ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

After the battle, Avshalom tries to run away.

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœืคื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“; ื•ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืจื›ื‘ ืขืœ ื”ึทืคึผึถืจึถื“ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืคืจื“ ืชื—ืช ืฉื•ื‘ืš ื”ืืœื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ืจืืฉื• ื‘ืืœื” ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื”ืคืจื“ ืืฉืจ ืชื—ืชื™ื• ืขื‘ืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜

A few points: the text says that ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื Avshalom, which is generally translated as โ€œhappenedโ€:

ื•ื™ืงืจื: ืžืœืฉื•ืŸ ืžืงืจื”.

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

ื›ึผึดื™ ื™ึดืงึผึธืจึตื ืงึทืŸ ืฆึดืคึผื•ึนืจ ืœึฐืคึธื ึถื™ืšึธ ื‘ึผึทื“ึผึถืจึถืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐื›ึธืœ ืขึตืฅ ืื•ึน ืขึทืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึถืคึฐืจึนื—ึดื™ื ืื•ึน ื‘ึตื™ืฆึดื™ื ื•ึฐื”ึธืึตื ืจึนื‘ึถืฆึถืช ืขึทืœ ื”ึธืึถืคึฐืจึนื—ึดื™ื ืื•ึน ืขึทืœ ื”ึทื‘ึผึตื™ืฆึดื™ื ืœึนื ืชึดืงึผึทื— ื”ึธืึตื ืขึทืœ ื”ึทื‘ึผึธื ึดื™ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื‘:ื•

But ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึผึธืจึตื literally means โ€œto be invited or summonedโ€.

Coincidence is G-dโ€™s way of remaining anonymous.

Attributed to Albert Einstein

The ื ื‘ื™ื is telling us that the story as it will unfold is not happenstance. It is part of ื”ืณ's plan for David and Avshalom.

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืกึดืคึผึตืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉืงืจื” ื”ืžืงืจื” ื”ืจืข ื•ื”ืขื•ื ืฉ ื”ืืœืงื™ ืกื‘ื‘ ืฉื ื–ื“ืžืŸ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœืคื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื•.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜

And he is riding a ืคืจื“, a mule. Not just any mule, but ื”ืคืจื“, the mule. In ืชื ืดืš, mules are signs of royalty. Ordinary people ride donkeys (horses are weapons of war).

A mule is the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare).

The mule inherits from its sire the traits of intelligence, sure-footedness, toughness, endurance, disposition, and natural cautiousness. From its dam it inherits speed, conformation, and agility. Mules are reputed to exhibit a higher cognitive intelligence than their parent species. Mules are generally taller at the shoulder than donkeys and have better endurance than horses, although a lower top speed.

Wikipedia, Mule

ื™ื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืฉืงืœ ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ืฉื ื” ืื—ืช ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉืฉื™ื ื•ืฉืฉ ื›ื›ืจ ื–ื”ื‘ืƒ

โ€ฆื›ื” ื•ื”ืžื” ืžื‘ืื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืžื ื—ืชื• ื›ืœื™ ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื›ืœื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ืฉืœืžื•ืช ื•ื ืฉืง ื•ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ืกื•ืกื™ื ื•ืคืจื“ื™ื ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื ื” ื‘ืฉื ื”ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™

ื•ื™ืขืฉื• ื ืขืจื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ ื›ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื” ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ื™ืงืžื• ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืจื›ื‘ื• ืื™ืฉ ืขืœ ืคืจื“ื• ื•ื™ื ืกื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื›ื˜

And this mule, ื”ึทืคืจื“, presumably was Davidโ€™s personal animal (David escaped Jerusalem on foot: (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื™ื–)โ€Ž ื•ื™ืฆื ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•); Avshalom is demonstrating that he is the king.

ืจื•ื›ื‘ ืขืœ ื”ืคืจื“: ื™ืดืž ืฉื”ื™ื” ืคืจื“ ื”ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ืœืžืœืš ื“ืื™ืŸ ืฉื•ื ืื—ื“ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœื”ืฉืชืžืฉ ื‘ื• ื“ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉืชืžืฉื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉืจื‘ื™ื˜ื• ืฉืœ ืžืœืš ื•ื”ื•ื ืจื›ื‘ ืขืœื™ื• ืœื”ืจืื•ืช ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืœืš ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืœืงื” ื‘ื•.

ื—ื•ืžืช ืื ืš, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜

And we will see this royal mule later, when Shlomo is officially allowed to ride it:

ืœื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืงืจืื• ืœื™ ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืœื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ
ืœื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืœื”ื ืงื—ื• ืขืžื›ื ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืื“ื ื™ื›ื ื•ื”ืจื›ื‘ืชื ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืคืจื“ื” ืืฉืจ ืœื™; ื•ื”ื•ืจื“ืชื ืืชื• ืืœ ื’ื—ื•ืŸืƒ
ืœื“ ื•ืžืฉื— ืืชื• ืฉื ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืœืžืœืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืชืงืขืชื ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ืืžืจืชื ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

And then, Avshalom gets stuck in the tree by his head (presumably because of the long hair he is so proud of), and is left hanging, again emphasizing the divine nature of his fate:

ื™ื— ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื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 ืขืฅืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

And as he is hanging there, he is found:

ื™ ื•ื™ืจื ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœื™ื•ืื‘; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืจืื™ืชื™ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื ืชืœื•ื™ ื‘ืืœื”ืƒ ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœืื™ืฉ ื”ืžื’ื™ื“ ืœื• ื•ื”ื ื” ืจืื™ืช ื•ืžื“ื•ืข ืœื ื”ื›ื™ืชื• ืฉื ืืจืฆื”; ื•ืขืœื™ ืœืชืช ืœืš ืขืฉืจื” ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื—ื’ืจื” ืื—ืชืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืื™ืฉ ืืœ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืœื (ื•ืœื•ื) ืื ื›ื™ ืฉืงืœ ืขืœ ื›ืคื™ ืืœืฃ ื›ืกืฃ ืœื ืืฉืœื— ื™ื“ื™ ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš; ื›ื™ ื‘ืื–ื ื™ื ื• ืฆื•ื” ื”ืžืœืš ืืชืš ื•ืืช ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื•ืืช ืืชื™ ืœืืžืจ ืฉืžืจื• ืžื™ ื‘ื ืขืจ ื‘ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ ื™ื’ ืื• ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ื‘ื ืคืฉื• (ื‘ื ืคืฉื™) ืฉืงืจ ื•ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื ื™ื›ื—ื“ ืžืŸ ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ืืชื” ืชืชื™ืฆื‘ ืžื ื’ื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

ืฉืžืจื• ืžื™ ื‘ื ืขืจ: ื›ืœ ืžื™ ืฉื™ื‘ื ืœื™ื“ื• ื™ืฉืžืจื ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื™ื‘

ื•ื’ื ืืคืฉืจ ืœื•ืžืจโ€ฆืฉื“ื•ื“ ืจืžื–, ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ืจืฆื” ืœื“ืขืช ืžื™ ื”ื•ื ืฉืฉืœื— ื™ื“ื• ื‘ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ื•ื–ื” ืžื” ืฉืฆื•ื” ืœืฉื™ื ืœื‘ ื•ืœื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ืœืชืช ื“ื™ืŸ ื•ื—ืฉื‘ื•ืŸ ืžื™ ืคื’ืข ื‘ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื™ื‘

And this is a particular worry for this ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ in the eyes of the Midrash, as we will see. So Yoav takes matters into his own hands:

ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœื ื›ืŸ ืื—ื™ืœื” ืœืคื ื™ืš; ื•ื™ืงื— ืฉืœืฉื” ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ื‘ื›ืคื• ื•ื™ืชืงืขื ื‘ืœื‘ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืขื•ื“ื ื• ื—ื™ ื‘ืœื‘ ื”ืืœื”ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืกื‘ื• ืขืฉืจื” ื ืขืจื™ื ื ืฉืื™ ื›ืœื™ ื™ื•ืื‘; ื•ื™ื›ื• ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื™ืžืชื”ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

ืœืฉื•ืŸ โ€ื•ื™ืกื‘ื•โ€œ, ืฉืกื™ื‘ื‘ื• ืื•ืชื• ื›ืื—ืช, ื•ื”ื›ื•ื”ื• ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ืช. ื•ืืคืฉืจ ืœืคืจืฉ ืฉื”ืจื’ื• ืื•ืชื• ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื›ื–ื” ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื• ืคื˜ื•ืจื™ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ืžื™ืชื”, ื•ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืœื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืื•ืชืŸ, ื›ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ื‘ื›ืดืž ( ื‘ืดืง ื™,ื‘, ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืขื—,ื ) ื”ื›ื•ื”ื• ืขืฉืจื” ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื‘ืขืฉืจ ืžืงืœื•ืช ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ื‘ืช ืื—ืช, ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ื–ื” ืื—ืจ ื–ื” ื•ืžืช ื›ื•ืœืŸ ืคื˜ื•ืจื™ืŸ. ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืชื™ืจื” ืื•ืžืจ ื‘ื–ื” ืื—ืจ ื–ื”, ื”ืื—ืจื•ืŸ ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืงื™ืจื‘ ืืช ืžื™ืชืชื•. ื•ื‘ื‘ืช ืื—ืช ืœื“ืดื” ืคื˜ื•ืจื™ื, ืฉืœื ื ื•ื“ืข ืžื™ ื”ื›ื”ื•.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜ื•

Sometimes, one or more members of the firing squad may be issued a weapon containing a blank cartridge. In such cases, members of the firing squad are not told beforehand whether or not they are using live ammunition. This is believed to reinforce the sense of diffusion of responsibility among the firing squad members [which] allows each member of the firing squad to believe afterwards that he did not personally fire a fatal shotโ€”for this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the โ€œconscience roundโ€.

Wikipedia, Execution by firing squad

And with Avshalom dead, the civil war is over:

ื•ื™ืชืงืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืฉืคืจ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืขื ืžืจื“ืฃ ืื—ืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื›ื™ ื—ืฉืš ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืช ื”ืขืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜ื–

ื•ื™ืชืงืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ื”ื ื” ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื”ืžื™ืช ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืชืงืข ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ืฉื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ืื ืฉื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืžืจื“ื•ืฃ ืื—ืจื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืกืคืง ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ืจื•ืฆื™ื ืœื—ื–ื•ืจ ืื ืœื ืฉื”ืฉื™ื‘ื ื•ืžื ืขื ื™ื•ืื‘ ืžืจื“ื•ืฃ ืขื•ื“.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜ื–

While weโ€™ve seen Yoav as bloodthirsty, eager to kill his enemies, weโ€™ve also seen before that his purpose in always patriotic; he never wants to hurt his king and country. When the fight is over, the fight is over.

ื•ื™ืชืงืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื•ืœื ื™ืจื“ืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืื—ืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืœื ื™ืกืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืœื”ืœื—ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื‘:ื›ื—

And so we will end on a positive note:

ืฉืžื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืžืฉืžืข ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืคืฉื•ื˜ ื•ืงืœ ืœื”ืคืกื™ืง ื•ืœืขืฆื•ืจ ืืช ื”ืžืœื—ืžื”, ื•ืจืง ืขืดื™ ื”ืจื™ื’ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื ืชืคื™ื™ืกื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืžืœื”ืฉื—ื™ืช ื‘ืขื. ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื™ืฉ ืžืงื•ื ืœื™ืžื•ื“ ื–ื›ื•ืช ืขืœ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืฉื”ืจื’ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ืคืกื™ืง ื•ืœืžื ื•ืข ืืช ื”ืžืœื—ืžื” ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื—ืœ ื‘ื”.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื˜ื–

And then Avshalom is ignomiously buried:

ื™ื– ื•ื™ืงื—ื• ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื™ืฉืœื›ื• ืืชื• ื‘ื™ืขืจ ืืœ ื”ืคื—ืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื™ืฆื‘ื• ืขืœื™ื• ื’ืœ ืื‘ื ื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืื“; ื•ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ืกื• ืื™ืฉ ืœืื”ืœื•ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืื‘ืฉืœื ืœืงื— ื•ื™ืฆื‘ ืœื• ื‘ื—ื™ื• ืืช ืžืฆื‘ืช ืืฉืจ ื‘ืขืžืง ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืื™ืŸ ืœื™ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืฉืžื™; ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœืžืฆื‘ืช ืขืœ ืฉืžื• ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœื” ื™ื“ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

The irony being highlighted here is that Avshalom prepared this glorious monument for himself but his actual grave marker was a pile of rocks on the other side of the Jordan. And there is a problem here: Avshalom did have children:

ื›ื” ื•ื›ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืฉ ื™ืคื” ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื”ืœืœ ืžืื“; ืžื›ืฃ ืจื’ืœื• ื•ืขื“ ืงื“ืงื“ื• ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื• ืžื•ืืƒโ€ฆื›ื– ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ื• ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ื ื•ื‘ืช ืื—ืช ื•ืฉืžื” ืชืžืจ; ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืืฉื” ื™ืคืช ืžืจืื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื“

ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืื™ืŸ ืœื™ ื‘ืŸ: ื•ืœื ื”ื•ื• ืœื™ื” ื‘ื ื™? ื•ื”ื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ื• ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ื ื•ื‘ืช ืื—ืชโ€œ! ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ืฆื—ืง ื‘ืจ ืื‘ื“ื™ืžื™: ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ื‘ืŸ ื”ื’ื•ืŸ ืœืžืœื›ื•ืช

ืกื•ื˜ื” ื™ื,ื‘

I think the ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ื‘ืŸ ื”ื’ื•ืŸ ืœืžืœื›ื•ืช was from Avshalomโ€™s perspective: the qualification for being king was being tall, strong and beautiful. His daughter would qualify: ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืืฉื” ื™ืคืช ืžืจืื”. But in his eyes his sons were failures; they were not ื™ืคื” ืžืจืื” and so could not be ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ. This yet again shows Avshalomโ€™s failure, and why David was right to reject him for the ืžืœื›ื•ืช.

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืœ ืชื‘ื˜ ืืœ ืžืจืื”ื• ื•ืืœ ื’ื‘ื” ืงื•ืžืชื• ื›ื™ ืžืืกืชื™ื”ื•; ื›ื™ ืœื ืืฉืจ ื™ืจืื” ื”ืื“ื ื›ื™ ื”ืื“ื ื™ืจืื” ืœืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืณ ื™ืจืื” ืœืœื‘ื‘ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื˜ื–:ื–

David, of course, is still in hiding in Machanayim, so he doesnโ€™t know the outcome of the battle. We will deal with that next time. But I want to look at a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that is clearly relevant to Avshalom:

ืฉืงืจ ื”ืกื•ืก ืœืชืฉื•ืขื”; ื•ื‘ืจื‘ ื—ื™ืœื• ืœื ื™ืžืœื˜ืƒ

โ€”ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื™ื–

That perek is familiar to us; we say it in ืคืกื•ืงื™ ื“ื–ืžืจื on ืฉื‘ืช:

ืจื ื ื• ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ื‘ื”ืณ; ืœื™ืฉืจื™ื ื ืื•ื” ืชื”ืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื

And it is interesting because it apparently does not have a ื›ื•ืชืจืช, an introductory title or attribution. That makes it unusual in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื as a whole, and unique in the first book of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:

ื‘ืขืฆื ื›ื•ื•ื ืชื ื• ืœืฆื™ื™ืŸ ืืช ื”ืขื•ื‘ื“ื” ืฉืื™ืŸ โ€ืจืืฉื™ืชโ€œ ืœืคืจืง, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืชื•ื‘ืช ืœืคืจืง ื‘ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืืœื” ืฉืื ื• ืžื•ืฆืื™ื ื‘ืจื•ื‘ ืคืจืงื™ ืชื”ืœื™ืโ€”ืขื•ื‘ื“ื” ื–ื• ืื•ืžืจืช ื“ืจืฉื ื™โ€ฆ

ื™ื”ื™ื” ืคืจืงื ื• ื”ืคืจืง โ€ื”ื™ืชื•ืโ€œ ื”ื™ื—ื™ื“ื™ ื‘ืกืคืจ ืื™ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืื ื• ื™ื›ื•ืœื™ื ืœืžืฆื•ื ืกื™ื‘ื” ืœื™ืชืžื•ืชื•. ืืžืจื ื• ืฉืขื•ื‘ื“ื” ื–ื• ืื•ืžืจืช ื“ืจืฉื ื™, ืื•ืœื ื›ื™ืฆื“ ื ื“ืจื•ืฉ ืื•ืชื”โ€”ืื™ืŸ ืื ื• ื™ื•ื“ืขื™ื. ืื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ื›ื ืื™ืŸ ืœื™ ื›ืœ ื”ืฉืขืจื” ื‘ื ื“ื•ืŸ ื–ื” ื•ืืฃ ืœื ืžืฆืืชื™ื” ืืฆืœ ื—ื•ืงืจื™ื ื•ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืืขืคื™ืดื› ืื ื• ืžืฆื™ื™ื ื™ื ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” ืžืฉื•ื ืฉืœื“ืขืชื ื• ื”ืฆื’ืช ื”ืฉืืœื” ื”ื™ื ืœืขืชื™ื ื‘ืžื—ืงืจ ื”ืžืงืจื ืœื ืคื—ื•ืช ื—ืฉื•ื‘ื” ืžืืฉืจ ืžืชืŸ ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”.

ืคื™ื‘ืœ ืžืœืฆืจ, ืคื ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’

In the case of other perakim without titles (like ืคืจืง ื‘), we have assumed that they are actually not a new psalm, but a continuation of the previous one. And there are similarities between the start of ืคืจืง ืœื’ and the end of ืคืจืง ืœื‘:

ืฉืžื—ื• ื‘ื”ืณ ื•ื’ื™ืœื• ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื; ื•ื”ืจื ื™ื ื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจื™ ืœื‘ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื‘:ื™ื

But the overall context is very different; ืคืจืง ืœื‘ is about ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”:

ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ; ืืฉืจื™ ื ืฉื•ื™ ืคืฉืข; ื›ืกื•ื™ ื—ื˜ืื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื‘:ื

and our perek is about glorifying ื”ืณ. So I will take a different approach, and say that our perek does have a ื›ื•ืชืจืช.โ€Ž ืจื ื ื• is a title (similar to ื”ืœืœื•).

ืืžืจ ืจื™ื‘ืดืœ ื‘ืขืฉืจื” ืžืืžืจื•ืช ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื— ื ืืžืจ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื.

ืคืกื—ื™ื ืงื™ื–,ื‘

There are a number of sources with varying lists of what those ten ืžืืžืจื•ืช ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื— are, but I will go kabbalistic and look at the list in ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื–ื”ืจ:

ืชึผึฐืฉืึดื™ืขึธืึธื” ื‘ึผึฐืจึดื ึผึธื” ื•ึฐื“ึธื ืึดื™ื”ื•ึผ ืจึทื ึฒื ื•ึผ ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืงึดื™ื ื‘ึผึทื™ึฐื™ึธืณ, ื•ึฐื“ึธื ื“ึทืจึฐื’ึผึธื ื“ึฐืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง ื—ึทืณ'ื™ ืขึธืœึฐืžึดื™ืŸ, ืžึดืชึผึทืžึผึธืŸ ืจึดื ึผึธื”, ื•ึผื‘ึตื™ื”ึผ ืคึผื•ึผืจึฐืงึธื ึธื, ื”ึฒื“ึธื ื”ื•ึผื ื“ึดื›ึฐืชึดื™ื‘ (ื™ืจืžื™ื” ื›ื’:ื”) ืฆึถืžึทื— ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง, (ื–ื›ืจื™ื” ื•:ื™ื‘) ื•ึผืžึดืชึผึทื—ึฐืชึผึธื™ื• ื™ึดืฆึฐืžึธื—, ืžึดืชึผึทื—ึฐืชึผึธื™ื• ื•ึทื“ึผึทืื™, ื”ึทื”ึดื™ื ื“ึฐืึดื™ื”ึดื™ ืขึฒืฉื‚ึดื™ืจึดื™ืช ืœึฐื›ึนืœึผึธื.

ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื”ื–ื”ืจ ื›ื˜ ื‘:ื’, ืชื™ืงื•ืŸ ื™ื’

The ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื–ื”ืจ associates each ืžืืžืจ ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ื— with one of the ten ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช, the ways that ื”ืณ manifests in the world. The โ€œlower sevenโ€ take their names from a verse in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, from Davidโ€™s prayer dedicating the plans of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ืœึฐืšึธ ื”ืณ (1) ื”ึทื’ึฐึผื“ึปืœึธึผื” (2) ื•ึฐื”ึทื’ึฐึผื‘ื•ึผืจึธื” (3) ื•ึฐื”ึทืชึดึผืคึฐืึถืจึถืช (4) ื•ึฐื”ึทื ึตึผืฆึทื— (5) ื•ึฐื”ึทื”ื•ึนื“ ื›ึดึผื™ (6) ื›ึนืœ ื‘ึทึผืฉึธึผืืžึทื™ึดื ื•ึผื‘ึธืึธืจึถืฅ; ืœึฐืšึธ ื”ืณ (7) ื”ึทืžึทึผืžึฐืœึธื›ึธื” ื•ึฐื”ึทืžึดึผืชึฐื ึทืฉึตึผื‚ื ืœึฐื›ึนืœ ืœึฐืจึนืืฉื.

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื˜:ื™ื

As I have said many times before, I do not think David was a kabbalist in the modern sense, but that the kabbalists looked at ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื and Davidโ€™s other poems for inspiration. ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื deals with theological concepts and the kabbalists put those into organized, strictly defined terms.

The ninth ืกืคื™ืจื” we call ื™ืกื•ื“ (see the list in ืกืคื™ืจืช ื”ืขื•ืžืจ; itโ€™s the sixth of the โ€œlower sevenโ€); in the pasuk above it is ื›ึนืœ ื‘ึทึผืฉึธึผืืžึทื™ึดื ื•ึผื‘ึธืึธืจึถืฅ. It is the idea of G-dโ€™s immanence, that there is in some sense a spark of the divine in everything that exists.

The doctrine or theory of immanence holds that the divine encompasses or is manifested in the material world. Itโ€ฆsuggest[s] that the spiritual world permeates the mundane. It is often contrasted with theories of transcendence, in which the divine is seen to be outside the material world.

Wikipedia, Immanence

Part of the ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื–ื”ืจโ€˜s point is that ืžึดืชึผึทื—ึฐืชึผึธื™ื• ื™ึดืฆึฐืžึธื—, that ื™ืกื•ื“ gives rise to the tenth ืกืคื™ืจื”,โ€Ž ืžืœื›ื•ืช.โ€Ž ื”ืณโ€™s rule over the world derives from His creation and ongoing presence in the universe. Ramban discusses this on the pasuk, (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื“:ื)โ€Ž ื•ึทื”ืณ ื‘ึผึตืจึทืšึฐ ืึถืช ืึทื‘ึฐืจึธื”ึธื ื‘ึผึทื›ึผึนืœ:

ื•ืืžืจื• ื›ื™ โ€ื‘ื›ืœโ€œ ืชืจืžื•ื– ืขืœ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืžื“ื” ืชืงืจื โ€ื›ืœโ€œ, ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื ื™ืกื•ื“ ื”ื›ืœ, ื•ื‘ื” ื ืืžืจ (ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ืžื“:ื›ื“) ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ืขื•ืฉื” ื›ืœ, ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืงื”ืœืช ื”:ื—) ื•ึฐื™ึดืชึฐืจื•ึนืŸ ืึถืจึถืฅ ื‘ึทึผื›ึนึผืœ ื”ื•ึผื, ื™ืืžืจ ื›ื™ ื™ืชืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ืฉื•ืคืข ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื‘ืื™ ืขื•ืœื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื›ื™ ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืโ€ฆ

ื•ืžื“ื” ืื—ืจืช ืชืงืจื ื‘ืช ื ืืฆืœืช ืžืžื ื”, ื•ื‘ื” ื”ื•ื ืžื ื”ื™ื’ ืืช ื”ื›ืœ, ื•ื”ื™ื ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื™ื ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื”ื ืจืžื– ื‘ืžืœืช โ€ื•ื”ืณโ€œ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื (ื‘ืดืจ ื ื:ื‘)โ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื ืฉื—ื›ืžื™ื ืžื›ื ื™ื ืฉืžื” ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœโ€ฆ

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื“:ื

This is a difficult concept, one that I canโ€™t claim to understand, but is developed in chassidut as โ€œpanentheismโ€ (not โ€œpantheismโ€, that nature as a whole is G-d, but that the universe exists as an aspect of โ€œthe mind of G-dโ€).

ืžื›ื ื™ืŸ ืฉืžื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื•ืงื•ืจืื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• โ€ืžืงื•ืโ€œ, ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ืžื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขื•ืœืžื• ืžืงื•ืžื•.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ืกื—:ื˜

Panentheism (meaning โ€œall-in-Godโ€, from the Greek ฯ€แพถฮฝ pรขn, โ€œallโ€, แผฮฝ en, โ€œinโ€ and ฮ˜ฮตฯŒฯ‚ Theรณs, โ€œGodโ€) is the belief that the divine pervades and interpenetrates every part of the universe and also extends beyond space and time. The term was coined by the German philosopher Karl Krause in 1828 to distinguish the ideas of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770โ€“1831) and Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling (1775โ€“1854) about the relation of God and the universe from the supposed pantheism of Baruch Spinoza. Unlike pantheism, which holds that the divine and the universe are identical, panentheism maintains an ontological distinction between the divine and the non-divine and the significance of both.

Wikipedia, Panentheism

Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere.
Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere.
Up, up, down, down, right, left and all around,
here, there and everywhere, thatโ€™s where he can be found.

Uncle Moishy, Volume 1, Hashem is here

The song โ€œHashem is Everywhereโ€ makes me uncomfortable. These matters are beyond my comprehension, but it seems to me that the Vilna Gaon would label the panentheism/monism inherent in this song as heresy.

Rabbi Gil Student, Reflections on Returning from an Uncle Moishy Concert. See also his Is Chabad Heresy? and Is Kabbalah Heresy?

That is the Zoharโ€™s concept of the ืกืคื™ืจื” of ื™ืกื•ื“. The manifestation of the divine in the universe is the holiness that pervades everything. This perek, I think, is saying something different; not so much the metaphysical concept that everything has an element of the divine, but that ื”ืณ's ื—ืกื“ pervades everything, and that everything is holy because ื”ืณ created everything.

This is relevant to our study of David because ื™ืกื•ื“ is the source of ืžืœื›ื•ืช. The ืกืคื™ืจื•ืช are not just divine attributes, they represent human ืžื™ื“ื•ืช as well. Our purpose in life is imitatio Dei:

ื•ืึทื‘ึผึธื ืฉืึธืื•ึผืœ ืื•ึนืžึตืจ: โ€ื•ึฐืึทื ึฐื•ึตื”ื•ึผโ€œโ€”ื”ึฑื•ึตื™ ื“ึผื•ึนืžึถื” ืœื•ึน, ืžึธื” ื”ื•ึผื ื—ึทื ึผื•ึผืŸ ื•ึฐืจึทื—ื•ึผืโ€”ืึทืฃ ืึทืชึผึธื” ื”ึฑื™ึตื” ื—ึทื ึผื•ึผืŸ ื•ึฐืจึทื—ื•ึผื.

ืฉื‘ืช ืงืœื’,ื‘

This applies not only to ื—ืกื“ and ื“ื™ืŸ, but to ืžืœื›ื•ืช as well. Any authority that we have is an imitation of ื”ืณ's authority, and as such, it derives from our sense of ื™ืกื•ื“, that we are part of the ื›ืœ, the community. The ืžืœืš in that sense is the representative of the people as a whole, not the ruler. ืžืœื›ื•ืช comes from ื›ืœ. This was Avshalomโ€™s mistake.

So letโ€™s look at this ืจื ื ื•.

ื‘ ื”ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื›ื ื•ืจ; ื‘ื ื‘ืœ ืขืฉื•ืจ ื–ืžืจื• ืœื•ืƒ
ื’ ืฉื™ืจื• ืœื• ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ; ื”ื™ื˜ื™ื‘ื• ื ื’ืŸ ื‘ืชืจื•ืขื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

ื‘ื ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉืžืกื›ื ื‘ืงื™ืฆื•ืจ ืžืคืœื™ื (ื›ื‘ ืคืกื•ืงื™ื) ืืช ืขื™ืงืจื™ ื”ืืžื•ื ื” ื”ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™ืช ืžืชื•ืš ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ืจื‘ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืจืžื‘ืดื, ืื‘ืœ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื–ืขืงื”, ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืื™ืฉื™ืช, ืžืคื ื” ืžืงื•ื ืœืฉื™ืจื” ืื•ื‘ื™ื™ืงื˜ื™ื‘ื™ืช ืขืœ ืขื™ืงืจื™ ืืžื•ื ื” ื•ื™ื•ืฉืจ.

ื”ืจื‘ ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ-ื ื•ืŸ, ืฉื™ืจื” ืื•ื‘ื™ื™ืงื˜ื™ื‘ื•ืช

And, as weโ€™ve said before, ืฉื™ืจ ื—ื“ืฉ refers to a song of the infinite potential of the eschatological future, the time of ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื, the end of history.โ€Ž ื”ืณ will be the acknowledged ruler of all humanity and we will live in a perfectly just society.

ื“ ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ; ื•ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื”ื• ื‘ืืžื•ื ื”ืƒ
ื” ืื”ื‘ ืฆื“ืงื” ื•ืžืฉืคื˜; ื—ืกื“ ื”ืณ ืžืœืื” ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

ืžืœืื” ื”ืืจืฅ is what ืชืงื•ื ื™ ื”ื–ื”ืจ sees as the ืกืคื™ืจื” of ื™ืกื•ื“, G-dโ€™s lovingkindness that is immanent in the world. And it goes back to creation:

ื• ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืฉืžื™ื ื ืขืฉื•; ื•ื‘ืจื•ื— ืคื™ื• ื›ืœ ืฆื‘ืืืƒ
ื– ื›ื ืก ื›ื ื“ ืžื™ ื”ื™ื; ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืื•ืฆืจื•ืช ืชื”ื•ืžื•ืชืƒ
ื— ื™ื™ืจืื• ืžื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ืžืžื ื• ื™ื’ื•ืจื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ืชื‘ืœืƒ
ื˜ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื”ื™; ื”ื•ื ืฆื•ื” ื•ื™ืขืžื“ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

And that involvement continues throughout history:

ื™ ื”ืณ ื”ืคื™ืจ ืขืฆืช ื’ื•ื™ื; ื”ื ื™ื ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ืขืžื™ืืƒ
ื™ื ืขืฆืช ื”ืณ ืœืขื•ืœื ืชืขืžื“; ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ืœื‘ื• ืœื“ืจ ื•ื“ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ืขืฆื” ื”ื™ื ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื ืจืฆื” ืœื”ืขื•ืฉื”, ื•ื”ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ื”ื ื”ืืžืฆืขื™ื™ื ื”ืžื•ื‘ื™ืœื™ื ืืœ ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื™

ื•ืขืดื™ ืฉื”ืณ ืžื ื”ื™ื’ ืืช ื”ืืจืฅ ื‘ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ืช, ืœื›ืŸ ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ื ื”ื›ื•ืœืœื™ื ื”ืจืฆื•ื™ื™ื ืืฆืœื• ืžืฆื“ ื—ื›ืžืชื• ื•ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื™ื‘ื˜ืœ ืขืฆืช ื’ื•ื™ื ื•ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื, ื•ื™ื ื”ื™ื’ ื”ื›ืœ ืœืคื™ ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื›ื•ืœืœ ื”ื ืจืฆื” ืืฆืœื• ื•ืœื ื™ื•ืขื™ืœื• ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื•ืขืฆืชื ืœื‘ื˜ืœ ืืช ืขืฆืช ื”ืณ ื•ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ืžื•ืกื›ื ืืฆืœื•.

ืฉื

Itโ€™s interesting (though I donโ€™t know what to make of it) that this pair of psukim is parallel, not chiastic.

And then we move from the universal to the particular

ืืฉืจื™ ื”ื’ื•ื™ ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื•; ื”ืขื ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื ื—ืœื” ืœื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื™ื‘

ืืฉืจื™: ืขืคืดื– ื™ืืžืจ ืฉโ€ืืฉืจื™ ื”ื’ื•ื™ ืืฉืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื•โ€œ, ื›ืœ ื’ื•ื™ ื”ืžืืžื™ืŸ ื‘ื”ืณ ื•ืขื•ื‘ื“ ื”ืณ ื•ื”ื•ื ืืœืงื™ื•, ืืฉืจื™ ืœื•, ื›ื™ ืื– ื”ื•ื ืžื•ืฉื’ื— ืžืืชื•, ื•ื ื•ืกืฃ ืœื–ื” ืืฉืจื™ โ€ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ื‘ื—ืจ ืœื ื—ืœื” ืœื•โ€œ, ืฉื—ื•ืฅ ืžื‘ื—ื™ืจืชื• ืฉื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ืœืืœืงื™ื•, ื ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ื•ื ืžื”ืณ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœื• ืœืขื ืกื’ื•ืœื” ื•ื™ื•ืคื™ืข ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ืžื•ืคืœืืช ื ืกื™ื™ืช.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื™ื‘

And this is summarized in the idea of Divine Providence, ื”ืฉื’ื—ื”:

ื™ื’ ืžืฉืžื™ื ื”ื‘ื™ื˜ ื”ืณ; ืจืื” ืืช ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืื“ืืƒ
ื™ื“ ืžืžื›ื•ืŸ ืฉื‘ืชื• ื”ืฉื’ื™ื— ืืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ
ื˜ื• ื”ื™ืฆืจ ื™ื—ื“ ืœื‘ื; ื”ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืืœ ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื”ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

ื”ื™ื•ืฆืจ: ื‘ื ืœื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉื˜ืขื ื• ื”ืคื™ืœื•ืกื•ืคื™ื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ืขื” ื–ื• ืฉื”ืœื ื”ืžืขืฉื™ื ื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื™ื™ื ื”ื ืืคืฉืจื™ื™ื ืžืชืจื‘ื™ื ื•ืžืฉืชื ื™ื ื•ืžืชื—ื“ืฉื™ื, ื•ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืณ ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืฉืชืชืจื‘ื” ื•ืชืฉืชื ื” ื•ืฉืชืชื—ื“ืฉ ืœื• ื™ื“ื™ืขื”, ื•ื”ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ื‘ื–ื” ื›ืžืดืฉ ื‘ืžื•ืดื  (ืคืจืง ื›ืดื ืžืฉืœื™ืฉื™) ืฉื™ืฉ ื”ืคืจืฉ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืขื•ืฉื” ื‘ืžื” ืฉืขืฉื” ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื–ื•ืœืชื• ื‘ืขืฉื•ื™ ื”ื”ื•ืโ€ฆื•ื–ืดืฉ ืฉื”ืณ ืžืฆื“ ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื•ืฆืจ ืœื‘ื ืžืฆื“ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืืœ ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉืœื ืชืชื—ื“ืฉ ืœื• ื™ื“ื™ืขื” ื‘ืขืช ื”ืคืขื•ืœื” ื”ืืคืฉืจื™ื™ืช ืžืฆื“ ืจื™ื‘ื•ื™ ื”ืžืขืฉื™ื ื”ืžืชื—ื“ืฉื™ื, ื›ื™ ื™ื“ืข ื›ืดื– ื‘ืขืช ื™ืฆืจ ืœื‘ื, ื•ื›ืŸ ืœื ืžืฆื“ ืจื™ื‘ื•ื™ ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ืฉื›ืดื ื™ืฉ ืœื• ืœื‘ ืื—ืจ ื•ื‘ื—ื™ืจื” ืื—ืจืช, ื›ื™ ื™ืฆืจ ื™ื—ื“ ืœื‘ื, ืฉื›ืœ ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืช ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื ื•ืฆืจื• ื‘ื™ืฆื™ืจื” ืื—ืช, ื•ืื– ื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ืืœ ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื, ื•ืœื ืชืชื—ื“ืฉ ืืฆืœื• ื™ื“ื™ืขื” ื›ืœืœ, ื•ืœื ืชืชืจื‘ื” ื•ืœื ืชืฉืชื ื” ื™ื“ื™ืขืชื• ืขืดื™ ืจื™ื‘ื•ื™ ื•ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉ ื•ื—ื™ืœื•ืฃ ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื˜ื•

(Note that this is not the question of free will vs. omniscience, but of knowledge that changes in time.)

Alshich understands ื™ืฆืจ ื™ื—ื“ ืœื‘ื as referring not to humanity as a whole, but to each individual. We are driven by multiple inclinations, forced together, and ื”ืณ judges us based on that.

ื›ื™ ื”ื ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืœื‘ ื•ืœื‘ ืืฉืจ ืœื›ืœ ืื™ืฉ ื•ืื™ืฉ ื™ืฉ ื™ืฆืจ ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืจืข ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื”ื™ื•ืฆืจ ืื—ื“ื•ืช ืœื‘ื ืฉื”ื ืฉืชื™ ื‘ื—ื™ื ื•ืช ื”ืœื‘ ื™ื—ื“ ื”ื•ื ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืืช ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืฉื• ื‘ืฉืชื™ ื‘ื—ื™ื ื•ืช ืœื‘ื.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื’:ื˜ื•

And then we get to the key line for our purposes: if ื”ืณ knows and controls everything, then we canโ€™t fight ื”ืณ's decisions with force. ืื™ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ื ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืจื‘ ื—ื™ืœ.

ื˜ื– ืื™ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ื ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืจื‘ ื—ื™ืœ; ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ืœื ื™ื ืฆืœ ื‘ืจื‘ ื›ื—ืƒ
ื™ื– ืฉืงืจ ื”ืกื•ืก ืœืชืฉื•ืขื”; ื•ื‘ืจื‘ ื—ื™ืœื• ืœื ื™ืžืœื˜ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

And therefore our only path to salvation is through Him:

ื™ื— ื”ื ื” ืขื™ืŸ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื™ืจืื™ื•; ืœืžื™ื—ืœื™ื ืœื—ืกื“ื•ืƒ
ื™ื˜ ืœื”ืฆื™ืœ ืžืžื•ืช ื ืคืฉื; ื•ืœื—ื™ื•ืชื ื‘ืจืขื‘ืƒ
ื› ื ืคืฉื ื• ื—ื›ืชื” ืœื”ืณ; ืขื–ืจื ื• ื•ืžื’ื ื ื• ื”ื•ืืƒ
ื›ื ื›ื™ ื‘ื• ื™ืฉืžื— ืœื‘ื ื•; ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื ืงื“ืฉื• ื‘ื˜ื—ื ื•ืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื™ื”ื™ ื—ืกื“ืš ื”ืณ ืขืœื™ื ื•; ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ื—ืœื ื• ืœืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื’

And ื‘ื• ื™ืฉืžื— ืœื‘ื ื•, parallel to the ืจื ื ื• ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ื‘ื”ืณ. It is not that the ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื sing to ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, but ื‘ื”ืณ, with ื”ืงื‘ืดื”. We rejoice because we feel ื”ืณ's presence throughout the world. And that is why David succeeded.