Rashi on Tanakh1 Samuel 16

Rashi

Read 1 Samuel 16 in the Bible

1 Samuel 16:1

The Beis Lechemite. From Beis Lechem. The rule of every noun composed of two words, e.g., Beis Lechem, Beis Shemesh, Beis Eil, Kiryas Arba, if one wishes to add a 'ה' he adds it between the two words, e.g., Kiryas Ha'arba,1 Bereishis 35:27. Beis Ha'Eili,2 I Melachim 16:34. Beis Ha'lachmi.

1 Samuel 16:4

Hurried. Hurried out toward him.3 The elders of the city who saw Shmuel approaching hurried out toward him thinking that they had committed a grave sin and that was why he was coming to their city. Therefore, Shmuel was asked whether he was coming in peace.—Radak

1 Samuel 16:6

He said, "Surely, before Adonoy is His annointed." He said to himself, 'Surely, it is true that this one is fitting for the kingship.'

1 Samuel 16:7

Do not look at his appearance. Upon the beauty of his stature.
For I have rejected him. Because he is a quick tempered person, as it is stated, 'And Eliov became angry with Dovid.'4 Below 17:28. Also, see Maseches Pesachim 66b, that Eliov actually possessed the qualities of a king but ‘ה rejected him because he had a bad temper.
For it is not as man perceives it. Even though you called yourself a seer, when you said to Shaul, 'I am the seer,'5Above 9:19. ה׳ punished Shmuel for inferring albeit an infinitesimal of pride by saying “I am the seer.” Moshe was similarly punished for saying “the matter that will be too difficult for you, present to me and I will hear it.” [Devarim 1:17]—Sifre, Devarim 1:17 here I am informing you that you do not see.

1 Samuel 16:9

Yishay brought Shammoh. That is שַׁמְעָא.6I.e. שַׁמְעָא = שַׁמׇּה See II Shmuel 21:21 and I Divrei Hayomim 2:13.

1 Samuel 16:11

The youngest one is still left. The youngest one is left.
We will not sit. We will not sit to eat; every instance of sitting for a meal is called הֲסִבׇּה [leaning].

1 Samuel 16:13

And a spirit of Adonoy passed over. A spirit of strength.7Targum renders ‘a spirit of prophecy.’

1 Samuel 16:16

Your servants who are before you. Behold, your servants are before you, who will carry out your orders.

1 Samuel 16:18

One of the youths. The special one, [i.e.,] Do'eg, the Edomite.8See Maseches Sanhedrin 93b.
Knows how to play. His entire intention was to induce Shaul's evil eye into Dovid, that he envy him.9See Ibid., which states that it was Do’eg’s intention to arouse Shaul’s envy and therefore he gave Dovid excessive praise which was irrelevant to the position for which Shaul needed him. Do’eg neither described Dovid’s musical talents nor the instrument that he played.

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