךְ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִׂימֶֽנּוּ:
19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the pouch with water and gave the lad to drink.		יטוַיִּפְקַ֤ח אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־עֵינֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֖רֶא בְּאֵ֣ר מָ֑יִם וַתֵּ֜לֶךְ וַתְּמַלֵּ֤א אֶת־הַחֵ֨מֶת֙ מַ֔יִם וַתַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־הַנָּֽעַר:
20And God was with the lad, and he grew, and he dwelt in the desert, and he became an archer.		כוַיְהִ֧י אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הַנַּ֖עַר וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וַיְהִ֖י רֹבֶ֥ה קַשָּֽׁת:
..and he became an archer. Heb. רֹבֶה קַשָׁת, one who shoots arrows with a bow.		רֹבֶה קַשָּֽׁת. יוֹרֶה חִצִּים בְּקֶשֶׁת:
Heb. קַשָׁת. [He is so designated] because of his occupation, like חַמָר, donkey driver, גַמָל, camel driver, צַיָד, hunter. Therefore, the “shin” is punctuated with a “dagesh.” He would dwell in the desert and waylay the passers-by. That is what is meant by (above 16: 12): “his hand will be upon all, etc.”		קַשָּֽׁת. עַל שֵׁם הָאֻמָּנוּת, כְּמוֹ חַמָּר, גַּמָּל, צַיָּד, לְפִיכָך הַשִּׁי"ן מֻדְגֶּשֶׁת. הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב בַּמִּדְבָּר וּמְלַסְטֵם אֶת הָעוֹבְרִים, הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר יָדוֹ בַכֹּל וְגוֹמֵר:
21And he dwelt in the desert of Paran, and his mother took for him a wife from the land of Egypt.		כאוַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר פָּארָ֑ן וַתִּקַּח־ל֥וֹ אִמּ֛וֹ אִשָּׁ֖ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
from the land of Egypt. from the place where she grew up, as it is stated (above 16:1): “and she had an Egyptian handmaid, etc.” That is what people say, “Throw a stick into the air, and it will land on its place of origin (the ground).” - [from Gen. Rabbah 53:15]		מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם. מִמְּקוֹם גִּדּוּלֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְלָהּ שִׁפְחָה מִצְרִית וְגוֹ' (בראשית ט״ז:א׳), הַיְנוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי זְרֹק חוּטְרָא לַאֲוִירָא, אֲעִיקְּרֵיהּ קָאֵי:

Sixth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

22Now it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol his general said to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.		כבוַֽיְהִי֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וּפִיכֹל֙ שַׂר־צְבָא֔וֹ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אֱלֹהִ֣ים עִמְּךָ֔ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֖ה עֹשֶֽׂה:
God is with you. Because they saw that he had come out of the region of Sodom unscathed, and that he had fought with the kings and they fell into his hand, and that his wife was remembered [with a child] in his old age. — [from Gen. Rabbah 54:2]		אֱלֹהִים עִמְּךָ. לְפִי שֶׁרָאוּ שֶׁיָּצָא מִשְּׁכוּנַת סְדוֹם לְשָׁלוֹם, וְעִם הַמְּלָכִים נִלְחַם וְנָפְלוּ בְיָדוֹ, וְנִפְקְדָה אִשְׁתּוֹ לִזְקוּנָיו:
23And now, swear to me here by God, that you will not lie to me or to my son or to my grandson; according to the kindness that I have done with you, you shall do with me, and with the land wherein you have sojourned."		כגוְעַתָּ֗ה הִשָּׁ֨בְעָה לִּ֤י בֵֽאלֹהִים֙ הֵ֔נָּה אִם־תִּשְׁקֹ֣ר לִ֔י וּלְנִינִ֖י וּלְנֶכְדִּ֑י כַּחֶ֜סֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֤יתִי עִמְּךָ֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה עִמָּדִ֔י וְעִם־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־גַּ֥רְתָּה בָּֽהּ:
or to my son or to my grandson. Thus far is a father’s compassion for his son. — [from Gen. Rabbah 54:2]		וּלְנִינִי וּלְנֶכְדִּי. עַד כָּאן רַחֲמֵי הָאָב עַל הַבֵּן:
according to the kindness that I have done with you, you shall do with me. when I said to you (above 20:15): “Here is my land before you.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 54:2]		כַּחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִי עִמְּךָ תַּֽעֲשֶׂה עִמָּדִי. שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לְךָ הִנֵּה אַרְצִי לְפָנֶיךָ (בראשית רבה):
24And Abraham said, "I will swear."		כדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם אָֽנֹכִ֖י אִשָּׁבֵֽעַ:
25And Abraham contended with Abimelech about the well of water that the servants of Abimelech had forcibly seized.		כהוְהוֹכִ֥חַ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל־אֹדוֹת֙ בְּאֵ֣ר הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּֽזְל֖וּ עַבְדֵ֥י אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ:
And Abraham contended with Abimelech. Heb. הוֹכִיח ַאֶת. He disputed with him concerning this. — [from Targum Jonathan]		וְהוֹכִחַ. נִתְוַכֵּחַ עִמּוֹ עַל כָּךְ:
26And Abimelech said, "I do not know who did this thing, neither did you tell me, nor did I hear [of it] until today. "		כווַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי מִ֥י עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וְגַם־אַתָּ֞ה לֹֽא־הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֗י וְגַ֧ם אָֽנֹכִ֛י לֹ֥א שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בִּלְתִּ֥י הַיּֽוֹם:
27And Abraham took flocks and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech, and they both formed a covenant.		כזוַיִּקַּ֤ח אַבְרָהָם֙ צֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לַֽאֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית:

Seventh Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

28And Abraham placed seven ewe lambs by themselves.		כחוַיַּצֵּ֣ב אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶת־שֶׁ֛בַע כִּבְשׂ֥ת הַצֹּ֖אן לְבַדְּהֶֽן:
29And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What are these seven ewe lambs, which you have placed by themselves?"		כטוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם מָ֣ה הֵ֗נָּה שֶׁ֤בַע כְּבָשׂת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִצַּ֖בְתָּ לְבַדָּֽנָה:
30And he said, "For these seven ewe lambs you shall take from my hand, in order that it be to me for a witness that I dug this well."		לוַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּ֚י אֶת־שֶׁ֣בַע כְּבָשׂ֔ת תִּקַּ֖ח מִיָּדִ֑י בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְעֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י חָפַ֖רְתִּי אֶת־הַבְּאֵ֥ר הַזֹּֽאת:
in order that it be to me. [In order that] this [be for me].		בַּֽעֲבוּר תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּי. זאת:
for a witness. Heb. לְעֵדָה, an expression of testimony in the feminine form, like (below 31:52): “and the monument is a witness (וְעֵדָה).”		לְעֵדָה. לְשׁוֹן עֵדוּת שֶׁל נְקֵבָה, כְּמוֹ וְעֵדָה הַמַּצֵּבָה (בראשית ל"א):
that I dug this well. Abimelech’s shepherds were contending about it and saying, “We dug it.” They agreed among themselves that whoever would appear beside the well and the water would rise toward him-it [the well] was his. And they [the waters] rose toward Abraham.		כִּי חָפַרְתִּי אֶת־הַבְּאֵר. מְרִיבִים הָיוּ עָלֶיהָ רוֹעֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וְאוֹמְרִים אֲנַחְנוּ חֲפַרְנוּהָ, אָמְרוּ בֵּינֵיהֶם כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּתְרָאֶה עַל הַבְּאֵר וְיַעֲלוּ הַמַּיִם לִקְרָאתוֹ, שֶׁלּוֹ הִיא, וְעָלוּ לִקְרָאת אַבְרָהָם:
31Therefore, he named that place Beer sheba, for there they both swore.		לאעַל־כֵּ֗ן קָרָ֛א לַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ם נִשְׁבְּע֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם:
32And they formed a covenant in Beer-sheba, and Abimelech and Phicol his general arose, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.		לבוַיִּכְרְת֥וּ בְרִ֖ית בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיָּ֣קָם אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ וּפִיכֹל֙ שַׂר־צְבָא֔וֹ וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים:
33And he planted an eishel in Beer-Sheba, and he called there in the name of the Lord, the God of the world.		לגוַיִּטַּ֥ע אֵ֖שֶׁל בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּ֨קְרָא־שָׁ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵ֥ל עוֹלָֽם:
an eishel. Heb. אֵשֶׁל [There is a dispute between] Rav and Samuel. One says that it was an orchard from which to bring fruits for the guests at the meal, and one says that it was an inn for lodging, in which there were all sorts of fruits. We find the expression of planting (נְטִיעָה) used in conjunction with tents, as it is written (Dan. 11:45): “And he will pitch (וְיִטַע) his palatial tents.” - [from Sotah 10a, Gen. Rabbah 54:6]		אֵשֶׁל. רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, חַד אֲמַר פַּרְדֵּס לְהָבִיא מִמֶּנוּ פֵּרוֹת לָאוֹרְחִים בַּסְּעוּדָה, וְחַד אֲמַר פֻּנְדָּק לְאַכְסַנְיָא וּבוֹ כָּל מִינֵי פֵּרוֹת. וּמָצִינוּ לְשׁוֹן נְטִיעָה בְּאֹהָלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְיִטַּע אָהֳלֵי אַפַּדְנוֹ (דניאל י"א):
and he called there, etc. By means of that “eishel” , the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, was called “God of the whole world.” After they would eat and drink, he would say to them, “Bless the One of Whose [food] you have eaten. Do you think that you have eaten of my [food]? [You have eaten of the food] of the One Who spoke and the world came into being!” - [from Sotah 10a, Gen. Rabbah 54:6]		וַיִּקְרָא־שָׁם וגו'. עַל יְדֵי אוֹתוֹ אֵשֶׁל נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֱלוֹהַּ לְכָל הָעוֹלָם, לְאַחַר שֶׁאוֹכְלִים וְשׁוֹתִים אוֹמֵר לָהֶם בָּרְכוּ לְמִי שֶׁאֲכַלְתֶּם מִשֶּׁלּוֹ, סְבוּרִים אַתֶּם שֶׁמִּשֶּׁלִּי אֲכַלְתֶּם? מִשֶּׁל מִי שֶׁאָמָר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם אֲכַלְתֶּם (סוטה י'):
34And Abraham dwelt in the land of the Philistines for many days.		לדוַיָּ֧גָר אַבְרָהָ֛ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים:
for many days. more than those in Hebron. In Hebron he spent twenty-five years, and here twenty-six. For he was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. That year, (above 13:18): “and he came, and he dwelt in the plain of Mamre [in Hebron].” For we do not find prior to this that he settled anywhere but there, for everywhere, he was a wayfarer, camping and continually traveling, as it is stated (ibid. 12:6): “And Abram passed” ; (ibid. verse 8): “And he moved from there” ; (ibid. verse 10): “And there was a famine in the land, and Abram descended to Egypt.” In Egypt he spent only three months, because Pharaoh sent him away. Immediately, (ibid. 13:3): “And he went on his journeys” until (ibid. verse 18): “and he came, and he dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron.” There he dwelt until Sodom was overturned. Immediately, (ibid. 20:1): “Abraham traveled from there,” because of the disgrace caused by Lot, and he came to the land of the Philistines. He was ninety-nine years old, for on the third day of his circumcision, the angels came to him. This totals twenty-five years [from the year he left his father’s house and settled in Hebron until he came to the land of the Philistines]. It is written here [that he lived in the land of the Philistines] “many days” [meaning] more than the preceding [days in Hebron]. Scripture does not come to obscure but to clarify, for if they [the days in the land of the Philistines] exceeded [the days in Hebron] by two years or more, it would have stated so plainly. You must conclude that they did not exceed them by more than one year, hence twenty-six years [in the land of the Philistines]. He immediately left there and returned to Hebron, and that year preceded the binding of Isaac by twelve years. So it is explained in Seder Olam (ch. 1).		יָמִים רַבִּֽים. מְרֻבִּים עַל שֶׁל חֶבְרוֹן. בְּחֶבְרוֹן עָשָׂה כ"ה שָׁנָה וְכָאן כ"ו, שֶׁהֲרֵי בֶּן ע"ה שָׁנָה הָיָה בְּצֵאתוֹ מֵחָרָן, אוֹתָהּ שָׁנָה וַיָבֹא וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא, שֶׁלֹּא מָצִינוּ קֹדֶם לָכֵן שֶׁנִּתְיַשֵּׁב אֶלָּא שָׁם, שֶׁבְּכָל מְקוֹמוֹתָיו הָיָה כְּאוֹרֵחַ חוֹנֶה וְנוֹסֵעַ וְהוֹלֵך, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיַּעֲבֹר אַבְרָם, וַיַּעְתֵּק מִשָּׁם, וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ וַיֵּרֶד אַבְרָם מִצְרַיְמָה (בראשית י"ב), וּבְמִצְרַיִם לֹא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים שֶׁהֲרֵי שְׁלָחוֹ פַרְעֹה מִיָּד, וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו עַד וַיָּבֹא וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא אֲשֶׁר בְּחֶבְרוֹן (שם י"ג), שָׁם יָשַׁב עַד שֶׁנֶּהֱפְכָה סְדוֹם, מִיָּד וַיִּסַּע מִשָּׁם אַבְרָהָם מִפְּנֵי בוּשָׁה שֶׁל לוֹט וּבָא לְאֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים, וּבֶן צ"ט שָׁנָה הָיָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי בַשְּׁלִישִׁי לְמִילָתוֹ בָּאוּ אֶצְלוֹ הַמַּלְאָכִים, הֲרֵי כ"ה שָׁנָה, וְכָאן כְּתִיב יָמִים רַבִּים, מְרֻבִּים עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנִים, וְלֹא בָא הַכָּתוּב לִסְתֹּם אֶלָּא לְפָרֵשׁ, וְאִם הָיוּ מְרֻבִּים עֲלֵיהֶם שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים אוֹ יוֹתֵר הָיָה מְפָרְשָׁם, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ אֵינָם יְתֵרִים יוֹתֵר מִשָּׁנָה, הֲרֵי כ"ו שָׁנָה; מִיָּד יָצָא מִשָּׁם וְחָזַר לְחֶבְרוֹן, וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁנָה קָדְמָה לִפְנֵי עֲקֵדָתוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק י"ב שָׁנִים, בְּסֵדֶר עוֹלָם:

Maftir Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 29

1And in the seventh month, on the first day, there shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall not perform any mundane work. It shall be a day of shofar sounding for you.		אוּבַחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ מִקְרָא־קֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ י֥וֹם תְּרוּעָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם:
2You shall offer up a burnt offering for a spirit of satisfaction to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished.		בוַֽעֲשִׂיתֶ֨ם עֹלָ֜ה לְרֵ֤יחַ נִיחֹ֨חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה פַּ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר אֶחָ֖ד אַ֣יִל אֶחָ֑ד כְּבָשִׂ֧ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֛ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה תְּמִימִֽם:
3And their meal offering [shall be] fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull and two tenths for the ram.		גוּמִ֨נְחָתָ֔ם סֹ֖לֶת בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשָּׁ֑מֶן שְׁלשָׁ֤ה עֶשְׂרֹנִים֙ לַפָּ֔ר שְׁנֵ֥י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֖ים לָאָֽיִל:
4And one tenth for each lamb, for the seven lambs.		דוְעִשָּׂר֣וֹן אֶחָ֔ד לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֑ד לְשִׁבְעַ֖ת הַכְּבָשִֽׂים:
5And one young male goat as a sin offering, to atone for you.		הוּשְׂעִֽיר־עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֖ד חַטָּ֑את לְכַפֵּ֖ר עֲלֵיכֶֽם:
6[This is] besides the burnt offering of the new month and its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, and their libations as prescribed for them, as a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord.		ומִלְּבַד֩ עֹלַ֨ת הַחֹ֜דֶשׁ וּמִנְחָתָ֗הּ וְעֹלַ֤ת הַתָּמִיד֙ וּמִנְחָתָ֔הּ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֖ם כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֑ם לְרֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
[This is] besides the burnt offering of the new month. The additional offerings of the beginning of the month, which is on the first day of the new year.		מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַחֹדֶשׁ. מוּסְפֵי רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁהוּא בְיוֹם רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה:

Haftarah

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 1

1And there was one man from Ramathaim Zophim, from Mt. Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.		א וַיְהִי֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֜ד מִן־הָרָמָתַ֛יִם צוֹפִ֖ים מֵהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וּשְׁמ֡וֹ אֶ֠לְקָנָה בֶּן־יְרֹחָ֧ם בֶּן־אֱלִיה֛וּא בֶּן־תֹּ֥חוּ בֶן־צ֖וּף אֶפְרָתִֽי:
And there was one man. It all follows the order, i.e., Moses gave over the Torah to Joshua, and Joshua to the Elders, and each judge to his successor, until it reached Eli, by whom it was given over to Samuel, as we learned in the Mishnah (Avoth 1:1): and the Elders gave it over to the Prophets.		ויהי איש אחד. הכל לפי הסדר, משה מסר את התורה ליהושע, ויהושע לזקנים, ושופט מסר לשופט, עד שהגיע לעלי, וממנו לשמואל, כמו ששנינו (אבות א א): וזקנים לנביאים:
from Ramathaim Zophim. There were two hills, each visible to the other. (Meg. 14a) Jonathan, however, renders ‘Zophim’ of the disciples of the Prophets.		מן הרמתים צופים. שתי רמות היו, שצופות ורואות זו את זו ויונתן תרגם: צופים, מתלמידי נביאיא:
Elkanah. Elkanah was a Levite of the sons of Ebiasaf the son of Korah. Thus his ancestry is recorded in Chron. (I, 6:7 12).		אלקנה. לוי היה, מבני אביאסף בן קרח, כן נתייחס בדברי הימים (א ה ח):
an Ephraimite. Jonathan renders: on the mountain of the House of Ephraim. Midrash Aggadah (M.S. 1:16): Ephrathi, a palace dweller, a nobleman, an important person, like (the Talmudic word ‘aperion’, used in B.M. 119a): Let us extend ‘aperion’ to Rabbi Simon. An expression of favor.		אפרתי. יונתן תרגם: בטורא דבית אפרים (בהר אפרים). ומדרש אגדה (ילקוט שמעוני שמואל א רמז עז): אפרתי. בן פלטין אבגינוס, אדם חשוב, כמו (בבא מציעא קיט א): אפריון נמטייה לרבי שמעון, לשון חן:
2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the second was Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.		בוְלוֹ֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֔ים שֵׁ֚ם אַחַת֙ חַנָּ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פְּנִנָּ֑ה וַיְהִ֚י לִפְנִנָּה֙ יְלָדִ֔ים וּלְחַנָּ֖ה אֵ֥ין יְלָדִֽים:
3And that man was wont to go up from his city from appointed time to appointed time, to prostrate himself and to slaughter (peace offerings) to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh, and there the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinhas, were serving the Lord.		גוְעָלָה֩ הָאִ֨ישׁ הַה֚וּא מֵֽעִירוֹ֙ מִיָּמִ֣ים \| יָמִ֔ימָה לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֧ת וְלִזְבֹּ֛חַ לַיהֹוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת בְּשִׁלֹ֑ה וְשָׁ֞ם שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִ֗י חָפְנִי֙ וּפִ֣נְחָ֔ס כֹּהֲנִ֖ים לַיהֹוָֽה:
And that man was wont to go up. This is the present tense. He would go up from one appointed season to another appointed season, to Shiloh. Midrash Aggadah (M.S. 1: 1,5, 7): The route he followed this year he did not follow the next year, in order to publicize (his pilgrimage) to the Israelites that they should do likewise.		ועלה האיש. לשון הוה הוא, היה עולה מזמן מועד למועד לשילה ומדרש אגדה (ילקוט שמעוני שם): בדרך שהיה עולה בשנה זו, לא היה עולה בשנה אחרת, כדי להשמיע ישראל ויעשו כמותו:
4And when it was the day, and Elkanah slaughtered (peace offerings), and he would give to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters portions.		דוַיְהִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם וַיִּזְבַּ֖ח אֶלְקָנָ֑ה וְנָתַ֞ן לִפְנִנָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ וּֽלְכָל־בָּנֶ֛יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ מָנֽוֹת:
And when it was the day. And it was the festive day.[after Jonathan].		ויהי היום. תרגום: והוה יום מועדא:
5And to Hannah he would give one choice portion, for he loved Hannah, and the Lord had shut up her womb.		הוּלְחַנָּ֕ה יִתֵּ֛ן מָנָ֥ה אַחַ֖ת אַפָּ֑יִם כִּ֚י אֶת־חַנָּה֙ אָהֵ֔ב וַֽיהֹוָ֖ה סָגַ֥ר רַחְמָֽהּ:
מנה אחת אפים. one choice portion: a portion which is fit to be accepted with a friendly countenance.		מנה אחת אפים. (תרגום:) חולק חד בחיר, הראוי להתקבל בסבר פנים יפות:
6And her rival would frequently anger her, in order to make her complain, for the Lord had shut up her womb.		ווְכִֽעֲסַ֚תָּה צָֽרָתָהּ֙ גַּם־כַּ֔עַס בַּעֲב֖וּר הַרְעִמָ֑הּ כִּֽי־סָגַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּעַ֥ד רַחְמָֽהּ:
And her rival. Her husband’s other wife, Peninnah.		צרתה. אשת בעלה, פנינה:
frequently anger her. Anger after anger, always. Therefore, it is written: ‘also anger.’ She would say to her, “Did you buy your older son a cloak today, or your younger son a shirt?”		גם כעס. כעס אחר כעס, תמיד, לכך נאמר 'גם כעס', היתה אומרת לה: כלום קנית היום מעפורת לבנך גדול, או חלוק לבנך קטן:
in order to make her complain. (Literally, to make her storm.) Our rabbis explain, “in order to make her storm” that she pray. And Peninnah had good intentions.		בעבור הרעימה. שתתאונן, ורבותינו אמרו (בבא בתרא טז א): בעבור הרעימה, שתתפלל, ולשם שמים נתכוונה:
her womb. Lit., opposite her womb, and so is every expression of the word בעד.		בעד רחמה. כנגד רחמה, וכן כל לשון 'בעד':
7And so he would do year by year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, so she would anger her, and she wept and would not eat.		זוְכֵ֨ן יַעֲשֶֹ֜ה שָׁנָ֣ה בְשָׁנָ֗ה מִדֵּ֚י עֲלֹתָהּ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה כֵּ֖ן תַּכְעִסֶ֑נָּה וַתִּבְכֶּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תֹאכַֽל:
And so he would do. I.e., Elkanah.		וכן יעשה. אלקנה:
year by year. He would give her a choice portion to demonstrate to her that he loved her and her rival would anger her more and more according to the affection which her husband demonstrated to her.		שנה בשנה. נותן לה חלק מובחר, להראותה שמחבבה וצרתה, לפי חבה שבעלה מראה לה, כן תרבה גם היא להכעיסה:
8And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"		חוַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֜הּ אֶלְקָנָ֣ה אִישָׁ֗הּ חַנָּה֙ לָ֣מֶה תִבְכִּ֗י וְלָ֙מֶה֙ לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְלִ֔י וְלָ֖מֶה יֵרַ֣ע לְבָבֵ֑ךְ הֲל֚וֹא אָֽנֹכִי֙ ט֣וֹב לָ֔ךְ מֵעֲשָׂרָ֖ה בָּנִֽים:
better to you. Don’t I love you more dearly…		אנכי טוב לך. מחבבך:
..than (I love) ten sons. that Peninnah has borne to me?		מעשרה בנים. שילדה לי פנינה:
9And Hannah arose after eating and after drinking, and Eli the priest was sitting on the chair beside the doorpost of the Temple of the Lord.		טוַתָּ֣קָם חַנָּ֔ה אַחֲרֵ֛י אָכְלָ֥ה בְשִׁלֹ֖ה וְאַחֲרֵ֣י שָׁתֹ֑ה וְעֵלִ֣י הַכֹּהֵ֗ן ישֵׁב֙ עַל־הַכִּסֵּ֔א עַל־מְזוּזַ֖ת הֵיכַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
eating. (אכלה). The הא is not dotted and the אלף is voweled with a short קמץ, and it is like אחרי אכול, meaning after eating in Shiloh and after drinking, and this expression is properly used both for masculine and feminine.		אכלה בשילה. לא מפיק ה"א, והאל"ף חטף קמ"ץ, והוא כמו:
after eating. ‘After eating’ is a gerund. It is constructed like לאכלה (Lev. 25:6) to eat, an expression equivalent to לאכול an infinitive.		אחרי אכול בשילה ואחרי שתה. והלשון נופל בין לזכר בין לנקבה, אחרי אכלה, לשון פעול, כמו לאכלה, לשון לפעול.
and Eli the priest was sitting on the chair. The defective spelling denotes that on that day, he was seated on a huge chair, for he was appointed judge over Israel.		ועלי הכהן ישב על הכסא. אותו היום ישב על כסא גדול, שנתמנה שופט (ובילקוט שמעוני: כהן גדול) על ישראל:
beside the doorpost. lit. on the doorpost.		על מזוזת. כמו: אצל מזוזת:
10And she was bitter in spirit, and she prayed to the Lord, and wept.		יוְהִ֖יא מָ֣רַת נָ֑פֶשׁ וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבָכֹ֥ה תִבְכֶּֽה:
11And she vowed a vow, and said: to Lord of Hosts, if You will look upon the affliction of Your bondswoman, and You will remember me, and You will not forget Your bondswoman and You will give Your bondswoman a man-child, and I shall give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.		יאוַתִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר וַתֹּאמַ֗ר יְהֹוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת אִם־רָאֹ֥ה תִרְאֶ֣ה\| בָּעֳנִ֣י אֲמָתֶ֗ךָ וּזְכַרְתַּ֙נִי֙ וְלֹֽא־תִשְׁכַּ֣ח אֶת־אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ זֶ֣רַע אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וּנְתַתִּ֚יו לַֽיהֹוָה֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֔יו וּמוֹרָ֖ה לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֥ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ:
O Lord of Hosts. Why was this Name designated here? (The answer is as follows:) She said before Him: O Lord of the universe, You created two hosts in Your world. The heavenly beings do not multiply, neither do they die, while the earthly beings both multiply and die. If I am of the earthly beings let me multiply, and if I am of the heavenly beings let me not die. I found this explanation in the Aggadah of Rabbi Jose the Galilean. Our sages in tractate Ber. (31b), however, expounded what they expounded: Until then there was no person who called the Holy One, blessed be He, “Hosts.” (Why then, did Hannah call Him by this Name?) But, so said she before Him: “O Lord of the universe, from all the hosts which You created in Your world, do You find it difficult to grant me one son?”		ה' צבאות. למה נתייחד שם זה כאן, אמרה לפניו: רבונו של עולם, שני צבאות בראת בעולמך, העליונים, לא פרים ולא רבים ולא מתים, והתחתונים, פרים ורבים ומתים, אם אני מן התחתונים, אהיה פרה ורבה ומתה, ואם אני מן העליונים, לא אמות זו מצאתי באגדה של רבי יוסי הגלילי (פסיקתא רבתי). ורבותינו דרשו במסכת ברכות (לא ב) מה שדרשו: עד הנה לא היה אדם שקראו להקב"ה 'צבאות', אלא כך אמרה לפניו: רבונו של עולם, מכל צבאות שבראת בעולמך קשה בעיניך ליתן לי בן אחד:
if You will look. (Lit., if seeing You will see.) In tractate Ber., our sages expounded what they expounded.		אם ראה תראה. רבותינו דרשו בו במסכת ברכות (שם) מה שדרשו:
Your bondswoman. which is stated three times in this verse, corresponds to the three precepts which a woman is commanded to observe.		אמתך. האמור ג' פעמים במקרא, כנגד שלשה דברים שהאשה מצווה עליהם:
A man child. (Lit., seed of men, meaning) righteous men, as it is written (Kings I:2:32): “Upon two righteous men.”		זרע אנשים. צדיקים, כמה דאת אמר (מלכים-א ב לב): בשני אנשים צדיקים:
A man. also means important men, as it is written (Deut. 1:13): wise and known men.		אנשים. חשובים, כמה דאת אמר (דברים א יג): אנשים חכמים וידעים:
and I shall give him to the Lord. that he be fit to be given to the Lord.		ונתתיו לה'. שיהא ראוי לתתו לה':
and no razor shall come upon his head. (translation follows K, however,) Jonathan renders: and the fear of man will not be upon him.		ומורה. תרגם יונתן: ומרות אנש לא תהא עלוהי:
12And it was, as she prayed long before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.		יבוְהָיָה֙ כִּ֣י הִרְבְּתָ֔ה לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעֵלִ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר אֶת־פִּֽיהָ:
watched her mouth. He waited for her to stop. Jonathan renders thus: and Eli waited for her until she stopped.		שומר את פיה. מצפה מתי תפסיק, כך תרגמו יונתן: ועלי אוריך לה עד דתפסוק:
watched. an expression of waiting, as in (Gen. 37:11) “and his father awaited the thing,” and (Job 14:16) “You do not wait for my sin.”		שומר. לשון המתנה, כמו (בראשית לז יא): שמר את הדבר, (איוב יד טז): לא תשמור על חטאתי:
13But Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, and Eli thought her to be a drunken woman.		יגוְחַנָּ֗ה ֤הִיא מְדַבֶּ֣רֶת עַל־לִבָּ֔הּ ֤רַק שְׂפָתֶ֣יהָ נָּע֔וֹת וְקוֹלָ֖הּ לֹ֣א יִשָּׁמֵ֑עַ וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ עֵלִ֖י לְשִׁכֹּרָֽה:
and Eli thought her to be a drunken woman. for they were not accustomed to praying silently.		ויחשבה עלי לשכורה. שלא היו רגילין להתפלל בלחש:
14And Eli said to her: Until when will you be drunk? Throw off your wine from upon yourself.		ידוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ עֵלִ֔י עַד־מָתַ֖י תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִ֑ין הָסִ֥ירִי אֶת־יֵינֵ֖ךְ מֵעָלָֽיִךְ:
15And Hannah answered and said: No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit, and neither new wine nor old wine have I drunk, and I poured out my soul before the Lord.		טווַתַּ֨עַן חַנָּ֚ה וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֔י אִשָּׁ֚ה קְשַׁת־ר֙וּחַ֙ אָנֹ֔כִי וְיַ֥יִן וְשֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א שָׁתִ֑יתִי וָאֶשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
Not my lord. You are not a lord in this instance. You yourself have revealed that the holy spirit is not resting upon you, otherwise you would know that I am not intoxicated from wine.		לא אדוני. לא אדון אתה בדבר הזה, גלית בעצמך שאין רוח הקודש שורה עליך שתדע שאיני שכורת יין:
I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. like Sarah (who was childless) [old editions of Rashi].
16Deliver not your bondswoman before the unscrupulous woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation have I spoken until now.		טזאַל־תִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־אֲמָ֣תְךָ֔ לִפְנֵ֖י בַּת־בְּלִיָּ֑עַל כִּֽי־מֵרֹ֥ב שִׂיחִ֛י וְכַעְסִ֖י דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי עַד־הֵֽנָּה:
Deliver not your bondswoman. Considering the fact that she spoke harshly to him, she returned to appease him so that he deliver her not, unprotected and disgraced, at the mercy of her rival, the unscrupulous woman.		אל תתן את אמתך. כלפי שאמרה לו דבר קשה, חזרה ופייסתו, שלא יתננה הפקר ובזיון לפני צרתה בת בליעל:
for out of the abundance of my complaint. have I spoken harshly before you.		כי מרוב שיחי. דברתי לפניך קושי:
my complaint. (lit., my speech.) In some instances, it is an expression of grief of heart. Another explanation is, according to the Targum, as follows: for out of the abundance of my provocation and my vexation, have I prolonged my prayer until now.		שיחי. יש מקומות שהוא לשון אנינות לב דבר אחר: מרוב שיחי ; כתרגומו: ארי מסגי אקניותי וארגיזותי אורכית בצלו עד כען:
and my vexation. which my rival vexes me.		וכעסי. שצרתי מכעסת אותי:
Deliver not. (Lit. do not give.) An expression of delivery, like, “deliver me not unto the will of my adversaries” (Ps. 27:12).		אל תתן. לשון מסירה, כמו (תהלים כז יב): אל תתנני בנפש צרי:
17And Eli answered and said: Go in peace, and the God of Israel will grant your request which you have asked of Him.		יזוַיַּ֧עַן עֵלִ֛י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְכִ֣י לְשָׁל֑וֹם וֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל יִתֵּן֙ אֶת־שֵׁ֣לָתֵ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ מֵעִמּֽוֹ:
your request. (שלתך, instead of שאלתך). The ‘alef’ is missing to expound in this word an expression of ‘children,’ as in Deut. 28:57: ובשליתה “and against her young, which came out, etc.”		את שלתך. חסר א', לדרוש בו לשון בנים, כמו (דברים כח כז): ובשליתה היוצאת וגו':
will grant your request. He announced to her that her prayer had been accepted.		יתן את שלתך. בשרה שנתקבלה תפלתה:
18And she said: May your bondswoman find favor in your eyes; and the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was not (sad) anymore.		יחוַתֹּ֕אמֶר תִּמְצָ֧א שִׁפְחָתְךָ֛ חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וַתֵּ֨לֶךְ הָאִשָּׁ֚ה לְדַרְכָּהּ֙ וַתֹּאכַ֔ל וּפָנֶ֥יהָ לֹא־הָיוּ־לָ֖הּ עֽוֹד:
May your bondswoman find favor. to beg mercy for her.		תמצא שפחתך חן. לבקש עליה רחמים:
and her face was not (sad) anymore. (Lit., and she no longer had her face, meaning) the face of anger.		ופניה לא היו לה. פנים של זעם:
19And they arose early in the morning, and prostrated themselves before the Lord: and they returned and came to their house, to Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her.		יטוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲווּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֛בוּ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־בֵּיתָ֖ם הָרָמָ֑תָה וַיֵּ֚דַע אֶלְקָנָה֙ אֶת־חַנָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיִּֽזְכְּרֶ֖הָ יְהֹוָֽה:
and came to their house, and Elkanah knew. From here is deduced that a traveler is forbidden to have marital relations.		ויבואו אל ביתם וידע אלקנה. מכאן לאכסנאי, שאסור בתשמיש המטה:
20And it was, when the time came about, after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, because (she said); "I asked him of the Lord."		כוַיְהִי֙ לִתְקֻפ֣וֹת הַיָּמִ֔ים וַתַּ֥הַר חַנָּ֖ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֚א אֶת־שְׁמוֹ֙ שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כִּ֥י מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁאִלְתִּֽיו:
when the time came about. (After the seasons and the days.) The minimum of seasons is two and the minimum of days is also two. Hence, she gave birth after six months and two days. From here it is deduced that a woman who gives birth after seven months, can give birth after a fraction of the seventh month of pregnancy.		לתקפות הימים. מיעוט תקופות שתים, מיעוט ימים שנים, לששה חדשים ושני ימים, מכאן היולדת לשבעה, יולדת למקוטעים:
Samuel. El after the name of God, and in reference to the incident, he was so called, for I asked him of the Lord.		שמואל. על שם אל ועל שם המעשה הוא נקרא, כי ממנו שאלתיו:
21And the man, Elkanah and his entire household, went up to slaughter to the Lord, the sacrifice of the days and his vow.		כאוַיַּ֛עַל הָאִ֥ישׁ אֶלְקָנָ֖ה וְכָל־בֵּית֑וֹ לִזְבֹּ֧חַ לַֽיהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־זֶ֥בַח הַיָּמִ֖ים וְאֶת־נִדְרֽוֹ:
the sacrifice of the days. of the appointed seasons.		את זבח הימים. (תרגום:) ית דבח מועדיא:
his vow. The vows which he made between pilgrimage festivals, he would sacrifice on the following festival.		ואת נדרו. נדרים שנדר בין רגל לרגל, היה מקריב ברגל:
22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband: "Until the child is weaned, then I shall bring him, and he shall appear before the Lord, and abide there forever.		כבוְחַנָּ֖ה לֹ֣א עָלָ֑תָה כִּֽי־אָמְרָ֣ה לְאִישָׁ֗הּ עַ֣ד יִגָּמֵ֚ל הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַהֲבִאֹתִ֗יו וְנִרְאָה֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְיָ֥שַׁב שָׁ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
Until the child is weaned. after twenty two months (other versions, twenty four), for that is the time of nursing a child.		עד יגמל. לסוף כ"ב (ספרים אחרים: כ"ד) חדשים, שכך זמן תינוק לינק:
and abide there forever. “Forever” in the Levitic sense means fifty years, as it says, (Num. 8:25), “and from the age of fifty years he shall return from the host of the work.” Figuring as follows, we determine that Samuel’s lifetime was fifty-two years. Eli judged Israel for forty years (see 4:18), and on the day of Hannah’s prayer, he was appointed judge (See above v. 9). By subtracting the year in which Hannah conceived Samuel, there remain thirty nine years. Samuel governed Israel from the time of Eli’s death for thirteen years, figuring thus: On the day of Eli’s death, the Ark was abducted, and it remained in the field of the Philistines for seven months (below 6:1). From there, it was brought to Kiriath-jearim, where it remained until David took it out of there after he had reigned seven years in Hebron over Judah, and all Israel had accepted him as their king. And it is written: And is was, from the day that the Ark abode in Kiriath-jearim that the time was long, for it was twenty years, etc. (below 7:2). Subtract from them seven years which David reigned in Hebron. We find that from the time that the Ark was abducted until Saul’s death, were thirteen years and seven months, and Samuel died four months before Saul.		וישב שם עד עולם. עולמם של לוים חמשים שנה, שנאמר (במדבר ח כה): ומבן חמשים שנה ישוב מצבא העבודה, וכך היו ימיו של שמואל, חמשים ושתים, שהרי עלי שפט את ישראל ארבעים שנה, וביום תפלת חנה נתמנה שופט, צא אותה שנה לעיבורו של שמואל, נשתיירו ל"ט, ושמואל פירנס את ישראל משמת עלי י"ג שנה, שהרי יום שמת עלי, גלה הארון וישב בשדה פלשתים ז' חדשים (לקמן שמואל א ו א), משם בא לקרית יערים, עד שהעלהו דוד, משמלך שבע שנים בחברון על יהודה, והמליכוהו כל ישראל עליהם, וכתיב (שם ז ב): ויהי מיום שבת הארון בקרית יערים וירבו הימים ויהיו עשרים שנה, צא מהן שבע שנים שמלך דוד בחברון, נמצא משגלה הארון עד שמת שאול שלש עשרה שנה ושבעה חדשים, ושמואל מת לפני שאול ארבעה חדשים:
23And Elkanah her husband said to her: "Do what seems good to you. Stay until you have weaned him, only, may the Lord fulfill His word." And the woman stayed and nursed her son, until she weaned him.		כגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהּ֩ אֶלְקָנָ֨ה אִישָׁ֜הּ עֲשִֹ֧י הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינַ֗יִךְ שְׁבִי֙ עַד־גָּמְלֵ֣ךְ אֹת֔וֹ אַ֛ךְ יָקֵ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־דְּבָר֑וֹ וַתֵּ֚שֶׁב הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ וַתֵּ֣ינֶק אֶת־בְּנָ֔הּ עַד־גָּמְלָ֖הּ אֹתֽוֹ:
only, may the Lord fulfill His word. Since you asked of Him seed of righteous men (above v. 11), and Eli announced to you through divine inspiration: (above v. 17) “The God of Israel will grant your request,” may the Lord fulfill His word. This is according to the simple interpretation. The Midrash Agadah, however, explains thus: Rabbi Nehemiah said in the name of Rabbi Samuel, the son of Rabbi Isaac: Every day, a divine voice would resound throughout the world, and say: A righteous man is destined to arise, and his name will be Samuel. Thereupon, every woman who bore a son, would name him Samuel. As soon as they saw his deeds, they would say, “This is not Samuel.” When our Samuel was born, however, and people saw his deeds, they said, “It seems that this one is the expected righteous man.” This is what Elkanah meant when he said, ‘May the Lord fulfill His word,’ that this be the righteous Samuel.		אך יקם ה' את דברו. את ששאלת ממנו זרע אנשים, ועלי בישרך ברוח הקודש אלהי ישראל יתן את שלתך, יקם ה' את דברו, וזהו לפי פשוטו ומדרש אגדה: רבי נחמיה בשם רבי שמואל בר רב יצחק אמר: בכל יום ויום בת קול יוצאת ומפוצצת בעולם ואומרת: עתיד צדיק אחד לעמוד ושמו שמואל, וכל אשה שהיתה יולדת בן, היתה קוראה שמו שמואל, כיון שהיו רואים את מעשיו, היו אומרים אין זה שמואל, וכיון שנולד זה וראו מעשיו, אמרו דומה שזה הוא, וזהו שאמר: יקם ה' את דברו, שיהא זה שמואל הצדיק:
24And she brought him with her when she had weaned him, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and an earthenware jug of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord, to Shiloh, and the child was young.		כדוַתַּעֲלֵ֨הוּ עִמָּ֜הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר גְּמָלַ֗תּוּ בְּפָרִ֚ים שְׁלשָׁה֙ וְאֵיפָ֨ה אַחַ֥ת קֶ֙מַח֙ וְנֵ֣בֶל יַ֔יִן וַתְּבִאֵ֥הוּ בֵית־יְהֹוָ֖ה שִׁל֑וֹ וְהַנַּ֖עַר נָֽעַר:
and one ephah of meal. I heard from Rabbi Isaac Halevi, that she brought one ephah of meal, which is equivalent to three seahs, from which to extract three tenths of an ephah of fine flour, which are required for one bull (Num. 15:8), as we learned in the Mishnah (Men. 76b): The showbread was made of twenty-four tenths of an ephah from twenty-four seahs; i.e., 1 tenth part of an ephah of fine flour from a seah of wheat.		ואיפה אחת קמח. שמעתי בשם רבינו יצחק הלוי, איפה אחת קמח, שלש סאין, להוציא ממנה שלשה עשרונים סלת הראוי לפר האחד, כדתנן (מנחות עו ב) לחם הפנים כ"ד עשרונים מכ"ד סאין, עשרון סולת לסאה חטין:
and an earthenware jug of wine. for a drink offering.		ונבל יין. לנסך:
the child was young. and the child was young (after Jonathan).		והנער נער. (תרגום:) ורביא הוה יניק:
25And they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.		כהוַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ אֶת־הַפָּ֑ר וַיָּבִ֥אוּ אֶת־הַנַּ֖עַר אֶל־עֵלִֽי:
and they brought the child to Eli. to see that his prophecy was fulfilled. And our sages, however, expounded what they expounded, that he decided a point of law, that a priest is unnecessary for sacrificial slaughter, as it is stated in Tractate Ber. (31b).		ויביאו את הנער אל עלי. לראות שנתקיימה נבואתו ורבותינו דרשו מה שדרשו: שהורה הלכה, שאינו צריך כהן לשחיטת קדשים, כדאיתא בברכות (לא ב):
26And she said, "Please, my lord! As surely as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here with you, to pray to the Lord.		כווַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י חֵ֥י נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אֲדֹנִ֑י אֲנִ֣י הָאִשָּׁ֗ה הַנִּצֶּ֚בֶת עִמְּכָה֙ בָּזֶ֔ה לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־יְהֹוָֽה:
Please, my lord. Take care of him that he become your disciple. And according to the Midrash of our sages, not to punish him with death.		בי אדני. לתת עיניך עליו שיהא תלמידך ולפי מדרש רבותינו: שלא יענישהו מיתה:
27For this child did I pray, and the Lord granted me my request, which I asked of Him.		כזאֶל־הַנַּ֥עַר הַזֶּ֖ה הִתְפַּלָּ֑לְתִּי וַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֥ה לִי֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖לְתִּי מֵעִמּֽוֹ:
For this child did I pray. Do not say, “This one shall die and another one shall be given to you.”		אל הנער הזה התפללתי. אל תאמר: זה ימות וינתן לך אחר:
28And I also have lent him to the Lord; all the days which he will be alive, he is borrowed by the Lord." And he prostrated himself there to the Lord.		כחוְגַ֣ם אָנֹכִ֗י הִשְׁאִלְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כָּל־הַיָּמִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָיָ֔ה ה֥וּא שָׁא֖וּל לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ שָׁ֖ם לַיהֹוָֽה:
And I also have lent him to the Lord. like a person who lends a utensil to his master, or lends him his son to serve him.		וגם אנכי השאלתיהו לה'. כאדם המשאיל כלי לרבו, או משאילו בנו לשמשו:
he is borrowed. empunte in French, i.e., you have no right to punish him, for the Lord has become a borrower over him, since I have lent him to Him, and He must return him to me.		הוא שאול. אנפרוצטי"ץ בלע"ז, כלומר אין אתה רשאי לענשו, הקב"ה נעשה עליו שואל, כי השאלתיו לו, ועליו להחזירו לי:
And he prostrated himself. Samuel, and some say Elkanah.		וישתחו שם. שמואל, ויש אומרים אלקנה:

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 2

1And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart has rejoiced through the Lord; My horn has been raised by the Lord. My mouth is opened wide against my enemies, For I have rejoiced in Your salvation.		אוַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֚ל חַנָּה֙ וַתֹּאמַ֔ר עָלַ֚ץ לִבִּי֙ בַּֽיהֹוָ֔ה רָ֥מָה קַרְנִ֖י בַּֽיהֹוָ֑ה רָ֚חַב פִּי֙ עַל־א֣וֹיְבַ֔י כִּ֥י שָׂמַ֖חְתִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ:
My mouth is opened wide against my enemies. against Peninnah.		רחב פי על אויבי. על פנינה:
2There is none as holy as the Lord, For there is none besides You; And there is no rock like our God.		באֵין־קָד֥וֹשׁ כַּיהֹוָ֖ה כִּ֣י אֵ֣ין בִּלְתֶּ֑ךָ וְאֵ֥ין צ֖וּר כֵּאלֹהֵֽינוּ:
And there is no rock like our God.. There is no artist like our God, Who makes a form within a form (Ber. 10a).		ואין צור כאלהינו. אין צייר כאלהינו, הצר צורה בתוך צורה:
3Do not increasingly speak haughtily; Let not arrogance come out of your mouth, For the Lord is a God of thoughts, And to Him are deeds counted.		גאַל־תַּרְבּ֚וּ תְדַבְּרוּ֙ גְּבֹהָ֣ה גְבֹהָ֔ה יֵצֵ֥א עָתָ֖ק מִפִּיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י אֵ֚ל דֵּעוֹת֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְל֥וֹ (כתיב וְלֹ֥א) נִתְכְּנ֖וּ עֲלִלֽוֹת:
Do not increasingly speak haughtily. All those who are haughty when good fortune shines upon them. And according to the peshat, she is speaking for the benefit of Peninnah, who behaved haughtily toward her. According to the derash, however, we follow J’s translation.		אל תרבו תדברו. כל גסי הרוח אשר שעתם מצלחת, ובשביל פנינה שהיתה מתגאה עליה היא מדברת, לפי פשוטו ולפי דרשו, כתרגומו שתרגם יונתן:
arrogance. (Lit.) strong speech. Others explain it as an expression of falsehood, something which is removed from the truth, like ויעתק “and he moved from there to the mountain” (Gen. 12: 8). We, therefore, render: Let not falsehood come out of your mouth.		עתק. דבר חזק דבר אחר: לשון סרה, כמו: (בראשית יב ח) ויעתק משם ההרה, יצא דבר סרה מפיכם:
For the Lord is a God of thoughts. He knows what is in your heart.		כי אל דעות ה'. יודע מה שבלבבכם:
And to Him are deeds counted. All men’s deeds are counted before Him.		ולו נתכנו עלילות. כל מעשי האדם נמנין לפניו:
counted. an expression of number, like: and the number (tochen) of bricks shall you give (Ex. 5:18).		נתכנו. לשון מנין, כמו: (שמות ה יח) ותוכן לבנים תתנו:
4The bows of the mighty are broken; And those who stumbled, are girded with strength.		דקֶ֥שֶׁת גִּבֹּרִ֖ים חַתִּ֑ים וְנִכְשָׁלִ֖ים אָ֥זְרוּ חָֽיִל:
The bows of the mighty are broken, etc.. So is the custom of the Most Holy, blessed be He. He weakens the mighty, and strengthens the weak. He sates the hungry and starves those who are satiated.		קשת גבורים חתים וגו'. כך אומנותו של הקב"ה, מתיש את הגבורים ומחזק את החלשים, משביע את הרעבים ומרעיב את השבעים:
5Those who were satiated have hired themselves out for bread, While the hungry have ceased. While the barren woman has born seven, She that had many children, has been bereaved.		השְׂבֵעִ֚ים בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ נִשְׂכָּ֔רוּ וּרְעֵבִ֖ים חָדֵ֑לּוּ עַד־עֲקָרָה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה שִׁבְעָ֔ה וְרַבַּ֥ת בָּנִ֖ים אֻמְלָֽלָה:
Those who were satiated. and do not need to hire themselves out for any work, He starves them, and they must hire themselves out for their daily bread, while the hungry who would toil and weary themselves for food have ceased from their toil.		שבעים בלחם. ולא צריכים להיות נשכרים לשום מלאכה, מרעיבם, ונשכרו בלחם פרנסתם ורעבים שהיו טורחים ויגעים על מזונות חדלו מטרחם:
While the barren woman has born seven, She that had many children. she that had many children has been bereaved and buries her children. Hannah bore seven, as it is stated: For the Lord remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters (2:21). When Hannah bore four, Peninnah buried eight, and when she conceived and bore a fifth child, Peninnah prostrated herself at her feet, and begged for mercy. Consequently, they lived, and were therefore called on her name. This is Rabbi Nehemiah’s opinion. Rabbi Judah says: Grandchildren are considered like children, (and she saw Samuel’s two sons). Some say: the numerical value of שבעה (seven) is equivalent to that of שמואל, (thus: ש =300, ב =2, ע =70, ה =5, totaling 377. Likewise, ש =300, מ =40, ו =6, א =1, ל =30, totaling 377).		עד עקרה ילדה שבעה ורבת בנים וגו'. ובעוד שהעקרה יולדת שבעה בנים, רבת בנים אמללה וקוברת בניה חנה ילדה שבעה, שנאמר (להלן פסוק כא) כי פקד ה' את חנה ותהר ותלד שלשה בנים ושתי בנות, וכשחנה יולדת אחד, פנינה קוברת שנים, ועשרה בנים היו לה, שנאמר (לעיל א ח): הלא אנכי טוב לך מעשרה בנים, של פנינה, כשילדה חנה ארבעה, קברה פנינה שמונה, וכשנתעברה וילדה ולד חמישי, נשתטחה פנינה לרגליה ובקשה רחמים וחיו ונקראו על שמה, אלו דברי רבי נחמיה. רבי יהודה אומר: בני בנים הרי הן כבנים. ויש אומרים: שבעה, בגימטריא כמנין שמואל:
6The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.		ויְהֹוָ֖ה מֵמִ֣ית וּמְחַיֶּ֑ה מוֹרִ֥יד שְׁא֖וֹל וַיָּֽעַל:
7The Lord impoverishes and makes rich. He humbles; He also exalts.		זיְהֹוָ֖ה מוֹרִ֣ישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁ֑יר מַשְׁפִּ֖יל אַף־מְרוֹמֵֽם:
8He lifts the poor from the dust; From the dunghill, He raises the pauper, To seat them with princes, And a seat of honor He causes them to inherit, For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He placed the world upon them.		חמֵקִ֨ים מֵעָפָ֜ר דָּ֗ל מֵֽאַשְׁפֹּת֙ יָרִ֣ים אֶבְי֔וֹן לְהוֹשִׁיב֙ עִם־נְדִיבִ֔ים וְכִסֵּ֥א כָב֖וֹד יַנְחִלֵ֑ם כִּ֚י לַֽיהֹוָה֙ מְצֻ֣קֵי אֶ֔רֶץ וַיָּ֥שֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם תֵּבֵֽל:
9The feet of His pious ones He will guard, And the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, For not by strength will man prevail.		טרַגְלֵ֚י חֲסִידָיו֙ (כתיב חֲסִידָו֙) יִשְׁמֹ֔ר וּרְשָׁעִ֖ים בַּח֣שֶׁךְ יִדָּ֑מּוּ כִּֽי־לֹ֥א בְכֹ֖חַ יִגְבַּר־אִֽישׁ:
His pious ones. It is spelled חסידו, His pious one. It is read חסידיו, His pious ones, i.e., either a single one or many. Likewise, “Those who strive with the Lord will be broken.” This reading is מריביו, those who strive with Him. The spelling is מריבו, he who strives with Him, i.e., either one or many.		חסידו. חסידו כתיב, חסידיו קרי, בין יחיד בין רבים, וכן יחתו מריביו (פסוק י), מריבו, בין יחיד בין רבים:
10Those who strive with the Lord will be broken; Upon him will He thunder in Heaven; The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. And He will grant strength to His king, And raise the horn of His anointed one.		ייְהֹוָ֞ה יֵחַ֣תּוּ מְרִיבָ֗יו (כתיב מְרִיבָ֗ו) עָלָיו֙ (כתיב עָלָו֙) בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם יַרְעֵ֔ם יְהֹוָ֖ה יָדִ֣ין אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִתֶּן־עֹ֣ז לְמַלְכּ֔וֹ וְיָרֵ֖ם קֶ֥רֶן מְשִׁיחֽוֹ:
Upon him will he thunder in Heaven. The spelling is עלו, they have ascended, even if they have ascended to the heavens, He thunders upon and casts them down.		עלו בשמים ירעם. עלו כתיב, אפילו עלו בשמים, מרעים עליהם ומורידם:
will judge the ends of the earth. will judge them; in old French, jostizier.		ידין אפסי ארץ. שופטן ומייסרן, יושטיציי"א בלע"ז:

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Wisdom to Heal the Earth is a revolutionary new look at Tikun Olam based on the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

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