Rashi on Tanakh2 Samuel 17

When they all return [to you]. To you.

[Except] the man you want. You will do what you want with him and you will have him killed. And afterwords, all the people will have peace. This is a shortened verse.¹Missing the words that Rashi adds here to make sense of the words.

And in the eyes of all of the elders of Yisroel. Wicked elders.

Your father is a man of war. He knows the concepts of war, its strategy and the nature of someone setting a trap. He is sure you will run after him tonight to get to him therefore he will not rest with the other people.

Now, he is hiding. When you reach the encampment of the people with him, he will not be there for us to kill.

When some of the men fall at the beginning [of their battles]. I told you that his men are strong and embittered souls and if they kill some of your people that will [mean] a defeat in this battle which is the first. A person will hear, [i.e., a person] from among all of Yisroel who come to join you, and will say, There was a disaster amongst Avsholom's people'.

Even if he is a soldier. That person who hears [about the disaster] even if he is a soldier and his heart is like that of a lion his heart will surely melt in fear and trepidation. And he will no longer join you because he will say, "He [Avsholom] has already started to fall and he is being punished for [what he did to] his father and he will not succeed.

But I advise [as follows:] Because this is my advice.

And you yourself should go to war. At the head. [Yonoson translates:] "And then you should go at the head of everybody."

And we will encamp upon him. We will encamp upon him language [denoting] camping as [we find], "It camped within the entire boorder of Mitzraim"²Shemos 10:14. [and] "Arom has camped opposite Ephraim."³Yeshayohu 7:2.

In groups. [Yonoson translates:] "Groups" as [we find], "A group of prophets."⁴Shmuel I 10:5. [and] "Groups of evildoers."⁵Tehilim 119:61.

Into the valley [below]. We will drag the city wall into the valley.

Cross over it. The Yardein.

Because [my suggestion] may be rejected by the king. That I did not advise him well and [instead] he will proceed according to the advice of Achitophel.

Rejected. He will be told secretely and by a concealed method.

By the launderers' fountain. [Yonason translates:] "By the launderers' fountain." Launderers of woolen garments that bring them [the garments] there by kicking them with [their] foot.

The curtain. Curtain.

Ground wheat. Ground wheat as [we find], "Among the ground wheat."⁶Mishlei 27:22.

Stream of water. I do not know the translation of this word מִיכַל. In the Machberes⁷Notebook written by Menachem (one of the Rishonim). [under the entry] כַּל [he writes] that its translation is according to the context. [Here] its as [if to say] streaming water of the river.

The daughter of Nochosh. This is Yeshai, Dovid's father. Our Rabbis said that [Yeshai] died without sin [but only] because of the serpent's counsel.⁸Baba Besra 16. The serpent in the Gan Fden who suggested to Chavah to eat from the Tree of knowledge. That sin brought death into the world. That is why Yeshai died because he had no sin of his own to merit death.

Shovi, the son of Nochosh. He is Chonun, the son of Nochosh.⁹Mentioned earlier in 10:1.

Mats. Mats.

Utensils. They are utensils for practical use. as [we find], "Silver utensils."¹⁰Melochim II, 12:14.

Toasted grain. Types of toasted foods Our Rabbis said Barzilai brought two types of porridge to Dovid, one made of wheat and one made of lentils as described here flour and קָלִי, this one was made from wheat. Beans, lentils and קָלִי [this one] was made from types of beans.¹¹The word קָלִי appears twice in this verse. The first קָלִי written after קֶמַח refers to a porridge made from grain. The second קָלִי written after עֲדָשִׁים refers to a porridge made from lentils. They used to dry them in ovens [having been put in] while they were [still] moist, they [thus] were permenantly sweet [then] they ground them and made from them a food that was called "porridge."

And cow's cheese. [Yonoson translates:] "And cheese made from milk."