ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Good Mourning

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

David has just gotten the news that his army has won, but no one will tell him explicitly what happened to Avshalom. All he knows is what the ื›ื•ืฉื™ told him (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ืœื‘):โ€Ž ื™ื”ื™ื• ื›ื ืขืจ ืื™ื‘ื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš. But he realizes what they meant:

ื•ื™ืจื’ื– ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœ ืขืœื™ืช ื”ืฉืขืจ ื•ื™ื‘ืš; ื•ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื‘ืœื›ืชื• ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ืžื•ืชื™ ืื ื™ ืชื—ืชื™ืš ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื˜:ื

The gemara describes Davidโ€™s thinking:

ืชื ื ื“ื‘ื™ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ: ื‘ืื•ืชื” ืฉืขื” ื ื‘ืงืข ืฉืื•ืœ ืžืชื—ืชื™ื•. โ€ื•ื™ืจื’ื– ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœ ืขืœื™ื™ืช ื”ืฉืขืจ ื•ื™ื‘ืš ื•ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื‘ืœื›ืชื• ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ [ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื] ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ืžื•ืชื™ ืื ื™ ืชื—ืชื™ืš ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืœืื˜ ืืช ืคื ื™ื• ื•ื™ื–ืขืง ื”ืžืœืš ืงื•ืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™โ€œ. ื”ื ื™ ืชืžื ื™ื ื‘ื ื™ ืœืžื”? ืฉื‘ืขื” ื“ืืกืงื™ื” ืžืฉื‘ืขื” ืžื“ื•ืจื™ ื’ื™ื”ื ื. ื•ืื™ื“ืš? ืื™ื›ื ื“ืืžืจื™ ื“ืงืจื™ื‘ ืจื™ืฉื™ื” ืœื’ื‘ื™ ื’ื•ืคื™ื”, ื•ืื™ื›ื ื“ืืžืจื™ ื“ืื™ื™ืชื™ื” ืœืขืœืžื ื“ืืชื™.

ืกื•ื˜ื” ื™,ื‘

I think the gemara is making an intentional allusion to another moment of discovery, when a father realizes his beloved son is doomed:

ื•ื™ื—ืจื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง ื—ืจื“ื” ื’ื“ืœื” ืขื“ ืžืื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžื™ ืืคื•ื ื”ื•ื ื”ืฆื“ ืฆื™ื“ ื•ื™ื‘ื ืœื™ ื•ืื›ืœ ืžื›ืœ ื‘ื˜ืจื ืชื‘ื•ื ื•ืื‘ืจื›ื”ื•; ื’ื ื‘ืจื•ืš ื™ื”ื™ื”ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื–:ืœื’

ื•ื™ื—ืจื“:โ€ฆื•ืžื“ืจืฉื• ืจืื” ื’ื™ื”ื ื ืคืชื•ื—ื” ืžืชื—ืชื™ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

ืฉืจืื” ื’ื™ื”ื ื ืคืชื•ื—ื” ืชื—ืชื™ื•: ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืชื—ืช ืขืฉื•.

ื’ื•ืจ ืืจื™ื”, ืฉื

At this moment, David sees the pit of Hell open under Avshalom. There is no bringing him back. Whatever vision David had for him is gone forever. Rav Bazak calls this โ€œa dramatic elegyโ€:

ืขืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ืœืขื•ืžืช ื–ืืช, ื“ื•ื“ ืžืงื•ื ืŸ ืงื™ื ื” ื“ืจืžื˜ื™ืช, ื•ื–ื•ืขืง ืฉื•ื‘ ื•ืฉื•ื‘: โ€ื‘ึผึฐื ึดื™ ื‘ึฐื ึดื™ ืึทื‘ึฐืฉืึธืœื•ึนืโ€œ.

ื”ืจื‘ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ื–ืง, ืชื’ื•ื‘ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžื•ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื

But itโ€™s not really that dramatic. David has composed some poetic elegies in his time:

ื™ื– ื•ื™ืงื ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื”ืงื™ื ื” ื”ื–ืืช ืขืœ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืขืœ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ื ื•ืƒโ€ฆื›ื‘ ืžื“ื ื—ืœืœื™ื ืžื—ืœื‘ ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืงืฉืช ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœื ื ืฉื•ื’ ืื—ื•ืจ; ื•ื—ืจื‘ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื ืชืฉื•ื‘ ืจื™ืงืืƒ ื›ื’ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ืื”ื‘ื™ื ื•ื”ื ืขื™ืžื ื‘ื—ื™ื™ื”ื ื•ื‘ืžื•ืชื ืœื ื ืคืจื“ื•; ืžื ืฉืจื™ื ืงืœื• ืžืืจื™ื•ืช ื’ื‘ืจื•ืƒโ€ฆื›ื• ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืขืœื™ืš ืื—ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื ืขืžืช ืœื™ ืžืื“; ื ืคืœืืชื” ืื”ื‘ืชืš ืœื™ ืžืื”ื‘ืช ื ืฉื™ืืƒ ื›ื– ืื™ืš ื ืคืœื• ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ื•ื™ืื‘ื“ื• ื›ืœื™ ืžืœื—ืžื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื

ืœื’ ื•ื™ืงื ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืื‘ื ืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ื”ื›ืžื•ืช ื ื‘ืœ ื™ืžื•ืช ืื‘ื ืจืƒ
ืœื“ ื™ื“ืš ืœื ืืกืจื•ืช ื•ืจื’ืœื™ืš ืœื ืœื ื—ืฉืชื™ื ื”ื’ืฉื• ื›ื ืคื•ืœ ืœืคื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื•ืœื” ื ืคืœืช; ื•ื™ืกืคื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืœื‘ื›ื•ืช ืขืœื™ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื’

Itโ€™s striking how undramatic this โ€œืงื™ื ื”โ€ is. I think the answer is related to a comment in the midrash:

ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื˜:ื) ืžึดื–ึฐืžื•ึนืจ ืœึฐืึธืกึธืฃ: ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื‘ึผึธืื•ึผ ื’ื•ึนื™ึดื ื‘ึผึฐื ึทื—ึฒืœึธืชึถืšึธ [ื˜ึดืžึผึฐืื•ึผ ืึถืช ื”ึตื™ื›ึทืœ ืงึธื“ึฐืฉืึถืšึธ; ืฉื‚ึธืžื•ึผ ืึถืช ื™ึฐืจื•ึผืฉืึธืœึทึดื ืœึฐืขึดื™ึผึดื™ื], ืœื ื”ื•ื” ืงืจื ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืžื™ืžืจ ืืœื โ€ื‘ื›ื™ ืœืืกืฃโ€œ, โ€ื ื”ื™ ืœืืกืฃโ€œ โ€ืงื™ื ื” ืœืืกืฃโ€œ! ื•ืžื” ืื•ืžืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœืืกืฃ?

ืื™ื›ื” ืจื‘ื” (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ื“:ื™ื“

But here it is the reverse: ืœื ื”ื•ื” ืงืจื ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืžื™ืžืจ ืืœื โ€ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“โ€œ ! Fundamentally, Achimatz is right. The outcome of the battle was a ื‘ืฉื•ืจื”, good news. ื”ืณ did fight for David, performing miracles (ื ื™ืกื™ื ื ืกืชืจื™ื but ื ื™ืกื™ื nonetheless). David should have been singing ืฉื™ืจื” over his salvation. He canโ€™t compose a ืงื™ื ื” because he has no divine inspiration.

As Rav Elchanan Samet says (in the 2013 ื™ืžื™ ืขื™ื•ืŸ ื‘ืชื ืš), his people put their lives on the line for him, and all they hear is a lament over their enemy, especially Davidโ€™s line about ืžื™ ื™ืชืŸ ืžื•ืชื™ ืื ื™ ืชื—ืชื™ืš.

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืขื ืœื ืชืฆื ื›ื™ ืื ื ืก ื ื ื•ืก ืœื ื™ืฉื™ืžื• ืืœื™ื ื• ืœื‘ ื•ืื ื™ืžืชื• ื—ืฆื™ื ื• ืœื ื™ืฉื™ืžื• ืืœื™ื ื• ืœื‘ ื›ื™ ืขืชื” ื›ืžื ื• ืขืฉืจื” ืืœืคื™ื; ื•ืขืชื” ื˜ื•ื‘ ื›ื™ ืชื”ื™ื” ืœื ื• ืžืขื™ืจ ืœืขื–ื™ืจ (ืœืขื–ื•ืจ)ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื’

They declare that their lives are less important than Davidโ€™s, and David declares that his life is less important that Avshalomโ€™s. The implication is that David would rather they all would have died, and Avshalom would still be alive.

And the text implies that Yoav was right in this case, to kill Avshalom against Davidโ€™s command:

ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืกื‘ื• ืขืฉืจื” ื ืขืจื™ื ื ืฉืื™ ื›ืœื™ ื™ื•ืื‘; ื•ื™ื›ื• ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื™ืžืชื”ื•ืƒ
ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืชืงืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืฉืคืจ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืขื ืžืจื“ืฃ ืื—ืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื›ื™ ื—ืฉืš ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืช ื”ืขืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

David is acting like a father, not like a king. At that is unforgiveable. The king needs to represent all of his people, not just his family.

ืืดืจ ื™ืฆื—ืง ื‘ืจ ืฉื™ืœื ืืดืจ ืžืชื ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื—ืกื“ื: ื”ืื‘ ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœ; ื”ืจื‘ ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืื™ืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœโ€ฆ

ืืคื™ืœื• ืœืžืดื“ ื”ืจื‘ ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœ ื ืฉื™ื ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืื™ืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœโ€ฆ

ืืคื™ืœื• ืœืžืดื“ ื ืฉื™ื ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœ; ืžืœืš ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืื™ืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœ.

ืงื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ืŸ ืœื‘,ื-ื‘

ืžืจืŸ ื”ื’ืื•ืŸ ืจื‘ื™ ื—ื™ื™ื ืžื‘ืจื™ืกืง ื‘ื™ืืจ ื‘ื›ืš, ืฉื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉื•ื ื” ื‘ืžื”ื•ืชื• ืžื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื—ื›ื, ืฉื”ืจื™ ืžืœืš, ื›ืœ ืžืขืœืชื• ื”ื™ื ืžืฆื“ ืžื” ืฉื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ืžืœื™ื›ื•ื”ื•, ื•ื‘ืขืฆื ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืจืื•ื™ื™ื ืœืžืœื•ื›ื”, ืืœื ืฉืื•ืชื• ืžื™ื ื• ืœืžืœืš ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ืžื›ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœ ื›ืš.

ื”ืจื‘ ื”ืœืœ ืœื•ื™ืŸ, ืคื•ืจื˜ืœ ื”ื“ืฃ ื”ื™ื•ืžื™, ืžืœืš ืฉืžื—ืœ ืขืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืื™ืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืžื—ื•ืœ

And that is exactly how the people respond. Davidโ€™s army returns to Machanayim flushed with victory, ready to sing ืฉื™ืจื” with the ื ืขื™ื ื–ืžื™ืจื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ, only to find him in a deep depression.

ื‘ ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœื™ื•ืื‘; ื”ื ื” ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ื›ื” ื•ื™ืชืื‘ืœ ืขืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ ื’ ื•ืชื”ื™ ื”ืชืฉืขื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืœืื‘ืœ ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขื; ื›ื™ ืฉืžืข ื”ืขื ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืœืืžืจ ื ืขืฆื‘ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื‘ื ื•ืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ืชื’ื ื‘ ื”ืขื ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ื•ื ื”ืขื™ืจ; ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืชื’ื ื‘ ื”ืขื ื”ื ื›ืœืžื™ื ื‘ื ื•ืกื ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื”ืƒ ื” ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืœืื˜ ืืช ืคื ื™ื• ื•ื™ื–ืขืง ื”ืžืœืš ืงื•ืœ ื’ื“ื•ืœ; ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

ืœืื˜ comes from ืœื•ื˜, to cover:

ืœืื˜: ืขื˜ืฃ ื•ื›ืกื”, ื›ืžื• (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื™ื˜:ื™ื’): ื•ื™ืœื˜ ืคื ื™ื• ื‘ืื“ืจืชื•.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื˜:ื”

But I think it also has the implication of ืœืื˜ meaning โ€œslowโ€:

You might notice when talking with a person who is depressed, they exhibit slow speech or difficulty understanding and registering information. It often feels, to the person who is depressed, as if itโ€™s very difficult to think and it takes more than the usual effort to do so. Sometimes, itโ€™s referred to as โ€œbrain fog.โ€

Natasha Tracy, Depression and Slow Thinking (Reduced Processing Speed)

โ€œGood morning, Eeyore," said Pooh.

โ€œGood morning, Pooh Bear,โ€ said Eeyore gloomily. โ€œIf it is a good morning, which I doubt,โ€ said he.

โ€œWhy, whatโ€™s the matter?โ€

โ€œNothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We canโ€™t all, and some of us donโ€™t. Thatโ€™s all there is to it.โ€

โ€œCanโ€™t all what?โ€ said Pooh, rubbing his nose.

"Gaiety. Song-and-dance. Here we go round the mulberry bush.โ€

A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

David canโ€™t think of his responsibilities. His love for his son overwhelms everything.

Maester Aemon: Tell me, did you ever wonder why the men of the Nightโ€™s Watch take no wives and father no children?

Jon Snow: No.

Maester Aemon: So they will not love. Love is the death of duty. lf the day should ever come when your lord father was forced to choose between honor on the one hand and those he loves on the other, what would he do?

Jon Snow: He would do whatever was right, no matter what.

Maester Aemon: Then Lord Stark is one man in 10,000. Most of us are not so strong. What is honor compared to a womanโ€™s love? And what is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms? Or a brotherโ€™s smile?

Game of Thrones, Season 1, Episode 9

(Allusion to Game of Thrones from a shiur by Olivia Friedman)

And Yoav knows well how David feels:

ื™ื’:ืœื˜ ื•ืชื›ืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืฆืืช ืืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื›ื™ ื ื—ื ืขืœ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื›ื™ ืžืชืƒ

ื™ื“:ื ืื•ื™ื“ืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื™ื”; ื›ื™ ืœื‘ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœึพืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ

ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœื ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉืจื” ืืชื” ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื•ื‘ืฉืจืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ืื—ืจ; ื•ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืœื ืชื‘ืฉืจ ื›ื™ ืขืœ (ื›ืŸ) ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ืžืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื›

So Yaov takes matters into his own hands to snap David out of it:

ื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื‘ื™ืช; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื‘ืฉืช ื”ื™ื•ื ืืช ืคื ื™ ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ื”ืžืžืœื˜ื™ื ืืช ื ืคืฉืš ื”ื™ื•ื ื•ืืช ื ืคืฉ ื‘ื ื™ืš ื•ื‘ื ืชื™ืš ื•ื ืคืฉ ื ืฉื™ืš ื•ื ืคืฉ ืคืœื’ืฉื™ืšืƒ ื– ืœืื”ื‘ื” ืืช ืฉื ืื™ืš ื•ืœืฉื ื ืืช ืื”ื‘ื™ืš; ื›ื™ ื”ื’ื“ืช ื”ื™ื•ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืœืš ืฉืจื™ื ื•ืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื›ื™ ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ื›ื™ ืœื (ืœื•ื) ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื—ื™ ื•ื›ืœื ื• ื”ื™ื•ื ืžืชื™ื ื›ื™ ืื– ื™ืฉืจ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืšืƒ ื— ื•ืขืชื” ืงื•ื ืฆื ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ืœื‘ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš; ื›ื™ ื‘ื”ืณ ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ ื›ื™ ืื™ื ืš ื™ื•ืฆื ืื ื™ืœื™ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ืืชืš ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื•ืจืขื” ืœืš ื–ืืช ืžื›ืœ ื”ืจืขื” ืืฉืจ ื‘ืื” ืขืœื™ืš ืžื ืขืจื™ืš ืขื“ ืขืชื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืื‘, ื ื•ืงื‘ื™ื ื•ื—ืจื™ืคื™ื ื›ื›ืœ ืฉื”ื™ื•, ืžื‘ื˜ืื™ื ืืžืช ื‘ืจื•ืจื”: ืื ืฉื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื ืœื—ืžื• ืขื‘ื•ืจื• ื‘ื™ื“ื™ืขื”, ืฉื’ื ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื•ืชืฃ ืœื”, ื›ื™ ื”ื—ืœื•ืคื” ื”ื™ื ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžืœืš, ื•ื™ื”ืจื•ื’ ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ืขื ื›ืœ ืื ืฉื™ื•. ื‘ืื‘ืœื• ื”ื›ื‘ื“ ืขืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื“ื•ื“ ืคื•ื’ืข ื‘ืœื•ื—ืžื™ื• ื”ื ืืžื ื™ื ื•ืžื ื—ื™ืœ ืœื”ื ืžืคื— ื ืคืฉ. ื‘ื”ืžืฉืš ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ืžืจื—ื™ืง ืœื›ืช ื•ื˜ื•ืขืŸ, ื›ื™ ื”ืชื ื”ื’ื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืขืœื•ืœื” ืœื”ื‘ืจื™ื— ืžืžื—ื ื”ื• ื’ื ืืช ื”ื ืืžื ื™ื ืœื• ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ.

ื ืจืื” ืฉื”ืžืงืจื ืื›ืŸ ืžืฆื“ื“ ื‘ื’ื™ืฉืชื• ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืื‘. ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืคืจืฉื™ื™ื” ื”ื–ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ืžื›ื•ื ื” โ€ื”ืžืœืšโ€œ ื•ืื™ื ื• ื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ืฉืžื•. ื‘ื›ืš ื ืจืžื– ื›ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื ื•ื”ื’ ื›ืืŸ ื›ืื™ืฉ ืคืจื˜ื™, ื•ืžืชืขืœื ืžืชืคืงื™ื“ื• ื›ืžืœืš, ืฉืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ืชืขืœื•ืช ืžืขืœ ืจื’ืฉื•ืชื™ื• ื”ืื™ืฉื™ื™ื ื•ืœืคืขื•ืœ ืœื˜ื•ื‘ืช ื”ื›ืœืœ, ื›ืคื™ ืฉื”ื˜ืขื™ื ื™ื•ืื‘ ื”ื™ื˜ื‘.

ื”ืจื‘ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ื–ืง, ืชื’ื•ื‘ืช ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžื•ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื

Weโ€™ve talked about one of the themes of ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘: the king needs to be dedicated to his people, not to his family. Shlomo could only be Davidโ€™s heir if he was ื”ืณ's son, not Davidโ€™s:

ื™ื’ ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™; ื•ื›ื ื ืชื™ ืืช ื›ืกื ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ
ื™ื“ ืื ื™ ืื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœืื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื™ ืœื‘ืŸ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื”ืขื•ืชื• ื•ื”ื›ื—ืชื™ื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ืื ืฉื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ืืƒ
ื˜ื• ื•ื—ืกื“ื™ ืœื ื™ืกื•ืจ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืกืจืชื™ ืžืขื ืฉืื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืกืจืชื™ ืžืœืคื ื™ืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื–

And the crown of ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“ was the crown of ืžื•ืœืš, literally of the cult of child sacrifice:

ื•ื™ืงื— ืืช ืขื˜ืจืช ืžืœื›ื ืžืขืœ ืจืืฉื• ื•ืžืฉืงืœื” ื›ื›ืจ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ืื‘ืŸ ื™ืงืจื” ื•ืชื”ื™ ืขืœ ืจืืฉ ื“ื•ื“; ื•ืฉืœืœ ื”ืขื™ืจ ื”ื•ืฆื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื‘:ืœ

ืขื˜ืจืช ืžืœื›ื: ื‘ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ืงืื™, ื•ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืฉืœื”ื ืžืœื›ื ืฉืžื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ืžื“,ื

We have discussed how this became the symbol of the figurative child sacrifice of ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ. Love is the death of duty.

The story of Avshalom and Davidโ€™s reaction is an object lesson in the price a ืžืœืš must pay.

So David pulls himself back together.

ื•ื™ืงื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉืขืจ; ื•ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื”ื’ื™ื“ื• ืœืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ื”ืžืœืš ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉืขืจ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ืก ืื™ืฉ ืœืื”ืœื™ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื˜:ื˜

Yoav insisted that David ืงื•ื ืฆื ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ืœื‘ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš. David only does the ืฆื part; he doesnโ€™t talk to them. And so this civil war ends on an ambiguous note, right back at the phrase we saw in the previous perek:

ื•ื™ืงื—ื• ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื™ืฉืœื›ื• ืืชื• ื‘ื™ืขืจ ืืœ ื”ืคื—ืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื™ืฆื‘ื• ืขืœื™ื• ื’ืœ ืื‘ื ื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืื“; ื•ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ืกื• ืื™ืฉ ืœืื”ืœื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื™ื–

Thereโ€™s a lot of healing that has yet to happen.