ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Construction Site

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

When David is presented with the choice of punishments, ื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืœืš ืฉื‘ืข ืฉื ื™ื ืจืขื‘ ื‘ืืจืฆืš ืื ืฉืœืฉื” ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื ืกืš ืœืคื ื™ ืฆืจื™ืš ื•ื”ื•ื ืจื“ืคืš ื•ืื ื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉืœืฉืช ื™ืžื™ื ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืจืฆืš, he responds ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืžืื“; ื ืคืœื” ื ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืจื‘ื™ื ืจื—ืžื• ื•ื‘ื™ื“ ืื“ื ืืœ ืืคืœื”. We interpreted that as David basically refusing to choose. ื”ืณ's response is to start an epidemic:

ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื”ืณ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื”ื‘ืงืจ ื•ืขื“ ืขืช ืžื•ืขื“; ื•ื™ืžืช ืžืŸ ื”ืขื ืžื“ืŸ ื•ืขื“ ื‘ืืจ ืฉื‘ืข ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื˜ื•

The question is what is ื•ืขื“ ืขืช ืžื•ืขื“? It doesnโ€™t say ืฉืœืฉืช ื™ืžื™ื which was the choice presented to David.

ื•ื”ื ื” ืžืจื—ืžื™ ื”ืึพืœ ืงืฆืจ ื–ืžืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ืจื™ ืืžืจ ืœื• ื’ืณ ื™ืžื™ื ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืืœื ืžื”ื‘ืงืจ ื•ืขื“ ืขืช ืžื•ืขื“.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื˜ื•

ื—ื–ืดืœ understand this as a very short plague that had the potential to wipe out the entire nation:

ืจืณ ื—ื™ื™ื ื‘ืจ ืื‘ื ืื•ืžืจ: ืžืฉื—ื™ื˜ืช ื”ืชืžื™ื“ ื•ืขื“ ื–ืจื™ืงืช ื“ืžื•, ื•ืจื‘ื ืŸ ืืžืจื™: ืžืฉื”ื ืฅ ื”ื—ืžื” ืขื“ ืฉื ืชืžืœื ื›ืœ ื”ื’ืœื’ืœ. ื‘ื•ื ื•ืจืื” ื›ืžื” ืื•ื›ืœื•ืกื™ืŸ ืžื”ื ื ืคืœื•? ืืœื• ื”ื™ืชื” ืฉืขื” ืฉืœื™ืžื” ืขืœ ืื—ืช ื›ืžื” ื•ื›ืžื”?

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœื

But ื”ืณ had pity on the people and stopped the plague early, and gave David a chance to reconsider his response and his responsibility:

ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื™ื“ื• ื”ืžืœืืš ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืœืฉื—ืชื” ื•ื™ื ื—ื ื”ืณ ืืœ ื”ืจืขื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœืžืœืืš ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืช ื‘ืขื ืจื‘ ืขืชื” ื”ืจืฃ ื™ื“ืš; ื•ืžืœืืš ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื” ืขื ื’ืจืŸ ื”ืื•ืจื ื” (ื”ึธืึฒืจึทื•ึฐื ึธื”) ื”ื™ื‘ืกื™ืƒ

ื™ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื”ืณ ื‘ืจืืชื• ืืช ื”ืžืœืืš ื”ืžื›ื” ื‘ืขื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืื ื›ื™ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ื•ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืขื•ื™ืชื™ ื•ืืœื” ื”ืฆืืŸ ืžื” ืขืฉื•; ืชื”ื™ ื ื ื™ื“ืš ื‘ื™ ื•ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“

The image is even more dramatic in the version in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื:

ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืžืœืืš ืœื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืœื”ืฉื—ื™ืชื” ื•ื›ื”ืฉื—ื™ืช ืจืื” ื”ืณ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืขืœ ื”ืจืขื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœืžืœืืš ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืช ืจื‘ ืขืชื” ื”ืจืฃ ื™ื“ืš; ื•ืžืœืืš ื”ืณ ืขืžื“ ืขื ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ืƒ

ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืฉื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืช ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ืžืœืืš ื”ืณ ืขืžื“ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื—ืจื‘ื• ืฉืœื•ืคื” ื‘ื™ื“ื• ื ื˜ื•ื™ื” ืขืœ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืคืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ื”ื–ืงื ื™ื ืžื›ืกื™ื ื‘ืฉืงื™ื ืขืœ ืคื ื™ื”ืืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืœ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื”ืœื ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ืœืžื ื•ืช ื‘ืขื ื•ืื ื™ ื”ื•ื ืืฉืจ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ื•ื”ืจืข ื”ืจืขื•ืชื™ ื•ืืœื” ื”ืฆืืŸ ืžื” ืขืฉื•; ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืชื”ื™ ื ื ื™ื“ืš ื‘ื™ ื•ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ ื•ื‘ืขืžืš ืœื ืœืžื’ืคื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

Guardian Angel

Edited cover from Pat Brady, High-Spirited Rose is Rose

ื”ืณโ€˜s response is not to punish David and his family, but to tell David what to do. We understood ื”ืณโ€™s anger as ื›ืœ ืื•ืชืŸ ืืœืคื™ื ืฉื ืคืœื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื ืคืœื• ืืœื ืฉืœื ืชื‘ืขื• ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, with the implication that they need to form a society of ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” in order for the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ to have any meaning. But ื”ืณ here will allow David to start on the physical symbol first:

ื™ื— ื•ื™ื‘ื ื’ื“ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืขืœื” ื”ืงื ืœื”ืณ ืžื–ื‘ื— ื‘ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ื™ื” (ืึฒืจึทื•ึฐื ึธื”) ื”ื™ื‘ืกื™ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ืขืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื›ื“ื‘ืจ ื’ื“ ื›ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื” ื”ืณืƒ ื› ื•ื™ืฉืงืฃ ืืจื•ื ื” ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืขืœื™ื•; ื•ื™ืฆื ืืจื•ื ื” ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืœืžืœืš ืืคื™ื• ืืจืฆื”ืƒ ื›ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืจื•ื ื” ืžื“ื•ืข ื‘ื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื•; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืงื ื•ืช ืžืขืžืš ืืช ื”ื’ืจืŸ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ืชืขืฆืจ ื”ืžื’ืคื” ืžืขืœ ื”ืขืืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืจื•ื ื” ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื™ืงื— ื•ื™ืขืœ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื•; ืจืื” ื”ื‘ืงืจ ืœืขืœื” ื•ื”ืžืจื’ื™ื ื•ื›ืœื™ ื”ื‘ืงืจ ืœืขืฆื™ืืƒ ื›ื’ ื”ื›ืœ ื ืชืŸ ืืจื•ื ื” ื”ืžืœืš ืœืžืœืš;
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืจื•ื ื” ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื™ืจืฆืšืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืืจื•ื ื” ืœื ื›ื™ ืงื ื• ืืงื ื” ืžืื•ืชืš ื‘ืžื—ื™ืจ ื•ืœื ืืขืœื” ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืขืœื•ืช ื—ื ื; ื•ื™ืงืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื”ื’ืจืŸ ื•ืืช ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ืฉืงืœื™ื ื—ืžืฉื™ืืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื“ื•ื“ ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœื•ืช ื•ืฉืœืžื™ื; ื•ื™ืขืชืจ ื”ืณ ืœืืจืฅ ื•ืชืขืฆืจ ื”ืžื’ืคื” ืžืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“

The negotiation here is very similar to one weโ€™ve seen before:

ื— ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืืชื ืœืืžืจ; ืื ื™ืฉ ืืช ื ืคืฉื›ื ืœืงื‘ืจ ืืช ืžืชื™ ืžืœืคื ื™ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ื•ืคื’ืขื• ืœื™ ื‘ืขืคืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืฆื—ืจืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืœื™ ืืช ืžืขืจืช ื”ืžื›ืคืœื” ืืฉืจ ืœื• ืืฉืจ ื‘ืงืฆื” ืฉื“ื”ื•; ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ืžืœื ื™ืชื ื ื” ืœื™ ื‘ืชื•ื›ื›ื ืœืื—ื–ืช ืงื‘ืจืƒ ื™ ื•ืขืคืจื•ืŸ ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื‘ื ื™ ื—ืช; ื•ื™ืขืŸ ืขืคืจื•ืŸ ื”ื—ืชื™ ืืช ืื‘ืจื”ื ื‘ืื–ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื—ืช ืœื›ืœ ื‘ืื™ ืฉืขืจ ืขื™ืจื• ืœืืžืจืƒ ื™ื ืœื ืื“ื ื™ ืฉืžืขื ื™ ื”ืฉื“ื” ื ืชืชื™ ืœืš ื•ื”ืžืขืจื” ืืฉืจ ื‘ื• ืœืš ื ืชืชื™ื”; ืœืขื™ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื™ ื ืชืชื™ื” ืœืš ืงื‘ืจ ืžืชืšืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืื‘ืจื”ื ืœืคื ื™ ืขื ื”ืืจืฅืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ืขืคืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืื–ื ื™ ืขื ื”ืืจืฅ ืœืืžืจ ืืš ืื ืืชื” ืœื• ืฉืžืขื ื™; ื ืชืชื™ ื›ืกืฃ ื”ืฉื“ื” ืงื— ืžืžื ื™ ื•ืืงื‘ืจื” ืืช ืžืชื™ ืฉืžื”ืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืขืŸ ืขืคืจื•ืŸ ืืช ืื‘ืจื”ื ืœืืžืจ ืœื•ืƒ ื˜ื• ืื“ื ื™ ืฉืžืขื ื™ ืืจืฅ ืืจื‘ืข ืžืืช ืฉืงืœ ื›ืกืฃ ื‘ื™ื ื™ ื•ื‘ื™ื ืš ืžื” ื”ื•ื; ื•ืืช ืžืชืš ืงื‘ืจืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืœ ืขืคืจื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืฉืงืœ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืœืขืคืจืŸ ืืช ื”ื›ืกืฃ ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืื–ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื—ืช ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ืฉืงืœ ื›ืกืฃ ืขื‘ืจ ืœืกื—ืจืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื›ื’

And the implication is the same: David wants to assure that this purchase is legal and binding for eternity. ืืจื•ื ื” could claim that a gift was given in error, but a sale is a legal transfer.

Thereโ€™s a subtle point that is snuck in here: ืืจื•ื ื”is called ืืจื•ื ื” ื”ืžืœืš. This was not a transfer of land between individuals, but between heads of state. The site of the ืžื–ื‘ื— belongs to the government of Israel, the entire country. And the fact that ืืจื•ื ื” is a king means that even after David conquered Jerusalem, the original king still lived there and owned land.

ืืจื•ื ื” ื”ืžืœืš: ืžืœืš ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ื”ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ื›ื™ ืืฃ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ื” ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืโ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื• ืœื”ื ื‘ืชื™ื ืฉื“ื•ืช ื•ื›ืจืžื™ื ืขืดื™ ื”ืžืกโ€ฆื•ืืคื™ืณ ืžื–ืณ ืื•ืžื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ื™ื›ื•ืœื™ืŸ ืœืฉื‘ืช ื‘ืืจืฅ ื‘ืชื ืื™ ื–ื” ืฉืœื ื™ื—ื˜ื™ืื• ืฉื ืืžืจ ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ืืจืฆืš ืคืŸ ื™ื—ื˜ื™ืื• ืื•ืชืš ืœื™ ืื‘ืœ ื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืื™ื ืŸ ื—ื•ื˜ืื™ืŸ ืฉืงื‘ืœื• ืขืœื™ื”ื ื–ืณ ืžืฆื•ืช ืžื•ืชืจ ืœื”ื ื™ื—ื ื‘ืืจืฅ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื›ื’

Weโ€™ve talked about this when we discussed Davidโ€™s conquest.

ื• ื•ื™ืœืš ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืื ืฉื™ื• ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืืœ ื”ื™ื‘ืกื™ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจ ืœื ืชื‘ื•ื ื”ื ื” ื›ื™ ืื ื”ืกื™ืจืš ื”ืขื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืคืกื—ื™ื ืœืืžืจ ืœื ื™ื‘ื•ื ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื ื”ืƒ ื– ื•ื™ืœื›ื“ ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืžืฆื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื ืขื™ืจ ื“ื•ื“ืƒ ื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื›ืœ ืžื›ื” ื™ื‘ืกื™ ื•ื™ื’ืข ื‘ืฆื ื•ืจ ื•ืืช ื”ืคืกื—ื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืขื•ืจื™ื ืฉื ืื• (ืฉื ื•ืื™) ื ืคืฉ ื“ื•ื“; ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื™ืืžืจื• ืขื•ืจ ื•ืคืกื— ืœื ื™ื‘ื•ื ืืœ ื”ื‘ื™ืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื”

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื›ืœ ืžื›ื” ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืจืืฉ ื•ืœืฉืจ; ื•ื™ืขืœ ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœืจืืฉืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื™ื:ื–

ื”ืขื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืคืกื—ื™ื, in the simplest understanding, is the ื ื‘ื™ื's term for the Jebusite idols:

ื”ืขื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืคืกื—ื™ื: ื”ื ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืฉืœื”ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื”:ื•

ื“ ืขืฆื‘ื™ื”ื ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื–ื”ื‘; ืžืขืฉื” ื™ื“ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ื” ืคื” ืœื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ื“ื‘ืจื•; ืขื™ื ื™ื ืœื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ืจืื•ืƒ
ื• ืื–ื ื™ื ืœื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืžืขื•; ืืฃ ืœื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ืจื™ื—ื•ืŸืƒ
ื– ื™ื“ื™ื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ืžื™ืฉื•ืŸ ืจื’ืœื™ื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ื”ืœื›ื•; ืœื ื™ื”ื’ื• ื‘ื’ืจื•ื ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื˜ื•

And after Yoav takes out those idols, there is no battle of Jerusalem. The ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ืœื™ื midrashicallly describes this as David simply walking over the walls of Jerusalem:

ื›ื™ ื‘ืš ืืจืฅ ื’ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื‘ืืœืงื™ ืึฒื“ึทืœึผึถื’ ืฉืื•ึผืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื™ื—:ืœ

ื›ื™ ื‘ืš ืืจื•ืฅ ื’ื“ื•ื“: ืจืณ ื—ื™ื™ื ื‘ืฉื ืจืณ ืœื•ื™ ืืžืจ: ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื”ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžืœื—ืžื” ืขื ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™, ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืœ ืžื›ื” ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ื•ื™ื’ืข ื‘ืฆื ื•ืจโ€ฆืžื” ืขืฉื” ื™ื•ืื‘, ื”ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืจื•ืฉ ืื—ื“ ืจืขื ืŸ, ื•ืงื‘ืขื• ื‘ืฆื“ ื”ื—ื•ืžื”, ื•ื›ืคืฃ ืืช ืจืืฉ ื”ื‘ืจื•ืฉ ืฉื”ื•ื ืจืš, ื•ืขืœื” ืขืœ ืจืืฉื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“, ื•ื ืชืœื” ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืจื•ืฉ, ื•ื“ื™ืœื’ ืขืœ ื”ื—ื•ืžื”, ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืžื:ื”) ื™ึถื”ึถืœึฐืžึตื ึดื™ ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง ื—ึถืกึถื“ ื•ึฐื™ื•ึนื›ึดื™ื—ึตื ึดื™, ืžื” ืขืฉื” ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, ืงื™ืฆืจ ืืช ื”ื—ื•ืžื”, ื•ืขืœื” ื“ื•ื“ ืื—ืจื™ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื‘ืืœืงื™ ืื“ืœื’ ืฉื•ืจ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ืœื™ื (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ื™ื—:ื›ื“

In other words, the Jebusites continued to live in Jerusalem, with the condition of ืขื•ืจ ื•ืคืกื— ืœื ื™ื‘ื•ื ืืœ ื”ื‘ื™ืชโ€”they could not serve ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื”. And they lived in peace with the Jews, to the extent that ืืจื•ื ื” says ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื™ืจืฆืš; he blesses David with continued success.

The version in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื is similar:

ื™ื— ื•ืžืœืืš ื”ืณ ืืžืจ ืืœ ื’ื“ ืœืืžืจ ืœื“ื•ื™ื“; ื›ื™ ื™ืขืœื” ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœื”ืงื™ื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ืกื™ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ืขืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื’ื“ ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืฉื ื”ืณืƒ ื› ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืืจื ืŸ ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืžืœืืš ื•ืืจื‘ืขืช ื‘ื ื™ื• ืขืžื• ืžืชื—ื‘ืื™ื; ื•ืืจื ืŸ ื“ืฉ ื—ื˜ื™ืืƒ ื›ื ื•ื™ื‘ื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขื“ ืืจื ืŸ; ื•ื™ื‘ื˜ ืืจื ืŸ ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ื’ืจืŸ ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืœื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืคื™ื ืืจืฆื”ืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืœ ืืจื ืŸ ืชื ื” ืœื™ ืžืงื•ื ื”ื’ืจืŸ ื•ืื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ; ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ืžืœื ืชื ื”ื• ืœื™ ื•ืชืขืฆืจ ื”ืžื’ืคื” ืžืขืœ ื”ืขืืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืจื ืŸ ืืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืงื— ืœืš ื•ื™ืขืฉ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•; ืจืื” ื ืชืชื™ ื”ื‘ืงืจ ืœืขืœื•ืช ื•ื”ืžื•ืจื’ื™ื ืœืขืฆื™ื ื•ื”ื—ื˜ื™ื ืœืžื ื—ื” ื”ื›ืœ ื ืชืชื™ืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืืจื ืŸ ืœื ื›ื™ ืงื ื” ืืงื ื” ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ืžืœื; ื›ื™ ืœื ืืฉื ืืฉืจ ืœืš ืœื”ืณ ื•ื”ืขืœื•ืช ืขื•ืœื” ื—ื ืืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืืจื ืŸ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉืงืœื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ืžืฉืงืœ ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืชืƒ ื›ื• ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœื•ืช ื•ืฉืœืžื™ื; ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืœ ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขื ื”ื• ื‘ืืฉ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืขืœ ืžื–ื‘ื— ื”ืขืœื”ืƒ

ื›ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืœืžืœืืš ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื—ืจื‘ื• ืืœ ื ื“ื ื”ืƒ ื›ื— ื‘ืขืช ื”ื”ื™ื ื‘ืจืื•ืช ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื›ื™ ืขื ื”ื• ื”ืณ ื‘ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™; ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื— ืฉืืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ืžืฉื›ืŸ ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืžืฉื” ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•ืžื–ื‘ื— ื”ืขื•ืœื” ื‘ืขืช ื”ื”ื™ื; ื‘ื‘ืžื” ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸืƒ ืœ ื•ืœื ื™ื›ืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืœื›ืช ืœืคื ื™ื• ืœื“ืจืฉ ืืœืงื™ื; ื›ื™ ื ื‘ืขืช ืžืคื ื™ ื—ืจื‘ ืžืœืืš ื”ืณืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

But there is one difference: the price paid in ืฉืžื•ืืœ is ื›ืกืฃ ืฉืงืœื™ื ื—ืžืฉื™ื, while the price paid in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื is ืฉืงืœื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ืžืฉืงืœ ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช. The difference is that ืฉืžื•ืืœ describes what is bought as ื”ื’ืจืŸ ื•ื”ื‘ืงืจ. In ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื it is ื”ืžืงื•ื, referring to the entire ื”ืจ ื”ื‘ื™ืช.

ื“ืชื ื™ื ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื—ื“ ืื•ืžืจ โ€ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืืจื ืŸ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉืงืœื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ืžืฉืงืœ ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€œ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ื•ื™ืงืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื”ื’ืจืŸ ื•ืืช ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื‘ื›ืกืฃ ืฉืงืœื™ื ื—ืžืฉื™ืโ€œ. ื”ื ื›ื™ืฆื“? ื’ื•ื‘ื” ืžื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ ื•ืฉื‘ื˜ ื—ืžืฉื™ื, ืฉื”ืŸ ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช. ืจื‘ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืžืฉื•ื ืื‘ื ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ืกืชืื™: ื‘ืงืจ [ื•ืขืฆื™ื] ื•ืžืงื•ื ืžื–ื‘ื— ื‘ื ืณ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื›ื•ืœื• ื‘ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช.

ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ืงื˜ื–,ื‘

I donโ€™t think those two opinions are different. David, in the immediate aftermath of the plague, buys the location of the ืžื–ื‘ื— for 50 shekels, then collects 600 shekels from all of Israel to purchase the entire location. The ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ has to belong to all of ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; it canโ€™t be the property of Davidโ€™s tribe alone.

ืžืงื•ื ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืœื ื ืชื—ืœืง [ืœืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื], ื•ืœื›ืš ื ืชืŸ ื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ ืžื™ืดื‘ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื—ืœืงื• ื‘ืฉื•ื”.

ืžื”ืจืฉืดื, ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช, ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ืงื˜ื–,ื‘

There is a very strange series of aggadot about this purchase:

(ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื ื’:ื“) ืึฒื—ึทื–ึฐืชึผึดื™ื• ื•ึฐืœึนื ืึทืจึฐืคึผึถื ึผื•ึผ: ื–ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืฉืชืคืก ื”ื’ื•ืจืŸ ืžื™ื“ ืืจื•ื ื” ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™, ื•ืžืฆื ื’ืœื’ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืืจื•ื ื” ื ืชื•ื ื” ืชื—ืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ืœื ืคืกืœ ืžืงื•ื ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ื ืดืš ืชืชืงืคืดื•:ืžื‘

When David bought the threshing-floor, he found the skull of the previous owner under the location of the ืžื–ื‘ื—. What does that mean? And that skull keeps popping up:

[(ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ืœ:ื‘) ื•ึทื™ึผึดื•ึผึธืขึทืฅ ื”ึทืžึผึถืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึฐืฉื‚ึธืจึธื™ื• ื•ึฐื›ึธืœ ื”ึทืงึผึธื”ึธืœ ื‘ึผึดื™ืจื•ึผืฉืึธืœึธึดื ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ื”ึทืคึผึถืกึทื— ื‘ึผึทื—ึนื“ึถืฉื ื”ึทืฉึผืึตื ึดื™ืƒ] ื•ืืชื™ื™ื ื›ื™ื™ ื“ืžืจ ืจืณ ืกื™ืžื•ืŸ ื‘ืจืณ ื–ื‘ื“ื™: ื’ื•ืœื’ื•ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ืžืฆืื• ืชื—ืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—.

ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ืคืกื—ื™ื ืกื“,ื ื˜:ื

ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึถืจ ื—ึทื’ึผึทื™ ืึดื ื™ึดื’ึผึทืข ื˜ึฐืžึตื ื ึถืคึถืฉื ื‘ึผึฐื›ึธืœ ืึตืœึผึถื” ื”ึฒื™ึดื˜ึฐืžึธื; ื•ึทื™ึผึทืขึฒื ื•ึผ ื”ึทื›ึผึนื”ึฒื ึดื™ื ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึฐืจื•ึผ ื™ึดื˜ึฐืžึธื (ื—ื’ื™ื™ ื‘:ื™ื’)โ€ฆื›ืžื” ื“ืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืกื™ืžื•ืŸ ื‘ืจ ื–ื‘ื“ื™ ื’ื•ืœื’ื•ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ืžืฆืื• ืชื—ืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—.

ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ืกื•ื˜ื” ื›ื’,ื ื”:ื‘

The expression โ€œthe skull of Arnon the Yevusiteโ€โ€”particularly since it appears three different times in three different contextsโ€”suggests an Aggadic connontation. Maharal to Avos 2:7 thinks that in such contexts, ื’ึปืœึฐื’ึผึนืœึถืช, the skull, does not mean a part of the body at all, but rather describes a personalityโ€ฆArnonโ€™s heathen and defiling personality was still leaving an impression upon that place.

โ€ฆThe picture which emerges is that of a constant tension between defilement and sanctity in this most holy place on earth. Then the constant effort to maintain high spiritual standards is relaxed, then the skull of Arnon reappearsโ€”his pernicious presence makes itself felt.

Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Divrei HaYamim II, pp 425-426

When David buys the threshing floor of Arnon and starts to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, he is doing it wrong. He had declared that ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” would never rear its ugly head in the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื›ืœ ืžื›ื” ื™ื‘ืกื™ ื•ื™ื’ืข ื‘ืฆื ื•ืจ ื•ืืช ื”ืคืกื—ื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืขื•ืจื™ื ืฉื ืื• (ืฉื ื•ืื™) ื ืคืฉ ื“ื•ื“; ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื™ืืžืจื• ืขื•ืจ ื•ืคืกื— ืœื ื™ื‘ื•ื ืืœ ื”ื‘ื™ืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื”:ื—

But he didnโ€™t really eliminate the ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื”, because ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” is fundamentally connected to a lack of sensitivity to ืžืฆื•ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืŸ ืื“ื ืœื—ื‘ื™ืจื•.

ื“ ืขืฆื‘ื™ื”ื ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื–ื”ื‘; ืžืขืฉื” ื™ื“ื™ ืื“ืืƒ โ€ฆื— ื›ืžื•ื”ื ื™ื”ื™ื• ืขืฉื™ื”ื ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื˜ื— ื‘ื”ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื˜ื•

A person who turns from god to god is using each god to achieve some endโ€ฆThe point of monotheism is that oneโ€™s relationship with G-d is not disposable nor is it interchangeable. It is also not instrumental or transactional.

Zohar Atkin, Pagan Gods Are Quick, Easy, and Disposable

A society whose religion treats its god as an instrument to be used will end up treating each other as instruments to be used. And a society that treats other human beings as instruments to be used will end up treating G-d as an instrument to be used. And that, no matter how many or few gods one has, is the definition of paganism. (Which is why Hillel can say (ืฉื‘ืช ืœื,ื)โ€Ž ื“ึผึทืขึฒืœึธืšึฐ ืกึฐื ึตื™ ืœึฐื—ึทื‘ึฐืจึธืšึฐ ืœึธื ืชึผึทืขึฒื‘ึตื™ื“โ€”ื–ื•ึน ื”ึดื™ื ื›ึผื‡ืœ ื”ึทืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ื›ึผื•ึผืœึผึธื”ึผ.โ€Ž ื•ืื›ืžืดืœ.)

And so this ืžื–ื‘ื— will be built with the ื’ืœื’ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืืจื•ื ื” under it, and it will be vulnerable to destruction.

ืื™ืœื• ืขืœื” ืœืžืขืœื” ืขื•ื“ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืจืžื”, ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•ื ื” ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื‘ืžื“ืช ื”ืื”ื‘ื” ื›ื ืดืœ, ื›ื™ ืื– ื”ื™ื” ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืžืงื“ืฉ ืฉืœื ื™ื—ืจื‘ ืœืขื•ืœื, ื‘ืœื™ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื—ืฉืฉ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ.

ืžื›ืชื‘ ืžืืœื™ื”ื• ื‘, ืขืžืณ 275-281, ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ

But that story lies in the sequel, in ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื. For now, David has achieved his one goal in life, and ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ends on a happy note.

ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื”ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ื–ื” ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœืขืœื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื

Guardian Angel with Happy Boy

Pat Brady, High-Spirited Rose is Rose