Rashi on the Former Prophets

There was a man in Ma'on. The name of the city.
Whose business. His cattle and possessions.
Wealthy. [Literally 'very great'], meaning wealthy.
It was the time when he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. One day, when the time of his sheep shearing came around, he was in Carmel. His custom was to make a party and a festive day for the sheep shearers.

A Calebite. Of the house of Caleiv.

So. So will he be [shearing] in the coming year. So shall be in the coming year, living and enduring.) Another version is: So to the living. Say this concerning his meal and his wine that you will see, "So is befitting a live man, i.e., an active and esteemed man," as in "…was a live man of many heroic deeds," [i.e.] alive and active in all his deeds.
May it always be so. Good and enduring.
Peace unto you… So shall it be for a long time.

We did not shame them. If they needed us for anything, we did not send them back empty-handed.
Not a thing of theirs was missing. Of your flocks, for we were watching them.

May the youths find. My youths, find favor in your eyes, for the kindness which your servants will tell concerning them.
For we have come on a festive day. Relying on the party and festive day which you have, we have now come to ask. Another explanation is, that this was the eve of Rosh Hashonoh [so they said,] "We are in need of a holiday feast."

And spoke to Novol in accordance with all these words, in Dovid's name, and then they rested. They were tired from traveling, yet they were quick to execute Dovid's command, and did not rest until they spoke to him, and afterward they rested. Targum Yonson renders, however, and they ceased, i.e., they stopped speaking further, until they would hear his reply.

Who is Dovid. Of what importance is he that I should give him mine? Is he not descended from Rus the Moavite?

And Dovid too, girded his sword. From here [we learn] that we commence, in cases involving capital punishment, from the less significant first.
With the equipment. To guard their tents and equipment.

One from among the youths. Of hers.
But he chased them away. He drove them away with words, an expression of עַיׅט [=bird].

We were not shamed. We were not disgraced.

For the evil has been decided. By Dovid against him.
He is too wicked a person to speak to. Our master is such a base person so that I cannot tell him that which I am telling you, because he will become angry with us.

Prepared. Targum Yonoson renders תַּכְבְּרָא, filled with finely cut meat and eggs; farcides in O.F., as we learned in [Maseches] Pesachim: And he places the feet and its intestines inside [the Paschal lamb]; Rabbi Tarfon calls it תַּכְבְּרָא. That which is inside, is placed outside, according to Rabbi Akiva, who says that the intestines are hung outside of it. Thus is stated in the Tosefta, and Rabbi Klonimos of sainted memory, from Rome, thus explained it to us.
Raisins. Dried grapes.
Cakes of pressed figs. Round cakes of dried figs, trodden and pressed in a vessel.

Were going down toward her. There was a valley between the two mountains. She was going down one mountain, and they were going down the opposite mountain.

Dovid said. To himself when his youths told him of Novol's insults, 'It was for naught that I guarded, etc.'

Even one dog. Targum Yonoson renders, 'one possessing intelligence,' one who sets the walls of his heart. Another explanation is, 'even a dog whose manner is to urinate against a wall.'

My master, with me lies the sin. First she said this so that he would pay attention to her words. At the end, however, she told him the truth, that "I, your handmaid, did not see my master's youths."

[Adonoy] has prevented you. Who sent me toward you to refrain you from committing bloodshed.
And from avenging yourself by your own hand. From personally avenging yourself and being punished.
May all your enemies be like Novol. She prophesied with the Divine Spirit that Novol will not live long.

Let it be given to the youths. And it will be given to the youths who are going, etc. נִתְּנָה [=it was given] is past tense, וְנִתְּנָה [=it will be given] is future tense.

For Adonoy will surely make for my master an everlasting house. To be king over Yisroel. Therefore, let no evil be found in you. It is therefore not fitting for you to do anything contrary to the law, to spread evil talk concerning your kingship.

Slingshot. A wide piece of leather, with an indentation in the middle of the sling, into which one places the stone.

And may it be when Adonoy does good… And you will reign.

That this not be…an obstacle. As a stumbling block, as in, 'and the stumbling [לְפִיק] of the knees'; for had you done this, you would not be able to open your mouth to reprove anyone in future generations, concerning bloodshed.
And that my master has avenged himself. That you avenge yourself.

Who prevented me. You stopped me, as in, 'You shall not stop [תִכְלָא] your mercy,' [and] 'will not stop [יׅכְלֶה] you.'
And from avenging myself with my own hand. This is connected with [the phrase], 'from coming into bloodshed.' The 'מ' [=from] of [מִבּוֹא] is connected to 'and avenging,' meaning, 'from coming into bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.'

When Novol had sobered up. When the wine's effect had left Novol.
And his heart sank within him. He was extremely upset over the gift presented to Dovid.

After ten days. There were seven days of mourning for Shmuel, so the Holy One, Blessed is He, suspended his sentence so that it should not coincide the mourning for this wicked man with his mourning period. Afterward, he became ill for three days and died, as it is stated, "And Adonoy inflicted Novol," and a Talmudist had stated that if one was ill three days and died, it is a death of a plague. However, our Rabbis stated that these are the Ten Days of Repentance which the Holy One, Blessed is He, waited for him to repent. But, some say that they correspond to the ten meals which Novol gave Dovid's servants, for Dovid had sent him ten youths, and he fed them.

The battle of my disgrace. My insult which he insulted me today [saying], 'Nowadays there are many servants who break away.'
And has spared His servant from evil. That I did not kill him.