Weโve spent the past few weeks looking at the end of Davidโs dream of building the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ:
ื ืื ืืืืจืช ืื ืขืืื ืื ืืื
ืื ืืืจ ืืณ; ืืืชื ืชืื ื ืื ืืืช ืืฉืืชืื
โฆืื ืืืืื ืื ืื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
How does David react? This brings to mind one of the great English-language poems:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a soreโ
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar overโ
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
What happens to Davidโs dream, deferred? We know his immediate reaction:
ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืคื ื ืืณ; ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืื ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืื ืืืชื ืื ืืืืชื ื ืขื ืืืื
David goes and sits before ืืณ, presumably in the ืืื ืืืจืื that he has built, the building that would have been the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. And he sits, which weโve never seen as a position of prayer:
ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืขืืจื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืื) ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืคื ื ืืณ.
ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืขืืจื: ืืืชืื ืืขืืื ืืฉืจืช (ืืืจืื ืื) ืืขืืืืื ืฉื ืืคื ื ืืณ (ืืืจืื ืื) ืืื ืืฆืื ื ืื ืืฉืืื.
The Maharsha says that this symbolized what it meant to be a scion of ืืืช ืืื:
ืืขื ืื ืื ืืงืื ืืืฉืื ืืืืงืืฉ ืืื ืืกื ืืณ ืืืืชืื (ืชืืืื ืงืื:ืื) ืึดึผื ืึธืึทืจ ืืณ ืึฐึผืฆึดืึผืึนื ืึดืึธึผืึผ ืึฐืืึนืฉึธืื ืืึน; ืืืืืืืช ืืืช ืืื ืงืจื ืืืชืื ืืกื ืืณ ืืืดืฉ (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืื:ืื) ืึทืึตึผืฉึถืื ืฉึฐืืึนืึนื ืขึทื ืึดึผืกึตึผื ืืณ ืึฐืึถืึถืึฐ ืชึทึผืึทืช ืึธึผืึดืื ืึธืึดืื ืึทืึทึผืฆึฐืึทื ืึทืึดึผืฉึฐืืึฐืขืึผ ืึตืึธืื ืึธึผื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื.
He sits because he is the ืืื ืืืฉืื.
The midrash, however, interprets ืืืฉื metaphorically:
ืืขืฉื ืืจืณ ืขืงืืื ืฉืงืจื ืื ืืืื ืืจืืื ืืขืืื ืืืงืจืืช ืืชืืจื ืืื ืขืื, ืืืจ ืฉื ืคืืจื ืืืืช ืืื ืกืชโฆืืืจื ืื ืืืื ืื ืขืื ืจืื? ืืดื ืืคื ื ืฉืื ืืชืงื ืชื ืืช ืขืฆืืโฆืืืจ ืืื: ืื ืืืืชื ืืชืคืื ืืคื ื ืืืืงืื ืขื ืฉืืืืชื ืืชืืืฉื ืืขืชื ืืืชืงื ืขืฆืื ืืืจ ืื ืืืืชื ืขืืื ืืืกืืจ ืชืคืืชื, ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืคื ื ืืณ (ืืื) ืืืืจ ืฉืืฉื ืขืฆืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืขืชื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืื ืืโฆ
David then acknowledges that he doesnโt deserve it: ืื ืื ืื ืึพืื ื ืืณ. The name ืึพืื ื ืืณ is an echo from Abraham:
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืจื ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืื ืชืชื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืขืจืืจื; ืืื ืืฉืง ืืืชื ืืื ืืืฉืง ืืืืขืืจื
โฆื ืืืืืจ; ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืื ืืืข ืื ืืืจืฉื ืื
ืืดืจ ืืืื ื ืืฉืื ืจืดืฉ ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืงืืดื ืืช ืืขืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืงืจืื ืืืงืืดื ืืืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืงืจืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื) ืืืืืจ ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืื ืืืข ืื ืืืจืฉื ื.
ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืจ ืืื, ืืืจืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืืืงืื ืื ืชืชื ืื, ืืืจ ืืคื ืื ืจืืฉืดืข ืื ืื ื ืขืชืื ืืืขืืื ืื ืื ืืืืขืืกื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืขืจืืจื. ืืืโฆืืืจ ืืคื ืื ืจืืื ื ืฉื ืขืืื ืื ืขืชืื ืื ื ืืืขืืื ืื ืื ืืืขืฆืืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืื ื ืืืจื ืขืืื.
Abraham was promised that his progeny would fulfill his mission, but still questioned and asked for a sign. David has been promised that his progeny would fulfill his mission, but Rabbi David Fohrman points out an important point. ื ืชื's ื ืืืื says (ืฉืืืื ื ื:ืื-ืื),โ ืึฒืงึดืืึนืชึดื ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืขึฒืึธ ืึทืึฒืจึถืืึธ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึตืฆึตื ืึดืึผึตืขึถืืึธโฆืืึผื ืึดืึฐื ึถื ืึผึทืึดืช ืึดืฉืึฐืึดื. The son who will build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ is one ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึตืฆึตื ืึดืึผึตืขึถืืึธ, who will come from your loins, in the future. It will not be one of the sons you already have. David is in the same position as Abraham; he needs more reassurance that this son will be born.
David acknowledges that he is asking for too much; he doesnโt even deserve being brought ืขึทื ืึฒืึนื, โhitherโ, to the point of being king. Others may have deserved it more and not achieved it:
ืขื ืืื: ืฉืืืืืชื ื.
ืืืจ ืขืืื: ืืงืฉ ืืฉื ืืืืืช ืืื ื ืชื ื ืื ืืืชืื (ืฉืืืช ื) โืื ืชืงืจื ืืืืโ; ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืฉื ืืืจ (ืฉืืืื ื ื) ืื ืื ืืโฆืื ืืืืืชื ื ืขื ืืืื.
And if this [making David king] wasnโt enough, ืืณ has also given David a vision of the far future, of his dynasty:
ืืชืงืื ืขืื ืืืช ืืขืื ืื ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืชืืืจ ืื ืื ืืืช ืขืืื ืืืจืืืง; ืืืืช ืชืืจืช ืืืื ืึพืื ื ืืณื
The phrase ืึฐืึนืืช ืชึผืึนืจึทืช ืึธืึธืึธื is very hard to translate. Rashi reads it as a rhetorical question, โis this how a [regular] person is treated?โ
ืืืืช ืชืืจืช ืืืื: ืืชืืืโืจืืื ืืืชืืฉืจ ืื ืืืฉืจ ืืื?
Radak translates ืชึผืึนืจึทืช as โthe nature ofโ and ืึธืึธืึธื as โa great manโ (hence the ื ืืืืืขื):
ืืืืช ืชืืจืช ืืืื: ืชืืื ืช ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืช ืฉืืืจืช ืขืื ืชืืื ืช ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืคื ืื ืืื ืืืื ื.
This is from the parallel in ืืืจื ืืืืื, which acts as a sort of ืคืจืืฉ on ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื:
ืืชืงืื ืืืช ืืขืื ืื ืืืงืื ืืชืืืจ ืขื ืืืช ืขืืื ืืืจืืืง; ืึผืจึฐืึดืืชึทื ึดื ืึผึฐืชืึนืจ ืึธืึธืึธื ืึทืึผึทืขึฒืึธื ืืณ ืืืงืืื
ืชึผืึนืจ is from ืฉืืจ ืืฉืืจืื:
ื ึธืืึคืึผ ืึฐืึธืึทึืึดืึฐึ ืึผึทืชึผึนืจึดึืื ืฆึทืึผึธืืจึตึืึฐ ืึผึทืึฒืจืึผืึดึฝืืื
ื ืืื ืืืืื ืืชืืจืื: ืฉืืจืืช ื ืืื ืืื.
[I]t describes the beautiful was in which the various ornaments on the necklace are arranged. Thus it suggests the smooth interaction of the qualitiesโฆof a given objectโฆUsed in connection with a man, it would describe harmony with which his various characteristics interact with one anotherโhence, his nature.
Such a person, in perfect harmony with his inner nature, deserves to be king. David cannot claim to be that man.
With that self-deprecating introduction, David starts his prayer. It has the classical structure of prayer, starting with ืฉืื then ืืงืฉื, then ืืืืื:
ื ืืื ืืืกืืฃ ืืื ืขืื ืืืืจ ืืืื; ืืืชื ืืืขืช ืืช ืขืืื ืึพืื ื ืืณื
ืื ืืขืืืจ ืืืจื ืืืืื ืขืฉืืช ืืช ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืืืืืข ืืช ืขืืืื
ืื ืขื ืื ืืืืช ืืณ ืืืงื; ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืงืื ืืืืชื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืขื ื ืืืื ืื ืื
ืื ืืื ืืขืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืืงืื ืืคืืืช ืื ืืขื ืืืฉืื ืื ืฉื ืืืขืฉืืช ืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืจืืืช ืืืจืฆื ืืคื ื ืขืื ืืฉืจ ืคืืืช ืื ืืืฆืจืื ืืืื ืืืืงืืื
ืื ืืชืืื ื ืื ืืช ืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืขื ืขื ืขืืื; ืืืชื ืืณ ืืืืช ืืื ืืืืงืืื
That was the ืฉืื. The ืืงืฉื is that the ื ืืืื come true, ืืืช ืขืืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืืคื ืื:
ืื ืืขืชื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืืจืช ืขื ืขืืื ืืขื ืืืชื ืืงื ืขื ืขืืื; ืืขืฉื ืืืฉืจ ืืืจืชื
ืื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืขื ืขืืื ืืืืจ ืืณ ืฆึพืืืืช ืืืงืื ืขื ืืฉืจืื; ืืืืช ืขืืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืืคื ืืื
ืื ืื ืืชื ืืณ ืฆึพืืืืช ืืืงื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืชื ืืช ืืื ืขืืื ืืืืจ ืืืช ืืื ื ืื; ืขื ืื ืืฆื ืขืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืชืคืื ืืืื ืืช ืืชืคืื ืืืืชื
ืื ืืขืชื ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืชื ืืื ืืืืงืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืช; ืืชืืืจ ืื ืขืืื ืืช ืืืืื ืืืืชื
And the ืืืืื is thanking ืืณ, as though his prayer were already answered:
ืืขืชื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืช ืืืช ืขืืื ืืืืืช ืืขืืื ืืคื ืื; ืื ืืชื ืึพืื ื ืืณ ืืืจืช ืึผืึดืึผึดืจึฐืึธืชึฐืึธ ืึฐืึนืจึทืึฐ ืึผึตืืช ืขึทืึฐืึผึฐืึธ ืึฐืขืึนืึธืื
Thatโs beautiful. David obviously hears ื ืชื's message, that ืืณ will build him a ืืืช. But what about Davidโs original request? Where is the ืืืช that David will build for ืืณ? Rabbi Eisemann says his prayer reflected a profoundly different David, whose priorities have changed:
It seems as though the outpouring of gratitude for the perpetuation of the kingship has submerged the idea of the Templeโwhich has previously been central to Davidโs thinkingโcompletely.
โฆ
The building of a Temple may well be the fulfillment of any manโs lifeโฆBut in the long-range perspective of eternity, even the Temple itself becomes but a milestone along the road to G-dโs purpose. It is the function of the Messiah to make the hearts of Israel the true House of Hashem, the true focus of Godliness on earth, to which the Temple will be only secondary in importance.
It was a different David who poured out his heart in gratitude before G-d than the man who had wanted so much to be the builder of G-dโs Temple. Before Nathanโs prophecy he had been an individual whose life would have reached its pinnacle with the construction of the Temple. After Nathan had spoken David became fused with the eternal Israel; the โTempleโ he would build was even greater than the one he had once envisioned.
Thatโs even more beautiful. And I think it accurately reflects the David of ืืืจื ืืืืื, the one who can do no wrong. He hears ื ืชื's message as we said last time, that the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ is only a symbol of the ืืืืืช ืืื ืื that Israel is to become. It is an ideal vision of ืืื ืืื ืืืฉืื.
It is also the David of ืกืคืจ ืชืืืืื. Weโve seen ืชืืืืื ืงืื, about Davidโs oath to build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. Note how it ends: not with the building of ืืืช ืืณ, but with the building of ืืืช ืืื:
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช;
ืืืืจ ืืณ ืืืื ืืช ืื ืขื ืืชืื
ื ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืข ืืืณ; ื ืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
ื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชื; ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืขืจืฉ ืืฆืืขืื
ื ืื ืืชื ืฉื ืช ืืขืื ื; ืืขืคืขืคื ืชื ืืืื
ื ืขื ืืืฆื ืืงืื ืืืณ; ืืฉืื ืืช ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
โฆืื ื ืฉืืข ืืณ ืืืื ืืืช ืื ืืฉืื ืืื ื;
ืืคืจื ืืื ื ืืฉืืช ืืืกื ืืื
ืื ืื ืืฉืืจื ืื ืื ืืจืืชื ืืขืืชื ืื ืืืืื;
ืื ืื ืืื ืขืื ืขื ืืฉืื ืืืกื ืืื
ืื ืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืืฆืืื; ืืื ืืืืฉื ืืื
And ืชืืืืื ืงืื presents Davidโs feelings about not building the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ:
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช ืืืื;
ืฉืืืชื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืช ืืณ ื ืืื
ื ืขืืืืช ืืื ืจืืืื ื ืืฉืขืจืื ืืจืืฉืืื
ืืดืจ ืืืืฉืข ืื ืืื: ืืื ืืืชืื (ืชืืืืื ืงืื) โืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช ืืืื ืฉืืืชื ืืืืืจืื ืื ืืืช ืืณ ื ืืโ? ืืืจ ืืื ืืคื ื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื: ืจืืฉืดืข ืฉืืขืชื ืื ื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืจืื ืืชื ืืืืช ืืงื ืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืืื ื ืืืช ืืืืืจื ืื ืขืื ืืจืื ืืฉืืืชื.
ื ืจืื ืืคืจืฉ ืฉืื ืืืจื ืื ืืจื ืืืฆื ืืช ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืงืฉืื ืืืืชืชื ืฉื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืชืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืดืง ืืขืืืจ ืืขืืืื.
Heโs not bitter. His dream has dried up, but thereโs a better future ahead.
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช ืืฉืืื;
ืื ืืณ ืื ืืื ื ืืืช ืฉืื ืขืืื ืืื ืื ืื;
ืื ืืณ ืื ืืฉืืจ ืขืืจ ืฉืื ืฉืงื ืฉืืืจื
ื ืฉืื ืืื ืืฉืืืื ืงืื ืืืืจื ืฉืืช
ืืืื ืืื ืืขืฆืืื;
ืื ืืชื ืืืืืื ืฉื ืื
ื ืื ื ื ืืืช ืืณ ืื ืื; ืฉืืจ ืคืจื ืืืืื
ื ืืืฆืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ื ืื ืขืืจืืื
ื ืืฉืจื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืช ืืฉืคืชื ืืื;
ืื ืืืฉื ืื ืืืืจื ืืช ืืืืืื ืืฉืขืจื
All the ืืคืจืฉืื understand ืืฉืืื to mean โdedicated to ืฉืืืโ rather than โwritten by ืฉืืืโ. I think that fits the meaning of the perek as well.
ืืขืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืื โืืืืื ืืืจโ. ืืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืจื ืืื ืืืืฉืืจืจืื ืขื ืฉืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืคืฅ ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืฉื ืืืชื ืื ื ืชื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืื ื ื ืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืฉืืจืจ ืืืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืคื ืืืฉืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืคื ืฉืืคืฆืจ ืืืขืฉืื ืืชืืืง ืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืฆืืจื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืชื ืืืืฉืืช ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืืืื ืืืกืฃ ืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืช ืืืขื ืฉืื ืขืืื ืื ืื ืืขืืจื ืืฉื.
ืฉืื ืขืืื
Building anything, especially the ืืืช, will be in vain unless ืืณ supports it. And the way to make sure that it is not in vain is to ensure the spiritual survival of the next generation:
ืจืื ืืืื ื ืฉืืื ืฉืื ืืจืื ืืืื ืืืจืณ ืืกื ืืืจืณ ืืื ืืืืขืืืจ ืืงืืจืืืชื ืืืจืขื ืืืฉืจืื, ืืืชืงื ื ืืื ืกืคืจืื ืืืชื ืืื ืื. ืขืืื ืืื ืืชืจ ืืื ืืฉืืืื ืื ืกืคืจ ืืื ืืชื ืืื. ืืืจืื ืืื: ืืืืชืื ืื ื ืืืจื ืงืจืชื! ืืืืชืื ืืื ืกื ืืืจื
ืงืจืชื. ืืืจืื ืืื: ืืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืืืจื ืงืจืชืโืืืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืจืืื ืงืจืชื! ืืืจืื ืืื: ืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืืืจื ืงืจืชื? ืืืจ ืืื: ืกืคืจืืื ืืืชื ืืื ืื. ืืื ืืื ืืืชืื (ืชืืืืื ืงืื) ืื ืืณ ืื ืืื ื ืืืช ืืืืณ.
Without worthy children, ืืณ will not help and thereโs no point to waking early and staying up late, of sacrificing and eating ืืื ืืขืฆืืื. If you are a ืืืื of ืืณ, then you will sleep well. Thereโs a hint there to Davidโs situation. He did not sleep (as in ืชืืืืื ืงืื) and did not eat (weโll see the ืืจืืฉืืื ืคืื on this) in his dedication to building the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. Sholomo his son (explicitly called ืืืืืื) will sleep well:
ืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืช ืืช ืฉืืข ืืฉืชื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืฉืื ืขืื; ืืชืื ืื ืืืงืจื (ืืชืงืจื) ืืช ืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืืณ ืืืืื
ืื ืืืฉืื ืืื ื ืชื ืื ืืื ืืืงืจื ืืช ืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืณื
ืื ื ืื ื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืฉ ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืชื ืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืกืืื; ืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืืื ืืฉืงื ืืชื ืขื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืื
And those children are the โarrowsโ that can be aimed anywhere, to accomplish anything. Itโs a nice metaphor, since it emphasizes how all we can do is sharpen our arrows (note that ืืฉื ื ืชื ืืื ืื literally means โyou shall sharpen your childrenโ) and aim them. Once theyโve left the bow, they are out of our control. If they donโt go the way we want, we have Shakespeareโs take on the metaphor:
How sharper than a serpentโs tooth it is
To have a thankless child.
The next perek is a continuation of the same thought:
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช;
ืืฉืจื ืื ืืจื ืืณ ืืืื ืืืจืืืื
ื ืืืืข ืืคืื ืื ืชืืื; ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ืืื
ื ืืฉืชื ืืืคื ืคืจืื ืืืจืืชื ืืืชื;
ืื ืื ืืฉืชืื ืืืชืื ืกืืื ืืฉืืื ืื
ื ืื ื ืื ืื ืืืจื ืืืจ ืืจื ืืณื
ื ืืืจืื ืืณ ืืฆืืื; ืืจืื ืืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื
ื ืืจืื ืื ืื ืืื ืื; ืฉืืื ืขื ืืฉืจืืื
Labor, ืืืืข ืืคืื, is important; you canโt live on ืืืืื alone:
ืืืืข ืืคืื: ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืืืชื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืจืื, ืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืข ืขืฆืื ืืืืืื. ืืื ืชืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืื, ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ืื, ืืืฉืจืื ืื ื ืืขืืื, ืืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืช ืืึพื ืืชืืจื. ืืื ืื ืฉืคืืจืฉื ืจืืดื (ืืจืืืช ื,ื): ืืฉืจืื ืืขืืื ืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืขืืื ืืื.
ืืืื ืืื ืขืฉืืจ ? ืืฉืื ืืืืงื, ืฉื ืืืจ โืืืืข ืืคืื ืื ืชืืื; ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ืืโ.
But it all has to be in the context of ืืจื ืืณ ืืืื ืืืจืืื. Then ones children will grow ืกืืื ืืฉืืื ื, with the family intact, and that it what truly leads to ืฉืืื ืขื ืืฉืจืื.
This is how the David of ืกืคืจ ืชืืืืื looks at the meaning of ืฆืืื and what he presents to his successor Shlomo.
But ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื focuses on David the human being and I think that the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ remains Davidืณs focus for the rest of his life. His dream deferred becomes crusted and sugared over like a syrupy sweetโalways there, preserved but out of reach. It is what drives his greatest successes and his most tragic failures. Everything that happens for the rest of ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื comes from this perek and we will have to see how that develops.
For now, we know something of how David (the person, not the symbol) reacts to the news from how he describes it to his son:
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืฉืืื; ืื ื (ืื ื) ืื ื ืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืฉื ืืณ ืืืงืื
ื ืืืื ืขืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืืืืจ ืื ืืจื ืฉืคืืช ืืืืืืืช ืืืืืช ืขืฉืืช; ืื ืชืื ื ืืืช ืืฉืื ืื ืืืื ืจืืื ืฉืคืืช ืืจืฆื ืืคื ืื
ื ืชื said nothing about ืื ืืจื ืฉืคืืช. Where did that come from? I think it is David, looking back at his life, who realized that he had made mistakes that may have prevented him from building the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. The Malbim proposes that David had another ื ืืืื after making all the preparations for building the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, hoping that now he would be allowed to build it:
ืืืื ืืืจ ืืณ: ืื ืืืจ ืืืจื ื ืืืืช ื ืชื (ืื ืดื) โฆืืืจื ืฉื ืืื ืฉืืื. ืื ืืจืื: ืฉืฉืคื ืื ืฉืื ืืฆืืจื, ืืืืืืืช ืืจืฉืืช ืฉืขืฉื.
But why does ืื ืืจื ืฉืคืืช affect the Temple? The concept of David as a man of bloodshed comes from an incident during Avshalomโs rebellion:
ื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืขื ืืืืจืื; ืืื ื ืืฉื ืืืฉ ืืืฆื ืืืฉืคืืช ืืืช ืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืฉืืขื ืื ืืจื ืืฆื ืืฆืื ืืืงืืื
ื ืืืกืงื ืืืื ืื ืืช ืืื ืืืช ืื ืขืืื ืืืื ืืื; ืืื ืืขื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืืื ื ืืืฉืืืืื
ื ืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืขื ืืงืืื; ืฆื ืฆื ืืืฉ ืืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืืืืขืื
ื ืืฉืื ืขืืื ืืณ ืื ืืื ืืืช ืฉืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืช ืชืืชื ืืืชื ืืณ ืืช ืืืืืื ืืื ืืืฉืืื ืื ื; ืืื ื ืืจืขืชื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืื ืืชืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืืฉื ืื ืฆืจืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืช ืืื ื ืืืื; ืืขืืจื ื ื ืืืกืืจื ืืช ืจืืฉืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืื ื ืฆืจืื; ืื (ืื) ืืงืื ืืื (ืื) ืืณ ืืืจ ืื ืงืื ืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืืข ืขืฉืืชื ืืื
ืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืืืฉื ืืื ืื ืขืืืื ืื ื ืื ื ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืืขื ืืืงืฉ ืืช ื ืคืฉื; ืืืฃ ืื ืขืชื ืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืงืื ืื ืืืจ ืื ืืณื
ืื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืณ ืืขืื ื (ืืขืื ื); ืืืฉืื ืืณ ืื ืืืื ืชืืช ืงืืืชื ืืืื ืืืื
ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืจื;
ืืฉืืขื ืืื ืืฆืืข ืืืจ ืืขืืชื ืืืื ืืืงืื ืืืกืงื ืืืื ืื ืืขืืชื ืืขืคืจ ืืขืคืจื
Look at what David is thinking: his son is rebelling against him, and itโs the wrong son. Avshalom (ironic name, that!) is one of those born before David comes to Jerusalem, not one ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึตืฆึตื ืึดืึผึตืขึถืืึธ after. Davidโs dream lies in ruins. If Avshalom becomes king, then the ื ืืืื will not come true, at least not in the next generation. It also means that David is not a real ืืื, since there will have been no peaceful transfer of power. And now this relative of Saul comes and curses him and reminds him that he, David, came to power in the same way, after a civil war with Saul and Ish Boshet. Maybe Shimi is right; maybe David could have avoided the war, not been an ืืืฉ ืืืืื. David should have been king as the son-in-law of the previous king, and then could have been the ืืื who built the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. And thatโs what he tells Shlomo at the end of his life.
Thereโs another understanding of ืื ืืจื ืฉืคืืช ืืืืืืืช ืืืืืช ืขืฉืืช. Immediately after being told he will not build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, he starts preparing for it:
ื ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืช ืคืืฉืชืื ืืืื ืืขื; ืืืงื ืืื ืืช ืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืคืืฉืชืืื
โฆืื ืื ืึนืชึธื ืืงืืืฉ ืืืื ืืื ืืืณ ืขื ืืืกืฃ ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืงืืืฉ ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืฉื
ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืืื: ืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืืดื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืื ืชืื ื ืืชื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืื ืื ื, ืขืชื ืืืื ื ืืืกืืจ ืื ืืื ืึดืึผึฐืฉืึถืึธืึนื ืื ื ืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืขืชื ืื ืื
ืืื. ืืืืื ืืืกืคืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืื ืขื ืืืืืื ืืืงืืืฉ ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืช.
The Yerushalmi says David even gave up his food for the sake of saving money for the ืืงืืฉ:
ืึฐืึดื ึผึตื ืึฐืขึธื ึฐืึดื ืึฒืึดืื ืึนืชึดื ืึฐืึตืืช ืืณ ืึธืึธื ืึผึดืึผึธืจึดืื ืึตืึธื ืึถืึถืฃ ืึฐืึถืกึถืฃ ืึถืึถืฃ ืึฒืึธืคึดืื ืึผึดืึผึธืจึดืื ืึฐืึทื ึผึฐืึนืฉืึถืช ืึฐืึทืึผึทืจึฐืึถื ืึตืื ืึดืฉืึฐืงึธื ืึผึดื ืึธืจึนื ืึธืึธืโฆ
โืืขื ืืโ ืฉืืื ืืชืขื ื ืืืงืืืฉ ืกืขืืืชื ืืฉืืื.
He goes to war to pay for the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. It may be justified, but is it just? The Ramban (like the Malbim cited above) says that these wars were the reason David could not build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ; these are the ืื ืืจื ืฉืคืืช ืืืืืืืช ืืืืืช ืขืฉืืช:
ืืื ื ืืื ืื ืขื ืืฉื ืืชืืจื ืืคื ื ืฉืืืจ (ืืืดื ื ืื:ื) โืื ืืืื ืจืืื ืฉืคืืช ืืจืฆื ืืคื ืโโฆืืืื ืืืฉ ืืฉืคื ืืืืืืง ืืืืช ืืืื ืืื ืืืืฉืจ ืืืืช ืืจืืืืโฆืืืฆืื ืขืชื ืืื ืืชื ืขื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืฉืืืื ืืืฉ ืฉืืื
Because the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ is a symbol of peace:
ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืชืขืฉื ืื ืื ืชืื ื ืืชืื ืืืืช; ืื ืืจืื ืื ืคืช ืขืืื ืืชืืืืื
ืืชืืืื: ืื ืืืืช, ืฉืื ืื ืคืช ืขืืื ืืจืื ืืืืช, ืฉืืืืื ื ืืจื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืื, ืืืืจืื ื ืืจื ืืงืฆืจ ืืืื ืฉื ืืื, ืืื ืื ืืืื, ืฉืืื ืฃ ืืืงืฆืจ ืขื ืืืืจืื. ืืขืื, ืฉืืืืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืื ืฉืืฉืืื, ืืคืืื ืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืืจืช ืืืืื.
And thereโs another understanding of ืื ืืจื ืฉืคืืช. Something odd happens when Shlomo actually builds the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ:
ืืชืฉืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืช ืืณ; ืึทืึผึธืึตื ืฉืืื ืืช ืงืืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืกืฃ ืืืช ืืืื ืืืช ืืืืื ื ืชื ืืืฆืจืืช ืืืช ืืณื
He doesnโt use that money at all! He puts it into storage. Why? The answer we will follow is based on the midrash:
ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืช ืงืืฉื ืืื ืืืื: ืืืื ืื ื ืฆืจื ืืืโฆืื ืฉืืืจืฉ ืืื ืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืจืขื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืืื ืชืกืืจืืืช ืืื ืื ืืืื, ืฆืืืจืื ืืืกืฃ ืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืชืงืื ืืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืืืฆืืื ืืืืืืืช ืื ืืช ืื ืคืฉืืช ืืื ืขืฉื ืื, ืืืจ ืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืื ื ืืชืื ืืจืขื ืืืชื ืฆืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืช ืื ืื ืื! ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ื ืฆืจื ืืื ืืืื.
ืืดื [ืืืขื ืืจืืช] ืขืชืืื ืืช ืืขืืืช ืืืืืื ืืขืชืืืื ืื ืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืฉืจืื, ืืขืชืืื ืืช ืืืืืฉ ืืชืจ ืืืืืช, ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืช ืจืืื ืขืฆืื ืฉืืช ืขื ืื ืขืชืื ืืฆืืช ืืื ืื ืฉืืงืืืฉ ืืื ืืืจื ืืื, ืฉื ืืืจ ( ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืื:ืื) ืึฐืึดื ึผึตื ืึฐืขึธื ึฐืึดื ืึฒืึดืื ืึนืชึดื ืึฐืึตืืช ืืณ ืึธืึธื ืึผึดืึผึธืจึดืื ืึตืึธื ืึถืึถืฃ ืืืืณ, ืืื ืขื ื ืืงืืืฉ ืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืกืฃ? ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืฉืืืื ืขืืื ืื ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืืกืฃ ืืืืื ืืื ืืืงืืืฉื ืืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืืืฉืื ืจืขื ืฉืืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืงืฉื ืืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืืชื ืืื ืจืฆื ืืืชื ืืื ืืืื, ืืืจ ืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืื ืงืืืช ืขืืื ืืืืืืช ืื ื ืคืฉืืช ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืงืืฉ ื ืื ื ืขื ืืื ืืื ืขื ืืื ืฉืืื, ืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืื ื ืชื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืจืช ืืืืณ ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืืขืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืช ืืฉืื.
ืืชืฉืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืช ืืณ: ืืืื ื ืืื ืืืงืื ืื ืฉืืื ืขืฉื ืืฉืื ืืช ืืืืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืงืืฉืืช ืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืืืฆืจืืช ืืืช ืืณ ืืืืื ืฉืืืืช ืืกืื ืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืช ืชืืฃ ืืืื ืื ืืฉื ื ืืจืืืขืืช ืืื ืืื ืืโฆืืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืืืฆืจืืช ืืื ืืืื.
The ืืฉืืฆืืช ืืื sums up the lesson, that Davidโs single-mindedness had a dark side:
ืืืื ืืชืขื ื ืืืงืืืฉ ืกืขืืืชื ืืืืืืดืง, ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืจืืฉืืื, ืืื ื ืืขืืฆื ืชืฉืืงืชื ืืื ืื ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืืืืื ืจืฆืื ื ืืืืฆืื ืืคืืขื ืืช ืืืืจ ืื ืืกืฃ, ืืจื ืื ืืฉืืืืข ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืกืฃ ื ืฆืจื ืืืืจืืช ืืืจืืช ืืื ืืืืืืช ืื ื ืคืฉืืช ืืฉืจืื ืจืขืืื ืื ืฆืืืื, ืื ืจืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืช, ืืืืื ืฉืืืืจื ืฉืื ืืืชื ืื ืื ืืืืืดืง, ืืืฉืฉ ืฉืื ืืชื ืืช ืืืขืืช ืืืฆืื ืืืจืช, ืื ืืืื
ืืืื ืืขืืช ืืื ืืช ืืช ืืืืืดืง ืืฉืืฆืืจื. ืืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืฆื ืฉืืื ื ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืืื ืืขืื ื ืืื ืืืจื ืืขืฆืื, ืื ืืืืจื ืฉื ืืื ืฆืจืืื ืืืืืช ืืขืฉืืช ืจืฆืื ืืณ ืืื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืืื ืืคื ืื,
ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืงืืืฉ ืืขืืช ืืืืจื ื ืฉืืื ืื ืคืืื, ืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืืช ืืณ ืืืชื ืืืช ืฉืืืื ืฆืืจื ืืืจ ืืืืชื ืืขืืช, ืฆืจืื ืืฉืืื ืืชืช ืืช ืืืขืืช ืืฆืืจื ืืืืจ.
โฆ
ืืื ืืฉ ืจืฉืืช ืืืืจ,ืฉืืืืืื ืฉืืื ื ืืฉื ืืืืื ืื, ื ืจืื ืืืื ืฉืืจืฆืื ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, ื ืชืขืจื ืื ืืฉืื ืืืจืฆืื ืืืชืฉืืงื ืฉืืขืจื ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืขื ืืื, ืืืื ืฉืืจืื ืื ืืืืฉื ืืขืช ืฉืืื ืฆืืจื ืืืฉืชืืฉ ืืืืชื ืืขืืช ืืฆืจืืื ืืืจืื, ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืื ืืงืืดื โืืืชื ืชืื ื ืื ืืืช ืืฉืืชื?โ, ืฉื ืจืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืฉืจืืฆื ืืืืคื ืืืฉื ืืื ืืช ืืช ืืืืช, ืืืื ืืืจ, โืืืชื ืชืื ื ืื ืืืชโ, ืืฉืื.
ืืืกืคืจ ืืื ืืงืจ ืืชื, ืืืืจื ืืืดื ืืฉ ืืื ืกืื ืืคืกืืง ืืืืจื ืืืืื โืื ืชืื ื ืืืช ืืฉืื ืื ืืืื ืจืืื ืฉืคืืชโ, ืฉืืจืื ืืื ืืขื ืืื ืืืืืืื ืื ืฉืฉืคื ืืื ืคืจื ืกื ืืืืชื ืืืขืืช ืฉืืื ืืก ืืืืฆืจ ืืืงืืฉ ืืขื ืื ืืืืจืื ืืืดื ืฉืฉืืื ืื ื ืืช ืืืกืฃ ืฉื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืชื.
Weโve made the point before, that Ramban says David could have built the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ if the impetus had come from the people. If David had created the ืืืืืช ืืื ืื that the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ is supposed to represent (as Rabbi Eisemann said above), then much of the tragedy of Davidโs life could have been averted.
ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืคืฆืื ืืืืจ ืื ืชืขืืจืจื ืื ืืชืืื ืืื ื ืขืฉืโฆืื ืืืื ืืื, ืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืชืขืืจืจืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืโฆ
I am hesitant to criticize a ืฆืืืง like ืืื ืืืื. The David of ืชืืืืื is the โrealโ David, his underlying motivations and what he represents as a symbol. But learning ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื gives us a perspective on David as a human being, flawed and fundamentally human.