ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Everybody Counts

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

We have completed ืคืจืง ื›ื and the story of the Givonim, and the famine that ื”ืณ imposed in response to ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ's injustice to the Givonim. We took the approach of the Malbim:

ื•ื™ื‘ืงืฉ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื”ื›ื•ืชื ื‘ืงื ืืชื• ืœื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”, ื•ื”ื’ื ืฉืœื ืงืžื” ืขืฆืชื•, ื‘ื›ืดื– ื›ื‘ืจ ื ืชื ื• ืœื”ืคืงืจ, ื•ืขืฉื• ื‘ื ืื™ืฉ ื”ื™ืฉืจ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื•, ื•ื”ื™ื• ืœื‘ื– ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืฆื™ืœ, ื’ื•ืœื™ื ื•ืžื’ื•ืจืฉื™ื, ืฉืขืœ ื–ื” ืืžืจ ื•ืืฉืจ ื“ืžื” ืœื ื• ื•ื ืฉืžื“ื ื• ืžื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื’ื ืื—ืจื™ ืžื•ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ืฉืžืœืš ืื™ืฉ ื‘ื•ืฉืช ืชื—ืชื™ื•, ื’ื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืžืจื• ืœื”ื ืžืฉื˜ืžืช ืื‘ื™ื”ื, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื—ื•ื ืŸ ื•ืžืจื—ื ืขืœ ืขื ื™ื, ื•ื’ื ืขืช ืฉืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ืฉืžื• ืขืœ ืœื‘ื ืœืชืงืŸ ื”ืขื•ื•ืช ื”ื–ื”, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื ืงืœื™ื ื•ื‘ื–ื•ื™ื ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื”ื, ื•ื”ื’ื ืฉื›ื”ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื”ื•ืฉื‘ื• ืœื›ื‘ื•ื“ื ื•ืœืžืื•ื“ื, ื”ื’ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื”ืขืฉืงื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ืขื•ืฉืงื™ื”ื ื›ื—, ืื™ืŸ ืžื ื—ื ืœื“ืžืขืชื, ื•ืขืดื› ื—ืจื” ืืฃ ื”ืณ ื‘ืขืžื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“โ€ฆื•ื™ืจื ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืจืข ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉืคื˜, ื•ื™ื‘ื ืจืขื‘ ืขืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ื›ืœ ืžื˜ื” ืœื—ื ืฉื‘ืจ, ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืฉื‘ืจื• ื”ืื•ืžืœืœื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื•ื”ื™ื• ืžืชื™ ืจืขื‘.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื:ื

The remainder of ืคืจืง ื›ื, and the two perakim that follow, are poetic appendices to ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ. I will skip those for now, and turn to the last perek of the sefer, another narrative of another tragedy in Davidโ€™s reign.

ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ืœื—ืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ืกืช ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื”ื ืœืืžืจ ืœืš ืžื ื” ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืืช ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื

It starts with ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ , but we donโ€™t know what Israel did wrong that got G-d โ€œeven more angryโ€.

ื•ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ืœื—ืจื•ืช: ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืขืœ ืžื” ื—ืจื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

ื•ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ: ืœื ื™ื“ืขื ื• ื–ื” ื”ื—ืจื•ืŸ ืœืžื”, ื›ื™ ืื ื”ื™ื” ืจืข ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ , ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ื” ืžื‘ืขืจ ืื•ืชื•.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉื

We will take the approach of the Ralbag, that this followed the famine of the Givonim:

ืžืœื‘ื“ ืžื” ืฉื—ืจื” ืืคื• ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื’ื‘ืขื•ื ื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืจืขื‘ ืฉื ื” ืื—ืจ ืฉื ื”.

ืจืœื‘ืดื’, ืฉื

In this reading, ื”ืณ is upset with the people, possibly because the ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” of the previous story was inadequate. David himself may have addressed the injustice there, but the people as a whole did not change. And ื”ืณ makes David the tool with which to punish them. As the ruler, David loses some of his free will:

ืคึทึผืœึฐื’ึตื™ ืžึทื™ึดื ืœึถื‘ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึทื“ ื”ืณ; ืขึทืœ ื›ึธึผืœ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื™ึทื—ึฐืคึนึผืฅ ื™ึทื˜ึถึผื ึผื•ึผืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ื›ื:ื

ื”ื ื” ืœื‘ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืณ ื›ืžื• ืคืœื’ื™ ืžื™ื ืฉื™ื•ื›ืœื• ืœื”ื˜ื•ืชื ืืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉืžื” ื”ื—ืคืฅ ื›ืŸ ื™ื˜ื” ื”ืฉืดื™ ืœื‘ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ื—ืคื•ืฅ. ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ืขื™ืจ ื‘ื–ื” ื›ื™ ืคืขื•ืœื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืชื™ื• ื”ื ืžื•ื’ื‘ืœื•ืช ืžื”ืฉืดื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืœื™ื— ื”ืฉืดื™ ื‘ืžื” ืฉื™ืขืฉื”ื• ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœื›ื•ืชโ€ฆืœื ืขื–ื‘ ื”ืฉืดื™ ื›ืœ ื–ืืช ื”ื”ื ื”ื’ื” ืœืžืœืš (ืงื”ืœืช ื”:ื–) ื›ึดึผื™ ื’ึธื‘ึนื”ึทึผ ืžึตืขึทืœ ื’ึธึผื‘ึนื”ึทึผ ืฉึนืืžึตืจ.

ืจืœื‘ืดื’, ืฉื

So ื”ืณ is angry with ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ after the story of the Givonim (ื•ื™ืกืฃ), and punishes them by inciting David to count them. Now, conducting a census doesnโ€™t sound so bad. But it has terrible consequences:

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

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื˜ื•

But in the end, this plague results in David learning the true location of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ that he had always wanted to build:

ื™ื— ื•ื™ื‘ื ื’ื“ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืขืœื” ื”ืงื ืœื”ืณ ืžื–ื‘ื— ื‘ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ื™ื” (ืืจื•ื ื”) ื”ื™ื‘ืกื™ืƒโ€ฆื›ื” ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื“ื•ื“ ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœื•ืช ื•ืฉืœืžื™ื; ื•ื™ืขืชืจ ื”ืณ ืœืืจืฅ ื•ืชืขืฆืจ ื”ืžื’ืคื” ืžืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“

David had brought the ืืจื•ืŸ to Jerusalem, to the place he had prepared in ืขื™ืจ ื“ื•ื“. It seems that that was the location he had intended to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, before ื”ืณ told him he could not. Here he learns that the place of the central altar (which will determine the place of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ) is to be outside the walls of the original city.

ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—, ืžืงื•ืžื• ืžื›ื•ื•ืŸ ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ; ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉื ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืžืžืงื•ืžื• ืœืขื•ืœื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื) ื•ึฐื–ึถื” ืžึผึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึตื—ึท ืœึฐืขึนืœึธื” ืœึฐื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ. ื•ื‘ืžืงื“ืฉ ื ืขืงื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง ืื‘ื™ื ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื‘:ื‘) ื•ึฐืœึถืšึฐ ืœึฐืšึธ ืึถืœ ืึถืจึถืฅ ื”ึทืžึผึนืจึดื™ึผึธื” ื•ื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื’:ื) [ื•ึทื™ึธึผื—ึถืœ ืฉึฐืืœึนืžึนื” ืœึดื‘ึฐื ื•ึนืช ืึถืช ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ึดึผื™ืจื•ึผืฉึธืืœึทโ€ึดื ื‘ึฐึผื”ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืจึดื™ึธึผื” ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื ึดืจึฐืึธื” ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื™ื“ ืึธื‘ึดื™ื”ื•ึผ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื”ึตื›ึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึดึผืžึฐืงื•ึนื ื“ึธึผื•ึดื™ื“ ื‘ึฐึผื’ึนืจึถืŸ ืึธืจึฐื ึธืŸ ื”ึทื™ึฐื‘ื•ึผืกึดื™]. ื•ืžืกื•ืจืช ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ื›ื•ืœ, ืฉื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ืฉืœืžื” ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื‘ื’ื•ืจืŸ ืืจื•ื•ื ื”โ€”ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ืื‘ืจื”ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ืขืงื“ ืขืœื™ื• ื™ืฆื—ืง, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ื ื•ื— ื›ืฉื™ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ืชื™ื‘ื”, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืขืœื™ื• ืงื™ืŸ ื•ื”ื‘ืœ. ื•ื‘ื• ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืฉื ื‘ืจื ืงืจื‘ืŸ, ื•ืžืฉื ื ื‘ืจื; ืืžืจื• ื—ื›ืžื™ื, ืื“ื ืžืžืงื•ื ื›ืคืจืชื• ื ื‘ืจื.

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื” ื‘:ื

So this story has much the same structure as the Givonim story: ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืจืขื‘ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ืโ€ฆื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืืœ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื“ืžื™ืโ€ฆื•ื™ืขืฉื• ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื” ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ื™ืขืชืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืœืืจืฅ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ. But here the ending of the story is much more mysterious: G-d is angry at Israel, punishes them with a census that leads to a plague, and when the plague is over, G-d tells David where to build the altar that will be the location of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, the one thing that has driven David all his life. And there ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ends.

We still do not understand what ื”ืณ is angry about. We will take the approach of the Ramban, which is based on a midrash that connects the end of the perek back to the beginning:

(ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™ื—) ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึนื ื’ึธื“ ืึถืœ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ื•ึผื; ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึถืจ ืœื•ึน ืขึฒืœึตื” ื”ึธืงึตื ืœึทื”ืณ ืžึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึตื—ึท ื‘ึผึฐื’ึนืจึถืŸ ืึฒืจึทื•ึฐื ึธื” ื”ึทื™ึฐื‘ึปืกึดื™: ืžืฉืœ ืœืžื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื•ืžื”? ืœืื—ื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžื›ื” ืœื‘ื ื• ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื‘ืŸ ืœืžื” ื”ื•ื ืžื›ื” ืื•ืชื•. ืœืื—ืจ ืฉื”ื›ื”ื• ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœืš ืขืฉื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืฉืฆื•ื™ืชื™ืš ื”ื™ื•ื ื›ืžื” ื™ืžื™ื ื•ืœื ื”ืฉื’ื—ืช ื‘ื•. ื›ืš ื›ืœ ืื•ืชืŸ ืืœืคื™ื ืฉื ืคืœื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื ืคืœื• ืืœื ืฉืœื ืชื‘ืขื• ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. ื•ื”ืœื ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืงืœ ื•ื—ื•ืžืจ ื•ืžื” ืื ืืœื• ืฉืœื ื ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ื”ื ื•ืœื ื—ืจื‘ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื”ื ื›ืš ื ืขืฉื” ืœื”ื ื•ื ืขื ืฉื• ืขืœ ืฉืœื ืชื‘ืขื• ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. ืื ื• ืฉื—ืจื‘ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื• ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื• ื•ืื™ืŸ ืื ื• ืžืชืื‘ืœื™ืŸ ื•ืœื ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ื ืจื—ืžื™ื ืขืœ ืื—ืช ื›ืžื” ื•ื›ืžื”. ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื”ืชืงื™ื ื• ื—ืกื™ื“ื™ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื ืฉื™ื”ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืชืคืœืœื™ืŸ ืฉืœืฉ ืชืคืœื•ืช ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื ื•ื™ื•ื ืื ื ื”ืฉื‘ ืฉื›ื™ื ืชืš ืœืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ืกื“ืจ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืœื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื. ื•ืชืงื ื• ื‘ื•ื ื” ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ื”ืณ ื‘ืจื›ื” ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื” ื‘ืชืคืœื” ื•ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื•ื—ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื™ื–:ื‘

That is an important lesson for us, about mourning over the ื—ื•ืจื‘ืŸ, but itโ€™s hard to understand what it is saying about the Jews in that time. They were punished because they didnโ€™t demand that the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ be built. But ื”ืณ Himself told David that the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ would not be built until the reign of Davidโ€™s son!

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ื™ ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ื‘ื™ืชื•; ื•ื”ืณ ื”ื ื™ื— ืœื• ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื•ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืจืื” ื ื ืื ื›ื™ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืืจื–ื™ื; ื•ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื™ืจื™ืขื”ืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื ืชืŸ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ืš ืœืš ืขืฉื”; ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ืขืžืšืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืœื™ืœื” ื”ื”ื•ื;
ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื ืชืŸ ืœืืžืจืƒ ื” ืœืš ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“
ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ; ื”ืืชื” ืชื‘ื ื” ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉื‘ืชื™ืƒ ื• ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืฉื‘ืชื™ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืœืžื™ื•ื ื”ืขืœืชื™ ืืช ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”; ื•ืื”ื™ื” ืžืชื”ืœืš ื‘ืื”ืœ ื•ื‘ืžืฉื›ืŸืƒ ื– ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืชื”ืœื›ืชื™ ื‘ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™ ืืช ืื—ื“ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืœืจืขื•ืช ืืช ืขืžื™ ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืืžืจ; ืœืžื” ืœื ื‘ื ื™ืชื ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืืจื–ื™ืืƒโ€ฆื™ื ื•ืœืžืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืฉืคื˜ื™ื ืขืœ ืขืžื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื ื™ื—ืชื™ ืœืš ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ืš; ื•ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœืš ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืขืฉื” ืœืš ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ื›ื™ ื™ืžืœืื• ื™ืžื™ืš ื•ืฉื›ื‘ืช ืืช ืื‘ืชื™ืš ื•ื”ืงื™ืžืชื™ ืืช ื–ืจืขืš ืื—ืจื™ืš ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ืš; ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ืชื™ ืืช ืžืžืœื›ืชื•ืƒ ื™ื’ ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™; ื•ื›ื ื ืชื™ ืืช ื›ืกื ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

David wanted to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ then, because he felt that he had fulfilled the criterion in the pasuk:

ื™ ื•ืขื‘ืจืชื ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื ืžื ื—ื™ืœ ืืชื›ื; ื•ื”ื ื™ื— ืœื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื›ื ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ื˜ื—ืƒ ื™ื ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื ื‘ื• ืœืฉื›ืŸ ืฉืžื• ืฉื ืฉืžื” ืชื‘ื™ืื• ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืื ื›ื™ ืžืฆื•ื” ืืชื›ื; ืขื•ืœืชื™ื›ื ื•ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื›ื ืžืขืฉืจืชื™ื›ื ื•ืชืจืžืช ื™ื“ื›ื ื•ื›ืœ ืžื‘ื—ืจ ื ื“ืจื™ื›ื ืืฉืจ ืชื“ืจื• ืœื”ืณืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

We interpreted the reason that David could not build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ was that ื”ืณ had to build him a ื‘ื™ืช first: a dynasty, with a peaceful transfer of power. David had misinterpreted the pasuk in ื“ื‘ืจื™ื. There were two criteria: ื”ื ื™ื— ืœื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื›ื ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘ and ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ื˜ื—. David had won the wars, but had not established a stable country whose citizens felt secure.

David himself gives another reason why he could not build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื”; ื‘ื ื™ ืื ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืขื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉื ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืƒ ื— ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืขืœื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช ื•ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื’ื“ืœื•ืช ืขืฉื™ืช; ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™ ื›ื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืช ืืจืฆื” ืœืคื ื™ืƒ ื˜ ื”ื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื ื•ืœื“ ืœืš ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ืžื ื•ื—ื” ื•ื”ื ื™ื—ื•ืชื™ ืœื• ืžื›ืœ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื• ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘; ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉืžื• ื•ืฉืœื•ื ื•ืฉืงื˜ ืืชืŸ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื•ืƒ ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื™ ืœื‘ืŸ ื•ืื ื™ ืœื• ืœืื‘; ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ืชื™ ื›ืกื ืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

And we previously quoted another reason from the midrash:

โ€ฆื›ืœ ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื”ื–ื” ื•ื”ืงื“ื™ืฉื• ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ื›ืฉื‘ื ืจืขื‘ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ื‘ืงืฉื• ืžืžื ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื™ืชืŸ ื•ืœื ืจืฆื” ืœื™ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ื›ืœื•ื, ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื ืงื‘ืœืช ืขืœื™ืš ืœื”ื—ื™ื•ืช ื‘ื• ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื—ื™ื™ืš ืฉืื™ืŸ ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื ื‘ื ื” ืขืœ ื™ื“ืš ืืœื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉืœืžื”, ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื ืชืŸ ืœืืžืจ ืœืš ื•ืืžืจืช ื•ื’ื•ืณ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ืš ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืจื•ืช ืจืžื– ืชืจื’

But really all those reasons go together.

ื•ื ืจืื” ื›ื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื ืฉื‘ืงืฉื• ืฉื™ืชืŸ ืœืขื ื™ื™ื ืžื”ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื–ื”ื‘ ื”ื”ื•ื, ื•ืœื›ืš ืืžืจื• ืœื• ืขืžืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ืŸ ืคืจื ืกื” ื•ืคืชื— ื•ืชืŸ. ื•ื”ื•ื ืžื™ืืŸ ืœืชืช ื•ืฆื•ื” ืœื”ืœื—ื. ื•ืืดื› ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืจืฉื•ืช ืฉื ืขืฉื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืคืจื ืกืช ืขื ื™ื™ื, ืžื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœืชืงืŸ ื‘ืคืชื—ื• ืื•ืฆืจื•ืช ื”ืžื•ื›ื ื™ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ. ื•ื–ื”ื• ืคื™ืณ ื”ืคืกื•ืง โ€ื“ืžื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื” ืฉืคื›ืชโ€œ ื›ื™ ืœึธื—ึทืžึฐืชึผึธ ืžืœื—ืžืช ืจืฉื•ืช ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืฆื•ืจืš ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืœืคืจื ืก ืžืŸ ื”ืื•ืฆืจื•ืช ื•ืืช ืงืžืฆืช ื‘ืฉืœืš ื‘ืฆื“ืงื”.

ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืื™ื‘ืฉื™ืฅ, ื™ืขืจื•ืช ื“ื‘ืฉ ื‘ืณ

A ืžืžืœื›ื” of ืžืฉืคื˜ and ืฆื“ืงื” is the prerequisite to building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, which is manifestation of ื”ืณ's presence in the entire world.

ื ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืฉืžืจื• ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืขืฉื• ืฆื“ืงื”; ื›ื™ ืงืจื•ื‘ื” ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื™ ืœื‘ื•ื ื•ืฆื“ืงืชื™ ืœื”ื’ืœื•ืชืƒโ€ฆื– ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืื•ืชื™ื ืืœ ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื™ ื•ืฉืžื—ืชื™ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืชืคืœืชื™ ืขื•ืœืชื™ื”ื ื•ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื”ื ืœืจืฆื•ืŸ ืขืœ ืžื–ื‘ื—ื™; ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืชืคืœื” ื™ืงืจื ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ืืƒ

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ื ื•

So the Ramban says:

ืžืœื‘ื“ ื”ืžื ื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืขื•ื ืฉ ืขืœ ื”ืขื ืžืชื—ืœืช ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ึทื™ึผึนืกึถืฃ ืึทืฃ ื”ืณ ืœึทื—ึฒืจื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึฐื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ; ื•ึทื™ึผึธืกึถืช ืึถืช ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ื‘ึผึธื”ึถื; ื•ื›ืชื‘ ืฉื ืจืฉืดื™ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืขืœ ืžื”. ื•ืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ื‘ื“ืจืš ืกื‘ืจื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืขื•ื ืฉ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื”ืชืื—ืจ ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื”, ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ื•ืœืš ืžืื”ืœ ืืœ ืื”ืœ ื›ื’ืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ืžืชืขื•ืจืจื™ื ืœืืžืจ ื ื“ืจื•ืฉ ืืช ื”ืณ ื•ื ื‘ื ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื•, ื›ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื‘:ื”) ืœึฐืฉึดืื›ึฐื ื•ึน ืชึดื“ึฐืจึฐืฉืื•ึผ ื•ึผื‘ึธืืชึธ ืฉึธืืžึธึผื”, ืขื“ ืฉื ืชืขื•ืจืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืžื™ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ื•ืœื–ืžืŸ ืืจื•ืš ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื-ื‘) ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื›ึผึดื™ ื™ึธืฉืึทื‘ ื”ึทืžึผึถืœึถืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐื‘ึตื™ืชื•ึน; ื•ึทื”ืณ ื”ึตื ึดื™ื—ึท ืœื•ึน ืžึดืกึผึธื‘ึดื™ื‘ ืžึดื›ึผึธืœ ืึนื™ึฐื‘ึธื™ื•ืƒ ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึถืจ ื”ึทืžึผึถืœึถืšึฐ ืึถืœ ื ึธืชึธืŸ ื”ึทื ึผึธื‘ึดื™ื ืจึฐืึตื” ื ึธื ืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ื™ื•ึนืฉืึตื‘ ื‘ึผึฐื‘ึตื™ืช ืึฒืจึธื–ึดื™ื; ื•ึทืึฒืจื•ึนืŸ ื”ึธืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื™ึนืฉืึตื‘ ื‘ึผึฐืชื•ึนืšึฐ ื”ึทื™ึฐืจึดื™ืขึธื”. ื•ื”ื ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืžื ืขื• ื”ืฉื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื—) ื›ึผึดื™ ื“ึผึธืžึดื™ื ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ื ืฉืึธืคึทื›ึฐืชึผึธ ืึทืจึฐืฆึธื” ืœึฐืคึธื ึธื™, ื•ื ืชืื—ืจ ืขื•ื“ ื”ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ืขื“ ืžืœื•ืš ืฉืœืžื”.

ื•ืืœื• ื”ื™ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ืคืฆื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื ืชืขื•ืจืจื• ื‘ื• ืžืชื—ืœื” ื”ื™ื” ื ืขืฉื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืื—ื“ ืžื”ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ืื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืื• ื’ื ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื›ื™ ืื ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ื• ืžืชืขื•ืจืจื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื•ื ื” ืื‘ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ื”ื‘ื•ื ื™ื. ืื‘ืœ ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืขื ืœื ื”ืฉื’ื™ื—ื• ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืฉื’ื™ื— ื•ื”ืžืชืขื•ืจืจ ื•ื”ื•ื ืืฉืจ ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืœ, ื”ื™ื” ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื•ื ื”, ื•ื”ื•ื ืื™ืฉ ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืžื—ื–ื™ืง ื‘ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ, ื•ืœื ื”ื•ื›ืฉืจ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืจื—ืžื™ื. ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื ืชืื—ืจ ื”ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืคืฉื™ืขืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื”ืงืฆืฃ ืขืœื™ื”ื. ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” โ€ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ืœืฉื•ื ืฉืžื• ืฉืโ€œ ื ื•ื“ืข ื‘ืขื ืฉื ื•ื‘ืžื’ืคืชื.

ื•ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื™ืจืžื•ื– ื›ืœ ื–ื” ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื•-ื–) ื›ึผึดื™ ืœึนื ื™ึธืฉืึทื‘ึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึฐื‘ึทื™ึดืช ืœึฐืžึดื™ึผื•ึนื ื”ึทืขึฒืœึนืชึดื™ ืึถืช ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืžึดืžึผึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื•ึฐืขึทื“ ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนื ื”ึทื–ึผึถื”; ื•ึธืึถื”ึฐื™ึถื” ืžึดืชึฐื”ึทืœึผึตืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐืึนื”ึถืœ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืžึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึธืŸืƒ ื‘ึผึฐื›ึนืœ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื”ึดืชึฐื”ึทืœึผึทื›ึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึฐื›ึธืœ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ื”ึฒื“ึธื‘ึธืจ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึทืจึฐืชึผึดื™ ืึถืช ืึทื—ึทื“ ืฉืึดื‘ึฐื˜ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืฆึดื•ึผึดื™ืชึดื™ ืœึดืจึฐืขื•ึนืช ืึถืช ืขึทืžึผึดื™ ืึถืช ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืœึตืืžึนืจ; ืœึธืžึผึธื” ืœึนื ื‘ึฐื ึดื™ืชึถื ืœึดื™ ื‘ึผึตื™ืช ืึฒืจึธื–ึดื™ื. ื”ืจื™ ื™ืืฉื™ื ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ื™ ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ืžืชื”ืœื›ืช ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืื”ืœ ืืœ ืื”ืœ ื•ืžืžืฉื›ืŸ ืืœ ืžืฉื›ืŸ, ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื“ ื‘ื›ืœ ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ืจื•ืขื™ื ืื•ืชื ืžืชืขื•ืจืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ. ื•ืืžืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืขื•ื“ ื›ื™ ื’ื ื”ืฉื ืจื—ืง ืžื”ื ื•ืœื ื“ื‘ืจ ืœืื—ื“ ืžื›ื•ืœื ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช; ืจืง ืขืชื” ืฉื ืชืขื•ืจืจืช ื”ื˜ื™ื‘ื•ืช ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ืขื ืœื‘ื‘ืš ื•ืืฆื•ื” ืขืชื” ืœื‘ื ื•ืชื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ืฉืœื•ื.

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื–:ื›ื

This perek, the last in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ, the final appendix to the ืกืคืจ, isnโ€™t really about David and his mistakes. It is how ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ failed to learn from those mistakes, and how the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ that will be built in ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื will be so much less than it could have been. David may have been the king of whom it was said, (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื˜ื•)โ€Ž ื•ื™ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืœื›ืœ ืขืžื•, but, even after the famine of ืคืจืง ื›ื, the people as a whole did not have that sense of ืจื—ืžื™ื with each other, and so ืœื ืชื‘ืขื• ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, and therefore they were punished. After that punishment, the building of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ could start.

Rav Dessler makes this point, starting with another almost incomprehensible midrash:

โ€ื”ืืชื” ืชื‘ื ื” ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืชโ€œ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™ ื›ื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืช [ืืจืฆื” ืœืคื ื™]โ€œ. ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืฉืžืข ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืš ื ืชื™ื™ืจื; ืืžืจ: ื”ืจื™ ื ืคืกืœืชื™ ืžืœื‘ื ื•ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. ืืดืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื‘ืจืณ ืืœืขืื™, ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื”: ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืชื™ืจื! ื—ื™ื™ืš, ื›ื™ ื”ื ืœืคื ื™ ื›ืฆื‘ื™ ื•ื›ืื™ืœ. ืœื›ืš ื ืืžืจ โ€ืฉืคื›ืช ืืจืฆื”โ€œ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืืจืฆื” ืืœื ืฆื‘ื™ ื•ืื™ืœ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืงื˜ื’ื•ืจื™ื”:ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื‘:ื˜ื•-ื˜ื–): [ื•ึฐืึธื›ึทืœึฐืชึธึผ ื‘ึธืฉึธื‚ืจโ€ฆื›ึทึผืฆึฐึผื‘ึดื™ ื•ึฐื›ึธืึทื™ึธึผืœ; ืจึทืง ื”ึทื“ึธึผื ืœึนื ืชึนืื›ึตืœื•ึผ] ืขึทืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืชึดึผืฉึฐืืคึฐึผื›ึถื ึผื•ึผ ื›ึทึผืžึธึผื™ึดื. ื“ืดื: ื—ื™ื™ืš, ื”ื ืœืคื ื™ ื›ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช; ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ื›ื™ ื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืชโ€ฆืœืคื ื™โ€œ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ืืœื ืงืจื‘ืŸ, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื:ื”): ื•ึฐืฉึธืื—ึทื˜ ืึถืช ื‘ึถึผืŸ ื”ึทื‘ึธึผืงึธืจ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ื”ืณ. ืืžืจ ืœื•: ื•ืื ื›ืŸ ืœืžื” ืื™ื ื™ ื‘ื•ื ื” ืื•ืชื•? ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื”: ืฉืื ืืชื” ื‘ื•ื ื” ืื•ืชื• ื”ื•ื ืงื™ื™ื ื•ืื™ื ื• ื—ืจื‘. ืืžืจื• ืœื•: ื•ื”ืจื™ ื™ืคื”! ืืดืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื”: ื’ืœื•ื™ ื•ืฆืคื•ื™ ืœืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื ืขืชื™ื“ื™ื ืœื—ื˜ื•ื, ื•ืื ื™ ืžืคื™ื’ ื—ืžืชื™ ื‘ื• ื•ืžื—ืจื™ื‘ื•, ื•ื”ื ื ืฆื•ืœื™ืŸ. ืฉื›ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืื™ื›ื” ื‘:ื“) ื‘ึฐึผืึนื”ึถืœ ื‘ึทึผืช ืฆึดื™ึผื•ึนืŸ ืฉึธืืคึทืšึฐ ื›ึธึผืึตืฉื ื—ึฒืžึธืชื•ึน, ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื”: ื—ื™ื™ืš, ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ื—ืฉื‘ืช ืœื‘ื ื•ืชื• ืืขืดืค ืฉืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ื‘ื•ื ื”ื•, ืœืฉืžืš ืื ื™ ื›ื•ืชื‘ื•; (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœ:ื) ืžึดื–ึฐืžื•ึนืจ ืฉึดืื™ืจ ื—ึฒื ึปื›ึทึผืช ื”ึทื‘ึทึผื™ึดืช ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื“.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ื ืดืš ืงืžืดื”

We see something similar with Moshe. He could not enter ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, fundamentally not because of his flaws, but because of Israelโ€™s:

ื“ืจืฉ ืจื‘ ื—ื™ื ื ื ื‘ืจ ืคืคื: ืžืื™ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืœื’:ื) ืจึทื ึฐึผื ื•ึผ ืฆึทื“ึดึผื™ืงึดื™ื ื‘ึทึผื”ืณ ืœึทื™ึฐืฉึธืืจึดื™ื ื ึธืื•ึธื” ืชึฐื”ึดืœึธึผื”? ืืœ ืชืงืจื™ โ€ื ืื•ื” ืชื”ืœื”โ€œ ืืœื โ€ื ื•ื” ืชื”ืœื”โ€œ. ื–ื” ืžืฉื” ื•ื“ื•ื“, ืฉืœื ืฉืœื˜ื• ืฉื•ื ืื™ื”ื ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื.

ืกื•ื˜ื” ื˜,ื

ื’ื ื‘ื™ ื”ืชืื ืฃ ื”ืณ ื‘ื’ืœืœื›ื:โ€ฆื•ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืขืœ ืคื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ื–ืณโ€˜ืœโ€ฆ(ืกื•ื˜ื” ื˜,ื) ืฉืื ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื ื ืžืฉื” ืœืืจืฅ ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื ื—ืจื‘ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืื•ืžื” ื•ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื ื•ื’ืขืช ื‘ื•, ื•ืืžืจื• ืขื•ื“ (ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื˜) ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ืžึดื–ึฐืžื•ึนืจ ืœึฐืึธืกึธืฃ ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื‘ึผึธืื•ึผ ื’ื•ึนื™ึดืโ€‰ [ื‘ึผึฐื ึทื—ึฒืœึธืชึถืšึธ ื˜ึดืžึผึฐืื•ึผ ืึถืช ื”ึตื™ื›ึทืœ ืงื‡ื“ึฐืฉืึถืšึธ ืฉื‚ึธืžื•ึผ ืึถืช ื™ึฐืจื•ึผืฉืึธืœึทอึดื ืœึฐืขึดื™ึผึดื™ื] ื•ื–ืณโ€™ืœ: ืงื™ื ื” ืžื‘ืขื™ ืœื™ื”! ืืœื ืขืœ ืฉื”ืฉืœื™ืš ื—ืžืชื• ืขืœ ืขืฆื™ื ื•ืื‘ื ื™ื [ื•ืœื ื‘ื‘ื ื™ื•]. ืžืขืชื” ืื ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื ืก ืžืฉื” ืœืืจืฅ ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื•ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ืœื”ืฉืœื™ืš ื—ืžืชื• ืขืœื™ื• ืœื ืืคืฉืจ ื›ื ื–ื›ืจ ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฉื•ื ืื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœื™ื•ื ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื—ื•ืจื‘ืŸ ื”ื‘ื™ืช.

ืื•ืจ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื:ืœื–

A leader cannot be someone perfect, but someone who leads, gets the people to achieve their potential. It is as though ื”ืณ is saying, โ€œYou know, David, at this point in the ืกืคืจ, you could build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. It would be a wonderful ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. But it wouldnโ€™t be the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ of ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. You may be ruling the people but you arenโ€™t influencing them.โ€

ืžื›ืืŸ ืœืžื“ื ื• ืฉืื™ืœื• ื ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื›ื–ื” ืฉืื™ื ื• ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื™ื—ืจื‘, ื”ื™ืชื” ืกื›ื ื” ื•ืงื˜ืจื•ื’ ื—ืดื• ืœื›ืœืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื•ืœืžื” ื”ื•ื ื›ืš? ื’ื“ืจ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืฉื›ืœ ืฉืžืฉืžืฉ ื‘ืชื•ืจ ื›ืœื™ ืฆืจื™ืš ืฉืชื”ื™ื” ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ื›ืœื™ ื›ืคื™ ืขืจืš ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืžืฉืชืžืฉ ื‘ื•. ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ื›ืœื™ ืœืžืขืœื” ืžืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืžืฉืชืžืฉ ื‘ื•, ื›ื‘ืจ ื™ืฉ ื‘ื–ื” ื—ื™ืœื•ืœ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉื” ืฉืขืœื•ืœ ืœื’ืจื•ื ืœืงื™ื˜ืจื•ื’ ื‘ืœืชื™ ืคื•ืกืง, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ืžืฉืชืžืฉ ืื™ื ื• ืžื ืฆืœ ืืช ื”ื›ืœื™ ื›ืคื™ ืงื“ื•ืฉืชื• ื•ืืคืฉืจื•ืชื•. ื”ืชื•ืฆืื” ื”ืžื•ื›ืจื—ืช ื”ื™ื: ืื• ืฉื”ื›ืœื™ ื™ืกืชืœืง, ืื• ืฉื™ืกืชืœืง ืžื”ืขื•ืœื ื–ื” ื”ืžืฉืชืžืฉ ื‘ื›ืœื™.

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

But, Rav Dessler says, David and ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ could have overcome that by creating a relationship of ืื”ื‘ื”, of unity:

ื”ืจื™ ืœืžื“ื ื• ืฉื›ืœ ืืชืขืจื•ืชื ื“ืœืชืชื ืžืขื•ืจืจืช ืืชืขืจื•ืชื ื“ืœืขื™ืœื, ื•ื”ื™ื—ืก ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื ื›ื‘ื™ืŸ ื—ื•ื“ื• ืฉืœ ืžื—ื˜ ืœืคืชื—ื• ืฉืœ ืื•ืœื, ื›ืืžืจื ื–ืดืœ [ืžื ื•ืกื— ื‘ืคืจืคืจื–ื” ืžึพืฉื™ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื™ื ืจื‘ื” ื”:ื‘] "ืคืชื—ื• ืœื™ ืคืชื— ื›ื—ื•ื“ื• ืฉืœ ืžื—ื˜ ื•ืื ื™ ืืคืชื— ืœื›ื ืคืชื— ื›ืคืชื—ื• ืฉืœ ืื•ืœื", ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืจื‘ื•ื ืจื‘ื‘ื•ืช ืคืขืžื™ื. ื‘ื–ื” ืžืชื’ืœื™ื ืœื ื• ื—ืกื“ื™ื• ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื”ื ืคืœืื™ื ื•ื”ื‘ืœืชื™ ืžื•ื’ื‘ืœื™ื. ื›ืš ื”ื•ื ื‘ื’ืœืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื›ื—ื•ื“ื• ืฉืœ ืžื—ื˜, ื•ืžื›ืœ ืฉื›ืŸ ืื ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืขืฆืžื” ื ืขืฉื™ืช ื‘ื—ืกื“ ื•ืžืกื™ืจื•ืช ื’ื“ื•ืœื”, ื‘ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืื‘ื•ืช ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉื™ื ืขืดื” ืฉื”ืชื—ืกื“ื• ืขื ืงื•ื ื ื‘ืžื“ื” ืขื™ืœืื™ืช ื•ืขื‘ืจื• ืขืœ ืžื“ื•ืชื™ื”ื ื‘ืœื™ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื•ืงืฅ; ื‘ื–ื” ื–ื›ื• ืฉื”ืฉื™ืดืช ื™ื’ื“ื™ืœ ื—ืกื“ื• ื›ื ื’ื“ื ื•ื™ืจื—ื™ื‘ ืืช ื’ื‘ื•ืœื•ืช ื”ืจื—ืžื™ื ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืื—ืจื™ื”ื ืขื“ ืกื•ืฃ ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ื›ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืจื” (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›:ื”) ื•ึฐืขึนืฉึถื‚ื” ื—ึถืกึถื“ ืœึทืึฒืœึธืคึดื™ื [ืœึฐืึนื”ึฒื‘ึทื™ ื•ึผืœึฐืฉึนืืžึฐืจึตื™ ืžึดืฆึฐื•โ€ึนืชึธื™]. ืื– ืืฃ ืื ื™ืงืœืงืœื• ื”ื‘ื ื™ื ืขื“ ื›ื“ื™ ื—ื™ื•ื‘ ื—ื•ืจื‘ืŸ ื—ืดื•, ืืคืฉืจ ืœื• ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœ ืžื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืœืžื—ื•ืœ ืขืœ ืืฉืžืชื ื›ื™ ื‘ื–ื” ื™ืชื’ืœื• ื—ืกื“ื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื‘ื ืชื ื• ืจื—ืžื™ื ื•ืกื™ื™ืขืชื ื“ืฉืžื™ื ืืœืคื™ ืžื•ื ื™ื ืœืขื•ืžืช ื—ืกื“ื™ ืื‘ื•ืชโ€ฆ

ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ: ืื™ืœื• ื‘ื ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืดื” ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืžื‘ื—ื™ื ืช ืื”ื‘ื”, ื•ื‘ื”ืชื—ืกื“ื•ืช ืขื ื”ืฉื™ืดืช, ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื–ื” ืงื™ื˜ืจื•ื’ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื ื’ื ื™ื—ื˜ืื• ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื• ืจืื•ื™ื™ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. ื›ื™ ืืชืขืจื•ืชื ื“ืœืชืชื ื“ืื”ื‘ื” ืฉื ืชืขื•ืจืจื” ืขืดื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ืชื” ืžื‘ื™ืื” ืžืœืขื™ืœื ื”ืขื‘ืจื” ืขืœ ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ืขื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ืงื˜ืจื•ื’ ื”ื ืดืœ ื‘ื˜ืœ ื‘ื•โ€ฆ

ื ืžืฆื ืฉืžืฆื“ ืื—ื“ ื”ื™ืชื” ื–ืืช ื’ื“ื•ืœืช ืžื“ืจื’ืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“, ืฉื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืฉืœื• ื”ื™ื” ืงื™ื™ื ืœืขื•ืœื, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ื• ืขื•ืžื“ื™ื ืœื—ื˜ื•ื, ื”ื ื’ืจืžื• ืฉืœื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืฉื™ืขืžื•ื“ ืœืขื•ืœื. ืื•ืœื ืžืฆื“ ื”ืฉื ื™, ื”ื™ืชื” ืืฉืžืช ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืœืคื™ ืขืจื›ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ืื™ื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.

ื•ื–ื” ื‘ื™ืื•ืจ ืžื” ืฉื›ืชื‘ ื”ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ืฉื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืžืฉื•ื ืฉืื—ื– ื‘ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸโ€”ืดื“ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืคื›ืช"โ€”ื•ืœืžืจื•ืช ื”ื™ื•ืชื ื›ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช, ื”ื™ื• ืžื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืžืฆื“ ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸโ€ฆ

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

And the punishment for this lack of ืื”ื‘ื” was a census that lead to a plague. Everyone knew that the census was a mistake:

ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืฉืจ ื”ื—ื™ืœ ืืฉืจ ืืชื• ืฉื•ื˜ ื ื ื‘ื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื“ืŸ ื•ืขื“ ื‘ืืจ ืฉื‘ืข ื•ืคืงื“ื• ืืช ื”ืขื; ื•ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืืช ืžืกืคืจ ื”ืขืืƒ

ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืืœ ื”ืขื ื›ื”ื ื•ื›ื”ื ืžืื” ืคืขืžื™ื ื•ืขื™ื ื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืจืื•ืช; ื•ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืžื” ื—ืคืฅ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”ืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืขืœ ืฉืจื™ ื”ื—ื™ืœ; ื•ื™ืฆื ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ื—ื™ืœ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืคืงื“ ืืช ื”ืขื ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›

Why is a census so bad? The Torah says it is, when it describes how to do a census right, with the ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉืงืœ:

ื™ื ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืžืฉื” ืœืืžืจืƒ ื™ื‘ ื›ื™ ืชืฉื ืืช ืจืืฉ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืคืงื“ื™ื”ื ื•ื ืชื ื• ืื™ืฉ ื›ืคืจ ื ืคืฉื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ืคืงื“ ืืชื; ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื”ื ื ื’ืฃ ื‘ืคืงื“ ืืชืืƒ ื™ื’ ื–ื” ื™ืชื ื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื”ืคืงื“ื™ื ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉืงืœ ื‘ืฉืงืœ ื”ืงื“ืฉ; ืขืฉืจื™ื ื’ืจื” ื”ืฉืงืœ ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉืงืœ ืชืจื•ืžื” ืœื”ืณืƒโ€ฆื˜ื– ื•ืœืงื—ืช ืืช ื›ืกืฃ ื”ื›ืคืจื™ื ืžืืช ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื ืชืช ืืชื• ืขืœ ืขื‘ื“ืช ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“; ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื–ื›ืจื•ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ืœื›ืคืจ ืขืœ ื ืคืฉืชื™ื›ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ืœ

ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื”ื ื ื’ืฃ: ืฉื”ืžื ื™ืŸ ืฉื•ืœื˜ ื‘ื• ืขื™ืŸ ื”ืจืข, ื•ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื ืขืœื™ื”ื, ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

Rabbi Eli Baruch Shulman (our Rabbi Shulmanโ€™s brother), gave a mussar vaad to the St. Louis Kollel on March 12, 2020. I donโ€™t have a transcript, so I will summarize.

Human beings are social animals. ื”ืณ doesnโ€™t judge us as isolated individuals because we never are isolated individuals. Rabbi Shulman spoke about the ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉืงืœ; why should the ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉืงืœ protect from ื“ื‘ืจ, from a plague? Rabbi Shulman says plagues are a natural consequence of crowds; disease canโ€™t spread unless people are interacting with each other. He is speaking at the very beginning of the covid pandemic, so his words have a particular poignancy. So itโ€™s not the counting that brings the plague; itโ€™s the conditions of having a population large enough to warrant counting. But there are two types of crowds. Usually, people form a mobโ€”an unthinking mass of humanity, no different from a herd of animals, and just as susceptible to communicable disease. But people can also form a ืฆื™ื‘ื•ืจโ€”a communityโ€”where each person maintains their individuality and their ื‘ื›ื™ืจื” ื—ื•ืคืฉื™ืช, while accepting responsibility for other members of the community. ืžื—ืฆื™ืช ื”ืฉืงืœ, which is used to provide for the ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ืฆื™ื‘ื•ืจ, symbolizes that. If our crowd becomes a ืฆื™ื‘ื•ืจ, then ื”ืณ promises to protect us from ื“ื‘ืจ:โ€Ž ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื”ื ื ื’ืฃ ื‘ืคืงื“ ืืชื.

The essential point of a โ€œgoodโ€ census is to count names, not numbers:

ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืขื“ื” ื”ืงื”ื™ืœื• ื‘ืื—ื“ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉื ื™ ื•ื™ืชื™ืœื“ื• ืขืœ ืžืฉืคื—ืชื ืœื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ืชื; ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืช ืžื‘ืŸ ืขืฉืจื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืžืขืœื” ืœื’ืœื’ืœืชืืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื:ื™ื—

ืื™ืŸ ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืžื ื™ืŸ ื›ืดื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื”, ื›ืžื• (ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ื–) ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื›ึดืฉึฐืืžึนืขึท ื’ึดึผื“ึฐืขื•ึนืŸ ืึถืช ืžึดืกึฐืคึทึผืจ ื”ึทื—ึฒืœื•ึนื, (ืชื”ืœื™ืก ืงืžื–) ืœึดืชึฐื‘ื•ึผื ึธืชื•ึน ืึตื™ืŸ ืžึดืกึฐืคึธึผืจ, ืฉืขื ื™ื ื ื”ื•ืฆืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื‘ื›ืœื™ ืžื˜ื‘ื, ื•ื˜ืขื ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืช ื‘ื”ื’ื“ืช ืฉืžื•ืช, ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื”ื’ื™ื“ ืืช ืฉืžื•.

ื”ื›ืชื‘ ื•ื”ืงื‘ืœื”, ืฉื

To summarize the way we are looking at this perek: David is a king of ืžืฉืคื˜ and ืฆื“ืงื”, but the people are not. They are still in the mindset that led to the famine of ืคืจืง ื›ื,โ€Ž ื”ื’ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื”ืขืฉืงื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ื™ ืขื•ืฉืงื™ื”ื ื›ื—, ืื™ืŸ ืžื ื—ื ืœื“ืžืขืชื, ื•ืขืดื› ื—ืจื” ืืฃ ื”ืณ ื‘ืขืžื• ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“. In the terms of the ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื•ื—ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘,โ€Ž ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื ืชื‘ืขื• ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. They didnโ€™t seek to create the sort of society, one tied together with ืื”ื‘ื”, a ืฆื™ื‘ื•ืจ, that would be one in which the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ would be possible. ื”ืณ punishes them by making them subject to a census that dehumanizes them, turns them into numbers; He shows them exactly what sort of society they have become. That is what ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ืœื—ืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ืกืช ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื”ื ืœืืžืจ ืœืš ืžื ื” ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืืช ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” means. And that will lead to an actual plague, in which thousands will die.

So David forces Yoav to conduct this census:

ื” ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจื• ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ; ื•ื™ื—ื ื• ื‘ืขืจื•ืขืจ ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื”ืขื™ืจ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื ื—ืœ ื”ื’ื“ ื•ืืœ ื™ืขื–ืจืƒ ื• ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ื”ื’ืœืขื“ื” ื•ืืœ ืืจืฅ ืชื—ืชื™ื ื—ื“ืฉื™; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ื“ื ื” ื™ืขืŸ ื•ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืืœ ืฆื™ื“ื•ืŸืƒ ื– ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืžื‘ืฆืจ ืฆืจ ื•ื›ืœ ืขืจื™ ื”ื—ื•ื™ ื•ื”ื›ื ืขื ื™; ื•ื™ืฆืื• ืืœ ื ื’ื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื‘ืืจ ืฉื‘ืขืƒ ื— ื•ื™ืฉื˜ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืžืงืฆื” ืชืฉืขื” ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื•ืขืฉืจื™ื ื™ื•ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืช ืžืกืคืจ ืžืคืงื“ ื”ืขื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ืชื”ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืžื ื” ืžืื•ืช ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™ืœ ืฉืœืฃ ื—ืจื‘ ื•ืื™ืฉ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“

And itโ€™s interesting that the numbers are different in the parallel text in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, and there is a twist: Yoav doesnโ€™t really obey David:

ื” ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืช ืžืกืคืจ ืžืคืงื“ ื”ืขื ืืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืœืฃ ืืœืคื™ื ื•ืžืื” ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ืฉืœืฃ ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ื•ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ืฉืœืฃ ื—ืจื‘ืƒ ื• ื•ืœื•ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ืœื ืคืงื“ ื‘ืชื•ื›ื; ื›ื™ ื ืชืขื‘ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื™ื•ืื‘ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

ื•ึฐืึถื—ึธื“ ื‘ึผึดื™ืžึตื™ ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื˜): ื•ึทื™ึผึดืชึผึตืŸ ื™ื•ึนืึธื‘ ืึถืช ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึทืจ ืžึดืคึฐืงึทื“ ื”ึธืขึธื. ืึดื ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึทืจ ืœึธืžึผึธื” ืžึดืคึฐืงึทื“ ื•ึฐืึดื ืžึดืคึฐืงึทื“ ืœึธืžึผึธื” ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึทืจ? ืึถืœึผึธื ืขึธืฉื‚ึธื” ืฉืึฐืชึผึตื™ ืึทื ึฐืคึผึธืจึดื™ืื•ึนืช ื’ึผึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธื” ื•ึผืงึฐื˜ึทื ึผึธื”, ื”ึทืงึผึฐื˜ึทื ึผึธื” ื”ึถืจึฐืึธื” ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื“ ื”ึทื’ึผึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธื” ืœึนื ื”ึถืจึฐืึธื” ืœื•ึน, ืœึฐืคึดื™ื›ึธืšึฐ ื›ึผึธืชึทื‘: ืึถืช ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึทืจ ืžึดืคึฐืงึทื“.

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื” ื‘:ื™ื

There is a hint here of some politics going on behind the scenes.

ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื‘ืกืณ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžืกืคืจ ื”ืžืกืคืจ ืฉื ืชื ื• ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœื ืคืงื“ื• ืœื•ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ, ื•ื‘ืกืณ ื“ืดื” ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืขื–ืจื ื”ืกื•ืคืจ ื”ืืžืช ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืืœืฃ ื™ื•ืชืจ, ืžืœื•ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸโ€ฆื•ื‘ื–ื” ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื—ื™ืœื•ืฃ ื”ืžืกืคืจ ืžื™ื”ื•ื“ื”, ื›ื™ ืจื‘ื™ื ืžืœื•ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื’ืจื• ื‘ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื›ื ื•ื“ืขโ€ฆื•ืืœื” ืžื ื” ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ื›ืœืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื•ื”ื™ื• ืฉืœืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ, ื•ื—ืฉื‘ื ืœื‘ื ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืœื ืžื ื” ืœื•ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื‘ืคืดืข.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื˜

And David realizes his mistake:

ื•ื™ืš ืœื‘ ื“ื•ื“ ืืชื• ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ ืกืคืจ ืืช ื”ืขื;
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื”ืณ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืžืื“ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ื•ืขืชื” ื”ืณ ื”ืขื‘ืจ ื ื ืืช ืขื•ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ืš ื›ื™ ื ืกื›ืœืชื™ ืžืื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื again adds another detail, explaining why David regrets his decision:

ื– ื•ื™ืจืข ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”; ื•ื™ืš ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืœ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืžืื“ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”; ื•ืขืชื” ื”ืขื‘ืจ ื ื ืืช ืขื•ื•ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ืš ื›ื™ ื ืกื›ืœืชื™ ืžืื“ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

ื•ื™ืš: ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืื™ื–ื” ื—ื•ืœื™ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืขื.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื:ื–

And David learns his lesson when he musters the people to start building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, at the end of his life. There is a long list of names and roles, but no numbers:

ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืžืกืคืจื ืจืืฉื™ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ืืœืคื™ื ื•ื”ืžืื•ืช ื•ืฉื˜ืจื™ื”ื ื”ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืœื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžื—ืœืงื•ืช ื”ื‘ืื” ื•ื”ื™ืฆืืช ื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื—ื“ืฉ ืœื›ืœ ื—ื“ืฉื™ ื”ืฉื ื”; ื”ืžื—ืœืงืช ื”ืื—ืช ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ

ื›ื’ ื•ืœื ื ืฉื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืžืกืคืจื ืœืžื‘ืŸ ืขืฉืจื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืœืžื˜ื”; ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืœื”ืจื‘ื•ืช ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ ื”ืฉืžื™ืืƒ ื›ื“ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื”ื—ืœ ืœืžื ื•ืช ื•ืœื ื›ืœื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื–ืืช ืงืฆืฃ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืœื ืขืœื” ื”ืžืกืคืจ ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ืœืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื–

And when that happens, ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ can fulfill their destiny.

ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื˜:ื”-ื•) ื•ึดื”ึฐื™ึดื™ืชึถื ืœึดื™ ืกึฐื’ึปืœึธึผื” ืžึดื›ึธึผืœ ื”ึธืขึทืžึดึผื™ืโ€ฆื•ึฐืึทืชึถึผื ืชึดึผื”ึฐื™ื•ึผ ืœึดื™ ืžึทืžึฐืœึถื›ึถืช ื›ึนึผื”ึฒื ึดื™ื ื•ึฐื’ื•ึนื™ ืงึธื“ื•ึนืฉื. ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ืžื”ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ื—ืฉื™ื‘ื•ืช ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื• ื›ืžืœืš ื•ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื›ืขื™ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ืก ืคื–:ื”) ื•ึผืœึฐืฆึดื™ึผื•ึนืŸ ื™ึตืึธืžึทืจ ืึดื™ืฉื ื•ึฐืึดื™ืฉื ื™ึปืœึผึทื“ ื‘ึผึธื”ึผ; ื•ึฐื”ื•ึผื ื™ึฐื›ื•ึนื ึฐื ึถื”ึธ ืขึถืœึฐื™ื•ึนืŸ. ื•ืœืคื™ ื–ืืช ื”ืกื’ืœื” ื ืืžืจ ื’ืดื› ื›ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื (ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืž:ื›ื•) ืœึฐื›ึปืœึธึผื ื‘ึฐึผืฉึตืื ื™ึดืงึฐืจึธื ืžึตืจึนื‘ ืื•ึนื ึดื™ื ื•ึฐืึทืžึดึผื™ืฅ ื›ึนึผื—ึท ืึดื™ืฉื ืœึนื ื ึถืขึฐื“ึธึผืจ, ื™ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ืฆืืชื• ืื•ืชื ืขืœ ื”ืžืกืคืจ ื”ืื™ืฉื™ื™ ื™ื•ืจื” ื›ื™ ืžืจื•ื‘ ืื•ื ื• ื•ืขื•ืฆื ื›ื—ื• ื‘ืจืื ื‘ืชื‘ื•ื ื” ื•ืฉืœื™ืžื•ืช ืฉืื™ืฉ ืžื”ื ืœื ื ืขื“ืจ ืœืขื“ ืœืขื•ืœืโ€ฆื›ื™ ื‘ืืžืช ื—ื‘ื” ื™ืชื™ืจื” ื ื•ื“ืขืช ืœื”ื ื•ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ื˜ืขื ื ืคืœื ืœืžื” ืฉื™ื–ื›ื•ืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื› ืœื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ืื—ื“ ื›ืฉืžื• ื•ื™ื—ืกื• ื‘ืฉื•ื” ื›ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื›ื™ ื›ืœื ืฉื•ื™ื ื‘ืžืขืœื” ื•ืžืขืœืช ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื ืคืจื“ืช ืžืžืขืœืช ื—ื‘ืจื• ื›ืžื• ื”ืžื–ืœื•ืช ืฉื”ื ื ืคืจื“ื™ื ื‘ืื™ื›ื•ืชืŸ ื•ืฉื•ื™ื ื‘ืžืขืœืชืŸ ื•ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ืจืื•ื™ ืœื”ืžื ื•ืช ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื•โ€ฆ

ืขืงื™ื“ืช ื™ืฆื—ืง, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืขื‘

But they are not there yet, and things will get worse before they get better.