Weโve spent a lot of time with Asaf. Now I want to look at some of his colleagues.
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืื ื ืงืจื;
ืืื ืฆื ืขื ืืืืช ืืขื ืืช; ืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืืื
ืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืขืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืื ืฉืืจ ืืืช ืืณ; ืืื ืื ืืืจืืื
ืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจืชืื ืืคื ื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืืขื ืืฉืืจ ืขื ืื ืืช ืฉืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืณ ืืืจืืฉืื; ืืืขืืื ืืืฉืคืื ืขื ืขืืืืชืื
ืื ืืืื ืืขืืืื ืืื ืืื; ืืื ื ืืงืืชื ืืืื ืืืฉืืจืจ ืื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืืืื
ืื ืื ืืืงื ื ืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืชืืื
ื ืื ืฆืืฃ (ืฆืืฃ) ืื ืืืงื ื ืื ืืืช ืื ืขืืฉืื
ืื ืื ืืืงื ื ืื ืืืื ืื ืขืืจืื ืื ืฆืคื ืืื
ืื ืื ืชืืช ืื ืืกืืจ ืื ืืืืกืฃ ืื ืงืจืื
ืื ืื ืืฆืืจ ืื ืงืืช ืื ืืื ืื ืืฉืจืืื
ืื ืืืืื ืืกืฃ ืืขืื ืขื ืืืื ื ืืกืฃ ืื ืืจืืืื ืื ืฉืืขืื
ืื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืืขืฉืื ืื ืืืืืื
ืื ืื ืืชื ื ืื ืืจื ืื ืขืืืื
ืื ืื ืืืชื ืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืขืื
ืื ืื ืืืช ืื ืืจืฉื ืื ืืืื
ืื ืืื ื ืืจืจื ืืืืื ืขื ืืฉืืืื ืืืชื ืื ืงืืฉื ืื ืขืืื ืื ืืืืื
ื ืื ืืฉืืื ืื ืืืฆืื ืื ืืืงืืื
ืื ืื ืืืฆื ืื ืื ื ืื ืฉืืจื
ืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืืฉื ืื ืืจืจื ืื ืืืื
ืฉืืจ ืืืืืจ weโve been interpreting as a song with musical accompaniment and ืืืืช could be from ืืืื, a dance or a musical instrument, but this perek is not a happy one. Itโs really a ืงืื ื; it doesnโt even end on a happy note. So Rashi connects it to ืืืื, illness:
ืขื ืืืืช ืืขื ืืช: ืขื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืขื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืขืื ื ืืืกืืจื ืืืืืช.
And ืึฐืขึทื ึผืึนืช is not from ืขื ื, โcall outโ, but from ืขื ืื, โafflictionโ. The subtlety is the dagesh in the nun:
ืื ืึทืึผึดืฉืึฐืึทืข ืึฐืืึนืฉืึปืขึท ืึถืช ืงืึนื ืึธืขึธื ืึผึฐืจึตืขึนื; ืึทืึผึนืืึถืจ ืึถื ืึนืฉืึถื ืงืึนื ืึดืึฐืึธืึธื ืึผึทืึผึทืึฒื ึถืื
ืื ืึทืึผึนืืึถืจ ืึตืื ืงืึนื ืขึฒื ืึนืช ืึผึฐืืึผืจึธื ืึฐืึตืื ืงืึนื ืขึฒื ืึนืช ืึฒืืึผืฉืึธื; ืงืึนื ืขึทื ึผืึนืช ืึธื ึนืึดื ืฉืึนืึตืขึทื
And a ืืฉืืื is more of a lecture than a song:
ืืฉืืื: ืื ืืงืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืขืดื ืชืืจืืื ื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืชืืจืืื ืืคื ืื ืืืฉืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืจ ืืช ืื ืืืื ืืชืืจืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืขื.
So I would understand this ืืืชืจืช as โa lecture by Heiman of sickness and affliction, set to music by the other ืื ื ืงืจืโ.
But what is ืืืืจืื? It means โnativeโ. Ibn Ezra says itโs a title related to Heimanโs role:
ืืืจ ืจืื ืืฉืืขื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืงืจืื ืืืชืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืฉืืจืจืื.
In general, the Levites lived throughout the country, and only came to the ืืฉืื or later the ืืงืืฉ intermittently:
ื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉืขืจืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืจ ืฉื; ืืื ืืื ืืืช ื ืคืฉื ืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืืณื
ื ืืฉืจืช ืืฉื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืขืืืื ืฉื ืืคื ื ืืณื
But Heiman was appointed as part of the permanent staff, so he was an โืืืจืโ in the ืืฉืื.
ืฉืืจื ืืชืืฉืืืชื ืขื ืืืืืื ืืื ื ืงืจื ืขื ืฆืืืชื ืึฐืฉึทืึผึธืึธื ืฉึนึดืึฐืึธื ืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืืืื ืึทืฆึดืืึธื.
But Rashi says weโve got the wrong Heiman:
ืืืืื ืืืืจืื: ืืื ื ืืจื ืื ืืืืื ืืื.
ืื ืืืื ืืขืช ืืืชื; ืืื ื ืชืืืืื ืืืื ืื
ืื ืืืื ืืืืชื ืืืชื ืื; ืืชืงื ืืืืืืช ืืชืงืฉืจ ืขื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืืจ ืื ืืฆื ืจืืฉื ืื
ืื ืืืื ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืฆื ืืืื ืืชืืืจ ืื ืคืจืฆืช ืขืืื ืคืจืฅ; ืืืงืจื ืฉืื ืคืจืฅื
ื ืืืืจ ืืฆื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืขื ืืื ืืฉื ื; ืืืงืจื ืฉืื ืืจืื
ืืื ื ืืจื ืืืจื ืืืืชื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืจืข ืืื ืืืฉืื
We know nothing about these ืื ื ืืจื except that they were famous in the time of ืฉืืื:
ื ืืืชื ืืืงืื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืชืืื ื ืืจืื ืืื; ืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืขื ืฉืคืช ืืืื
ื ืืชืจื ืืืืช ืฉืืื ืืืืืช ืื ืื ื ืงืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืฆืจืืื
ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืจืืข ืื ื ืืืื; ืืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืื ืกืืืื
ืึทืึฒืึทื ืึดืึผึธื ืึฑื ึธืฉืึธื ืึตืึตืืชึธื ืึผึทืจ ืึถืจึทื ืึฐืึตืืึธื ืึฐืึทืึฐืึผึนื ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึทืข ืึผึฐื ึตื ืึธืืึนื ืึทืึฒืึธื ืฉืึฐืึตืืึผ ืกึทืึดื ืึฐืึธื ืขึทืึฐืึทืึธื ืกึฐืืึนืจ ืกึฐืืึนืจ
And Rashi connects them to the authors of ืชืืืืื (at least two of them; we have nothing attributed to ืึทืึฐืึผึนื or ืึทืจึฐืึทืข, and I donโt know why ืืืจื didnโt make it to the all-time smartest list. Thereโs too much we donโt know).
ืื ื ืืืื: ืืื ืืืืขืื ืืืกื ืืืืืจืื ืืืืืจืื ืืืืืืืช ืฉืืจ ืฉืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืื ืขื ืืืื ื ืืืืืจืื ืฉืืกืื ืืกืคืจ ืชืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืจืื ืืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจืื.
The Seder Olam says they were in fact ื ืืืืื, from Israelโs time in Egypt:
ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืชื ืืื ืืืฆืจืื. ืืื ื ืืจื ืืืจื ืืืืชื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืจืืข ืืื ืืืฉื (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ื:ื) ืืืฉื ืืืืจื ืื ืืฉืจืื.
And this idea, that the sons of ืืจื were ืืืืื, is reflected in an aggadah that explains Saulโs reaction to David and the killing of Goliath:
ืืดืจ ืืืื ื ืืืืจ ืงืจื (ืฉืืืื ื:ืื) โืืืจืืืช ืฉืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืฆื ืืงืจืืช ืืคืืฉืชื ืืืจ ืื ืืื ืจ ืฉืจ ืืฆืื ืื ืื ืื ืื ืขืจ ืืื ืจ ืืืืืจ ืืื ืจ ืื ื ืคืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืืขืชืโ. ืืื ืืืข ืืื? ืืืืชืื (ืฉืืืื ื:ืื) โืืืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ื ืืฉื ืืืืโ ืืื ืืืืื ืงื ืืฉืืืโฆืืดืง ืฉืืื: ืื ืืคืจืฅ ืืชื ืื ืืืจื ืืชื? ืื ืืคืจืฅ ืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืคืืจืฅ ืืขืฉืืช ืืจื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืื; ืื ืืืจื ืืชื ืืฉืืื ืืขืืื ืืื.
The line of ืืืืืช goes through ืคืจืฅ ืื ืืืืื.โ ืื ื ืืจื were the ืืืืื, the ืื ื ืืืื. Before David slew Goliath, he was the singer and lute player, apparently ืืืจื ืืชื, obviously no threat to Saulโs reign.
And thereโs a third understanding of who Heiman was:
ืืืจืฉ ืืืื ืืคืกืืงืชื, ืืื ืืืื, ืื ืืื ืืจืืฉืื, ืืืชื ืืืืจืื, ืื ืืืจืื, ืืืื ืื ืืฉื, ืืืืื ืื ืืืกืฃ, ืืืจืืข ืื ืืืจ ืืืืืจ, ืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืื ืขื ืืขืฉื ืืขืื.
But the subsequent gemara has a problem with this:
ืืื ืืชื ืกืคืจ ืชืืืื ืขืดื ืขืฉืจื ืืงื ืื ืขืดื ืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืขื ืืื ืืืื ืฆืืง ืืขื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืขืดื ืืฉื ืืขื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืดื ืืืืชืื ืืขื ืืื ืืกืฃ ืืขื ืืื ืฉืืฉื ืื ื ืงืจื.
And concludes that the midrashic reading of ืกืคืจ ืืืืื, with Heiman as Moshe, has nothing to do with the authorship of ืชืืืืื:
ืงื ืืฉืื ืืฉื ืืงื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืจื ืืืื ืื ืืฉื ืืชืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชืื ืืชื (ืืืืืจ ืื) ืืื ืืืชื ื ืืื ืืื ื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 ืดื and the agaggah:
ืืขืฉืโฆืื ืืื ืขืืืจ, ืื ืืื ืืืขื ืืืืื ืืืืชื ืขืืืจ, ืืืจืืโฆืืืจ ืืื ืืจืืื: ืื ืืืื ืืืืชื ืืฉืื ืืืืช ืฆืจืืคืื ืื ืฆืจืืคืื ืืืืช? ืืืงื ืืืฉืืืื.
โฆ
ืืืืื ื ืืชื ื: ืคืชืืื ืขื ืืงืื ืืโืื ืืจืืื, ืืื ื ืงืจื ืฉืื ืคืชืืื? ืฉืคืืชื ืืืจืื ืืืืจืฉื, ืืืืืข ืืฉืืขืื ืืฉืื.
ืืจืืื: ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืฉืืจืืฉ.
ืืืจ ืืื ืืจืืื: ืคืืจืฉ ืืงืื ืืจืก ืืืื ืืจืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืฉืืจืืฉ, ืืชืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืืจืื ืืืื ืื ืื. ืื ืจืื ืขื ืฉื ืืจืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืืื ื ืงืจืืื ืืืืื ืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืคื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืงืืืื ืืขืื ืฉืื ืืืืข.
So a wise man in the time of the ืืฉืืื ืืื was the ืืจืืื of his generation. We see from ืกืคืจ ืืืืื that the Heiman from the time of ืฉืขืืืื ืืฆืจืื was famous for his wisdom and words. Itโs possible that โHeimanโ from Davidโs 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 itโs a nice story.
ื ืืณ ืืืงื ืืฉืืขืชื ืืื ืฆืขืงืชื ืืืืื ื ืืืื
ื ืชืืื ืืคื ืื ืชืคืืชื; ืืื ืืื ื ืืจื ืชืื
ื ืื ืฉืืขื ืืจืขืืช ื ืคืฉื; ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืขืื
ื ื ืืฉืืชื ืขื ืืืจืื ืืืจ; ืืืืชื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืืื
ื ืืืชืื ืืคืฉื;
ืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืงืืจ ืืฉืจ ืื ืืืจืชื ืขืื;
ืืืื ืืืื ื ืืืจืื
ื ืฉืชื ื ืืืืจ ืชืืชืืืช; ืืืืฉืืื ืืืฆืืืชื
ื ืขืื ืกืืื ืืืชื; ืืื ืืฉืืจืื ืขื ืืช ืกืืื
ื ืืจืืงืช ืืืืขื ืืื ื; ืฉืชื ื ืชืืขืืืช ืืื; ืืื ืืื ืืฆืื
ื ืขืื ื ืืืื ืื ื ืขื ื;
ืงืจืืชืื ืืณ ืืื ืืื; ืฉืืืชื ืืืื ืืคืื
ืื ืืืืชืื ืชืขืฉื ืคืื; ืื ืจืคืืื ืืงืืื ืืืืื ืกืืื
ืื ืืืกืคืจ ืืงืืจ ืืกืื; ืืืื ืชื ืืืืืืื
ืื ืืืืืข ืืืฉื ืคืืื; ืืฆืืงืชื ืืืจืฅ ื ืฉืืื
ืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืืณ ืฉืืขืชื; ืืืืงืจ ืชืคืืชื ืชืงืืืื
ืื ืืื ืืณ ืชืื ื ื ืคืฉื; ืชืกืชืืจ ืคื ืื ืืื ืื
ืื ืขื ื ืื ื ืืืืข ืื ืขืจ; ื ืฉืืชื ืืืื ืืคืื ืื
ืื ืขืื ืขืืจื ืืจืื ืื; ืืขืืชืื ืฆืืชืืชื ืื
ืื ืกืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืืื; ืืงืืคื ืขืื ืืืื
ืื ืืจืืงืช ืืื ื ืืื ืืจืข; ืืืืขื ืืืฉืื
This perek is an anguished cry to ืืณ. Heiman starts by saying he cries out day and night, echoing the words of the ืชืืืื:
ืกื ืืืื ืืืื ืชืืืื ืื ืื ืื; ืืคืืืช ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืชืืืื ืืืืืื
ืกื ืืืงืจ ืชืืืจ ืื ืืชื ืขืจื ืืืขืจื ืชืืืจ ืื ืืชื ืืงืจ ืืคืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืชืคืื ืืืืจืื ืขืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืชืจืืื
He describes himself as full of trouble and cannot bear any more, almost dead (ื ืืฉืืชื ืขื ืืืจืื ืืืจ). But then itโs worse: he begs for death when he can be free (ืืืชืื ืืคืฉื), because then he will no longer have to deal with troubles that G-d Himself gives him. He acknowledges that ืืื ืืืื ื ืืืจืโthis is all G-dโs fault. If he were dead then ืื ืืืจืชื ืขืื.
ืืณ put him in the depths, under the waves (interesting that โbreakersโ is the same word in Hebrew, ืืฉืืจืื). But we donโt know why. What did he do wrong? Heiman doesnโt say. All we know is ืขืื ืกืืื ืืืชื.
Then ืกืื; hold that thought.
And it gets worse again. Not only is he in pain but he has lost his friends: ืืจืืงืช ืืืืขื ืืื ื. โThey blame me for my troubleโ, ืฉืชื ื ืชืืขืืืช ืืื.
And he continues to call to ืืณ but is not answered, asking if he will finally be answered when he is dead.
ืขื ื ืื ื ืืืืข ืื ืขืจ; I am tortured and dead from birth. Thatโs all life is, an inexorable journey to the grave, alone and unloved (ืืจืืงืช ืืื ื ืืื ืืจืข; ืืืืขื ืืืฉื).
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 doesnโt leave me wanting to see the movie.
So what is this doing in ืกืคืจ ืชืืืืื? I think the connection to ืืืื is the key. Jewish thought, ืชื ืดื, doesnโt shy from the hard questions. Good things really do happen to bad people, and there isnโt an easy answer. Part of the task of the ืกืคืจื ืืืชโโืืืื,โ ืืฉืื and ืชืืืืืโis to address that problem, and each has its own characteristic answer. The answer from ืชืืืืื is overwhelmingly, ืื ืื ืืืืื, 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 donโt see the ืื ืื ืืืืื. 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 ืืืื:
ืืฉื ืืชื ืกืคืจื ืืคืจืฉืช ืืืขื ืืืืื.
Rav Kamenetsky hypothesizes that if Moshe wrote it, it must have been during ืฉืขืืืื ืืฆืจืื. Thatโs when the problem of ืฆืืืง ืืจืข ืื was relevant:
ืืืคืดื ืืดื ืืื ืกืคืจ ืืืื, ืืืืจืื ื ืืืื ืืชืจื ืฉื ืฉืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืืืจื, ื ืชืืืจ ืขื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื, ืืื ืื ืืขืชื ืฉื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืช ืืฆืจืื ืฉืืื ืืฆืืขืจืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืฉื ืฆืืืง ืืจืข ืื ืจืฉืข ืืืื ืื, ืืืดื ืื ืืกืคืจ ืืืื ืื ืื ืืืืืืืืช ืฉืืื ืืฉืชืขืฉืขืื ืืื ืืฉืืชืืช.
And his editor actually attributes this to Azariah dei Rossi:
ืจืืื ื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืขื ืกืคืจ ืืืืจ ืขืื ืื (ืืจืืื ื ืขืืจืื ืื ืืืืืืื) ืฉืืชื ืืฉื โืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืจืืื ื ืืงืืืฉโ ืื ืืฆื ืืชืื ืืืืืื ืงืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืจืขืดื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืกืคืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืงื ื ืืฉืจืื
ืืฉืขืืื ืืฆืจืื ืืืขื ืืฉืืขื ืืืืขื ืืืืื ืื ืืฉ ืชืงืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืณ ืฉืืืจ ืืจืข ืืงืื ืื ืืื ืืืกื ืืื ื.
One understanding of ืืืื ืืืืจืื was ืืืื the son of ืืจื, the son of ืืืืื. He may well have been alive and writing at the time of ืฉืขืืืื ืืฆืจืื, 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 ืืืืช, and foreshadows our response to the ืืืืื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, itโs indifferenceโฆThe opposite of faith is not heresy, itโs indifference.
The third of the โsinging Levitesโ was ืืืชื, and we have one perek ascribed to him:
ื ืืฉืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืจืืื
As above, ืืืชื ืืืืจืื 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 ืืืชื ืืืืจืื refers to ืืืจืื ืืืื ื much more seriously. The targum, that for ืืืื's perek translated the name as ืืืื ืึทืฆึดืืึธื, takes ืืืชื ืืืืจืื as Abraham:
ืฉึนึดืึฐืึธื ืืื ืืืชืืจ ืขื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืชื ืื ืืืื ืืื.
As does the gemara:
ืืื ืืชื ืกืคืจ ืชืืืื ืขืดื ืขืฉืจื ืืงื ืื ืขืดื ืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืขื ืืื ืืืื ืฆืืง ืืขื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืขืดื ืืฉื ืืขื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืดื ืืืืชืื ืืขื ืืื ืืกืฃ ืืขื ืืื ืฉืืฉื ืื ื ืงืจืโฆืืืืืฉืื ื ืื ืืืชื ืืืืจืื! ืืืจ ืจื: ืืืชื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื, ืืชืื ืืื: ืืืชื ืืืืจืื, ืืืชืื ืืชื: (ืืฉืขืืื ืื:ื) ืึดึคื ืึตืขึดืืจึ ืึดืึผึดืึฐืจึธึื ืฆึถึืึถืง ืึดืงึฐืจึธืึตึฃืืึผ ืึฐืจึทืึฐืึืึน ืึดืชึผึตึจื ืึฐืคึธื ึธึคืื ืึผืึนืึดืึ ืึผืึฐืึธืึดึฃืื ืึทึืจึฐืึผึฐ ืึดืชึผึตึคื ืึผึถึฝืขึธืคึธืจึ ืึทืจึฐืึผึืึน ืึผึฐืงึทึฅืฉื ื ึดืึผึธึืฃ ืงึทืฉืึฐืชึผึฝืึน.
ืืืจื ืื ืืืจืืโฆื ืงืจื ืืืชื, ืฉื ืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืจืื (ืชืืืื ืคื:ื), ืืื โืืืืชื ืื ืืืกืื ืืจืฅโ (ืืืื ื:ื). ืืืื ื ืงืจื ืืืชื? ืฉืืืืง ืขืฆืื ืืขืฉืืช ืจืฆืื ืืืฆืจื.
And throughout our ืชืคืืืืช, especially on the ืืืืื ื ืืจืืื, we refer to Abraham as ืืืชื; for instance:
ืขืึนื ืึดืึฐืึผึธืจ ืึธื ืึผ ืึทืึฒืึทืช ืึตืืชึธื ืึฒืืึนื ึตืื ืึผ
ืึผืึทืึผึตื ืึทื ึผึถืขึฑืงึทื ืึทืฉืึฐืึผึดืืช ืึฐืึทืึผึฐื ึตื ืึผ
ืึผืึดืึฐืืึผืช ืึทืชึผึธื ืืึนืฆึดืื (ืึทืึผืึนื) ืึฐืฆึถืึถืง ืึผึดืื ึตื ืึผ
ืึผึดื ืงึธืืึนืฉื ืึทืึผืึนื ืึทืึฒืืึนื ึตืื ืึผ
What does this mean, to attribute a ืคืจืง ืชืืืืื to ืืืจืื (or, in our model, attribute an original version or at least the sentiment to ืืืจืื)? Weโll look at that at the end.
Rabbi Eisemann in his commentary to ืืืจื ืืืืื has a more ืคืฉื-based explanation for the absence of ืืืชื from the Gemaraโs list: he is really ืืืืชืื.โ ืืืชื the Levi is mentioned in ืคืจืงืื ื and ืื along with ืืกืฃ and ืืืื. After that the names change:
ืื ืืืขืื ืฉื ืืคื ื ืืจืื ืืจืืช ืืณ ืืืกืฃ ืืืืืื; ืืฉืจืช ืืคื ื ืืืจืื ืชืืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืืืืื
โฆ
ืื ืืขืืื ืืืื ืืืืืชืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืจืืจืื ืืฉืจ ื ืงืื ืืฉืืืช ืืืืืช ืืืณ ืื ืืขืืื ืืกืืื
ืืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจื ืืฆืื ืืขืืื ืืื ื ืืกืฃ ืืืืื ืืืืืชืื ืื ืืืืื (ืื ืืืื) ืืื ืจืืช ืื ืืืื ืืืืฆืืชืื; ืืืื ืืกืคืจื ืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืขืืืชืืโฆ
ื ืื ืืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืช ืืณ ืืืฆืืชืื ื ืืืื ืืื ืจืืช ืืขืืืช ืืืช ืืืืงืื ืขื ืืื ืืืื ืืกืฃ ืืืืืชืื ืืืืืื
ื ืืืืงืืื ืืื ืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืืืฉ ืฉื ื ืืขืฉืจืื ืืชืฉืข ืฉื ื ืืื ืืืจืืฉืื; ืืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืจืืืื
ื ืืืขืฉ ืืืฉืจ ืืขืื ื ืืณ; ืืื ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืืืื ืืืืื
ื ืืื ืืฉื ื ืืจืืฉืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืจืืฉืื ืคืชื ืืช ืืืชืืช ืืืช ืืณ ืืืืืงืืโฆ
ืื ืืืงืื ืืืืื ืืืช ืื ืขืืฉื ืืืืื ืื ืขืืจืืื ืื ืื ื ืืงืืชื ืืื ืื ื ืืจืจื ืงืืฉ ืื ืขืืื ืืขืืจืืื ืื ืืืืืื;
ืืื ืืืจืฉื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืืื
ืื ืืื ืื ื ืืืืฆืคื ืฉืืจื ืืืขืืื (ืืืขืืื); ืืื ืื ื ืืกืฃ ืืืจืืื ืืืชื ืืืื
ืื ืืื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืืื (ืืืืื) ืืฉืืขื;
ืืื ืื ื ืืืืชืื ืฉืืขืื ืืขืืืืื
And in fact, there are no ืชืืืืื attributed to ืืืืชืื. There are ืชืืืืื that seem to use that word as a musical instruction or instrument:
ืื;ื ืืื ืฆื ืืืืืชืื (ืืืืืชืื) ืืืืืจ ืืืืื
โฆ
ืกื:ื ืืื ืฆื ืขื ืืืืชืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืื
โฆ
ืขื:ื ืืื ืฆื ืขื ืืืืชืื (ืืืืชืื); ืืืกืฃ ืืืืืจื
So perhaps the ืืืืชืื mentioned by the gemara and in the end of ืืืจื ืืืืื was a stage name for our ืืืชื.
ื ืืกืื ืืณ ืขืืื ืืฉืืจื; ืืืจ ืืืจ ืืืืืข ืืืื ืชื ืืคืื
ื ืื ืืืจืชื ืขืืื ืืกื ืืื ื; ืฉืืื ืชืื ืืืื ืชื ืืืื
ื ืืจืชื ืืจืืช ืืืืืจื; ื ืฉืืขืชื ืืืื ืขืืืื
ื ืขื ืขืืื ืืืื ืืจืขื; ืืื ืืชื ืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืกืื ืกืืื
ื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืคืืื ืืณ; ืืฃ ืืืื ืชื ืืงืื ืงืืฉืืื
ื ืื ืื ืืฉืืง ืืขืจื ืืืณ; ืืืื ืืืณ ืืื ื ืืืืื
ื ืึพื ื ืขืจืฅ ืืกืื ืงืืฉืื ืจืื; ืื ืืจื ืขื ืื ืกืืืืืื
ื ืืณ ืืืงื ืฆึพืืืืช ืื ืืืื ืืกืื ืื; ืืืืื ืชื ืกืืืืืชืืื
ื ืืชื ืืืฉื ืืืืืช ืืื; ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืชื ืชืฉืืืื
ืื ืืชื ืืืืช ืืืื ืจืื; ืืืจืืข ืขืื ืคืืจืช ืืืืืืื
ืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืฃ ืื ืืจืฅ; ืชืื ืืืืื ืืชื ืืกืืชืื
ืื ืฆืคืื ืืืืื ืืชื ืืจืืชื; ืชืืืจ ืืืจืืื ืืฉืื ืืจื ื ืื
ืื ืื ืืจืืข ืขื ืืืืจื; ืชืขื ืืื ืชืจืื ืืืื ืื
ืื ืฆืืง ืืืฉืคื ืืืื ืืกืื; ืืกื ืืืืช ืืงืืื ืคื ืืื
ืื ืืฉืจื ืืขื ืืืขื ืชืจืืขื; ืืณ ืืืืจ ืคื ืื ืืืืืืื
ืื ืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืื; ืืืฆืืงืชื ืืจืืืื
ืื ืื ืชืคืืจืช ืขืืื ืืชื; ืืืจืฆืื ื ืชืจืื (ืชืจืื) ืงืจื ืื ืื
ืื ืื ืืืณ ืืื ื ื; ืืืงืืืฉ ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ืื
ื ืื ืืืจืช ืืืืื ืืืกืืืื ืืชืืืจ ืฉืืืชื ืขืืจ ืขื ืืืืจ;
ืืจืืืืชื ืืืืจ ืืขืื
ืื ืืฆืืชื ืืื ืขืืื; ืืฉืื ืงืืฉื ืืฉืืชืืื
ืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืชืืื ืขืื; ืืฃ ืืจืืขื ืชืืืฆื ืื
ืื ืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืื; ืืื ืขืืื ืื ืืขื ื ืื
ืื ืืืชืืชื ืืคื ืื ืฆืจืื; ืืืฉื ืืื ืืืืฃื
ืื ืืืืื ืชื ืืืกืื ืขืื; ืืืฉืื ืชืจืื ืงืจื ืื
ืื ืืฉืืชื ืืื ืืื; ืืื ืืจืืช ืืืื ืื
ืื ืืื ืืงืจืื ื ืืื ืืชื; ืืื ืืฆืืจ ืืฉืืขืชืื
ืื ืืฃ ืื ื ืืืืจ ืืชื ืื; ืขืืืื ืืืืื ืืจืฅื
ืื ืืขืืื ืืฉืืืจ (ืืฉืืจ ) ืื ืืกืื; ืืืจืืชื ื ืืื ืช ืืื
ื ืืฉืืชื ืืขื ืืจืขื; ืืืกืื ืืืื ืฉืืืื
ืื ืื ืืขืืื ืื ืื ืชืืจืชื; ืืืืฉืคืื ืื ืืืืืื
ืื ืื ืืงืชื ืืืืื; ืืืฆืืชื ืื ืืฉืืจืื
ืื ืืคืงืืชื ืืฉืื ืคืฉืขื; ืืื ืืขืื ืขืื ืื
ืื ืืืกืื ืื ืืคืืจ ืืขืื; ืืื ืืฉืงืจ ืืืืื ืชืื
ืื ืื ืืืื ืืจืืชื; ืืืืฆื ืฉืคืชื ืื ืืฉื ืื
ืื ืืืช ื ืฉืืขืชื ืืงืืฉื; ืื ืืืื ืืืืื
ืื ืืจืขื ืืขืืื ืืืื; ืืืกืื ืืฉืืฉ ื ืืืื
ืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืขืืื; ืืขื ืืฉืืง ื ืืื ืกืืื
ืื ืืืชื ืื ืืช ืืชืืืก; ืืชืขืืจืช ืขื ืืฉืืืื
ื ื ืืจืชื ืืจืืช ืขืืื; ืืืืช ืืืจืฅ ื ืืจืื
ืื ืคืจืฆืช ืื ืืืจืชืื; ืฉืืช ืืืฆืจืื ืืืชืื
ืื ืฉืกืื ืื ืขืืจื ืืจื; ืืื ืืจืคื ืืฉืื ืืื
ืื ืืจืืืืช ืืืื ืฆืจืื; ืืฉืืืช ืื ืืืืืืื
ืื ืืฃ ืชืฉืื ืฆืืจ ืืจืื; ืืื ืืงืืืชื ืืืืืืื
ืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืจื; ืืืกืื ืืืจืฅ ืืืจืชืื
ืื ืืงืฆืจืช ืืื ืขืืืืื; ืืขืืืช ืขืืื ืืืฉื ืกืืื
ืื ืขื ืื ืืณ ืชืกืชืจ ืื ืฆื; ืชืืขืจ ืืื ืืฉ ืืืชืื
ืื ืืืจ ืื ื ืื ืืื; ืขื ืื ืฉืื ืืจืืช ืื ืื ื ืืืื
ืื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืืช; ืืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืื ืฉืืื ืกืืื
ื ืืื ืืกืืื ืืจืืฉื ืื ืึพืื ื; ื ืฉืืขืช ืืืื ืืืืื ืชืื
ื ื ืืืจ ืืื ื ืืจืคืช ืขืืืื; ืฉืืชื ืืืืงื ืื ืจืืื ืขืืืื
ื ื ืืฉืจ ืืจืคื ืืืืืื ืืณ; ืืฉืจ ืืจืคื ืขืงืืืช ืืฉืืืื
ื ื ืืจืื ืืณ ืืขืืื; ืืื ืืืื
This is a very long perek but the theme is actually very simple.
This is another ืืฉืืื, a lecture. Thereโs a message here. It starts with ืืกืื ืืณ, which sounds very positive, but has echoes of ืฆืืืืง ืืืื, the idea that ืืณ is just no matter what happens to us:
ืื ืืืจ ืขื ืื ืืืจืืื ืืขื ื ืืจืืฉื
ื ืืืืจ ืชืืืืจ ืืชืฉืื (ืึฐืชึธืฉืืึนืึท) ืขืื ื ืคืฉืื
ืื ืืืช ืืฉืื ืื ืืื ืขื ืื ืืืืืื
ืื ืืกืื ืืณ ืื ืื ืชืื ื ืื ืื ืืื ืจืืืืื
ืื ืืืฉืื ืืืงืจืื ืจืื ืืืื ืชืื
ืื ืืืงื ืืณ ืืืจื ื ืคืฉื ืขื ืื ืืืืื ืืื
ืืจืชื ืืจืืช ืืืืืจื
Itโs clear that this cannot been written in its current form by Abraham or by a ืื ืืจื, since itโs all explicitly about David. We havenโt seen the ืืจืืช yet; that comes after ื ืชื ืื ืืื tells him he wonโt build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ:
ื ืืขืชื ืื ืชืืืจ ืืขืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืฆืืืืช ืื ื ืืงืืชืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืืช ื ืืื ืขื ืขืื ืขื ืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืช ืืืืจืชื ืืช ืื ืืืืื ืืคื ืื; ืืขืฉืชื ืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจืฅื
ื ืืฉืืชื ืืงืื ืืขืื ืืืฉืจืื ืื ืืขืชืื ืืฉืื ืชืืชืื ืืื ืืจืื ืขืื; ืืื ืืกืืคื ืื ื ืขืืื ืืขื ืืชื ืืืฉืจ ืืจืืฉืื ืื
ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืจ ืฆืืืชื ืฉืคืืื ืขื ืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืืชื ืื ืืื ืืืืื; ืืืืื ืื ืืณ ืื ืืืช ืืขืฉื ืื ืืณื
ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืช ืืช ืืืชืื ืืืงืืืชื ืืช ืืจืขื ืืืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืืขืื; ืืืืื ืชื ืืช ืืืืืชืื
ืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืช ืืฉืื; ืืื ื ืชื ืืช ืืกื ืืืืืชื ืขื ืขืืืื
ืื ืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืขืืชื ืืืืืชืื ืืฉืื ืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืขื ืื ื ืืืื
ืื ืืืกืื ืื ืืกืืจ ืืื ื ืืืฉืจ ืืกืจืชื ืืขื ืฉืืื ืืฉืจ ืืกืจืชื ืืืคื ืืื
ืื ืื ืืื ืืืชื ืืืืืืชื ืขื ืขืืื ืืคื ืื; ืืกืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืขื ืขืืืื
ืื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืจ ื ืชื ืื ืืืื
ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืคืืื ืืณ
The next stich praises ืืณ, including one of the sources for our ืงืืืฉื:โ ืื ื ืขืจืฅ ืืกืื ืงืืฉืื ืจืื corresponds to ื ืขืจืืฆื ืื ืงืืืฉื ืืกืื ืฉืื ืฉืจืคื ืงืืฉ ืืืงืืืฉืื ืฉืื ืืงืืฉ. 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:
ืชืื ืืืืืื: ืืจืฅ ืชึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื ืืืืืฉืืช ืืฉืืื ื ืืืืฉืืช, ืืืืืืฉืืช ืชึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื ืชืื, ืืคืืื ืืืจ ืืืืืื, ืึฐืึทืึผึฐืืึนื ืฉืื ืื ืืฉืืื ืื ืื, ืื ื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืขืืคืืช.
ืืืคื ืืขืชื ืื ืืืจ ืชืื ืืืืืื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืขืจื ืขื ืงื ืืฉืื ืืืืจื ืืขืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืฉื ืืืื ืืจืืฉ ืืืจื ืขื ืกืืฃ ืืขืจื, ืืคืืื ืืืจ ืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืื. ืืืืจ ืื ืืืจ ืฆืคืื ืืืืื ืืชื ืืจืืชื, ืฉืืื ืืจืืื ืืขืืื ืืืื ื ืืืืฉื ืืืื.
including the great mountains of ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื,โ ืชืืืจ ืืืจืืื. We can understand why we mention ืืจืืื; itโs the tallest mountain in Israel, 9,232 feet. But ืืจ ืชืืืจ isnโt even in the top ten. Why mention it? One answer is suggested by the midrash:
ืื ืื ื ื ืื ืืืื ืืณ ืฆึพืืืืช ืฉืื; ืื ืืชืืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืืืืื
ืืื ืชืจืฆืืื ืืจืื ืืื ื ืื;
ืืืจ ืืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืืชื; ืืฃ ืืณ ืืฉืื ืื ืฆืื
ืืฉืขื ืฉืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืืืชื ืชืืจื ืืกืื ื ืืื ืืืจืื ืจืฆืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืื ืขื ืืื. ืื ืืืืจ ืขืื ืืชืืจื ื ืืชื ืช, ืืื ืืืืจ ืขืื ืืชืืจื ื ืืชื ืช. ืชืืืจ ืื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืืจืื ืืืกืคืืื. ืืืดื (ืืจืืื ืื) โืื ืื ื ื ืื ืืณ ืืืืณ ืื ืืชืืืจ ืืืจืืโ, ืื ืืืืจ ืื ื ื ืงืจืืชื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ื ื ืงืจืืชื. ืืืจ ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื โืืื ืชืจืฆืืื ืืจืื ืืืืณโ ืืืืื ืืจืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื, ืืื ืืืดื (ืืืงืจื ืื) โืื ืืื ืื ืืงโ, ืืืืื ื ืขืฉื ืขืืืืช ืืืืืื ืขื ืจืืฉืืื, ืืื ืกืื ื ืฉืื ื ืขืฉื ืขืืืืช ืืืืืื ืขืืื (ืชืืืื ืกื) โืืืจ ืืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืืชืโ, (ืฉืืืช ืื) ืืืจื ืืณ ืขื ืืจ ืกืื ื.
ืืจ ืชืืืจ, while not very high, is distinctive; it โis 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 โpowersโ.
ืฆืืง ืืืฉืคื ืืืื ืืกืื
The next stich is about Israel. They understand ืืณ's ืฆืืง ืืืฉืคื and really know the meaning of the shofar (ืืืขื ืชืจืืขื):
ื ืื ืืชืงืข ืฉืืคืจ ืืขืืจ ืืขื ืื ืืืจืื; ืื ืชืืื ืจืขื ืืขืืจ ืืืณ ืื ืขืฉืื
ื ืื ืื ืืขืฉื ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืืจ ืื ืื ืืื ืกืืื ืื ืขืืืื ืื ืืืืืื
ื ืืจืื ืฉืื ืื ืื ืืืจื; ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืืจ ืื ืื ืื ืืื
ืืจืืืืชื ืืืืจ ืืขื
The next stich comes back to David and the ืืจืืช. Itโs all good, until the important point at ืคืกืืง ืื on, ืื ืืขืืื ืื ืื ืชืืจืชื; ืืืืฉืคืื ืื ืืืืืโฆืืคืงืืชื ืืฉืื ืคืฉืขืโฆืื ืืืื ืืจืืชื.โ ืืณ will punish Davidโs descendants but not wipe them out. The dynasty will last forever.
ืื ืืืฉื ืช ืืืฉ ืืืืจื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืฉืคื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืืฉืคื ืืื ืืืืืื
โฆ
ืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืืืช ืืืื ืื ืืช ืืืื ืืืชื ืื ืืืฉื; ืืืขืฉ ืืจืข ืืขืื ื ืืณื
ืื ืืื ืืื ืืณ ืืืฉืืืช ืืช ืืืืื ืืืขื ืืื ืขืืื; ืืืฉืจ ืืืจ ืื ืืชืช ืื ื ึดืืจ ืืื ืื ืื ืืืืืื
ืืืชื ืื ืืช ืืชืืืก
Then things turn ugly. The psalmist turns to G-d and says, โYou lied!โ. In fact, Ibn Ezra brings a rabbi who refused to read this part:
ืืืื ืืกืคืจื ืืื ืืืื ืืืกืื ืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืขืืื ืงืฉื ืืื ืืื ืงืืจื ืืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืข ืืขืืืจ ืื ืื ืืืฉืืจืจ ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืฉื ืื ืืื ืงืฉืืช. ืืืืืื ืื ืืืืืจ ืืคืืจืืฉ ืชืืงืื ืื ืืืืืืจ.
But it isnโt 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:
ืจืืื ืชืืื ืขื ืื ืืืฉืืจืจ ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื, ืืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืืืืืจื: ื ืฉืืขืช ืื ืืื ืขืืืช ืืฉืืืขืชืโฆืืื ื ืชืื ืขื ืชืืืืชื, ืื ืืืืืืจืื ืืจืื ืืงืืืฉ ื ืืืจื, ืืื ืืชืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ื ืืื, ืืื ืืืฉืืจืจ ืชึผึธืึตืึผึท ืืืืจื ืืืืืช ืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืืจ ืฉืึถืขึธืึทืจ ืืึพื ืืชืืจื ืขื ืฉืืืขืชืโฆืืืืจ ืืืฉืืจืจ ืืจื ืชึผึฐืึดืึผึธื: ืืื ืืืื, ืืืื ืืืชื ืึทืึทืึผึธืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืงืฆืฃ ืืืืื ืืื. ืื ื ืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืืืจ (ืฉืืืช ืื:ืื): โืืืืจ ืืืืจืื ืืืฆืืง ืืืืฉืจืื ืขืืืื ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืขืช ืืื ืโื, ืืืจ ืืื ืชืขืฉื ืื ืฉืืจื ื ืฉืืขืช, ืืืฉืขืืื ืื ืืื ืืืจ (ืืฉืขืื ืกื:ืื): ืึธืึผึธื ืชึทืชึฐืขึตื ืึผ ืืณ ืึดืึผึฐืจึธืึถืืึธโฆืื ึนืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืฉืื ืึผึทืืึนืึถื? ืืื, ืื ืืืจื ืืื ืขื ืืจื ืืืืื.
Because the nature of a ืืจืืช is that there are conditions. There would come a point of no return if Davidโs descendants sinned enough:
ื ืืืจื ืืณ ืื ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืช ืืืฉืจ ื ืจืื ืืืื ืืืืขืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืณ ืืืื ืฉืืขืชื ืืช ืชืคืืชื ืืืช ืชืื ืชื ืืฉืจ ืืชืื ื ืชื ืืคื ื ืืงืืฉืชื ืืช ืืืืช ืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืชื ืืฉืื ืฉืื ืฉื ืขื ืขืืื; ืืืื ืขืื ื ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืืืืื
ื ืืืชื ืื ืชืื ืืคื ื ืืืฉืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืชื ืืื ืืืืฉืจ ืืขืฉืืช ืืื ืืฉืจ ืฆืืืชืื ืืงื ืืืฉืคืื ืชืฉืืจื
ื ืืืงืืชื ืืช ืืกื ืืืืืชื ืขื ืืฉืจืื ืืขืื; ืืืฉืจ ืืืจืชื ืขื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืจืช ืื ืืืฉ ืืขื ืืกื ืืฉืจืืื
ื ืื ืฉืื ืชืฉืืื ืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืชืฉืืจื ืืฆืืชื ืืงืชื ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื ืืคื ืืื; ืืืืืชื ืืขืืืชื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืืืฉืชืืืืชื ืืืื
ื ืืืืจืชื ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืขื ืคื ื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื ืืื ืืืช ืืืืช ืืฉืจ ืืงืืฉืชื ืืฉืื ืืฉืื ืืขื ืคื ื; ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืฉื ืืืฉื ืื ื ืืื ืืขืืืื
ืืืจ ืื ื ืื ืืื
Then the psalmist gets personal. Life is short (ืืื from ืึฒืืึผืึธื, rust) and pointless (ืฉืื ืืจืืช ืื ืื ื ืืื).
ืืื ืืกืืื ืืจืืฉื ืื
The last stich returns to the beginning, with ืืกืื ืืณ and ืืืื ืชื. There is no blasphemy here, only a prayer that ืืณ avenge us, leading up to ืขืงืืืช ืืฉืืื. This is the term the gemara uses for the period before the ืืืจืืช ืืืืื.โ ืืืชื is complaining that we have lost faith in the ืืืืื, that we are scorning the signs that ืืฉืื is coming.
ืืจืื ืืณ ืืขืืื
The coda isnโt really just for this perek; itโs the end of the entire book 3 of ืชืืืืื, from ืคืจืง ืขื to here. This book is almost all the work of the Leviim, ืืกืฃ,โ ืืืื,โ ืืืชื and ืื ื ืงืจื. These chapters are much more pessimistic than most of ืกืคืจ ืชืืืืื, and this pasuk serves to give us a little reassurance.
ืืจืื ืืณ ืืขืืื ืืื ืืืื: ืืืจื ืืืฉืืจืจ, ืจืื ืืจืื ืืงืืืฉ ืฉืืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืืช ืื ืชื ืืืืื ืืึพื ืืชืืจื.
ืจืดื ืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืงืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืคื ืืืื ืืืืืง.
Given that this perek is all about ืืณ's relationship with David and ืืืืืช ืืืช ืืื, what does it mean to attribute it to ืืืจืื? I think that if we simply read this perek straight, itโs too easy to say that it doesnโt apply to us. Whether or not ืืณ keeps His promise to David doesnโt have anything to do with us. But thereโs another ืืจืืช that does affect us:
ืื ืืืืจืชื ืืช ืืจืืชื ืืขืงืื; ืืืฃ ืืช ืืจืืชื ืืฆืืง ืืืฃ ืืช ืืจืืชื ืืืจืื ืืืืจ ืืืืจืฅ ืืืืจื
ืื ืืืืจืฅ ืชืขืื ืืื ืืชืจืฅ ืืช ืฉืืชืชืื ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืืจืฆื ืืช ืขืื ื; ืืขื ืืืืขื ืืืฉืคืื ืืืกื ืืืช ืืงืชื ืืขืื ื ืคืฉืื
ืื ืืืฃ ืื ืืืช ืืืืืชื ืืืจืฅ ืืืืืื ืื ืืืกืชืื ืืื ืืขืืชืื ืืืืชื ืืืคืจ ืืจืืชื ืืชื; ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืืืงืืืื
ืื ืืืืจืชื ืืื ืืจืืช ืจืืฉื ืื; ืืฉืจ ืืืฆืืชื ืืชื ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืื ืืขืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืืืงืื ืื ื ืืณื
Itโs too easy for us to say, โG-d loves us, has a covenant with us. Weโll never be destroyedโ. It doesnโt work that way. It didnโt work that way with ืืจืืช ืืื and it doesnโt work that way with ืืจืืช ืืืืช. And that is the message that ืืืชื ืืืืจืื has for us.