Haftarah of Korach

Shmuel I 11:14-12:22

The Haftarah takes place at the end of the era of Judges, when the leaders of the Jewish People were chosen by G-d on an as-needed basis. The advantage of this system was that their powers were very limited, and there was little risk of them supplanting G-d in the minds of the people. The disadvantage was that it created a leadership vacuum on a regular basis. The last of these Judges was Shmuel, who had been an effective and popular leader, but once he grew old, it became clear that he would not be able to designate a worthy successor. The Jewish People, not willing to be left rudderless, asked Shmuel to appoint a king "like all the nations"; that is, a hereditary position with power over the entire nation. At first, Shmuel saw it as a personal failure that they would wish to supplant G-d's direct sovereignty. However, G-d acquiesced to their request, and sent Shaul to Shmuel to be anointed as King of Israel. Shmuel presented him to the nation, but, being that Jews are inherently un-governable, there was a significant minority who was unwilling to cede their autonomy.

Soon enough, the new king got the chance to prove himself: Nachash of B'nei Amon attacked the towns of Yavesh Gilead, across the Jordan. Shaul mustered an army that represented all the tribes, and through a combination of strategy, subterfuge, and force, defeated the enemy. Nothing succeeds like success, and all the skeptics became his staunchest supporters. The Haftarah begins with Shmuel calling for a national ceremony to re-establish Shaul as king of Israel.

14) Shmuel said to the nation:

"Let us go to Gilgal,

and let us reaffirm the monarchy."

(יד) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל הָעָם

לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה הַגִּלְגָּל

וּנְחַדֵּשׁ שָׁם הַמְּלוּכָה:

15) The whole nation went to Gilgal;

they crowned Shaul there before Hashem in Gilgal,

and brought peace offerings before Hashem.

Shaul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly at this event.

(טו) וַיֵּלְכוּ כָל הָעָם הַגִּלְגָּל

וַיַּמְלִכוּ שָׁם אֶת שָׁאוּל לִפְנֵי ה' בַּגִּלְגָּל

וַיִּזְבְּחוּ שָׁם זְבָחִים שְׁלָמִים לִפְנֵי ה'

וַיִּשְׂמַח שָׁם שָׁאוּל וְכָל אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד מְאֹד:

Shmuel addresses the Jewish People, and takes leave of them as their leader. First, he challenges them to look back at his lifetime of service and judge him if he ever took advantage of them in any way. They affirm that he never has done so.

12:1) Shmuel said to all of Israel:

"I have listened to you,

to all that you have said to me,

and I have crowned a king over you.

(א) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל

הִנֵּה שָׁמַעְתִּי בְקֹלְכֶם

לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם לִי

וָאַמְלִיךְ עֲלֵיכֶם מֶלֶךְ:

2) Now, here is the king leading you,

and I have grown old and gray,

and my sons are here with you.

And I have led you

from my youth until this day.

(ב) וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ מִתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵיכֶם

וַאֲנִי זָקַנְתִּי וָשַׂבְתִּי

וּבָנַי הִנָּם אִתְּכֶם

וַאֲנִי הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶם

מִנְּעֻרַי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה:

3) Now answer me before Hashem and before His anointed,

Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken?

Whom did I oppress? Whom did I favor?

From whom did I take a bribe,

so that I would overlook him?

I wish to respond to you."

(ג) הִנְנִי עֲנוּ בִי נֶגֶד ה' וְנֶגֶד מְשִׁיחוֹ

אֶת שׁוֹר מִי לָקַחְתִּי וַחֲמוֹר מִי לָקַחְתִּי

וְאֶת מִי עָשַׁקְתִּי אֶת מִי רַצּוֹתִי

וּמִיַּד מִי לָקַחְתִּי כֹפֶר

וְאַעְלִים עֵינַי בּוֹ

וְאָשִׁיב לָכֶם:

4) They said,

"You didn't oppress us, and you didn't favor us!

You never took anything from anybody!"

(ד) וַיֹּאמְרוּ

לֹא עֲשַׁקְתָּנוּ וְלֹא רַצּוֹתָנוּ

וְלֹא לָקַחְתָּ מִיַּד אִישׁ מְאוּמָה:

5) He said to them, "Hashem is your witness,

and His anointed is a witness on this day,

that you have found nothing in my hands."

He said, "I witness!"

(ה) וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם עֵד ה' בָּכֶם

וְעֵד מְשִׁיחוֹ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

כִּי לֹא מְצָאתֶם בְּיָדִי מְאוּמָה

וַיֹּאמֶר עֵד: פ

Shmuel then reviews their history from Exodus to the present. The cycle that he describes is that the Jewish People would assimilate into the neighboring religions, worshipping Ba'al and Ashtoret, and G-d would get their attention by sending them an enemy. When the enemy would attack and oppress them, they would turn to G-d, Who would then appoint a leader to save them.

6) Shmuel said to the people,

"Hashem who made Moshe and Aharon,

who took your ancestors out of the land of Egypt.

(ו) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל הָעָם

ה' אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֶת מֹשֶׁה וְאֶת אַהֲרֹן

וַאֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת אֲבֹתֵיכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:

7) Now present yourself and I will judge you before Hashem,

all the righteousness of Hashem

that He had done to you and your ancestors.

(ז) וְעַתָּה הִתְיַצְּבוּ וְאִשָּׁפְטָה אִתְּכֶם לִפְנֵי ה'

אֵת כָּל צִדְקוֹת ה'

אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אִתְּכֶם וְאֶת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם:

8) When Yaakov came to Egypt,

your ancestors cried out to Hashem,

Hashem sent Moshe, and Aharon,

and they took your ancestors out of Egypt,

got them settled in this place.

(ח) כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּא יַעֲקֹב מִצְרָיִם

וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אֶל ה'

וַיִּשְׁלַח ה' אֶת מֹשֶׁה וְאֶת אַהֲרֹן

וַיּוֹצִיאוּ אֶת אֲבֹתֵיכֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם

וַיֹּשִׁבוּם בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה:

9) They forgot Hashem their G-d;

He sold them,

into the hands of Sisra, the general of Hazor, and the Philistines,

and into the hands of the king of Moav;

and they fought them.

(ט) וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ אֶת ה' אֱ-לֹהֵיהֶם

וַיִּמְכֹּר אֹתָם

בְּיַד סִיסְרָא שַׂר צְבָא חָצוֹר וּבְיַד פְּלִשְׁתִּים

וּבְיַד מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב

וַיִּלָּחֲמוּ בָּם:

10) They cried out to Hashem, they said, "We have sinned,

that we left Hashem;

that we served the Ba'alim and the Ashtarot!

Now please save us from our enemies, and we will serve You!"

(י) וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה' וַיֹּאמְרוּ חָטָאנוּ

כִּי עָזַבְנוּ אֶת ה'

וַנַּעֲבֹד אֶת הַבְּעָלִים וְאֶת הָעַשְׁתָּרוֹת

וְעַתָּה הַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד אֹיְבֵינוּ וְנַעַבְדֶךָּ:

11) Hashem sent Yerubaal and Bedan,

and Yiftach and Shmuel.

He saved you from your enemies all around you,

and you lived securely.

(יא) וַיִּשְׁלַח ה' אֶת יְרֻבַּעַל וְאֶת בְּדָן

וְאֶת יִפְתָּח וְאֶת שְׁמוּאֵל

וַיַּצֵּל אֶתְכֶם מִיַּד אֹיְבֵיכֶם מִסָּבִיב

וַתֵּשְׁבוּ בֶּטַח:

Now, the Jewish People have decided to end this political system, and establish a monarchy - even though their ultimate sovereign is G-d. They should not have any illusions that the king supplants G-d's power in any way. If they continue to serve G-d, all will be well, but if they don't, G-d will not hesitate to punish them.

12) You saw that Nahash, king of B'nei Amon, is coming to you,

and you said to me,

"No! We want a king to rule over us!"

But Hashem, your G-d, is your king!

(יב) וַתִּרְאוּ כִּי נָחָשׁ מֶלֶךְ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן בָּא עֲלֵיכֶם

וַתֹּאמְרוּ לִי

לֹא כִּי מֶלֶךְ יִמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ

וַה' אֱ-לֹהֵיכֶם מַלְכְּכֶם:

13) Now, here is the king that you chose,

that you requested;

here, Hashem has given you a king.

(יג) וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתֶּם

אֲשֶׁר שְׁאֶלְתֶּם

וְהִנֵּה נָתַן ה' עֲלֵיכֶם מֶלֶךְ:

14) If you will fear Hashem,

and serve Him, and listen to His voice,

and do not rebel against Him,

then both you and the king that reigns over you will be

following Hashem your G-d.

(יד) אִם תִּירְאוּ אֶת ה'

וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֹתוֹ וּשְׁמַעְתֶּם בְּקֹלוֹ

וְלֹא תַמְרוּ אֶת פִּי ה'

וִהְיִתֶם גַּם אַתֶּם וְגַם הַמֶּלֶך אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ עֲלֵיכֶם

אַחַר ה' אֱ-לֹהֵיכֶם:

15) But if you do not listen to Hashem,

and you rebel against Hashem,

then the hand of Hashem will be against you like your ancestors.

(טו) וְאִם לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹל ה'

וּמְרִיתֶם אֶת פִּי ה'

וְהָיְתָה יַד ה' בָּכֶם וּבַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם:

In order to impress upon them that having a king will not protect them against G-d's anger, Shmuel asks G-d to send a thunderstorm in the middle of the summer, a rare and destructive Act of G-d.

16) Also now present yourselves and see

this great thing

that Hashem will do before your eyes.

(טז) גַּם עַתָּה הִתְיַצְּבוּ וּרְאוּ

אֶת הַדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה

אֲשֶׁר ה' עֹשֶׂה לְעֵינֵיכֶם:

17) It is wheat harvest season now;

I will call to Hashem,

and He will send thunder and rain;

and you will know and see

that you have done a great evil in the eyes of Hashem,

by asking for a king.

(יז) הֲלוֹא קְצִיר חִטִּים הַיּוֹם

אֶקְרָא אֶל ה'

וְיִתֵּן קֹלוֹת וּמָטָר

וּדְעוּ וּרְאוּ

כִּי רָעַתְכֶם רַבָּה אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם בְּעֵינֵי ה'

לִשְׁאוֹל לָכֶם מֶלֶךְ: ס

The reaction of the people was awe and fear. They had not intended to leave G-d in favor of a king, and they do not want G-d to be angry at them.

18) Shmuel called to Hashem;

Hashem sent thunder and rain on that day;

the whole nation was very frightened of Hashem and Shmuel.

(יח) וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל ה'

וַיִּתֵּן ה' קֹלֹת וּמָטָר בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא

וַיִּירָא כָל הָעָם מְאֹד אֶת ה' וְאֶת שְׁמוּאֵל:

19) The whole nation said to Shmuel,

"Pray for your servants to Hashem your G-d so we won't die,

for we have added this evil to our other sins,

by asking for a king."

(יט) וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל הָעָם אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל

הִתְפַּלֵּל בְּעַד עֲבָדֶיךָ אֶל ה' אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ וְאַל נָמוּת

כִּי יָסַפְנוּ עַל כָּל חַטֹּאתֵינוּ רָעָה

לִשְׁאֹל לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ: ס

Shmuel reassures them that as long as they follow G-d, He will not abandon them. They are His nation.

20) Shmuel said to the nation, "Do not fear!

You have done all this evil;

just do not turn away from following Hashem,

and serve Hashem will all your hearts.

(כ) וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל הָעָם אַל תִּירָאוּ

אַתֶּם עֲשִׂיתֶם אֵת כָּל הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת

אַךְ אַל תָּסוּרוּ מֵאַחֲרֵי ה'

וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֶת ה' בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם:

21) Do not turn away

toward futility,

which cannot help and cannot save, for they are futile.

(כא) וְלֹא תָּסוּרוּ

כִּי אַחֲרֵי הַתֹּהוּ

אֲשֶׁר לֹא יוֹעִילוּ וְלֹא יַצִּילוּ כִּי תֹהוּ הֵמָּה:

22) Because Hashem will not abandon His nation,

for the sake of His great name,

for Hashem has sworn

to make you into His nation.

(כב) כִּי לֹא יִטֹּשׁ ה' אֶת עַמּוֹ

בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל

כִּי הוֹאִיל ה'

לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶתְכֶם לוֹ לְעָם:

In memory of my father, Peter Rozenberg, z"l

לעילוי נשמת אבי מורי פנחס בן נתן נטע ז''ל