ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Adding Insult to Injury

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

David is still running away from Avshalom, heading east away from Jerusalem.

ื ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ืจ ืžืขื˜ ืžื”ืจืืฉ ื•ื”ื ื” ืฆื™ื‘ื ื ืขืจ ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ืœืงืจืืชื•; ื•ืฆืžื“ ื—ืžืจื™ื ื—ื‘ืฉื™ื ื•ืขืœื™ื”ื ืžืืชื™ื ืœื—ื ื•ืžืื” ืฆืžื•ืงื™ื ื•ืžืื” ืงื™ืฅ ื•ื ื‘ืœ ื™ื™ืŸืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฆื™ื‘ื ืžื” ืืœื” ืœืš; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฆื™ื‘ื ื”ื—ืžื•ืจื™ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืœืš ืœืจื›ื‘ ื•ืœื”ืœื—ื (ื•ื”ืœื—ื) ื•ื”ืงื™ืฅ ืœืื›ื•ืœ ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ื•ื”ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืฉืชื•ืช ื”ื™ืขืฃ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืื“ื ื™ืš; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฆื™ื‘ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื ื” ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ื”ื™ื•ื ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื• ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืช ืžืžืœื›ื•ืช ืื‘ื™ืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืฆื‘ื ื”ื ื” ืœืš ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืœืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฆื™ื‘ื ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื™ืชื™ ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

We remember ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช and ืฆื™ื‘ื from earlier in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ:

ื•ืœื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืŸ ื ื›ื” ืจื’ืœื™ื; ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื‘ื ืฉืžืขืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืžื™ื–ืจืขืืœ ื•ืชืฉืื”ื• ืืžื ืชื• ื•ืชื ืก ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื—ืคื–ื” ืœื ื•ืก ื•ื™ืคืœ ื•ื™ืคืกื— ื•ืฉืžื• ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื“:ื“

ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืขื•ื“ ืืฉืจ ื ื•ืชืจ ืœื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ; ื•ืืขืฉื” ืขืžื• ื—ืกื“ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸืƒ ื‘ ื•ืœื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ืขื‘ื“ ื•ืฉืžื• ืฆื™ื‘ื ื•ื™ืงืจืื• ืœื• ืืœ ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœื™ื• ื”ืืชื” ืฆื™ื‘ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ืืคืก ืขื•ื“ ืื™ืฉ ืœื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืืขืฉื” ืขืžื• ื—ืกื“ ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฆื™ื‘ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืขื•ื“ ื‘ืŸ ืœื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื ื›ื” ืจื’ืœื™ืืƒ

โ€ฆื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืคืœ ืขืœ ืคื ื™ื• ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื•; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ื›ื™ ืขืฉื” ืืขืฉื” ืขืžืš ื—ืกื“ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืื‘ื™ืš ื•ื”ืฉื‘ืชื™ ืœืš ืืช ื›ืœ ืฉื“ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ืื‘ื™ืš; ื•ืืชื” ืชืื›ืœ ืœื—ื ืขืœ ืฉืœื—ื ื™ ืชืžื™ื“ืƒ โ€ฆื˜ ื•ื™ืงืจื ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฆื™ื‘ื ื ืขืจ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื•; ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืชื• ื ืชืชื™ ืœื‘ืŸ ืื“ื ื™ืšืƒ ื™ ื•ืขื‘ื“ืช ืœื• ืืช ื”ืื“ืžื” ืืชื” ื•ื‘ื ื™ืš ื•ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ื•ื”ื‘ืืช ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ืŸ ืื“ื ื™ืš ืœื—ื ื•ืื›ืœื• ื•ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ื‘ืŸ ืื“ื ื™ืš ื™ืื›ืœ ืชืžื™ื“ ืœื—ื ืขืœ ืฉืœื—ื ื™; ื•ืœืฆื™ื‘ื ื—ืžืฉื” ืขืฉืจ ื‘ื ื™ื ื•ืขืฉืจื™ื ืขื‘ื“ื™ืืƒ ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฆื™ื‘ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื•ื” ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื• ื›ืŸ ื™ืขืฉื” ืขื‘ื“ืš; ื•ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ืื›ืœ ืขืœ ืฉืœื—ื ื™ ื›ืื—ื“ ืžื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ
ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜

So ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช is the last surviving heir of ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ. It makes sense that he would take advantage of the civil war to try to restore his grandfatherโ€™s kingdom. So David accepts ืฆื™ื‘ืโ€™s report, and declares ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช a non-person.

Bill of attainder
A bill of attainderโ€ฆis an act of a legislature declaring a person, or a group of persons, guilty of some crime, and punishing them, often without a trial. [T]he effect of such a bill is to nullify the targeted personโ€™s civil rights, most notably the right to own property (and thus pass it on to heirs), the right to a title of nobility, and, in at least the original usage, the right to life itself.
Wikipedia, Bill of attainder

However, it turns out that ืฆื™ื‘ื was lying:

ื›ื” ื•ืžืคื‘ืฉืช ื‘ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ื™ืจื“ ืœืงืจืืช ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ืœื ืขืฉื” ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื•ืœื ืขืฉื” ืฉืคืžื• ื•ืืช ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื• ืœื ื›ื‘ืก ืœืžืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื ืœื›ืช ื”ืžืœืš ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ ื›ื• ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ื™ ื‘ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืœืงืจืืช ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืžืœืš ืœืžื” ืœื ื”ืœื›ืช ืขืžื™ ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืชืƒ ื›ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืจืžื ื™; ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืขื‘ื“ืš ืื—ื‘ืฉื” ืœื™ ื”ื—ืžื•ืจ ื•ืืจื›ื‘ ืขืœื™ื” ื•ืืœืš ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืคืกื— ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื›ื— ื•ื™ืจื’ืœ ื‘ืขื‘ื“ืš ืืœ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ืžืœืืš ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืขืฉื” ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืšืƒ ื›ื˜ ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ ื›ื™ ืื ืื ืฉื™ ืžื•ืช ืœืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืชืฉืช ืืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ื‘ืื›ืœื™ ืฉืœื—ื ืš; ื•ืžื” ื™ืฉ ืœื™ ืขื•ื“ ืฆื“ืงื” ื•ืœื–ืขืง ืขื•ื“ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ืœ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืžืœืš ืœืžื” ืชื“ื‘ืจ ืขื•ื“ ื“ื‘ืจื™ืš; ืืžืจืชื™ ืืชื” ื•ืฆื™ื‘ื ืชื—ืœืงื• ืืช ื”ืฉื“ื”ืƒ ืœื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื’ื ืืช ื”ื›ืœ ื™ืงื—; ืื—ืจื™ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืืœ ื‘ื™ืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

We will deal with Davidโ€™s response, his acceptance of this ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข and his final judgment (split the field) later. Right now, I want to look at the implications of this pericope.

David has been king over a united Israel for 28 years, and he thought that he had established a ืžืžืœื›ื” worthy of building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืžึฐืœึนืšึฐ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ืขึทืœ ื›ึผึธืœ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ; ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื“ึธื•ึดื“ ืขึนืฉื‚ึถื” ืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธื˜ ื•ึผืฆึฐื“ึธืงึธื” ืœึฐื›ึธืœ ืขึทืžึผื•ึนืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื˜ื•

The affair of ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข, the rebellion of ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, were palace intrigue problems. But now it is clear that the rot goes much deeper. As he says in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื ื”, the perek about Achitofelโ€™s betrayal:

ื™ ื‘ึผึทืœึผึทืข ืึฒื“ึนื ึธึพื™ ืคึผึทืœึผึทื’ ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนื ึธื; ื›ึผึดื™ ืจึธืึดื™ืชึดื™ ื—ึธืžึธืก ื•ึฐืจึดื™ื‘ ื‘ึผึธืขึดื™ืจืƒ ื™ื ื™ื•ึนืžึธื ื•ึธืœึทื™ึฐืœึธื” ื™ึฐืกื•ึนื‘ึฐื‘ึปื”ึธ ืขึทืœ ื—ื•ึนืžึนืชึถื™ื”ึธ; ื•ึฐืึธื•ึถืŸ ื•ึฐืขึธืžึธืœ ื‘ึผึฐืงึดืจึฐื‘ึผึธื”ึผืƒ ื™ื‘ ื”ึทื•ึผื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึฐืงึดืจึฐื‘ึผึธื”ึผ; ื•ึฐืœึนื ื™ึธืžึดื™ืฉื ืžึตืจึฐื—ึนื‘ึธื”ึผ ืชึผึนืšึฐ ื•ึผืžึดืจึฐืžึธื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื ื”

And it gets worse. All the dangers that he thought were past, come back to haunt him. Itโ€™s been 30-odd years since (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื’:ื)โ€Ž ื•ืชื”ื™ ื”ืžืœื—ืžื” ืืจื›ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืœืš ื•ื—ื–ืง ื•ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ืœื›ื™ื ื•ื“ืœื™ืืƒ. But the resentment runs deep:

ื” ื•ื‘ื ื”ื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

ื™ื“ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืชื• ืขื™ืคื™ื; ื•ื™ื ืคืฉ ืฉืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

A few points about this. This is the first time we see David described as ืื™ืฉ ื”ื“ืžื™ื, but itโ€™s something that David internalized.

ื‘ ื•ื™ืงื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœ ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืื—ื™ ื•ืขืžื™; ืื ื™ ืขื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืžื ื•ื—ื” ืœืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ืœื”ื“ื ืจื’ืœื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ืชื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืชืƒ ื’ ื•ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืืžืจ ืœื™ ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™; ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืืชื” ื•ื“ืžื™ื ืฉืคื›ืชืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

Weโ€™ve discussed before that Nathan never told David that the reason that he could not build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ was because ืื™ืฉ ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืืชื” ื•ื“ืžื™ื ืฉืคื›ืช

ื“ื ืœืจื•ื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช: ื–ื” ืœื ืžืฆืื ื• ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืฉื ืื‘ืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจ ื›ืŸ ื‘ืœื‘ื• ื›ื™ ืžืคื ื™ ื–ื” ืžื ืขื”ื• ื”ืฉื ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ื™ืชโ€ฆ

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

But as weโ€™ve said many times before, the requirement for building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is two-fold:

ื•ืขื‘ืจืชื ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื ืžื ื—ื™ืœ ืืชื›ื; ื•ื”ื ื™ื— ืœื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื›ื ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ื˜ื—ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื‘:ื™

David established Israelโ€™s place among the nations, ื”ื ื™ื— ืœื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื›ื ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘, but could not insure domestic tranquility, ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ื˜ื—. Everything he did seemed to lead to more bloodshed. Here David tries to stop the cycle of violence, but itโ€™s worth mentioning that ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ is a work of literature, with a purpose in how it presents its heroes. David in the latter half of ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ is the quintessential ื‘ืขืœ ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”, and we only see the aspects of his story that illustrate that. But real human beings are more complex that any literary character, and ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื shows us a different side of David, who does not forget lรจse-majestรฉ.

ื ื•ื™ืงืจื‘ื• ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžื•ืช; ื•ื™ืฆื• ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ืœืืžืจืƒ ื‘ ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ื—ื–ืงืช ื•ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœืื™ืฉืƒ ื’ ื•ืฉืžืจืช ืืช ืžืฉืžืจืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืœืœื›ืช ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื• ืœืฉืžืจ ื—ืงืชื™ื• ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ื• ื•ืขื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื›ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืจืช ืžืฉื” ืœืžืขืŸ ืชืฉื›ื™ืœ ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื” ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืคื ื” ืฉืืƒ ื“ ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืงื™ื ื”ืณ ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื• ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœื™ ืœืืžืจ ืื ื™ืฉืžืจื• ื‘ื ื™ืš ืืช ื“ืจื›ื ืœืœื›ืช ืœืคื ื™ ื‘ืืžืช ื‘ื›ืœ ืœื‘ื‘ื ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ื ืคืฉื; ืœืืžืจ ืœื ื™ื›ืจืช ืœืš ืื™ืฉ ืžืขืœ ื›ืกื ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื” ื•ื’ื ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœืฉื ื™ ืฉืจื™ ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืื‘ื ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื ืจ ื•ืœืขืžืฉื ื‘ืŸ ื™ืชืจ ื•ื™ื”ืจื’ื ื•ื™ืฉื ื“ืžื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื“ืžื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ื—ื’ืจืชื• ืืฉืจ ื‘ืžืชื ื™ื• ื•ื‘ื ืขืœื• ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•ืƒ ื• ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ื—ื›ืžืชืš; ื•ืœื ืชื•ืจื“ ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœื ืฉืืœืƒ ื– ื•ืœื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœื™ ื”ื’ืœืขื“ื™ ืชืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ื•ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืื›ืœื™ ืฉืœื—ื ืš; ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ืงืจื‘ื• ืืœื™ ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื™ ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื—ื™ืšืƒ ื— ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืžืš ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื‘ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ืžื‘ื—ืจื™ื ื•ื”ื•ื ืงืœืœื ื™ ืงืœืœื” ื ืžืจืฆืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ืœื›ืชื™ ืžื—ื ื™ื; ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืจื“ ืœืงืจืืชื™ ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ืืฉื‘ืข ืœื• ื‘ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ืื ืืžื™ืชืš ื‘ื—ืจื‘ืƒ ื˜ ื•ืขืชื” ืืœ ืชื ืงื”ื• ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืืชื”; ื•ื™ื“ืขืช ืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื” ืœื• ื•ื”ื•ืจื“ืช ืืช ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ื“ื ืฉืื•ืœืƒ ื™ ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื ืื‘ืชื™ื•; ื•ื™ืงื‘ืจ ื‘ืขื™ืจ ื“ื•ื“ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื‘

And ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื is from ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื. Weโ€™ve seen that before:

ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืืœ ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉืช ื‘ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœืืžืจ; ืชื ื” ืืช ืืฉืชื™ ืืช ืžื™ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืืจืฉืชื™ ืœื™ ื‘ืžืื” ืขืจืœื•ืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ืืƒ
ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉืช ื•ื™ืงื—ื” ืžืขื ืื™ืฉ ืžืขื ืคืœื˜ื™ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ืฉ (ืœื™ืฉ)ืƒ
ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืœืš ืืชื” ืื™ืฉื” ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื‘ื›ื” ืื—ืจื™ื” ืขื“ ื‘ื—ืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ืื‘ื ืจ ืœืš ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื’

Again, this is a hint that these old and buried storiesโ€”here the tragedy of ืžื™ื›ืœโ€”are coming back to haunt David. He hasnโ€™t solved these problems; heโ€™s only buried them.

Who is ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื? We donโ€™t know much, but Davidโ€™s use of the phrase ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืžืš ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื‘ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ืžื‘ื—ืจื™ื tells us that he was of some importance:

ืขืžืš: ื•ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืื•ื”ื‘ืš ื”ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืขืžืš ื‘ืชืžื™ื“ื•ืช ื•ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–ืดืœ ืืžืจื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžืœืžื“ื• ืชื•ืจื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืžืœืื›ื™ื ื ื‘:ื—

ื•ึฐืึธืžึทืจ ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ื—ึดื™ึผึธื™ื ื‘ึผึทืจ ืึทืžึผึตื™ ืžึดืฉึผืึฐืžึตื™ื”ึผ ื“ึผึฐืขื•ึผืœึผึธื: ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื ื™ึธื“ื•ึผืจ ืึธื“ึธื ื‘ึผึดืžึฐืงื•ึนื ืจึทื‘ึผื•ึน, ืฉืึถื›ึผึธืœ ื–ึฐืžึทืŸ ืฉืึถืฉึผืึดืžึฐืขึดื™ ื‘ึผึถืŸ ื’ึผึตืจึธื ืงึทื™ึผึธื™ื, ืœึนื ื ึธืฉื‚ึธื ืฉืึฐืœึนืžึนื” ืึถืช ื‘ึผึทืช ืคึผึทืจึฐืขึนื”.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื—,ื

So Shimiโ€™s cursing him is another betrayal on the order of Achitofelโ€™s.

Iโ€™m less interested in ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื than in ืžื” ืœื™ ื•ืœื›ื ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื” (both of whom David deals with in his final orders to Shlomo). Who are ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื”?

ื™ื‘ ื•ื‘ืขื– ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืืช ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื•ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืืช ื™ืฉื™ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืื™ืฉื™ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืืช ื‘ื›ืจื• ืืช ืืœื™ืื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ื ื“ื‘ ื”ืฉื ื™ ื•ืฉืžืขื ื”ืฉืœืฉื™ืƒ
ื™ื“ ื ืชื ืืœ ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ ืจื“ื™ ื”ื—ืžื™ืฉื™ืƒ
ื˜ื• ืืฆื ื”ืฉืฉื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืฉื‘ืขื™ืƒ
ื˜ื– ื•ืื—ื™ืชื™ื”ื ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื•ืื‘ื™ื’ื™ืœ; ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืื‘ืฉื™ ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืฉืœืฉื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื‘

ืฆืจื™ื” is Davidโ€™s sister. I think this is the only case of a matronymic in ืชื ืดืš. I assume the three brothers had a father; he is never named. The brothers are Davidโ€™s military leaders and advisors. They are notable for being problem solversโ€”with a well placed blade.

As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero.

Varsuvius, The Order of the Stick

Solve a manโ€™s problems with violence, help him for a day. Teach a man to solve his problems with violence, help him for a lifetime!

Belkar Bitterleaf, The Order of the Stick

ื• ื•ื™ืขืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœ ืื—ื™ืžืœืš ื”ื—ืชื™ ื•ืืœ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœืืžืจ ืžื™ ื™ืจื“ ืืชื™ ืืœ ืฉืื•ืœ ืืœ ื”ืžื—ื ื”; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืื ื™ ืืจื“ ืขืžืšืƒ
ื– ื•ื™ื‘ื ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืืœ ื”ืขื ืœื™ืœื” ื•ื”ื ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ืฉื›ื‘ ื™ืฉืŸ ื‘ืžืขื’ืœ ื•ื—ื ื™ืชื• ืžืขื•ื›ื” ื‘ืืจืฅ ืžืจืืฉืชื•; ื•ืื‘ื ืจ ื•ื”ืขื ืฉื›ื‘ื™ื ืกื‘ื™ื‘ืชื•ืƒ

ื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืกื’ืจ ืืœืงื™ื ื”ื™ื•ื ืืช ืื•ื™ื‘ืš ื‘ื™ื“ืš; ื•ืขืชื” ืื›ื ื• ื ื ื‘ื—ื ื™ืช ื•ื‘ืืจืฅ ืคืขื ืื—ืช ื•ืœื ืืฉื ื” ืœื•ืƒ
ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืืœ ืชืฉื—ื™ืชื”ื•; ื›ื™ ืžื™ ืฉืœื— ื™ื“ื• ื‘ืžืฉื™ื— ื”ืณ ื•ื ืงื”ืƒ

ื™ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื—ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืื ื”ืณ ื™ื’ืคื ื•; ืื• ื™ื•ืžื• ื™ื‘ื•ื ื•ืžืช ืื• ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื” ื™ืจื“ ื•ื ืกืคื”ืƒ
ื™ื ื—ืœื™ืœื” ืœื™ ืžื”ืณ ืžืฉืœื— ื™ื“ื™ ื‘ืžืฉื™ื— ื”ืณ; ื•ืขืชื” ืงื— ื ื ืืช ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืืฉืจ ืžืจืืฉืชื• ื•ืืช ืฆืคื—ืช ื”ืžื™ื ื•ื ืœื›ื” ืœื ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื›ื•

ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฆื ืื‘ื ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื ืจ ื•ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉืช ื‘ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ืžืžื—ื ื™ื ื’ื‘ืขื•ื ื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื•ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื™ืฆืื• ื•ื™ืคื’ืฉื•ื ืขืœ ื‘ืจื›ืช ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸ ื™ื—ื“ื•; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืืœื” ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืจื›ื” ืžื–ื” ื•ืืœื” ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืจื›ื” ืžื–ื”ืƒ โ€ฆื™ื— ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืฉื ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื•ืขืฉื”ืืœ; ื•ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืงืœ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื›ืื—ื“ ื”ืฆื‘ื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉื“ื”ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ืจื“ืฃ ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจ; ื•ืœื ื ื˜ื” ืœืœื›ืช ืขืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžืื•ืœ ืžืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจืƒ โ€ฆื›ื’ ื•ื™ืžืืŸ ืœืกื•ืจ ื•ื™ื›ื”ื• ืื‘ื ืจ ื‘ืื—ืจื™ ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืืœ ื”ื—ืžืฉ ื•ืชืฆื ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืžืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื™ืคืœ ืฉื ื•ื™ืžืช ืชื—ืชื•; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื ืคืœ ืฉื ืขืฉื”ืืœ ื•ื™ืžืช ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื•ืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื™ืจื“ืคื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจ; ื•ื”ืฉืžืฉ ื‘ืื” ื•ื”ืžื” ื‘ืื• ืขื“ ื’ื‘ืขืช ืืžื” ืืฉืจ ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื’ื™ื— ื“ืจืš ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸืƒ โ€ฆื›ื— ื•ื™ืชืงืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื•ืœื ื™ืจื“ืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืื—ืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืœื ื™ืกืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืœื”ืœื—ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื‘

ื›ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ื ืจ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืืงื•ืžื” ื•ืืœื›ื” ื•ืืงื‘ืฆื” ืืœ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ื›ืจืชื• ืืชืš ื‘ืจื™ืช ื•ืžืœื›ืช ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืื•ื” ื ืคืฉืš; ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืื‘ื ืจ ื•ื™ืœืš ื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ
โ€ฆื›ื• ื•ื™ืฆื ื™ื•ืื‘ ืžืขื ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืืชื• ืžื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืกืจื”; ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืƒ
ื›ื– ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืื‘ื ืจ ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ ื•ื™ื˜ื”ื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืœ ืชื•ืš ื”ืฉืขืจ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืืชื• ื‘ืฉืœื™; ื•ื™ื›ื”ื• ืฉื ื”ื—ืžืฉ ื•ื™ืžืช ื‘ื“ื ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ื•ืƒ
โ€ฆืœ ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืจื’ื• ืœืื‘ื ืจ; ืขืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืžื™ืช ืืช ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ื”ื ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸ ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื’

They were fiercely loyal to David, but had their own opinions about what David needed. We saw above that David ordered Shlomo to have ื™ื•ืื‘ killed when he (Shlomo) became king; David needed them too much to act against them in his lifetime.

ืœื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื•; ื”ืœื•ื ืชื“ืขื• ื›ื™ ืฉืจ ื•ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื ืคืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ืœื˜ ื•ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืจืš ื•ืžืฉื•ื— ืžืœืš ื•ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืงืฉื™ื ืžืžื ื™; ื™ืฉืœื ื”ืณ ืœืขืฉื” ื”ืจืขื” ื›ืจืขืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื’

ืจืณ ืืœืขื–ืจ ืืžืจ ืื ืื™ืŸ ืฉื•ื˜ืจ ืื™ืŸ ืฉื•ืคื˜. ื›ื™ืฆื“? ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื ืชื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืื“ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื™ืŸ ืœื—ื‘ื™ืจื•, ืื ืื™ืŸ ืฉื ืฉื•ื˜ืจ ืฉื™ื•ืฆื™ื ืžืžื ื•, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืคื™ืจืฉ ืžืŸ ื”ื“ื™ื™ื ื™ืŸ, ืื™ืŸ ืกืคื™ืงื” ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืœื• ื›ืœื•ื, ืืœื ืื ื›ืŸ ืžื•ืกืจื• ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉื•ื˜ืจ, ื•ื”ืฉื•ื˜ืจ ืžื•ืฆื™ื ืžืžื ื•. ืืžืจ ืจืณ ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืคื“ืช ืื™ืœืžืœื ืฉื™ื˜ื ื• ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืื‘, ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ. ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ โ€ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื•ืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืœื›ืœ ืขืžื• ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืขืœ ื”ืฆื‘ืโ€œ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื˜ื•-ื˜ื–), ื•ื›ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ื”ื™ื•, ืืœื ื›ืœ ืžื™ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืฉื•ืžืข ืœื“ื™ื™ืŸ, ืžื•ืกืจื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื‘ื™ื“ ื™ื•ืื‘, ื•ืžื•ืฆื™ืื™ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื‘ืขืœ ื›ืจื—ื•.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื ื—ื•ืžื (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืคืจืฉืช ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ืกื™ืžืŸ ื’

This pericope illustrates the paradox of ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื”. We need to remember that it was ื™ื•ืื‘ who worked so hard to bring Avshalom back to the kingdom, and reconcile him with David. He honestly believed that Avshalom was the only one strong enough to succeed David, that naming Shlomo as Davidโ€™s heir was a mistake (and later, ื™ื•ืื‘ would side with Adoniyah against Shlomo). But when Avshalom rebels, it is ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื” who stay with David, and it is ื™ื•ืื‘ who disobeys David and kills Avshalom.

And it illustrates two approaches to ื™ืกื•ืจื™ื. We can react with violence like ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื”, or treat everything that happens as a potential lesson from ื”ืณ, as David does. Itโ€™s clear what the text thinks is the right answer.

In the context of our story, of David resolving not to abandon Israel, and to stay and fight for the kingdom, I want to look at a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that seems relevant. This is how Feivel Meltzer describes ืคืจืง ื˜ื–:

ืœืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื˜ื–, ื”ืžืงื™ืฃ ื™ื•ืชืจ ื‘ื›ืžื•ืชื• ื•ืขืžื•ืง ื™ื•ืชืจ ื‘ืœืฉื•ื ื• ื•ืžืฉื•ื ื›ืš ื’ื ืคื—ื•ืช ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืจืขื™ื•ื ื•ืชื™ื•โ€”ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื”ื“ื’ื™ืฉ ื‘ืขื™ืงืจ ื™ืกื•ื“ ืื—ื“, ืืฉืจ ื ืžืฆืื ื• ืจื‘ื•ืช ื‘ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•ื”ื•ื ืžื•ืคื™ืข ื›ืืŸ ื‘ื—ื•ื–ืง ืจื‘, ื•ื”ื•ืโ€”ื”ืจื’ืฉืช ืงืจื‘ืช ืืœื•ืงื™ื, ื”ื‘ืขืช ื”ืื•ืฉืจ ืฉื‘ื”ืœื™ื›ื” ื‘ื“ืจืš ื”ืณ, ื”ืฉืœื•ื” ื”ืคื ื™ืžื™ืช ื”ืžืฉืชืœื˜ืช ืขืœ ืื“ื ื”ื™ื•ื“ืข ืืช ืขืฆืžื• ืžืชืœื•ื ืŸ ื‘ืฆืœ ืฉื“ึพื™, ื‘ื•ื˜ื— ื‘ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื• ื•ืฆื•ื”ืœ ื‘ืงืจื‘ืชื•, ืžืฉื ื™ ืžืขื™ื ื•ืช ื—ื™ื™ื ืจืขื ื ื™ื ื™ืจื•ื”.

ืคื™ื‘ืœ ืžืœืฆืจ, ืคื ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–

But I donโ€™t think itโ€™s about ืื•ืฉืจ, happiness, as much as about acceptance, that ืื”ื‘ืช ื”ืณ may not be the easiest path, but thatโ€™s OK.

I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)

ืžื›ืชื ืœื“ื•ื“; ืฉืžืจื ื™ ืึพืœ ื›ื™ ื—ืกื™ืชื™ ื‘ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–:ื

Weโ€™ve seen the term ืžื›ืชื before in the ื›ื•ืชืจื•ืช of a number of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื (and dealt with it in more detail in I Spy):

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ืฉื•ืฉืŸ ืขื“ื•ืช; ืžื›ืชื ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœืœืžื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื‘ื”ืฆื•ืชื• ืืช ืืจื ื ื”ืจื™ื ื•ืืช ืืจื ืฆื•ื‘ื”;
ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ืš ืืช ืื“ื•ื ื‘ื’ื™ื ืžืœื— ืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ ืืœืฃืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืก

ืœืžื ืฆื— ืืœ ืชืฉื—ืช ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžื›ืชื: ื‘ืฉืœื— ืฉืื•ืœ;
ื•ื™ืฉืžืจื• ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืœื”ืžื™ืชื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื ื˜:ื

ืœืžื ืฆื— ืืœ ืชืฉื—ืช ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžื›ืชื ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืžืขืจื”:

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื ื–:ื

They are all ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื of violence, ืืœ ืชืฉื—ืช.

Hirsch connects the word to the root ื›ืชื, which is used in two ways in ืชื ืดืš; in ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ื‘:ื›ื‘ it means a stain: ื›ื™ ืื ืชื›ื‘ืกื™ ื‘ื ืชืจ ื•ืชืจื‘ื™ ืœืš ื‘ืจื™ืช ื ื›ืชื ืขื•ื ืš ืœืคื ื™ ื ืื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืณ. In the talmud, a ื›ืชื is a bloodstain. In modern Hebrew, it is simply a stain.

The second meaning is a synonym for โ€œgoldโ€ as in (ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื ื”:ื™ื)โ€Ž ืจืืฉื• ื›ืชื ืคื–, ืงื•ืฆื•ืชื™ื• ืชืœืชืœื™ื ืฉื—ื•ืจื•ืช ื›ืขื•ืจื‘โ€Ž or in (ืื™ื›ื” ื“:ื)โ€Ž ืื™ื›ื” ื™ื•ืขื ื–ื”ื‘ ื™ืฉื ื ื”ื›ืชื ื”ื˜ื•ื‘; ืชืฉืชืคื›ื ื” ืื‘ื ื™ ืงื“ืฉ ื‘ืจืืฉ ื›ืœ ื—ื•ืฆื•ืช. Hirsch connects the two by translating it as โ€œred goldโ€ (an alloy of copper and gold), as in (ื™ื•ืžื ืžื”,ื)โ€Ž ื–ื”ื‘ ืคืจื•ื™ื ืฉื“ื•ืžื” ืœื“ื ื”ืคืจื™ื.

Hirsch goes on to translate ืžื›ืชื in the sense of โ€œindelible stainโ€ as an โ€œeverlasting memorialโ€ but I would like to connect it back to โ€œbloodstainโ€. A ืžื›ืชื is a reflection on spilling blood, the indelible nature of bloodstains.

Out, damned spot! out, I say!

William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act V, Scene I

Our perek is about avoiding violence; David is asking ื”ืณ to protect him.

ืึธืžึทืจึฐืชึผึฐ ืœื”ืณ ืื“ื ึพื™ ืืชื”; ื˜ื•ื‘ืชื™ ื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–:ื‘

ืึธืžึทืจึฐืชึผึฐ is second person, โ€œyou said, โ€˜Thou art my Masterโ€™โ€, and it is feminine. Who is David addressing? As Meltzer says, this perek is ืคื—ื•ืช ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืจืขื™ื•ื ื•ืชื™ื•. I will follow Rashiโ€™s first opinion:

ืืžืจืช ืœื”ืณ ืื“ื ื™ ืืชื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืœื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื™ืฉ ืขืœื™ืš ืœื•ืžืจ ืœื”ืณ ืื“ื•ืŸ ืืชื” ื•ื™ื“ืš ืขืœ ื”ืขืœื™ื•ื ื” ืœื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื ืขืœื™.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื‘

He is addressing the community of Israel, who have accepted the ื‘ืจื™ืช with ื”ืณ. Then ื˜ื•ื‘ืชื™ ื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ืš is David speaking again, ื˜ื•ื‘ืชื™ ื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ืš, whatever good that befalls me is not because I deserve it.

ื˜ื•ื‘ืชื™ ื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ืš: ื˜ื•ื‘ื•ืช ืฉืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื” ืœื™ ืœื ืขืœื™ืš ื”ื ืœื’ืžืœื ื™ ื›ื™ ืœื ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชื™ ืืชื” ืžื˜ื™ื‘ ืœื™.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื‘

My success (David says) belongs to the people, because they are ืงื“ื•ืฉื™ื.

ืœืงื“ื•ืฉื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื”ืžื”; ื•ืื“ื™ืจื™ ื›ืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ ื‘ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื’

ื•ืื“ื™ืจื™ ื›ืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ ื‘ื: ื”ื ื”ืื“ื™ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ื›ืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ ื‘ื ื•ื›ืœ ืฆืจื›ื™ ื ืขืฉื™ื ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื’

Then David talks about what he will not do; he will not abandon his faith:

ื“ ื™ืจื‘ื• ืขืฆื‘ื•ืชื ืึทื—ึตืจ ืžื”ืจื•;
ื‘ืœ ืืกื™ืš ื ืกื›ื™ื”ื ืžื“ื; ื•ื‘ืœ ืืฉื ืืช ืฉืžื•ืชื ืขืœ ืฉืคืชื™ืƒ
ื” ื”ืณ ืžื ืช ื—ืœืงื™ ื•ื›ื•ืกื™ ืืชื” ืชื•ืžื™ืš ื’ื•ืจืœื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

ื™ืจื‘ื• ืขืฆื‘ื•ืชื ื•ื’ื•ืณ:โ€ฆื™ืจื‘ื• ืขืฆื‘ื•ืชื ืฉืœ ื›ื•ืคืจื™ื ื‘ืš ื”ืžื”ื™ืจื™ื ื•ื—ืจื™ื“ื™ื ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ืืœ ืื—ืจ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื“

We talked before about how ื—ื–ืดืœ saw David about to worship ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื”, which the Maharsha says is a reference to ื›ืœ ื”ื“ืจ ื‘ื—ื•ืฆื” ืœืืจืฅ ื“ื•ืžื” ื›ืžื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืึพืœื•ื”. He was about to abandon his land and his people, which is tantamount to abandoning his faith.

ื• ื—ื‘ืœื™ื ื ืคืœื• ืœื™ ื‘ื ืขืžื™ื; ืืฃ ื ื—ืœืช ืฉืคืจื” ืขืœื™ืƒ
ื– ืื‘ืจืš ืืช ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืฆื ื™; ืืฃ ืœื™ืœื•ืช ื™ืกืจื•ื ื™ ื›ืœื™ื•ืชื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

He realizes that ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, his ื—ื‘ืœ, is ื ืขื™ื.

ื—ื‘ืœื™ื: ื›ืŸ ื™ืงืจืื• ื”ืžื—ื•ื–ื•ืช ื•ื›ืŸ (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื™ื˜:ื˜) ืžึตื—ึถื‘ึถืœ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธื”, ืขืดืฉ, ื›ื™ ื‘ื—ื‘ืœ ื™ื—ื•ืœืง ื ื—ืœื”.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื•

And he will praise ื”ืณ for allowing him to make the right decision, even when his โ€œgut feelingโ€โ€”ื›ืœื™ื•ืชื™โ€”pushed the wrong way.

ืฉื•ื™ืชื™ ื”ืณ ืœื ื’ื“ื™ ืชืžื™ื“; ื›ื™ ืžื™ืžื™ื ื™ ื‘ืœ ืืžื•ื˜ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื—

โ€ืฉื•ื™ืชื™ ื”ืณ ืœื ื’ื“ื™ ืชืžื™ื“โ€œ ื”ื•ื ื›ืœืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื‘ืžืขืœื•ืช ื”ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืืœืงื™ื, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื™ืฉื™ื‘ืช ื”ืื“ื ื•ืชื ื•ืขื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืขืกืงื™ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ื“ื• ื‘ื‘ื™ืชื• ื›ื™ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื•ืชื ื•ืขื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืขืกืงื™ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืœืคื ื™ ืžืœืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ; ื•ืœื ื“ื‘ื•ืจื• ื•ื”ืจื—ื‘ืช ืคื™ื• ื›ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืขื ืื ืฉื™ ื‘ื™ืชื• ื•ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื• ื›ื“ื‘ื•ืจื• ื‘ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื”ืžืœืš. ื›ืดืฉ ื›ืฉื™ืฉื™ื ื”ืื“ื ืืœ ืœื‘ื• ืฉื”ืžืœืš ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืืฉืจ ืžืœื ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืขื•ืžื“ ืขืœื™ื• ื•ืจื•ืื” ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื•โ€ฆืžื™ื“ ื™ื’ื™ืข ืืœื™ื• ื”ื™ืจืื” ื•ื”ื”ื›ื ืขื” ื‘ืคื—ื“ ื”ืฉืดื™.

ื”ื’ื”, ืฉื•ืœื—ืŸ ืขืจื•ืš ืื•ืจื— ื—ื™ื™ื ื:ื

Then there is a statement about Davidโ€™s faith even in the face of death. Itโ€™s psukim like these that make we wonder why people say there in no mention of ืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื in ืชื ืดืš. This seems pretty explicit.

ื˜ ืœื›ืŸ ืฉืžื— ืœื‘ื™ ื•ื™ื’ืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™; ืืฃ ื‘ืฉืจื™ ื™ืฉื›ืŸ ืœื‘ื˜ื—ืƒ
ื™ ื›ื™ ืœื ืชืขื–ื‘ ื ืคืฉื™ ืœืฉืื•ืœ; ืœื ืชืชืŸ ื—ืกื™ื“ืš ืœืจืื•ืช ืฉื—ืชืƒ
ื™ื ืชื•ื“ื™ืขื ื™ ืืจื— ื—ื™ื™ื;
ืฉื‘ืข ืฉืžื—ื•ืช ืืช ืคื ื™ืš; ื ืขืžื•ืช ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ืš ื ืฆื—ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

ืชื•ื“ื™ืขื ื™ ืืจื— ื—ื™ื™ื: ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืขืชื™ื“ ื”ื•ื.

ืฉื‘ืข ืฉืžื—ื•ืช: ืฉืžื—ื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื” ืงืฅ ื•ืชื›ืœื” ื”ื™ื ื”ืฉืžื—ื” ืฉืœ ืขืชื™ื“.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื˜ื–:ื™ื

But in our story, David doesnโ€™t die yet. The narrative returns to Avshalom and his co-conspirators.