Revised Literal Translation

1 Samuel 9

1Now there was a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִ֗יןmi.bin.ya.MinH1144,whose nameוּ֠שְׁמוֹu.she.moH8034wasKishקִ֣ישׁkishH7027,the sonH1121of Abielאֲבִיאֵ֞ל'a.vi.'ElH22,the sonH1121of Zerorצְר֧וֹרtze.RorH6872,the sonH1121of Bechorathבְּכוֹרַ֛תbe.kho.RatH1064,the sonH1121of Aphiahאֲפִ֖יחַ'a.Fi.achH647,a BenjamiteH1145,a mightyגִּבּ֖וֹרgi.BorH1368manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of powerחָֽיִל׃Cha.yilH2428.

2And he had a sonבֵ֜ןvenH1121,whose nameוּשְׁמ֤וֹu.she.MoH8034wasSaulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586,a choice young manבָּח֣וּרba.ChurH970,and a goodlyוָט֔וֹבva.TovH2896: and there wasnot among the childrenמִבְּנֵ֥יmi.be.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478a goodlierט֣וֹבTovH2896personאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376than he: from his shouldersמִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹmi.shikh.MoH7926and upwardוָמַ֔עְלָהva.Ma'.lahH4605he washigherגָּבֹ֖הַּga.Vo.ahH1364than any of the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

3And the donkeysהָאֲתֹנ֔וֹתha.'a.to.NotH860of Kishלְקִ֖ישׁle.KishH7027Saul’sשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586fatherאֲבִ֣י'a.ViH1were lostוַתֹּאבַ֙דְנָה֙va.to.Vad.nahH6.And Kishקִ֜ישׁkishH7027saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586his sonבְּנ֗וֹbe.NoH1121,Takeקַח־kach-H3947now oneאַחַ֣ד'a.ChadH259of the servantsמֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔יםme.ha.ne.'a.RimH5288with thee, and ariseוְק֣וּםve.KumH6965,goH3212seekבַּקֵּ֖שׁba.KeshH1245the donkeysהָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃ha.'a.to.NotH860.

4And he passed throughוַיַּעֲבֹ֧רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674mountבְּהַר־be.har-H2022Ephraimאֶפְרַ֛יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669,and passed throughוַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674the landבְּאֶֽרֶץ־be.'e.retz-H776of Shalishaשָׁלִ֖שָׁהsha.Li.shahH8031,but they foundמָצָ֑אוּma.Tza.'uH4672themnot: then they passed throughוַיַּעַבְר֤וּvai.ya.'av.RuH5674the landבְאֶֽרֶץ־ve.'e.retz-H776of Shalimשַׁעֲלִים֙sha.'a.LimH8171, and there they werenot: and he passed throughוַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674the landבְּאֶֽרֶץ־be.'e.retz-H776of the BenjamitesH1145,but they foundמָצָֽאוּ׃ma.Tza.'uH4672them not.

5Andwhen they were comeבָּ֚אוּBa.'uH935to the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Zuphצ֔וּףTzufH6689,Saulוְשָׁא֥וּלve.sha.'UlH7586saidאָמַ֛ר'a.MarH559to his servantלְנַעֲר֥וֹle.na.'a.RoH5288that waswith him, ComeH3212,and let us returnוְנָשׁ֑וּבָהve.na.Shu.vahH7725;lest my fatherאָבִ֛י'a.ViH1leaveיֶחְדַּ֥לyech.DalH2308caringfor the donkeysהָאֲתֹנ֖וֹתha.'a.to.NotH860,and take thoughtוְדָ֥אַגve.Da.'agH1672for us.

6And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, Behold now, there isin this cityבָּעִ֣ירba.'IrH5892a manאִישׁ־'ish-H376of Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430, and he isan honourableנִכְבָּ֔דnikh.BadH3513manוְהָאִ֣ישׁve.ha.'IshH376;all that he saithיְדַבֵּ֖רye.da.BerH1696comethבּ֣וֹאBo'H935surely to passיָב֑וֹאya.Vo'H935:now let us goH3212thither; peradventure he can shewיַגִּ֣ידya.GidH5046us our wayדַּרְכֵּ֖נוּdar.Ke.nuH1870that we should goH1980.

7Then saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586to his servantלְנַעֲר֗וֹle.na.'a.RoH5288, But, behold, ifwe goH3212,what shall we bringנָּבִ֣יאna.Vi'H935the manלָאִישׁ֒la.'IshH376?for the breadהַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ha.Le.chemH3899is spentאָזַ֣ל'a.ZalH235in our vesselsמִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּmi.ke.Lei.nuH3627, and there isnot a presentוּתְשׁוּרָ֥הu.te.shu.RahH8670to bringלְהָבִ֖יאle.ha.Vi'H935to the manלְאִ֣ישׁle.'IshH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430: what have we?

8And the servantהַנַּ֙עַר֙ha.Na.'arH5288answeredלַעֲנ֣וֹתla.'a.NotH6030Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586againוַיֹּ֤סֶףvai.Yo.sefH3254,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, I haveנִמְצָ֣אnim.Tza'H4672here at handבְיָדִ֔יve.ya.DiH3027the fourth partרֶ֖בַעRe.va'H7253of a shekelשֶׁ֣קֶלShe.kelH8255of silverכָּ֑סֶףKa.sefH3701: thatwill I giveוְנָֽתַתִּי֙ve.na.ta.TiH5414to the manלְאִ֣ישׁle.'IshH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,to tellוְהִגִּ֥ידve.hi.GidH5046us our wayדַּרְכֵּֽנוּ׃dar.Ke.nuH1870.

9(Beforetimeלְפָנִ֣ים׀le.fa.NimH6440in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,when a manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376wentH3212to enquireלִדְר֣וֹשׁlid.Ro.oshH1875of Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430,thus he spakeאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559,ComeH3212,and let us goH3212to the seerH7200: for he that isnowהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117calleda Prophetלַנָּבִיא֙la.na.Vi'H5030was beforetimeלְפָנִ֖יםle.fa.NimH6440calledיִקָּרֵ֥אyi.ka.Re'H7121a SeerH7200.)

10Then saidדְּבָרְךָ֖de.va.re.KhaH1697Saulשָׁא֧וּלsha.'UlH7586to his servantלְנַעֲר֛וֹle.na.'a.RoH5288,Wellט֥וֹבTovH2896saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559;comeH3212,let us goH3212.So they wentH3212unto the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892where the manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376of Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430was.

11Andas they went upעֹלִים֙'o.LimH5927the hillבְּמַעֲלֵ֣הbe.ma.'a.LehH4608to the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,they foundמָצְא֣וּma.tze.'UH4672young maidensנְעָר֔וֹתne.'a.RotH5291going outיֹצְא֖וֹתyo.tze.'otH3318to drawלִשְׁאֹ֣בlish.'OH7579waterמָ֑יִםMa.yimH4325,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto them, Isהֲיֵ֥שׁha.YeshH3426the seerH7200here?

12And they answeredוַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָהva.ta.'a.Nei.nahH6030them, and saidוַתֹּאמַ֥רְנָהva.to.Mar.nahH559,He isיֵּ֖שׁyeshH3426; behold, he isbeforeלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440you: make hasteמַהֵ֣ר׀ma.HerH4116now, for he cameבָּ֣אba'H935to dayהַיּוֹם֙hai.yOmH3117to the cityלָעִ֔ירla.'IrH5892; for there isa sacrificeזֶ֧בַחZe.vachH2077of the peopleלָעָ֖םla.'AmH5971to dayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117in the high placeבַּבָּמָֽה׃ba.ba.MahH1116:

13As soon as ye be comeכְּבֹאֲכֶ֣םke.vo.'a.KhemH935into the cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892,ye shall straightwayכֵּ֣ןkenH3651findתִּמְצְא֣וּןtim.tze.'UnH4672him, before he go upיַעֲלֶ֨הya.'a.LehH5927to the high placeהַבָּמָ֜תָהha.ba.Ma.tahH1116to eatלֶאֱכֹ֗לle.'e.KholH398:for the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971will not eatיֹאכַ֤לyo.KhalH398until he comeבֹּא֔וֹbo.'OH935,because he doth blessיְבָרֵ֣ךְye.va.RekhH1288the sacrificeהַזֶּ֔בַחha.Ze.vachH2077; andafterwardsאַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֖ן'a.cha.rei- khenH3651 H310they eatיֹאכְל֣וּyo.khe.LuH398that be biddenהַקְּרֻאִ֑יםha.ke.ru.'ImH7121.Now therefore get you upעֲל֔וּ'a.LuH5927;for about this timeכְהַיּ֖וֹםkhe.hai.YomH3117ye shall findתִּמְצְא֥וּןtim.tze.'UnH4672him.

14And they went upוַֽיַּעֲל֖וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927intoבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892: andwhen they were comeבָּאִים֙ba.'ImH935into the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,behold, Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050came outיֹצֵ֣אyo.Tze'H3318againstH7125them, for to go upלַעֲל֖וֹתla.'a.LotH5927to the high placeהַבָּמָֽה׃ סha.ba.MahH1116.

15Now Yhwhוַֽיהוָ֔הva.Yah.wehH3068had toldגָּלָ֖הga.LahH1540Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050in his earאֹ֣זֶן'O.zenH241aאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259dayי֣וֹםYomH3117beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586cameבֽוֹא־Vo'-H935,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

16To morrowמָחָ֡רma.CharH4279about this timeכָּעֵ֣ת׀ka.'EtH6256I will sendאֶשְׁלַח֩'esh.LachH7971thee a manאִ֜ישׁ'ishH376out of the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֗ןbin.ya.MinH1144,and thou shalt anointוּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹu.me.shach.ToH4886him to becaptainלְנָגִיד֙le.na.GidH5057over my peopleעַמִּ֣י'a.MiH5971Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,that he may saveוְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַve.ho.Shi.a'H3467my peopleעַמִּ֖י'a.MiH5971out of the handמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430:for I have lookedרָאִ֙יתִי֙ra.'I.tiH7200upon my peopleעַמִּ֔י'a.MiH5971,because their cryצַעֲקָת֖וֹtza.'a.ka.ToH6818is comeבָּ֥אָהBa.'ahH935unto me.

17And when Samuelוּשְׁמוּאֵ֖לu.she.mu.'ElH8050sawרָאָ֣הra.'AhH7200Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586,Yhwhוַיהוָ֣הva.Yah.wehH3068saidעָנָ֔הוּ'a.Na.huH6030unto him, Behold the manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376whom I spakeאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559to thee of! this same shall reignיַעְצֹ֥רya'.TzorH6113over my peopleבְּעַמִּֽי׃be.'a.MiH5971.

18Then Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586drew nearוַיִּגַּ֥שׁvai.yi.GashH5066to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050inבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432the gateהַשָּׁ֑עַרha.Sha.'arH8179,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,Tellהַגִּֽידָה־ha.gi.dah-H5046me, I pray thee, whereאֵי־'ei-H335the seer’sH7200houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004is.

19And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֜לshe.mu.'ElH8050answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, I amthe seerH7200:go upעֲלֵ֤ה'a.LehH5927beforeלְפָנַי֙le.fa.NaiH6440me unto the high placeהַבָּמָ֔הha.ba.MahH1116;for ye shall eatוַאֲכַלְתֶּ֥םva.'a.khal.TemH398with me to dayהַיּ֑וֹםhai.YomH3117,and to morrowבַבֹּ֔קֶרva.Bo.kerH1242I will let thee goוְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣יךָve.shi.lach.Ti.khaH7971,and will tellאַגִּ֥יד'a.GidH5046thee all that isin thine heartבִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖bil.va.ve.KhaH3824.

20And as for thine donkeysוְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹתve.la.'a.to.NotH860that were lostהָאֹבְד֣וֹתha.'oe.DotH6threeשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysהַיּוֹם֙hai.yOmH3117agoהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117,setתָּ֧שֶׂםTa.semH7760not thy mindלִבְּךָ֛li.be.KhaH3820on them; for they are foundנִמְצָ֑אוּnim.Tza.'uH4672. And on whom isall the desireחֶמְדַּ֣תchem.DatH2532of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478? Is itnot on thee, and on all thy father’sאָבִֽיךָ׃ ס'a.Vi.khaH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004?

21And Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586answeredוַיַּ֨עַןvai.Ya.'anH6030and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Amnot I a BenjamiteH1145,of the smallestמִקַּטַנֵּי֙mi.ka.ta.NeiH6996of the tribesשִׁבְטֵ֣יshiv.TeiH7626of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478?and my familyוּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי֙u.mish.pach.TiH4940the leastהַצְּעִרָ֔הha.tze.'i.RahH6810of all the familiesמִשְׁפְּח֖וֹתmish.pe.ChotH4940of the tribeשִׁבְטֵ֣יshiv.TeiH7626of Benjaminבִנְיָמִ֑ןvin.ya.MinH1144?wherefore then speakestדִּבַּ֣רְתָּdi.Bar.taH1696thou soכַּדָּבָ֖רka.da.VarH1697to me?

22And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050tookוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586and his servantנַעֲר֔וֹna.'a.RoH5288,and broughtוַיְבִיאֵ֖םvay.vi.'EmH935them into the parlourלִשְׁכָּ֑תָהlish.Ka.tahH3957,and made them sitוַיִּתֵּ֨ןvai.yi.TenH5414in the chiefestבְּרֹ֣אשׁbe.RoshH7218placeמָקוֹם֙ma.kOmH4725among them that were biddenהַקְּרוּאִ֔יםha.ke.ru.'ImH7121, which wereabout thirtyכִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםkish.lo.ShimH7970personsאִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

23And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the cookלַטַּבָּ֔חla.ta.BachH2876,Bringתְּנָה֙te.NahH5414the portionהַמָּנָ֔הha.ma.NahH4490which I gaveנָתַ֖תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414thee, of which I saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559unto thee, Setשִׂ֥יםsimH7760it by thee.

24And the cookהַ֠טַּבָּחHa.ta.bochH2876took upוַיָּ֣רֶםvai.Ya.remH7311the shoulderהַשּׁ֨וֹקha.ShokH7785, and that which wasupon it, and setוַיָּ֣שֶׂם׀vai.Ya.semH7760itbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586. And Samuelsaidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,Behold that which is leftהַנִּשְׁאָר֙ha.nish.'ArH7604!setשִׂים־sim-H7760itbeforeלְפָנֶ֣יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee, andeatאֱכֹ֔ל'e.KholH398:for unto this timeלַמּוֹעֵ֛דla.mo.'EdH4150hath it been keptשָֽׁמוּר־sha.mur-H8104for thee since I saidלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,I have invitedקָרָ֑אתִיka.Ra.tiH7121the peopleהָעָ֣ם׀ha.'AmH5971.So Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586did eatוַיֹּ֧אכַלvai.Yo.khalH398with Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050that dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117.

25And when they were come downוַיֵּרְד֥וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381from the high placeמֵהַבָּמָ֖הme.ha.ba.MahH1116into the cityהָעִ֑ירha.'IrH5892, Samuelcommunedוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696with Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586upon the top of the houseהַגָּֽג׃ha.GagH1406.

26And they arose earlyוַיַּשְׁכִּ֗מוּvai.yash.Ki.muH7925:and it came to pass about the springכַּעֲל֤וֹתka.'a.LotH5927of the dayהַשַּׁ֙חַר֙ha.Sha.charH7837,that Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לshe.mu.'ElH8050calledוַיִּקְרָ֨אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586to the top of the houseהַגָּ֣גָהha.gag.hH1406,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Upק֖וּמָהKu.mahH6965,that I may send thee awayוַאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֑ךָּva.'a.sha.le.Che.kaH7971.And Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586aroseוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965,and they went outוַיֵּצְא֧וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318bothשְׁנֵיהֶ֛םshe.nei.HemH8147of them, he and Samuelוּשְׁמוּאֵ֖לu.she.mu.'ElH8050,abroadהַחֽוּצָה׃ha.Chu.tzahH2351.

27Andas they were going downיֽוֹרְדִים֙yor.DimH3381to the endבִּקְצֵ֣הbik.TzehH7097of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,Samuelוּשְׁמוּאֵ֞לu.she.mu.'ElH8050saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559to Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586,Bidאֱמֹ֥ר'e.MorH559the servantלַנַּ֛עַרla.Na.'arH5288pass onוְיַעֲבֹ֥רve.ya.'a.VorH5674beforeלְפָנֵ֖ינוּle.fa.Nei.nuH6440us, (and he passed onוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֑רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674,)but standעֲמֹ֣ד'a.ModH5975thou still a whileכַּיּ֔וֹםkai.YomH3117,that I may shewוְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֖ve.'ash.mi.'a.KhaH8085thee the wordדְּבַ֥רde.VarH1697of Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ'E.lo.HimH430.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 9