Monday, July 02, 2012

Book of Hearts

The book of Samuel actually seems to be about hearts. Leadership is obtained through God seeing into one's heart and ascertaining that you are a person who is after His own heart. In fact, God's seer may even be able to tell you what is in your heart due to the fact that God is giving you that new heart. Chana's heart grieves her before she has a son and Michal's heart shows that she despises her husband. There is symmetry between Amnon and Naval, both of whom have hearts that are merry with wine. Ought this to suggest that Naval views Abigail as a possession, much as Amnon viewed Tamar? Those who steal away the hearts of men (Absalom) end up pierced through the heart (a fitting death). Both Eli the Kohen Gadol and Saul the First King have hearts that tremble. That does not seem coincidental. There is also symmetry between the statement the armor bearer makes to Yonatan (Do all that is in your heart, for I am with thee) and the statement Nathan the Prophet makes to David (Do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with thee). Why is that statement repeated? The greatest leader, David, is one who demonstrates the importance of conscience. His heart smites him when he commits sins and he is quick to admit fault. This makes him unique from everyone else in the book, for nobody else in this book has that kind of heart.

BOOK 1

Chapter 1


ח  וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ אֶלְקָנָה אִישָׁהּ, חַנָּה לָמֶה תִבְכִּי וְלָמֶה לֹא תֹאכְלִי, וְלָמֶה, יֵרַע לְבָבֵךְ:  הֲלוֹא אָנֹכִי טוֹב לָךְ, מֵעֲשָׂרָה בָּנִים.8 And Elkanah her husband said unto her: 'Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?'
יג  וְחַנָּה, הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל-לִבָּהּ--רַק שְׂפָתֶיהָ נָּעוֹת, וְקוֹלָהּ לֹא יִשָּׁמֵעַ; וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ עֵלִי, לְשִׁכֹּרָה.13 Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard; therefore, Eli thought she had been drunken.
Chapter 2


א  וַתִּתְפַּלֵּל חַנָּה, וַתֹּאמַר, עָלַץ לִבִּי בַּיהוָה, רָמָה קַרְנִי בַּיהוָה; רָחַב פִּי על-אוֹיְבַי, כִּי שָׂמַחְתִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ.1 And Hannah prayed, and said: my heart exulteth in the LORD, my horn is exalted in the LORD; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation.

לה  וַהֲקִימֹתִי לִי כֹּהֵן נֶאֱמָן, כַּאֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבִי וּבְנַפְשִׁי יַעֲשֶׂה; וּבָנִיתִי לוֹ בַּיִת נֶאֱמָן, וְהִתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי-מְשִׁיחִי כָּל-הַיָּמִים.35 And I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in My heart and in My mind; and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever.

Chapter 3

None

Chapter 4


יג  וַיָּבוֹא, וְהִנֵּה עֵלִי יֹשֵׁב עַל-הַכִּסֵּא יך (יַד) דֶּרֶךְ מְצַפֶּה--כִּי-הָיָה לִבּוֹ חָרֵד, עַל אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים; וְהָאִישׁ, בָּא לְהַגִּיד בָּעִיר, וַתִּזְעַק, כָּל-הָעִיר.13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.


Chapter 5
None

Chapter 6


ו  וְלָמָּה תְכַבְּדוּ אֶת-לְבַבְכֶם, כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּבְּדוּ מִצְרַיִם וּפַרְעֹה אֶת-לִבָּם:  הֲלוֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר הִתְעַלֵּל בָּהֶם, וַיְשַׁלְּחוּם וַיֵּלֵכוּ.6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when He had wrought among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
Chapter 7


ג  וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל, אֶל-כָּל-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר, אִם-בְּכָל-לְבַבְכֶם אַתֶּם שָׁבִים אֶל-יְהוָה, הָסִירוּ אֶת-אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר מִתּוֹכְכֶם וְהָעַשְׁתָּרוֹת; וְהָכִינוּ לְבַבְכֶם אֶל-יְהוָה וְעִבְדֻהוּ לְבַדּוֹ, וְיַצֵּל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד פְּלִשְׁתִּים.3 And Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying: 'If ye do return unto the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Chapter 8
None

Chapter 9


יט  וַיַּעַן שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת-שָׁאוּל, וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי הָרֹאֶה--עֲלֵה לְפָנַי הַבָּמָה, וַאֲכַלְתֶּם עִמִּי הַיּוֹם; וְשִׁלַּחְתִּיךָ בַבֹּקֶר, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ אַגִּיד לָךְ.19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said: 'I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day; and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.

Chapter 10


ט  וְהָיָה, כְּהַפְנֹתוֹ שִׁכְמוֹ לָלֶכֶת מֵעִם שְׁמוּאֵל, וַיַּהֲפָךְ-לוֹ אֱלֹהִים, לֵב אַחֵר; וַיָּבֹאוּ כָּל-הָאֹתוֹת הָאֵלֶּה, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא.  {ס}9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. {S}



כו  וְגַם-שָׁאוּל--הָלַךְ לְבֵיתוֹ, גִּבְעָתָה; וַיֵּלְכוּ עִמּוֹ--הַחַיִל, אֲשֶׁר-נָגַע אֱלֹהִים בְּלִבָּם.26 And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the men of valour, whose hearts God had touched.
Chapter 11

None

Chapter 12


כ  וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל-הָעָם, אַל-תִּירָאוּ--אַתֶּם עֲשִׂיתֶם, אֵת כָּל-הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת; אַךְ, אַל-תָּסוּרוּ מֵאַחֲרֵי יְהוָה, וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֶת-יְהוָה, בְּכָל-לְבַבְכֶם.20 And Samuel said unto the people: 'Fear not; ye have indeed done all this evil; yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
כד  אַךְ יְראוּ אֶת-יְהוָה, וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֹתוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת--בְּכָל-לְבַבְכֶם:  כִּי רְאוּ, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-הִגְדִּל עִמָּכֶם.24 Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you.
Chapter 13


יד  וְעַתָּה, מַמְלַכְתְּךָ לֹא-תָקוּם:  בִּקֵּשׁ יְהוָה לוֹ אִישׁ כִּלְבָבוֹ, וַיְצַוֵּהוּ יְהוָה לְנָגִיד עַל-עַמּוֹ--כִּי לֹא שָׁמַרְתָּ, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-צִוְּךָ יְהוָה.  {ס}14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue; the LORD hath sought him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath appointed him to be prince over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.' {S}
Chapter 14


ז  וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו, עֲשֵׂה כָּל-אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבֶךָ; נְטֵה לָךְ, הִנְנִי עִמְּךָ כִּלְבָבֶךָ.  {ס}7 And his armour-bearer said unto him: 'Do all that is in thy heart; turn thee, behold I am with thee according to thy heart.' {S}


Chapter 15
None

Chapter 16

ז  וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל, אַל-תַּבֵּט אֶל-מַרְאֵהוּ וְאֶל-גְּבֹהַּ קוֹמָתוֹ--כִּי מְאַסְתִּיהוּ:  כִּי לֹא, אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם--כִּי הָאָדָם יִרְאֶה לַעֵינַיִם, וַיהוָה יִרְאֶה לַלֵּבָב.7 But the LORD said unto Samuel: 'Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.'
Chapter 17


כח  וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלִיאָב אָחִיו הַגָּדוֹל, בְּדַבְּרוֹ אֶל-הָאֲנָשִׁים; וַיִּחַר-אַף אֱלִיאָב בְּדָוִד וַיֹּאמֶר לָמָּה-זֶּה יָרַדְתָּ, וְעַל-מִי נָטַשְׁתָּ מְעַט הַצֹּאן הָהֵנָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר--אֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי אֶת-זְדֹנְךָ וְאֵת רֹעַ לְבָבֶךָ, כִּי לְמַעַן רְאוֹת הַמִּלְחָמָה יָרָדְתָּ.28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said: 'Why art thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy presumptuousness, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.'
לב  וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-שָׁאוּל, אַל-יִפֹּל לֵב-אָדָם עָלָיו; עַבְדְּךָ יֵלֵךְ, וְנִלְחַם עִם-הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי הַזֶּה.32 And David said to Saul: 'Let no man's heart fail within him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.'
Chapter 18
None

Chapter 19
None

Chapter 20
None

Chapter 21

יג  וַיָּשֶׂם דָּוִד אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, בִּלְבָבוֹ; וַיִּרָא מְאֹד, מִפְּנֵי אָכִישׁ מֶלֶךְ-גַּת.13 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
Chapter 22
None

Chapter 23
None

Chapter 24


ה  וַיְהִי, אַחֲרֵי-כֵן, וַיַּךְ לֵב-דָּוִד, אֹתוֹ--עַל אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת, אֶת-כָּנָף אֲשֶׁר לְשָׁאוּל.5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
Chapter 25


לא  וְלֹא תִהְיֶה זֹאת לְךָ לְפוּקָה וּלְמִכְשׁוֹל לֵב לַאדֹנִי, וְלִשְׁפָּךְ-דָּם חִנָּם, וּלְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֲדֹנִי, לוֹ; וְהֵיטִב יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי, וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת-אֲמָתֶךָ.  {ס}31 that this shall be no stumbling-block unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath found redress for himself. And when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.' {S}



לו  וַתָּבֹא אֲבִיגַיִל אֶל-נָבָל וְהִנֵּה-לוֹ מִשְׁתֶּה בְּבֵיתוֹ כְּמִשְׁתֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְלֵב נָבָל טוֹב עָלָיו, וְהוּא שִׁכֹּר, עַד-מְאֹד; וְלֹא-הִגִּידָה לּוֹ, דָּבָר קָטֹן וְגָדוֹל--עַד-אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר.36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken; wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
לז  וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר, בְּצֵאת הַיַּיִן מִנָּבָל, וַתַּגֶּד-לוֹ אִשְׁתּוֹ, אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה; וַיָּמָת לִבּוֹ בְּקִרְבּוֹ, וְהוּא הָיָה לְאָבֶן.37 And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
Chapter 26
None

Chapter 27

א  וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-לִבּוֹ, עַתָּה אֶסָּפֶה יוֹם-אֶחָד בְּיַד-שָׁאוּל; אֵין-לִי טוֹב כִּי הִמָּלֵט אִמָּלֵט אֶל-אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים, וְנוֹאַשׁ מִמֶּנִּי שָׁאוּל לְבַקְשֵׁנִי עוֹד בְּכָל-גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִמְלַטְתִּי, מִיָּדוֹ.1 And David said in his heart: 'I shall now be swept away one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel; so shall I escape out of his hand.
Chapter 28


ה  וַיַּרְא שָׁאוּל, אֶת-מַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים; וַיִּרָא, וַיֶּחֱרַד לִבּוֹ מְאֹד.5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
Chapter 29
None

Chapter 30
None

Chapter 31
None

BOOK 2

Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
None

Chapter 6

טז  וְהָיָה אֲרוֹן יְהוָה, בָּא עִיר דָּוִד; וּמִיכַל בַּת-שָׁאוּל נִשְׁקְפָה בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן, וַתֵּרֶא אֶת-הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד מְפַזֵּז וּמְכַרְכֵּר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, וַתִּבֶז לוֹ, בְּלִבָּהּ.16 And it was so, as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.


Chapter 7


 וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ לֵךְ עֲשֵׂה:  כִּי יְהוָה, עִמָּךְ.3 And Nathan said to the king: 'Go, do all that is in thy heart; for the LORD is with thee.'



כא  בַּעֲבוּר דְּבָרְךָ, וּכְלִבְּךָ, עָשִׂיתָ, אֵת כָּל-הַגְּדוּלָּה הַזֹּאת--לְהוֹדִיעַ, אֶת-עַבְדֶּךָ.21 For Thy word's sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou wrought all this greatness, to make Thy servant know it.



כז  כִּי-אַתָּה יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, גָּלִיתָה אֶת-אֹזֶן עַבְדְּךָ לֵאמֹר, בַּיִת, אֶבְנֶה-לָּךְ; עַל-כֵּן, מָצָא עַבְדְּךָ אֶת-לִבּוֹ, לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֵלֶיךָ, אֶת-הַתְּפִלָּה הַזֹּאת.27 For Thou, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to Thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house; therefore hath Thy servant taken heart to pray this prayer unto Thee.


Chapter 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
None

Chapter 13


כ  וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיהָ, הַאֲמִינוֹן אָחִיךְ הָיָה עִמָּךְ, וְעַתָּה אֲחוֹתִי הַחֲרִישִׁי אָחִיךְ הוּא, אַל-תָּשִׁיתִי אֶת-לִבֵּךְ לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה; וַתֵּשֶׁב תָּמָר וְשֹׁמֵמָה, בֵּית אַבְשָׁלוֹם אָחִיהָ.20 And Absalom her brother said unto her: 'Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; take not this thing to heart.' So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
כח  וַיְצַו אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת-נְעָרָיו לֵאמֹר, רְאוּ נָא כְּטוֹב לֵב-אַמְנוֹן בַּיַּיִן וְאָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם הַכּוּ אֶת-אַמְנוֹן וַהֲמִתֶּם אֹתוֹ--אַל-תִּירָאוּ:  הֲלוֹא, כִּי אָנֹכִי צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם--חִזְקוּ, וִהְיוּ לִבְנֵי-חָיִל.28 And Absalom commanded his servants, saying: 'Mark ye now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you: Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.'
לג  וְעַתָּה אַל-יָשֵׂם אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל-לִבּוֹ, דָּבָר לֵאמֹר, כָּל-בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, מֵתוּ:  כִּי-אם (  ) אַמְנוֹן לְבַדּוֹ, מֵת.  {פ}33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.' {P}
Chapter 14


א  וַיֵּדַע, יוֹאָב בֶּן-צְרֻיָה:  כִּי-לֵב הַמֶּלֶךְ, עַל-אַבְשָׁלוֹם.1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
Chapter 15


ו  וַיַּעַשׂ אַבְשָׁלוֹם כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה, לְכָל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר-יָבֹאוּ לַמִּשְׁפָּט, אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ; וַיְגַנֵּב, אַבְשָׁלוֹם, אֶת-לֵב, אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל.  {פ}6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. {P}
יג  וַיָּבֹא, הַמַּגִּיד, אֶל-דָּוִד, לֵאמֹר:  הָיָה לֶב-אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם.13 And there came a messenger to David, saying: 'The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.'
Chapter 16
None

Chapter 17


י  וְהוּא גַם-בֶּן-חַיִל, אֲשֶׁר לִבּוֹ כְּלֵב הָאַרְיֵה--הִמֵּס יִמָּס:  כִּי-יֹדֵעַ כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי-גִבּוֹר אָבִיךָ, וּבְנֵי-חַיִל אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ.10 then even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.
Chapter 18


יד  וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹאָב, לֹא-כֵן אֹחִילָה לְפָנֶיךָ; וַיִּקַּח שְׁלֹשָׁה שְׁבָטִים בְּכַפּוֹ, וַיִּתְקָעֵם בְּלֵב אַבְשָׁלוֹם--עוֹדֶנּוּ חַי, בְּלֵב הָאֵלָה.14 Then said Joab: 'I may not tarry thus with thee.' And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the terebinth.
Chapter 19


ח  וְעַתָּה קוּם צֵא, וְדַבֵּר עַל-לֵב עֲבָדֶיךָ:  {ס}  כִּי בַיהוָה נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי כִּי-אֵינְךָ יוֹצֵא, אִם-יָלִין אִישׁ אִתְּךָ הַלַּיְלָה, וְרָעָה לְךָ זֹאת מִכָּל-הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר-בָּאָה עָלֶיךָ, מִנְּעֻרֶיךָ עַד-עָתָּה.  {ס}8 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak to the heart of thy servants; {S} for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry a man with thee this night; and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.' {S}



טו  וַיַּט אֶת-לְבַב כָּל-אִישׁ-יְהוּדָה, כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד; וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ, אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ, שׁוּב אַתָּה, וְכָל-עֲבָדֶיךָ.15 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent unto the king: 'Return thou, and all thy servants.'
Chapter 20, 21, 22, 23
None

Chapter 24


י  וַיַּךְ לֵב-דָּוִד אֹתוֹ, אַחֲרֵי-כֵן סָפַר אֶת-הָעָם;  {פ}

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל-יְהוָה, חָטָאתִי מְאֹד אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי, וְעַתָּה יְהוָה הַעֲבֶר-נָא אֶת-עֲו‍ֹן עַבְדְּךָ, כִּי נִסְכַּלְתִּי מְאֹד.
10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. {P}

And David said unto the LORD: 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, O LORD, put away, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.'





1 comment:

Pesach Sommer said...

Fascinating. Did you compare it to other books from Tanach to see whether it uses this word more often?