1a)[line 1]כציפורי בפי הוושטK'TZIPOREI B'FI HA'VESHET- as it is for a knotted rope to pass through [a hole in] the mast of a ship. Due to its similarity in form, the word used here for "mast" (Veshet) is the same as that for "trachea". This characterization describes Askera (quinsy), which is the most painful type of death. It develops as a painful pus-filled inflammation of the tonsils and surrounding area (RAN; see RASHI to Berachos 40a).
b)[line 1]כפטירי בפי וושטK'FITUREI B'FI VESHET- as it is for the knots which are used to tie two ships to one another to pass through [a hole in] the mast of a ship. It is even more difficult to remove these knots than it is to remove Tziporei (ARUCH).
2)[line 2]הנפטרHA'NIFTAR- one who takes leave
3)[line 6]"ואתה תבא אל אבותיך תקבר בשיבה טובה""V'ATAH, TAVO EL AVOSECHA B'SHALOM; TIKAVER B'SEIVAH TOVAH."- "And now, come to your fathers in peace; be buried at a ripe old age." (Bereishis 15:15) - This verse, which is directed from HaSh-m to Avraham Avinu, appears in the Bris Bein ha'Besarim (Covenant Between the Pieces).
4)[line 8]לאבשלוםAVSHALOM
Avshalom was the son of David ha'Melech. He rebelled against his father and drove him from Yerushalayim. The rebellion was subsequently quashed and Avshalom killed. David, who never lost his love for Avshalom, mourned the loss of his son bitterly (Shmuel II 15-19).
5)[line 9]ונתלהNITLEH- was hung; i.e., met his end
6)[line 10]"ילכו מחיל אל חיל יראה אל אלהים בציון""YELCHU ME'CHAYIL EL CHAYIL; YERA'EH EL ELOKIM B'TZIYON."- "They will go from strength to strength; they will appear to G-d in Tziyon." (Tehilim 84:8)
7)[line 11]אין להם מנוחהEIN LAHEM MENUCHAH- they have no rest. This is a praiseworthy attribute; it implies that they will go from one level of heaven to another (RASHI KSAV YAD).
HADRAN ALACH V'ELU MEGALCHIN U'SELIKA LAH MASECHES MO'ED KATAN
TAM V'NISHLAM SHEVACH LA'KEL BOREI OLAM