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A scroll recounting the miraculous recovery of David Curiel (1594-1666), one of the founders of the Jewish community of Amsterdam, after undergoing a violent attack.
This narrative, first written in Portuguese in a manuscript that can be found here, was later translated into Hebrew to be recited as a personal family megillah every year on 21 Adar (Adar Rishon in leap years). Two manuscripts of this megillah can be found in the Ktiv database of the National Library of Israel here and here. The editor has vocalized, cantillated, and annotated its text.
Please heed these content warnings:
• Gruesome and vivid depictions of traumatic physical injury.
• Major triggers for haemophobia (fear of blood).
• Descriptions of torture, public execution, and dissection of cadavers, all framed as justice.
Note: “The CAUSE” is used to translate the Divine Name YHVH, based on the philosophical idea of God as the Prime Mover and on the interpretation of the Name as a causative form of the copula – “causes to be.” “Deity” is used to translate the divine name El. This translation also uses the plural pronouns They/Their/Them to refer to God as a pluralis majestatis, and to avoid the implications of God being assigned a gender. (Find Ibn Ezra’s commentary on Genesis 1:1 for a discussion of the pluralis majestatis when referring to God.) All divine referents (pronouns, epithets, names) are rendered in unicase.
| Translation (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
פרק א׳ |
Chapter 1[1] While chapters are not marked by number in any of the manuscripts, the chapters marked here are, in some manuscripts, marked with a large opening letter or word. |
בִּשְׁנַ֞ת חֲמֵ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֗ים וּשְׁלֹ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ וּשְׁמוֹנִ֣ים וּשְׁמוֹנָ֔ה לִיצִירַ֖ת תֵּבֵ֑ל הִיא֩ שְׁנַ֨ת אֶ֜לֶף וַחֲמֵ֤שׁ מֵאוֹת֙ וְשִׁשִּׁ֔ים לְחׇרְבָ֛ן הֵיכַ֥ל ה֖ׄ[2] In the manuscripts, consistently written as הׄ rather than as the Tetragrammaton in full. הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃ בִּשְׁנֵים֩ עָשָׂ֨ר חֹ֜דֶשׁ הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ ׀ אֲדָ֣ר הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן בְּעֶשְׂרִ֛ים י֖וֹם בּ֑וֹ פֹּ֚עַל פָּעַ֣ל אֵ֔ל כִּימֵ֖י קֶֽדֶם׃ אָמַ֖רְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָ֣ה כְמ֑וֹ לְד֥וֹר דּוֹרִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִשָּׁכַֽח׃ |
In the year 5388 of the creation of the world, that is the year 1560 after the destruction of the Second Temple of the Cause, in the twelfth month, that is the month of First Adar, on the twentieth day of it,[3] 24 February 1628 Gregorian. The Gregorian calendar had already been adopted in the Netherlands. the Deity did a deed as days of old.[4] Find Psalms 44:2 I said “Let me tell, as[5] Find Psalms 73:15 for generations of generations, not to be forgotten.” |
אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֥ה בְּאַמְשְׂטֶרְדָּ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אוֹלְנַדְיָ֑ה וּשְׁמוֹ֙ דָּוִ֣ד קוּרִיאֵ֔ל מִגָּלֻ֥ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּסְפָרַֽד׃ בְּעֶ֩צֶם֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה בָּ֤א לְבֵיתוֹ֙ עָרֵ֣ל וְטָמֵ֔א וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֖הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲנִמְצְא֤וּ אִתּוֹ֙ יַהֲלוֹמִ֔ים כִּ֕י חָפֵ֥ץ קְנ֖וֹת אוֹתָֽם׃ וְאֶת־הַ֠צּוֹרֵ֠ר הָלַ֨ךְ מֹשֶׁ֤ה קַ֙צֵירֵישׂ֙[6] Some manuscripts read קַצֵירֵיץ לְסַרְס֔וּר קָר֖וּא וְהוֹלֵ֣ךְ לְתֻמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יָדַ֖ע כׇּל־דָּבָֽר׃ |
A man there was[7] Find Esther 2:5 in Amsterdam in the land of Holland, and his name was David Curiel,[8] Also known as Lopo da Fonseca Ramires, Curiel (11 May 1594 — 4 October 1666) was a prominent member of the Amsterdam Jewish community. from the exile of Jerusalem that was in Sepharad.[9] Find Obadiah 1:20. In this case Sepharad refers to Spain. On this very day, an uncircumcised and impure one came to his house and asked him, saying, “Are diamonds found with him?” for he desired to buy them. And with the foe came Moseh de Caçeres[10] Another one of the founders of the Amsterdam Jewish community, and progenitor of a prominent Western Sephardic family. to be middleman;[11] In modern Hebrew this word is used to refer to a pimp. Obviously the intended meaning here is the more old-fashioned “middleman.” invited and coming in good faith, not knowing anything.[12] Find II Samuel 15:11 |
וַיָּב֣וֹאוּ הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַיַּעֲל֖וּ הַחַ֑דְרָה וַיַּרְאֵ֛הוּ שְׁתֵּ֥י צְרוֹר֖וֹת יַהֲלֽוֹם׃ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הָרָשָׁ֗ע שׁ֣וֹב אָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב וְאִתִּ֛י אֱנ֥וֹשׁ יֹדֵ֖עַ עֶרְכָּ֑ם וְעַ֨ד־מְהֵרָ֔ה אֶתֵּ֥ן כֶּ֖סֶף מְחִירָֽם׃ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָיו֮[13] Some manuscripts do not include אֵלָיו to him דָּוִד֒ לֹ֨א נָכ֜וֹן לִרְא֣וֹת ׀ אֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֗ה כִּ֥י נָ֙טוּ֙ צִ֣לְלֵי עֶ֔רֶב אַ֚ךְ בָּזֹ֣את נָא֔וֹת וְתָכִ֖ינוּ עַד־א֣וֹר הַבֹּ֑קֶר וַיֹּ֧אמֶר הַזָּ֛ר כֵּ֥ן יְהִ֖י כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ׃ וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בְּלֶ֣כֶת הַנׇּכְרִ֗י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־הַ֣סַּרְס֔וּר לֹ֥א יָשָׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הָאִ֖ישׁ וְאֶת־שִׂיח֑וֹ וַיַּעֲנֵ֤הוּ הַסַּרְסוּר֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַכֶּ֖סֶף יַעֲנֶ֥ה אֶת־הַכֹּֽל׃ |
And they came to the house, and went up to the room, and he showed him two clusters of diamond. And the evildoer said, “I will return, return to you at[14] Find Genesis 18:10 evening time, and with me a man who knows their value, and then speedily I will give their price in silver.” And David said to him, “It is improper to see precious stones when the shade of evening has fallen![15] Find Jeremiah 6:4 Only by this will we agree[16] Find Genesis 34:15 — you should prepare until morning light.” And the arrogant one said “Let it be by your word.” And when the foreigner left, David said to the middleman, “Something’s not right in the eyes of that man and his talk.”[17] Find I Kings 9:11 And the middleman answered, saying, “Money answers all.”[18] Find Ecclesiastes 10:19 |
בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֔וּא לֹ֥א נָדְדָ֖ה שְׁנַ֣ת דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ וְאֵ֣ין מַחֲרִ֔יד וְלִבּ֗וֹ לֹא־הִגִּ֧יד ל֛וֹ כִּי־צוֹפֶ֥ה רָשָׁ֖ע לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ | |
וַיְהִי֙ מִמָּ֣חֳרָ֔ת בְּאַשְׁמֹ֣רֶת הַבֹּ֑קֶר הִשְׁכִּ֥ים לְפִתְח֖וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־שָֽׁבֶר׃ וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל אֶת־שִׁפְחַ֤ת דָּוִד֙ עָלָ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר הִנּ֥וֹ שׁוֹכֵ֖ב עַל־מִטָּת֑וֹ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר ח֤וּשִׁי אִמְרִי֙ אֶל־אֲדוֹנַ֔יִךְ הִנֵּה֙ אִ֣ישׁ הַיַּהֲלוֹמ֔וֹת הַלָּזֶ֖ה בָּֽא׃ וְה֣וּא שָׁמַ֔ע בִּדְבַ֥ר בֶּן־בְּלִיַּ֖עַל אֶל־שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלֶ֜יהָ לְכִ֣י ׀ אִמְרִ֣י אֵלָ֗יו לֵ֚ךְ כִּמְעַ֣ט רֶ֔גַע כִּ֕י אָ֥ז יָק֖וּם וְדִבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ טֶ֮רֶם֮ שׁ֣וּב אֵלָיו הַשִּׁפְחָה֒ בְּדִבְרֵי֙ אֲדוֹנֶ֔יהָ וְהָאוֹיֵ֣ב מִשֵּׁ֗שׁ אֶת־בְּרִיחֵ֧י פֶּֽתַח־הַבַּ֛יִת וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־מוֹצָאָ֖יו וְאֶת־מוֹבָאָ֑יו כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר הִגִּיד֙ אַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן נַ֛עַר מְשָׁרֵ֥ת הַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר רָאָֽהוּ׃ וְכִשְׁמ֣וֹעַ הַטָּמֵ֔א אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֣י הַשִּׁפְחָ֑ה וַיֵּ֨צֵא וַיֵּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסַּרְס֗וּר וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לוֹ֩ אַל־נָ֨א תָמֻ֤שׁ מִזֶּה֙ עַד־בֹּאִ֣י אֵלֶ֔יךָ כִּ֨י אָמַ֤ר נָבָל֙ בְּלִבּ֔וֹ לֹ֨א יִהְיֶ֤ה זֶה֙ לִ֔י לְשָׂטָ֕ן בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּמִּ֖יתִי לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ |
And it was that next day, at the daybreak watch, he got up early to his entrance, seeking a breach.[22] Find Proverbs 17:19 And he asked David’s maid about him, and she said, “Hey, he’s lying on his bed,” and he said, “Hurry, say to your master, ‘Hey, that diamond man has come over here!’”[23] Find Genesis 37:19 And he heard the lowlife one’s talk with his maid, and said to her, “Go, say to him, ‘Go, just a moment, for when he gets up he will speak with you.’” Before the maid returned to him with her master’s words, the enemy groped for the bars of the house entrance, and saw its exits and its entrances — as told after the fact by the lad attending the house who had seen him. And when the impure one heard the words of the maid, he went out and went to the middleman’s house and said to him, “Do not leave here until I come to you!”[24] Find Judges 6:18 for the boor said in his heart “This one will not be an adversary to me[25] Find I Samuel 29:4 for what I wish to do.” |
וַיָּ֙שׇׁב֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֔ד וַיְדַבְּר֛וּ מְעַ֥ט יַ֖חַד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הָ֠אֲנָשִׁ֠ים יוֹדְעֵ֨י אֶ֤בֶן יְקָרָה֙ בִּקַּ֔שְׁתִּי אָכֵ֗ן תַּרְדֵּמָה֙ נָפְלָ֣ה עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁת֥וּ וַיִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין מֵקִֽיץ׃ אָשׁ֛וּבָה אֶקְרָ֥א אוֹתָ֖ם גָּ֣ז חִ֑ישׁ וְעַתָּ֗ה הַרְאֵ֙נִי֙ אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י הַצְּרוֹר֔וֹת וְאֵדְעָ֧ה הֵיטַ֛ב מַרְאִיתָ֥ם בְּעֵינַ֖י כְּי֥וֹם אֶתְמֽוֹל׃ וַיַּעֲל֤וּ שְׁנֵיהֶם֙ הַחַ֔דְרָה וְהַנַּ֥עַר וְהַשִּׁפְחָ֖ה יָצְא֣וּ מִן־הַבַּ֑יִת וְהַדֶּ֖לֶת סָגְר֥וּ אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ וַיִּשָּׁאֲר֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם לְבַדָּ֣ם בַּבַּ֑יִת וְאֵ֥שֶׁת דָּוִ֛ד בְּחֶ֥דֶר אַחֵ֖ר לְעֻמָּתָֽם׃ |
And he returned to David’s house and, they spoke a bit together, and he said: “The men who know gemstones I sought out, but slumber fell upon them, for they drank and got drunk and none could wake them.” Let me return; I will call them quick. Now, show me the two clusters, and I will know their appearance in my eyes as well as yesterday.[26] Find Psalms 90:4, Psalms 90:10 And the two of them went up to the room, and the lad and the maid went out from the house and closed the door behind them. And the two of them remained in the house, David’s wife being in another room by them. |
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וַיָּ֨בֵא צְר֤וֹר אֶחָד֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַיַּרְאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־הַשּׂוֹנֵ֑א וַיֹּאמַ֕ר גַּ֛ם אֶת־הַשֵּׁנִ֥י הָֽבֵא־לִ֖י וְאֶרְאֶֽנּוּ׃ וְדָוִ֣ד אָחַז֩ אֶת־הַצְּר֨וֹר הָרִאשׁ֜וֹן בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ וַיָּבֵ֥א ל֛וֹ אַ֖ף אֶת־הַשֵּׁ֑נִי וַיִּ֨שְׁטְחֵ֔ם לְפָנָ֖יו עַ֥ל הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן׃ וַיְהִ֤י בְּדַבְּרָם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַצַּ֔ר הֵטִ֧בוּ בְּעֵינַ֛י אֶתְמ֖וֹל מִן־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה אַ֗ף כִּ֤י בְּעׇמְדָן֙ אֶפְעַ֣ל בָּהֶ֔ם וְאֶתְקְנֵ֥ם וְאֶמְכְּרֵ֖ם הֵטִֽיב׃ |
And David went and brought one cluster in his hand and showed it to the hateful one, and he said, “The second one too! Bring it to me so I may see it!” And David grabbed the first cluster in his hand, and went and also brought him the second one, and laid them out before him on the table. And when they spoke, the foe said, “They were better in my eyes yesterday than today, but even so I will deal with them as they are and fix them and sell them better.” |
וַיִּשַּׁ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד לִקְשֹׁ֥ר הַצְּר֖וֹר אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּתַ֑ח וְאִ֣ישׁ הַדָּמִ֔ים מִתְדַּמֶּ֥ה כְּעוֹיֵ֖ן בִּצְר֥וֹר הָאֶחָֽד׃ וַיּוֹצִ֨א מֵאַמְתַּחְתּ֜וֹ תַּ֤עַר חַדָּה֙ מְלֻטֶּ֔שֶׁת וַיַּעֲבִרֶ֥נָּה עַל־גְּרוֹנ֖וֹ סָבִ֑יב מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל הִתְחִ֔יל וּבַיָּמִ֖ין כָּלֶֽה׃ וַיִּרְגַּ֥ז דָּוִ֖ד וַיִּצְעַ֣ק פִּתְא֑וֹם ה֚וֹי אִ֣ישׁ הַבְּלִיַּ֔עַל כִּ֖י הֲרַגְתַּֽנִי׃ |
And David bent down to tie up the cluster that he had opened, and the bloody man made himself out to be desirous of the first cluster. And he took out from his sack a sharp, polished razor, and passed it over his neck all around, starting from the left and ending at the right. And David[27] Perhaps a reference to II Samuel 19:1 was agitated and suddenly screamed: “Oy! This lowlife man has murdered me!” |
וַיְהִ֣י כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ מֵאֵ֨ת הׄ֜ הָֽיְתָה־זֹ֗את לַהֲדֹף֙ מַאֲוַיֵּ֣י רָשָׁ֔ע וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י נָפ֥וֹל עַבְדּ֖וֹ שָׁ֑ם שֶׁ֨דָּוִ֔ד לֹ֥א מָעֲד֖וּ קַרְסֻלֵּ֥י לְבָבֽוֹ׃ | |
וַיֹּ֣אחֶז דָּוִ֣ד בּוֹ֮ בְּחׇזְקָה֒ וְהַמְּתֹעָ֕ב כְּחֵ֥ץ בָּרָ֖ק קָפַ֣ץ מִיָּדָ֑יו וַיַּעֲזֹב֩ בִּגְד֨וֹ וּמִגְבַּעְתּ֜וֹ וְתַ֣עַר מַכָּת֗וֹ אֲשֶׁר֙ כְּחֶרְמֵ֣שׁ הַקּוֹצְרִ֔ים חוּדָּ֖ה מְעֻקָּֽלֶת׃ וַיָּ֖נׇס בַּמְּרוּצָ֣ה נִמְרָ֑צֶת וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ בְּסֵ֣דֶר הַמַּדְרֵגָ֔ה וְדָוִ֖ד אַחֲרָֽיו׃ וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ רָדְפָ֣ה אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וְקוֹלָהּ֙ בְּרָמָ֔ה בְּמָרָ֖ה תַּשְׁמִֽיעַ׃ וְהַצּוֹרֵ֥ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֖ם נֶחְפַּ֣ז לִבְרֹ֑חַ עַד־צֵאת֥וֹ מִן־הַבַּ֖יִת אֶל־הַדָּֽרֶךְ׃ |
And David grabbed him strongly, and the abominable one jumped out like an arrow of lightning from his hand, and left his clothes and his hat and the razor of the attack, which was like a reaper’s scythe; sharp and curved. And the outrageously violent one fled and went down the staircase, David after him. And his wife chased after them, and her voice on high she bitterly made heard.[31] Find Jeremiah 31:15 And the foe before them hurried to flee until he left from the house to the road. |
וַיִּרְדְּפֵ֗הוּ עַד־גְּב֛וּל שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה בָּתִּ֖ים רָד֣וֹף וְצָע֑וֹק וַיָּ֨שׇׁב הָאִ֜ישׁ אֶל־בֵּ֗יתוֹ כִּ֨י רָאָ֤ה רַבִּים֙ קָמִ֣ים עַל־אוֹיְב֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָצְא֖וּ לְק֥וֹל צַעֲקָתֽוֹ׃ וְאַף־גַּם־זֹ֞את הֱשִׁיבָ֤הוּ אָחוֹר֙ דָּמ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר כְּנַ֛חַל מִמַּכָּ֖תוֹ יוֹצֵ֑א וּנְשִׁימָת֕וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֶּחְסַ֖ר לִרְגָעִֽים׃ וַיְחַלֵּ֖ק הָעָ֑ם מִמֶּ֗נּוּ הָיָ֤ה לִרְדֹּף֙ אַחַ֣ר הַמַּכֶּ֔ה וּמִמֶּ֛נּוּ לַעֲזֹ֖ר אֶל־הָאִ֥ישׁ הַמֻּכֶּֽה׃ |
And they pursued him past the bounds of three houses, pursuing and shouting, and the man returned to his house for he saw many were rising against his enemy, for they went out at the sound of his scream. And despite all that, he was set back by his blood, which was going out like a river from his attack, and his breath, which had become intermittent. And the people divided up — some would chase after the attacked, and some would help the attacked man. |
בְּשׁוּב֣וֹ ׀ וַיִּמְצָ֣א אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לִפְנֵי֙ פֶּ֣תַח הַבַּ֔יִת יְחֵפָ֖ה וּמִתְגּוֹרָ֑רֶת רָחֵל֙ מְבַכָּ֣ה עַל־בַּעֲלָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֛ר כְּפֶ֥שַׂע בֵּינ֖וֹ וּבֵ֥ין הַמָּֽוֶת׃ וַתִּדְמַ֖עְנָה עֵינֵ֣י כׇּל־רוֹאֶ֑יהָ וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר דָּוִ֜ד עַל־לִבָּ֗הּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בִּטְחִ֣י בַ֔הׄ כִּ֧י בְּעֶזְרָ֛תוֹ לֹא־יְאֻנֶּ֥ה לִ֖י כׇּל־רַֽע׃ וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ[32] Some manuscripts read וַיְבִיאֵהוּ and he brought him, which is grammatically incorrect (if the woman brought him the form would be וַתְּבִיאֵהוּ and she brought him). So the general plural of and they brought is most likely the original here. הָאִשָּׁה֙ פְּנִ֔ימָה וְהִ֖יא כְּמֵתֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְאִישָׁ֕הּ אֶל־חֶ֥דֶר אַחֵ֖ר הִכְנִֽיסוּ׃ |
Upon returning, he found his wife in front of the house entrance, barefoot and agitated — Rachel weeping for her[33] Find Jeremiah 31:15. David Curiel’s wife was named Dona Rachel. Their ketubah, still preserved, can be found here. husband who was on death’s door.[34] Literally: “but a misstep between him and death.” A common Hebrew expression, first found in I Samuel 20:3 And the eyes of all who saw her wept, and David spoke to her heart and said, “Trust in the Cause, for with Their help no evil will be caused me.” And they brought the woman in, and she was like the long dead,[35] Find Lamentations 3:6 and her husband they brought to another room. |
וַיְמַ֨ן אֱלֹדֵ֤י[36] In the manuscripts, this word is consistently written using scribal euphemisms, replacing the hei with either daleth or qof. הָרוּחוֹת֙ בְּפֶ֔תַע רוֹפֵ֥א ט֖וֹב שָׁכֵ֥ן קָרֽוֹב׃ וַיְהִ֣י בִּרְאוֹת֗וֹ הַגָּרוֹן֮ נִכְרֶ֒תֶת֒ וְהַדָּ֤ם כַּמַּ֙יִם֙ נִשְׁפָּ֔ךְ וְזִ֥יו פְּנֵי־דָּוִ֖ד נִשְׁחַ֑ף וּתְנוּעַ֣ת לְבָב֔וֹ כְּנ֥וֹעַ עֲצֵי־יַ֖עַר מִפְּנֵי־רֽוּחַ׃ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אַל־תִּירָ֑א כִּי־חַ֥י אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹא־תָּמֽוּת׃ |
And the God of Spirits at once provided a good doctor, a close neighbor.[37] Find Proverbs 27:10 And when he saw the neck cut, and the blood spilled like water, and David’s facial appearance wasted away, the shaking of his heart was as trees of the forest sway before the wind.[38] Find Isaiah 7:2 And he said “Do not fear, for you live and will not die!” |
וְהַדָּם֮ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ וְיוֹצֵא֒ וַיִּתְעַלָּף֙ עַל־הַ֣כִּסֵּ֔א וַתֶּחְדַּ֧ל מִלָּת֛וֹ וְאוֹר־עֵינָ֥יו גַּם־הֵ֖ם אֵ֣ין אִתּ֑וֹ עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־נֽוֹתְרָה־בּ֖וֹ הַרְגָּשָֽׁה׃ וַיַּחְשְׁב֛וּ כׇּל־הָעוֹמְדִ֥ים עָלָ֖יו יָצְאָ֣ה רוּח֑וֹ וָתָּ֥שׇׁב אֶל־הָאֱלֹדִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נְתָנָֽהּ׃ וְה֨וּא בִּלְבָב֔וֹ מִתְחַשֵּׁ֖ב כְּמֵ֑ת וְעֶשְׁתּוֹנוֹתָ֤יו תְּשַׁבַּ֙חְנָה֙ לְדַיָּ֣ן הָאֱמֶ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר זִכָּ֧הוּ לְהִקָּבֵ֛ר בְּקִבְר֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ |
And the blood flowed out, and he fainted on the chair, and his speech ceased, and his eyes too lost their luster,[39] Find Psalms 38:11 until no sensation was left in him. And all who were standing by him thought his spirit had left, and it had returned to the God that had given it.[40] Find Ecclesiastes 12:7 And he in his heart considered himself as if dead, and his thoughts praised the Judge of Truth, who merited that he be buried in the cemeteries of the Israelites. |
בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּ֗את אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־הֵשִׁ֧יב הָרוֹפֵ֛א אָח֖וֹר יְמִינ֑וֹ מִשּׂוּמוֹ֙ רְטִיּוֹתָ֔יו מוֹנְע֖וֹת מְב֥וֹא דָּמִֽים׃ ה֥ׄ חָפֵ֖ץ לְמַ֣עַן צִדְק֑וֹ לְהָשִׁ֧יב נְשָׁמָ֛ה לַנִּפְרָ֥ד כִּמְעַ֖ט מִמֶּֽנָּה׃ וְכֹה֙ לְלָשׁ֣וֹן נֶאֱלֶ֔מֶת אֲשֶׁ֖ר הִתְחִילָ֣ה לְהוֹד֑וֹת לְמוֹצִיאָ֕הּ מִן־הַסַּ֥עַר הַגָּד֖וֹל הַהֽוּא׃ וַיְצַ֣ו עָלָ֣יו הָרוֹפֵא֮ לֵאמֹר֒ לְבִלְתִּ֨י יִפְתַּ֤ח פִּיו֙ וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֔ר כִּ֖י יַזִּיקֶ֑נּוּ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ כֵּ֔ן אַ֚ךְ לְבָב֔וֹ מִבַּ֥עַל הָרַחֲמִ֖ים לֹא־מָֽשׁ׃ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָרוֹפֵא֙ אֵלָ֔יו ע֥וֹד לָרֹ֖ק וָיָ֑רׇק וְהִנֵּה֙ כֻּלּ֣וֹ לָבָ֔ן וְכׇל־דָּ֖ם לֹא־הָ֥יָה בֽוֹ׃ אָ֕ז כׇּל־הַנִּצָּבִ֥ים עָלָ֖יו שָׂמָ֑חוּ כִּ֣י אָמְר֗וּ הֵ֚ן לֹא־הוּבָ֣א דָּמ֔וֹ אֶל־הַקָּנִ֖ים פְּנִֽימָה׃ |
At that time, when the doctor had not turned back his hand from setting bandages stopping the bloodflow, the Cause desired for the sake of Their righteousness[41] Find Isaiah 42:21 to return a soul to the one almost separated from it. And thus, to the silent tongue that began to thank the One who brought it out from that great storm. And the doctor commanded of him, saying: “Let not his mouth open, nor may he speak, for he has been damaged.” And he did so, but his heart did not depart from the Master of Mercies. And the doctor said to him once more to spit, and he spat, and behold, it was all white, and no blood was in it! Thus all those standing around him rejoiced for they said “Hey, his blood has not gone out to the windpipe within!”[42] Find Leviticus 10:18 |
אַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֗ן הֵסִ֛ירוּ מִקְצֵ֥ה מַלְבּוּשָׁ֖יו מֵעָלָ֑יו כִּ֨י לֹ֤א לְהָסִיר֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם לְמַ֖עַן לֹ֥א יִתְנוֹעֵֽעַ׃ וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ אוֹת֜וֹ עַל־מִטָּת֗וֹ וַיַּשְׁכִּב֙וּהו֙ עַל־עׇרְפּ֔וֹ לֹא־סָ֧ר מִתַּחְתָּ֛יו וְלֹא־זָ֥ע וְלֹא־נָ֖ד מִמַּצָּב֑וֹ שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים לַיְלָה וָיוֹם׃ |
After that they removed some of his clothes from him, for they could not remove them so as not to move him. And they set him on his bed and lay him supine, not turning from under him nor moving nor wandering from his position, eight days, night and day. |
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע דָּוִ֡ד אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֩ הַנִּמְצָאִ֨ים אתּ֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר בְּהֶעָצ֤וֹ הַדָּם֙ אֵ֤ין שָׂטָן֙ וְאֵ֣ין פֶּ֣גַע רַ֔ע וַתְּחִ֖י רוּח֑וֹ כִּמְעַ֤ט שֶׁעָבְרָה֙ תַּחְבֹּ֣שֶׁת מַכָּת֔וֹ וַיֶּחֱרַ֤ד הָאִישׁ֙ וַיִּלָּפֵ֔ת וְהִנֵּה־דָּ֛ם יוֹרֵ֖ד עַל־חֶלְקֵ֥י צַוָּארָֽיו׃ וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ הָרוֹפֵ֣א וַיַּ֡רְא כִּ֣י הַ֠דָּ֠ם אֲשֶֽׁר־יָצָ֨א בָּרִאשׁוֹנָ֜ה נִקְפָּ֗ה[43] A rabbinic form, demonstrating the weakening of gutturals. In “standard” Biblical Hebrew this would be spelled נִקְפָּא with an alef. For other examples of this guttural weakening see לוֹמָר compared to לֵאמֹר, or תִּקְרֵי compared to תִּקְרָא. וְעַתָּה֙ כִּי־חַ֣ם ל֔וֹ נָמֹ֖ג וַיֵּ֑רֶד אַ֥ךְ הַמַּכָּה֙ סוֹגֶ֣רֶת וּמְסֻגֶּ֔רֶת אֵין־דָּ֥ם יוֹצֵ֖א וְאֵ֥ין בָּֽהּ׃ וַיִּשְׁקֹט֩ לֵ֨ב דָּוִ֜ד עַל־זֹא֗ת וַתְּהִ֤י הַמַּכָּה֙ יְבֵשָׁ֔ה כׇּל־הַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וְכׇל־הַלָּ֑יְלָה כֹּ֖ל תַּחְבֹּ֥שֶׁת הָרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃ |
And David heard the words of those found with him, saying “With the blood’s stopping, there is no adversary nor grievous occurrence!”[44] Find I Kings 5:18 and his spirit lived; just as they removed his wound’s bandaging the man stirred and turned up,[45] Find Ruth 3:8 and behold, blood descending upon parts of his neck! And they called the doctor and he saw that the blood that had come out at first had clotted, and now that he had warmed up it had liquified and descended, but the wound was closed and enclosed,[46] Find Joshua 6:1 no blood came out and none was in it. And David was quieted upon this, and the wound was dry all that day and all night, all the first bandaging. |
פרק ב׳ |
Chapter 2 |
בָּעֵ֣ת[47] In some manuscripts this bet is written large. Thus, I have marked a new chapter to begin here. הַהִיא֩ הָיָ֨ה הַצּוֹרֵ֜ר בּוֹרֵ֗חַ וְרַבִּ֞ים מֵֽעַמֵּ֤י הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ וּמֵֽהַ֣יְּהוּדִ֔ים רוֹדְפִ֖ים אַחֲרָ֑יו לֵאמֹר֙ תִּפְשׂ֔וּהוּ כִּי־הָרַ֖ג אֶת־דָּוִ֥ד קוּרִיאֵֽל׃ וַ֠יַּגִּ֠יעַ עַד־אֶחָ֨ד מִן־הַמַּעְבְּר֜וֹת אֲשֶׁ֗ר אִ֚ם יַ֣עַבְרֶ֔נְהוּ יִנָּצֵ֖ל כַּצְּבִ֣י מִיָּ֑ד לְרֹ֣ב הַמְּבוֹא֔וֹת הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ וְהָאֱלֹדִ֞ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אֶת־נִרְדָּ֗ף הִזְמִ֤ין לְפָנָיו֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְקוֹרָ֖ה עַל־שִׁכְמ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נְתָנ֖וֹ לַעֲבֹֽר׃ |
At that time, the foe was fleeing, and many of the people of the land[48] Find Esther 8:17 and of the Jews were chasing after him, saying “Grab him! For he killed David Curiel!” And he entered one of the alleys of which, if he pased them, he would be saved quick as a deer,[49] Find Proverbs 6:5 to many of the entrances found in that place. And the God who seeks the pursued[50] Find Ecclesiastes 3:15 invited before him a man with a beam on his shoulders, and he would not let him pass. |
בַּדֶּ֣רֶךְ אֲשֶֽׁר־בָּ֗א בְּהָשֵׁב֙ כְּדֹ֣ב שַׁכּ֔וּל וַיָּ֣רׇץ[51] In some manuscripts written malei as וַיָּרוֹץ, which is gramatically incorrect per Biblical norms. וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֔א בֵּ֖ין עֲרֵמ֣וֹת נְסָרִ֑ים כִּ֚י חָשַׁ֔ב הֱיוֹת־ל֥וֹ בְתוֹכָ֖ם בֵּ֥ית מָנֽוֹס׃ וּבְהֶסְתֵּר֕וֹ לֹ֥א שְׁזָפַתּ֖וּ עַ֣יִן יְהוּדִ֑י וְלֹא־יָדְע֖וּ אָנָ֥ה נֶחְבָּֽא׃ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מְנַסְּרֵ֤י קְרָשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָא֔וּהוּ הִנֵּ֣ה ה֔וּא בֵּ֖ין הַנְּסָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיְבֻקַּ֖שׁ וַיִּמָּצֵֽא׃ |
On the way that he went, as he sat like a cub-robbed bear and ran and hid among the woodpiles, for he had thought there would be among them a place of refuge. And as he secreted away there no Jewish eye gazed at him,[52] Find Job 28:7 nor did they know where he was hidden. And the men, sawers of planks who had seen him, said to them, “Here he is among these logs!” and he was sought out and found. |
יַ֣ד הַיְּהוּדִ֞ים הָיְתָה־בּ֤וֹ בָרִאשׁוֹנָה֙ לְתַפְּשׂ֔וֹ סַבּ֖וּהוּ גַּ֣ם סְבָב֑וּהוּ וּלְכֹל֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יֶֽחֱרַץ־כֶּ֖לֶב לְשֹׁנֽוֹ׃ וְגוֹיֵ֨י הָאָ֤רֶץ מַחְזִיקִים֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וַיַּעְזְר֥וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְהַכּ֣וֹת אֶת־הָרָשָׁ֑ע הִכּ֙וּהוּ֙ פְּצָע֔וּהוּ וַיִּמְרְט֧וּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֛וֹ וַֽתְּהִי־יַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בּֽוֹ׃ וַיַּנִּיח֖וּהוּ בַּמִּשְׁמָ֑ר בְּבֵית֙ שׁוֹמְרֵ֣י הַחוֹמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח שַׁ֥עַר הָעִֽיר׃ |
The hand of the Jews was upon him first[53] Find Deuteronomy 17:7 to grab him; they surrounded him, all around him,[54] Find Psalms 118:11 and to all the children of Israel no dog would turn its tongue.[55] Find Exodus 11:7 And the gentiles of the land strengthened the hand of the Jews, and helped them strike the evildoer; they struck him, beat him,[56] Find Song of Songs 5:7 and plucked his head, and the hand of all was against him.[57] Find Genesis 16:12 And they set him under guard[58] Find Leviticus 24:12 in the town watch building, by the entrance of the city gate. |
וְתַ֣עַר אַחֵ֔ר מָֽצְאוּ־שָׁ֖ם בְּאַמְתַּחְתּ֑וֹ כִּדְמוּת֙ הַתַּ֣עַר הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֛ר עָזַ֥ב לְדָוִ֖ד בְּבׇרְחֽוֹ׃ וַֽיִּשְׁאָלֵ֞הוּ אֶחָ֣ד ׀ מִקְּרוֹבֵ֣י דָּוִ֗ד לָ֚מָּה הֵמַ֣תָּ אֶת־אָחִ֔י מֶ֖ה עָ֣שָׂה לָ֑ךְ עָנָ֤ה הָאָרוּר֙ בְּמֵ֣צַח נְחוּשָׁ֔ה אַתָּ֖ה הֲרַגְתּֽוֹ׃ |
And another razor they found there in his sack, like the first razor that he had left to David in his flight. And one of David’s relatives asked him, “Why did you kill my brother? What did he do to you?” The accursed one answered him brazenfacedly, “You killed him!” |
הָֽרָצִ֞ים יָצְא֤וּ דְחוּפִים֙ וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ אֶת־הַשּׁוֹטֵ֔ר וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֲחֻזָּ֖ה מֵאֲנָשָׁ֑יו לָקַ֥חַת אוֹת֖וֹ מִשָּֽׁם׃ וַֽיָּב֣וֹאוּ וַֽיַּאַסְר֡וּהוּ וַֽיְבִיא֩וּהוּ֩ בְּת֨וֹךְ הָעִ֜יר אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַכֶּ֗לֶא אַחֲרָיו֙ כׇּל־אָדָ֣ם יִמְשׁ֔וֹךְ וּלְפָנָ֖יו אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֑ר וְהָעִ֥יר אַמְשְׂטֶרְדָּ֖ם נָבֽוֹכָה׃ בְּגָדָ֧יו מֵעָלָ֛יו הִפְשִׁיט֖וּ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַסֹּ֑הַר וַיִּמְשְׁשׁוּ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְלֹא־מָצְא֥ וּ עָלָ֖יו מְאֽוּמָה׃ וּבַמַּחְשָׁבִ֣ים הוֹשִׁיב֔וּהוּ כַּחֲלָלִ֖ים שׁ֥וֹכְבֵי קָֽבֶר׃ |
The messengers ran quickly[59] Find Esther 3:15 and called the police, and he sent a cohort of his men to take him from there. And they went and restrained him and took him into the city into the jail-house; behind him everyone followed, before him innumerable,[60] Find Job 21:33 and the city of Amsterdam was confounded.[61] Find Esther 3:15 His clothes they stripped from him in the prison, and they groped through all his belongings but found nothing on him. And in their thoughts they set him like bodies lying in the grave.[62] Find Psalms 88:6 |
וַֽיִּתְקַ֨בְּצוּ יַ֜חַד כׇּל־קְרוֹבֵ֤י דָּוִד֙ וּמְיֻדָּעָ֔יו וַיַּעֲל֖וּ אֶל־הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֑ים וַיְצַוּוּ הַשָּׂרִים לְהָבִיא הַבּוֹגֵד לִפְנֵיהֶם׃ וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו אֶחָ֥ד מִן־הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֖ים מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ ק֚וֹל קְרוֹבִ֣י הַמֻּכֶּ֔ה צוֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלֵ֖ינוּ עָלֶֽיךָ׃ וַיַּ֙עַן֙ הַמְּקֻלָּ֔ל כְּלֵ֥ב בּוֹטֵ֖חַ וּנְשִׁימָ֣ה שׁוֹקָ֑טֶת כְּגוֹי֙ אֲשֶֽׁר־צְדָקָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ה וּכְשָׂכִ֖יר יְקַוֶּ֣ה פׇעֳלֽוֹ׃ אֵל־בֵּ֣ית ׀ דָּוִ֣ד קוּרִיאֵ֗ל לִקְנ֣וֹת צְרוֹר֣וֹת יַהֲלוֹם֮ הָלַכְתִּי֒ וַיְהִ֞י כִּי־לֹ֨א יַשְּׁר֤וּ בְּעֵינַי֙ הֲקִלּוֹתִ֣ים לְפָנָ֔יו וַֽיְחַרְפֵ֥נִי וַֽיְגַדְּפֵ֖נִי עַל־זֹ֑את בִּדְבָרִ֖ים לֹא־יִוָּ֥סֶר עָֽבֶד׃ וּבְכׇל־זֹאת֙ לֹא־שָׁ֣ב אַפּ֔וֹ וְע֥וֹד יָד֖וֹ נְטוּיָ֑ה וּבְחֶרְפָּ֣ה ׀ הִכָּ֣ה לְחָיָ֗י וַאֲנִ֞י אָנָ֤ה אוֹלִיךְ֙ אֶת־חֶרְפָּתִ֔י כִּי־אִ֖ם לִפְצֹ֥עַ אֶת־פָּנָֽיו׃ לֹ֥א יָכֹ֖לְתִּי לִמְשֹׁ֣ל בְּרוּחִ֑י אַ֗ף כִּ֚י אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֣ן נִחַמְתִּ֔י וְהֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖י עַד־מָֽוֶת׃ |
And all David’s kith and kin gathered together and went up to the judges, and the aldermen commanded to bring the renegade before them. And one of the judges said to him, “What did you do? The voice[63] Find Genesis 4:10 of my struck relative cries to us against you!” And the accursed one answered, like a trusting heart and a still breath, like a nation that does right,[64] Find Isaiah 58:2 or like a hireling waiting for his wage:[65] Find Job 7:2 “To David Curiel’s house to buy a diamond cluster I went, and so it was, when they were not worth it in my eyes I made light of them before him, and he insulted and execrated me for this — by words a slave cannot be rebuked![66] Find Proverbs 29:19 And for all that, his wrath did not turn back, and his hand was yet stretched,[67] Find Isaiah 5:25, Isaiah 9:16 and in insult he struck my cheeks,[68] Find Job 16:10 and as for me, where would I carry my insult,[69] Find II Samuel 13:13 if not to strike his face? I could not control my spirit, but after that I regretted and was good and mad to death.”[70] Find Jonah 4:9 |
וַיָּבִ֣ינוּ הַשּׁוֹפְטִים֮ כִּ֣י מִרְמָ֣ה בְּפִיו֒ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֗וֹ ע֤וֹד חָזוֹן֙ לַמּוֹעֵ֔ד וְנֵדְעָ֥ה הָאֱמֶ֖ת אִתֶּ֑ךָ וַיְצַוּ֕וּ לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ אֶל־מְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ |
And the judges understood that deceit was in his mouth, and said to him, “There is yet a sign for the time;[71] Find Habakkuk 2:3 that we may know the truth with you.” And they commanded to return him to his place. |
וַיָּשׁוּב֛וּ קְרוֹבֵ֥י דָּוִ֖ד אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְכ֨וּ חָז֜וּ הַאִ֨ם חָטַ֤ף מְבַקֵּֽשׁ־נַפְשִׁי֙ אֶת־הַ֣צְּרוֹר֔וֹת א֛וֹ אִם־עָזַ֥ב אוֹתָ֖ם בְּהַמְלֵטֽוֹ׃ וַיֵּלְכוּ֙ וַיִּרְא֔וּ כִּ֛י הָאֶחָ֥ד הַקָּטָ֖ן אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְהַגָּד֥וֹל הִנִּ֖יחַ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הוּא־שָֽׁם׃ וַיְמַהֲר֖וּ וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ אֶל־הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לָהֶ֗ם כִּ֥י בִקְּשׁוּ֙ הַצְּר֣וֹר אֶחָ֔ד בְּכׇל־הַבַּ֖יִת וְלֹא־מָצָֽאוּ׃ וַֽיְצַוּ֥וּ הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֖ים אֶל־הַשּׁוֹטֵ֣ר לֵאמֹ֑ר לֵ֨ךְ בַּקֵּ֤שׁ וּמַשֵּׁשׁ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֔יו בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־תִּמְצָ֥א יָדֶֽךָ׃ |
And David’s relatives returned to his house, and he said to them, “Go, look if the one who sought my life snatched the clusters, or if he left them in his flight.” And they went and saw that the small one was not there, but the large one he had left where it was. And they hurried and returned to the judges and told them that they had sought that one cluster in all the house and not found it. And the judges commanded the police, saying, “Go, seek and grope through his belongings, all that your hand can find!”[72] Find Ecclesiastes 9:10 |
וַֽיְחַפֵּ֨שׂ וַֽיִּמְצָ֤א אֶת־הַצְּרוֹר֙ בְּאַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ וַֽיַּעֲלֵ֥הוּ מִן־הַבּ֖וֹר לִפְנֵ֣י הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הַיְּהוּדִ֞ים שָׂ֤מוּ אוֹתוֹ֙ בְּאַמְתַּחְתִּ֔י לְהָבִ֥יא אֵלַ֖י אָשָֽׁם׃ אָ֚ז נִשְׁתַּנָּ֣ה מַרְאִית֔וֹ[73] Some manuscripts read מַרְאִתוֹ written ḥaser. וַיָּ֖מׇת לִבּ֑וֹ הַכָּרַ֥ת פָּנָ֖יו עָ֥נְתָה בּֽוֹ׃ וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ הַשָּׂרִ֤ים אֶל־הַיְּהוּדִים֙ אֶת־צְר֣וֹר הַיַּהֲלוֹמִ֔ים בְּמִסְפָּרָ֖ם כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֑ם אֶחָ֥ד מֵהֶ֖ם לֹא־נוֹתָֽר׃ |
And he searched and found the cluster in his sack, and brought him from the pit before the aldermen, but he said, “The Jews put it in my sack to bring guilt upon me!” Then his appearance changed, and his heart died, and his own face’s recognition answered against him.[74] Find Isaiah 3:9 And the aldermen gave the cluster of diamonds to the Jews, in their number, per their judgements,[75] Find Numbers 29:33 not one was missing.[76] Find Psalms 106:11 |
כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה נַעֲשׂ֗וּ בְּיוֹם֙ אֶחָ֣ד וְעֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְחֹ֖דֶשׁ אֲדָ֣ר רִאשׁ֑וֹן ה֕וּא י֥וֹם שִׁשִּׁ֖י לַשָּׁבֽוּעַ׃ |
All these things were done on the twenty-first day of the month of First Adar, on Friday of that week. |
פרק ג׳ |
Chapter 3 |
בָּ֣א[77] In some manuscripts this word is written large. Thus, I have marked a new chapter to begin here. י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֡ת וְעֵינֵי֩ דָּוִ֨ד קוּרִיאֵ֜ל וְכׇל־הַקָּהָ֤ל עִמּוֹ֙ מְצַפּ֣וֹת וּתְלוּי֔וֹת לְדֵעָ֕ה מָה־יִהְיֶ֖ה אַחֲרִ֣ית מַכָּת֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־נָגְעָ֤ה בָּהּ֙ יָ֔ד עַ֖ד מוֹצָאֵ֥י הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ בָּעֶ֩רֶב֩ נִ֨דְבְּרוּ יַ֜חַד שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה רוֹפְאִ֗ים לִגְזֹ֤ר מֶה־יַֽעֲשֶׂה־לוֹ֙ בְּתַחְבֹּ֣שֶׁת הַשְּׁנִיָּ֔ה כִּ֛י כָּבֵ֥ד הַדָּבָ֖ר מְאֹ֣ד עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם מִיִּרְאָתָ֗ם פֶּן־יִנָּתֵ֧ק שֵׁנִ֛ית הַדָּ֖ם מִמְּקוֹמֽוֹ׃ וַיֵּאֹ֣תוּ הָרוֹפְאִ֔ים לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַתֵּ֖ר אֲגֻדּ֣וֹת מַכָּ֑ה עַד־יוֹם֙ הַמָּ֣חֳרָ֔ת כִּי־כֵ֛ן בִּקֵּ֥שׁ מֵהֶ֖ם הַמֻּכֶּֽה׃ |
The sabbath day[78] Some manuscripts just read שַׁבָּ֡ת sabbath in place of י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֡ת the sabbath day came, and David Curiel’s eyes and all the community with him were hoping and waiting to know what would be the end of his wound which he no hand had touched until Saturday night. In the evening three doctors spoke together, to decree what would become of him with the second bandaging, for the matter was very grave indeed upon them, for they feared lest the blood yet again be severed from its place. And the doctors agreed not to loosen the bonds[79] Find Isaiah 58:6 of the wound until the next day, for thus the stricken one had requested of them. |
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן הוּא־י֣וֹם שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֮ לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָר֒ פָּתְח֤וּ הָרוֹפְאִים֙ קְשׁוּרֵ֣י הַמַּכָּ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֖ה חֲרֵבָ֣ה וִיבֵשָׁ֑ה וַיִּשְׂמַ֤ח לֵב־דָּוִד֙ מְאֹ֔ד וְכׇל־הַקָּהָ֖ל עִמּֽוֹ׃ |
And on Sunday the twenty-third of Adar, the doctors opened the knots of the wound, and behold — it was parched and dry! And David’s heart rejoiced greatly, and all the community with him. |
וְהַשּׁוֹטֵר הַגָּדוֹל בָּא לִרְאוֹת אֶת־דָּוִד לָדַ֖עַת תֹּ֣כֶן הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה לְגַלּוֹת֙ עֲוֺ֣ן הָרָשָׁ֔ע לִפְנֵ֖י הַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ כִּי־כֵ֖ן חֹ֣ק הָאָ֑רֶץ כׇּל־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַקָּשֶׁ֗ה לְבַ֧ד עַל־יְדֵ֛י הַשּׁוֹטֵ֥ר הַגָּד֖וֹל יְבוּקַּֽשׁ׃ וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵ֣ם מְאֹ֔ד בִּרְאוֹת֖וֹ הַמַּכָּ֑ה וַיָּ֣פׇג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֛י גְּדוֹלָ֥ה הִ֖יא מְאֹֽד׃ וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו הָרוֹפְאִ֑ים מַלְאַ֤ךְ הׄ֙ חָנָ֣ה סָבִ֔יב לָאִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֛ר כָּזֶ֥ה ל֖וֹ וְנִמְלַֽט׃ כִּ֣י ׀ מְעִידִ֣ים אֲנַ֗חְנוּ כִּי־לֹ֤א נוּכַל֙ לִכְר֔וֹת בַּחֵ֖לֶק הַזֶּ֑ה וַֽיִּנָּצֶ֥ל אֶחָ֖ד מִֽנִּי־אָֽלֶף׃ כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה הֵעִ֖ידוּ הָרוֹפְאִ֑ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ |
And the chief of police came to see David, to know the gist of the matter, to reveal the evildoer’s guilt before the law. For thus was the law of the land: every duifficult matter, only by the chief of police’s hand could it be sought. And he was utterly stunned at the sight of the wound, and his heart failed,[80] Find Genesis 25:46 for it was very major. And the doctors said to him, “An angel of the Cause encamps around a man to whom such could occur to him and he escape. For we testify that we could not[81] Some manuscripts add בְּנַ֕חַת safely. cut this portion, only one in a thousand would be safe!” Such matters the doctors testified before all the judges. |
וְהַשּׁוֹפְטִ֞ים חָקְר֤וּ וְדָרְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־פִּ֣י הַפּוֹשֵׁ֔עַ וַֽיְעַנּ֖וּהוּ בְּיִסּוּרִ֑ין וַיִּתְנַחֵ֣ם ׀ מִדְּבָרָ֣יו הָרִאשׁוֹנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֜ר כִּ֨י דָּוִ֤ד בַּזָּ֙הוּ֙ בְּחֵרוּפִ֔ין וְהִכָּ֖ה אֶת־לְחָיָֽו׃ וַיְּשָׁנֶּה֙ אֶת־טַעְמ֔וֹ וְהוֹדָ֕ה כִּ֥י גָּזַ֖ל אֶת־הַצְּר֑וֹר וְיַ֣ד הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים לֹא־שָׂמָ֥ה אוֹת֖וֹ בְּאַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃ וַיְהִ֛י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁאַ֖ל עַל־מְקוֹמ֑וֹ עָנָ֗ה כִּ֚י מֵעִ֣יר לִ֔יפְּסִי יָצָ֖א הַצֶּ֥פַע הַזֶּֽה׃ וְעַ֨ל שׁמ֤וֹ הֵשִׁיב֙ יַ֣אן רַ֔דְיֵיר וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן אַמָ֖ר יַ֣אן דִּ֑ירֵיקְסֵין וְשֵׁ֥ם רְשָׁעִ֖ים יִרְקָֽב׃ |
And the judges investigated and questioned the mouth of the criminal, and tortured him with suffering, and he repented from his earlier words that he had said that David shamed him with insults and struck his cheeks. And he changed his tune and admitted that he stole the cluster and the Jews’ hand did not place it in his sack. And when he was asked of his place he answered that from Leipzig came this viper. And of his name, he replied, “Jan Radier,”[82] In some manuscripts spelled רֵידֵיר but Curiel’s Portuguese refers to him by the spelling Radier, so רֵידֵיר is probably a scribal emendation to the more common Dutch last name Reder. and after that he said, “Jan Direcksen”[83] In some manuscripts spelled דְּרִיקְסֵין but Curiel’s Portuguese refers to him by the spelling Direcksen or Dircks, so דְּרִיקְסֵין is probably a scribal error. — and the name of the wicked putrefies![84] Find Proverbs 10:7 |
אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה שָׁ֛ב הַשּׁוֹטֵ֥ר הַגָּד֖וֹל אֶל־בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט עִמּֽוֹ׃ וַיִּתְמְה֨וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים מְאֹד֙ עַל־הַ֣מַּכָּ֔ה כִּ֥י גְּדוֹלָ֖ה הִ֑יא וְעַל־הָעוֹרְקִ֛ים הַמְּגֻלִּ֥ים וְהַדּוֹפְקִ֖ים לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם הָרוֹפְאִ֑ים אׇמְנָ֗ם כִּ֚י מַכַּת־מָ֣וֶת הִ֔יא לוּלֵ֥י ה֖ׄ שֶׁהָ֥יָה לֽוֹ׃ בָּר֣וּךְ ׀ מֵמִ֣ית וּמְחַיֶּ֗ה פּוֹדֶה֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֔יו עוֹשֶׂ֥ה נִפְלָא֖וֹת גְּדוֹל֣וֹת לְבַדּ֑וֹ הַפּוֹצֶה֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֔וֹ מֵחֶ֖רֶב רָעָֽה׃ |
After these matters, the chief of police returned to David’s house, and the ministers of the law with him. And the men were very shocked at the injury which was major, and at the visible throbbing veins before their eyes. And the doctors said to them, “Indeed, it would be a deadly wound, were the Cause not with[85] Find Psalms 124:2 him!” Blessed be the Death-dealer and Life-bringer,[86] Find I Samuel 2:6 who saves Their servants’ neck,[87] Find Psalms 34:23 doing great wonders alone,[88] Find Psalms 136:4 who rescues Their servant David from the wicked sword.[89] Find Psalms 144:10 |
וְהַשּׁוֹפְטִ֥ים שָׁאֲל֖וּ אֶת־פִּ֣י דָּוִ֑ד לְהַגִּ֥יד לָהֶ֖ם אֶת־כׇּל־הַמַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃ וּבְדַבְּר֖וֹ אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם אָמְר֗וּ הֲגִידַּ֤פְתָּ אוֹתוֹ֙ תְּחִלָּ֔ה בְּדִבְרֵ֖י בָּז֥וּי וְקָלֽוֹן׃ וַיַּ֨עַן לָהֶ֜ם בְּנַפְשִׁ֣י נִשְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי כִּ֚י לֹא־הָ֣יוּ בֵּינֵ֔ינוּ זוּלַ֛ת דִּבְרֵ֥י מוּסָ֖ר וְחִבָּ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ יְדַ֨בֵּר אִ֧ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֛הוּ הֶחָפֵ֖ץ לִקְנ֥וֹת מִסְּחוֹרָתֽוֹ׃ |
And the judges asked David’s mouth to tell them all the matter. And upon his speaking to them they said, “Did you execrate him at first with words of shame and disgrace?” And he answered them, “By my soul, I swear that there was nothing between us but words of morality and affection, as a man would speak with his fellow[90] Find Exodus 33:11 who wishes to buy his merchandise.” |
אַ֠חֲרֵי־כֵ֠ן עָל֨וּ הַשּׁוֹטֵ֤ר וְהַשּׁוֹפְטִים֙ הַחַ֔דְרָה לִרְא֥וֹת בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם מְק֣וֹם הָרָשָׁ֑ע וַיֵּרְד֖וּ וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ וַיַּעַבְר֣וּ ׀ יְמֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֗ר וַיַּעֲנ֧וּ הַשָּׂרִ֛ים אֶת־הַבּוֹגֵ֖ד בְּיִסּוּרִ֣ין קָשִׁ֑ין וְהוֹדָ֤ה בְּפִיו֙ כֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֔ה לֹא־הָיָ֤ה דָבָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־הִגִּ֔יד וּבְמוֹ־פִּ֖יו לָהֶ֥ם יִתְחַנֵּֽן׃[91] In some manuscripts, the rabbinic form נִתְחַנֵּן |
After that the police and the judges went up into the room, to see for themselves the place of the evildoer, and they went down and left. And some days passed, and the aldermen tortured the renegade with hard suffering, and he admitted with his mouth all that he had done; there was nothing he didn’t tell, and in his own mouth he would beg them for mercy. |
וַיְהִ֣י בְּיוֹדְע֗וֹ כִּ֥י פִּיו֙ הִרְשִׁ֣יעָת֔וֹ וְקָר֤וֹב לָבוֹא֙ עִתּ֔וֹ וְיָמָ֖יו לֹ֣א יִמָּשֵׁ֑כוּ כִּחֵ֣שׁ אֶת־דְּבָרָ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בְּעֶ֣צֶב יִסּוּרַ֔י שְׂפָתַ֖י לֹ֥א נֶאֱמַֽנּוּ׃ וְלִבּ֨וֹ כַּיָּ֤ם נִגְרָשׁ֙ הַשֶּׁ֣קֶט לֹא־יוּכַ֔ל וַיְלַמְּדֵ֕הוּ לְשַׁנּ֥וֹת אֶת־טַעֲמ֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֣י הַשָּׂרִ֑ים וְיִתְהוֹלֵ֣ל לְעֵינֵיהֶ֗ם וַיְצַ֨וּוּ לֶאֱסֹ֥ר אוֹת֛וֹ בְּכַבְלֵ֥י בַּרְזֶ֖ל וַיְשַׁבְּרֵֽם׃ וַיָּבִ֧יאוּ אוֹת֛וֹ ע֖וֹד לְיַסְּר֑וֹ וַיְחָרֵ֨ף וַיְגַדֵּ֤ף וַיְקַלֵּל֙ אֶת־הַ֣שָּׂרִ֔ים בִּכְדַ֖י בִּזָּי֥וֹן וּכְלִמּֽוֹת׃ וַיִּשָּׂ֣א מִשְׁקָל֩ כָּבֵ֨ד מְאֹ֜ד מִן־הָאָ֗רֶץ וַֽיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ אוֹתוֹ֙ עַל־הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֔ים כַּמֹּ֖ץ אֲשֶֽׁר־תִּדְּפֶ֣נּוּ ר֑וּחַ לְמַעַן֙ יַאֲמִ֔ינוּ כִּ֥י הֻכָּ֖ה בְּשִׁגָּעֽוֹן׃ |
And when he knew that his mouth had convicted him, and his time was coming, and his days would not be long,[92] Find Isaiah 13:22 he denied his words and said “Out of the pain of my suffering my lips were not truthful.” And his heart was like the troubled unquietable sea,[93] Find Isaiah 57:20 and it guided him to change his tone before the aldermen, and he was rowdy before their eyes, and they commanded to bind him in iron chains, but he broke them. And they brought him again to torture him, and he insulted and execrated and cursed the aldermen with endless shame[94] Find Esther 1:18 and disgrace. And he lifted a very heavy weight from the ground, and threw it upon the judges, like chaff that the wind blows away,[95] Find Psalms 1:4 so that they would believe that he was struck with insanity. |
מִשָּׁ֤ם הוּשַׁב֙ אֶל־מְקוֹמ֔וֹ וּבְיוֹדְע֕וֹ כִּֽי־כָלְתָ֥ה אֵלָ֛יו הָרָעָ֖ה עָמַ֣ד עַל־טַעֲמ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּי־עֶ֨בֶד אֱלֹקֵ֤י הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ ה֔וּא אוּלַ֖י יְמַלֵּֽט׃ וַיַּ֗רְא כִּ֚י לֹ֣א יָכֹ֔ל וַיֹּאמַ֕ר מִתּוֹפְשֵׂ֛י דָּ֥ת ל֖וֹטְרוֹ אָ֑נִי כִּ֣י אָמַ֗ר בַּעֲלֵ֥י בְּרִית֛וֹ יִֽהְיוּ־ל֥וֹ מֵעִ֖יר לַעֲזֹֽר׃ |
From there he was returned to his place, and upon knowing that the evil would end up on him[96] Find Esther 7:7 he stood on his behavior and said that he was a servant of the God of the earth, perhaps he would be saved. And he saw that he could not,[97] Find Genesis 32:26 and said, “Of those who hold on to the other faith[98] Literally, the religion of l’otro. A euphemism for Christianity, specifically Catholicism. am I,” for he said his fellow-travelers would come to him from town to help. |
וְכׇל־זֹ֕את לֹ֥א שֹׁוֶ֖ה ל֑וֹ כִּי־הֵחֵ֨ל לִנְפֹּ֜ל לִפְנֵ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים וַיִּפֹּ֨ל נָפ֤וֹל לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ לָהֶ֛ם מִיָּג֖וֹן לְשִׂמְחַ֥ת עוֹלָֽם׃ | |
קָרָ֣א אַחֲרֵי־זֹאת֮ אֶל־הָאַפִּיפְיוֹרִים֒ וְהֵ֗ם שָׁלְח֨וּ אֵלָ֤יו בְּהֵחָבֵא֙ כֹּ֔מֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵלָ֛יו יִתְוַדֶּ֖ה כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֑ם וַיַּעְזְרֵ֙הוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ אֶת־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ לִשְׁא֖וֹל תַּחְתִּֽית׃ וְהַשּׁוֹפְטִים֩ גָּמְר֨וּ אֶת־דִּינ֜וֹ לָמ֗וּת וְלֹ֨א מָנְע֤וּ עוֹד֙ מִדַּבֵּ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַחְפֹּ֑ץ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עַד־הֵֽנָּה׃ וְכֹה֙ הָי֣וּ דְּבָרָ֔יו אֶל־הַדּוֹבְרִ֖ים אִתּ֑וֹ לֹ֣א הֶאֱמַ֔נְתִּי כִּ֛י יוּמַ֥ת גֶּ֖בֶר אֲשֶֽׁר־לֹ֥א הֵמִֽית׃ |
He called, after that, to the bishops, and they sent to him an idolatrous-priest in secret,[102] Meaning, a Catholic priest came to give him his last rites. This had to be done in secret because Amsterdam in 1628 was not a particularly safe place to be a Catholic out in the open. to whom he could confess per their laws, and they helped him send his soul to the lowest underworld. And the judges gave him the death penalty, and did not stop him from speaking with them whatever he desired, as they had unto now. And thus were his words to those speaking with him: “I didn’t believe a man would be killed who had not killed! |
וְלֹ֣א חָשַׁ֡בְתִּי כִּי֩ יֵהָרֵ֨ג אָדָ֜ם עַל־הֲרָג֣וֹ ׀ אִ֣ישׁ מִן־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹלַדְתִּ֔י מוֹתָר֥וֹ מִן־הַחֲזִ֖יר אַ֑יִן נֶ֥פֶשׁ רָשָׁ֖ע בַּתֹּ֥פֶת תָּלִֽין׃ וַ֠יָּב֠וֹא אֵלָ֨יו הַמְּנַחֵ֜ם כְּמִשְׁפַּ֣ט הַהֲרוּגִ֗ים וַיֹּאמֶ֣ר אֵלָיו֮ הִתְנַחֵ֣ם עַל־פְּשָׁעֶיךָ֒ עָנָ֣הוּ הַצּוֹרֵ֗ר אֵ֤ין בְּיָדִי֙ עָוֺ֔ן כִּי־לֹ֥א עָשִׂיתִ֖י מְא֑וּמָה וַיִּתְמַ֨הּ הָאִ֜ישׁ עַל־דְּבָרָ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הֲנִמְצָ֣א כָזֶ֔ה אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ר֥וּחַ הַשָּׂטָ֖ן בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ כִּי֩ תִּקְשֶׁ֨ה עׇרְפְּךָ֜ וְלִבְּךָ֣ נְחוּשָׁ֗ה יְמַהֵ֨ר לְהוֹצִ֧יא דָבָ֛ר לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹקִ֖ים הַבּוֹחֵ֣ן לִבּ֑וֹת אֵין־זֶ֧ה כִּי־אִ֛ם שְׁא֥וֹל וַאֲבַדּ֖וֹן מְנַ֥ת חֶלְקֶֽךָ׃ |
Nor did I think that they would kill a man who killed a man of the Jews, who in my birthplace are no better than swine!” — The soul of an evildoer hangs over hell. And the chaplain came to him per the law of murder, and said to him, “Confess for your sins!” The foe answered, “I have no guilt, for I did nothing.” And the man was shocked at his words and said, “Can such a man be found who has the spirit[103] Find Genesis 41:38 of the adversary within him!? For your nape is stiffened, and your brazen heart hurries to bring out a matter before God[104] Find Ecclesiastes 5:1 who investigates hearts! Nothing but the underworld and oblivion is your assigned portion!” |
וּלְכׇל־הָעָם֙ מִקָּצֶ֔ה בְּאָב֥וּד רָשָׁ֖ע רִנָּ֑ה גַּם־בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֗ם גַּ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י אִ֔ישׁ יַ֖חַד עָשִׁ֥יר וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ וְהַסּוֹחֲרִים֙ נִ֣כְבְּדֵי אֶ֔רֶץ שָׁאֲל֛וּ מֵאֵ֥ת הַשּׁוֹפְטִ֖ים לַהֲמִית֑וֹ אַ֗ף כִּי־כֵ֨ן דָּ֤ת וְדִין֙ הָעִ֔יר לְבִלְתִּ֨י הֵמִֽית־אִ֧ישׁ מַֽכֶּה־אִ֛ישׁ אִם־לֹ֥א רְצָח֖וֹ נָֽפֶשׁ׃ |
And for all the people outside, cheering at the evildoer’s downfall;[105] Find Proverbs 11:10 all kinds of humans, all kinds of people, rich and poor together.[106] Find Psalms 49:3 And the wardens, honored in the land, asked of the judges to kill him, though the practice and rule in the city was not to kill a man who strikes a man unless he kills that soul. |
מֵאֵ֨ת הׄ֜ הָ֣יְתָה זֹ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּיָדוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ כׇּל־חָ֔י וּרְצ֖וֹן כׇּל־אִ֑ישׁ לְהָשִׁ֥יב עֲמָל֖וֹ בְּרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ | |
בְּ֠י֠וֹם שְׁמוֹנָֽה־עָשָׂ֨ר י֜וֹם לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ שְׁלֹשָֽׁה־עָשָׂ֗ר ה֣וּא חֹ֮דֶשׁ֮ אֲדָ֣ר הַשֵּׁנִי֒ הִגִּ֣יעַ תּ֗וֹר מַחַ֛ץ מַכַּ֥ת דָּוִ֖ד לְהֵרָפֵ֑א וְרֹ֨אשׁ פֶּ֤תֶן אַכְזָר֙ לְהִנָּשֵׂ֣א מֵעָלָ֔יו כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר זָמַם֙ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת וְלֹ֖א כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה הוּבָ֣א הָעִקֵּשׁ֮ אֶל־רְח֣וֹב הָעִיר֒ וְעַל־בָּמָ֣ה כְּמִשְׁפַּ֗ט לְעֵינֵי֙ עַ֣ם רַב־מְאֹ֔ד הֵסִ֥ירוּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֖וֹ מֵעָלָ֑יו וְהָעִ֣יר אַמְשְׂטֶרְדָּ֔ם צַהֲלָ֖ה וְשָׂמֵחָֽה׃ |
On the eighteenth day of the thirteenth month, that is the month of Second Adar, the date came that the severe wound of David be healed,[110] Find Isaiah 30:26 and the head of the cruel viper[111] Find Deuteronomy 32:33 to be removed from upon him, as he schemed to do and not as he did. On that day, the obstinate one was brought to the city square, and upon a platform, per the law, before the eyes of a great many people, they removed his head from upon him, and the city Amsterdam celebrated and rejoiced.[112] Find Esther 8:15 |
וְדָוִד֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּ֔את בְּת֥וֹךְ בֵּית֖וֹ בָּרִ֑יא אוּלָ֣ם ׀ מוֹדֶ֣ה וּמְשַׁבֵּ֗חַ לִמְרוֹמְמוֹ֙ מִשַּׁ֣עֲרִי מָ֔וֶת הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן נְקָמ֖וֹת לֽוֹ׃ וַיָּבוֹאוּ֩ כׇּל־קְרוֹבֵ֨י דָּוִ֤ד וּמְיֻדָּעָיו֙ וַיִּשְׂמְח֣וּ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙ בָּר֣וּךְ הׄ֔ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹ֣א הִשְׁבִּ֥ית מִֽהְיוֹת־לָ֛ךְ גֹּאֵ֖ל הַיּ֑וֹם כֵּ֛ן יֹאבְד֥וּ כׇל־אוֹיְבֶ֖יךָ הֽׄ׃ |
And David at that time, healthy in his house, yet was giving thanks and lauding the One who lifted him from the gates of death,[113] Find Psalms 9:14 who gives vengeance to him.[114] Find II Samuel 22:48, Psalm 18:48 And all David’s kith and kin came and rejoiced with him and said, “Blessed be the Cause who did not stop being a redeemer for you today![115] Find Ruth 4:14 Thus may all Your enemies perish, Cause!”[116] Find Judges 5:31 |
וְגַ֨ם קְבוּרָ֜ה לֹא־הָ֣יְתָה לּ֗וֹ כִּ֥י נִמְכַּר֙ בְּמֵאָ֣ה זְהוּבִ֔ים לְהִנָּתֵ֕חַ בְּלִמּוּדֵ֖י לֵ֣ידֶה הָעִ֑יר וַיְנַתְּח֣וּהוּ לְנִתָּחָ֗יו וְעוֹר֤וֹ מֵעָלָיו֙ הִפְשִׁ֔יטוּ וַיְהִ֥י לְא֖וֹת עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ וַיָּבִ֨ינוּ בּ֤וֹ הָרוֹפְאִים֙ אֶת־לִבּ֔וֹ[117] In some manuscripts spelled לְבָב֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֛ר כְּלֵ֥ב שׁ֖וֹר גׇּדְל֑וֹ כִּ֣י ׀ עַל־כֵּ֣ן מְלָא֗וֹ לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת כַּדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדוֹל֙ הַזֶּ֔ה בַּחֲצִ֥י הַיּ֛וֹם בְּת֥וֹךְ עִיר־גְּדוֹלָ֖ה לֵאלֹקִֽים׃ |
Nor did he have a burial,[118] Find Ecclesiastes 6:3 for he was sold for a hundred guilders to be dissected at the studies of the city of Leiden,[119] A reference to the notorious Leiden University anatomical theatre, where from 1594 to 1821 public dissections of cadavers were shown to anyone who wanted to gawk at them for a small fee. Many of these cadavers were those of executed criminals, who were denied burial as a final post-mortem insult. and they dissected him into sections, and flayed his skin off of him, and he became a sign to this very day. And the doctors saw his heart, which was like an ox’s heart in size — thus he dared[120] Literally “it was filled.” See Esther 7:5 to do such an enormous thing at midday in the midst of a goddang huge city.[121] Literally “a large city to God.” See Jonah 3:3 |
וַאֲרֻכַ֣ת דָּוִ֔ד מַתְמֶ֖דֶת הָל֣וֹךְ[122] Some manuscripts read הָלֹךְ written ḥaser. וְרָפ֑וּא וּבְיוֹם֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֣ת הַגָּ֔דוֹל עָלָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית הֽׄ׃ שָׁ֥ם נָתַ֛ן אֶת־תּוֹדוֹתָ֥יו ל֖וֹ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בָּר֞וּךְ הַגּוֹמֵ֤ל לַחַיָּבִים֙ טוֹב֔וֹת שֶׁגְּמָלַ֖נִי כׇּל־טֽוֹב׃ בָּר֥וּךְ הַטּ֖וֹב וְהַמֵּטִ֑יב הַטּ֞וֹב שֶׁחָלַ֤ץ נַפְשׁוֹ֙ מִמָּ֔וֶת וְהַמֵּטִ֕יב אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵבִ֥יא רָשָׁ֖ע תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ |
And David’s recovery was consistenly going and healing, and on the day of the Great Sabbath[123] The Shabbat before Passover. In that year, 12 Nisan 5388, being 15 April 1628 — for a recovery period of 51 days. he went up to the house of the Cause. There he gave his thanks to Them and said “Blessed be the Bestower of the undeserving with goodness, who bestowed me with all good.”[124] The liturgy of Birkat haGomel. The oldest source for this specific rubric is variant manuscripts of Bavli Berakhot 54b, although not in the Vilna text. Blessed be the One who is good and does good[125] The blessing for good news. Found in Bavli Berakhot 60b — who is good for They rescued his soul from death, and does good for bringing the evildoer under him. |
וּבְיוֹם֩ שְׁמוֹנָ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֜ים לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֗ה קָבַ֨ר דָּוִ֜ד אֶת־עַצְמ֤וֹת אִמּוֹ֙ שָׂרָ֣ה קוּרִיאֵ֔ל בַּקֶּ֛בֶר אֲשֶֽׁר־כִּמְעַ֥ט הָיָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית עוֹלָמ֑וֹ וְהֵ֖מָּה בָּ֥אוּ מִצָּרְפַֽת׃ מָה־רַבּ֣וּ ׀ מַעֲשֵׂ֣י הׄ֗ יְהִ֤י שְׁמוֹ֙ מְבֹרָ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־נָתַ֥ן אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד לִרְא֣וֹת שַׁ֑חַת וַיִּקַּח־ל֕וֹ אֶת־עַצְמ֥וֹת אִמּ֖וֹ לִפְלֵיטָֽה׃ |
On the twenty-eighth day of that month,[126] Somewhat unclear which month is meant in the Hebrew, but the Portuguese text specifies 28 Adar Sheni 5388, being 2 April 1628 David buried the bones of his mother Sara Curiel in a burial that was almost his eternal home, and they had come from France. How manifold are the works of the Cause![127] Find Psalms 104:24 May Their name be blessed, for They did not give David to see destruction, but took the bones of his mother as a remnant. |
וַיִּכְתֹּב֩ דָּוִ֨ד קוּרִיאֵ֜ל אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י ׀ הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה הַזֶּ֗ה לְזֵ֤כֶר עוֹלָם֙ לְהַצְדִּ֔יק מִדֵּ֥י שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשָׁנָ֑ה בְּאֶחָ֨ד וְעֶשְׂרִ֜ים לְחֹ֣דֶשׁ ׀ אֲדָ֣ר רִאשׁ֗וֹן אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֤ה הׄ֙ כִּֽי־נוֹרָ֣א ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃ וְלַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אֹת֔וֹ י֖וֹם מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְלִשְׁלֹ֥חַ בּ֖וֹ מַתָּנ֥וֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִֽים׃ לְהוֹדִ֛יעַ לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָ֖ם גְּבוּרוֹתָ֑יו וּלְלַמֵּד֩ אֶת־בְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לְהִשָּׁמֵ֗ר מִפַּ֨ח יוֹקְשִׁ֜ים מֵאַנְשֵׁ֤י דָּמִים֙ וּמִרְמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר פִּ֙יהֶם֙ דִּֽבֶּר־שָׁ֔וְא וִימִינָ֖ם יְמִ֥ין שָֽׁקֶר׃ לְפָאֵ֨ר וּלְקַלֵּ֜ס לְשַׁבֵּ֣חַ לְהַדֵּ֗ר לָאֵ֞ל הָעוֹנֶ֤ה אוֹתוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם צָרָת֔וֹ וּלְרוֹמֵ֥ם וּלְהַלֵּ֖ל לְמַצְמִ֣ית אוֹיְב֑וֹ בִּתְהִלָּ֖ה לְדָוִֽד׃ |
And David Curiel wrote the words of this matter as an eternal memorial of justification, each and every year, on the twenty-first of First Adar, the work of the Cause who is awesome,[128] Find Exodus 34:10 that They did with him, and to make it a day of feasting and joy, and to send on it gifts to the poor,[129] Find Esther 9:22 to make known to humankind Their mighty acts,[130] Find Psalms 145:12 and to teach the children of Israel to be on guard from the fowler’s trap and from bloody deceitful men whose mouths speak vanity and whose right hand is a false right hand,[131] Find Psalms 144:8, Psalms 144:11 to exult and panegyrize, to laud and adore the Deity who answers him on his difficult day, and to exalt and praise the Destroyer of his enemy, with a praise of David.[132] Find Psalms 145:1 |
Notes
| 1 | While chapters are not marked by number in any of the manuscripts, the chapters marked here are, in some manuscripts, marked with a large opening letter or word. |
|---|---|
| 2 | In the manuscripts, consistently written as הׄ rather than as the Tetragrammaton in full. |
| 3 | 24 February 1628 Gregorian. The Gregorian calendar had already been adopted in the Netherlands. |
| 4 | Find Psalms 44:2 |
| 5 | Find Psalms 73:15 |
| 6 | Some manuscripts read קַצֵירֵיץ |
| 7 | Find Esther 2:5 |
| 8 | Also known as Lopo da Fonseca Ramires, Curiel (11 May 1594 — 4 October 1666) was a prominent member of the Amsterdam Jewish community. |
| 9 | Find Obadiah 1:20. In this case Sepharad refers to Spain. |
| 10 | Another one of the founders of the Amsterdam Jewish community, and progenitor of a prominent Western Sephardic family. |
| 11 | In modern Hebrew this word is used to refer to a pimp. Obviously the intended meaning here is the more old-fashioned “middleman.” |
| 12 | Find II Samuel 15:11 |
| 13 | Some manuscripts do not include אֵלָיו to him |
| 14 | Find Genesis 18:10 |
| 15 | Find Jeremiah 6:4 |
| 16 | Find Genesis 34:15 |
| 17 | Find I Kings 9:11 |
| 18 | Find Ecclesiastes 10:19 |
| 19 | Find Esther 6:1 |
| 20 | Find Leviticus 26:6 |
| 21 | Find Psalms 37:32 |
| 22 | Find Proverbs 17:19 |
| 23 | Find Genesis 37:19 |
| 24 | Find Judges 6:18 |
| 25 | Find I Samuel 29:4 |
| 26 | Find Psalms 90:4, Psalms 90:10 |
| 27 | Perhaps a reference to II Samuel 19:1 |
| 28 | Find Psalms 118:23 |
| 29 | Find Psalms 140:9 |
| 30 | Find Psalms 18:37 or II Samuel 22:37. The metaphorical use of “ankles” is unique. |
| 31 | Find Jeremiah 31:15 |
| 32 | Some manuscripts read וַיְבִיאֵהוּ and he brought him, which is grammatically incorrect (if the woman brought him the form would be וַתְּבִיאֵהוּ and she brought him). So the general plural of and they brought is most likely the original here. |
| 33 | Find Jeremiah 31:15. David Curiel’s wife was named Dona Rachel. Their ketubah, still preserved, can be found here. |
| 34 | Literally: “but a misstep between him and death.” A common Hebrew expression, first found in I Samuel 20:3 |
| 35 | Find Lamentations 3:6 |
| 36 | In the manuscripts, this word is consistently written using scribal euphemisms, replacing the hei with either daleth or qof. |
| 37 | Find Proverbs 27:10 |
| 38 | Find Isaiah 7:2 |
| 39 | Find Psalms 38:11 |
| 40 | Find Ecclesiastes 12:7 |
| 41 | Find Isaiah 42:21 |
| 42 | Find Leviticus 10:18 |
| 43 | A rabbinic form, demonstrating the weakening of gutturals. In “standard” Biblical Hebrew this would be spelled נִקְפָּא with an alef. For other examples of this guttural weakening see לוֹמָר compared to לֵאמֹר, or תִּקְרֵי compared to תִּקְרָא. |
| 44 | Find I Kings 5:18 |
| 45 | Find Ruth 3:8 |
| 46 | Find Joshua 6:1 |
| 47 | In some manuscripts this bet is written large. Thus, I have marked a new chapter to begin here. |
| 48 | Find Esther 8:17 |
| 49 | Find Proverbs 6:5 |
| 50 | Find Ecclesiastes 3:15 |
| 51 | In some manuscripts written malei as וַיָּרוֹץ, which is gramatically incorrect per Biblical norms. |
| 52 | Find Job 28:7 |
| 53 | Find Deuteronomy 17:7 |
| 54 | Find Psalms 118:11 |
| 55 | Find Exodus 11:7 |
| 56 | Find Song of Songs 5:7 |
| 57 | Find Genesis 16:12 |
| 58 | Find Leviticus 24:12 |
| 59 | Find Esther 3:15 |
| 60 | Find Job 21:33 |
| 61 | Find Esther 3:15 |
| 62 | Find Psalms 88:6 |
| 63 | Find Genesis 4:10 |
| 64 | Find Isaiah 58:2 |
| 65 | Find Job 7:2 |
| 66 | Find Proverbs 29:19 |
| 67 | Find Isaiah 5:25, Isaiah 9:16 |
| 68 | Find Job 16:10 |
| 69 | Find II Samuel 13:13 |
| 70 | Find Jonah 4:9 |
| 71 | Find Habakkuk 2:3 |
| 72 | Find Ecclesiastes 9:10 |
| 73 | Some manuscripts read מַרְאִתוֹ written ḥaser. |
| 74 | Find Isaiah 3:9 |
| 75 | Find Numbers 29:33 |
| 76 | Find Psalms 106:11 |
| 77 | In some manuscripts this word is written large. Thus, I have marked a new chapter to begin here. |
| 78 | Some manuscripts just read שַׁבָּ֡ת sabbath in place of י֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֡ת the sabbath day |
| 79 | Find Isaiah 58:6 |
| 80 | Find Genesis 25:46 |
| 81 | Some manuscripts add בְּנַ֕חַת safely. |
| 82 | In some manuscripts spelled רֵידֵיר but Curiel’s Portuguese refers to him by the spelling Radier, so רֵידֵיר is probably a scribal emendation to the more common Dutch last name Reder. |
| 83 | In some manuscripts spelled דְּרִיקְסֵין but Curiel’s Portuguese refers to him by the spelling Direcksen or Dircks, so דְּרִיקְסֵין is probably a scribal error. |
| 84 | Find Proverbs 10:7 |
| 85 | Find Psalms 124:2 |
| 86 | Find I Samuel 2:6 |
| 87 | Find Psalms 34:23 |
| 88 | Find Psalms 136:4 |
| 89 | Find Psalms 144:10 |
| 90 | Find Exodus 33:11 |
| 91 | In some manuscripts, the rabbinic form נִתְחַנֵּן |
| 92 | Find Isaiah 13:22 |
| 93 | Find Isaiah 57:20 |
| 94 | Find Esther 1:18 |
| 95 | Find Psalms 1:4 |
| 96 | Find Esther 7:7 |
| 97 | Find Genesis 32:26 |
| 98 | Literally, the religion of l’otro. A euphemism for Christianity, specifically Catholicism. |
| 99 | Find Esther 5:13 |
| 100 | Find Esther 6:13 |
| 101 | Find Esther 9:22 |
| 102 | Meaning, a Catholic priest came to give him his last rites. This had to be done in secret because Amsterdam in 1628 was not a particularly safe place to be a Catholic out in the open. |
| 103 | Find Genesis 41:38 |
| 104 | Find Ecclesiastes 5:1 |
| 105 | Find Proverbs 11:10 |
| 106 | Find Psalms 49:3 |
| 107 | Find Psalms 118:23 |
| 108 | Find Job 12:10 |
| 109 | Find Psalms 7:17 |
| 110 | Find Isaiah 30:26 |
| 111 | Find Deuteronomy 32:33 |
| 112 | Find Esther 8:15 |
| 113 | Find Psalms 9:14 |
| 114 | Find II Samuel 22:48, Psalm 18:48 |
| 115 | Find Ruth 4:14 |
| 116 | Find Judges 5:31 |
| 117 | In some manuscripts spelled לְבָב֔וֹ |
| 118 | Find Ecclesiastes 6:3 |
| 119 | A reference to the notorious Leiden University anatomical theatre, where from 1594 to 1821 public dissections of cadavers were shown to anyone who wanted to gawk at them for a small fee. Many of these cadavers were those of executed criminals, who were denied burial as a final post-mortem insult. |
| 120 | Literally “it was filled.” See Esther 7:5 |
| 121 | Literally “a large city to God.” See Jonah 3:3 |
| 122 | Some manuscripts read הָלֹךְ written ḥaser. |
| 123 | The Shabbat before Passover. In that year, 12 Nisan 5388, being 15 April 1628 — for a recovery period of 51 days. |
| 124 | The liturgy of Birkat haGomel. The oldest source for this specific rubric is variant manuscripts of Bavli Berakhot 54b, although not in the Vilna text. |
| 125 | The blessing for good news. Found in Bavli Berakhot 60b |
| 126 | Somewhat unclear which month is meant in the Hebrew, but the Portuguese text specifies 28 Adar Sheni 5388, being 2 April 1628 |
| 127 | Find Psalms 104:24 |
| 128 | Find Exodus 34:10 |
| 129 | Find Esther 9:22 |
| 130 | Find Psalms 145:12 |
| 131 | Find Psalms 144:8, Psalms 144:11 |
| 132 | Find Psalms 145:1 |
“מְגִלַּת קוּרִיאֵל | The Scroll of Curiel — a personal family megillah for the miraculous recovery of David Curiel to be read on 21 Adar” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International copyleft license.
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https://opensiddur.org/?p=63214
Associated Image:
The anatomical theatre of Leiden University, early 17th century. Contemporary engraving by Willem Swanenburgh; drawing by Jan Cornelisz. van ‘t Woudt = Johannes Woudanus.
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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17
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