ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Conspiracy Theory

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve spent a lot of time looking at Davidโ€™s mindset as presented in ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. Now weโ€™re going to pull the camera back out of his head and return to the narrative. He is on the run from his son, and the ื›ื”ื ื™ื have brought the ืืจื•ืŸ out of Jerusalem to him. He said (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื›ื”-ื›ื•)โ€Ž ื”ืฉื‘ ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื”ืขื™ืจ; ืื ืืžืฆื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ื”ืฉื‘ื ื™ ื•ื”ืจืื ื™ ืืชื• ื•ืืช ื ื•ื”ื•ืƒ ื•ืื ื›ื” ื™ืืžืจ ืœื ื—ืคืฆืชื™ ื‘ืš; ื”ื ื ื™ ื™ืขืฉื” ืœื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•ืƒ

Then he continues:

ื›ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื”ืจื•ืื” ืืชื” ืฉื‘ื” ื”ืขื™ืจ ื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื‘ื ืš ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื›ื ืืชื›ืืƒ ื›ื— ืจืื• ืื ื›ื™ ืžืชืžื”ืžื” ื‘ืขื‘ืจื•ืช (ื‘ืขืจื‘ื•ืช) ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืขื“ ื‘ื•ื ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืขืžื›ื ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœื™ืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืฉืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื”ึฒืจื•ึนืึถื” ืึทืชึผึธื” is a question to ืฆื“ื•ืง; the ื—ื˜ืฃ-ืคืชื— under the ื”ื is always a ื”ื ื”ืฉืืœื”; as Cain asks ื”ืณโ€Ž (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื“:ื˜),โ€Ž ื”ึฒืฉึนืืžึตืจ ืึธื—ึดื™ ืึธื ึนื›ึดื™? What is he asking? Rashi understands that David is asking ืฆื“ื•ืง's advice:

ื”ืจื•ืื” ืืชื”? ืื ืจื•ืื” ืืชื” ืฉืขืฆื” ื ื›ื•ื ื” ื”ื™ื, ืฉื•ื‘ ื”ืขื™ืจ ื•ื’ื•ืณ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื›ื–

But ื—ื–ืดืœ saw something more subtle. There are two โ€œื›ื”ื ื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ืโ€ with David now, ืื‘ื™ืชืจ and ืฆื“ื•ืง. The โ€œrealโ€ ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ is ืื‘ื™ืชืจ; he is the one who escaped the destruction of Nov, who brought the ืืคื•ื“ to David when he was on the run from Saul. He is the descendant of Eli, the ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ who figured so prominently in the beginning of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ. But there is a curse hanging over that family:

ื›ื– ื•ื™ื‘ื ืื™ืฉ ืืœืงื™ื ืืœ ืขืœื™; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ื”ื ื’ืœื” ื ื’ืœื™ืชื™ ืืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ืš ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ืคืจืขื”ืƒ ื›ื— ื•ื‘ื—ืจ ืืชื• ืžื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื™ ืœื›ื”ืŸ ืœืขืœื•ืช ืขืœ ืžื–ื‘ื—ื™ ืœื”ืงื˜ื™ืจ ืงื˜ืจืช ืœืฉืืช ืืคื•ื“ ืœืคื ื™; ื•ืืชื ื” ืœื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ืš ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื›ื˜ ืœืžื” ืชื‘ืขื˜ื• ื‘ื–ื‘ื—ื™ ื•ื‘ืžื ื—ืชื™ ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืžืขื•ืŸ; ื•ืชื›ื‘ื“ ืืช ื‘ื ื™ืš ืžืžื ื™ ืœื”ื‘ืจื™ืื›ื ืžืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ืœ ืžื ื—ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืขืžื™ืƒ ืœ ืœื›ืŸ ื ืื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืžื•ืจ ืืžืจืชื™ ื‘ื™ืชืš ื•ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ืš ื™ืชื”ืœื›ื• ืœืคื ื™ ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื; ื•ืขืชื” ื ืื ื”ืณ ื—ืœื™ืœื” ืœื™ ื›ื™ ืžื›ื‘ื“ื™ ืื›ื‘ื“ ื•ื‘ื–ื™ ื™ืงืœื•ืƒ ืœื ื”ื ื” ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ืื™ื ื•ื’ื“ืขืชื™ ืืช ื–ืจืขืš ื•ืืช ื–ืจืข ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ืš ืžื”ื™ื•ืช ื–ืงืŸ ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืšืƒ โ€ฆืœื” ื•ื”ืงื™ืžืชื™ ืœื™ ื›ื”ืŸ ื ืืžืŸ ื›ืืฉืจ ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ื•ื‘ื ืคืฉื™ ื™ืขืฉื”; ื•ื‘ื ื™ืชื™ ืœื• ื‘ื™ืช ื ืืžืŸ ื•ื”ืชื”ืœืš ืœืคื ื™ ืžืฉื™ื—ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ืืƒ ืœื• ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœ ื”ื ื•ืชืจ ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืš ื™ื‘ื•ื ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ืช ืœื• ืœืื’ื•ืจืช ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื›ื›ืจ ืœื—ื; ื•ืืžืจ ืกืคื—ื ื™ ื ื ืืœ ืื—ืช ื”ื›ื”ื ื•ืช ืœืื›ืœ ืคืช ืœื—ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื‘

Now, this wonโ€™t actually be fulfilled until Shlomoโ€™s reign:

ื›ื• ื•ืœืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืขื ืชืช ืœืš ืขืœ ืฉื“ื™ืš ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ืžื•ืช ืืชื”; ื•ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืœื ืืžื™ืชืš ื›ื™ ื ืฉืืช ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ ืœืคื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ ื•ื›ื™ ื”ืชืขื ื™ืช ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืชืขื ื” ืื‘ื™ืƒ ื›ื– ื•ื™ื’ืจืฉ ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ืžื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ื”ืŸ ืœื”ืณ ืœืžืœื ืืช ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืขืœื™ ื‘ืฉืœื”ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื‘

But there was a hint here that ืื‘ื™ืชืจ has fallen out of favor, and that ืฆื“ื•ืง would be the ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ in the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.โ€Ž ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื”ึฒืจื•ึนืึถื” ืึทืชึผึธื” is David asking, โ€œYou, ืฆื“ื•ืง, saw? Then you should go back with the ืืจื•ืŸโ€.

ื›ืœ ื›ื”ืŸ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื•ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ืฉื•ืจื” ืขืœื™ื• ืื™ืŸ ืฉื•ืืœื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ืฉื”ืจื™ ืฉืืœ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืขืœืชื” ืœื• ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื•ืœื ืขืœืชื” ืœื•.

ื™ื•ืžื ืขื’,ื‘

ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–ืดืœ ืงื‘ืœื• ื›ื™ ื‘ืื•ืชื• ื”ื™ื•ื ื ืกืชืœืง ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ืžื›ื”ื•ื ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื”ื›ื ื™ืกื• ืฆื“ื•ืง ืชื—ืชื™ื• ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ืฉื‘ ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื”ืขื™ืจโ€œ ื•ืœืžื” ื ืกืชืœืง ื‘ืื•ืชื• ื”ื™ื•ื? ื›ื™ ืฉืืœ ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื ื•ืœื ื ืขื ื” ื•ืฆื“ื•ืง ืฉืืœ ื•ื ืขื ื”โ€ฆื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืจืื” ื“ื•ื“ ืฉื ืกืชืœืงื” ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ ืžืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื™ื“ืข ืฉื”ื’ื™ืข ื–ืžืŸ ื”ืงืœืœื” ืฉืงืœืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื–ืจืข ืขืœื™โ€ฆืื‘ืœ ืœื ื ืžืฉื— ืฆื“ื•ืง ืœื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืขื“ื™ืŸ ืืœื ืฉื ืชืžื ื” ืœื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืขื“ ื™ื•ื ืžืœื•ืš ืฉืœืžื” ืฉืžืฉื—ื•ื”ื•.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื›ื“

ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ื”ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ืฉืœ ื”ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื, โ€ืฉื•ื‘ื” ื”ืขื™ืจ ื‘ืฉืœื•ืโ€œ, ืฉืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืืœื” ื‘ืœื˜ื• ืžืŸ ื”ืื•ืจื™ื ื•ืชื•ืžื™ื.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื›ื–

Malbim reads the pasuk as: David said to Tzadok the Priest, โ€œYou are the one who sees that the Urim veTumim say, โ€˜Return to the city in peaceโ€™? Therefore, you are the one to bring the ark back, and arrange for your sons to keep me informedโ€.

And when the ืืจื•ืŸ is brought back to Jerusalem, David breaks down:

ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืขืœื” ื‘ืžืขืœื” ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื ืขืœื” ื•ื‘ื•ื›ื” ื•ืจืืฉ ืœื• ื—ืคื•ื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืœืš ื™ื—ืฃ; ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืชื• ื—ืคื• ืื™ืฉ ืจืืฉื• ื•ืขืœื• ืขืœื” ื•ื‘ื›ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœ

This is the first time David is crying. Before, the people were crying but David maintained his composure:

ื•ื›ื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

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื›ื’

Heโ€™s crying here because he is on top of ื”ืจ ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื, and can look back at the place of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ that is now lost to him forever:

ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืขื•ืœื” ืื—ืจื™ ื ืคืจื“ ืžืืจื•ืŸ ืืœืงื™ื, ื•ื”ื’ื™ืข ืœื”ืจ ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื, ืฉืฉื ื™ืคืจื“ ืžืขื™ืจ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื‘ื›ื•ืช ื•ื—ืคื” ืจืืฉื• ื•ื—ืœืฅ ืžื ืขืœื™ื• ื›ืื‘ืœ.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœ

ื‘ืžืขืœื” ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื: ื›ืชืจื’ื•ื โ€ื‘ืžืกืงื ื ื“ื˜ื•ืจ ื–ื™ืชื™ืโ€œ ื•ืขืœื” ืฉื ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื•ืช ืœื”ืณ ืžืฉื ื›ื™ ืžื”ืจ ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื ื™ืจืื” ืื“ื ืžืงื•ื ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉโ€ฆื›ื™ ืžื”ืจ ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื ื”ื™ื” ืจื•ืื” ื”ืื”ืœ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื• ื”ืืจื•ืŸ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœ

And then he realizes that no matter how awful things look, they can always get worse:

ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืืžืจ ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ื‘ืงืฉืจื™ื ืขื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืกื›ืœ ื ื ืืช ืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ื”ืณืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื

Rashi says there is a missing subject and a missing โ€œtoโ€ in that sentence:

ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื’ื™ื“: ื•ืœื“ื•ื“ ื”ื’ื™ื“ ื”ืžื’ื™ื“.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื

But Malbim takes the sentence literally:

ื•ืื– ืฉื ืขืœ ืœื‘ื• ืฉืœื ื‘ื ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ืขืžื• ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ื•ื™ื’ื“ ื“ื•ื“ ื–ืืช ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื

This is Davidโ€™s lowest point. He may have lost the ืžืœื›ื•ืช and the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, but with Avshalom leading this rebellion, he still had some hope.

ืื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—.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื–,ื‘

But now he realizes that Achitophel has turned against him. David is putting everything together; everything for the past 25 years has been building to this point. Achitophel is seeking revenge for Bat Sheva, and he will only be satisfied with Davidโ€™s death.

ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ืืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ืื‘ื—ืจื” ื ื ืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื•ืืงื•ืžื” ื•ืืจื“ืคื” ืื—ืจื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืœื™ืœื”ืƒ
ื‘ ื•ืื‘ื•ื ืขืœื™ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื’ืข ื•ืจืคื” ื™ื“ื™ื ื•ื”ื—ืจื“ืชื™ ืืชื• ื•ื ืก ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืชื•; ื•ื”ื›ื™ืชื™ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืœื‘ื“ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื–

And that is the moment that Providence comes riding out of the west:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื ืขื“ ื”ืจืืฉ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืฉื ืœืืœืงื™ื; ื•ื”ื ื” ืœืงืจืืชื• ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืงืจื•ืข ื›ืชื ืชื• ื•ืื“ืžื” ืขืœ ืจืืฉื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื‘

ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืฉื ืœืืœืงื™ื: ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ืจื’ื™ืœ ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ืช ืฉื ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื ืœื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื, ื”ื™ื” ืจื•ืื” ืžืฉื ืืช ื”ืื”ืœ ืฉื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืชื•ื›ื•, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉืชื—ื•ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื‘

Who is ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™? We havenโ€™t seen him before, but he is named (in the list of Davidโ€™s administration) as parallel to Achitophel:

ื•ึทืึฒื—ึดื™ืชึนืคึถืœ ื™ื•ึนืขึตืฅ ืœึทืžึถึผืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึฐื—ื•ึผืฉึทืื™ ื”ึธืึทืจึฐื›ึดึผื™ ืจึตืขึท ื”ึทืžึถึผืœึถืšึฐืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื–:ืœื’

Weโ€™ve seen messengers with torn clothes and dirty faces before, and it doesnโ€™t presage good news:

ื™ื ื•ืืจื•ืŸ ืืœืงื™ื ื ืœืงื—; ื•ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืœื™ ืžืชื• ื—ืคื ื™ ื•ืคื™ื ื—ืกืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืจืฅ ืื™ืฉ ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ืžื”ืžืขืจื›ื” ื•ื™ื‘ื ืฉืœื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื; ื•ืžื“ื™ื• ืงืจืขื™ื ื•ืื“ืžื” ืขืœ ืจืืฉื•ืƒ
ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื‘ื•ื ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืœื™ ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื”ื›ืกื ื™ืš (ื™ื“) ื“ืจืš ืžืฆืคื” ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ื• ื—ืจื“ ืขืœ ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ื”ืื™ืฉ ื‘ื ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ื‘ืขื™ืจ ื•ืชื–ืขืง ื›ืœ ื”ืขื™ืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื“

The text doesnโ€™t tell us what Chushai tells David, but David responds with a plan:

ืœื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื“ื•ื“; ืื ืขื‘ืจืช ืืชื™ ื•ื”ื™ืช ืขืœื™ ืœืžืฉืืƒ ืœื“ ื•ืื ื”ืขื™ืจ ืชืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืืžืจืช ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืขื‘ื“ืš ืื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืื”ื™ื” ืขื‘ื“ ืื‘ื™ืš ื•ืื ื™ ืžืื– ื•ืขืชื” ื•ืื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ืš; ื•ื”ืคืจืชื” ืœื™ ืืช ืขืฆืช ืื—ื™ืชืคืœืƒ ืœื” ื•ื”ืœื•ื ืขืžืš ืฉื ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื; ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืฉืžืข ืžื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืœืš ืชื’ื™ื“ ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืœืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ืืƒ ืœื• ื”ื ื” ืฉื ืขืžื ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืื‘ื™ืชืจ; ื•ืฉืœื—ืชื ื‘ื™ื“ื ืืœื™ ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืฉืžืขื•ืƒ ืœื– ื•ื™ื‘ื ื—ื•ืฉื™ ืจืขื” ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืขื™ืจ; ื•ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื‘ื•ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ืขื‘ื“ ืื‘ื™ืš ื•ืื ื™ ืžืื–: ื›ืžื• ื•ืื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ ืื‘ื™ืš ืžืื– ื•ืžืงืจื ืžืกื•ืจืก ื”ื•ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื“

ืืคืฉืจ ืฉื”ืžืงืจื ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ืกืจื•ืก ื›ื“ื™ ืœื‘ื˜ื ืืช ืกืขืจืช ืจื•ื—ื• ื•ื’ืžื’ื•ืžื• ืฉืœ ื”ื“ื•ื‘ืจ.

ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืงื™ืœ, ื“ืขืช ืžืงืจื ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื“

David now has the pieces in place to create a counter-conspiracy. We get the sense that he does not want to fight, but to work surreptitiously to undermine Avshalom. ื—ื–ืดืœ look at this and reconstruct Chushaiโ€™s conversation with David:

ื•ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ื‘ืงืฉ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขืดื– ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื‘) โ€ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื ืขื“ ื”ืจืืฉ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืฉื ืœืืœื”ื™ืโ€œ, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืจืืฉ ืืœื ืขืดื– ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื ื™ืืœ ื‘:ืœื‘) ื”ื•ึผื ืฆึทืœึฐืžึธื ืจึตืืฉืึตื”ึผ ื“ึผึดื™ ื“ึฐื”ึทื‘ ื˜ึธื‘. (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ืœื‘) โ€ื•ื”ื ื” ืœืงืจืืชื• ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืงืจื•ืข ื›ืชื ืชื• ื•ืื“ืžื” ืขืœ ืจืืฉื•โ€œ. ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœื“ื•ื“: ื™ืืžืจื• ืžืœืš ืฉื›ืžื•ืชืš ื™ืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขืดื–? ืืžืจ ืœื•: ืžืœืš ืฉื›ืžื•ืชื™ ื™ื”ืจื’ื ื• ื‘ื ื•, ืžื•ื˜ื‘ ื™ืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขืดื– ื•ืืœ ื™ืชื—ืœืœ ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื ื‘ืคืจื”ืกื™ื. ืืžืจ: ืžืื™ ื˜ืขืžื ืงื ืกื™ื‘ืช ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ? ืืดืœ: ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ืจื—ืžื ื ืฉืจื™ื™ื”! ืืดืœ: ืœื ื“ืจืฉืช ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ ื“ืกืžื™ืš ืœื™ื”? (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื:ื™ื—) โ€ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื”โ€œ; ื›ืœ ื”ื ื•ืฉื ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื”.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื–,ื

ื™ืืžืจื• ืžืœืš ืฉื›ืžื•ืชื™: ื—ืกื™ื“ ืฉื›ืžื•ืชื™ ื”ืจื’ื• ื‘ื ื• ื•ื™ื”ื• ืžืชืจืขืžื™ืŸ ืขืœ ืžื“ื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื•ื ืžืฆื ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื ืžืชื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืจื”ืกื™ื.

ืžื•ื˜ื‘ ืืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขืดื–: ื•ืื—ืœืœ ืืช ื”ืฉื ืื ื™ ืœื‘ื“ื™ ื•ืœื ื™ื—ืœืœื• [ืื•ืชื•] ื›ืœ ื”ืขื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

This civil war is a ื—ื™ืœื•ืœ ื”ืณ. Better that I worship idols and deserve to die, than to let that happen. It is very hard to understand. The Maharal, uncharacteristically, takes this aggadah literally:

ื‘ืงืฉ ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืœืขืดื–. ืคืณ ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ืช ืœืขืดื– ืื‘ืœ ืœื™ื‘ื• ืœืฉืžื™ื ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ืชื—ืœืœ ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื ืขืœื™ื•. ืœื›ืŸ ืจืฆื” ืœื”ืจืื•ืช ืœื‘ืจื™ื•ืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ื•ื˜ื. ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืžืœืš ื›ืžื•ืชืš ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื”, ืจืดืœ ืืขืดื’ ื“ื•ื“ืื™ ืื™ืŸ ื›ื•ื ืชืš ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขืดื–, ืžืดืž ื—ืœื•ืœ ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ืžื•ืชืš ืžืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืœืขืดื–โ€ฆื”ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื“ืขื™ื ื›ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” [ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” ืžืืฉืช ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ] ื’ื•ืจื ื•ืื ื›ืŸ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ื—ื•ืœืœ ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื.

ืžื”ืจืดืœ ืžืคืจืื’, ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื–,ื

But the Maharsha looks at this differently, taking the aggadah seriously but not literally. ื‘ืงืฉ ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขืดื– doesnโ€™t mean worshipping idols. Weโ€™ve seen David explicitly โ€œืขื•ื‘ื“ ืขืดื–โ€ before:

ื•ืขืชื” ื™ืฉืžืข ื ื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืขื‘ื“ื•; ืื ื”ืณ ื”ืกื™ืชืš ื‘ื™ ื™ืจื— ืžื ื—ื” ื•ืื ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืื“ื ืืจื•ืจื™ื ื”ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื’ืจืฉื•ื ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืžื”ืกืชืคื— ื‘ื ื—ืœืช ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ืœืš ืขื‘ื“ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื›ื•:ื™ื˜

ืฉื›ืœ ื”ื“ืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื“ื•ืžื” ื›ืžื™ ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ืึพืœื•ื” ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื“ืจ ื‘ื—ื•ืฆื” ืœืืจืฅ ื“ื•ืžื” ื›ืžื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืึพืœื•ื” ืฉื ืืณ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›ื”) ืœืชืช ืœื›ื ืืช ืืจืฅ ื›ื ืขืŸ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœื›ื ืœืืœืงื™ื. ื•ื›ืœ ืฉืื™ื ื• ื“ืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืึพืœื•ื”? ืืœื ืœื•ืžืจ ืœืš ื›ืœ ื”ื“ืจ ื‘ื—ื•ืดืœ ื›ืื™ืœื• ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื›ื•) ื›ื™ ื’ืจืฉื•ื ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืžื”ืกืชืคื— ื‘ื ื—ืœืช ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ืœืš ืขื‘ื•ื“ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื. ื•ื›ื™ ืžื™ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœืš ืขื‘ื•ื“ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื? ืืœื ืœื•ืžืจ ืœืš ื›ืœ ื”ื“ืจ ื‘ื—ื•ืดืœ ื›ืื™ืœื• ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื”.

ื›ืชื•ื‘ื•ืช ืงื™,ื‘

ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ื›ื•ืณ: โ€ฆื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืœื™ืœืš ื•ืœื‘ืจื•ื— ืžืคื ื™ ื‘ื ื• ืžืืดื™ ืœื—ื•ืดืœ ื“ื”ืดืœ ื›ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ื›ืžืดืฉ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ื‘ื•ืจื— ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืื•ืœโ€ฆื•ืืดืœ ื—ื•ืฉื™ ืžืœืš ืฉื›ืžื•ืชืš ื›ื•ืณ. ืืฃ ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื™ื™ืช ื‘ื•ืจื— ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื—ื•ืดืœ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื™ืช ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืžืœืš ื•ืžืคื ื™ ืคืงื•ื— ื ืคืฉ ืฉืœื ื™ื”ืจื’ืš ืฉืื•ืœ, ืื‘ืœ ืืชื” ืžืœืš ืฉื›ืžื•ืชืš ื›ื•ืณ. ื•ืืดืœ ืžืœืš ืฉื›ืžื•ืชื™ ื™ื”ืจื’ื ื• ื‘ื ื•. ืžื•ื˜ื‘ ืฉืื‘ืจื— ืœื—ืดืœ ื“ื”ื•ื™ ื›ืขื•ื‘ื“ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ื•ืืœ ื™ืชื—ืœืœ ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื ื‘ืคืจื”ืกื™ื.

ืžื”ืจืฉืดื, ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื–,ื

David says, better I should abandon ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ rather than create the ื—ื™ืœื•ืœ ื”ืณ that a war would create. Chushai argues that running away would be an even worse ื—ื™ืœื•ืœ ื”ืณ. You canโ€™t give up on your people! Then the gemara brings up the ืกืžื™ื›ื•ืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ื and that somehow convinces David to not give up. I want to develop this, though I could not find any ืžืคืจืฉื™ื who deal with this. This will have to be my analysis. What does ื“ืจื™ืฉืช ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ mean here?

ื™ื ื•ืจืื™ืช ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ื” ืืฉืช ื™ืคืช ืชืืจ; ื•ื—ืฉืงืช ื‘ื” ื•ืœืงื—ืช ืœืš ืœืืฉื”ืƒโ€ฆ

ื˜ื• ื›ื™ ืชื”ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืื™ืฉ ืฉืชื™ ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืื—ืช ืื”ื•ื‘ื” ื•ื”ืื—ืช ืฉื ื•ืื” ื•ื™ืœื“ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื ื”ืื”ื•ื‘ื” ื•ื”ืฉื ื•ืื”; ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ื‘ืŸ ื”ื‘ื›ืจ ืœืฉื ื™ืื”ืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื ื—ื™ืœื• ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื• ืืช ืืฉืจ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื‘ื›ืจ ืืช ื‘ืŸ ื”ืื”ื•ื‘ื” ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื”ืฉื ื•ืื” ื”ื‘ื›ืจืƒโ€ฆ

ื™ื— ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” ืื™ื ื ื• ืฉืžืข ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืืžื•; ื•ื™ืกืจื• ืืชื• ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืžืข ืืœื™ื”ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

Thereโ€™s no ื—ืœื•ืœ ื”ืณ in this civil war. Everyone knows what happened. Avshalom feels heโ€™s the eldest and deserves to be crown prince, but you picked the child of Bat Sheva instead. And no one thinks you are a perfect ืฆื“ื™ืง. Everyone knows you took Avshalomโ€™s mother as a ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ, which the Torah permits only (ืงื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ืŸ ื›ื,ื‘)โ€Ž ื›ื ื’ื“ ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข. And everyone knows how you took Bat Sheva; (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื–,ื)โ€Ž ื•ื ืชืขืœืžื” ืžืžื ื• ื”ืœื›ื”: ืื‘ืจ ืงื˜ืŸ ื™ืฉ ื‘ืื“ื, ืžืฉื‘ื™ืขื• ืจืขื‘ ื•ืžืจืขื™ื‘ื• ืฉื‘ืข.

Effectively heโ€™s saying the ื—ืœื•ืœ ื”ืณ happened already. You werenโ€™t ื“ื•ืจืฉ ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ because you missed the middle step. Running away will only make things worse.

But still, that doesnโ€™t seem very encouraging. Chushai is saying: David, you were already ืžื—ืœืœ ืฉื ืฉืžื™ื; thereโ€™s no point in making it worse! Thanks a lot. โ€œRashiโ€ on ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื cites an aggadah that Chushai was more positive than that:

ื•ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืจืข ื”ืžืœืš:โ€ฆืžื“ืจืฉ ืจื‘ื” ื›ืฉื—ื˜ื ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืฉืืœ ืœื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืื ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ืื ื™ืงื‘ืœื ื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ืœืชืช ืœื• ืืจื•ื›ื” ืœื—ื˜ืื• ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• ื›ืŸ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื–:ืœื’

Where does that come from? Letโ€™s start with the whole idea of ื“ืจื™ืฉืช ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ, that we can learn something from the proximity of one text to another.

ื“ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ: ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืžื ื™ืŸ? ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื™ื:ื—): ืกึฐืžื•ึผื›ึดื™ื ืœึธืขึทื“ ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื ืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึผื™ึดื ื‘ึถึผืึฑืžึถืช ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉึธืืจ.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื™,ื

ื– ืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตื™ ื™ึธื“ึธื™ื• ืึฑืžึถืช ื•ึผืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธื˜; ื ึถืึฑืžึธื ึดื™ื ื›ึผึธืœ ืคึผึดืงึผื•ึผื“ึธื™ื•ืƒ
ื— ืกึฐืžื•ึผื›ึดื™ื ืœึธืขึทื“ ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื; ืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึผื™ึดื ื‘ึผึถืึฑืžึถืช ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉืึธืจืƒ
ื˜ ืคึผึฐื“ื•ึผืช ืฉืึธืœึทื— ืœึฐืขึทืžึผื•ึน ืฆึดื•ึผึธื” ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื ื‘ึผึฐืจึดื™ืชื•ึน;
ืงึธื“ื•ึนืฉื ื•ึฐื ื•ึนืจึธื ืฉืึฐืžื•ึนืƒ
ื™ ืจึตืืฉืึดื™ืช ื—ึธื›ึฐืžึธื” ื™ึดืจึฐืึทืช ื”ืณ ืฉื‚ึตื›ึถืœ ื˜ื•ึนื‘ ืœึฐื›ึธืœ ืขึนืฉื‚ึตื™ื”ึถื;
ืชึผึฐื”ึดืœึผึธืชื•ึน ืขึนืžึถื“ึถืช ืœึธืขึทื“ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื™ื

Chushai is aggadically telling David, donโ€™t give up. Look at what you yourself have said. These are your words. ืกึฐืžื•ึผื›ึดื™ื ืœึธืขึทื“ ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื. Consequences follow; one thing leads to another, but ื”ืณ has a plan: ืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึผื™ึดื ื‘ึผึถืึฑืžึถืช ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉืึธืจ; there is truth and justice in the world. ืคึผึฐื“ื•ึผืช ืฉืึธืœึทื— ืœึฐืขึทืžึผื•ึนโ€”you donโ€™t need to give up.

And more, to get a little chassidish, we can take the ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ further:

ื›ื:ื™ื— ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” ืื™ื ื ื• ืฉืžืข ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืืžื•; ื•ื™ืกืจื• ืืชื• ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืžืข ืืœื™ื”ืืƒโ€ฆ

ื›ื:ื›ื‘ ื•ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืื™ืฉ ื—ื˜ื ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื•ืช ื•ื”ื•ืžืช; ื•ืชืœื™ืช ืืชื• ืขืœ ืขืฅืƒโ€ฆ

ื›ื‘:ื ืœื ืชืจืื” ืืช ืฉื•ืจ ืื—ื™ืš ืื• ืืช ืฉื™ื• ื ื“ื—ื™ื ื•ื”ืชืขืœืžืช ืžื”ื; ื”ืฉื‘ ืชืฉื™ื‘ื ืœืื—ื™ืšืƒ ื›ื‘:ื‘ ื•ืื ืœื ืงืจื•ื‘ ืื—ื™ืš ืืœื™ืš ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื• ื•ืืกืคืชื• ืืœ ืชื•ืš ื‘ื™ืชืš ื•ื”ื™ื” ืขืžืš ืขื“ ื“ืจืฉ ืื—ื™ืš ืืชื• ื•ื”ืฉื‘ืชื• ืœื•ืƒโ€ฆ

ืกืคืจ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื

After the ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” comes the ื—ื˜ื ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื•ืช ื•ื”ื•ืžืช and ืชืœื™ืช ืืชื• ืขืœ ืขืฅ. Justice will be served and Avshalom will be hanged. And then the law of ื”ืฉื‘ืช ืื‘ื“ื”. The Sfas Emes takes this metaphorically:

ื“ื”ื ื” ื—ื–ืดืœ ื›ืชื‘ื• ื›ื™ ื–ื›ื” ื”ืฆื“ื™ืง, ื ื•ื˜ืœ ื—ืœืงื• ื•ื—ืœืง ื—ื‘ื™ืจื• ื‘ื’ืดืข. ื•ืžืกืชืžื ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื’ื ื‘ืขื•ื”ืดื– ืฉื”ืจืฉืข ื‘ืขื•ื ื•ืชื™ื• ืžืื‘ื“ ื–ื›ื™ื•ืชื™ื•. ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืžืขืฉืดื˜ ืฉืขืฉื” ื”ื›ืœ ื ื•ื˜ืœ ื”ืฆื“ื™ืง. ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื™ืฉ ื›ืžื” ืคืขืžื™ื ืฉื”ืฆื“ื™ืง ืžื•ืฆื ืกื™ื•ืข ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ืฉืœื ืขืดืค ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชื•. ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื–ื›ื” ืœื—ืœืง ื”ืจืฉืข. ืืš ื”ืื“ื ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ืฉื™ื ืœื‘ ืขืดื– ื•ืœื—ื–ื•ืจ ื”ื—ืœืง ืœื‘ืขืœื™ื• ื•ื”ื™ื” ืขืžืš ืขื“ ื“ืจื•ืฉ ืื—ื™ืš ื›ื™ ื›ืฉืฉื‘ ื”ืจืฉืข ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ื™ื—ื–ื™ืจื ื• ืœื•. ื•ื›ืณ ื”ืฉื‘ ืชืฉื™ื‘ื ืคื™ืณ ืฉืขืดื™ ืฉื”ืฆื“ื™ืง ืžืจื’ื™ืฉ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืขืดืค ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชื•, ืขื™ืดื– ื—ื•ื–ืจ ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”. ื•ืขืดื™ ื”ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ื–ื• ืžืชืขื•ืจืจ ื’ื ื”ืจืฉืข ืœื‘ื•ื ืœื”ื™ืจื”ื•ืจ ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”.

ืฉืคืช ืืžืช ื›ื™ ืชืฆื,ืชืจืœืดื”

ื”ืฉื‘ืช ืื‘ื“ื” means that we have a responsibility to bring others to ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”. That is why ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ could tell David that ื™ืงื‘ืœื ื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื‘ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”, ืœืชืช ืœื• ืืจื•ื›ื”. And more, the mitzvah of ื”ืฉื‘ืช ืื‘ื“ื” applies as it were to ื”ืงื‘ืดื” Himself:

โ€ืฉื”โ€œ ื“ื›ืชื‘ื” ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืื‘ื“ื” ืœื›ืดืข ืงืฉื™ื, ื“ืœื ืื™ืฆื˜ืจื™ืš ืœื™ื”. ื•ืขืดื–โ€ฆืื•ืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื™ื˜:ืงืขื•) ืชึธึผืขึดื™ืชึดื™ ื›ึฐึผืฉึถื‚ื” ืึนื‘ึตื“; ื‘ึทึผืงึตึผืฉื ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึถึผืšึธ. ืจืดืœ ื›ืฉื” ื”ืื•ื‘ื“ ื”ืืžื•ืจ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืื‘ื“ื” ื“ืœื ืื™ืฆื˜ืจื™ืš ืœื™ื” ื‘ืงืจื, ืื‘ืœ ื”ื•ื ืจืžื•ื– ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื ืงืจืื™ื โ€ืฉื” ืคื–ื•ืจื”โ€œ, ื•ื”ื ื”ืžื” ืฉื” ื“ืื‘ื“ื” ืฉื‘ืชื•ืจื” ืฉื”ืฉืดื™ ื‘ืดื” ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขืœื™ื• ืฉืœ ืื•ืชื• ื”ืฉื”, ื•ืžื‘ืงืฉื• ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืžืื‘ื“ืชื• ืžืŸ ื”ื’ืœื•ืช.

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

ื“ืจื™ืฉืช ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ teaches us that even as the consequences of our actions may lead to ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ,โ€Ž ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” is always possible and ื”ืณ is waiting ืขื“ ื“ืจืฉ ืื—ื™ืš ืืชื•.

The pieces are now in place. ื•ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื‘ื•ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื with his own plans, and we will see how they work out.