ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Choosing Sides

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

When David gives Avshalom leave to ืดืืฉืœื ืืช ื ื“ืจื™ ืืฉืจ ื ื“ืจืชื™ ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸืด, Avshalom does three things:

ื™ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืžืจื’ืœื™ื ื‘ื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืืžืจ; ื›ืฉืžืขื›ื ืืช ืงื•ืœ ื”ืฉืคืจ ื•ืืžืจืชื ืžืœืš ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸืƒ ื™ื ื•ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื”ืœื›ื• ืžืืชื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืงืจืื™ื ื•ื”ืœื›ื™ื ืœืชืžื; ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืืช ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ื”ื’ื™ืœื ื™ ื™ื•ืขืฅ ื“ื•ื“ ืžืขื™ืจื• ืžื’ืœื” ื‘ื–ื‘ื—ื• ืืช ื”ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื”ืงืฉืจ ืืžืฅ ื•ื”ืขื ื”ื•ืœืš ื•ืจื‘ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

The first is to signal his co-conspirators throughout the country (we havenโ€™t seen them, but they clearly exist) that they will soon hear the call to war. Thatโ€™s what the shofar fundamentally is:

ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืื“ื ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžืš ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœื™ื”ื ืืจืฅ ื›ื™ ืื‘ื™ื ืขืœื™ื” ื—ืจื‘; ื•ืœืงื—ื• ืขื ื”ืืจืฅ ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ ืžืงืฆื™ื”ื ื•ื ืชื ื• ืืชื• ืœื”ื ืœืฆืคื”ืƒ ื’ ื•ืจืื” ืืช ื”ื—ืจื‘ ื‘ืื” ืขืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ืชืงืข ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื”ื–ื”ื™ืจ ืืช ื”ืขืืƒ ื“ ื•ืฉืžืข ื”ืฉืžืข ืืช ืงื•ืœ ื”ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ืœื ื ื–ื”ืจ ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ืชืงื—ื”ื• ื“ืžื• ื‘ืจืืฉื• ื™ื”ื™ื”ืƒ โ€ฆ ื• ื•ื”ืฆืคื” ื›ื™ ื™ืจืื” ืืช ื”ื—ืจื‘ ื‘ืื” ื•ืœื ืชืงืข ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื”ืขื ืœื ื ื–ื”ืจ ื•ืชื‘ื•ื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ืชืงื— ืžื”ื ื ืคืฉ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขื•ื ื• ื ืœืงื— ื•ื“ืžื• ืžื™ื“ ื”ืฆืคื” ืื“ืจืฉืƒ

ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ืคืจืง ืœื’

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื‘ื•ืื• ื•ื™ืชืงืข ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื‘ื”ืจ ืืคืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืขืžื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืŸ ื”ื”ืจ ื•ื”ื•ื ืœืคื ื™ื”ืืƒ

ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ื’:ื›ื–

The second is to invite ืžืืชื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืจื•ืฉืœื. They explicitly are ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ; they are not co-conspirators. What are they doing here? Avshalom is fulfilling a ื ื“ืจ that involves ื–ื‘ื—ื• ืืช ื”ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื, offering ืฉืœืžื™ื (the term ื–ื‘ื— and ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื are used interchangeably in the Torah), offerings that have the blood sprinkled and the fat burned on the altar, but are eaten by the people. Weโ€™ve noted that ื—ื–ืดืœ connected this to Avshalomโ€™s hair:

ื“ืชื ื™ื: ืจื‘ื™ ืื•ืžืจ: ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื ื–ื™ืจ ืขื•ืœื ื”ื™ื”โ€ฆื•ืžื’ืœื— ืื—ื“ ืœืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ ื—ื“ืฉ ืฉื ืืณ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื“:ื›ื•) ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืงืฅ ื™ืžื™ื ืœื™ืžื™ืโ€ฆ

ื ื–ื™ืจ ื“,ื‘

ืžื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื ื–ื™ืจ ืขื•ืœื ืœื ื–ื™ืจ ืฉืžืฉื•ืŸ? ื ื–ื™ืจ ืขื•ืœื ื”ื›ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืขืจื• ืžื™ืงืœ ื‘ืชืขืจ ื•ืžื‘ื™ื ืฉืœืฉ ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช, ื•ืื ื ื˜ืžื ืžื‘ื™ื ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื˜ื•ืžืื”.

ืžืฉื ื” ื ื–ื™ืจ ื:ื‘

โ€ื”ืจื™ื ื™ ื ื–ื™ืจ ืขื•ืœืโ€œ ื”ืจื™ ื–ื” ื ื–ื™ืจ: ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ื•; ื“ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ื”ืจื™ื ื™ ื ื–ื™ืจ ืขื•ืœื ืžืฉืžืข ื“ื ื–ื™ืจื•ืช ืงื‘ืœ ืขืœื™ื• ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื.

ืจืฉืดื™,ื ื–ื™ืจ ื“,ื

ื•ืžื‘ื™ื ื’ืณ ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช: ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืžื™ืงืœ ื”ืœื›ื” ืœืžืฉื” ืžืกื™ื ื™ ื•ืืกืžื›ืชื ืžืื‘ืฉืœื•ื.

ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช ,ื ื–ื™ืจ ื“,ื

ื™ื’ ื•ื–ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื”ื ื–ื™ืจ; ื‘ื™ื•ื ืžืœืืช ื™ืžื™ ื ื–ืจื• ื™ื‘ื™ื ืืชื• ืืœ ืคืชื— ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืืช ืงืจื‘ื ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ื‘ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืชื• ืชืžื™ื ืื—ื“ ืœืขืœื” ื•ื›ื‘ืฉื” ืื—ืช ื‘ืช ืฉื ืชื” ืชืžื™ืžื” ืœื—ื˜ืืช; ื•ืื™ืœ ืื—ื“ ืชืžื™ื ืœืฉืœืžื™ืืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ืกืœ ืžืฆื•ืช ืกืœืช ื—ืœืช ื‘ืœื•ืœืช ื‘ืฉืžืŸ ื•ืจืงื™ืงื™ ืžืฆื•ืช ืžืฉื—ื™ื ื‘ืฉืžืŸ; ื•ืžื ื—ืชื ื•ื ืกื›ื™ื”ืืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ืขืฉื” ืืช ื—ื˜ืืชื• ื•ืืช ืขืœืชื•ืƒ ื™ื– ื•ืืช ื”ืื™ืœ ื™ืขืฉื” ื–ื‘ื— ืฉืœืžื™ื ืœื”ืณ ืขืœ ืกืœ ื”ืžืฆื•ืช; ื•ืขืฉื” ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืืช ืžื ื—ืชื• ื•ืืช ื ืกื›ื•ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ื’ืœื— ื”ื ื–ื™ืจ ืคืชื— ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ ืืช ืจืืฉ ื ื–ืจื•; ื•ืœืงื— ืืช ืฉืขืจ ืจืืฉ ื ื–ืจื• ื•ื ืชืŸ ืขืœ ื”ืืฉ ืืฉืจ ืชื—ืช ื–ื‘ื— ื”ืฉืœืžื™ืืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ืœืงื— ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืืช ื”ื–ืจืข ื‘ืฉืœื” ืžืŸ ื”ืื™ืœ ื•ื—ืœืช ืžืฆื” ืื—ืช ืžืŸ ื”ืกืœ ื•ืจืงื™ืง ืžืฆื” ืื—ื“; ื•ื ืชืŸ ืขืœ ื›ืคื™ ื”ื ื–ื™ืจ ืื—ืจ ื”ืชื’ืœื—ื• ืืช ื ื–ืจื•ืƒ ื› ื•ื”ื ื™ืฃ ืื•ืชื ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืชื ื•ืคื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ืงื“ืฉ ื”ื•ื ืœื›ื”ืŸ ืขืœ ื—ื–ื” ื”ืชื ื•ืคื” ื•ืขืœ ืฉื•ืง ื”ืชืจื•ืžื”; ื•ืื—ืจ ื™ืฉืชื” ื”ื ื–ื™ืจ ื™ื™ืŸืƒ ื›ื ื–ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื”ื ื–ื™ืจ ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืจ ืงืจื‘ื ื• ืœื”ืณ ืขืœ ื ื–ืจื• ืžืœื‘ื“ ืืฉืจ ืชืฉื™ื’ ื™ื“ื•; ื›ืคื™ ื ื“ืจื• ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืจ ื›ืŸ ื™ืขืฉื” ืขืœ ืชื•ืจืช ื ื–ืจื•ืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื•

ื—ืœื•ืช ืžืฆื•ืช ื•ืจืงื™ืงื™ ืžืฆื•ืช: ืขึถืฉื‚ึถืจ ืžึดื›ึผึธืœ ืžึดื™ืŸ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•:ื˜ื•

ืžืœื‘ื“ ืืฉืจ ืชืฉื™ื’ ื™ื“ื•: ืฉืึถืึดื ืึธืžึทืจ ื”ึฒืจึตื™ื ึดื™ ื ึธื–ึดื™ืจ ืขึทืœ ืžึฐื ึธืช ืœึฐื’ึทืœึผึตื—ึท ืขึทืœ ืžึตืึธื” ืขื•ึนืœื•ึนืช ื•ึฐืขึทืœ ืžึตืึธื” ืฉืึฐืœึธืžึดื™ื, ื›ึผึฐืคึดื™ ื ึดื“ึฐืจื•ึน ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื™ึดื“ึผึนืจ ื›ึผึตืŸ ื™ึทืขึฒืฉึถึนื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•:ื›ื

The rest of the ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื is eaten by the ื ื–ื™ืจ himself. But thereโ€™s a time limit:

ื” ื•ื›ื™ ืชื–ื‘ื—ื• ื–ื‘ื— ืฉืœืžื™ื ืœื”ืณ ืœืจืฆื ื›ื ืชื–ื‘ื—ื”ื•ืƒ ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ื–ื‘ื—ื›ื ื™ืื›ืœ ื•ืžืžื—ืจืช; ื•ื”ื ื•ืชืจ ืขื“ ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืืฉ ื™ืฉืจืฃืƒ ื– ื•ืื ื”ืื›ืœ ื™ืื›ืœ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ืคื’ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืœื ื™ืจืฆื”ืƒ ื— ื•ืื›ืœื™ื• ืขื•ื ื• ื™ืฉื ื›ื™ ืืช ืงื“ืฉ ื”ืณ ื—ืœืœ; ื•ื ื›ืจืชื” ื”ื ืคืฉ ื”ื”ื•ื ืžืขืžื™ื”ืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

And thatโ€™s a lot of meat:

Ram Weights:

3 year old: 168 lbs.

2 year old: 145 lbs.

1 year old:150 lbs.

1 year old: 145 lbs.

1 year old: 125 lbs.

The Lavender Fleece farm & studio, Weighing Sheep

Lambs generally have about a 50% yield for the carcass weight and then about a 75% yield of meat from that carcass or about 34 pounds of meat from a whole 90 pound lamb.

Betsy Hodge, How Much Meat Do You Get?

I donโ€™t have enough family or friends to finish 50+ pounds of meat in 2 days. So I have to share.

Shadal (Shโ€™muโ€™el David Luzzato, 19th century Italian commentator) suggests that the reasoning behind the law of pigul is akin to the gleanings. If the Torah had allowed a goodwill offering (Korban Shโ€™lamim) to be eaten over an indefinite time period, the individual would likely eat some, with his family and close friends, during the first few days after bringing it. He would then store it away and continue to โ€œcelebrateโ€ with his entourage. Keep in mind that a Shโ€™lamim is brought from the flock or the herdโ€”a large animal which cannot be devoured quickly. Since the Torah commands that a Shโ€™lamim must be eaten on the day that it is offered and the morrowโ€ฆthe one bringing the offering will perforce share it with many others.

Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, Speak to the Entire Congregation

So maybe this is an explanation for the pasuk about Avshalomโ€™s hair:

ื•ื‘ื’ืœื—ื• ืืช ืจืืฉื• ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžืงืฅ ื™ืžื™ื ืœื™ืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื’ืœื— ื›ื™ ื›ื‘ื“ ืขืœื™ื• ื•ื’ืœื—ื•; ื•ืฉืงืœ ืืช ืฉืขืจ ืจืืฉื• ืžืืชื™ื ืฉืงืœื™ื ื‘ืื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื“:ื›ื•

We pointed out that 200 shekels is about 2 kilograms. Thatโ€™s a lot more than a full head of hair:

Many sources suggest that a full head of long hair weighs around an ounce or two (30โ€“60 grams). Its maximum weight can go up to 5 pounds.

Essie Button, How Much Does Your Hair Weigh?

So maybe the 200 shekels was the amount he spent on his hair-cutting party. Thatโ€™s a lot of sheep:

ื ืคืฉ ื›ื™ ืชืžืขืœ ืžืขืœ ื•ื—ื˜ืื” ื‘ืฉื’ื’ื” ืžืงื“ืฉื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ื”ื‘ื™ื ืืช ืืฉืžื• ืœื”ืณ ืื™ืœ ืชืžื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ืฆืืŸ ื‘ืขืจื›ืš ื›ืกืฃ ืฉืงืœื™ื ื‘ืฉืงืœ ื”ืงื“ืฉ ืœืืฉืืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืคืจืง ื”:ื˜ื•

So Avshalom has had a huge annual affair in Chevron, and David would not be suspicious if he invited some of the Jerusalem elite. But this time, Avshalom has a different plan.

ืืดืœ [ื“ื•ื“ ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื]: ื•ืžื” ืืช ื‘ืขื™ ื›ื“ื•ืŸ? ืืดืœ [ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœื“ื•ื“] ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื—ื“ ืคื™ืชืง ื“ืชืจื™ืŸ ื’ื•ื‘ืจื™ืŸ ื“ื ืกื‘ื™ื ื•ืŸ ืขื™ืžื™. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืืžื•ืจ ืœื™ ืœืžืืŸ ื“ืืช ื‘ืขื™ ื•ืื ื ื›ืชื•ื‘. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื” ืกืชื ื•ืื ื ืœืžืืŸ ื“ื‘ืขื™ ืื ื ื ืกื‘. ื›ืชื‘ ืœื™ื” ืกืชื. ืื–ืœ ื•ืฆืžืช ืœื™ื” ืชืจื™ืŸ ืชืจื™ืŸ ื’ื•ื‘ืจื™ืŸ ืขื“ ื“ืฆืžืช ืœื™ื” ืžืืชืŸ ื’ื•ื‘ืจื™ืŸ. ื”ื“ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ื•ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื”ืœื›ื• ืžืืชื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ืงืจื•ืื™ื ื•ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ืœืชื•ืžื โ€œ. ืงืจื•ืื™ื ืžื“ื•ื“, ื•ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ืœืชื•ืžื ืžืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ. ืจื‘ื™ ื”ื•ื ื ื‘ืฉื ืจื‘ื™ ืื—ื: ื•ื›ื•ืœื”ื• ืจืืฉื™ ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ื•ืช ื”ื™ื•.

ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ืกื•ื˜ื” ื:ื—, ื“ืฃ ื–,ื‘-ื—,ื

(and maybe the ืžืืชื™ื ืฉืงืœื™ื are a hint to the ืžืืชื™ื ืื™ืฉ, though I think thatโ€™s too cute)

So Avshalom has these 200 ืจืืฉื™ ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ื•ืช at a perfectly innocuous ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื™ื party when he sudden announces ืžืœืš ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ. They are stuck. Will David believe them that they are ื”ืœื›ื™ื ืœืชืžื ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ? Heโ€™s only authorized 2 of them to come. The rest must be part of Avshalomโ€™s conspiracy. So Avshalom has just neutralized Davidโ€™s political support.

The third thing that Avshalom does is calls Achitophel. Weโ€™ve looked at Achitophel in detail before, since he is the grandfather of Bat Sheva. He was the chief military advisor to David until he realized the enormity of what David had done to his granddaughter. Avshalom now has the military strength, the political strength and the strategic advice that will allow him to topple his father.

ื•ืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืฅ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื”ื”ื ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืืœ (ืื™ืฉ) ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืืœืงื™ื; ื›ืŸ ื›ืœ ืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ื’ื ืœื“ื•ื“ ื’ื ืœืื‘ืฉืœืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื–:ื›ื’

ืืžืจ ืœื”ื: ืœื›ื• ืคืฉื˜ื• ื™ื“ื™ื›ื ื‘ื’ื“ื•ื“. ืžื™ื“ ื™ื•ืขืฆื™ืŸ ื‘ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ื•ื ืžืœื›ื™ืŸ ื‘ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื•ืฉื•ืืœื™ืŸ ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื˜ื–,ื-ื‘

ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืื•ื”ื‘ ืœืื“ื ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืœืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืขืœ ืžื—ืœื•ืงืช ืฉืœื•. ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื•ืขืฆื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขืฆื•ืช.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื—ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื ื”:ื

ืฉื›ืคื™ ื”ื ืจืื” ืฉื ืืช ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ืœื“ื•ื“ ื•ืงืฉืจื• ืขื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื ืงื‘ืข ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืžืขืฉื” ื–ื”, ืฉืฉืžืจ ืœื• ืื™ื‘ื” ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืœืงื— ืืช ื ื›ื“ื• ื‘ื—ื–ืงื”. ื›ื™ ืœื•ืœื ื–ืืช, ืจื—ื•ืง ื”ื•ื ืื™ืคื•ื ืฉืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ืฉื™ื“ืข ืฉื”ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฉืžื•ืจื” ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ืŸ ื ื›ื“ื• ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืงื•ืฉืจื™ื ืขื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœื”ืกื‘ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืืœื™ื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื:ื•

And Achitophel, it would seem, has been the power behind the throne (or the attempt at the throne) the whole time:

ืจืื™ืชื™ ื‘ืงื”ืœืช ื™ืขืงื‘, ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืืจื™ื›ื•ืช ื‘ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืœโ€ฆืฉืคื™ืจืฉื• ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœืงื—ืช ืืช ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืžื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ืจืฆื” ืœืžืœื•ืš ืจืง ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ืฉืžืœืš ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื‘ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืื™ืฉ ื‘ื•ืฉืช ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืžืœืš ืจืง ืขืœ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ, ื•ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื“ื•ืžื” ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืขืฆืžื• ืžืฉื•ื— ืœืžืœื•ื›ื” ื‘ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ, ืืคื™ืœื• ืฉืฉืื•ืœ ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืžืœืš. ื•ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื–ื” ื”ื™ืชื” ื”ืชื›ื ื™ืช ืฉืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœื”ืžืœื™ืš ืืช ืขืฆืžื• ืขืœ ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•, ื•ืœืื—ืจ ืคื˜ื™ืจืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“, ื™ืงื‘ืœ ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื˜ื‘ืขื™ ืืช ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ืขืดื™ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉื•ื— ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ืžืœืš ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ. ื•ื–ื• ื”ื™ืชื” ืชื›ื ื™ืชื• ืฉืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืขืฆืžื•, ื•ืขื›ืดืค ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ืงืฉ ืฉื–ื” ืžื” ืฉื™ื’ื™ืข ืœืื–ื ื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•, ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื”ืžืœื™ืš ืขืฆืžื• ืขืœ ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ.

ืื‘ืœ ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉื•ื ื ืืช ื“ื•ื“, ื”ื•ื ื ืชืŸ ืืช ื”ืขืฆื”, ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื”ืจื•ื’ ืืช ื“ื•ื“, ื•ืืฃ ื”ืฆื™ืข ืืช ืขืฆืžื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืืช ื–ืืช ื‘ืคื•ืขืœ, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ืœืงืžืŸ ื‘ืคืจืง ื™ืดื– ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื-ื‘ โ€ื•ืืงื•ืžื” ื•ืืจื“ืคื” ืื—ืจื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืœื™ืœื”. ื•ืื‘ื•ื ืขืœื™ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื’ืข ื•ืจืคื” ื™ื“ื™ื ื•ื”ื—ืจื“ืชื™ ืื•ืชื• ื•ื’ื•ืณ ื•ื”ื›ื™ืชื™ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืœื‘ื“ื•โ€œโ€ฆ

ื•ืจืื™ืชื™ ืœื•ืžืจ, ืฉืœื›ืš ื‘ื™ืงืฉ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื’ื ืืช ื“ืขืช ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™, ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื ืจืื” ืœื• ื›ืดื›, ืžื” ืฉื”ืฆื™ืข ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ืืช ื“ื•ื“, ื•ื—ืฉืฉ ืคืŸ ืฉื ืืชื• ืฉืœ ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืงืœืงืœื” ืืช ื”ืฉื•ืจื”, ื•ื”ืคืขื ืื™ืŸ ืขืฆืชื• ื˜ื•ื‘ื”, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ื ื’ื™ืขื•ืช ื•ืฉื ืื” ืื™ืฉื™ืช ืœื“ื•ื“. ื•ืœื›ืš ื‘ื™ืงืฉ ืœืฉืžื•ืข ื’ื ืืช ืขืฆืช ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™, ืฉื”ื™ื” ื™ื“ื™ื“ ื“ื•ื“, ืฉืขืฆืชื• ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืชืคื•ืก ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ืžื‘ืœื™ ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ืื•ืชื•, ื›ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ื‘ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ืฉื.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื™

David realizes that he is in trouble and flees with whoever is still loyal.

ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžื’ื™ื“ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจ; ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืืฉืจ ืืชื• ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืงื•ืžื• ื•ื ื‘ืจื—ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ืœื ื• ืคืœื™ื˜ื” ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื; ืžื”ืจื• ืœืœื›ืช ืคืŸ ื™ืžื”ืจ ื•ื”ืฉื’ื ื• ื•ื”ื“ื™ื— ืขืœื™ื ื• ืืช ื”ืจืขื” ื•ื”ื›ื” ื”ืขื™ืจ ืœืคื™ ื—ืจื‘ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš; ื›ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื ื” ืขื‘ื“ื™ืšืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืฆื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืชื• ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•; ื•ื™ืขื–ื‘ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ืขืฉืจ ื ืฉื™ื ืคืœื’ืฉื™ื ืœืฉืžืจ ื”ื‘ื™ืชืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ืฆื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•; ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืจื—ืงืƒ ื™ื— ื•ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืคืœืชื™; ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื’ืชื™ื ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืื™ืฉ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืื• ื‘ืจื’ืœื• ืžื’ืช ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

David is leaving but not in a panic. He goes in stages, collecting his people first from the palace (ื•ื™ืฆื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืชื•) then to the outskirts of the city (ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืจื—ืง) with his people from all of Jerusalem (ื•ื™ืฆื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื).

ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ืš: ื”ึทื”ื•ึนืœึฐื›ึดื™ื ืึทื—ึทืจ ืขึฒืฆึธืชึฐืšึธ ื•ึฐื”ึดืœึผื•ึผื›ึฐืšึธ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื:ื—

The ืขืฉืจ ื ืฉื™ื ืคืœื’ืฉื™ื is a little bit of foreshadowing.

Weโ€™ve seen the ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ืคืœืชื™ before:

ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืœื›ืœ ืขืžื•ืƒโ€ฆ ื™ื– ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ืขืœ ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื”ืคืœืชื™; ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืจืืฉื ื™ื ืœื™ื“ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—

As we said before, itโ€™s not clear what that means.

The Targum assumes they were a military force: the archers and slingers:

ื•ึผื‘ึฐื ึธื™ึธื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึทืจ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึนื™ึธื“ึธืข ืžึฐืžึทื ึธื ืขึทืœ ืงึทืฉืึฐืชึผึทื™ึธื ื•ึฐืขึทืœ ืงึทืœึฐืขึฒื™ึธืโ€ฆ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื™ื—

Some assume they are names of families or nations:

ื•ื™ืดืž ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ืคืœืชื™ ืฉืชื™ ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืกืจื™ื ืึพืœ ืžืฉืžืขื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืจื•ืื™ื ืคื ื™ื• ืชืžื™ื“ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืจืืฉื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื™ื—

But that doesnโ€™t help us (it may have been obvious to contemporary readers); why those families? What did they do?

The gemara assumes that they are part of the civil administration of David; what it calls the Sanhedrin:

ื•ืคื™ืณ ืจืดืช ื“ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ืคืœืชื™ ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืฉื›ื•ืจืชื™ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ืœืืžืชืŸ ื•ืคืœืชื™ ืฉืžื•ืคืœืื™ื ื‘ื”ื•ืจืื” ื›ืžื• ืžื•ืคืœื ืฉื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื™ืŸ.

ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช, ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื“,ื

I could go either way, and would argue that both are correct. Davidโ€™s administration may well have been made up of his closest companions from his days as a warrior; we will see this in ืคืจืง ื›ื’ when we see the list of ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ that ื—ื–ืดืœ understand to be ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ื as well.

And the other military force that stays with David are the ื’ืชื™ื. This reminds us that some 30+ years ago, David was a Philistine general.

ื ื•ื™ืงื‘ืฆื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืืช ื›ืœ ืžื—ื ื™ื”ื ืืคืงื”; ื•ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ื ื™ื ื‘ืขื™ืŸ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื™ื–ืจืขืืœืƒ ื‘ ื•ืกืจื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืœืžืื•ืช ื•ืœืืœืคื™ื; ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืื ืฉื™ื• ืขื‘ืจื™ื ื‘ืื—ืจื ื” ืขื ืื›ื™ืฉืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืฉืจื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืžื” ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื”; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื›ื™ืฉ ืืœ ืฉืจื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื”ืœื•ื ื–ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ ืฉืื•ืœ ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ืืชื™ ื–ื” ื™ืžื™ื ืื• ื–ื” ืฉื ื™ื ื•ืœื ืžืฆืืชื™ ื‘ื• ืžืื•ืžื” ืžื™ื•ื ื ืคืœื• ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”ืƒ

โ€ฆ

ื• ื•ื™ืงืจื ืื›ื™ืฉ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ื—ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืจ ืืชื” ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืฆืืชืš ื•ื‘ืืš ืืชื™ ื‘ืžื—ื ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ืžืฆืืชื™ ื‘ืš ืจืขื” ืžื™ื•ื ื‘ืืš ืืœื™ ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”; ื•ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืกืจื ื™ื ืœื ื˜ื•ื‘ ืืชื”ืƒ ื– ื•ืขืชื” ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืœืš ื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ืœื ืชืขืฉื” ืจืข ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืกืจื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜

So at least some of his Philistine companions stayed loyal to him, and moved with him to Jerusalem.

ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืืชื™ ื”ื’ืชื™ ืœืžื” ืชืœืš ื’ื ืืชื” ืืชื ื•; ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืฉื‘ ืขื ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ื ื›ืจื™ ืืชื” ื•ื’ื ื’ืœื” ืืชื” ืœืžืงื•ืžืšืƒ ื› ืชืžื•ืœ ื‘ื•ืืš ื•ื”ื™ื•ื ืื ื•ืขืš (ืื ื™ืขืš) ืขืžื ื• ืœืœื›ืช ื•ืื ื™ ื”ื•ืœืš ืขืœ ืืฉืจ ืื ื™ ื”ื•ืœืš; ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ื”ืฉื‘ ืืช ืื—ื™ืš ืขืžืš ื—ืกื“ ื•ืืžืชืƒ ื›ื ื•ื™ืขืŸ ืืชื™ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ื—ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ื—ื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืื ( ) ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืื ืœืžื•ืช ืื ืœื—ื™ื™ื ื›ื™ ืฉื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืืชื™ ืœืš ื•ืขื‘ืจ; ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจ ืืชื™ ื”ื’ืชื™ ื•ื›ืœ ืื ืฉื™ื• ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื˜ืฃ ืืฉืจ ืืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

And as he looks at his band of supporters, he realizes that he has finally lost the ืžืœื›ื•ืช:

ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืฉื‘ ืขื ื”ืžืœืš: ืคื™ืณ ืขื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืจืฆื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื”ืžืœื™ื›ื•.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•:ื™ื˜

And them David crosses the Kidron, leaving Jerusalem for the wilderness to the east. Even though we learned that ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, he still has many supporters including the supporters he values most:

ื›ื’ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ื‘ื•ื›ื™ื ืงื•ืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืขื‘ืจื™ื; ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ื ื—ืœ ืงื“ืจื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื“ืจืš ืืช ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื”ื ื” ื’ื ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืœื•ื™ื ืืชื• ื ืฉืื™ื ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืฆืงื• ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืขืœ ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ืขื“ ืชื ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืขื™ืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ื™ื ื•ื™ืงืจื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืœืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื; ื•ืœืœื•ื™ื ืœืื•ืจื™ืืœ ืขืฉื™ื” ื•ื™ื•ืืœ ืฉืžืขื™ื” ื•ืืœื™ืืœ ื•ืขืžื™ื ื“ื‘ืƒ

โ€ฆื˜ื• ื•ื™ืฉืื• ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืœื•ื™ื ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื›ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื” ืžืฉื” ื›ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ืชืคื ื‘ืžื˜ื•ืช ืขืœื™ื”ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ืฆื“ื•ืง was the ื›ื”ืŸ in the ืžืฉื›ืŸ:

ื•ืืช ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืžืฉื›ืŸ ื”ืณ ื‘ื‘ืžื” ืืฉืจ ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื˜ื–:ืœื˜

And ืื‘ื™ืชืจ was Davidโ€™s ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ in Chevron and then in Jerusalem, with ืืจื•ืŸ. The ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“ points out that ืื‘ื™ืชืจ isnโ€™t in the list of Davidโ€™s admisistration in ืคืจืง ื—, because their history together goes back even farther:

ื•ืœื ื—ืฉื‘ ืืช ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ืœื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ื•ืขืžื“ ืขืชื” ื›ืดื ืžืื– ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื™ื–

What does David do with the ืืจื•ืŸ that is about to go into exile with him? We shall see.

There is a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that explicits deals with Davidโ€™s state of mind at this time:

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“; ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื

And weโ€™ve mentioned before that even the ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that have an explicit historical ื›ื•ืชืจืช do not deal explicitly with those historic events; they are more expressions of feelings that were evoked by those events. The psalmist translated those feelings into universally-applicable poetry.

ื•ืœืคื™ ื“ืจืš ื”ืคืฉื˜: ื›ื™ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจื™ื ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื ืงืจืื™ื ื‘ืฉืขืช ืžืขืฉื” ืืœื ืขืœ ืฉื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžื–ืžืจื™ื ื‘ื”ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื

[P]oetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of reaction, the tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind. In this mood successful composition generally beginsโ€ฆ

Walt Whitman, Preface to Lyrical Ballads

The gemara has a problem with the emotion being expressed:

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื•: โ€ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“โ€œ? โ€ืงื™ื ื” ืœื“ื•ื“โ€œ ืžื™ื‘ืขื™ ืœื™ื”! ืืžืจ ืจืณ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืฉืœื•ื: ืžืฉืœ ืœืžื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื•ืžื”? ืœืื“ื ืฉื™ืฆื ืขืœื™ื• ืฉื˜ืจ ื—ื•ื‘. ืงื•ื“ื ืฉืคืจืขื•, ื”ื™ื” ืขืฆื‘; ืœืื—ืจ ืฉืคืจืขื•, ืฉืžื—. ืืฃ ื›ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื” (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื‘:ื™ื) ื”ึดื ึฐื ึดื™ ืžึตืงึดื™ื ืขึธืœึถื™ืšึธ ืจึธืขึธื” ืžึดื‘ึตึผื™ืชึถืšึธ, ื”ื™ื” ืขืฆื‘. ืืžืจ: ืฉืžื ืขื‘ื“ ืื• ืžืžื–ืจ ื”ื•ื ื“ืœื ื—ื™ื™ืก ืขืœื™. ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ื—ื–ื ื“ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ื”ื•ื ืฉืžื—. ืžืฉื•ื ื”ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื–,ื‘

And there are other ways of looking at the happiness expressed by โ€œืžื–ืžื•ืจโ€.

ืืžืจื• (ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื•ื—ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืžืงื•ืžื•): [ื›ืš] ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“: ื™ืขืงื‘ ืื‘ื™ื ื• ื‘ืจื—โ€ฆืžืฉื” ื‘ืจื—โ€ฆื•ืื ื™ ื‘ื•ืจื— ื›ืžื•ืชื. ืกื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืฉื ืชื—ื™ื™ื‘ืชื™ ืžื™ืชื”; ื•ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ืฉืื ื™ ื’ื•ืœื” ื’ืœื•ืช ืžื›ืคืจืช ืขื•ืŸ (ื‘ื‘ืœื™ ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื ื•,ื; ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืœื–,ื‘).

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื

ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื•. ื–ื” ืฉืืžืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ (ืžืฉืœื™ ื›ื:ื˜ื•) ืฉึดื‚ืžึฐื—ึธื” ืœึทืฆึทึผื“ึดึผื™ืง ืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ืžึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื˜. ืฉืžื—ื” ืœืฆื“ื™ืงื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื•ืฉื” ืืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืจื•ืžื ื‘ืขื•ืœื.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื•ื›ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื

All of these approaches see David expressing his satisfaction with the sense of closure. 15 years later, the consequences of the Bat Sheva affair are coming to a climax. Itโ€™s been hanging over his head; so many of his children have suffered or died; he has suffered. This, David feels, will be the end, one way or another.

ื‘ ื”ืณ ืžื” ืจื‘ื• ืฆืจื™; ืจื‘ื™ื ืงืžื™ื ืขืœื™ืƒ
ื’ ืจื‘ื™ื ืืžืจื™ื ืœื ืคืฉื™; ืื™ืŸ ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื” ืœื• ื‘ืืœืงื™ื ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื’

ืจื‘ื™ื does not mean numerically, but โ€œthe greatโ€, those with authority.

ืจื‘ื™ื ืงืžื™ื ืขืœื™: ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื‘ืชื•ืจื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื‘ื—ื›ืžื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื‘ืขื•ืฉืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื‘ืงื•ืžื” ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ืœื™ื“ื™ ื”ืจืคื” ื“ื•ืื’ ื•ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื‘

Davidโ€™s enemies claim that he has no salvation from ืืœืงื™ื, G-d as He appears in the role of Judge, following the letter of the law strictly, unswervingly.

Artscroll Tehillim, III:4

ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื” ื‘ืืœืงื™ื ืžืฆื“ ื—ื˜ืื• ื•ืžืจื™ื•โ€ฆื•ื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืจืชื™ ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืฉืžื•ืืœ, ืฉื”ื™ื• ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ื•ืขืฆื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืฉืชื™ ื›ืชื•ืช, ื›ืช ืืณ ืฉืจืฆื• ืœื”ืจื’ื• ื›ืžื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ, ื•ื–ื” ื”ื›ืช ืฉืืžืจื• ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื™ืฉื•ืขื” ื‘ืืœืงื™ื, ื•ื›ืช ื”ื‘ืณ ืฉืจืฆื• ืœืงื—ืช ืžืžื ื• ืืช ื”ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืœื‘ื“ ื•ืฉื™ืฉืืจ ื‘ื—ื™ื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืขืฆืช ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™, ื•ื”ื ื”ืงืžื™ื ืขืœื™ื• ืœื‘ื“ื• ืžืฆื“ ืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ืœื ืขืœ ื ืคืฉื• ืœื”ืจื’ื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื’

And this stich ends with ืกืœื”, "โ€hold that thoughtโ€œ. Itโ€™s not wrong. G-d is ืืœืงื™ื, and justice will be served. But David will not give up.

ื“ ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ ืžื’ืŸ ื‘ืขื“ื™; ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ ื•ืžืจื™ื ืจืืฉื™ืƒ
ื” ืงื•ืœื™ ืืœ ื”ืณ ืืงืจื; ื•ื™ืขื ื ื™ ืžื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื• ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื’

While ืื™ืŸ ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื” ืœื• ื‘ืืœืงื™ื,โ€Ž ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ, โ€but you are not only ืืœืงื™ื, you are ื”ืณโ€œ.

[T]here is yet hope for him, for indeed he has sinned, but he regrets it bitterly. The truly penitent man who returns with all his heart is worthy of complete pardon and protection from ื”ืณ, Hashem, the All Merciful.

Artscroll Tehillim, III:4

ื›ื‘ื•ื“ is often in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื used in the sense of soul, ืฆืœื ืืœื•ืงื™ื, but here is parallel to ืžืจื™ื ืจืืฉื™: honor. Not only will I not be killed, but I will retain my honor. I will return to previous status.

ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ: ืื‘ืœ ืœื ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืžื’ืŸ ื‘ืขื“ื™ ื•ืชื•ืžืš ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ ื•ืžืจื™ื ืจืืฉื™ ื›ื™ ืื—ื–ื•ืจ ืœืžืœื›ื•ืชื™.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื“

And itโ€™s not really the ืžืœื›ื•ืช that he hopes to return to. Nathan has told him that he will lose that, and he canโ€™t claim to deserve to get it back. What he wants to return to is ืงื•ืœื™ ืืœ ื”ืณ ืืงืจื; he wants to be the ื ืขื™ื ื–ืžื™ืจื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ again. And his faith in ื”ืณ's ื—ืกื“ and ืฆื“ืง lets him sleep at nights.

ืื ื™ ืฉื›ื‘ืชื™ ื•ืื™ืฉื ื”; ื”ืงื™ืฆื•ืชื™ ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื™ืกืžื›ื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื•

ืื ื™ ืฉื›ื‘ืชื™ ื•ืื™ืฉื ื”: ืฉื›ื‘ืชื™ ื‘ื‘ื˜ื— ื•ืื™ืฉืŸ ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื›ืื“ื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืคื—ื“.

ื”ืงื™ืฆื•ืชื™: ื•ืื™ื ื ื™ ื ื‘ื”ืœ ื›ืื“ื ื”ื™ืฉืŸ ืžืชื•ืš ื”ืฆืจื” ืฉื”ื•ื ื ื‘ื”ืœ ื‘ื”ืงื™ืฆื•, ื›ื™ ื‘ืขื•ื“ื• ื™ืฉืŸ ื™ืจืื” ื—ืœื•ืžื•ืช ืจืขื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื—ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืœื‘ื• ืžืคื—ื“ื•. ื•ืœืžื” ืื ื™ ื‘ื•ื˜ื— ื‘ืš ื›ืœ ื›ืš? ื›ื™ ื™ื“ืขืชื™ โ€ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื™ืกืžื›ื ื™โ€œ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื•

The midrash connects ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ (meaning soul) to ื”ืงื™ืฆื•ืชื™:

ืื ื™ ืฉื›ื‘ืชื™ ื•ืื™ืฉื ื”: ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืื ื™ ืฉื›ื‘ืชื™ ืžืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื•ืื™ืฉื ื” ืžืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ. ื”ืงื™ืฆื•ืชื™ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื•ื›ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื–

ืจืฆื•ื ื• ืœื•ืžืจ: ื›ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื ืกืชืœืงื” ืžืžื ื• ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ ืžืคื ื™ ื”ืขืฆื‘ื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืคื—ื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•; ื•ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ ืื™ื ื” ืฉื•ืจื” ืืœื ืžืชื•ืš ืฉืžื—ื” (ื‘ื‘ืœื™ ืฉื‘ืช ืœ,ื‘; ืคืกื—ื™ื ืงื™ื–,ื). ื•ื›ืฉืจืื” ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืฉืžื— ื‘ื• ืฉื™ื“ืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ืคืจ ืœื• ืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ื•ื”ืงื™ืฅ ื•ืฉืจืชื” ืขืœื™ื• ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื•

So David concludes with his sense of calm acceptance:

ื– ืœื ืื™ืจื ืžืจื‘ื‘ื•ืช ืขื ืืฉืจ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืฉืชื• ืขืœื™ืƒ
ื— ืงื•ืžื” ื”ืณ ื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™ ืืœืงื™ ื›ื™ ื”ื›ื™ืช ืืช ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ ืœื—ื™;
ืฉื ื™ ืจืฉืขื™ื ืฉื‘ืจืชืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื’

The idea is not that David wants his enemies dead; he wants them humiliated, unable to plot against him. While he says of himself ืžืจื™ื ืจืืฉื™, those ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืขืœื™ will get ื”ื›ื™ืช ืœื—ื™:

ื›ื™ ื”ื›ื™ืช: ื”ืœื ืžืขื•ืœื ื”ื›ื™ืช ืืช ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืœื—ื™ ืจืดืœ ืžื›ืช ื‘ื–ื™ื•ืŸ.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื—

And he concludes with the message that makes this one of those ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžื–ืžืจื™ื ื‘ื”ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ืœื”ืณ ื”ื™ืฉื•ืขื”; ืขืœ ืขืžืš ื‘ืจื›ืชืš ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื’:ื˜

ืœื”ืณ ื”ื™ืฉื•ืขื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืขืœื™ื• ืœื”ื•ืฉื™ืข ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื•ืืช ืขืžื•, ื•ืขืœ ืขืžื• ืžื•ื˜ืœ ืœื‘ืจืš ื•ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื’:ื˜