ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Drowning Sorrow

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve completed ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“ and David has built a ืžื–ื‘ื— on the site that ื”ืณ has designated for the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

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

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื

And ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื continues with the details of Davidโ€™s plans for the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.โ€Ž (ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ends here, and ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื continues with the political history of David). But before we get to that, I want to look at a fascinating aggadah:

ื—ึฒืžึตืฉื ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึตื” ืžึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืช: ืึฒืžึทืจ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ ืจึทื‘ ื—ึดืกึฐื“ึผึธื ืœึฐื”ึธื”ื•ึผื ืžึดื“ึผึฐืจึทื‘ึผึธื ึทืŸ ื“ึผึทื”ึฒื•ึธื” ืงึธืžึฐืกึทื“ึผึทืจ ืึทื’ึผึธื“ึธืชึธื ืงึทืžึผึตื™ื”ึผ, ืึฒืžึทืจ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ: ืฉืึฐืžึดื™ืขึท ืœึฐืšึธ, ื”ึธื ึตื™ ื—ึฒืžึตืฉื ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึตื” ืžึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืช, ื›ึผึฐื ึถื’ึถื“ ืžึดื™ ืึฒืžึธืจึธื ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“? ืึฒืžึทืจ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ: ื”ึธื›ึดื™ ืึธืžึทืจ ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ื™ื•ึนื—ึธื ึธืŸ: ื‘ึผึฐืฉืึธืขึธื” ืฉืึถื›ึผึธืจึธื” ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ืฉืึดื™ืชึดื™ืŸ, ืงึฐืคึธื ืชึผึฐื”ื•ึนืžึธื ื•ึผื‘ึธืขึตื™ ืœึฐืžึดืฉืึฐื˜ึฐืคึตื™ื”ึผ ืœึฐืขึธืœึฐืžึธื. ืึธืžึทืจ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ื—ึฒืžึตืฉื ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึตื” ืžึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืช ื•ึฐื”ื•ึนืจึดื™ื“ึธืŸ. ืึดื™ ื”ึธื›ึดื™, ื—ึฒืžึตืฉื ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึตื” โ€ืžึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืชโ€œโ€”โ€ื™ื•ึนืจึฐื“ื•ึนืชโ€œ ืžึดื™ื‘ึผึฐืขึตื™ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ!

ืึฒืžึทืจ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ: ื”ื•ึนืึดื™ืœ ื•ึฐืึทื“ึฐื›ึผึทืจึฐืชึผึทืŸ (ืžึดืœึผึฐืชึธื), ื”ึธื›ึดื™ ืึดืชึผึฐืžึทืจ: ื‘ึผึฐืฉืึธืขึธื” ืฉืึถื›ึผึธืจึธื” ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ืฉืึดื™ืชึดื™ืŸ, [ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉืžื•ืืœ, ืคืจืฉื” ื›ื•: ื•ื›ื™ื•ื•ืŸ ืฉื—ืคืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœืฃ ื•ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืืžื”, ืžืฆื ื‘ื” ื—ืจืกโ€ฆื ื˜ืœื• ื“ื•ื“, ื•ืขืœื” ืชื”ื•ื ื•ื”ืฆื™ืคื•] ืงึฐืคึธื ืชึผึฐื”ื•ึนืžึธื ื•ึผื‘ึฐืขึธื ืœึฐืžึดืฉืึฐื˜ึฐืคึตื™ื”ึผ ืœึฐืขึธืœึฐืžึธื. ืึธืžึทืจ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“: ืžึดื™ ืึดื™ื›ึผึธื ื“ึผึฐื™ึธื“ึทืข ืึดื™ ืฉืึฐืจึตื™ ืœึฐืžึดื›ึฐืชึผึทื‘ ืฉืึตื ืึทื—ึทืกึฐืคึผึธื, ื•ึฐื ึดืฉืึฐื“ึผึฐื™ึตื”ึผ ื‘ึผึดืชึฐื”ื•ึนืžึธื ื•ึผืžึทื ึผึทื—! ืœึตื™ื›ึผึธื ื“ึผึฐืงึธืึธืžึทืจ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ ืžึดื™ื“ึผึตื™. ืึฒืžึทืจ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“: ื›ึผื‡ืœ ื“ึผึฐื™ึธื“ึทืข ืœึฐืžึตื™ืžึทืจ ื•ึฐืึตื™ื ื•ึน ืื•ึนืžึตืจ, ื™ึตื—ึธื ึตืง ื‘ึผึดื’ึฐืจื•ึนื ื•ึน. ื ึธืฉื‚ึธื ืึฒื—ึดื™ืชื•ึนืคึถืœ ืงึทืœ ื•ึธื—ื•ึนืžึถืจ ื‘ึผึฐืขึทืฆึฐืžื•ึน: ื•ึผืžึธื” ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ืฉืึธืœื•ึนื ื‘ึผึตื™ืŸ ืึดื™ืฉื ืœึฐืึดืฉืึฐืชึผื•ึน, ืึธืžึฐืจึธื” ืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”: ืฉืึฐืžึดื™ ืฉืึถื ึผึดื›ึฐืชึผึทื‘ ื‘ึผึดืงึฐื“ื•ึผืฉึผืึธื” ื™ึดืžึผึธื—ึถื” ืขึทืœ ื”ึทืžึผึทื™ึดื, ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ื•ึนืช ืฉืึธืœื•ึนื ืœึฐื›ื‡ืœ ื”ึธืขื•ึนืœึธื ื›ึผื•ึผืœึผื•ึนโ€”ืขึทืœ ืึทื—ึทืช ื›ึผึทืžึผึธื” ื•ึฐื›ึทืžึผึธื”. ืึฒืžึทืจ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ: ืฉืึฐืจึตื™. ื›ึผึธืชึตื‘ ืฉืึตื ืึทื—ึทืกึฐืคึผึธื ื•ึฐืฉืึธื“ึตื™ ืœึดืชึฐื”ื•ึนืžึธื, ื•ึผื ึฐื—ึตื™ืช ืชึผึฐื”ื•ึนืžึธื ืฉืึดื™ืชึผึฐืกึทืจ ืึทืœึฐืคึตื™ ื’ึผึทืจึฐืžึดื™ื“ึตื™. ื›ึผึดื™ ื—ึธื–ึตื™ ื“ึผึฐื ึธื—ึตื™ืช ื˜ื•ึผื‘ึธื, ืึฒืžึทืจ: ื›ึผึทืžึผึธื” ื“ึผึฐืžึดื™ื“ึผึฐืœึตื™โ€”ื˜ึฐืคึตื™ ืžึดื™ืจึฐื˜ึทื‘ ืขึธืœึฐืžึธื. ืึฒืžึทืจ ื—ึฒืžึตืฉื ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึตื” ืžึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืช, ื•ึฐืึทืกึผึฐืงึตื™ื”ึผ ื—ึฒืžึตื™ืกึทืจ ืึทืœึฐืคึตื™ ื’ึผึทืจึฐืžึดื™ื“ึตื™, ื•ึฐืื•ึนืงึฐืžึตื™ื”ึผ ื‘ึผึฐืึทืœึฐืคึผึธื ื’ึผึทืจึฐืžึดื™ื“ึตื™.

ืกื•ื›ื” ื ื’,ื-ื‘

We need to remember that ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ was Bat Shevaโ€™s grandfather, and Avshalomโ€™s lead advisor in his rebellion. This aggadah connects our perek, about the location and intial building of the ืžื–ื‘ื— that would be the hub of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, to the story of David and Bat Sheva that makes up the last third of the main narrative of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ. The middle third is all about Davidโ€™s one desire to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. Somehow that disappears in the later chapters.

This aggadah says that his efforts to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ were going on as a background to the Bat Sheva story. We talked about this aggadah when we discussed Achitophel. Rav Medan, in his ืžื’ื™ืœืช ื‘ืช-ืฉื‘ืข sees the threat of the waters of the deepโ€”the ืชื”ื•ืโ€”inundating the land as an echo of the original flood.

ื‘ ื•ื™ืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ืืช ื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ืื“ื ื›ื™ ื˜ื‘ืช ื”ื ื”; ื•ื™ืงื—ื• ืœื”ื ื ืฉื™ื ืžื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื—ืจื•ืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ื“ื•ืŸ ืจื•ื—ื™ ื‘ืื“ื ืœืขืœื ื‘ืฉื’ื ื”ื•ื ื‘ืฉืจ; ื•ื”ื™ื• ื™ืžื™ื• ืžืื” ื•ืขืฉืจื™ื ืฉื ื”ืƒโ€ฆื™ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืœื ื— ืงืฅ ื›ืœ ื‘ืฉืจ ื‘ื ืœืคื ื™ ื›ื™ ืžืœืื” ื”ืืจืฅ ื—ืžืก ืžืคื ื™ื”ื; ื•ื”ื ื ื™ ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื ืืช ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื•

In Rav Medanโ€™s reading, David is guilty of the same sin: ื•ื™ืงื—ื• ืœื”ื ื ืฉื™ื ืžื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื—ืจื•. And ื”ืณ midrashically threatens the same fate: ืงืคื ืชื”ื•ืžื ื•ื‘ืขื ืœืžืฉื˜ืคื™ื” ืœืขืœืžื. And the solution found in the laws of ืกื•ื˜ื”:

ื›ื’ ื•ื›ืชื‘ ืืช ื”ืืœืช ื”ืืœื” ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื‘ืกืคืจ; ื•ืžื—ื” ืืœ ืžื™ ื”ืžืจื™ืืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื”ืฉืงื” ืืช ื”ืืฉื” ืืช ืžื™ ื”ืžืจื™ื ื”ืžืืจืจื™ื; ื•ื‘ืื• ื‘ื” ื”ืžื™ื ื”ืžืืจืจื™ื ืœืžืจื™ืืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื”

Taking this story seriously but not literally, David is not threatened by a physical flood. He is threatened by the consequences of his actions with Bat Sheva and Uriah, and those consequences will overwhelm what he sees as his purpose. He cannot establish a ืžืžืœื›ื” of ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” (which will be represented by the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ) if he is seen as a tyrannical dictator.

ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื‘ืดื”: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข! ื’ืœื•ื™ ื•ื™ื“ื•ืข ืœืคื ื™ืš ืฉืื ื”ื™ื• ืžืงืจืขื™ื ื‘ืฉืจื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ืžื™ ืฉื•ืชืช ืœืืจืฅ. ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“, ืืœื ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืขื•ืกืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ื ื•ืื”ืœื•ืช, ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื™ ื“ื•ื“: ื”ื‘ื ืขืœ ืืฉืช ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืชืชื• ื‘ืžื”? ื•ืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืœื”ื: ืžื™ืชืชื• ื‘ื—ื ืง; ื•ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื—ืœืง ืœืขื•ื”ืดื‘ .ืื‘ืœ ื”ืžืœื‘ื™ืŸ ืืช ืคื ื™ ื—ื‘ื™ืจื• ื‘ืจื‘ื™ื ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื—ืœืง ืœืขื•ื”ืดื‘.

ื‘ื‘ื ืžืฆื™ืขื ื ื˜,ื

Achitophel, as Davidโ€™s chief advisor and the grandfather of Bat Sheva, is at the heart of the peopleโ€™s response to David. He has to decide if he will forgive David for what happened to his granddaughter. He has the power to wipe out Davidโ€™s kingdom, or allow it to continue. And he decides that this case is like the ืกื•ื˜ื”, and it is worth erasing ื”ืณ's name to restore the stability of the land. He will later change his mind and try to destroy David, for reasons that we have discussed that are connected to the birth of Shlomo.

So this aggadah helps establish a chronology for this perek. Rashi, who takes the entire ืกืคืจ in chronological order, has a problem with this:

ื™ืฉ ืชื™ืžื” ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ, ืฉื”ืจื™ ืœื ืงื ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื”ื’ื•ืจืŸ ืžืืจื•ื ื” ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ืขื“ ืžืขืฉื” ื“ื”ืกืชื”, ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืœืื—ืจ ืžื™ืชืช ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ื’ืณ ืฉื ื™ื. ื•ืœืคื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืœืœื• ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ืŸ ืื ื• ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืืขืดืค ืฉืœื ืงื ื” ื”ื’ื•ืจืŸ, ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื™ื” ืžื ืขื•ืจื™ื• ืžื™ื•ื [ืฉื ืžืฉื—] ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื”ื•ื ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ื ื•ื™ืช ื”ืจืžื” ื•ื‘ื“ืงื• ื‘ืกืคืจ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื•ืžืฆืื• ืžืงื•ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืขื“ ืืžืฆื ืžืงื•ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ ื•ื›ื“ื“ืจืฉื™ื ืŸ ืœื™ื” ื‘ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื‘ืื™ื–ื”ื• ืžืงื•ืžืŸ (ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื“ืฃ ื ื“:) ื•ื—ืคืจ ื”ื™ืกื•ื“ื•ืช ื‘ืจืฉื•ืชื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžื›ื•ืช ื™ื,ื, ื“ืดื” ื ืฉื ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ ื›ื•ืณ

ืื‘ืœ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืกืคืจ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ืื™ืŸ ืžื•ื›ื™ื—ื™ืŸ ื›ืŸ, ืฉืืžืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘โ€ฆื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ืช ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ื ืจืื” ืžื–ื” ืฉืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืœื ื™ื“ืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ืช ืืœืงื™ื. ื’ื ื“ื—ื•ืง ืื™ืš ื›ืจื” ื”ืฉื™ืชื™ืŸ ื‘ื’ื•ืจืŸ ืืจื ื•ืŸ ื˜ืจื ืฉืงื ื” ืื•ืชื•, ืฉื”ืจื™ ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ืฉื ืขื•ืœื” ืขื“ ืฉืงื ื”ื•. ื’ื ืื™ืœื• ื™ื“ืข ื–ืžืŸ ืจื‘ ืžืงื•ื“ื ื”ื”ืกืชื” ืœืžื” ืœื ืงื ื” ืื•ืชื• ืื– ืžืืจื•ื ื”? ื•ื”ื ืจืื” ื‘ื–ื” ื“ื’ื ืฉื™ืชื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ื”ื™ืกื•ื“ื•ืช ื ื‘ืจืื• ืžืฉืฉืช ื™ืžื™ ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื—ืœื•ืœื™ืŸ ื•ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ืŸ ืขื“ ื”ืชื”ื•ื, ืืœื ื“ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืจื” ื”ืฉื™ืชื™ืŸ ืชื—ืœื” ืฉืœื ื‘ืžืงื•ืžืŸ, ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื‘ืขื™ืŸ ืขื™ื˜ื, ื›ื“ืกื‘ืจื™ ืžืขื™ืงืจื ืœืžื™ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืขื™ืŸ ืขื™ื˜ื ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื›ื“ืื™ืชื ืคืณ ืื™ื–ื”ื• ืžืงื•ืžืŸ (ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื ื“,ื‘). ื•ืจืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉื ื”ืขืฆื™ืฅ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื›ื‘ื•ืฉ ืขืœ ื”ืชื”ื•ื ื•ื‘ื ืœืžืฉื˜ืคื™ื” ืขืœืžื ื›ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ืœืขื™ืœ, ื•ื‘ื–ื” ืจืื” ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืžืงื•ืžืŸ.

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

While I would hate to disagree with Rashi, we have a much simpler explanation: this perek is an appendix, telling a story that happened before the rebellion of Avshalom and the suicide of Achitophel. This aggadah establishes a kind of dialectic of David as villain of the Bat Sheva story and hero of ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื as he prepares for the building of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. These are happening at the same time.

The end of this story as the waters return is in the 15 ืฉื™ืจื™ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช. But before that there is a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that describes this dialectic.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ืฉื•ืฉื ื™ื ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื›ื™ ื‘ืื• ืžื™ื ืขื“ ื ืคืฉืƒ
ื’ ื˜ื‘ืขืชื™ ื‘ื™ื•ืŸ ืžืฆื•ืœื” ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืขืžื“;
ื‘ืืชื™ ื‘ืžืขืžืงื™ ืžื™ื ื•ืฉื‘ืœืช ืฉื˜ืคืชื ื™ืƒ
ื“ ื™ื’ืขืชื™ ื‘ืงืจืื™ ื ื—ืจ ื’ืจื•ื ื™; ื›ืœื• ืขื™ื ื™ ืžื™ื—ืœ ืœืืœืงื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜

Most ืžืคืจืฉื™ื take this ื˜ื‘ืขืชื™ ื‘ื™ื•ืŸ ืžืฆื•ืœื” to be a metaphor for Israel in exile:

ืขืœ ืฉื•ืฉื ื™ื: ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื”ื (ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื ื‘:ื‘) ื›ึฐึผืฉืื•ึนืฉึทืื ึธึผื” ื‘ึตึผื™ืŸ ื”ึทื—ื•ึนื—ึดื™ื, ืฉื”ื—ื•ื—ื™ื ืžื ืงื‘ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื ื•ื”ืชืคืœืœ ืขืœื™ื”ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ื

ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ืฉื•ืฉื ื™ื ื›ื•ืณ: ื”ื ื” ืจื–ืณ'ืœ ืคื™ืจืฉื• ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื–ื” ืขืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื’ืœื™ื•ืช, ื•ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœืคื™ ื“ืจื›ื ื–ื” ื™ื›ืœื•ืœ ื‘ื• ื›ืœ ืืจื‘ืขื” ื’ืœื™ื•ืช.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ื

But that is not a common metaphor in ืชื ืดืš; we see illness, famine, war, insults but not floods. The only other time it appears in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is in Davidโ€™s personal prayer:

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœืขื‘ื“ ื”ืณ ืœื“ื•ื“; ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื”ืณ ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฆื™ืœ ื”ืณ ืื•ืชื• ืžื›ืฃ ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื• ื•ืžื™ื“ ืฉืื•ืœืƒโ€ฆื˜ื– ื•ื™ืจืื• ืืคื™ืงื™ ืžื™ื ื•ื™ื’ืœื• ืžื•ืกื“ื•ืช ืชื‘ืœ; ืžื’ืขืจืชืš ื”ืณ ืžื ืฉืžืช ืจื•ื— ืืคืšืƒ ื™ื– ื™ืฉืœื— ืžืžืจื•ื ื™ืงื—ื ื™; ื™ืžืฉื ื™ ืžืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—

The mention of ื™ื•ืŸ makes the connection to the ืืจื‘ืข ื’ืœื•ื™ื•ืช inevitable, but literally it means โ€œmuck, mireโ€:

ื•ื™ืขืœื ื™ ืžื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืื•ืŸ ืžื˜ื™ื˜ ื”ื™ื•ืŸ; ื•ื™ืงื ืขืœ ืกืœืข ืจื’ืœื™; ื›ื•ื ืŸ ืืฉืจื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืž:ื’

There are two prototypes of drowning, of ื”ืณ's anger manifesting in a flood, in ืชื ืดืš: the ืžื‘ื•ืœ, which the aggadah above connected directly to Davidโ€™s life, and ืงืจื™ืขืช ื™ื ืกื•ืฃ, which is the connection that the gemara makes:

ืืžืจ ืœื• ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”:โ€ฆื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืื™ืŸ ืื ื™ ื™ื•ืจื“ ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืœื™ื ื•ื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืื™ืŸ ืื ื™ ื™ื•ืจื“ ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืœื™ื. ืงืคืฅ ื ื—ืฉื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืขืžื™ื ื“ื‘ ื•ื™ืจื“ ืœื™ื ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื”ื•ืฉืข ื™ื‘:ื) ืกึฐื‘ึธื‘ึปื ึดื™ ื‘ึฐื›ึทื—ึทืฉื ืึถืคึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื•ึผื‘ึฐืžึดืจึฐืžึธื” ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื•ึดื™ื”ื•ึผื“ึธื” ืขึนื“ ืจึธื“ ืขึดื ืึตึพืœ. ื•ืขืœื™ื• ืžืคืจืฉ ื‘ืงื‘ืœื” (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ื‘) ื”ื•ึนืฉืึดื™ืขึตื ึดื™ ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื›ึผึดื™ ื‘ึธืื•ึผ ืžึทื™ึดื ืขึทื“ ื ึธืคึถืฉื; (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ื’) ื˜ึธื‘ึทืขึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึดื™ื•ึตืŸ ืžึฐืฆื•ึผืœึธื” ื•ึฐืึตื™ืŸ ืžึธืขึณืžึธื“ ื•ื’ื•ืณ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ื˜ื– ) ืึทืœ ืชึผึดืฉืึฐื˜ึฐืคึตื ึดื™ ืฉืึดื‘ึผึนืœึถืช ืžึทื™ึดื ื•ึฐืึทืœ ืชึผึดื‘ึฐืœึธืขึตื ึดื™ ืžึฐืฆื•ึผืœึธื” ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€ฆืœืคื™ื›ืš ื–ื›ื” ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžืžืฉืœื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื™ื“:ื‘) ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธื” ืœึฐืงึธื“ึฐืฉืื•ึน; ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืžึทืžึฐืฉืึฐืœื•ึนืชึธื™ื•. ืžื” ื˜ืขื ื”ื™ืชื” ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืœืงื“ืฉื• ื•ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืžืฉืœื•ืชื™ื•? ืžืฉื•ื ื“ึพื”ึทื™ึผึธื ืจึธืึธื” ื•ึทื™ึผึธื ึนืก.

ืกื•ื˜ื” ืœื•,ื‘-ืœื–,ื

All three ways of reading the perek are valid. The psalms address past, present and future at the same time. David will face his metaphoric drowning as his ancestor did, bravely jumping into the sea, and ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ will continue to do so.

The perek switches from drowning to public embarrassment (which goes with the way we are reading it):

ื” ืจื‘ื• ืžืฉืขืจื•ืช ืจืืฉื™ ืฉื ืื™ ื—ื ื;
ืขืฆืžื• ืžืฆืžื™ืชื™ ืื™ื‘ื™ ืฉืงืจ ืืฉืจ ืœื ื’ื–ืœืชื™ ืื– ืืฉื™ื‘ืƒ
ื• ืืœืงื™ื ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืœืื•ืœืชื™; ื•ืืฉืžื•ืชื™ ืžืžืš ืœื ื ื›ื—ื“ื•ืƒ
ื– ืืœ ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื‘ื™ ืงื•ื™ืš ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ ืฆื‘ืื•ึพืช;
ืืœ ื™ื›ืœืžื• ื‘ื™ ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ืš ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ื— ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ืš ื ืฉืืชื™ ื—ืจืคื”; ื›ืกืชื” ื›ืœืžื” ืคื ื™ืƒ
ื˜ ืžื•ื–ืจ ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืœืื—ื™; ื•ื ื›ืจื™ ืœื‘ื ื™ ืืžื™ืƒ
ื™ ื›ื™ ืงื ืืช ื‘ื™ืชืš ืื›ืœืชื ื™; ื•ื—ืจืคื•ืช ื—ื•ืจืคื™ืš ื ืคืœื• ืขืœื™ืƒ
ื™ื ื•ืื‘ื›ื” ื‘ืฆื•ื ื ืคืฉื™; ื•ืชื”ื™ ืœื—ืจืคื•ืช ืœื™ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื•ืืชื ื” ืœื‘ื•ืฉื™ ืฉืง; ื•ืื”ื™ ืœื”ื ืœืžืฉืœืƒ
ื™ื’ ื™ืฉื™ื—ื• ื‘ื™ ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ืฉืขืจ; ื•ื ื’ื™ื ื•ืช ืฉื•ืชื™ ืฉื›ืจืƒ
ื™ื“ ื•ืื ื™ ืชืคืœืชื™ ืœืš ื”ืณ ืขืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืจื‘ ื—ืกื“ืš;
ืขื ื ื™ ื‘ืืžืช ื™ืฉืขืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜

This certainly fits with the description of Davidโ€™s shame, ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืขื•ืกืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ื ื•ืื”ืœื•ืช, ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื™ ื“ื•ื“: ื”ื‘ื ืขืœ ืืฉืช ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืชืชื• ื‘ืžื”? This perek isnโ€™t about phyical pain, it is about social humiliation: ื•ืื”ื™ ืœื”ื ืœืžืฉืœ and ื™ืฉื™ื—ื• ื‘ื™ ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ืฉืขืจ. He canโ€™t be a leader if no one respects him; all he can ask for is that his shame doesnโ€™t destroy the whole concept of ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืณ:โ€Ž ืืœ ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื‘ื™ ืงื•ื™ืšโ€ฆืืœ ื™ื›ืœืžื• ื‘ื™ ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ืš.

And he acknowledges that he has sinned: ื•ืืฉืžื•ืชื™ ืžืžืš ืœื ื ื›ื—ื“ื•, and it was because of his single-mindedness: ื›ื™ ืงื ืืช ื‘ื™ืชืš ืื›ืœืชื ื™. This is parallel to Shaulโ€™s (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื:ื‘)โ€Ž ื•ื™ื‘ืงืฉ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื”ื›ืชื ื‘ืงื ืืชื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”.

His conclusion in this section is ื•ืื ื™ ืชืคืœืชื™ ืœืš ื”ืณ ืขืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ. All I have is my prayer. Philip Birnbaum says about this:

The circumlocution โ€œand as for meโ€, repeated four times in ืžื” ื˜ื•ื‘ื•, is not implied in โ€œื•ืื ื™โ€.

Birnbaum Siddur, introduction.

but heโ€™s wrong (aside from the fact that I can only find three instances of ื•ืื ื™). David is very much saying โ€œand as for meโ€; I donโ€™t need to care about what others say about me; I only care about what I say to You. ื”ืจื‘ ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื”ื“ืจื™ says that the expression is not David talking about his prayer. It is an expression of ื”ื–ื“ื”ื•ืช ืขื ื”ืชืคื™ืœื”:โ€Ž ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ื ืฉืœื™ื— ืฆื™ื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื•ืจื•ืช. And that teaches us a fundamental lesson in the nature of ืชืคื™ืœื”: when I can identify fully with my ืชืคื™ืœื”, then it is an ืขืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ and ื”ืณ will answer us.

David then repeats the theme: he is mired in the mud and drowning in the whirlpool and ื”ืณ will answer:

ื˜ื• ื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™ ืžื˜ื™ื˜ ื•ืืœ ืื˜ื‘ืขื”; ืื ืฆืœื” ืžืฉื ืื™ ื•ืžืžืขืžืงื™ ืžื™ืืƒ
ื˜ื– ืืœ ืชืฉื˜ืคื ื™ ืฉื‘ืœืช ืžื™ื ื•ืืœ ืชื‘ืœืขื ื™ ืžืฆื•ืœื”;
ื•ืืœ ืชืื˜ืจ ืขืœื™ ื‘ืืจ ืคื™ื”ืƒ
ื™ื– ืขื ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื—ืกื“ืš; ื›ืจื‘ ืจื—ืžื™ืš ืคื ื” ืืœื™ืƒ
ื™ื— ื•ืืœ ืชืกืชืจ ืคื ื™ืš ืžืขื‘ื“ืš; ื›ื™ ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืžื”ืจ ืขื ื ื™ืƒ
ื™ื˜ ืงืจื‘ื” ืืœ ื ืคืฉื™ ื’ืืœื”; ืœืžืขืŸ ืื™ื‘ื™ ืคื“ื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜

But now, the story changes: the humiliation comes last: he is not seeing this as an ืขืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ:

ื› ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ื—ืจืคืชื™ ื•ื‘ืฉืชื™ ื•ื›ืœืžืชื™; ื ื’ื“ืš ื›ืœ ืฆื•ืจืจื™ืƒ
ื›ื ื—ืจืคื” ืฉื‘ืจื” ืœื‘ื™ ื•ืื ื•ืฉื”;
ื•ืืงื•ื” ืœื ื•ื“ ื•ืื™ืŸ; ื•ืœืžื ื—ืžื™ื ื•ืœื ืžืฆืืชื™ืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืชื ื• ื‘ื‘ืจื•ืชื™ ืจืืฉ; ื•ืœืฆืžืื™ ื™ืฉืงื•ื ื™ ื—ืžืฅืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜

Everyone is mocking me, giving me ืจืืฉโ€”wormwoodโ€”and calling it ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืชโ€”health food, giving me vinegar and calling it drink. Thatโ€™s middle-school-cafeteria-level bullying. And so, in one of the most bitter passages in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, he prays that they be destroyed.

ื›ื’ ื™ื”ื™ ืฉืœื—ื ื ืœืคื ื™ื”ื ืœืคื—; ื•ืœืฉืœื•ืžื™ื ืœืžื•ืงืฉืƒ
ื›ื“ ืชื—ืฉื›ื ื” ืขื™ื ื™ื”ื ืžืจืื•ืช; ื•ืžืชื ื™ื”ื ืชืžื™ื“ ื”ืžืขื“ืƒ
ื›ื” ืฉืคืš ืขืœื™ื”ื ื–ืขืžืš; ื•ื—ืจื•ืŸ ืืคืš ื™ืฉื™ื’ืืƒ
ื›ื• ืชื”ื™ ื˜ื™ืจืชื ื ืฉืžื”; ื‘ืื”ืœื™ื”ื ืืœ ื™ื”ื™ ื™ืฉื‘ืƒ
ื›ื– ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืืฉืจ ื”ื›ื™ืช ืจื“ืคื•; ื•ืืœ ืžื›ืื•ื‘ ื—ืœืœื™ืš ื™ืกืคืจื•ืƒ
ื›ื— ืชื ื” ืขื•ืŸ ืขืœ ืขื•ื ื; ื•ืืœ ื™ื‘ืื• ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืšืƒ
ื›ื˜ ื™ืžื—ื• ืžืกืคืจ ื—ื™ื™ื; ื•ืขื ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืืœ ื™ื›ืชื‘ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜

ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืืฉืจ ื”ื›ื™ืช ืจื“ืคื•: they are literally adding insult to injury. ื”ืณ, You have punished me, but now their gossip means I am being hurt over and over again. David invents the image of the ืกืคืจ ื—ื™ื™ื just to have something to erase them from.

But he pulls himself out of this black anger, realizing that he is an ืขื ื™ ื•ื›ื•ืื‘, afflicted and in pain. The answer is not to attack but to sing to ื”ืณ:

ืœ ื•ืื ื™ ืขื ื™ ื•ื›ื•ืื‘; ื™ืฉื•ืขืชืš ืืœืงื™ื ืชืฉื’ื‘ื ื™ืƒ
ืœื ืื”ืœืœื” ืฉื ืืœืงื™ื ื‘ืฉื™ืจ; ื•ืื’ื“ืœื ื• ื‘ืชื•ื“ื”ืƒ
ืœื‘ ื•ืชื™ื˜ื‘ ืœื”ืณ ืžืฉื•ืจ ืคืจ; ืžืงืจืŸ ืžืคืจื™ืกืƒ
ืœื’ ืจืื• ืขื ื•ื™ื ื™ืฉืžื—ื•; ื“ืจืฉื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ื—ื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื›ืืƒ
ืœื“ ื›ื™ ืฉืžืข ืืœ ืื‘ื™ื•ื ื™ื ื”ืณ; ื•ืืช ืืกื™ืจื™ื• ืœื ื‘ื–ื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜

He, in the story of ืคืจืง ื›ื“, was so close to building the ืžื–ื‘ื— of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, and now it looks like it will fail. But he still has his ืฉื™ืจ, and that will have to be good enough. ืจืื• ืขื ื•ื™ื ื™ืฉืžื—ื•โ€ฆื•ื™ื—ื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื. There is no reason to despair. Eventually ื™ื‘ื ื” ืขืจื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”โ€ฆื•ืื”ื‘ื™ ืฉืžื• ื™ืฉื›ื ื• ื‘ื”.

ืœื” ื™ื”ืœืœื•ื”ื• ืฉืžื™ื ื•ืืจืฅ; ื™ืžื™ื ื•ื›ืœ ืจืžืฉ ื‘ืืƒ
ืœื• ื›ื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื™ื•ืฉื™ืข ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื” ืขืจื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืฉื ื•ื™ืจืฉื•ื”ืƒ
ืœื– ื•ื–ืจืข ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื™ื ื—ืœื•ื”; ื•ืื”ื‘ื™ ืฉืžื• ื™ืฉื›ื ื• ื‘ื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื˜