ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: A Dream Deferred

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve spent the past few weeks looking at the end of Davidโ€™s dream of building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื” ืœืš ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“
ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ; ื”ืืชื” ืชื‘ื ื” ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉื‘ืชื™ืƒ โ€ฆื™ื ื•ื”ื’ื™ื“ ื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

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

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?

Langston Hughes, Harlem (โ€œWhat happens to a dream deferred?โ€)

What happens to Davidโ€™s dream, deferred? We know his immediate reaction:

ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžื™ ืื ื›ื™ ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืžื™ ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื›ื™ ื”ื‘ืืชื ื™ ืขื“ ื”ืœืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื™ื—

David goes and sits before ื”ืณ, presumably in the ืื”ืœ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ that he has built, the building that would have been the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. And he sits, which weโ€™ve never seen as a position of prayer:

ืื™ืŸ ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื” ื‘ืขื–ืจื” ืืœื ืœืžืœื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืœื‘ื“ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื™ื–) ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ.

ื™ื•ืžื ืกื˜,ื‘

ืื™ืŸ ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื” ื‘ืขื–ืจื”: ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืœืฉืจืช (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื—) ื”ืขื•ืžื“ื™ื ืฉื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื—) ื•ืœื ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ื” ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

The Maharsha says that this symbolized what it meant to be a scion of ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“:

ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื›ื™ ืžืงื•ื ื”ืžืฉื›ืŸ ื•ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื”ื•ื ื›ืกื ื”ืณ ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืœื‘:ื™ื’) ื›ึดึผื™ ื‘ึธื—ึทืจ ื”ืณ ื‘ึฐึผืฆึดื™ึผื•ึนืŸ ืึดื•ึธึผื”ึผ ืœึฐืžื•ึนืฉึธืื‘ ืœื•ึน; ื•ืœืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืงืจื™ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืกื ื”ืณ ื›ืžืดืฉ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื˜:ื›ื’) ื•ึทื™ึตึผืฉึถืื‘ ืฉึฐืืœึนืžึนื” ืขึทืœ ื›ึดึผืกึตึผื ื”ืณ ืœึฐืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ืชึทึผื—ึทืช ื“ึธึผื•ึดื™ื“ ืึธื‘ึดื™ื• ื•ึทื™ึทึผืฆึฐืœึทื— ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึฐืืžึฐืขื•ึผ ืึตืœึธื™ื• ื›ึธึผืœ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ.

ืžื”ืจืฉืดื ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช, ืกื•ื˜ื” ืž,ื‘

He sits because he is the ืžืœืš ื”ืžืฉื™ื—.

The midrash, however, interprets ื•ื™ืฉื‘ metaphorically:

ืžืขืฉื” ื‘ืจืณ ืขืงื™ื‘ื ืฉืงืจื ืœื• ื”ื—ื–ืŸ ื‘ืจื‘ื™ื ืœืขืžื•ื“ ื•ืœืงืจื•ืช ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืœื ืขืžื“, ืื—ืจ ืฉื ืคื˜ืจื• ืžื‘ื™ืช ื”ื›ื ืกืชโ€ฆืืžืจื• ืœื• ื•ืœืžื” ืœื ืขืžื“ ืจื‘ื™? ืืดืœ ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืœื ื”ืชืงื ืชื™ ืืช ืขืฆืžื™โ€ฆืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“: ืœื ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืžืชืคืœืœ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืขื“ ืฉื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืžืชื™ื™ืฉื‘ ื“ืขืชื™ ื•ืžืชืงืŸ ืขืฆืžื™ ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืขื•ืžื“ ื•ืžืกื“ืจ ืชืคืœืชื™, ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ (ืืœื) ืžืื—ืจ ืฉื™ืฉื‘ ืขืฆืžื• ื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืืช ื“ืขืชื• ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ืžื™ ืื ื›ื™โ€ฆ

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืจืžื– ืงืžื•

David then acknowledges that he doesnโ€™t deserve it: ืžื™ ืื ื›ื™ ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ. The name ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ is an echo from Abraham:

ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ืจื ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ืžื” ืชืชืŸ ืœื™ ื•ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ืœืš ืขืจื™ืจื™; ื•ื‘ืŸ ืžืฉืง ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื”ื•ื ื“ืžืฉืง ืืœื™ืขื–ืจืƒ โ€ฆื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื‘ืžื” ืื“ืข ื›ื™ ืื™ืจืฉื ื”ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ืืดืจ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ ืžืฉื•ื ืจืดืฉ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ื—ื™ ืžื™ื•ื ืฉื‘ืจื ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืืช ื”ืขื•ืœื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืื“ื ืฉืงืจืื• ืœื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืื“ื•ืŸ ืขื“ ืฉื‘ื ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ืงืจืื• ืื“ื•ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื˜ื•) ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื‘ืžื” ืื“ืข ื›ื™ ืื™ืจืฉื ื”.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื–,ื‘

ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจื• ื“ื‘ืจ ืื—ื“, ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ืžื” ืชืชืŸ ืœื™, ืืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ื• ืจื‘ืฉืดืข ืื ืื ื™ ืขืชื™ื“ ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื‘ื ื™ื ืœื”ื›ืขื™ืกืš ืžื•ื˜ื‘ ืœื™ ื•ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ืœืš ืขืจื™ืจื™. ื“ื•ื“โ€ฆืืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ื• ืจื‘ื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื ืื ืขืชื™ื“ ืื ื™ ืœื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื‘ื ื™ื ืœื”ืขืฆื™ื‘ืš ืžื•ื˜ื‘ ืœื™ ื•ื ื—ื ื™ ื‘ื“ืจืš ืขื•ืœื.

ืคืกื™ืงืชื ื–ื•ื˜ืจืชื (ืœืงื— ื˜ื•ื‘) ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš ืœืš ืคืจืง ื˜ื• ืกื™ืžืŸ ื‘

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. ื ืชืŸ's ื ื‘ื•ืื” says (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื™ื‘-ื™ื’),โ€Ž ื”ึฒืงึดื™ืžึนืชึดื™ ืึถืช ื–ึทืจึฐืขึฒืšึธ ืึทื—ึฒืจึถื™ืšึธ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื™ึตืฆึตื ืžึดืžึผึตืขึถื™ืšึธโ€ฆื”ื•ึผื ื™ึดื‘ึฐื ึถื” ื‘ึผึทื™ึดืช ืœึดืฉืึฐืžึดื™. The son who will build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is one ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื™ึตืฆึตื ืžึดืžึผึตืขึถื™ืšึธ, 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 doesnโ€™t even deserve being brought ืขึทื“ ื”ึฒืœึนื, โ€hitherโ€œ, to the point of being king. Others may have deserved it more and not achieved it:

ืขื“ ื”ืœื: ืฉื”ืžืœื›ืชื ื™.

ืจืฉืดื™,ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื™ื—

ืืžืจ ืขื•ืœื: ื‘ืงืฉ ืžืฉื” ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื•ืœื ื ืชื ื• ืœื• ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื’) โ€ืืœ ืชืงืจื‘ ื”ืœื•ืโ€œ; ื•ืื™ืŸ ื”ืœื•ื ืืœื ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–) ืžื™ ืื ื›ื™โ€ฆื›ื™ ื”ื‘ื™ืืชื ื™ ืขื“ ื”ืœื•ื.

ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ืงื‘,ื

And if this [making David king] wasnโ€™t enough, ื”ืณ has also given David a vision of the far future, of his dynasty:

ื•ืชืงื˜ืŸ ืขื•ื“ ื–ืืช ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืชื“ื‘ืจ ื’ื ืืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœืžืจื—ื•ืง; ื•ื–ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื”ืื“ื ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–:ื™ื˜

The phrase ื•ึฐื–ึนืืช ืชึผื•ึนืจึทืช ื”ึธืึธื“ึธื is very hard to translate. Rashi reads it as a rhetorical question, โ€œis this how a [regular] person is treated?โ€

ื•ื–ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื”ืื“ื: ื‘ืชืžื™ื”โ€”ืจืื•ื™ ืœื”ืชื‘ืฉืจ ื›ืŸ ืœื‘ืฉืจ ื•ื“ื?

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

Radak translates ืชึผื•ึนืจึทืช as โ€œthe nature ofโ€ and ื”ึธืึธื“ึธื as โ€œa great manโ€ (hence the ื” ื”ื™ื“ื™ืขื”):

ื•ื–ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื”ืื“ื: ืชื›ื•ื ืช ื”ืื“ื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื–ืืช ืฉื“ื‘ืจืช ืขืœื™ ืชื›ื•ื ืช ื”ืื“ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ื•ืœื ืื“ื ืฉืคืœ ื•ื ื‘ื–ื” ื›ืžื•ื ื™.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉื

This is from the parallel in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, which acts as a sort of ืคืจื•ืฉ on ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ:

ื•ืชืงื˜ืŸ ื–ืืช ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืชื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœืžืจื—ื•ืง; ื•ึผืจึฐืึดื™ืชึทื ึดื™ ื›ึผึฐืชื•ึนืจ ื”ึธืึธื“ึธื ื”ึทืžึผึทืขึฒืœึธื” ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื™ื–:ื™ื–

ืชึผื•ึนืจ is from ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื:

ื ึธืื•ึคื•ึผ ืœึฐื—ึธื™ึทึ™ื™ึดืšึฐึ™ ื‘ึผึทืชึผึนืจึดึ”ื™ื ืฆึทื•ึผึธืืจึตึ–ืšึฐ ื‘ึผึทื—ึฒืจื•ึผื–ึดึฝื™ืืƒ

ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื ื:ื™

ื ืื•ื• ืœื—ื™ื™ืš ื‘ืชื•ืจื™ื: ืฉื•ืจื•ืช ื ื–ืžื™ ืื–ืŸ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

[I]t describes the beautiful was in which the various ornaments on the necklace are arranged. Thus it suggests the smooth interaction of the qualitiesโ€ฆof a given objectโ€ฆUsed in connection with a man, it would describe harmony with which his various characteristics interact with one anotherโ€”hence, his nature.

Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Artscroll Divrei Hayamim I, p.249

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 ืฉื‘ื— then ื‘ืงืฉื”, then ื”ื•ื“ืื”:

ื› ื•ืžื” ื™ื•ืกื™ืฃ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื•ื“ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื™ืš; ื•ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ ื›ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื“ื‘ืจืš ื•ื›ืœื‘ืš ืขืฉื™ืช ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืืช ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื›ื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื’ื“ืœืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื; ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืžื•ืš ื•ืื™ืŸ ืืœืงื™ื ื–ื•ืœืชืš ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืฉืžืขื ื• ื‘ืื–ื ื™ื ื•ืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ืžื™ ื›ืขืžืš ื›ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื’ื•ื™ ืื—ื“ ื‘ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื”ืœื›ื• ืืœืงื™ื ืœืคื“ื•ืช ืœื• ืœืขื ื•ืœืฉื•ื ืœื• ืฉื ื•ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืœื›ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื ืจืื•ืช ืœืืจืฆืš ืžืคื ื™ ืขืžืš ืืฉืจ ืคื“ื™ืช ืœืš ืžืžืฆืจื™ื ื’ื•ื™ื ื•ืืœืงื™ื•ืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ืชื›ื•ื ืŸ ืœืš ืืช ืขืžืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืš ืœืขื ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื; ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœื”ื ืœืืœืงื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

That was the ืฉื‘ื—. The ื‘ืงืฉื” is that the ื ื‘ื•ืื” come true, ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ืš:

ื›ื” ื•ืขืชื” ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจืช ืขืœ ืขื‘ื“ืš ื•ืขืœ ื‘ื™ืชื• ื”ืงื ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื; ื•ืขืฉื” ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชืƒ ื›ื• ื•ื™ื’ื“ืœ ืฉืžืš ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื ืœืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืฆึพื‘ืื•ืช ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ืšืƒ ื›ื– ื›ื™ ืืชื” ื”ืณ ืฆึพื‘ืื•ืช ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื’ืœื™ืชื” ืืช ืื–ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœืืžืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื ื” ืœืš; ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืžืฆื ืขื‘ื“ืš ืืช ืœื‘ื• ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ืืœื™ืš ืืช ื”ืชืคืœื” ื”ื–ืืชืƒ ื›ื— ื•ืขืชื” ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ืืชื” ื”ื•ื ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื“ื‘ืจื™ืš ื™ื”ื™ื• ืืžืช; ื•ืชื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ืขื‘ื“ืš ืืช ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื”ื–ืืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

And the ื”ื•ื“ืื” is thanking ื”ืณ, as though his prayer were already answered:

ื•ืขืชื” ื”ื•ืืœ ื•ื‘ืจืš ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœืขื•ืœื ืœืคื ื™ืš; ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืึพื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื“ื‘ืจืช ื•ึผืžึดื‘ึผึดืจึฐื›ึธืชึฐืšึธ ื™ึฐื‘ึนืจึทืšึฐ ื‘ึผึตื™ืช ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึฐืšึธ ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื›ื˜

Thatโ€™s beautiful. David obviously hears ื ืชืŸ's message, that ื”ืณ will build him a ื‘ื™ืช. But what about Davidโ€™s 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 Templeโ€”which has previously been central to Davidโ€™s thinkingโ€”completely.

โ€ฆ

The building of a Temple may well be the fulfillment of any manโ€™s lifeโ€ฆBut in the long-range perspective of eternity, even the Temple itself becomes but a milestone along the road to G-dโ€™s 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-dโ€™s Temple. Before Nathanโ€™s 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 โ€œTempleโ€ he would build was even greater than the one he had once envisioned.

Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Artscroll Divrei Hayamim I, p. 248

Thatโ€™s even more beautiful. And I think it accurately reflects the David of ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, the one who can do no wrong. He hears ื ืชืŸ's message as we said last time, that the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is only a symbol of the ืžืžืœื›ืช ื›ื”ื ื™ื that Israel is to become. It is an ideal vision of ื“ื•ื“ ืžืœืš ื”ืžืฉื™ื—.

It is also the David of ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. Weโ€™ve seen ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื‘, about Davidโ€™s oath to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. Note how it ends: not with the building of ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ, but with the building of ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“:

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช;
ื–ื›ื•ืจ ื”ืณ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื›ืœ ืขื ื•ืชื•ืƒ
ื‘ ืืฉืจ ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื”ืณ; ื ื“ืจ ืœืื‘ื™ืจ ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
ื’ ืื ืื‘ื ื‘ืื”ืœ ื‘ื™ืชื™; ืื ืืขืœื” ืขืœ ืขืจืฉ ื™ืฆื•ืขื™ืƒ
ื“ ืื ืืชืŸ ืฉื ืช ืœืขื™ื ื™; ืœืขืคืขืคื™ ืชื ื•ืžื”ืƒ
ื” ืขื“ ืืžืฆื ืžืงื•ื ืœื”ืณ; ืžืฉื›ื ื•ืช ืœืื‘ื™ืจ ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
โ€ฆื™ื ื ืฉื‘ืข ื”ืณ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืžืช ืœื ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืžืžื ื”;
ืžืคืจื™ ื‘ื˜ื ืš ืืฉื™ืช ืœื›ืกื ืœืšืƒ
ื™ื‘ ืื ื™ืฉืžืจื• ื‘ื ื™ืš ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ ื•ืขื“ืชื™ ื–ื• ืืœืžื“ื;
ื’ื ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืขื“ื™ ืขื“ ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืœื›ืกื ืœืšืƒ
ื™ื’ ื›ื™ ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆื™ื•ืŸ; ืื•ื” ืœืžื•ืฉื‘ ืœื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื‘

And ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื›ื‘ presents Davidโ€™s feelings about not building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช ืœื“ื•ื“;
ืฉืžื—ืชื™ ื‘ืืžืจื™ื ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื ืœืšืƒ
ื‘ ืขืžื“ื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ืจื’ืœื™ื ื• ื‘ืฉืขืจื™ืš ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื›ื‘

ืืดืจ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™: ืžืื™ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื›ื‘) โ€ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช ืœื“ื•ื“ ืฉืžื—ืชื™ ื‘ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื ืœืšโ€œ? ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข ืฉืžืขืชื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืžืชื™ ื™ืžื•ืช ื–ืงืŸ ื–ื” ื•ื™ื‘ื ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื” ื•ื ืขืœื” ืœืจื’ืœ ื•ืฉืžื—ืชื™.

ืžื›ื•ืช ื™,ื

ื ืจืื” ืœืคืจืฉ ืฉืœื ืืžืจื• ื›ืŸ ื“ืจืš ืœื™ืฆื ื•ืช ื•ืœื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ื ืœืžื™ืชืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžืชืื•ื™ื ืœื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื”ืžืดืง ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื”.

ืžื”ืจืฉืดื ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช, ืฉื

Heโ€™s not bitter. His dream has dried up, but thereโ€™s a better future ahead.

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช ืœืฉืœืžื”;
ืื ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื•ื ืขืžืœื• ื‘ื•ื ื™ื• ื‘ื•;
ืื ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ืฉืžืจ ืขื™ืจ ืฉื•ื ืฉืงื“ ืฉื•ืžืจืƒ
ื‘ ืฉื•ื ืœื›ื ืžืฉื›ื™ืžื™ ืงื•ื ืžืื—ืจื™ ืฉื‘ืช
ืื›ืœื™ ืœื—ื ื”ืขืฆื‘ื™ื;
ื›ืŸ ื™ืชืŸ ืœื™ื“ื™ื“ื• ืฉื ืืƒ
ื’ ื”ื ื” ื ื—ืœืช ื”ืณ ื‘ื ื™ื; ืฉื›ืจ ืคืจื™ ื”ื‘ื˜ืŸืƒ
ื“ ื›ื—ืฆื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื›ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื ืขื•ืจื™ืืƒ
ื” ืืฉืจื™ ื”ื’ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืžืœื ืืช ืืฉืคืชื• ืžื”ื;
ืœื ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื›ื™ ื™ื“ื‘ืจื• ืืช ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืฉืขืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื›ื–

All the ืžืคืจืฉื™ื understand ืœืฉืœืžื” to mean โ€œdedicated to ืฉืœืžื”โ€ rather than โ€œwritten by ืฉืœืžื”โ€. I think that fits the meaning of the perek as well.

ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืœืžื” ื›ืžื• โ€ื•ืœืœื•ื™ ืืžืจโ€œ. ื•ื–ื” ื”ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื‘ืจื• ืื—ื“ ืžื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจื™ื ืขืœ ืฉืœืžื” ื›ืืฉืจ ื—ืคืฅ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉื ื•ื”ืชื ื‘ื ื ืชืŸ ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ื™ื‘ื ื ื• ืื– ืฉืžื— ื“ื•ื“ ืื—ืจื™ ื“ื•ืื’ ื•ื”ื—ืœ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืฉื ื•ืœื ื›ืคื™ ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ืื“ื ื•ืœื ื›ืคื™ ืฉื™ืคืฆืจ ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื™ืชื—ื–ืง ื›ื›ืœ ื›ื—ื• ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ื—ืœ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื”ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื ืฆื•ืจืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืœื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื•ืขื•ื“ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ืžื—ืฉื‘ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื•ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื”ื ื—ืฉืช ื•ื˜ืขื ืฉื•ื ืขืžืœื• ืื ืœื ื™ืขื–ืจื ื”ืฉื.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื›ื–:ื

ืฉื•ื ืขืžืœื•

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:

ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื“ืŸ ื ืฉื™ื™ื ืฉืœื— ืœืจื‘ื™ ื—ื™ื™ื” ื•ืœืจืณ ืืกื™ ื•ืœืจืณ ืืžื™ ืœืžื™ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ืงื™ืจื™ื™ืชื ื“ืืจืขื ื“ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ืœืžืชืงื ื” ืœื•ืŸ ืกืคืจื™ืŸ ื•ืžืชื ื™ื™ื ื™ืŸ. ืขืœื™ืŸ ืœื—ื“ ืืชืจ ื•ืœื ืืฉื›ื—ื•ืŸ ืœื ืกืคืจ ื•ืœื ืžืชื ื™ื™ืŸ. ืืžืจื™ืŸ ืœื•ืŸ: ืื™ื™ืชื•ืŸ ืœืŸ ื ื˜ื•ืจื™ ืงืจืชื! ืื™ื™ืชื•ืŸ ืœื•ืŸ ืกื ื˜ื•ืจื™ ืงืจืชื. ืืžืจื•ืŸ ืœื•ืŸ: ืื™ืœื™ืŸ ืื™ื ื•ืŸ ื ื˜ื•ืจื™ ืงืจืชืโ€”ืœื™ืช ืื™ืœื™ืŸ ืืœื ื—ืจื•ื‘ื™ ืงืจืชื! ืืžืจื™ืŸ ืœื™ืŸ: ื•ืžืืŸ ืื™ื ื•ืŸ ื ื˜ื•ืจื™ ืงืจืชื? ืืžืจ ืœื•ืŸ: ืกืคืจื™ื™ื ื•ืžืชื ื™ื™ื ื™ื. ื”ื“ื ื”ื™ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื›ื–) ืื ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื•ื’ื•ืณ.

ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ื—ื’ื™ื’ื” ื:ื–

Without worthy children, ื”ืณ will not help and thereโ€™s no point to waking early and staying up late, of sacrificing and eating ืœื—ื ื”ืขืฆื‘ื™ื. If you are a ื™ื“ื™ื“ of ื”ืณ, then you will sleep well. Thereโ€™s a hint there to Davidโ€™s situation. He did not sleep (as in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงืœื‘) and did not eat (weโ€™ll see the ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ืคืื” on this) in his dedication to building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. Sholomo his son (explicitly called ื™ื“ื™ื“ื™ื”) will sleep well:

ื›ื“ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืืฉืชื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื” ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืขืžื”; ื•ืชืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ื•ื™ืงืจื (ื•ืชืงืจื) ืืช ืฉืžื• ืฉืœืžื” ื•ื”ืณ ืื”ื‘ื•ืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื™ื“ ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืช ืฉืžื• ื™ื“ื™ื“ื™ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืณืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

ื”ื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื ื•ืœื“ ืœืš ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ืžื ื•ื—ื” ื•ื”ื ื™ื—ื•ืชื™ ืœื• ืžื›ืœ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื• ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘; ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉืžื• ื•ืฉืœื•ื ื•ืฉืงื˜ ืืชืŸ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื•ืƒ

ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘:ื˜

And those children are the โ€œarrowsโ€ that can be aimed anywhere, to accomplish anything. Itโ€™s a nice metaphor, since it emphasizes how all we can do is sharpen our arrows (note that ื•ืฉื ื ืชื ืœื‘ื ื™ืš literally means โ€œyou shall sharpen your childrenโ€) and aim them. Once theyโ€™ve left the bow, they are out of our control. If they donโ€™t go the way we want, we have Shakespeareโ€™s take on the metaphor:

How sharper than a serpentโ€™s tooth it is
To have a thankless child.

King Lear, Act I, scene 4

The next perek is a continuation of the same thought:

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช;
ืืฉืจื™ ื›ืœ ื™ืจื ื”ืณ ื”ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื•ืƒ
ื‘ ื™ื’ื™ืข ื›ืคื™ืš ื›ื™ ืชืื›ืœ; ืืฉืจื™ืš ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœืšืƒ
ื’ ืืฉืชืš ื›ื’ืคืŸ ืคืจื™ื” ื‘ื™ืจื›ืชื™ ื‘ื™ืชืš;
ื‘ื ื™ืš ื›ืฉืชืœื™ ื–ื™ืชื™ื ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืœืฉืœื—ื ืšืƒ
ื“ ื”ื ื” ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ื™ื‘ืจืš ื’ื‘ืจ ื™ืจื ื”ืณืƒ
ื” ื™ื‘ืจื›ืš ื”ืณ ืžืฆื™ื•ืŸ; ื•ืจืื” ื‘ื˜ื•ื‘ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ืšืƒ
ื• ื•ืจืื” ื‘ื ื™ื ืœื‘ื ื™ืš; ืฉืœื•ื ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื›ื—

Labor, ื™ื’ื™ืข ื›ืคื™ืš, is important; you canโ€™t live on ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ืŸ alone:

ื™ื’ื™ืข ื›ืคื™ืš: ื›ื™ ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื”ื™ื ืฉื™ื—ื™ื” ืžืžืœืื›ืชื• ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื ื” ืžืื—ืจื™ื, ื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ืฉื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื™ื’ืข ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ืžืœืื›ื”. ื•ืื ืชื—ื™ื” ื‘ื–ืืช ื”ื”ื ื”ื’ื”, ืืฉืจื™ืš ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœืš, ื™ืืฉืจื•ืš ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืขื•ืœื, ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ื’ืžื•ืœ ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœืš ืžืืช ื”ืึพืœ ื™ืชื‘ืจืš. ื•ื–ื” ืžื” ืฉืคื™ืจืฉื• ืจื–ืดืœ (ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื—,ื): ืืฉืจื™ืš ื‘ืขื•ืœื ื”ื–ื”, ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœืš ืœืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื›ื—:ื‘

ืื™ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื™ืจ ? ื”ืฉืžื— ื‘ื—ืœืงื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื™ื’ื™ืข ื›ืคื™ืš ื›ื™ ืชืื›ืœ; ืืฉืจื™ืš ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœืšโ€œ.

ืžืฉื ื” ืื‘ื•ืช ื“:ื

But it all has to be in the context of ื™ืจื ื”ืณ ื”ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื•. Then ones children will grow ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืœืฉืœื—ื ืš, with the family intact, and that it what truly leads to ืฉืœื•ื ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

This is how the David of ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื looks at the meaning of ืฆื™ื•ืŸ and what he presents to his successor Shlomo.


But ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ focuses on David the human being and I think that the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ remains Davidืณs focus for the rest of his life. His dream deferred becomes crusted and sugared over like a syrupy sweetโ€”always 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 ืฉืžื•ืืœ 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:

ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื”; ื‘ื ื• (ื‘ื ื™) ืื ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืขื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืƒ ื— ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืขืœื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช ื•ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื’ื“ืœื•ืช ืขืฉื™ืช; ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™ ื›ื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืช ืืจืฆื” ืœืคื ื™ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

ื ืชืŸ said nothing about ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช. 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 ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. The Malbim proposes that David had another ื ื‘ื•ืื” after making all the preparations for building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, hoping that now he would be allowed to build it:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ: ื–ื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืื—ืจื™ ื ื‘ื•ืืช ื ืชืŸ (ื”ื ืดืœ) โ€ฆื•ื˜ืจื ืฉื ื•ืœื“ ืฉืœืžื”. ื“ื ืœืจื•ื‘: ืฉืฉืคืš ื“ื ืฉืœื ืœืฆื•ืจืš, ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื”ืจืฉื•ืช ืฉืขืฉื”.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื—

But why does ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช affect the Temple? The concept of David as a man of bloodshed comes from an incident during Avshalomโ€™s rebellion:

ื” ื•ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืขื“ ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื; ื•ื”ื ื” ืžืฉื ืื™ืฉ ื™ื•ืฆื ืžืžืฉืคื—ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืฉืžื• ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื™ืฆื ื™ืฆื•ื ื•ืžืงืœืœืƒ ื• ื•ื™ืกืงืœ ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืžื™ืžื™ื ื• ื•ืžืฉืžืืœื•ืƒ ื– ื•ื›ื” ืืžืจ ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืงืœืœื•; ืฆื ืฆื ืื™ืฉ ื”ื“ืžื™ื ื•ืื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ืœื™ืขืœืƒ ื— ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืขืœื™ืš ื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื“ืžื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ืžืœื›ืช ืชื—ืชื• ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื”ืณ ืืช ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื‘ื™ื“ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ืš; ื•ื”ื ืš ื‘ืจืขืชืš ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื“ืžื™ื ืืชื”ืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืžื” ื™ืงืœืœ ื”ื›ืœื‘ ื”ืžืช ื”ื–ื” ืืช ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš; ืืขื‘ืจื” ื ื ื•ืืกื™ืจื” ืืช ืจืืฉื•ืƒ

ื™ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืžื” ืœื™ ื•ืœื›ื ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื”; ื›ื™ (ื›ื”) ื™ืงืœืœ ื•ื›ื™ (ื›ื™) ื”ืณ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืงืœืœ ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืžื™ ื™ืืžืจ ืžื“ื•ืข ืขืฉื™ืชื” ื›ืŸืƒ

ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื•ืืœ ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื”ื ื” ื‘ื ื™ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ ืžื‘ืงืฉ ืืช ื ืคืฉื™; ื•ืืฃ ื›ื™ ืขืชื” ื‘ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ื”ื ื—ื• ืœื• ื•ื™ืงืœืœ ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืจืื” ื”ืณ ื‘ืขื•ื ื™ (ื‘ืขื™ื ื™); ื•ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ื”ืณ ืœื™ ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืชื—ืช ืงืœืœืชื• ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืื ืฉื™ื• ื‘ื“ืจืš;
ื•ืฉืžืขื™ ื”ืœืš ื‘ืฆืœืข ื”ื”ืจ ืœืขืžืชื• ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื™ืงืœืœ ื•ื™ืกืงืœ ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ืœืขืžืชื• ื•ืขืคืจ ื‘ืขืคืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

Look at what David is thinking: his son is rebelling against him, and itโ€™s the wrong son. Avshalom (ironic name, that!) is one of those born before David comes to Jerusalem, not one ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื™ึตืฆึตื ืžึดืžึผึตืขึถื™ืšึธ after. Davidโ€™s 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 ืžืœืš, 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 ื”ื“ืžื™ื. David should have been king as the son-in-law of the previous king, and then could have been the ืžืœืš who built the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. And thatโ€™s what he tells Shlomo at the end of his life.


Thereโ€™s another understanding of ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช ื•ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื’ื“ืœื•ืช ืขืฉื™ืช. Immediately after being told he will not build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, he starts preparing for it:

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืš ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ื™ื›ื ื™ืขื; ื•ื™ืงื— ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืžืชื’ ื”ืืžื” ืžื™ื“ ืคืœืฉืชื™ืืƒ โ€ฆื™ื ื’ื ืึนืชึธื ื”ืงื“ื™ืฉ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ืณ ืขื ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ืืฉืจ ื”ืงื“ื™ืฉ ืžื›ืœ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ืืฉืจ ื›ื‘ืฉืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื—

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืš ื“ื•ื™ื“: ืื—ืจ ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื•ืืดืœ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ืืชื” ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขืœื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืืœื ื‘ื ื™, ืขืชื” ืื›ื™ื ื” ื•ืืกื“ืจ ืœื• ื”ื›ืœ ืœึดื›ึผึฐืฉืึถื™ึธื‘ึนื ื‘ื ื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื™ื”ื ืœื• ื”ื›ืœ ืžื–ื•ืžืŸ ื•ืขืชื” ืžื ื™ื— ื”ื›ืœ. ื•ื”ื•ืœืš ื•ืžืกืคืจ ื”ื™ืืš ื–ื™ืžืŸ ืœื• ื”ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ืฉื ืœื—ื ืขื ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื• ื•ื”ืงื“ื™ืฉ ืฉืœืœื ืœื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื”ื‘ื™ืช.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื™ื—:ื

The Yerushalmi says David even gave up his food for the sake of saving money for the ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตื” ื‘ึฐืขึธื ึฐื™ึดื™ ื”ึฒื›ึดื™ื ื•ึนืชึดื™ ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืช ื”ืณ ื–ึธื”ึธื‘ ื›ึผึดื›ึผึธืจึดื™ื ืžึตืึธื” ืึถืœึถืฃ ื•ึฐื›ึถืกึถืฃ ืึถืœึถืฃ ืึฒืœึธืคึดื™ื ื›ึผึดื›ึผึธืจึดื™ื ื•ึฐืœึทื ึผึฐื—ึนืฉืึถืช ื•ึฐืœึทื‘ึผึทืจึฐื–ึถืœ ืึตื™ืŸ ืžึดืฉืึฐืงึธืœ ื›ึผึดื™ ืœึธืจึนื‘ ื”ึธื™ึธื”โ€ฆ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื™ื“

โ€ื‘ืขื ื™ื™โ€œ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžืชืขื ื” ื•ืžืงื“ื™ืฉ ืกืขื•ื“ืชื• ืœืฉืžื™ื.

ืชืœืžื•ื“ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืžืกื›ืช ืคืื” ืคืจืง ื“ ื”ืœื›ื” ื‘

He goes to war to pay for the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. 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 ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ; these are the ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช ื•ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื’ื“ืœื•ืช ืขืฉื™ืช:

ื•ื”ื ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืžื ืขื• ื”ืฉื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืืžืจ (ื“ื”ืดื™ ื ื›ื‘:ื—) โ€ื›ื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืช ืืจืฆื” ืœืคื ื™โ€œโ€ฆื•ื”ื•ื ืื™ืฉ ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืžื—ื–ื™ืง ื‘ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ื•ืœื ื”ื•ื›ืฉืจ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืจื—ืžื™ืโ€ฆื•ืืฆื•ื” ืขืชื” ืœื‘ื ื•ืชื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ืฉืœื•ื

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื–:ื›ื

Because the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is a symbol of peace:

ื•ืื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืื‘ื ื™ื ืชืขืฉื” ืœื™ ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ืืชื”ืŸ ื’ื–ื™ืช; ื›ื™ ื—ืจื‘ืš ื”ื ืคืช ืขืœื™ื” ื•ืชื—ืœืœื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื›:ื›ื

ื•ืชื—ืœืœื”: ื”ื ืœืžื“ืช, ืฉืื ื”ื ืคืช ืขืœื™ื” ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื—ืœืœืช, ืฉื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื ื‘ืจื ืœื”ืืจื™ืš ื™ืžื™ื• ืฉืœ ืื“ื, ื•ื”ื‘ืจื–ืœ ื ื‘ืจื ืœืงืฆืจ ื™ืžื™ื• ืฉืœ ืื“ื, ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ, ืฉื™ื•ื ืฃ ื”ืžืงืฆืจ ืขืœ ื”ืžืืจื™ืš. ื•ืขื•ื“, ืฉื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืžื˜ื™ืœ ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืื‘ื™ื”ื ืฉื‘ืฉืžื™ื, ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืœื ื™ื‘ื ืขืœื™ื• ื›ื•ืจืช ื•ืžื—ื‘ืœ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

And thereโ€™s another understanding of ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช. Something odd happens when Shlomo actually builds the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื•ืชืฉืœื ื›ืœ ื”ืžืœืื›ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ; ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึตื ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ืงื“ืฉื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื• ืืช ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ืืช ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ืืช ื”ื›ืœื™ื ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืืฆืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื–:ื ื

He doesnโ€™t use that money at all! He puts it into storage. Why? The answer we will follow is based on the midrash:

ื•ื™ื‘ื ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ืงื“ืฉื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•: ื•ืœืžื” ืœื ื ืฆืจืš ืœื”ืโ€ฆืžื™ ืฉื“ื•ืจืฉ ืœื’ื ืื™ ืขืœ ืฉื‘ื ื”ืจืขื‘ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ื•ื›ืžื” ืชืกื‘ืจื™ื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืœื“ื•ื“, ืฆื‘ื•ืจื™ืŸ ืžื›ืกืฃ ื•ื–ื”ื‘ ืžื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžืชืงื™ืŸ ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื”ื™ื” ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ืื• ื•ืœื”ื—ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื• ืืช ื”ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื•ืœื ืขืฉื” ื›ืŸ, ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ืžืชื™ื ื‘ืจืขื‘ ื•ืืชื” ืฆื•ื‘ืจ ืžืžื•ืŸ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื• ื‘ื ื™ืŸ! ื—ื™ื™ืš ืื™ืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ื ืฆืจืš ืžื”ื ื›ืœื•ื.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืจืžื– ืงืคื•

ืืดืœ [ื‘ื•ืขื– ืœืจื•ืช] ืขืชื™ื“ื” ืืช ืœืขืœื•ืช ืœื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืขืชื™ื“ื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืžื ื”ื™ื’ื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ืขืชื™ื“ื” ืืช ืœืœื‘ื•ืฉ ื›ืชืจ ืžืœื›ื•ืช, ื•ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉืืช ืจื•ืื” ืขืฆืžืš ืฉืืช ืขื ื™ื” ืขืชื™ื“ ืœืฆืืช ืžืžืš ืžื™ ืฉืžืงื“ื™ืฉ ืžืื” ื›ื›ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉื ืืžืจ ( ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื™ื“) ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตื” ื‘ึฐืขึธื ึฐื™ึดื™ ื”ึฒื›ึดื™ื ื•ึนืชึดื™ ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืช ื”ืณ ื–ึธื”ึธื‘ ื›ึผึดื›ึผึธืจึดื™ื ืžึตืึธื” ืึถืœึถืฃ ื•ื’ื•ืณ, ื•ื›ื™ ืขื ื™ ืžืงื“ื™ืฉ ื›ืœ ื”ื›ื›ืจื™ื ื”ืœืœื• ืฉืœ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื›ืกืฃ? ืืœื ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฉื”ืจื’ ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื’ืœื™ืช ื”ืฉืœื™ื›ื• ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ื ื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ืœ ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื”ื–ื” ื•ื”ืงื“ื™ืฉื• ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ื›ืฉื‘ื ืจืขื‘ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ื‘ืงืฉื• ืžืžื ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื™ืชืŸ ื•ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœื™ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ื›ืœื•ื, ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื ืงื‘ืœืช ืขืœื™ืš ืœื”ื—ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื• ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื—ื™ื™ืš ืฉืื™ืŸ ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื ื‘ื ื” ืขืœ ื™ื“ืš ืืœื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉืœืžื”, ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื ืชืŸ ืœืืžืจ ืœืš ื•ืืžืจืช ื•ื’ื•ืณ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ืš ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืจื•ืช ืจืžื– ืชืจื’

ื•ืชืฉืœื ื›ืœ ื”ืžืœืื›ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ: ืœืžื“ื ื• ืžื–ื” ื”ืžืงื•ื ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืœื• ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื–ื” ื•ืื•ืœื ื”ืงื“ืฉื•ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื• ืฉื ื‘ืื•ืฆืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ื™ื“ืžื” ืฉืœื–ืืช ื”ืกื‘ื” ืœื ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืชื›ืฃ ืžืœื›ื• ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื ื” ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ืช ื”ื—ืœ ื”ื‘ื ื™ืŸโ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื” ื–ื” ื›ืŸ ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ื‘ื ื”ื• ืžืฉืœื• ืœื ืžืื•ืฆืจื•ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•.

ืจืœื‘ืดื’, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื–:ื ื

The ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘ sums up the lesson, that Davidโ€™s single-mindedness had a dark side:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืชืขื ื” ื•ืžืงื“ื™ืฉ ืกืขื•ื“ืชื• ืœื‘ื™ื”ืžืดืง, ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™, ื•ื”ื ื” ืžืขื•ืฆื ืชืฉื•ืงืชื• ืœื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ื’ื•ื“ืœ ืจืฆื•ื ื• ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืœืคื•ืขืœ ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื ื›ืกืฃ, ื”ืจื™ ื’ื ื›ืฉื”ื’ื™ืข ื–ืžืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื ืฆืจืš ืœืžื˜ืจื•ืช ืื—ืจื•ืช ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ื—ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื• ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืจืขื‘ื™ื ื’ื ืฆืžืื™ื, ืœื ืจืื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื›ื•ืŸ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื–ืืช, ื›ื™ื•ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ืžื˜ืจื” ืฉืœื• ื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ื”ืžืดืง, ื•ื—ืฉืฉ ืฉืื ื™ืชืŸ ืืช ื”ืžืขื•ืช ืœืžืฆื•ื” ืื—ืจืช, ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื™ื“ื• ืžืขื•ืช ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืืช ื‘ื™ื”ืžืดืง ื›ืฉื™ืฆื˜ืจืš. ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื ื‘ื—ืŸ ื•ื ืžืฆื ืฉื‘ื™ื ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื”ื™ื ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืžื˜ืจื” ืœืขืฆืžื”, ื›ื™ ื”ืžื˜ืจื” ืฉืœ ืื“ื ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ื‘ื•ื ื•ื™ื–ื“ืžืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื•, ื•ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื”ืงื“ื™ืฉ ืžืขื•ืช ืœืžื˜ืจื” ื ืฉื’ื‘ื” ื•ื ืคืœืื”, ืื‘ืœ ื›ืืฉืจ ืžืืช ื”ืณ ื”ื™ืชื” ื–ืืช ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืฆื•ืจืš ืื—ืจ ืœืื•ืชืŸ ืžืขื•ืช, ืฆืจื™ืš ื‘ืฉืžื—ื” ืœืชืช ืืช ื”ืžืขื•ืช ืœืฆื•ืจืš ื”ืื—ืจ.

โ€ฆ

ื•ืื ื™ืฉ ืจืฉื•ืช ืœื•ืžืจ,ืฉืžื›ื™ื•ื•ืŸ ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื ื›ืฉืœ ื‘ืžื‘ื—ืŸ ื–ื”, ื ืจืื” ืžื›ืืŸ ืฉื‘ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื–ื” ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, ื ืชืขืจื‘ ื’ื ืžืฉื”ื• ืžื”ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืชืฉื•ืงื” ืฉื‘ืขืจื” ื‘ื• ืฉื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื•, ื•ื”ื™ื ืฉื’ืจืžื” ืœื• ืœื”ื›ืฉืœ ื‘ืขืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฆื•ืจืš ืœื”ืฉืชืžืฉ ื‘ืื•ืชืŸ ืžืขื•ืช ืœืฆืจื›ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื, ื•ื–ื” ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื” โ€ื”ืืชื” ืชื‘ื ื” ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉื‘ืชื™?โ€œ, ืฉื ืจืื” ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ื ืฉืจื•ืฆื” ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืื™ืฉื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช, ื•ืœื–ื” ืืžืจ, โ€ื”ืืชื” ืชื‘ื ื” ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืชโ€œ, ืœืฉืžื™.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื›ื”, ืขืžืณ ืงืกื‘-ืงืกื’

ื•ื‘ืกืคืจ ื›ืœื™ ื™ืงืจ ื›ืชื‘, ื“ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื—ื–ืดืœ ื™ืฉ ืœื”ื ืกืžืš ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื โ€ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™ ื›ื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืชโ€œ, ืฉืžืจืžื– ืœื“ื ื”ืขื ื™ื™ื ื•ื”ืื‘ื™ื•ื ื™ื ืฉืฉืคืš ื•ืœื ืคืจื ืกื ื‘ืื•ืชื ื”ืžืขื•ืช ืฉื”ื›ื ื™ืก ืœืื•ืฆืจ ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื—ื–ืดืœ ืฉืฉืœืžื” ื’ื ื– ืืช ื”ื›ืกืฃ ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื”ื‘ื™ื ื”ื•ื ื–ื”ื‘ ื–ื•ืœืชื•.

ืฉื, ืขืžืณ ืงืกื

Weโ€™ve made the point before, that Ramban says David could have built the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ if the impetus had come from the people. If David had created the ืžืžืœื›ืช ื›ื”ื ื™ื that the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is supposed to represent (as Rabbi Eisemann said above), then much of the tragedy of Davidโ€™s life could have been averted.

ื•ืืœื• ื”ื™ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื ืชืขื•ืจืจื• ื‘ื• ืžืชื—ืœื” ื”ื™ื” ื ืขืฉื”โ€ฆื’ื ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“, ื›ื™ ืื ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ื• ืžืชืขื•ืจืจื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื•ื ื” ืื‘ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ื”ื‘ื•ื ื™ืโ€ฆ

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื–:ื›ื

I am hesitant to criticize a ืฆื“ื™ืง like ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš. The David of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is the โ€œrealโ€ David, his underlying motivations and what he represents as a symbol. But learning ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ gives us a perspective on David as a human being, flawed and fundamentally human.