א׳
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃
1
A maskil of Asaph.
Give ear, my people, to my teaching,
turn your ear to what I say.
1
Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
ב׳
אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃
2
I will expound a theme,
hold forth on the lessons of the past,
2
I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old;
בְּמָשָׁל פִּי. הֵם דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה (שבת קמה.):
...my mouth with a parable They are the words of Torah.
ג׳
אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃
3
things we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
3
That which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us,
ד׳
לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃
4
We will not withhold them from their children,
telling the coming generation
the praises of the LORD and His might,
and the wonders He performed.
4
We will not hide from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength, and His wondrous works that He hath done. .
לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם. וְגַם אֲנוּ לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם שֶׁל אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִלְּהוֹדִיעָם מַה שֶּׁסִּפְּרוּ לָנוּ:
We shall not hide from their sons We, too, shall not hide [these words] from our fathers’ sons by not letting them know what they told us.
ה׳
וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃
5
He established a decree in Jacob,
ordained a teaching in Israel,
charging our fathers
to make them known to their children,
5
For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;
ו׳
לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃
6
that a future generation might know
—children yet to be born—
and in turn tell their children
6
That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell them to their children,
ז׳
וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃
7
that they might put their confidence in God,
and not forget God’s great deeds,
but observe His commandments,
7
That they might put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;
כִּסְלָם. תּוֹחַלְתָּם, וְכֵן ״אִם שַׂמְתִּי זָהָב כִּסְלִי״ (איוב לא:כד):
their hope Heb. כסלם, their hope, and so (Job 31:24): “If I made gold my hope (כסלי).”
ח׳
וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃
8
and not be like their fathers,
a wayward and defiant generation,
a generation whose heart was inconstant,
whose spirit was not true to God.
8
And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
כַּאֲבוֹתָם. שֶׁהָיוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם וּבַמִּדְבָּר:
as their forefathers who were in Egypt and in the desert.
ט׳
בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃
9
Like the Ephraimite bowmen
who played false in the day of battle,
9
The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow, That turned back in the day of battle.
בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם. שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם בִּזְרוֹעַ לִפְנֵי הַקֵּץ וּבָטְחוּ בִּגְבוּרָתָם וּבְחִצֵּיהֶם, וְסוֹפָם הָפְכוּ לָנוּס בְּיוֹם קְרָב, כַּמְפֹרָשׁ בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים: ״וַיַּהַרְגוּם אַנְשֵׁי גַת הַנּוֹלָדִים בָּאָרֶץ״ (דברי הימים א ז:כא):
The sons of Ephraim who left Egypt forcefully before the end [of the exile] and trusted in their might and in their arrows. Ultimately, they retreated and fled on the day of battle, as is delineated (I Chron. 7:21): “and the men of Gath, who were born in the land, slew them.”
רוֹמֵי. מַשְׁלִיכִין וְזוֹרְקִין, כְּמוֹ ״רָמָה בַיָּם״ (שמות טו:א):
archers Heb. רומי, who cast and shoot, as (Exod. 15:1): “cast (רמה) into the sea.”
י׳
לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃
10
they did not keep God’s covenant,
they refused to follow His instruction;
10
They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in His law;
י"א
וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃
11
they forgot His deeds
and the wonders that He showed them.
11
And they forgot His doings, And His wondrous works that He had shown them.
י"ב
נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃
12
He performed marvels in the sight of their fathers,
in the land of Egypt, the plain of Zoan.
12
Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא. אַחֲרֵי כֵן, כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעַ הַקֵּץ, אַף הֵם וַיּוֹסִיפוּ לַחֲטֹא לוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּסַיֵּם וְהוֹלֵךְ:
Before their forefathers He wrought wonders (Nevertheless—Shem Ephraim) Afterwards, when the end arrived, they too “continued to sin against Him,” as he further concludes. (Another explanation—Shem Ephraim)
נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם. אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב בָּאוּ עַל הַיָּם, וְהֶרְאָם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֵיאַךְ הוּא גּוֹאֵל אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם (בראשית רבה צב:ב):
Before their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob came beside the sea, and the Holy One, blessed be He, showed them how He was redeeming their children.
י"ג
בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד׃
13
He split the sea and took them through it;
He made the waters stand like a wall.
13
He cleaved the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters to stand as a heap.
כְּמוֹ נֵד. תֵּל גָּבוֹהַּ, כְּדִמְתַרְגְּמִינָן ״נִצְּבוּ כְמוֹ נֵד״ (שמות טו:ח): ״קָמוּ כְשׁוּר״ (תרגום אונקלוס):
as a heap Heb. נד, a tall heap, as Onkelos renders (Exod. 15:8): “the flowing water stood up like a נֵד,” stood up like a wall.
י"ד
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם וְכָל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃
14
He led them with a cloud by day,
and throughout the night by the light of fire.
14
By day also He led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.
ט"ו
יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃
15
He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink as if from the great deep.
15
He cleaved rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the great deep.
יְבַקַּע צוּרִים. ״וְהִכִּיתָ בַצּוּר וְגוֹ׳״ (שמות יז:ו):
He split rocks (Exod. 17:6): “and you shall strike the rock.”
וַיַּשְׁקְ כִּתְהוֹמוֹת רַבָּה. אַף כְּשֶׁהָיוּ הוֹלְכִים בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם שֶׁמֵּימָיו מְלוּחִים, הִמְתִּיק לָהֶם מַעְיָנוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּהוֹם:
and He gave them to drink as [from] great deeps in the great deeps. Even as they went through the midst of the sea, whose waters are salty, He sweetened fountains for them in the midst of the sea.
ט"ז
וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃
16
He brought forth streams from a rock
and made them flow down like a river.
16
He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
וַיּוֹרֶד כַּנְּהָרוֹת מָיִם. שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹזְלִין מִן הַבְּאֵר, וְהַנְּשִׂיאִים הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין שִׂרְטוּט בְּמַשְׁעֲנוֹתָם, וְהַמַּיִם נִמְשָׁכִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם לְכָל חֲנִיַּת שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״בִּמְחֹקֵק בְּמִשְׁעֲנֹתָם״ (במדבר כא:יח); כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּאַרְבָּעִים וְתֵשַׁע מִדּוֹת (תנחומא, חקת כא):
and brought down water like rivers [Water] that was flowing from the well. The princes would make a line with their staffs and the water would be drawn after them to the encampment of each tribe, as the matter that is stated (Num. 21:18): “by the order of the lawgiver, with their staffs,” as is explained in tractate Makkoth.
י"ז
וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃
17
But they went on sinning against Him,
defying the Most High in the parched land.
17
Yet went they on still to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
לְמָרוֹת. לְהַקְנִיט, כְּמוֹ ״מַמְרִים הֱיִיתֶם״ (דברים ט:ז):
to provoke Heb. למרות, to provoke, as (Deut. 9:7): “you have been provoking (ממרים).”
י"ח
וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאָל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃
18
To test God was in their mind
when they demanded food for themselves.
18
And they tried God in their heart By asking food for their craving.
י"ט
וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
19
They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a feast in the wilderness?
19
Yea, they spoke against God; They said 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
כ׳
הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃
20
True, He struck the rock and waters flowed,
streams gushed forth;
but can He provide bread?
Can He supply His people with meat?”
20
Behold, He smote the rock, that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide flesh for His people?'
שְׁאֵר. בָּשָׂר:
flesh Heb. שְׁאֵר, flesh.
כ"א
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
21
The LORD heard and He raged;
fire broke out against Jacob,
anger flared up at Israel,
21
Therefore the LORD heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;
וְאֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָה בְיַעֲקֹב. כְּמוֹ ״וּבָעֲרוּ וְהִשִּׂיקוּ״ (יחזקאל לט:ט), שֶׁהוּא לְשׁוֹן הֶסֵּק וּתְבֵעָרָה. כְּדִכְתִיב ״וַתִּבְעַר בָּם אֵשׁ ה׳״ (במדבר יא:א):
fire was kindled against Jacob Heb. נשקה, as (Ezek. 39:9): “and make fires and heat up (והשיקו),” which is an expression of heating and burning. As it is written (Num. 11:1): “and God’s fire broke out against them.”
כ"ב
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃
22
because they did not put their trust in God,
did not rely on His deliverance.
22
Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in His salvation.
כ"ג
וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃
23
So He commanded the skies above,
He opened the doors of heaven
23
And He commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;
כ"ד
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃
24
and rained manna upon them for food,
giving them heavenly grain.
24
And He caused manna to rain upon them for food, And gave them of the corn of heaven.
כ"ה
לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃
25
Each man ate a hero’s meal;
He sent them provision in plenty.
25
Man did eat the bread of the mighty; He sent them provisions to the full.
לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים. לַחְמָם שֶׁל מַלְאָכִים, דָּבָר אַחֵר: אַבִּירִים אֵיבָרִים, שֶׁהָיָה נִבְלָע בְּכָל הָאֵיבָרִים וְלֹא הָיוּ צְרִיכִים לִנְקָבֵיהֶם (יומא עה:):
bread of the mighty Bread of the angels. Another explanation: אַבִּירִים means אֵבָרִים, limbs, for it was absorbed into the limbs, and they did not have to excrete.
כ"ו
יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃
26
He set the east wind moving in heaven,
and drove the south wind by His might.
26
He caused the east wind to set forth in heaven; And by His power He brought on the south wind.
יַסַּע קָדִים. ״וְרוּחַ נָסַע מֵאֵת ה׳ וַיָּגָז שַׂלְוִים״ (במדבר יא:לא):
He caused the east wind to set forth (Num. 11:31): “And a wind set forth from the Lord, and it made quails fly.”
כ"ז
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃
27
He rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sands of the sea,
27
He caused flesh also to rain upon them as the dust, And winged fowl as the sand of the seas;
כ"ח
וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃
28
making them come down inside His camp,
around His dwelling-place.
28
And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings.
כ"ט
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃
29
They ate till they were sated;
He gave them what they craved.
29
So they did eat, and were well filled; And He gave them that which they craved.
ל׳
לֹא־זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃
30
They had not yet wearied of what they craved,
the food was still in their mouths
30
They were not estranged from their craving, Their food was yet in their mouths,
לֹא זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם. לֹא נַעֲשׂוּ זָרִים מִתַּאֲוָתָם, כִּי כָּל תַּאֲוָתָם הִשִּׂיגוּ:
They were not estranged from their desire They did not become estranged from their desire, for they achieved all their desire.
עוֹד אָכְלָם בְּפִיהֶם. וְאַף ה׳ חָרָה בָּעָם (במדבר יא:לג). דָּבָר אַחֵר לֹא זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם לֹא נִתְרַחֲקוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם עַד שֶׁבָּאָת לָהֶם הַפּוּרְעָנוּת:
Another explanation: לא זרוּ מתאותם They were not distanced from their desire until the retribution came upon them. “While their food was still in their mouth, the wrath of the Lord (sic), etc.”
ל"א
וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃
31
when God’s anger flared up at them.
He slew their sturdiest,
struck down the youth of Israel.
31
When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the lustieth among them, And smote down the young men of Israel.
וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. נִבְחָרִים שֶׁבָּהֶם, ״וְהָאֲסַפְסוּף״ (במדבר יא:ד) הֵם הַזְּקֵנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם ״אֶסְפָה לִי״ (במדבר יא:טז):
and...the chosen of Israel The chosen of them and the men of the assembly, הָאסַפסוּף (Num. 11:4). They are the elders, as it is said (Num. 11:16): “Assemble (אספו) to Me, etc.”
ל"ב
בְּכָל־זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃
32
Nonetheless, they went on sinning
and had no faith in His wonders.
32
For all this they sinned still, And believed not in His wondrous works.
ל"ג
וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃
33
He made their days end in futility,
their years in sudden death.
33
Therefore He ended their days as a breath, And their years in terror.
ל"ד
אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃
34
When He struck them, they turned to Him
and sought God once again.
34
When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, And turn back and seek God earnestly.
אִם הֲרָגָם וּדְרָשׁוּהוּ וְגוֹ׳. אַף הִיא לֹא בֶאֱמֶת, אֶלָּא בְּפִתּוּי בַּפֶּה, וְכִזְּבוּ בִּלְשׁוֹנָם:
When He slew them, etc. Yet all this was not in truth, but with guile in their mouth and by lying with their tongue.
ל"ה
וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃
35
They remembered that God was their rock,
God Most High, their Redeemer.
35
And they remembered that God was their Rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.
ל"ו
וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ׃
36
Yet they deceived Him with their speech,
lied to Him with their words;
36
But they beguiled Him with their mouth, And lied unto Him with their tongue.
ל"ז
וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃
37
their hearts were inconstant toward Him;
they were untrue to His covenant.
37
For their heart was not stedfast with Him, Neither were they faithful in His covenant.
וְלִבָּם לֹא. כְּפִיהֶם נָכוֹן, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן וְהוּא רַחוּם לָהֶם וּמְכַפֵּר עֲוֹנָם תָּמִיד וְלֹא הִשְׁחִיתָם:
Their heart was not sincere as with their mouth.
ל"ח
וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃
38
But He, being merciful, forgave iniquity
and would not destroy;
He restrained His wrath time and again
and did not give full vent to His fury;
38
But He, being full of compassion, forgiveth iniquity, and destroyeth not; Yea, many a time doth He turn His anger away, And doth not stir up all His wrath.
וְהִרְבָּה. פְּעָמִים רַבּוֹת:
But He is merciful to them and constantly expiates their iniquity, and He did not destroy them.
לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ. מֵהֶם, וְאַף אִם נִפְרָע מֵהֶם, לֹא הֵעִיר עֲלֵיהֶם כָּל חֲמָתוֹ, כִּי אִם מְעַט מְעַט. לְפִי שֶׁזָּכַר כִּי בָשָׂר הֵמָּה, וְיֵצֶר הָרָע טָמוּן בְּלִבָּם, וְהוּא רוּחַ הוֹלֵךְ – כְּשֶׁיָּמוּתוּ, וְלֹא יָשׁוּב אוֹתוֹ רוּחַ בָּהֶם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא: כְּשֶׁיִּחְיוּ, אֵין יֵצֶר הָרָע שׁוֹלֵט בָּהֶם. וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרֵשׁ רוּחַ הוֹלֵךְ וְלֹא יָשׁוּב – רוּחָם שֶׁל חַיִּים בָּהֶם, שֶׁאִם אָמַרְתָּ כֵּן, כָּפַרְתָּ בִּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים. וְכֵן מְפֹרָשׁ בְּאַגָּדַת תְּהִלִּים:
many times Many times He withdraws His wrath from them, and even if He punishes them, He does not arouse all His anger but little by little, because He remembers that they are flesh and that the evil inclination is hidden in their heart. That is a spirit that goes away when they die, and that spirit does not return to them in the world to come. When they are resurrected, the evil inclination will have no control over them. “A spirit that goes away and does not return” cannot be explained to mean their spirit of life, because if you say so, you have denied the resurrection of the dead. In this manner, it is explained in Aggadath Tehillim (Mid Ps. 78:8).
ל"ט
וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃
39
for He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breath that does not return.
39
So He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
מ׳
כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃
40
How often did they defy Him in the wilderness,
did they grieve Him in the wasteland!
40
How oft did they rebel against Him in the wilderness, And grieve Him in the desert!
כַּמָּה. פְּעָמִים יַמְרוּהוּ תָּמִיד בַּמִּדְבָּר:
How often [How many] times they provoked him always in the desert.
מ"א
וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ׃
41
Again and again they tested God,
vexed the Holy One of Israel.
41
And still again they tried God, And set bounds to the Holy One of Israel.
הִתְווּ. לְשׁוֹן סִימָן, כְּמוֹ ״וְהִתְוִיתָ תָּו״ (יחזקאל ט:ד). וְסִימָן הוּא לְשׁוֹן מוֹפֵת וְנִסָּיוֹן. בִּקְשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ אוֹת וְסִימָן: ״הֲיֵשׁ ה׳ בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ אִם אָיִן״ (שמות יז:ז):
they sought a sign Heb. התוו, an expression of a sign, as (Ezek. 9:4): “and set a mark (והתוית תו) .” “A mark” is an expression of a wonder and a trial. They asked him for a sign and a mark (Exod. 17: 7): “Is the Lord in our midst or not?”
מ"ב
לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃
42
They did not remember His strength,
or the day He redeemed them from the foe;
42
They remembered not His hand, Nor the day when He redeemed them from the adversary.
מ"ג
אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃
43
how He displayed His signs in Egypt,
His wonders in the plain of Zoan.
43
How He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; .
מ"ד
וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃
44
He turned their rivers into blood;
He made their waters undrinkable.
44
And turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink their streams.
מ"ה
יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃
45
He inflicted upon them swarms of insects to devour them,
frogs to destroy them.
45
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.
וְתַשְׁחִיתֵם. שׁוֹמְטִין אֶת בֵּיצֵיהֶם (שמות רבה י:ד):
which mutilated them They would pull off their testicles.
מ"ו
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃
46
He gave their crops over to grubs,
their produce to locusts.
46
He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labour unto the locust.
מ"ז
יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃
47
He killed their vines with hail,
their sycamores with frost.
47
He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost.
בַּחֲנָמַל. שֵׁם אַרְבֶּה, וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ : בָּא חָן וּמָל, הָיָה מוֹלֵל אֶת יֶרֶק הָעֵץ וְהָעֵשֶׂב וְאוֹכְלוֹ:
with locusts Heb. בחנמל, the name of the locust. According to the Midrash (Mid. Ps. 78:13) [it is composed of the following words]: בָּא חָן מָל, it comes, encamps, and cuts. It cut off the greens of the tree and the grass and ate it.
מ"ח
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃
48
He gave their beasts over to hail,
their cattle to lightning bolts.
48
He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to fiery bolts.
וַיַּסְגֵּר לַבָּרָד בְּעִירָם. כְּשֶׁהִתְחִיל הַבָּרָד לֵירֵד, הַמִּצְרִי מַבְרִיחַ צֹאנוֹ לַבַּיִת, וְהַבָּרָד נַעֲשָׂה לְמוּלוֹ כְּמִין כּוֹתֶל, וְהַמִּצְרִי שׁוֹחֲטוֹ וְנוֹתְנוֹ עַל כְּתֵיפוֹ לְהוֹלִיכוֹ לַבַּיִת וּלְאָכְלוֹ, וְהָעוֹף בָּא וְנוֹטְלוֹ הֵימֶנּוּ. וְזֶה וּמִקְנֵיהֶם לָרְשָׁפִים לָעוֹפוֹת, כְּמוֹ ״וּבְנֵי רֶשֶׁף יַגְבִּיהוּ עוּף״ (איוב ה:ז). זֶה מִדְרָשׁוֹ. וּלְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ: לָרְשָׁפִים רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ, כְּדִכְתִיב ״וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּרָד״ (שמות ט:כד):
He gave over their animals to hail When the hail began to fall, the Egyptian drove his sheep (his animal) into the house, and the hail came before him like a wall. The Egyptian slaughtered it [the animal] and put it on his shoulder, to take it to his house to eat it, but the birds came and took it from him. That is [the meaning of] “and their cattle to the birds (לרשפים),” as (Job. 5:7): “but flying creatures (בני רשף) fly upward.” This is its midrashic interpretation (Mid. Ps. 78:14), but according to its simple meaning, רשפים are bolts of fire, as it is written (Exod. 9:24): “and fire flaming within the hail.”
מ"ט
יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃
49
He inflicted His burning anger upon them,
wrath, indignation, trouble,
a band of deadly messengers.
49
He sent forth upon them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A sending of messengers of evil.
נ׳
יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃
50
He cleared a path for His anger;
He did not stop short of slaying them,
but gave them over to pestilence.
50
He levelled a path for His anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence;
יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּאַף נִשְׁתַּלְּחוּ הַמַּכּוֹת לֹא שִׁמְּשׁוּ אֶלָּא שְׁלִיחוּתָם, מַה שֶּׁנִּצְטַוּוּ לְהָמִית הֵמִיתוּ וְלֹא הַכֹּל, בִּנְתִיבוֹתָם הָלְכוּ. בְּפֵרוּשִׁים אֲחֵרִים מָצָאתִי כֵּן: יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ כְּשֶׁהִכָּה כָל בְּכוֹר בְּמִצְרַיִם (שמות יב:כט), הוֹרָה דֶּרֶךְ לַמַּשְׁחִית בְּאַף לָבוֹא אֶל בָּתֵּי מִצְרַיִם וְלֹא לְבָתֵּי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (שמות יב:כג):
He leveled a path for His anger Although the plagues were dispatched in anger, they performed only their orders; what they were commanded to kill, they killed, but nothing else. They went in their paths. In other commentaries I found as follows: He leveled a path for His anger When He smote every firstborn in Egypt, He showed the way for [the angel] who was destroying with anger to enter the houses of the Egyptians, but not the houses of the children of Israel.
וְחַיָּתָם. גּוּפָם:
...and...their body Heb. וחיתם, their body.
נ"א
וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃
51
He struck every first-born in Egypt,
the first fruits of their vigor in the tents of Ham.
51
And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
נ"ב
וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
52
He set His people moving like sheep,
drove them like a flock in the wilderness.
52
But He made His own people to go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
נ"ג
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃
53
He led them in safety; they were unafraid;
as for their enemies, the sea covered them.
53
And He led them safely, and they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
נ"ד
וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃
54
He brought them to His holy realm,
the mountain His right hand had acquired.
54
And He brought them to His holy border, To the mountain, which His right hand had gotten.
נ"ה
וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
55
He expelled nations before them,
settled the tribes of Israel in their tents,
allotting them their portion by the line.
55
He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶם. שֶׁבַע אֻמּוֹת:
He drove out...from before them the seven nations.
בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם. שֶׁל גּוֹיִם:
in their tents of the nations.
נ"ו
וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃
56
Yet they defiantly tested God Most High,
and did not observe His decrees.
56
Yet they tried and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not His testimonies;
וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ. בִּימֵי הַשּׁוֹפְטִים:
Yet they tried and provoked during the days of the judges.
נ"ז
וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃
57
They fell away, disloyal like their fathers;
they played false like a treacherous bow.
57
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה. שֶׁאֵינָהּ זוֹרֶקֶת חֵץ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁהַמּוֹרֶה חָפֵץ:
like a deceitful bow which does not shoot the arrow to the place the archer wishes.
נ"ח
וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃
58
They vexed Him with their high places;
they incensed Him with their idols.
58
For they provoked Him with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their graven images.
נ"ט
שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
59
God heard it and was enraged;
He utterly rejected Israel.
59
God heard, and was wroth, And He greatly abhorred Israel;
ס׳
וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃
60
He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent He had set among men.
60
And He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which He had made to dwell among men;
ס"א
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר׃
61
He let His might go into captivity,
His glory into the hands of the foe.
61
And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the adversary's hand.
וַיִּתֵּן לַשְּׁבִי עֻזּוֹ. מָסַר הָאָרוֹן וְהַלּוּחוֹת בְּיַד פְּלִשְׁתִּים (שמואל א ד:יא):
He delivered His might into captivity He delivered the Ark and the tablets into the hands of the Philistines.
ס"ב
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃
62
He gave His people over to the sword;
He was enraged at His very own.
62
He gave His people over also unto the sword; And was wroth with His inheritance.
ס"ג
בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃
63
Fire consumed their young men,
and their maidens remained unwed.
63
Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.
בַּחוּרָיו אָכְלָה אֵשׁ. עֶבְרָתוֹ:
Fire consumed his youths [The fire of] His wrath.
לֹא הוּלָּלוּ. לֹא נִכְלְלוּ לְאַפִּרְיוֹן וְחוּפָּה, שֶׁמֵּתוּ הַבַּחוּרִים בַּמִּלְחָמָה:
were not married Heb. לא הוללו. They were not married by being brought into a litter [under] a canopy because the youths died in battle.
הוּלָּלוּ. לְשׁוֹן הִלּוּלָא בַּאֲרָמִית (ברכות לא.), וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דְּרָשׁוּהוּ עַל נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא, וְאֵין לִבִּי מִתְיַשֵּׁב לְפָרְשׁוֹ כֵּן, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְּבָר הִתְחִיל בְּמִשְׁכַּן שִׁילֹה:
הוּלָלוּ is an expression of nuptials (הִלוּלָא) in Aramaic. Our Sages, however, explained it in reference to Nadab and Abihu (Mid. Ps. 78:18), but I feel uncertain about explaining it that way because he already commenced with the Tabernacle of Shiloh.
ס"ד
כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃
64
Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows could not weep.
64
Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation. .
כֹּהֲנָיו בַּחֶרֶב נָפָלוּ. חָפְנִי וּפִינְחָס (שמואל א ד:יא):
His priests fell by the sword Hophni and Phinehas.
וְאַלְמְנוֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה. אַף אַלְמְנָתוֹ לֹא נִיתְּנָה לִבְכּוֹתוֹ, שֶׁאַף הִיא מֵתָה בְּיוֹם הַשְּׁמוּעָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתִּכְרַע וַתֵּלֶד כִּי נֶהֶפְכוּ עָלֶיהָ צִירֶיהָ״ (שמואל א ד:יט):
but his widows did not weep Even his widow was not allowed to bewail him, for she too died on the day of the tidings, as it is said (I Sam. 4: 19): “And she knelt and gave birth, for her pains had suddenly come upon her.”
ס"ה
וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃
65
The Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a warrior shaking off wine.
65
Then the Lord awaked as one asleep, Like a mighty man recovering from wine.
מִתְרוֹנֵן. מִתְעוֹרֵר וּמִתְגַּבֵּר בְּדִבּוּר לְהָקִיץ מִיֵּינוֹ, מִתְרוֹנֵן לְשׁוֹן רִנָּה הוּא:
shouting Heb. מתרונן, awaking and strengthening himself with speech to awaken from his wine. מתרונן is an expression of רנה, shouting.
ס"ו
וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃
66
He beat back His foes,
dealing them lasting disgrace.
66
And He smote His adversaries backward; He put upon them a perpetual reproach.
וַיַּךְ צָרָיו אָחוֹר. מַכּוֹת אֲחוֹרַיִם בָּעֳפוֹלִים וּבַטְּחוֹרִים (שמואל א ה:ו), וְהוּא חֶרְפַּת גִּדּוּף לָהֶם עוֹלָמִית:
And He smote His adversaries from the rear Plagues of the rear with hemorrhoids, which is a disgrace of perpetual ridicule for them.
ס"ז
וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃
67
He rejected the clan of Joseph;
He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
67
Moreover He abhorred the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
וַיִּמְאַס בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף. הוּא שִׁילֹה שֶׁהוּא בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף (זבחים קיח.):
He rejected the tent of Joseph That is Shiloh, which is in Joseph’s territory.
ס"ח
וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃
68
He did choose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which He loved.
68
But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which He loved.
ס"ט
וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃
69
He built His Sanctuary like the heavens,
like the earth that He established forever.
69
And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He hath founded for ever.
וַיִּבֶן כְּמוֹ רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ וְגוֹ׳. כְּמוֹ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בָּהֶם שְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אַף יָדִי יָסְדָה אֶרֶץ וִימִינִי טִפְּחָה שָׁמָיִם״ (ישעיה מח:יג), אַף בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״כּוֹנְנוּ יָדֶיךָ״ (שמות טו:יז). דָּבָר אַחֵר: כְּמוֹ רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ כְּאֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ. מַה שָּׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ אֵין לָהֶם חֲלִיפִין, אַף מִקְדָּשׁ אֵין לוֹ חֲלִיפִין לְהַשְׁרוֹת שָׁם שְׁכִינָה:
And He built His Sanctuary like the high heavens, etc. Like the heavens and the earth, about which two hands are mentioned, as it is stated (Isa. 48:13): “Even My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand measured the heavens with handbreadths.” Also the Temple was with two hands, as it is said (Exod. 15:17): “Your hands established.” (Cf. Mechilta, Shirah 10, Keth. 5a, Rashi to Exod. 15:17.) Another explanation: And He built His Sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth He established it Just as heaven and earth have no substitute, neither does the Temple have a substitute in which to let the Shechinah rest.
ע׳
וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃
70
He chose David, His servant,
and took him from the sheepfolds.
70
He chose David also His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
מִמִּכְלְאוֹת צֹאן. דִּירֵי צֹאן, כְּמוֹ ״גָּזַר מִמִּכְלָה צֹאן״ (חבקוק ג:יז):
and took him from the sheepcotes Heb. ממכלאתצאן, from the stalls of the sheep, as (Hab. 3: 16): “The flock will be cut off from the fold (ממכלה).”
ע"א
מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃
71
He brought him from minding the nursing ewes
to tend His people Jacob, Israel, His very own.
71
From following the ewes that give suck He brought him, To be shepherd over Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.
מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ. שֶׁהָיָה רוֹעֶה לְאָבִיו הַצֹּאן הַמְּנִיקוֹת, שֶׁהָיָה רַחֲמָנִי וּמוֹצִיא הַגְּדָיִּים תְּחִלָּה וּמַאֲכִילָן רָאשֵׁי עֲשָׂבִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים שֶׁהֵם רַכִּים, וּמוֹצִיא הַתְּיָשִׁים אַחֲרֵיהֶם וְאוֹכְלִין אֶמְצַע הָעֲשָׂבִים, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מוֹצִיא הַזְּקֵנוֹת וְאוֹכְלוֹת הַשָּׁרָשִׁים. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רָאוּי הוּא זֶה לִהְיוֹת רוֹעֶה אֶת עַמִּי:
From behind the nursing ewes He brought him For he would shepherd the nursing ewes for his father, because he was merciful and would bring the kids first and feed them the upper tips of the grasses, which are tender. Then after them he would bring out the he-goats, who would eat the middle of the grasses, and afterwards, he would bring out the older ones, who would eat the roots. Said the Holy One, blessed be He, “This one is fit to shepherd My people.”
ע"ב
וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃
72
He tended them with blameless heart;
with skillful hands he led them.
72
So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; And lead them by the skilfulness of his hands.