| 1And it was when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, that Elijah and Elisha went from Gilgal. |
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אוַיְהִ֗י בְּהַעֲל֚וֹת יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסֳעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ אֵלִיָּ֛הוּ וֶאֱלִישָׁ֖ע מִן־הַגִּלְגָּֽל: |
| in a whirlwind. [lit. in a storm],] i.e., in a storm wind. |
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בַּסְעָרָה.
בְּרוּחַ סְעָרָה.
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| 2And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here now for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel," but Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and by the life of your soul, I will not leave you." And they went down to Bethel. |
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בוַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֜ע שֶֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֚י יְהֹוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי עַד־בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע חַי־יְהֹוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיֵּרְד֖וּ בֵּֽית־אֵֽל: |
| Stay here now. He wished to drive him away because of his [Elijah’s] humility, so that he would not see him being taken away. |
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שֵׁב נָא פֹה.
חָפֵץ הָיָה לִדְחוֹתוֹ מֵחֲמַת עֲנָוָה, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאֶה בְּהִלָּקְחוֹ.
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| 3And the disciples of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master from you?" And he said, "I know it too. Be quiet." |
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גוַיֵּצְא֨וּ בְנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־בֵּֽית־אֵל֘ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו הֲיָדַ֕עְתָּ כִּ֣י הַיּ֗וֹם יְהֹוָ֛ה לֹקֵ֥חַ אֶת־אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ מֵעַ֣ל רֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֛אמֶר גַּם־אֲנִ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי הֶחֱשֽׁוּ: |
| your master. but not our master. This teaches us that they were equal to Elijah. |
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אֶת אֲדֹנֶיךָ.
וְלֹא אֲדוֹנֵנוּ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁקוּלִים כְּאֵלִיָּהוּ.
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| 4And Elijah said to him, "Stay here now, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." And he said, "As the Lord lives and by your life, I will not leave you." And they came to Jericho. |
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דוַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע | שֶֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֚י יְהֹוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי יְרִיח֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהֹוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ יְרִיחֽוֹ: |
| 5And the disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master from you?" And he said, "I know it too. Be quiet." |
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הוַיִּגְּשׁ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־בִּֽירִיחוֹ֘ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֒ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו הֲיָדַ֕עְתָּ כִּ֣י הַיּ֗וֹם יְהֹוָ֛ה לֹקֵ֥חַ אֶת־אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ מֵעַ֣ל רֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֛אמֶר גַּם־אֲנִ֥י יָדַ֖עְתִּי הֶחֱשֽׁוּ: |
| 6And Elijah said to him, "Stay here now, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." And he said, "As the Lord lives and by your life, I will not leave you." And they both went. |
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ווַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ שֶֽׁב־נָ֣א פֹ֗ה כִּ֚י יְהֹוָה֙ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהֹוָ֥ה וְחֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ אִם־אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם: |
| 7And fifty men of the disciples of the prophets went and stood opposite them from a distance, as they both stood at the Jordan. |
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זוַחֲמִשִּׁ֨ים אִ֜ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֚י הַנְּבִיאִים֙ הָֽלְכ֔וּ וַיַּעַמְד֥וּ מִנֶּ֖גֶד מֵרָח֑וֹק וּשְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם עָמְד֥וּ עַל־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן: |
| 8And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water, and it divided to this side and to that side; and they both crossed on dry land. |
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חוַיִּקַּח֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ אֶת־אַדַּרְתּ֚וֹ וַיִּגְלֹם֙ וַיַּכֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַמַּ֔יִם וַיֵּחָצ֖וּ הֵ֣נָּה וָהֵ֑נָּה וַיַּעַבְר֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בֶּחָרָבָֽה: |
| and rolled it up. He rolled it up in order that it would be easy to strike with it. |
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וַיִּגְלֹם.
כְּרָכָהּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּהֵא נוֹחָה לְהַכּוֹת בָּהּ.
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| and he rolled it. not exactly rolling but gathering together, which is called koulir in O.F. |
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וַיִּגְלֹם.
וְלֹא כְּרִיכָה מַמָּשׁ, אֶלָּא קוֹלֵט, שֶׁקּוֹרִין פייגד"ו בְּלַעַ"ז.
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| 9And it was when they crossed, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, while I am not yet taken away from you." And Elisha said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me." |
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טוַיְהִ֣י כְעָבְרָ֗ם וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ אָמַ֚ר אֶל־אֱלִישָׁע֙ שְׁאַל֙ מָ֣ה אֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּ֔ךְ בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֶלָּקַ֣ח מֵעִמָּ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלִישָׁ֔ע וִֽיהִי־נָ֛א פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֥יִם בְּרוּחֲךָ֖ אֵלָֽי: |
| 10And he said, "You have made a difficult request. If you see me taken from you, it will be so to you, and if not, it will not be." |
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יוַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִקְשִׁ֣יתָ לִשְׁא֑וֹל אִם־תִּרְאֶ֨ה אֹתִ֜י לֻקָּ֚ח מֵֽאִתָּךְ֙ יְהִֽי־לְךָ֣ כֵ֔ן וְאִם־אַ֖יִן לֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה: |
| You have made a difficult request. It is impossible to give you more than I have in my possession. |
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הִקְשִׁיתָ לִשְׁאוֹל.
אִי אֶפְשָׁר לָתֵת לְךָ יוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לִי בְּיָדִי.
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| If you see me taken away from you. then I will be able to do for you more and more. |
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אִם תִּרְאֶה אֹתִי לֻקַּח מֵאִתָּךְ.
אָז אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר.
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| it will be so to you, and if not, it will not be. for I have not the ability. |
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יְהִי לְךָ כֵן וְאִם אַיִן לֹא יִהְיֶה.
שֶׁאֵין הַיְכֹלֶת בְּיָדִי.
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| 11And it was that they were going, walking and talking, and behold a fiery chariot and fiery horses, and they separated them both. And Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. |
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יאוַיְהִ֗י הֵ֣מָּה הֹלְכִ֚ים הָלוֹךְ֙ וְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהִנֵּ֚ה רֶֽכֶב־אֵשׁ֙ וְס֣וּסֵי אֵ֔שׁ וַיַּפְרִ֖דוּ בֵּ֣ין שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם: |
| 12And Elisha saw, and he was crying, "My father! My father! The chariots of Israel and their riders!" And he saw him no longer. Now he took hold of his garments and rent them in two pieces. |
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יבוֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע רֹאֶ֗ה וְה֚וּא מְצַעֵק֙ אָבִ֣י | אָבִ֣י רֶ֚כֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֥א רָאָ֖הוּ ע֑וֹד וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙ בִּבְגָדָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם לִשְׁנַ֥יִם קְרָעִֽים: |
| My father! My father! The chariots of Israel. Jonathan [renders:] My master! My master! Who benefited Israel with his prayer more than chariots and riders. |
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אָבִי אָבִי רֶכֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל.
רַבִּי רַבִּי דְּטָב לְהוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בִּצְלוֹתֵהּ מֵרְתִיכִין וּפָרָשִׁין.
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| 13And he picked up Elijah's mantle that had fallen off him, and he returned and stood on the bank of the Jordan. |
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יגוַיָּ֙רֶם֙ אֶת־אַדֶּ֣רֶת אֵלִיָּ֔הוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָפְלָ֖ה מֵעָלָ֑יו וַיָּ֥שָׁב וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיַּרְדֵּֽן: |
| 14And he took Elijah's mantle that had fallen off him, and he struck the water and said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" He too struck the water and it divided on this side and on that side, and Elisha crossed. |
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ידוַיִּקַּח֩ אֶת־אַדֶּ֨רֶת אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֲשֶׁר־נָפְלָ֚ה מֵֽעָלָיו֙ וַיַּכֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַמַּ֔יִם וַיֹּ֕אמַר אַיֵּ֕ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ אַף־ה֣וּא | וַיַּכֶּ֣ה אֶת־הַמַּ֗יִם וַיֵּֽחָצוּ֙ הֵ֣נָּה וָהֵ֔נָּה וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר אֱלִישָֽׁע: |
| Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?. that I was promised [who promised me: Kara] that a double portion of his spirit would rest upon me. |
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אַיֵּה ה' אֱלֹהֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ.
שֶׁהֻבְטַחְתִּי שֶׁתִּשְׁרֶה בִי פִּי שְׁנַיִם בְּרוּחוֹ אֵלַי.
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| He too struck the water. He too. In the Chapters of Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Jose the Galilean, [should read: In the Thirty-two Methods of Rabbi Eliezer the son of Rabbi Jose the Galilean. Shem Ephraim], Elisha’s splitting [the Jordan] was doubly as great as Elijah’s, for in the beginning there was the merit of them both, while here was his merit alone. |
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אַף הוּא וַיַּכֶּה אֶת הַמַּיִם.
אַף הוּא, בְּפִרְקֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, בְּנוֹ שֶל רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי: גְּדוֹלָה חֲצִיַּת אֱלִישָׁע כִּפְלַיִם כְּשֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ, שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה זְכוּת שְׁנֵיהֶם, וְעַכְשָׁיו זְכוּתוֹ יְחִידִי.
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| 15And the disciples of the prophets who were in Jericho saw him from a distance, and they said, "Elijah's spirit has rested on Elisha." And they came toward him and prostrated themselves before him to the ground. |
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טווַיִּרְאֻ֨הוּ בְנֵֽי־הַנְּבִיאִ֚ים אֲשֶׁר־בִּֽירִיחוֹ֙ מִנֶּ֔גֶד וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נָ֛חָה ר֥וּחַ אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ עַל־אֱלִישָׁ֑ע וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ל֖וֹ אָֽרְצָה: |
| 16And they said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty able men. Let them go now and seek your master, perhaps a wind from the Lord has carried him off and thrown him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys." And he said, "You shall not send." |
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טזוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֡יו הִנֵּה־נָ֣א יֵֽשׁ־אֶת־עֲבָדֶיךָ֩ חֲמִשִּׁ֨ים אֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּנֵֽי־חַ֗יִל יֵ֣לְכוּ נָא֘ וִיבַקְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־אֲדֹנֶיךָ֒ פֶּן־נְשָׂאוֹ֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיַּשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד הֶהָרִ֔ים א֖וֹ בְּאַחַ֣ת הַגֵּאָי֑וֹת (כתיב הַגֵּיאָוֹ֑ת) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֥א תִשְׁלָֽחוּ: |
| Perhaps a wind from the Lord has carried him off. Is it possible that on the day before, they said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master from you?” (v. 5) And now they did not know where he was? This teaches us that since the day when Elijah was hidden, the holy spirit departed from the prophets, and the holy spirit was no longer widespread throughout Israel. |
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פֶּן נְשָׂאוֹ רוּחַ ה'.
אֶפְשָׁר אֶמֶשׁ אָמְרוּ לוֹ: הֲיָדַעְתָּ כִּי הַיּוֹם ה' לוֹקֵחַ אֶת אֲדוֹנֶיךָ, וְעַכְשָׁיו נֶעְלָם מֵהֶם הֵיכָן הוּא, מְלַמֵּד, מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּגְנַז אֵלִיָּהוּ הָלְכָה וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן הַנְּבִיאִים, וְשׁוּב לֹא הָיְתָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְרֻבָּה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
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| 17And they urged him until he was ashamed. And he said, "Send." And they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. |
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יזוַיִּפְצְרוּ־ב֥וֹ עַד־בֹּ֖שׁ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁלָ֑חוּ וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ וַיְבַקְשׁ֥וּ שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־יָמִ֖ים וְלֹ֥א מְצָאֻֽהוּ: |
| until he was ashamed. He was ashamed because of them, lest they say that he does not want to go to meet his teacher. Since he took over his high position, he does not want him to return. All this I saw in Tosefta Sotah (12:5). |
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עַד בּשׁ.
נִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מֵהֶם, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ אֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי רַבּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁנָּטַל גְּדֻלָּתוֹ אֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה שֶׁיָּשׁוּב, כָּל זֶה רָאִיתִי בַּתּוֹסֶפְתָּא דְּסוֹטָה.
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| 18And they returned to him when he was staying in Jericho; and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'You shall not go'?" |
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יחוַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ אֵלָ֔יו וְה֖וּא יֹשֵׁ֣ב בִּֽירִיח֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם הֲלֽוֹא־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם אַל־תֵּלֵֽכוּ: |
| 19And the people of the city said to Elisha, "Behold the city is a good place to live in, as my lord sees, but the water is bad and the land causes people to die. |
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יטוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ אַנְשֵׁ֚י הָעִיר֙ אֶל־אֱלִישָׁ֔ע הִנֵּה־נָ֞א מוֹשַׁ֚ב הָעִיר֙ ט֔וֹב כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י רֹאֶ֑ה וְהַמַּ֥יִם רָעִ֖ים וְהָאָ֥רֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת: |
| but the water is bad. and because of the water, the land causes people to die, to send them to their graves. If so, what is the meaning of: “the city is a good place to live in?” From here we deduce that a place has charm for its inhabitants. |
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וְהַמַּיִם רָעִים.
וּמֵחֲמַת הַמַּיִם הָאָרֶץ מְשַׁכֶּלֶת אֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ לְקָבְרָם, אִם כֵּן מַהוּ: וּמוֹשַׁב הָעִיר טוֹב, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: חֵן מָקוֹם עַל יוֹשְׁבָיו.
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| 20And he said, "Take me to a new jug and put salt therein," and they took to him. |
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כוַיֹּ֗אמֶר קְחוּ־לִי֙ צְלֹחִ֣ית חֲדָשָׁ֔ה וְשִֹ֥ימוּ שָׁ֖ם מֶ֑לַח וַיִּקְח֖וּ אֵלָֽיו: |
| 21And he went out to the source of the water and threw salt there; and he said, "So has the Lord said, 'I have cured these waters; there will no longer be death and bereavement from there.' " |
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כאוַיֵּצֵא֙ אֶל־מוֹצָ֣א הַמַּ֔יִם וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־שָׁ֖ם מֶ֑לַח וַיֹּ֜אמֶר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה רִפִּ֙אתִי֙ לַמַּ֣יִם הָאֵ֔לֶּה לֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֥ה מִשָּׁ֛ם ע֖וֹד מָ֥וֶת וּמְשַׁכָּֽלֶת: |
| to the source of the water. from where the water flowed. |
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אֶל מוֹצָא הַמַּיִם.
שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹבְעִים מִשָּׁם.
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| and threw salt there. |
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וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ שָׁם מֶלַח.
וַהֲלֹא מֶלַח דָּבָר הַמְקַלְקֵל אֶת הַמַּיִם הוּא, אֶלָּא נֵס בְּתוֹךְ נֵס.
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| 22And the water became cured to this day, according to the word of Elisha that he spoke. |
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כבוַיֵּרָפ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּדְבַ֥ר אֱלִישָׁ֖ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּֽר: |
| 23And he went up from there to Bethel, and he was going up on the road and some little boys came out of the city and jeered him, and said to him, "Go away, baldy; go away, baldy!" |
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כגוַיַּ֥עַל מִשָּׁ֖ם בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל וְה֣וּא | עֹלֶ֣ה בַדֶּ֗רֶךְ וּנְעָרִ֚ים קְטַנִּים֙ יָצְא֣וּ מִן־הָעִ֔יר וַיִּתְקַלְּסוּ־בוֹ֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֔וֹ עֲלֵ֥ה קֵרֵ֖חַ עֲלֵ֥ה קֵרֵֽחַ: |
| and some little boys. Heb. וּנְעָרִים, people empty [of any observance of commandments]. |
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וּנְעָרִים קְטַנִּים.
הַמְנֹעָרִין מִן הַמִּצְוֹת.
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| Go away, baldy. Go away from here, for you have made the place bald for us, for until now we would hire ourselves out to bring sweet water from a distance, and we would earn our livelihood thereby. And when the water became sweet, they lost their livelihood. Thus it is explained in Sotah (46b). |
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עֲלֵה קֵרֵחַ.
עֲלֵה מִכָּאן, שֶׁהִקְרַחְתָּ עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, שֶׁעַד עַכְשָׁיו הָיִינוּ מִשְׂתַּכְּרִין לְהָבִיא מַיִם מְתוּקִים מֵרָחוֹק, וּמִתְפַּרְנְסִין בְּכָךְ, וּמִשֶּׁהִמְתִּיקוּ אִבְּדוּ פַּרְנָסָתָן, כָּךְ מְפֹרָשׁ בְּסוֹטָה.
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| 24And he turned around and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of God. And two she-bears came out of the forest and tore apart forty-two boys of them. |
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כדוַיִּ֚פֶן אַֽחֲרָיו֙ וַיִּרְאֵ֔ם וַֽיְקַלְלֵ֖ם בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה שְׁתַּ֚יִם דֻּבִּים֙ מִן־הַיַּ֔עַר וַתְּבַקַּ֣עְנָה מֵהֶ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁנֵ֖י יְלָדִֽים: |
| and saw them. He saw that neither in them nor in their descendants would there be any ‘sap’ of good deeds. |
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וַיִּרְאֵם.
רָאָה שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם וְלֹא בְּזַרְעָם לַחְלוּחִית שֶל טוֹבָה.
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| 25And he went from there to Mt. Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. |
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כהוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֖ם אֶל־הַ֣ר הַכַּרְמֶ֑ל וּמִשָּׁ֖ם שָׁ֥ב שֹׁמְרֽוֹן: |
