כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הָיָ֜ה כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֗י כִּ֤י אִם־אַנְשֵׁי־מָ֙וֶת֙ לַאדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַתָּ֙שֶׁת֙ אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֔ בְּאֹכְלֵ֖י שֻׁלְחָנֶ֑ךָ וּמַה־יֶּשׁ־לִ֥י עוֹד֙ צְדָקָ֔ה וְלִזְעֹ֥ק ע֖וֹד אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (פ)
Car tous les membres de la famille de mon père pouvaient être sans exception voués à la mort par mon seigneur le roi, et pourtant tu as admis ton serviteur parmi tes convives; quel droit donc aurais-je encore d’adresser une plainte au roi?"
Kli Yakar
Samuel’s words are very puzzling, to interpret this verse about one who lends to a poor person in his time of distress, as if all the rebukes will not return him to righteousness except for this trouble that he lends to him in his time of need and not before then. And as if this obligates him to say on that day, Is it not because my God is not within me that these evils have befallen me? May it be God’s will that there not be a greater trouble upon Israel than this. And how can the passage include, among great and terrible punishments, the matter of lending to a poor person in his time of distress? This is something that reason refuses to accept at all.
Furthermore, the matter that commentators have found difficult needs resolution: What is meant by the verse saying, And he will say on that day, “Is it not because my God is not within me that these evils have befallen me?” And I will surely hide My face on that day. Isn’t the main aspect of idolatry in the heart? For every matter that depends on faith has its root and source in the heart, which is why it is said regarding idolatry In order to seize the house of Israel by their heart (Ezekiel 14:5). And this is what is meant by Is it not because my God is not within me — he admits openly that all the gods of the nations are worthless and he denies idolatry. So what further justification does he have to cry out before the King, the Lord (see Second Samuel 19:29)? And how is his punishment doubled after his confession when it says, And I will surely hide My face?
Some say that this “hiding” means that He will hide His face from the evil that was done, and that “pana” [turned] is language meaning “even though,” to say that even from this great evil, the Lord will hide His face, as it is written Had I seen iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalms 66:18).
Furthermore, the matter that commentators have found difficult needs resolution: What is meant by the verse saying, And he will say on that day, “Is it not because my God is not within me that these evils have befallen me?” And I will surely hide My face on that day. Isn’t the main aspect of idolatry in the heart? For every matter that depends on faith has its root and source in the heart, which is why it is said regarding idolatry In order to seize the house of Israel by their heart (Ezekiel 14:5). And this is what is meant by Is it not because my God is not within me — he admits openly that all the gods of the nations are worthless and he denies idolatry. So what further justification does he have to cry out before the King, the Lord (see Second Samuel 19:29)? And how is his punishment doubled after his confession when it says, And I will surely hide My face?
Some say that this “hiding” means that He will hide His face from the evil that was done, and that “pana” [turned] is language meaning “even though,” to say that even from this great evil, the Lord will hide His face, as it is written Had I seen iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Psalms 66:18).