ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: A Cry in the Dark

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve spent a lot of time with Asaf. Now I want to look at some of his colleagues.

ื ืฉื™ืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—;
ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืช ืœืขื ื•ืช; ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื—

ื˜ื– ื•ืืœื” ืืฉืจ ื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ; ืžืžื ื•ื— ื”ืืจื•ืŸืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืžืฉื›ืŸ ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ ื‘ืฉื™ืจ ืขื“ ื‘ื ื•ืช ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื›ืžืฉืคื˜ื ืขืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชืืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืืœื” ื”ืขืžื“ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื; ืžื‘ื ื™ ื”ืงื”ืชื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื•ืืœืƒ ื™ื˜ ื‘ืŸ ืืœืงื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ืจื—ื ื‘ืŸ ืืœื™ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื—ืƒ ื› ื‘ืŸ ืฆื™ืฃ (ืฆื•ืฃ) ื‘ืŸ ืืœืงื ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ืขืžืฉื™ืƒ ื›ื ื‘ืŸ ืืœืงื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืฆืคื ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืชื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ืืกื™ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืกืฃ ื‘ืŸ ืงืจื—ืƒ ื›ื’ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฆื”ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืงื”ืช ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื›ื“ ื•ืื—ื™ื• ืืกืฃ ื”ืขืžื“ ืขืœ ื™ืžื™ื ื• ืืกืฃ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืจื›ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขืืƒ ื›ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžื™ื›ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืขืฉื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืœื›ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื• ื‘ืŸ ืืชื ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื–ืจื— ื‘ืŸ ืขื“ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื– ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื–ืžื” ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขื™ืƒ ื›ื— ื‘ืŸ ื™ื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ืƒ

ื›ื˜ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืžืจืจื™ ืื—ื™ื”ื ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžืื•ืœ ืื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืงื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื‘ืŸ ืžืœื•ืšืƒ ืœ ื‘ืŸ ื—ืฉื‘ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืืžืฆื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื—ืœืงื™ื”ืƒ ืœื ื‘ืŸ ืืžืฆื™ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืจืƒ ืœื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืžื—ืœื™ ื‘ืŸ ืžื•ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืžืจืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื•

ืฉื™ืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ weโ€™ve been interpreting as a song with musical accompaniment and ืžื—ืœืช could be from ืžื—ื•ืœ, a dance or a musical instrument, but this perek is not a happy one. Itโ€™s really a ืงื™ื ื”; it doesnโ€™t even end on a happy note. So Rashi connects it to ืžื—ืœื”, illness:

ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืช ืœืขื ื•ืช: ืขืœ ื—ื•ืœืช ืื”ื‘ื” ื•ืขื ื•ื™ื” ืฉื”ื™ื ืžืขื•ื ื” ื‘ื™ืกื•ืจื™ ื”ื’ืœื•ืช.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื—:ื

And ืœึฐืขึทื ึผื•ึนืช is not from ืขื ื”, โ€call outโ€œ, but from ืขื ื•ื™, โ€afflictionโ€œ. The subtlety is the dagesh in the nun:

ื™ื– ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฉืึฐืžึทืข ื™ึฐื”ื•ึนืฉืึปืขึท ืึถืช ืงื•ึนืœ ื”ึธืขึธื ื‘ึผึฐืจึตืขึนื”; ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึถืจ ืึถืœ ืžึนืฉืึถื” ืงื•ึนืœ ืžึดืœึฐื—ึธืžึธื” ื‘ึผึทืžึผึทื—ึฒื ึถื”ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึถืจ ืึตื™ืŸ ืงื•ึนืœ ืขึฒื ื•ึนืช ื’ึผึฐื‘ื•ึผืจึธื” ื•ึฐืึตื™ืŸ ืงื•ึนืœ ืขึฒื ื•ึนืช ื—ึฒืœื•ึผืฉืึธื”; ืงื•ึนืœ ืขึทื ึผื•ึนืช ืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ืฉืึนืžึตืขึทืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ืœื‘

And a ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ is more of a lecture than a song:

ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ: ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืขืดื™ ืชื•ืจื’ืžืŸ ื ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืžืขืžื™ื“ ืชื•ืจื’ืžืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื•ื›ืฉืจื•ื— ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื‘ืื” ืœื• ืื•ืžืจ ืืช ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืœืชื•ืจื’ืžืŸ ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืฉืžื™ืขื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื—:ื

So I would understand this ื›ื•ืชืจืช as โ€œa lecture by Heiman of sickness and affliction, set to music by the other ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—โ€.

But what is ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™? It means โ€œnativeโ€. Ibn Ezra says itโ€™s a title related to Heimanโ€™s role:

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ืฉื•ืขื” ืฉื–ื” ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ื•ื ื ื›ื“ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ืงืจืื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื–ืจื—ื™ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืื–ืจื— ื‘ืžืฉื•ืจืจื™ื.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื—:ื

In general, the Levites lived throughout the country, and only came to the ืžืฉื›ืŸ or later the ืžืงื“ืฉ intermittently:

ื• ื•ื›ื™ ื™ื‘ื ื”ืœื•ื™ ืžืื—ื“ ืฉืขืจื™ืš ืžื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ื’ืจ ืฉื; ื•ื‘ื ื‘ื›ืœ ืื•ืช ื ืคืฉื• ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณืƒ ื– ื•ืฉืจืช ื‘ืฉื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื• ื›ื›ืœ ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืœื•ื™ื ื”ืขืžื“ื™ื ืฉื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—

But Heiman was appointed as part of the permanent staff, so he was an โ€œืื–ืจื—โ€ in the ืžืฉื›ืŸ.

ืฉื™ืจื ื•ืชื•ืฉื‘ื—ืชื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ื”ื•ืŸ ื“ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืขืœ ืฆืœื•ืชื ืœึฐืฉึทื‘ึผึธื—ึธื ืฉึนึดื›ึฐืœึธื ื˜ื‘ื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื•ื™ ื“ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื™ึทืฆึดื™ื‘ึธื.

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, ืคื—:ื

But Rashi says weโ€™ve got the wrong Heiman:

ืœื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™: ืžื‘ื ื™ ื–ืจื— ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื”ื™ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื—:ื

ื›ื– ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืขืช ืœื“ืชื”; ื•ื”ื ื” ืชืื•ืžื™ื ื‘ื‘ื˜ื ื”ืƒ ื›ื— ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืœื“ืชื” ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื™ื“; ื•ืชืงื— ื”ืžื™ืœื“ืช ื•ืชืงืฉืจ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ืฉื ื™ ืœืืžืจ ื–ื” ื™ืฆื ืจืืฉื ื”ืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืžืฉื™ื‘ ื™ื“ื• ื•ื”ื ื” ื™ืฆื ืื—ื™ื• ื•ืชืืžืจ ืžื” ืคืจืฆืช ืขืœื™ืš ืคืจืฅ; ื•ื™ืงืจื ืฉืžื• ืคืจืฅืƒ ืœ ื•ืื—ืจ ื™ืฆื ืื—ื™ื• ืืฉืจ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ื”ืฉื ื™; ื•ื™ืงืจื ืฉืžื• ื–ืจื—ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ืœื—

ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื–ืจื— ื–ืžืจื™ ื•ืื™ืชืŸ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื›ืœื›ืœ ื•ื“ืจืข ื›ืœื ื—ืžืฉื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื‘:ื•

We know nothing about these ื‘ื ื™ ื–ืจื— except that they were famous in the time of ืฉืœืžื”:

ื˜ ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืืœืงื™ื ื—ื›ืžื” ืœืฉืœืžื” ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ื” ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“; ื•ืจื—ื‘ ืœื‘ ื›ื—ื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ืขืœ ืฉืคืช ื”ื™ืืƒ ื™ ื•ืชืจื‘ ื—ื›ืžืช ืฉืœืžื” ืžื—ื›ืžืช ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืงื“ื ื•ืžื›ืœ ื—ื›ืžืช ืžืฆืจื™ืืƒ ื™ื ื•ื™ื—ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ื”ืื“ื ืžืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื›ืœื›ืœ ื•ื“ืจื“ืข ื‘ื ื™ ืžื—ื•ืœ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืฉืžื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ืกื‘ื™ื‘ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื”

ื•ึทื—ึฒื›ึทื ืžึดื›ึผึธืœ ืึฑื ึธืฉืึธื ืžึตืึตื™ืชึธืŸ ื‘ึผึทืจ ื–ึถืจึทื— ื•ึฐื”ึตื™ืžึธืŸ ื•ึฐื›ึทืœึฐื›ึผึนืœ ื•ึฐื“ึทืจึฐื“ึทืข ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ืžึธื—ื•ึนืœ ื•ึทื”ึฒื•ึธื” ืฉืึฐืžึตื™ื”ึผ ืกึทื’ึดื™ ื‘ึฐื›ึธืœ ืขึทืžึฐืžึทื™ึธื ืกึฐื—ื•ึนืจ ืกึฐื—ื•ึนืจ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื” ืคืกื•ืง ื™ื

And Rashi connects them to the authors of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื (at least two of them; we have nothing attributed to ื›ึทืœึฐื›ึผึนืœ or ื“ึทืจึฐื“ึทืข, and I donโ€™t know why ื–ืžืจื™ didnโ€™t make it to the all-time smartest list. Thereโ€™s too much we donโ€™t know).

ื‘ื ื™ ืžื—ื•ืœ: ื”ื™ื• ื™ื•ื“ืขื™ื ืœื™ืกื“ ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ื ื”ืืžื•ืจื™ื ื‘ืžื—ื•ืœื•ืช ืฉื™ืจ ืฉื”ื™ื• ื”ืœื•ื™ื ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืขืœ ื“ื•ื›ื ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ื ืฉื™ืกื“ื• ื‘ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ ื•ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

The Seder Olam says they were in fact ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื, from Israelโ€™s time in Egypt:

ื•ืืœื• ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืฉื ืชื ื‘ืื• ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื. ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื–ืจื— ื–ืžืจื™ ื•ืื™ืชืŸ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื›ืœื›ืœ ื•ื“ืจื“ืข ื›ืœื ื—ืžืฉื” (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื‘:ื•) ื•ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ ืžืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ืกื“ืจ ืขื•ืœื ื›ื

And this idea, that the sons of ื–ืจื— were ื—ื›ืžื™ื, is reflected in an aggadah that explains Saulโ€™s reaction to David and the killing of Goliath:

ืืดืจ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ ื“ืืžืจ ืงืจื (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื:ื™ื–) โ€ื•ื›ืจืื•ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื•ืฆื ืœืงืจืืช ื”ืคืœืฉืชื™ ืืžืจ ืืœ ืื‘ื ืจ ืฉืจ ื”ืฆื‘ื ื‘ืŸ ืžื™ ื–ื” ื”ื ืขืจ ืื‘ื ืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ื ืจ ื—ื™ ื ืคืฉืš ื”ืžืœืš ืื ื™ื“ืขืชื™โ€œ. ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืข ืœื™ื”? ื•ื”ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื:ื˜ื–) โ€ื•ื™ืื”ื‘ื”ื• ืžืื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื• ื ื•ืฉื ื›ืœื™ืโ€œ ืืœื ืืื‘ื•ื” ืงื ืžืฉืื™ืœโ€ฆื”ืดืง ืฉืื•ืœ: ืื™ ืžืคืจืฅ ืืชื™ ืื™ ืžื–ืจื— ืืชื™? ืื™ ืžืคืจืฅ ืืชื™ ืžืœื›ื ื”ื•ื™ ืฉื”ืžืœืš ืคื•ืจืฅ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื“ืจืš ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืžื—ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ื“ื•; ืื™ ืžื–ืจื— ืืชื™ ื—ืฉื™ื‘ื ื‘ืขืœืžื ื”ื•ื™.

ื™ื‘ืžื•ืช ืขื•,ื‘

The line of ืžืœื›ื•ืช goes through ืคืจืฅ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”.โ€Ž ื‘ื ื™ ื–ืจื— were the ื—ื›ืžื™ื, the ื‘ื ื™ ืžื—ื•ืœ. Before David slew Goliath, he was the singer and lute player, apparently ืžื–ืจื— ืืชื™, obviously no threat to Saulโ€™s reign.


And thereโ€™s a third understanding of who Heiman was:

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืื’ื“ื” ื‘ืคืกื™ืงืชื, ืžื›ืœ ื”ืื“ื, ื–ื” ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™, ื–ื” ืื‘ืจื”ื, ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื–ื” ืžืฉื”, ื•ื›ืœื›ืœ ื–ื” ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ื•ื“ืจื“ืข ื–ื” ื“ื•ืจ ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ, ืžื—ื•ืœ ืฉื ืžื—ืœ ืœื›ื ืขืœ ืžืขืฉื” ื”ืขื’ืœ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื”:ื™ื

But the subsequent gemara has a problem with this:

ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืชื‘ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขืดื™ ืขืฉืจื” ื–ืงื ื™ื ืขืดื™ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ืขืดื™ ืžืฉื” ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ืขืดื™ ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืืกืฃ ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—.

ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ืชืจื ื™ื“,ื‘-ื˜ื•,ื

And concludes that the midrashic reading of ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื, with Heiman as Moshe, has nothing to do with the authorship of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:

ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืžืฉื” ื•ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื”ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื–ื” ืžืฉื” ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื”ื›ื ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื”ืชื (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื‘) ื‘ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื ืืžืŸ ื”ื•ื ืชืจื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ื•ื•.

ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ืชืจื ื˜ื•,ื

But still, we are left with two Heimans, each a plausible author of our perek.

Maybe we can reconcile the opinions, with an observation about names in ืชื ืดืš and the agaggah:

ืžืขืฉื”โ€ฆื›ื™ ืžื˜ื ืขื•ืžืจ, ืœื ื”ื•ื• ื™ื“ืขื™ ืžื”ื™ื›ื ืื™ื™ืชื™ ืขื•ืžืจ, ืื›ืจื–ื•โ€ฆืืžืจ ืœื”ื• ืžืจื“ื›ื™: ืžื™ ืื™ื›ื ื“ื•ื›ืชื ื“ืฉืžื” ื’ื’ื•ืช ืฆืจื™ืคื™ืŸ ืื• ืฆืจื™ืคื™ืŸ ื’ื’ื•ืช? ื‘ื“ืงื• ื•ืืฉื›ื—ื•ื”.

โ€ฆ

ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื“ืชื ืŸ: ืคืชื—ื™ื” ืขืœ ื”ืงื™ื ื™ืŸโ€”ื–ื” ืžืจื“ื›ื™, ืœืžื” ื ืงืจื ืฉืžื• ืคืชื—ื™ื”? ืฉืคื•ืชื— ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ื“ื•ืจืฉืŸ, ื•ื™ื•ื“ืข ื‘ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ.

ืžื ื—ื•ืช ืกื“,ื‘-ืกื”,ื

ืžืจื“ื›ื™: ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืื—ืฉื•ืจื•ืฉ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืกื“,ื‘

ืืžืจ ืœื”ื• ืžืจื“ื›ื™: ืคื™ืจืฉ ื‘ืงื•ื ื˜ืจืก ื“ื”ื•ื ืžืจื“ื›ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืื—ืฉื•ืจื•ืฉ, ื•ืชื™ืžื” ื”ื•ื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ืืจื™ืš ื™ืžื™ื ื›ืœ ื›ืš. ื•ื ืจืื” ืขืœ ืฉื ืžืจื“ื›ื™ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื• ื ืงืจืื™ืŸ ื”ืžืžื•ื ื™ื ืขืœ ืฉืžื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืื™ื ื ืžืžื ื™ื ืืœื ื‘ืงื™ืื™ื ื‘ืขืœื™ ืฉื›ืœ ื•ืžื“ืข.

ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช, ืกื“,ื‘

So a wise man in the time of the ื—ืฉืžื•ื ืื™ื was the ืžืจื“ื›ื™ of his generation. We see from ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื that the Heiman from the time of ืฉืขื™ื‘ื•ื“ ืžืฆืจื™ื was famous for his wisdom and words. Itโ€™s possible that โ€œHeimanโ€ from Davidโ€™s time was a sort of stage name to evoke the older ื ื‘ื™ื, and perhaps this perek is an adaptation of a much older work.

At least itโ€™s a nice story.


ื‘ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื™ ื™ื•ื ืฆืขืงืชื™ ื‘ืœื™ืœื” ื ื’ื“ืšืƒ
ื’ ืชื‘ื•ื ืœืคื ื™ืš ืชืคืœืชื™; ื”ื˜ื” ืื–ื ืš ืœืจื ืชื™ืƒ
ื“ ื›ื™ ืฉื‘ืขื” ื‘ืจืขื•ืช ื ืคืฉื™; ื•ื—ื™ื™ ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื”ื’ื™ืขื•ืƒ
ื” ื ื—ืฉื‘ืชื™ ืขื ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจ; ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ื›ื’ื‘ืจ ืื™ืŸ ืื™ืœืƒ
ื• ื‘ืžืชื™ื ื—ืคืฉื™;
ื›ืžื• ื—ืœืœื™ื ืฉื›ื‘ื™ ืงื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืœื ื–ื›ืจืชื ืขื•ื“;
ื•ื”ืžื” ืžื™ื“ืš ื ื’ื–ืจื•ืƒ
ื– ืฉืชื ื™ ื‘ื‘ื•ืจ ืชื—ืชื™ื•ืช; ื‘ืžื—ืฉื›ื™ื ื‘ืžืฆืœื•ืชืƒ
ื— ืขืœื™ ืกืžื›ื” ื—ืžืชืš; ื•ื›ืœ ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ืš ืขื ื™ืช ืกืœื”ืƒ
ื˜ ื”ืจื—ืงืช ืžื™ื“ืขื™ ืžืžื ื™; ืฉืชื ื™ ืชื•ืขื‘ื•ืช ืœืžื•; ื›ืœื ื•ืœื ืืฆืืƒ
ื™ ืขื™ื ื™ ื“ืื‘ื” ืžื ื™ ืขื ื™;
ืงืจืืชื™ืš ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื; ืฉื˜ื—ืชื™ ืืœื™ืš ื›ืคื™ืƒ
ื™ื ื”ืœืžืชื™ื ืชืขืฉื” ืคืœื; ืื ืจืคืื™ื ื™ืงื•ืžื• ื™ื•ื“ื•ืš ืกืœื”ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื”ื™ืกืคืจ ื‘ืงื‘ืจ ื—ืกื“ืš; ืืžื•ื ืชืš ื‘ืื‘ื“ื•ืŸืƒ
ื™ื’ ื”ื™ื•ื“ืข ื‘ื—ืฉืš ืคืœืืš; ื•ืฆื“ืงืชืš ื‘ืืจืฅ ื ืฉื™ื”ืƒ
ื™ื“ ื•ืื ื™ ืืœื™ืš ื”ืณ ืฉื•ืขืชื™; ื•ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ืชืคืœืชื™ ืชืงื“ืžืšืƒ
ื˜ื• ืœืžื” ื”ืณ ืชื–ื ื— ื ืคืฉื™; ืชืกืชื™ืจ ืคื ื™ืš ืžืžื ื™ืƒ
ื˜ื– ืขื ื™ ืื ื™ ื•ื’ื•ืข ืžื ืขืจ; ื ืฉืืชื™ ืืžื™ืš ืืคื•ื ื”ืƒ
ื™ื– ืขืœื™ ืขื‘ืจื• ื—ืจื•ื ื™ืš; ื‘ืขื•ืชื™ืš ืฆืžืชื•ืชื ื™ืƒ
ื™ื— ืกื‘ื•ื ื™ ื›ืžื™ื ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื; ื”ืงื™ืคื• ืขืœื™ ื™ื—ื“ืƒ
ื™ื˜ ื”ืจื—ืงืช ืžืžื ื™ ืื”ื‘ ื•ืจืข; ืžื™ื“ืขื™ ืžื—ืฉืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื—

This perek is an anguished cry to ื”ืณ. Heiman starts by saying he cries out day and night, echoing the words of the ืชื•ื›ื—ื”:

ืกื• ื•ื”ื™ื• ื—ื™ื™ืš ืชืœืื™ื ืœืš ืžื ื’ื“; ื•ืคื—ื“ืช ืœื™ืœื” ื•ื™ื•ืžื ื•ืœื ืชืืžื™ืŸ ื‘ื—ื™ื™ืšืƒ ืกื– ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ืชืืžืจ ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ืขืจื‘ ื•ื‘ืขืจื‘ ืชืืžืจ ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืงืจ ืžืคื—ื“ ืœื‘ื‘ืš ืืฉืจ ืชืคื—ื“ ื•ืžืžืจืื” ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืืฉืจ ืชืจืื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

He describes himself as full of trouble and cannot bear any more, almost dead (ื ื—ืฉื‘ืชื™ ืขื ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจ). But then itโ€™s worse: he begs for death when he can be free (ื‘ืžืชื™ื ื—ืคืฉื™), because then he will no longer have to deal with troubles that G-d Himself gives him. He acknowledges that ื”ืžื” ืžื™ื“ืš ื ื’ื–ืจื•โ€”this is all G-dโ€™s fault. If he were dead then ืœื ื–ื›ืจืชื ืขื•ื“.

ื”ืณ put him in the depths, under the waves (interesting that โ€œbreakersโ€ is the same word in Hebrew, ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ืš). But we donโ€™t know why. What did he do wrong? Heiman doesnโ€™t say. All we know is ืขืœื™ ืกืžื›ื” ื—ืžืชืš.

Then ืกืœื”; hold that thought.

And it gets worse again. Not only is he in pain but he has lost his friends: ื”ืจื—ืงืช ืžื™ื“ืขื™ ืžืžื ื™. โ€They blame me for my troubleโ€œ, ืฉืชื ื™ ืชื•ืขื‘ื•ืช ืœืžื•.

And he continues to call to ื”ืณ but is not answered, asking if he will finally be answered when he is dead.

ืขื ื™ ืื ื™ ื•ื’ื•ืข ืžื ืขืจ; I am tortured and dead from birth. Thatโ€™s all life is, an inexorable journey to the grave, alone and unloved (ื”ืจื—ืงืช ืžืžื ื™ ืื”ื‘ ื•ืจืข; ืžื™ื“ืขื™ ืžื—ืฉืš).

And there it ends. No last minute happy note, no sense of hope. The whole story (man punished for unknown reasons, G-d ignores his prayers, his friends abandon him) reads like the trailer for ืกืคืจ ืื™ื•ื‘. And it doesnโ€™t leave me wanting to see the movie.

So what is this doing in ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื? I think the connection to ืื™ื•ื‘ is the key. Jewish thought, ืชื ืดืš, doesnโ€™t shy from the hard questions. Good things really do happen to bad people, and there isnโ€™t an easy answer. Part of the task of the ืกืคืจื™ ืืžืชโ€Žโ€”ืื™ื•ื‘,โ€Ž ืžืฉืœื™ and ืชื”ื™ืœื™ืโ€”is to address that problem, and each has its own characteristic answer. The answer from ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is overwhelmingly, ื’ื ื–ื• ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื”, even what we see as bad, we will eventually realize was for the best. But the times of anguish are real, and we are allowed to express our feelings even when we donโ€™t see the ื’ื ื–ื• ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื”. This perek is that expression.

And the connection to ืกืคืจ ืื™ื•ื‘ may shed light on the authorship of this perek. The gemara says that Moshe wrote ืื™ื•ื‘:

ืžืฉื” ื›ืชื‘ ืกืคืจื• ื•ืคืจืฉืช ื‘ืœืขื ื•ืื™ื•ื‘.

ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ืชืจื ื˜ื•,ื

Rav Kamenetsky hypothesizes that if Moshe wrote it, it must have been during ืฉืขื™ื‘ื•ื“ ืžืฆืจื™ื. Thatโ€™s when the problem of ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ืจืข ืœื• was relevant:

ื•ืœืคืดื– ื™ืดืœ ื“ื’ื ืกืคืจ ืื™ื•ื‘, ื“ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื‘ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ืชืจื ืฉื ืฉืžืฉื” ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื—ื‘ืจื•, ื ืชื—ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืืœื” ื–ื•, ืœื”ื ื™ื— ื“ืขืชื ืฉืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื’ืœื•ืช ืžืฆืจื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžืฆื˜ืขืจื™ื ื‘ื ื™ื“ื•ืŸ ื–ื” ืฉืœ ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ืจืข ืœื• ืจืฉืข ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœื•, ื•ืืดื› ื›ืœ ื”ืกืคืจ ื›ื•ืœื• ื”ื ื”ื• ืžื”ืžื’ื™ืœื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžืฉืชืขืฉืขื™ืŸ ื‘ื”ืŸ ื‘ืฉื‘ืชื•ืช.

ืืžืช ืœื™ืขืงื‘, ืฉืžื•ืช ื”:ื˜

And his editor actually attributes this to Azariah dei Rossi:

ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืœื“ื‘ืจื™ ื‘ืขืœ ืกืคืจ ืžืื•ืจ ืขื™ื ื™ื (ืœืจื‘ื™ื ื• ืขื–ืจื™ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืื“ื•ืžื™ื) ืฉื›ืชื‘ ื‘ืฉื โ€ื—ื›ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉโ€œ ื›ื™ ืžืฆื ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืžื’ื™ืœื” ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ืช ืื™ืš ืžืจืขืดื” ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ืœื™ืš ื•ืžื‘ื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื• ืืช ืกืคืจ ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœืื—ื“ ืื—ื“ ืžื–ืงื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืฉืขื‘ื•ื“ ืžืฆืจื™ื ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืฉืžืขื• ื•ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืœืžื“ื• ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืชืงื•ื” ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื•ื˜ื— ื‘ื”ืณ ืฉืื—ืจ ื”ืจืข ื™ืงื‘ืœ ื’ื ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื—ืกื“ ืžืžื ื•.

ื“ื ื™ืืœ ื ื•ื™ืฉื˜ื˜, ื”ืขืจื” 47 ืœึพืืžืช ืœื™ืขืงื‘, ืฉืžื•ืช ื”:ื˜

One understanding of ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ was ื”ื™ืžืŸ the son of ื–ืจื—, the son of ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”. He may well have been alive and writing at the time of ืฉืขื™ื‘ื•ื“ ืžืฆืจื™ื, when slavery was getting worse and the Jews felt abandoned by G-d. This perek (or an older version of it) may well have been part of their response to that first ื’ืœื•ืช, and foreshadows our response to the ื’ืœื™ื•ืช that followed.

And it is a legitimate cry. ืกืคืจ ืื™ื•ื‘ tells us that is alright to complain to G-d, as long as it is G-d we complain to.

The opposite of love is not hate, itโ€™s indifferenceโ€ฆThe opposite of faith is not heresy, itโ€™s indifference.

Elie Wiesel

The third of the โ€œsinging Levitesโ€ was ืื™ืชืŸ, and we have one perek ascribed to him:

ื ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื˜

As above, ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ may refer either to the Levi who was a contemporary of David, or to one of the ื‘ื ื™ ื–ืจื—, and we could give the same answer. But here we need to take the Midrash that ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ refers to ืื‘ืจื”ื ืื‘ื™ื ื• much more seriously. The targum, that for ื”ื™ืžืŸ's perek translated the name as ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื™ึทืฆึดื™ื‘ึธื, takes ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ as Abraham:

ืฉึนึดื›ึฐืœึธื ื˜ื‘ื ื“ืืชืžืจ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื ื“ืื‘ืจื”ื ื“ืืชื ืžืŸ ืžื“ื™ื ื—ืื”.

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, ืคื˜:ื

As does the gemara:

ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืชื‘ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขืดื™ ืขืฉืจื” ื–ืงื ื™ื ืขืดื™ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ืขืดื™ ืžืฉื” ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ืขืดื™ ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืืกืฃ ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—โ€ฆื•ืœื™ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ื ืžื™ ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™! ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืื‘ืจื”ื, ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื”ื›ื: ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™, ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื”ืชื: (ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืžื:ื‘) ืžึดึคื™ ื”ึตืขึดื™ืจึ™ ืžึดืžึผึดื–ึฐืจึธึ”ื— ืฆึถึ–ื“ึถืง ื™ึดืงึฐืจึธืึตึฃื”ื•ึผ ืœึฐืจึทื’ึฐืœึ‘ื•ึน ื™ึดืชึผึตึจืŸ ืœึฐืคึธื ึธึคื™ื• ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดืึ™ ื•ึผืžึฐืœึธื›ึดึฃื™ื ื™ึทึ”ืจึฐื“ึผึฐ ื™ึดืชึผึตึคืŸ ื›ึผึถึฝืขึธืคึธืจึ™ ื—ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึ”ื•ึน ื›ึผึฐืงึทึฅืฉื ื ึดื“ึผึธึ–ืฃ ืงึทืฉืึฐืชึผึฝื•ึน.

ื‘ื‘ื ื‘ืชืจื ื™ื“,ื‘-ื˜ื•,ื

ืืžืจื• ืœื• ืื‘ืจื”ืโ€ฆื ืงืจื ืื™ืชืŸ, ืฉื ืืžืจ ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ื), ื•ื›ืŸ โ€ื”ืื™ืชื ื™ื ืžื•ืกื“ื™ ืืจืฅโ€œ (ืžื™ื›ื” ื•:ื‘). ื•ืœืžื” ื ืงืจื ืื™ืชืŸ? ืฉื—ื™ื–ืง ืขืฆืžื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื™ื•ืฆืจื•.

ืื’ื“ืช ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืคืจืง ื ื•

And throughout our ืชืคื™ืœื•ืช, especially on the ื™ื•ืžื™ื ื ื•ืจืื™ื, we refer to Abraham as ืื™ืชืŸ; for instance:

ืขื•ึนื“ ื™ึดื–ึฐื›ึผึธืจ ืœึธื ื•ึผ ืึทื”ึฒื‘ึทืช ืึตื™ืชึธืŸ ืึฒื“ื•ึนื ึตื™ื ื•ึผ
ื•ึผื‘ึทื‘ึผึตืŸ ื”ึทื ึผึถืขึฑืงึทื“ ื™ึทืฉืึฐื‘ึผึดื™ืช ืžึฐื“ึทื™ึผึฐื ึตื ื•ึผ
ื•ึผื‘ึดื–ึฐื›ื•ึผืช ื”ึทืชึผึธื ื™ื•ึนืฆึดื™ื (ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื) ืœึฐืฆึถื“ึถืง ื“ึผึดื™ื ึตื ื•ึผ
ื›ึผึดื™ ืงึธื“ื•ึนืฉื ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ืœึทืึฒื“ื•ึนื ึตื™ื ื•ึผ

ื—ึฒืžื•ึนืœ ืขึทืœ ืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถื™ืšึธ, ืžึพืคื™ืขื•ื˜ื™ ื™ื•ืžื™ื ื ื•ืจืื™ื

What does this mean, to attribute a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื to ืื‘ืจื”ื (or, in our model, attribute an original version or at least the sentiment to ืื‘ืจื”ื)? Weโ€™ll look at that at the end.


Rabbi Eisemann in his commentary to ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื has a more ืคืฉื˜-based explanation for the absence of ืื™ืชืŸ from the Gemaraโ€™s list: he is really ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ.โ€Ž ืื™ืชืŸ the Levi is mentioned in ืคืจืงื™ื ื• and ื˜ื• along with ืืกืฃ and ื”ื™ืžืŸ. After that the names change:

ืœื– ื•ื™ืขื–ื‘ ืฉื ืœืคื ื™ ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณ ืœืืกืฃ ื•ืœืื—ื™ื•; ืœืฉืจืช ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืชืžื™ื“ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื•ื ื‘ื™ื•ืžื•ืƒ โ€ฆ ืžื ื•ืขืžื”ื ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ื•ืฉืืจ ื”ื‘ืจื•ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ื ืงื‘ื• ื‘ืฉืžื•ืช ืœื”ื“ื•ืช ืœื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืœืขื•ืœื ื—ืกื“ื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

ืื•ื™ื‘ื“ืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ืฆื‘ื ืœืขื‘ื“ื” ืœื‘ื ื™ ืืกืฃ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื (ื”ื ื‘ืื™ื) ื‘ื›ื ืจื•ืช ื‘ื ื‘ืœื™ื ื•ื‘ืžืฆืœืชื™ื; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืกืคืจื ืื ืฉื™ ืžืœืื›ื” ืœืขื‘ื“ืชืืƒโ€ฆ ื• ื›ืœ ืืœื” ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื‘ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ืžืฆืœืชื™ื ื ื‘ืœื™ื ื•ื›ื ืจื•ืช ืœืขื‘ื“ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืกืฃ ื•ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื”

ื ื™ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ืžืœืš ื‘ืŸ ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ื—ืžืฉ ืฉื ื” ื•ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืชืฉืข ืฉื ื” ืžืœืš ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื; ื•ืฉื ืืžื• ืื‘ื™ื” ื‘ืช ื–ื›ืจื™ื”ื•ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืขืฉ ื”ื™ืฉืจ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื›ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•ืƒ ื’ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืฉื ื” ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืœืžืœื›ื• ื‘ื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืคืชื— ืืช ื“ืœืชื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ื™ื—ื–ืงืืƒโ€ฆ

ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืงืžื• ื”ืœื•ื™ื ืžื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ืขืžืฉื™ ื•ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื™ื”ื• ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืงื”ืชื™ ื•ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืžืจืจื™ ืงื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื•ืขื–ืจื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ืœืœืืœ;
ื•ืžืŸ ื”ื’ืจืฉื ื™ ื™ื•ืื— ื‘ืŸ ื–ืžื” ื•ืขื“ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืื—ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื™ืฆืคืŸ ืฉืžืจื™ ื•ื™ืขื•ืืœ (ื•ื™ืขื™ืืœ); ื•ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืืกืฃ ื–ื›ืจื™ื”ื• ื•ืžืชื ื™ื”ื•ืƒ
ื™ื“ ื•ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื™ื—ื•ืืœ (ื™ื—ื™ืืœ) ื•ืฉืžืขื™;
ื•ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ืฉืžืขื™ื” ื•ืขื–ื™ืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื˜

And in fact, there are no ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื attributed to ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ. There are ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that seem to use that word as a musical instruction or instrument:

ืœื˜;ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื™ื“ื™ืชื•ืŸ (ืœื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ) ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ

โ€ฆ

ืกื‘:ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ

โ€ฆ

ืขื–:ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ืชื•ืŸ (ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ); ืœืืกืฃ ืžื–ืžื•ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื

So perhaps the ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ mentioned by the gemara and in the end of ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื was a stage name for our ืื™ืชืŸ.


ื‘ ื—ืกื“ื™ ื”ืณ ืขื•ืœื ืืฉื™ืจื”; ืœื“ืจ ื•ื“ืจ ืื•ื“ื™ืข ืืžื•ื ืชืš ื‘ืคื™ืƒ
ื’ ื›ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ืขื•ืœื ื—ืกื“ ื™ื‘ื ื”; ืฉืžื™ื ืชื›ืŸ ืืžื•ื ืชืš ื‘ื”ืืƒ
ื“ ื›ืจืชื™ ื‘ืจื™ืช ืœื‘ื—ื™ืจื™; ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืƒ
ื” ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื ืื›ื™ืŸ ื–ืจืขืš; ื•ื‘ื ื™ืชื™ ืœื“ืจ ื•ื“ื•ืจ ื›ืกืืš ืกืœื”ืƒ
ื• ื•ื™ื•ื“ื• ืฉืžื™ื ืคืœืืš ื”ืณ; ืืฃ ืืžื•ื ืชืš ื‘ืงื”ืœ ืงื“ืฉื™ืืƒ
ื– ื›ื™ ืžื™ ื‘ืฉื—ืง ื™ืขืจืš ืœื”ืณ; ื™ื“ืžื” ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื™ืืƒ
ื— ืึพืœ ื ืขืจืฅ ื‘ืกื•ื“ ืงื“ืฉื™ื ืจื‘ื”; ื•ื ื•ืจื ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื™ื•ืƒ
ื˜ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืฆึพื‘ืื•ืช ืžื™ ื›ืžื•ืš ื—ืกื™ืŸ ื™ื”; ื•ืืžื•ื ืชืš ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืชื™ืšืƒ
ื™ ืืชื” ืžื•ืฉืœ ื‘ื’ืื•ืช ื”ื™ื; ื‘ืฉื•ื ื’ืœื™ื• ืืชื” ืชืฉื‘ื—ืืƒ
ื™ื ืืชื” ื“ื›ืืช ื›ื—ืœืœ ืจื”ื‘; ื‘ื–ืจื•ืข ืขื–ืš ืคื–ืจืช ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ืšืƒ
ื™ื‘ ืœืš ืฉืžื™ื ืืฃ ืœืš ืืจืฅ; ืชื‘ืœ ื•ืžืœืื” ืืชื” ื™ืกื“ืชืืƒ
ื™ื’ ืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืžื™ืŸ ืืชื” ื‘ืจืืชื; ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื—ืจืžื•ืŸ ื‘ืฉืžืš ื™ืจื ื ื•ืƒ
ื™ื“ ืœืš ื–ืจื•ืข ืขื ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”; ืชืขื– ื™ื“ืš ืชืจื•ื ื™ืžื™ื ืšืƒ
ื˜ื• ืฆื“ืง ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืกืืš; ื—ืกื“ ื•ืืžืช ื™ืงื“ืžื• ืคื ื™ืšืƒ
ื˜ื– ืืฉืจื™ ื”ืขื ื™ื“ืขื™ ืชืจื•ืขื”; ื”ืณ ื‘ืื•ืจ ืคื ื™ืš ื™ื”ืœื›ื•ืŸืƒ
ื™ื– ื‘ืฉืžืš ื™ื’ื™ืœื•ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื; ื•ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืš ื™ืจื•ืžื•ืƒ
ื™ื— ื›ื™ ืชืคืืจืช ืขื–ืžื• ืืชื”; ื•ื‘ืจืฆื•ื ืš ืชืจื™ื (ืชืจื•ื) ืงืจื ื™ื ื•ืƒ
ื™ื˜ ื›ื™ ืœื”ืณ ืžื’ื ื ื•; ื•ืœืงื“ื•ืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืœื›ื ื•ืƒ
ื› ืื– ื“ื‘ืจืช ื‘ื—ื–ื•ืŸ ืœื—ืกื™ื“ื™ืš ื•ืชืืžืจ ืฉื•ื™ืชื™ ืขื–ืจ ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืจ;
ื”ืจื™ืžื•ืชื™ ื‘ื—ื•ืจ ืžืขืืƒ
ื›ื ืžืฆืืชื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื™; ื‘ืฉืžืŸ ืงื“ืฉื™ ืžืฉื—ืชื™ื•ืƒ
ื›ื‘ ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ื™ ืชื›ื•ืŸ ืขืžื•; ืืฃ ื–ืจื•ืขื™ ืชืืžืฆื ื•ืƒ
ื›ื’ ืœื ื™ืฉื™ื ืื•ื™ื‘ ื‘ื•; ื•ื‘ืŸ ืขื•ืœื” ืœื ื™ืขื ื ื•ืƒ
ื›ื“ ื•ื›ืชื•ืชื™ ืžืคื ื™ื• ืฆืจื™ื•; ื•ืžืฉื ืื™ื• ืื’ื•ืฃืƒ
ื›ื” ื•ืืžื•ื ืชื™ ื•ื—ืกื“ื™ ืขืžื•; ื•ื‘ืฉืžื™ ืชืจื•ื ืงืจื ื•ืƒ
ื›ื• ื•ืฉืžืชื™ ื‘ื™ื ื™ื“ื•; ื•ื‘ื ื”ืจื•ืช ื™ืžื™ื ื•ืƒ
ื›ื– ื”ื•ื ื™ืงืจืื ื™ ืื‘ื™ ืืชื”; ืืœื™ ื•ืฆื•ืจ ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื™ืƒ
ื›ื— ืืฃ ืื ื™ ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ืืชื ื”ื•; ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ืœืžืœื›ื™ ืืจืฅืƒ
ื›ื˜ ืœืขื•ืœื ืืฉืžื•ืจ (ืืฉืžืจ ) ืœื• ื—ืกื“ื™; ื•ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ ื ืืžื ืช ืœื•ืƒ
ืœ ื•ืฉืžืชื™ ืœืขื“ ื–ืจืขื•; ื•ื›ืกืื• ื›ื™ืžื™ ืฉืžื™ืืƒ
ืœื ืื ื™ืขื–ื‘ื• ื‘ื ื™ื• ืชื•ืจืชื™; ื•ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ ืœื ื™ืœื›ื•ืŸืƒ
ืœื‘ ืื ื—ืงืชื™ ื™ื—ืœืœื•; ื•ืžืฆื•ืชื™ ืœื ื™ืฉืžืจื•ืƒ
ืœื’ ื•ืคืงื“ืชื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ืคืฉืขื; ื•ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ื ืขื•ื ืืƒ
ืœื“ ื•ื—ืกื“ื™ ืœื ืืคื™ืจ ืžืขืžื•; ื•ืœื ืืฉืงืจ ื‘ืืžื•ื ืชื™ืƒ
ืœื” ืœื ืื—ืœืœ ื‘ืจื™ืชื™; ื•ืžื•ืฆื ืฉืคืชื™ ืœื ืืฉื ื”ืƒ
ืœื• ืื—ืช ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ ื‘ืงื“ืฉื™; ืื ืœื“ื•ื“ ืื›ื–ื‘ืƒ
ืœื– ื–ืจืขื• ืœืขื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื”; ื•ื›ืกืื• ื›ืฉืžืฉ ื ื’ื“ื™ืƒ
ืœื— ื›ื™ืจื— ื™ื›ื•ืŸ ืขื•ืœื; ื•ืขื“ ื‘ืฉื—ืง ื ืืžืŸ ืกืœื”ืƒ
ืœื˜ ื•ืืชื” ื–ื ื—ืช ื•ืชืžืืก; ื”ืชืขื‘ืจืช ืขื ืžืฉื™ื—ืšืƒ
ืž ื ืืจืชื” ื‘ืจื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ืš; ื—ืœืœืช ืœืืจืฅ ื ื–ืจื•ืƒ
ืžื ืคืจืฆืช ื›ืœ ื’ื“ืจืชื™ื•; ืฉืžืช ืžื‘ืฆืจื™ื• ืžื—ืชื”ืƒ
ืžื‘ ืฉืกื”ื• ื›ืœ ืขื‘ืจื™ ื“ืจืš; ื”ื™ื” ื—ืจืคื” ืœืฉื›ื ื™ื•ืƒ
ืžื’ ื”ืจื™ืžื•ืช ื™ืžื™ืŸ ืฆืจื™ื•; ื”ืฉืžื—ืช ื›ืœ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื•ืƒ
ืžื“ ืืฃ ืชืฉื™ื‘ ืฆื•ืจ ื—ืจื‘ื•; ื•ืœื ื”ืงื™ืžืชื• ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื”ืƒ
ืžื” ื”ืฉื‘ืช ืžื˜ื”ืจื•; ื•ื›ืกืื• ืœืืจืฅ ืžื’ืจืชื”ืƒ
ืžื• ื”ืงืฆืจืช ื™ืžื™ ืขืœื•ืžื™ื•; ื”ืขื˜ื™ืช ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ื•ืฉื” ืกืœื”ืƒ
ืžื– ืขื“ ืžื” ื”ืณ ืชืกืชืจ ืœื ืฆื—; ืชื‘ืขืจ ื›ืžื• ืืฉ ื—ืžืชืšืƒ
ืžื— ื–ื›ืจ ืื ื™ ืžื” ื—ืœื“; ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉื•ื ื‘ืจืืช ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ืžื˜ ืžื™ ื’ื‘ืจ ื™ื—ื™ื” ื•ืœื ื™ืจืื” ืžื•ืช; ื™ืžืœื˜ ื ืคืฉื• ืžื™ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ ืกืœื”ืƒ
ื  ืื™ื” ื—ืกื“ื™ืš ื”ืจืืฉื ื™ื ืึพื“ื ื™; ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ืœื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืืžื•ื ืชืšืƒ
ื ื ื–ื›ืจ ืื“ื ื™ ื—ืจืคืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš; ืฉืืชื™ ื‘ื—ื™ืงื™ ื›ืœ ืจื‘ื™ื ืขืžื™ืืƒ
ื ื‘ ืืฉืจ ื—ืจืคื• ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ืš ื”ืณ; ืืฉืจ ื—ืจืคื• ืขืงื‘ื•ืช ืžืฉื™ื—ืšืƒ
ื ื’ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืœืขื•ืœื; ืืžืŸ ื•ืืžืŸ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืคื˜

This is a very long perek but the theme is actually very simple.

This is another ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ, a lecture. Thereโ€™s a message here. It starts with ื—ืกื“ื™ ื”ืณ, which sounds very positive, but has echoes of ืฆื™ื“ื•ืง ื”ื“ื™ืŸ, the idea that ื”ืณ is just no matter what happens to us:

ื™ื˜ ื–ื›ืจ ืขื ื™ื™ ื•ืžืจื•ื“ื™ ืœืขื ื” ื•ืจืืฉืƒ ื› ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืชื–ื›ื•ืจ ื•ืชืฉื™ื— (ื•ึฐืชึธืฉืื•ึนื—ึท) ืขืœื™ ื ืคืฉื™ืƒ ื›ื ื–ืืช ืืฉื™ื‘ ืืœ ืœื‘ื™ ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืื•ื—ื™ืœืƒ

ื›ื‘ ื—ืกื“ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืœื ืชืžื ื• ื›ื™ ืœื ื›ืœื• ืจื—ืžื™ื•ืƒ ื›ื’ ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ืœื‘ืงืจื™ื ืจื‘ื” ืืžื•ื ืชืšืƒ ื›ื“ ื—ืœืงื™ ื”ืณ ืืžืจื” ื ืคืฉื™ ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืื•ื—ื™ืœ ืœื•ืƒ

ืื™ื›ื” ืคืจืง ื’

ื›ืจืชื™ ื‘ืจื™ืช ืœื‘ื—ื™ืจื™

Itโ€™s clear that this cannot been written in its current form by Abraham or by a ื‘ืŸ ื–ืจื—, since itโ€™s all explicitly about David. We havenโ€™t seen the ื‘ืจื™ืช yet; that comes after ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื tells him he wonโ€™t build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื— ื•ืขืชื” ื›ื” ืชืืžืจ ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ ืœื“ื•ื“ ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ืื ื™ ืœืงื—ืชื™ืš ืžืŸ ื”ื ื•ื” ืžืื—ืจ ื”ืฆืืŸ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ื’ื™ื“ ืขืœ ืขืžื™ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื˜ ื•ืื”ื™ื” ืขืžืš ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืœื›ืช ื•ืื›ืจืชื” ืืช ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ืš ืžืคื ื™ืš; ื•ืขืฉืชื™ ืœืš ืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ืœื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืจืฅืƒ ื™ ื•ืฉืžืชื™ ืžืงื•ื ืœืขืžื™ ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื ื˜ืขืชื™ื• ื•ืฉื›ืŸ ืชื—ืชื™ื• ื•ืœื ื™ืจื’ื– ืขื•ื“; ื•ืœื ื™ืกื™ืคื• ื‘ื ื™ ืขื•ืœื” ืœืขื ื•ืชื• ื›ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื”ืƒ ื™ื ื•ืœืžืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืฉืคื˜ื™ื ืขืœ ืขืžื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื ื™ื—ืชื™ ืœืš ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ืš; ื•ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืš ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืขืฉื” ืœืš ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ื›ื™ ื™ืžืœืื• ื™ืžื™ืš ื•ืฉื›ื‘ืช ืืช ืื‘ืชื™ืš ื•ื”ืงื™ืžืชื™ ืืช ื–ืจืขืš ืื—ืจื™ืš ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ืš; ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ืชื™ ืืช ืžืžืœื›ืชื•ืƒ ื™ื’ ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™; ื•ื›ื ื ืชื™ ืืช ื›ืกื ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ ื™ื“ ืื ื™ ืื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœืื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื™ ืœื‘ืŸ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื”ืขื•ืชื• ื•ื”ื›ื—ืชื™ื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ืื ืฉื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื—ืกื“ื™ ืœื ื™ืกื•ืจ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืกืจืชื™ ืžืขื ืฉืื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืกืจืชื™ ืžืœืคื ื™ืšืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื ืืžืŸ ื‘ื™ืชืš ื•ืžืžืœื›ืชืš ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื ืœืคื ื™ืš; ื›ืกืืš ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ ื™ื– ื›ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื•ื›ื›ืœ ื”ื—ื–ื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื–ื” ื›ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจ ื ืชืŸ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

ื•ื™ื•ื“ื• ืฉืžื™ื ืคืœืืš ื”ืณ

The next stich praises ื”ืณ, including one of the sources for our ืงื“ื•ืฉื”:โ€Ž ืืœ ื ืขืจืฅ ื‘ืกื•ื“ ืงื“ืฉื™ื ืจื‘ื” corresponds to ื ืขืจื™ืฆืš ื•ื ืงื“ื™ืฉืš ื›ืกื•ื“ ืฉื™ื— ืฉืจืคื™ ืงื“ืฉ ื”ืžืงื“ื™ืฉื™ื ืฉืžื• ื‘ืงื“ืฉ. It starts from angels, then continues to describe ื”ืณ's power over the land and seas, then moving on to His power over the civilized world:

ืชื‘ืœ ื•ืžืœื•ืื”: ืืจืฅ ืชึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื ื”ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ืช ื•ืฉืื™ื ื” ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ืช, ื•ื”ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ืช ืชึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื ืชื‘ืœ, ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืืžืจ ื•ืžืœื•ืื”, ื•ึฐื”ึทืžึผึฐืœื•ึนื ืฉืœื” ื”ื ื”ืฉื•ื›ื ื™ื ื‘ื”, ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช ื•ืขื•ืคื•ืช.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ื™ื‘

ื•ืœืคื™ ื“ืขืชื™ ื›ื™ ื–ื›ืจ ืชื‘ืœ ื•ืžืœื•ืื” ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืžื–ืจื— ืœืžืขืจื‘ ืขืœ ืงื• ื”ืฉื•ื” ื‘ืื•ืจืš ื”ืขื•ืœื ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื›ื•ืœื• ืžืจืืฉ ืžื–ืจื— ืขื“ ืกื•ืฃ ืžืขืจื‘, ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืืžืจ ื•ืžืœื•ืื” ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืœื ื›ื•ืœื•. ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื–ื›ืจ ืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืžื™ืŸ ืืชื” ื‘ืจืืชื, ืฉื”ื•ื ืœืจื•ื—ื‘ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื•ืื™ื ื• ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื›ื•ืœื•.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ื™ื’

including the great mountains of ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ,โ€Ž ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื—ืจืžื•ืŸ. We can understand why we mention ื—ืจืžื•ืŸ; itโ€™s the tallest mountain in Israel, 9,232 feet. But ื”ืจ ืชื‘ื•ืจ isnโ€™t even in the top ten. Why mention it? One answer is suggested by the midrash:

ื—ื™ ืื ื™ ื ืื ื”ืžืœืš ื”ืณ ืฆึพื‘ืื•ืช ืฉืžื•; ื›ื™ ื›ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื”ืจื™ื ื•ื›ื›ืจืžืœ ื‘ื™ื ื™ื‘ื•ืืƒ

ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ืžื•:ื™ื—

ืœืžื” ืชืจืฆื“ื•ืŸ ื”ืจื™ื ื’ื‘ื ื ื™ื; ื”ื”ืจ ื—ืžื“ ืืœืงื™ื ืœืฉื‘ืชื•; ืืฃ ื”ืณ ื™ืฉื›ืŸ ืœื ืฆื—ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื—:ื™ื–

ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื‘ื ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื™ืชืŸ ืชื•ืจื” ื‘ืกื™ื ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื”ื”ืจื™ื ืจืฆื™ื ื•ืžื“ื™ื™ื ื™ื ืืœื• ืขื ืืœื•. ื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืขืœื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื ื™ืชื ืช, ื•ื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืขืœื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื ื™ืชื ืช. ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื ืžื‘ื™ืช ืืœื™ื ื•ื›ืจืžืœ ืžืืกืคืžื™ื. ื”ื”ืดื“ (ื™ืจืžื™ื” ืžื•) โ€ื—ื™ ืื ื™ ื ืื ื”ืณ ื•ื’ื•ืณ ื›ื™ ื›ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื”ืจื™ืโ€œ, ื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืื ื™ ื ืงืจืืชื™ ื•ื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืื ื™ ื ืงืจืืชื™. ืืžืจ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื โ€ืœืžื” ืชืจืฆื“ื•ืŸ ื”ืจื™ื ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€œ ื›ื•ืœื›ื ื”ืจื™ื ืืœื ื›ื•ืœื›ื ื’ื‘ื ื•ื ื™ื, ื”ื™ืš ืžื“ืดื (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›ื) โ€ืื• ื’ื‘ืŸ ืื• ื“ืงโ€œ, ื›ื•ืœื›ื ื ืขืฉื” ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืขืœ ืจืืฉื™ื›ื, ืื‘ืœ ืกื™ื ื™ ืฉืœื ื ืขืฉื” ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืขืœื™ื• (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืกื—) โ€ื”ื”ืจ ื—ืžื“ ืืœืงื™ื ืœืฉื‘ืชื•โ€œ, (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื˜) ื•ื™ืจื“ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ืจ ืกื™ื ื™.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืคืจืฉืช ื•ื™ื—ื™ ืคืจืฉื” ืฆื˜ ืกื™ืžืŸ ื

ื”ืจ ืชื‘ื•ืจ, while not very high, is distinctive; it โ€œis shaped almost like a half-sphere, suddenly rising from rather flat surroundingsโ€ (Wikipedia). It was a center of Canaanite worship and so is a perfect example of ื”ืณ's domination of other โ€œpowersโ€.

ืฆื“ืง ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืกืืš

The next stich is about Israel. They understand ื”ืณ's ืฆื“ืง ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ and really know the meaning of the shofar (ื™ื“ืขื™ ืชืจื•ืขื”):

ื• ืื ื™ืชืงืข ืฉื•ืคืจ ื‘ืขื™ืจ ื•ืขื ืœื ื™ื—ืจื“ื•; ืื ืชื”ื™ื” ืจืขื” ื‘ืขื™ืจ ื•ื”ืณ ืœื ืขืฉื”ืƒ ื– ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืขืฉื” ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื™ ืื ื’ืœื” ืกื•ื“ื• ืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ืืƒ ื— ืืจื™ื” ืฉืื’ ืžื™ ืœื ื™ื™ืจื; ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื“ื‘ืจ ืžื™ ืœื ื™ื ื‘ืืƒ

ืขืžื•ืก ืคืจืง ื’

ื”ืจื™ืžื•ืชื™ ื‘ื—ื•ืจ ืžืขื

The next stich comes back to David and the ื‘ืจื™ืช. Itโ€™s all good, until the important point at ืคืกื•ืง ืœื on, ืื ื™ืขื–ื‘ื• ื‘ื ื™ื• ืชื•ืจืชื™; ื•ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ ืœื ื™ืœื›ื•ืŸโ€ฆื•ืคืงื“ืชื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ืคืฉืขืโ€ฆืœื ืื—ืœืœ ื‘ืจื™ืชื™.โ€Ž ื”ืณ will punish Davidโ€™s descendants but not wipe them out. The dynasty will last forever.

ื˜ื– ื•ื‘ืฉื ืช ื—ืžืฉ ืœื™ื•ืจื ื‘ืŸ ืื—ืื‘ ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ืžืœืš ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืžืœืš ื™ื”ื•ืจื ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ืžืœืš ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”ืƒ โ€ฆ ื™ื— ื•ื™ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ืžืœื›ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื• ื‘ื™ืช ืื—ืื‘ ื›ื™ ื‘ืช ืื—ืื‘ ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื• ืœืืฉื”; ื•ื™ืขืฉ ื”ืจืข ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ื”ืณ ืœื”ืฉื—ื™ืช ืืช ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืœืžืขืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื•; ื›ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœืชืช ืœื• ื ึดื™ืจ ืœื‘ื ื™ื• ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ืคืจืง ื—

ื•ืืชื” ื–ื ื—ืช ื•ืชืžืืก

Then things turn ugly. The psalmist turns to G-d and says, โ€œYou lied!โ€. In fact, Ibn Ezra brings a rabbi who refused to read this part:

ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืกืคืจื“ ื—ื›ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื—ืกื™ื“ ื•ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื”ื™ื” ืขืœื™ื• ืงืฉื” ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืงื•ืจื ืื•ืชื• ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœืฉืžื•ืข ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื›ื™ ื–ื” ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืฉื ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ ืงืฉื•ืช. ื•ื”ื’ืื•ืŸ ืœื ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืชื™ืงื•ืŸ ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ื‘

But it isnโ€™t really blasphemous. As we said above, complaining to G-d is still keeping a relationship with G-d, and this sort of question has a long history in Jewish thought:

ืจื‘ื™ื ืชืžื”ื• ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ืื™ืš ื“ื™ื‘ืจ ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืืœ ื›ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื”, ื›ืื“ื ืฉืื•ืžืจ ืœื—ื‘ื™ืจื•: ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ื–ื” ื•ืœื ืขืžื“ืช ื‘ืฉื‘ื•ืขืชืšโ€ฆื•ืื ื™ ืชืžื” ืขืœ ืชืžื™ื”ืชื, ื›ื™ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ื ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื ืืžืจื•, ื•ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื”ื ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืื™ื ื• ื ื›ื•ืŸ, ื•ืื ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ืชึผึธืžึตื”ึผึท ืœืื•ืจืš ื”ื’ืœื•ืช ื”ื–ื”, ื•ื”ื•ื ืœื ืืžืจ ืฉืึถืขึธื‘ึทืจ ื”ืึพืœ ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ืขืœ ืฉื‘ื•ืขืชื•โ€ฆื•ืืžืจ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื“ืจืš ืชึผึฐืžึดื™ึผึธื”: ืื™ืš ื™ื”ื™ื”, ื•ื‘ืžื” ื”ื™ืชื” ื”ึทื—ึทื˜ึผึธืืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ื•ื”ืงืฆืฃ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื–ื”. ื”ื ื” ืžืฉื” ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ืœื‘:ื™ื’): โ€ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืœืื‘ืจื”ื ืœื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ืืฉืจ ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ืœื”ื ื‘โ€œืš, ืืžืจ ืื™ืš ืชืขืฉื” ื–ื” ืฉื”ืจื™ ื ืฉื‘ืขืช, ื•ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืืžืจ (ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ืกื’:ื™ื–): ืœึธืžึผึธื” ืชึทืชึฐืขึตื ื•ึผ ื”ืณ ืžึดื“ึผึฐืจึธื›ึถื™ืšึธโ€ฆื•ื ึนืืžืจ ื›ื™ ื›ื•ืœื ื“ื™ื‘ืจื• ืฉืœื ื›ึผึทื”ื•ึนื’ึถืŸ? ืืœื, ืœื ืืžืจื• ืืœื ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื“ืžื™ื•ืŸ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ืœื˜

Because the nature of a ื‘ืจื™ืช is that there are conditions. There would come a point of no return if Davidโ€™s descendants sinned enough:

ื‘ ื•ื™ืจื ื”ืณ ืืœ ืฉืœืžื” ืฉื ื™ืช ื›ืืฉืจ ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ื• ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœื™ื• ืฉืžืขืชื™ ืืช ืชืคืœืชืš ื•ืืช ืชื—ื ืชืš ืืฉืจ ื”ืชื—ื ื ืชื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื“ืฉืชื™ ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื–ื” ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ืชื” ืœืฉื•ื ืฉืžื™ ืฉื ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื; ื•ื”ื™ื• ืขื™ื ื™ ื•ืœื‘ื™ ืฉื ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ืืƒ ื“ ื•ืืชื” ืื ืชืœืš ืœืคื ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ืš ื‘ืชื ืœื‘ื‘ ื•ื‘ื™ืฉืจ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื›ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ืš ื—ืงื™ ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ ืชืฉืžืจืƒ ื” ื•ื”ืงืžืชื™ ืืช ื›ืกื ืžืžืœื›ืชืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืขืœื; ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™ ืขืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ืš ืœืืžืจ ืœื ื™ื›ืจืช ืœืš ืื™ืฉ ืžืขืœ ื›ืกื ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื• ืื ืฉื•ื‘ ืชืฉื‘ื•ืŸ ืืชื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื›ื ืžืื—ืจื™ ื•ืœื ืชืฉืžืจื• ืžืฆื•ืชื™ ื—ืงืชื™ ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื™ ืœืคื ื™ื›ื; ื•ื”ืœื›ืชื ื•ืขื‘ื“ืชื ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื™ืชื ืœื”ืืƒ ื– ื•ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื”ืื“ืžื” ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื™ ืœื”ื ื•ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืืฉืจ ื”ืงื“ืฉืชื™ ืœืฉืžื™ ืืฉืœื— ืžืขืœ ืคื ื™; ื•ื”ื™ื” ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืžืฉืœ ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื˜

ื–ื›ืจ ืื ื™ ืžื” ื—ืœื“

Then the psalmist gets personal. Life is short (ื—ืœื“ from ื—ึฒืœื•ึผื“ึธื”, rust) and pointless (ืฉื•ื ื‘ืจืืช ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื).

ืื™ื” ื—ืกื“ื™ืš ื”ืจืืฉื ื™ื

The last stich returns to the beginning, with ื—ืกื“ื™ ื”ืณ and ืืžื•ื ืชืš. There is no blasphemy here, only a prayer that ื”ืณ avenge us, leading up to ืขืงื‘ื•ืช ืžืฉื™ื—ืš. This is the term the gemara uses for the period before the ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื.โ€Ž ืื™ืชืŸ is complaining that we have lost faith in the ื’ืื•ืœื”, that we are scorning the signs that ืžืฉื™ืš is coming.

ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืœืขื•ืœื

The coda isnโ€™t really just for this perek; itโ€™s the end of the entire book 3 of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, from ืคืจืง ืขื’ to here. This book is almost all the work of the Leviim, ืืกืฃ,โ€Ž ื”ื™ืžืŸ,โ€Ž ืื™ืชืŸ and ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—. These chapters are much more pessimistic than most of ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, and this pasuk serves to give us a little reassurance.

ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืœืขื•ืœื ืืžืŸ ื•ืืžืŸ: ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ, ืจืื” ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ ืฉื™ื‘ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื”ื’ืœื•ืช ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื•ื“ืื” ืœืึพืœ ื™ืชื‘ืจืš.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ื ื’

ืจืดืœ ืืžืช ื”ื•ื ืฉื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื•ื ื‘ืจื•ืš ื•ืžื”ื•ืœืœ ื•ื›ืคืœ ื”ืžืœื” ืœื—ื•ื–ืง.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืคื˜:ื ื’

Given that this perek is all about ื”ืณ's relationship with David and ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“, what does it mean to attribute it to ืื‘ืจื”ื? I think that if we simply read this perek straight, itโ€™s too easy to say that it doesnโ€™t apply to us. Whether or not ื”ืณ keeps His promise to David doesnโ€™t have anything to do with us. But thereโ€™s another ื‘ืจื™ืช that does affect us:

ืžื‘ ื•ื–ื›ืจืชื™ ืืช ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ ื™ืขืงื•ื‘; ื•ืืฃ ืืช ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ ื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ืืฃ ืืช ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืื–ื›ืจ ื•ื”ืืจืฅ ืื–ื›ืจืƒ ืžื’ ื•ื”ืืจืฅ ืชืขื–ื‘ ืžื”ื ื•ืชืจืฅ ืืช ืฉื‘ืชืชื™ื” ื‘ื”ืฉืžื” ืžื”ื ื•ื”ื ื™ืจืฆื• ืืช ืขื•ื ื; ื™ืขืŸ ื•ื‘ื™ืขืŸ ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ ืžืืกื• ื•ืืช ื—ืงืชื™ ื’ืขืœื” ื ืคืฉืืƒ ืžื“ ื•ืืฃ ื’ื ื–ืืช ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืื™ื‘ื™ื”ื ืœื ืžืืกืชื™ื ื•ืœื ื’ืขืœืชื™ื ืœื›ืœืชื ืœื”ืคืจ ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ ืืชื; ื›ื™ ืื ื™ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื”ืืƒ ืžื” ื•ื–ื›ืจืชื™ ืœื”ื ื‘ืจื™ืช ืจืืฉื ื™ื; ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ืฆืืชื™ ืืชื ืžืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื ืœืขื™ื ื™ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœื”ื ืœืืœืงื™ื ืื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืคืจืง ื›ื•

Itโ€™s too easy for us to say, โ€œG-d loves us, has a covenant with us. Weโ€™ll never be destroyedโ€. It doesnโ€™t work that way. It didnโ€™t work that way with ื‘ืจื™ืช ื“ื•ื“ and it doesnโ€™t work that way with ื‘ืจื™ืช ืื‘ื•ืช. And that is the message that ืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ has for us.