ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Just Remember This

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

At this point, David is on the run from Avshalom. We talked about his teshuva and we know how this ends, but David is looking at the complete destruction of everything he has worked for. There is a pair of perakim of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that deal with this. I will treat ืคืจืง ืข and ืคืจืง ืขื as a single unit, since ืคืจืง ืขื does not start with a ื›ื•ืชืจืช. The division of ืชื ืดืš into chapters is a non-Jewish invention, and there is a fair amount of discussion in the gemara about where the divisions in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ืโ€Ž are.

ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืข:ื

ืœืžื ืฆื—: ืงืืคื™ื˜ื•ืœ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ื”ืขืชืง ืฉืœ ืกื•ืคื™ ื”ื—ืจื•ื–ื™ื ืฉืœ ืกื™ืณ ืžืณ, ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืชื—ืœืช ื”ืกื™ืžืŸ ืฉืื—ืจ ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืขืฆืžื• ื”ืชื—ืœืช ืกื™ืณ ืœืดื, ื›ื™ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื–ื” (ืฉื›ื•ืœืœ ืกื™ืณ ืขืณ ื•ืกื™ืณ ืขืดื) ื”ืชืคืœืœ ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื›ื™ ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉื”ืชืคืœืœ ืื•ืชื• ืœืขืช ื–ืงื ืชื•, ื•ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืฉื”ืณ ืขืฉื” ืขืžื• ื ืคืœืื•ืช ืžื ืขื•ืจื™ื•, ื•ืžื‘ืงืฉ ื‘ืœ ื™ืขื–ื‘ื”ื• ืœืขืช ื–ืงื ื”.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืข:ื

This is the psalm of old age, of looking back and trying to turn the details of life into a story.

Ego integrity versus despair is the eighth and final stage of Erik Eriksonโ€™s stage theory of psychosocial development. This stage begins at approximately age 65 and ends at death.

It is during this time that we contemplate our accomplishments and can develop integrity if we see ourselves as leading a successful life.

Erikson described ego integrity as โ€œthe acceptance of oneโ€™s one and only life cycle as something that had to beโ€โ€ฆand later as โ€œa sense of coherence and wholenessโ€โ€ฆ

Saul McLeod, Erik Eriksonโ€™s Stages of Psychosocial Development

ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืื ื›ืŸ ืื ื™ ืžื–ื›ื™ืจื• ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืœื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™. ืœืžื” ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืžืœืš ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืฆืืŸ ื•ื›ืขืก ืขืœื™ื”ื ื’ื™ืจืฉ ืืช ื”ืฆืืŸ ื•ื”ืชื™ืจ ืืช ื”ื“ื™ืจ ื•ื”ืขื‘ื™ืจ ืืช ื”ืจื•ืขื”. ืื—ืจ ื–ืžืŸ ื›ื ืก ื”ืฆืืŸ ื•ื‘ื ื” ืืช ื”ื“ื™ืจ ื•ืœืจื•ืขื” ืœื ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ. ืืžืจ ื”ืจื•ืขื” ื”ืจื™ ื”ืฆืืŸ ืžื›ื•ื ืกื•ืช ื•ื”ื“ื™ืจ ื‘ื ื•ื™ ื•ืื ื™ ืื™ื ื™ ื ื–ื›ืจ. ื›ืš ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžืขืœื” ืžืŸ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ืœื•) ื›ึดึผื™ ืึฑืœึนืงึดื™ื ื™ื•ึนืฉึดืื™ืขึท ืฆึดื™ึผื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐื™ึดื‘ึฐื ึถื” ืขึธืจึตื™ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธื”, ื”ืจื™ ื”ื“ื™ืจ ื‘ื ื•ื™. ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉืึฐื‘ื•ึผ ืฉืึธื ื•ึดื™ืจึตืฉืื•ึผื”ึธืƒ ื•ึฐื–ึถืจึทืข ืขึฒื‘ึธื“ึธื™ื• ื™ึดื ึฐื—ึธืœื•ึผื”ึธ; ื•ึฐืึนื”ึฒื‘ึตื™ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึน ื™ึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึฐื ื•ึผ ื‘ึธื”ึผ, ื”ืจื™ ื”ืฆืืŸ ืžื›ื•ื ืกื•ืช ื•ืื ื™ ืื™ื ื™ ื ื–ื›ืจ ืœื›ืš ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื›ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืข:ื

Taken as a whole, the two chapters divide into two parts at ืขื:ื™ื’:

ืข:ื’ ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื•ื™ื—ืคืจื• ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ื ืคืฉื™;
ื™ืกื’ื• ืื—ื•ืจ ื•ื™ื›ืœืžื•; ื—ืคืฆื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ
โ€ฆ
ืขื:ื™ื’ ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื™ื›ืœื• ืฉื˜ื ื™ ื ืคืฉื™;
ื™ืขื˜ื• ื—ืจืคื” ื•ื›ืœืžื” ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ
โ€ฆ ืขื:ื›ื“ ื’ื ืœืฉื•ื ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืชื”ื’ื” ืฆื“ืงืชืš;
ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื• ื›ื™ ื—ืคืจื• ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ

ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื

The first half is a sort of anthology of other perakim of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื; a look back at who he was and the troubles of his life. He says (ืคืกื•ืง ืข:ื•)โ€Ž ืื ื™ ืขื ื™ ื•ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸ. The second part is a look ahead: ืœืฉื•ื ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืชื”ื’ื” ืฆื“ืงืชืš.

ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื, ื‘ื‘ื•ืื ืœืคืจืง ื”ื–ื”, ืžื“ื’ื™ืฉื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ื›ื™ ืคืจืงื ื• ื ืฉืขืŸ ื‘ื”ืจื‘ื” ืขืœ ืคืจืงื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ืโ€ฆ

ืืขืคืดื™ ืฉื™ืฉ ื•ื™ืฉ ื“ืžื™ื•ื ื•ืช ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉืœ ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื‘ืคืจืงื ื• ืœืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื‘ืคืจืงื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ื‘ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืื™ืŸ ื–ืืช ืื•ืžืจืช, ื›ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื›ืžื” ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื‘ืคืจืงื ื•.

ื‘ืจืฆื•ื ื ื• ืœืฆื™ื™ืŸ ืฆื“ ืื—ื“ ื‘ืคืจืงื ื•, ืืคื™ืœื• ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ื“ื• ืžืฉื•ื” ื’ื•ืŸ ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ืœืคืจืง. ื–ื•ื”ื™ ื”ืขื•ื‘ื“ื ืฉื‘ืคืจืงื ื• ืžืชืคืœืœ ื•ืžื•ื“ื”, ื›ื ืจืื”, ืื“ื ื–ืงืŸ, ืืฉืจ ืขื‘ืจื• ืขืœื™ื• ืจื•ื‘ ื™ืžื™ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืฉื•ื ื›ืš ืžืกื•ื’ืœ ืœื‘ืกืก ืชืคื™ืœืชื• ืขืœ ื ืกื™ื•ืŸ ืจื‘ ื‘ืขื–ืจืช ื”ืณ ืžืžืฆื•ืงื•ืช ืืฉืจ ืขื‘ืจื• ืขืœื™ื•โ€ฆ

โ€ฆืื™ืŸ ืกืคืง ืฉืื ื• ืฉื•ืžืขื™ื ื›ืืŸ ื”ื“ื™ื ืœื—ื™ื™ื” ืฉืœ ืื™ืฉื™ื•ืช ืžื•ืจืžื” ืžืขื, ืœื ืจืง ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื–: โ€ื›ืžื•ืคืช ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืœืจื‘ื™ืโ€œ, ืืœื ื‘ื›ืœ ืชืื•ืจ ื—ื™ื™ื• ื‘ืขื‘ืจ, ืฉื‘ื• ื ืชื ืกื” ืจื‘ื•ืช, ื•ืืฃ ื‘ื”ื•ื” ื™ืฉ ืœื• ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ืจืขืชื• ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ืจื‘ื™ื. ืืœื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืจืฆื• ืœืจืื•ืช ื›ืืŸ ื”ื“ื™ื ืœื—ื™ื™ ื“ื•ื“, ื™ื›ื•ืœื™ื ืœื”ืฆื‘ื™ืข ืขืœ ื”ืืžื•ืจ ื‘ึพื™ื: โ€ืœืืžืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืขื–ื‘ื•โ€œโ€”ื”ืžื–ื›ื™ืจ ืœื ื• ืืช ื”ืืžื•ืจ ื‘ืคืจืง ื’:ื’, ืฉืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจื•: ืึตื™ืŸ ื™ึฐืฉืื•ึผืขึธืชึธื” ืœึผื•ึน ื‘ึตืืœึนืงึดื™ื.

ืคื™ื‘ืœ ืžืœืฆืจ, ืคื ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื

We previously looked at the parallel psukim to this perek, in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืž, in the essay The Pause that Refreshes. That dealt with the immediate reaction to the Bat Sheva affair, and Davidโ€™s humiliation in the eyes of the public.

ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืขื•ืกืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ื ื•ืื”ืœื•ืช ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื™: ื“ื•ื“, ื”ื‘ื ืขืœ ืืฉืช ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืชืชื• ื‘ืžื”?

ื‘ื‘ื ืžืฆื™ืขื ื ื˜,ื

This is Davidโ€™s prayer, 15 years later, almost identical.

ื‘ ืืœืงื™ื ืœื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™; ื”ืณ ืœืขื–ืจืชื™ ื—ื•ืฉื”ืƒ
ื’ ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื•ื™ื—ืคืจื• ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ื ืคืฉื™;
ื™ืกื’ื• ืื—ื•ืจ ื•ื™ื›ืœืžื•; ื—ืคืฆื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ
ื“ ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ืขืœ ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืฉืชื ื”ืืžืจื™ื ื”ืื— ื”ืื—ืƒ
ื” ื™ืฉื™ืฉื• ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ื‘ืš ื›ืœ ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ืš;
ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืชืžื™ื“ ื™ื’ื“ืœ ืืœืงื™ื ืื”ื‘ื™ ื™ืฉื•ืขืชืšืƒ
ื• ื•ืื ื™ ืขื ื™ ื•ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸ ืืœืงื™ื ื—ื•ืฉื” ืœื™;
ืขื–ืจื™ ื•ืžืคืœื˜ื™ ืืชื”; ื”ืณ ืืœ ืชืื—ืจืƒ

ื™ื“ ืจืฆื” ื”ืณ ืœื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™; ื”ืณ ืœืขื–ืจืชื™ ื—ื•ืฉื”ืƒ
ื˜ื• ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื•ื™ื—ืคืจื• ื™ื—ื“ ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ื ืคืฉื™ ืœืกืคื•ืชื”;
ื™ืกื’ื• ืื—ื•ืจ ื•ื™ื›ืœืžื• ื—ืคืฆื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ
ื˜ื– ื™ืฉืžื• ืขืœ ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืฉืชื ื”ืืžืจื™ื ืœื™ ื”ืื— ื”ืื—ืƒ
ื™ื– ื™ืฉื™ืฉื• ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ื‘ืš ื›ืœ ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ืš;
ื™ืืžืจื• ืชืžื™ื“ ื™ื’ื“ืœ ื”ืณ ืื”ื‘ื™ ืชืฉื•ืขืชืšืƒ
ื™ื— ื•ืื ื™ ืขื ื™ ื•ืื‘ื™ื•ืŸ ืื“ื ึพื™ ื™ื—ืฉื‘ ืœื™;
ืขื–ืจืชื™ ื•ืžืคืœื˜ื™ ืืชื”; ืืœืงื™ ืืœ ืชืื—ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืž

The differences are slight: ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืž has โ€œื™ื—ื“โ€ and โ€œืœื™โ€ in the second and third verses. That was more personal. Here the nation is falling apart; there is no ื™ื—ื“ anymore. And there is an extra ื—ื•ืฉื” here. Time is running out.

And his prayer is not for the death of his enemies, just for ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื•ื™ื—ืคืจื•.โ€Ž ื‘ื•ืฉื”, embarrassment, has a very specific meaning in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ืโ€Ž. It refers to the shame of praying to ื”ืณ and not being answered (realizing that sometimes, โ€œNoโ€ is an answer; the shame is in being ignored entirely). Thus (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื‘:ื•โ€Ž)โ€Ž ืืœื™ืš ื–ืขืงื• ื•ื ืžืœื˜ื•; ื‘ืš ื‘ื˜ื—ื• ื•ืœื ื‘ื•ืฉื•.

The psalm continues with a quote from ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื, which was from when David was on the run from Saul; see The Valley of the Shadow of Death. This is almost 40 years later, but the words are the same.

ื ื‘ืš ื”ืณ ื—ืกื™ืชื™; ืืœ ืื‘ื•ืฉื” ืœืขื•ืœืืƒ
ื‘ ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืชืฆื™ืœื ื™ ื•ืชืคืœื˜ื ื™;
ื”ื˜ื” ืืœื™ ืื–ื ืš ื•ื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™ืƒ
ื’ ื”ึฑื™ึตื” ืœื™ ืœืฆื•ืจ ืžืขื•ืŸ ืœื‘ื•ื ืชืžื™ื“ ืฆื•ื™ืช ืœื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™;
ื›ื™ ืกืœืขื™ ื•ืžืฆื•ื“ืชื™ ืืชื”ืƒ

ื‘ ื‘ืš ื”ืณ ื—ืกื™ืชื™ ืืœ ืื‘ื•ืฉื” ืœืขื•ืœื;
ื‘ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืคืœื˜ื ื™ืƒ
ื’ ื”ื˜ื” ืืœื™ ืื–ื ืš ืžื”ืจื” ื”ืฆื™ืœื ื™;
ื”ึฑื™ึตื” ืœื™ ืœืฆื•ืจ ืžืขื•ื– ืœื‘ื™ืช ืžืฆื•ื“ื•ืช; ืœื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™ืƒ
ื“ ื›ื™ ืกืœืขื™ ื•ืžืฆื•ื“ืชื™ ืืชื”;
ื•ืœืžืขืŸ ืฉืžืš ืชื ื—ื ื™ ื•ืชื ื”ืœื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขืืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœื

The most prominent difference is that โ€œืฆื•ืจ ืžืขื•ื– ืœื‘ื™ืช ืžืฆื•ื“ื•ืชโ€, has become โ€œืฆื•ืจ ืžืขื•ืŸ ืœื‘ื•ื ืชืžื™ื“โ€. The image of G-d as a fortress has become the image of G-d as a temple. Davidโ€™s priorities have changed, echoing the ืชืคืœื” ืœืžืฉื”:

ืชืคืœื” ืœืžืฉื” ืื™ืฉ ื”ืืœืงื™ื;
ืื“ื ึพื™ ืžืขื•ืŸ ืืชื” ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœื ื•; ื‘ื“ืจ ื•ื“ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆ

And then, an original pasuk:

ืืœืงื™ ืคืœื˜ื ื™ ืžื™ื“ ืจืฉืข; ืžื›ืฃ ืžึฐืขึทื•ึผึตืœ ื•ึฐื—ื•ึนืžึตืฅืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื“

ืืžืจ โ€ืจืฉืขโ€œ ืขืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื.

โ€ืžืขื•ืœ ื•ื—ื•ืžืฅโ€œ. ืขืœ ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ; โ€ื•ื—ื•ืžืฅโ€œ ื‘ืฆื“ืดื™ ื›ืžื• ื‘ืกืžืดืš.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื“

Radak notes that David has two enemies, Avshalom who is simply wrong, and Achitophel who is warped and ื—ื•ืžืฅ. Radak translates this as ื—ื•ืžืก, โ€violentโ€œ, but I think the literal meaning of ื—ื•ืžืฅ works here: โ€œsouredโ€. Achitophel was Davidโ€™s friend and confidant, who turns against him in the aftermath of the Bat Sheva affair.

And then he alludes to ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื‘, which is the perek of despair (ืึพืœื™ ืึพืœื™ ืœืžื” ืขื–ื‘ืชื ื™). We looked at this in the context of Davidโ€™s reaction to Amnonโ€™s murder, in Father of Peace.

ื” ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืชืงื•ืชื™; ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ ืžื‘ื˜ื—ื™ ืžื ืขื•ืจื™ืƒ
ื• ืขืœื™ืš ื ืกืžื›ืชื™ ืžื‘ื˜ืŸ ืžืžืขื™ ืืžื™ ืืชื” ื’ื•ื–ื™;
ื‘ืš ืชื”ืœืชื™ ืชืžื™ื“ืƒ

ื™ ื›ื™ ืืชื” ื’ื—ื™ ืžื‘ื˜ืŸ; ืžื‘ื˜ื™ื—ื™ ืขืœ ืฉื“ื™ ืืžื™ืƒ
ื™ื ืขืœื™ืš ื”ืฉืœื›ืชื™ ืžืจื—ื; ืžื‘ื˜ืŸ ืืžื™ ืึพืœื™ ืืชื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

David feels his role in history was predestined. There has to be some significance to his life, because ื”ืณ created him for this role. And therefore, he adds, ื‘ืš ืชื”ืœืชื™ ืชืžื™ื“, I will always tell of Your greatness, and I will be a living example for others. My existence is intended to be that of a character in the theological novel You are writing, the ืชื ืดืš:

ื– ื›ืžื•ืคืช ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืœืจื‘ื™ื; ื•ืืชื” ืžื—ืกื™ ืขื–ืƒ
ื— ื™ืžืœื ืคื™ ืชื”ืœืชืš; ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืชืคืืจืชืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื

ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื“ืืดืจ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ ืžืฉื•ื ืจืดืฉ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ื—ืื™: ืœื ื“ื•ื“ ืจืื•ื™ ืœืื•ืชื• ืžืขืฉื” [ืจืฉืดื™: ื“ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข] โ€ฆืืœื ืœืžื” ืขืฉื•? ืœื•ืžืจ ืœืš, ืฉืื ื—ื˜ื ื™ื—ื™ื“ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื• ื›ืœืš ืืฆืœ ื™ื—ื™ื“ [ืจืฉืดื™: ื’ื–ื™ืจืช ืžืœืš ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื™ืชืŸ ืคืชื—ื•ืŸ ืคื” ืœืฉื‘ื™ื].

ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ื“,ื‘-ื”,ื

And now we get to the climax of the perek:

ื˜ ืืœ ืชืฉืœื™ื›ื ื™ ืœืขืช ื–ืงื ื”; ื›ื›ืœื•ืช ื›ื—ื™ ืืœ ืชืขื–ื‘ื ื™ืƒ
ื™ ื›ื™ ืืžืจื• ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ืœื™; ื•ืฉืžืจื™ ื ืคืฉื™ ื ื•ืขืฆื• ื™ื—ื“ื•ืƒ
ื™ื ืœืืžืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืขื–ื‘ื•; ืจื“ืคื• ื•ืชืคืฉื•ื”ื• ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืžืฆื™ืœืƒ
ื™ื‘ ืืœืงื™ื ืืœ ืชืจื—ืง ืžืžื ื™; ืืœืงื™ ืœืขื–ืจืชื™ ื—ื™ืฉื” (ื—ื•ืฉื”)ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื

Here I was the great king of Israel, the founder of an empire, soon to be the fulfillment of all the prophecies of ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื, and now I have nothing. I could deal with the loss of the kingship, but losing the relationship with ื”ืงื‘ืดื” is unbearable: ืœืืžืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืขื–ื‘ื• is the worst punishment of all. How can I say ื™ืžืœื ืคื™ ืชื”ืœืชืš if ืชืจื—ืง ืžืžื ื™?

And then he echoes the beginning of this psalm, forming an inclusio that sums up his feelings:

ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื™ื›ืœื• ืฉื˜ื ื™ ื ืคืฉื™;
ื™ืขื˜ื• ื—ืจืคื” ื•ื›ืœืžื” ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื™ื’

In the second part, David looks at what he sees as his role from now on, not to act as a model in his actual behavior (ื›ืžื•ืคืช ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืœืจื‘ื™ื) but to be the author of ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:โ€Ž ื”ื•ืกืคืชื™ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืš.

ื™ื“ ื•ืื ื™ ืชืžื™ื“ ืื™ื—ืœ; ื•ื”ื•ืกืคืชื™ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืšืƒ
ื˜ื• ืคื™ ื™ืกืคืจ ืฆื“ืงืชืš ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืชืฉื•ืขืชืš; ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืกืคืจื•ืชืƒ
ื˜ื– ืื‘ื•ื ื‘ื’ื‘ืจื•ืช ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ; ืื–ื›ื™ืจ ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืœื‘ื“ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื

ืื‘ื•ื ื‘ื’ื‘ืจื•ืช is ambiguous. Most ืžืคืจืฉื™ื translate it as ื’ื‘ืจื•ืช of ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ, but there is a hint of โ€œI come ื‘ื’ื‘ืจื•ืช , O ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณโ€.โ€Ž ื’ื‘ืจื•ืช is a reference to old age, an age that David will not attain:

ื™ืžื™ ืฉื ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื‘ื”ื ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืื ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืจืช ืฉืžื•ื ื™ื ืฉื ื”
ื•ืจื”ื‘ื ืขืžืœ ื•ืื•ืŸ;

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆ:ื™

And the expression ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ is an allusion to the first time it was used:

ื ืื—ืจ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื”ื™ื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืื‘ืจื ื‘ืžื—ื–ื” ืœืืžืจ; ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ืื‘ืจื ืื ื›ื™ ืžื’ืŸ ืœืš ืฉื›ืจืš ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ืจื ืื“ื ึพื™ ื”ืณ ืžื” ืชืชืŸ ืœื™ ื•ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ืœืš ืขืจื™ืจื™; ื•ื‘ืŸ ืžืฉืง ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื”ื•ื ื“ืžืฉืง ืืœื™ืขื–ืจืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ืจื ื”ืŸ ืœื™ ืœื ื ืชืชื” ื–ืจืข; ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื™ื•ืจืฉ ืืชื™ืƒ ื“ ื•ื”ื ื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœื™ื• ืœืืžืจ ืœื ื™ื™ืจืฉืš ื–ื”; ื›ื™ ืื ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ืš ื”ื•ื ื™ื™ืจืฉืšืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

Avraham was concerned about his legacy, what would happen to all his work after he is gone. David has the same concern:

ื™ื‘ ื›ื™ ื™ื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 continues to look back, and look forward:

ื™ื– ืืœืงื™ื ืœืžื“ืชื ื™ ืžื ืขื•ืจื™; ื•ืขื“ ื”ื ื” ืื’ื™ื“ ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ืšืƒ
ื™ื— ื•ื’ื ืขื“ ื–ืงื ื” ื•ืฉื™ื‘ื” ืืœืงื™ื ืืœ ืชืขื–ื‘ื ื™;
ืขื“ ืื’ื™ื“ ื–ืจื•ืขืš ืœื“ื•ืจ; ืœื›ืœ ื™ื‘ื•ื ื’ื‘ื•ืจืชืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื

ืขื“ ื–ืงื ื” ื•ืฉื™ื‘ื” is now a message of hope: ืขื“ ืื’ื™ื“ ื–ืจื•ืขืš ืœื“ื•ืจ. I am part of a chain that stretches from generation to generation.

ื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื ืื‘ืจื›ืš; ื•ืื”ืœืœื” ืฉืžืš ืœืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“ืƒ
ื’ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืณ ื•ืžื”ืœืœ ืžืื“; ื•ืœื’ื“ืœืชื• ืื™ืŸ ื—ืงืจืƒ
ื“ ื“ื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ืจ ื™ืฉื‘ื— ืžืขืฉื™ืš; ื•ื’ื‘ื•ืจืชื™ืš ื™ื’ื™ื“ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืžื”

That chain of generations is important, because the very idea of praising ื”ืณ is a chutzpah:

ื‘ื ื•ื’ืข ืœืชืคื™ืœื” ื™ืฉ ื‘ืขื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื”, ื”ื™ืืš ื”ื•ืชืจ ืœื• ืœืื“ื ืœืกื“ืจ ืฉื‘ื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืžืขื˜ ื‘ืฉื‘ื—ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื ื•ื ืžืฆื ืฉืžื‘ื–ื” ืืช ื”ืณโ€ฆื•ื›ืŸ ืฆืดืข ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉืžื‘ืงืฉื™ื ืžืืช ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืฆืจื›ื™ื ื”ืคืขื•ื˜ื™ื ื•ื”ืงื˜ื ื˜ื ื™ื ื”ืคืจื˜ื™ื™ื ืฉืœื ื•, ื•ื›ื™ ืžืžื“ืช ื“ืจืš ืืจืฅ ื”ื™ื ื–ื• ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ื•ื“ื ื™ืง?

โ€ฆื•ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ื ืœื” ืžืชื™ืจ ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ื•ื ืจืื” ืฉื”ืžืชื™ืจ ื”ื ืืฉืจื™, ืฉื›ืŸ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืื•ืชื• ื’ื ืงื•ื“ื ืฉื—ืจื™ืช ื•ื’ื ืงื•ื“ื ืžื ื—ื”. ืชืจืื” ืฉื”ืคืกื•ืง ืฉื‘ืืฉืจื™ ื”ืžืฉืžืฉ ื›ื”ืžืชื™ืจ ื”ื•ื ืงืจื ื“โ€ื“ื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ืจ ื™ืฉื‘ื— ืžืขืฉื™ืš ื•ื›ื•ืณโ€œ, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ, ืฉื›ืŸ ื ื”ื’ื• ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื•ืื‘ื•ืช ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื•, ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ื‘ืขืงื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื ื ืœืš, ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื”ืžื›ื™ืจื™ื ื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ื‘ืจื•ืš ืฉืืžืจ โ€ื•ื‘ืฉื™ืจื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ืš ื ื”ืœืœืš ื•ื›ื•ืณโ€œ, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ, ืฉืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืžื“ืขืช ืขืฆืžื ื• ืฉื‘ืื ื• ืœื—ื“ืฉ ืฉื™ืจื•ืช ื•ืชืฉื‘ื—ื•ืช ืืœื•, ืืœื ืžืกื•ืจืช ืขืชื™ืงื” ื”ื™ื ืืฆืœื ื• ืžื“ื•ืจื™ ื“ื•ืจื•ืช, ื•ื‘ื“ืขืชื ื• ืœื•ืžืจ ืžืœื” ื‘ืžืœื” ืคืกื•ืงื™ ืฉื™ืจื” ื•ื–ืžืจื” ืžืกืณ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ืš.

ื”ืจื‘ ืฆื‘ื™ ืฉื›ื˜ืจ, ื ืคืฉ ื”ืจื‘, ืขืžืณ ืงื—-ืงื˜

David accepts all the trouble that he has endured:

ื™ื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืืœืงื™ื ืขื“ ืžืจื•ื;
ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืช ื’ื“ืœื•ืช; ืืœืงื™ื ืžื™ ื›ืžื•ืšืƒ
ื› ืืฉืจ ื”ืจืื™ืชื ื• (ื”ืจืื™ืชื ื™) ืฆืจื•ืช ืจื‘ื•ืช ื•ืจืขื•ืช;
ืชืฉื•ื‘ ืชื—ื™ื ื• (ืชื—ื™ื ื™); ื•ืžืชื”ืžื•ืช ื”ืืจืฅ ืชืฉื•ื‘ ืชืขืœื ื™ืƒ
ื›ื ืชืจื‘ ื’ื“ืœืชื™; ื•ืชืกื‘ ืชื ื—ืžื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื

ื”ืœื ื”ืžื” ืืฉืจ โ€ื”ืจืื™ืชื ื• ืฆืจื•ืช ื•ื›ื•ืณโ€œ, ืฉืขืœ ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ ืืœื• ื ืขืœื” ืœืžืขืœื” ืžื”ืžืจื•ื, ื›ื™ ื’ื“ื•ืœื•ืช ื”ืŸ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช ื”ื ืงื ื•ืช ืขืดื™ ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ ืฉืขืœ ื™ื“ืŸ ืชืฉื•ื‘ ืชืขืœื ื•. ื›ื™ โ€ื”ืœื ืืฉืจ ื”ืจืื™ืชื ื• ืฆืจื•ืช ื›ื•ืณโ€œ ื”ื•ื ืกื‘ื” ืฉโ€ืชืฉื•ื‘ ืชื—ื™ื™ื ื•โ€œโ€ฆืžืชื”ื•ืžื•ืช ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื”ืฉืคืœื•ืช ืฉืื ื• ื‘ื’ืœื™ื•ืชโ€ฆืื• ืœืคื™ ื”ืžืงืจื ืฉื”ื•ื ืขืœ ืฆืจืช ื“ื•ื“ ื™ืžืฉืš ืฉืชืฉื•ื‘ ืชืขืœื ื™ ื›ื™ ืขืดื™ ื”ืฆืจื•ืช ื™ื ื•ื›ื” ื›ืœ ืขื•ืŸ.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื›

We have discussed many times that the theodicy, the approach to the problem of ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ืจืข ืœื•, of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is that of โ€œื’ื ื–ื• ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื”โ€. G-d will make sure that everything works out in the end. This is even stronger. This is the idea of ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืื”ื‘ื”, that the suffering itself is of benefit. Similar to what we said in Where the Penitent Stand about ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ืžืื”ื‘ื”, it is part of what makes us who we are.

The future will be the child of the past and the present, even if a rebellious child.

George Crumb

ื”ื•ื ืœื“ืขืชื™, ืฉืชื›ืœื™ืช ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืื”ื‘ื” ืื™ื ื ื›ืดื ืœื–ื›ืš ืืช ื”ืื“ื ื•ืœืจื•ืžื ืขืจื›ื• ื”ืจื•ื—ื ื™.

ื”ืจื‘ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื™ืฆื—ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืงื•ืง, ืขื™ืŸ ืื™ื”, ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื:ืœื“

ื™ืกื•ืจื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืื”ื‘ื”, in my mind, is the idea of a ื ืกื™ื•ืŸ, a divine โ€œtestโ€, or (ื™ื‘ืžื•ืช ืกื“,ื)โ€Ž ืžืคื ื™ ืžื” ื”ื™ื• ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ืขืงื•ืจื™ื? ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืžืชืื•ื” ืœืชืคืœืชืŸ ืฉืœ ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื. It is an approach to suffering (not an explanation; there are no explanations) that ื”ืณ wants to see our response, not for His sake, but for ours.

ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื ืกื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืœื“ืขืชื™ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื™ื•ืช ืžืขืฉื” ื”ืื“ื ืจืฉื•ืช ืžื•ื—ืœื˜ืช ื‘ื™ื“ื• ืื ื™ืจืฆื” ื™ืขืฉื” ื•ืื ืœื ื™ืจืฆื” ืœื ื™ืขืฉื”, ื™ืงืจื โ€ื ืกื™ื•ืŸโ€œ ืžืฆื“ ื”ืžื ื•ืกื”. ืื‘ืœ ื”ืžื ืกื” ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ื™ืฆื•ื” ื‘ื• ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ื›ื— ืืœ ื”ืคื•ืขืœ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœื• ืฉื›ืจ ืžืขืฉื” ื˜ื•ื‘โ€ฆื“ืข ื›ื™ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™ื:ื”) ื”ืณ ืฆึทื“ึดึผื™ืง ื™ึดื‘ึฐื—ึธืŸ, ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื•ื“ืข ื‘ืฆื“ื™ืง ืฉื™ืขืฉื” ืจืฆื•ื ื• ื•ื—ืคืฅ ืœื”ืฆื“ื™ืงื• ื™ืฆื•ื” ืื•ืชื• ื‘ื ืกื™ื•ืŸโ€ฆื•ื”ื ื” ื›ืœ ื”ื ืกื™ื•ื ื•ืช ืฉื‘ืชื•ืจื” ืœื˜ื•ื‘ืช ื”ืžื ื•ืกื”.

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื‘:ื

David concludes with the description of his ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:

ื›ื‘ ื’ื ืื ื™ ืื•ื“ืš ื‘ื›ืœื™ ื ื‘ืœ ืืžืชืš ืืœืงื™;
ืื–ืžืจื” ืœืš ื‘ื›ื ื•ืจ ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ื›ื’ ืชืจื ื ื” ืฉืคืชื™ ื›ื™ ืื–ืžืจื” ืœืš; ื•ื ืคืฉื™ ืืฉืจ ืคื“ื™ืชืƒ
ื›ื“ ื’ื ืœืฉื•ื ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ืชื”ื’ื” ืฆื“ืงืชืš;
ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื• ื›ื™ ื—ืคืจื• ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ ืจืขืชื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื

ื’ื here doesnโ€™t mean โ€œalsoโ€; what is he adding to? I think it means โ€œevenโ€: โ€œEven my โ€˜ืื ื™โ€™, my ego and identity, sing to youโ€. It is like the pasuk:

ื•ืื ื™ ืชืคืœืชื™ ืœืš ื”ืณ ืขืช ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืืœื”ื™ื ื‘ืจื‘ึพื—ืกื“ืš; ืขื ื ื™ ื‘ืืžืช ื™ืฉืขืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื˜:ื™ื“

โ€œืื ื™ ืชืคืœืชื™โ€ implies more than, โ€œand as for me, may my prayerโ€, but โ€œI am my prayerโ€; it expresses who I am.

And it canโ€™t just be in my heart; I need to express the praise of ื”ืณ.โ€Ž ื’ื ืื ื™, ื’ื ืœืฉื•ื ื™ will praise ื”ืณ all the time.

ืœื ื“ื™ ืœืื“ื ืฉื™ืฉ ืœื• ื”ืฉืชื•ืงืงื•ืช ื‘ืœื‘ ืืœื ื”ื•ื ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืืช ื›ื™ืกื•ืคื™ื• ื‘ืฉืคืชื™ื•, ื‘ื“ื™ื‘ื•ืจื•, ืžืฉื•ื ื›ืš ืขืจื›ื• ื”ื—ื›ืžื™ื ืืช ืกื“ืจ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื”, ื›ื™ ื‘ื”ืฉืชื•ืงืงื•ืช ืฉื‘ืœื‘ ื”ื ืคืฉ ื•ื ืงื•ื“ื•ืชื™ื” ื”ืŸ ื‘ื›ื•ื—, ื•ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืื“ื ืžื•ืฆื™ื ืืช ื›ื™ืกื•ืคื™ื• ื‘ืคื™ื• ืื– ื”ื ืคืฉ ื™ื•ืฆืืช ืžืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื— ืืœ ื”ืคื•ืขืœ.

ืœื™ืงื•ื˜ื™ ืžื•ื”ืจืดืŸ ืงืžื ืชื•ืจื” ืœืดื

This is all possible because, at the end of the day, You listened to my prayer.

ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื•: ื”ื ื™ื‘ื•ืฉื• ื•ืื ื™ ืื–ืžืจ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื›ื“

Bringing this back to the narrative of Avshalomโ€™s rebellion, David can only be the ื ืขื™ื ื–ืžื™ืจื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ if he represent all of ื™ืฉืจืืœ.โ€Ž ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื is meant to be the words of ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ as a whole.

ืขืœ ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื• ืžืจืขืชืโ€ฆื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืฉืืœื™ืš ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ื•ืœื ื™ืขื ืฉื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ึดื™โ€ฆื›ืืฉืจ ื›ืชื‘ื ื• ื›ื™ ื’ื ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ืขื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื•ืฉื• ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ, ื•ื”ื™ื• ืžืžื”ืจื™ื ืœื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืงื•ื“ื ืœืื™ืฉ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”.

ืืœืฉื™ืš, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื›ื“

I want to go back to the expression in ืคืกื•ืง ื™ื“:โ€Ž ื•ืื ื™ ืชืžื™ื“ ืื™ื—ืœ; ื•ื”ื•ืกืคืชื™ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืš. How can David add to โ€œallโ€ of ื”ืณ's praises? We already said, ืœื’ื“ืœืชื• ืื™ืŸ ื—ืงืจ.

ื”ื”ื•ื ื“ื ื—ื™ืช ืงืžื™ื” ื“ืจืณ ื—ื ื™ื ื, ื•ืืžืจ โ€ื”ืึพืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื”ื ื•ืจื ื•ื”ืื“ื™ืจ ื•ื”ืขื–ื•ื– ื•ื”ื™ืจืื•ื™ ื”ื—ื–ืง ื•ื”ืืžื™ืฅ ื•ื”ื•ื“ืื™ ื•ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“โ€œ. ื”ืžืชื™ืŸ ืœื• ืขื“ ื“ืกื™ื™ื. ื›ื™ ืกื™ื™ื, ืืดืœ ืกื™ื™ืžืชื™ื ื”ื• ืœื›ื•ืœื”ื• ืฉื‘ื—ื™ ื“ืžืจืš? ืœืžื” ืœื™ ื›ื•ืœื™ ื”ืื™? ืื ืŸ ื”ื ื™ ืชืœืช ื“ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ, ืื™ ืœืื• ื“ืืžืจื™ื ื”ื• ืžืฉื” ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื‘ืื•ืจื™ื™ืชื ื•ืืชื• ืื ืฉื™ ื›ื ืกืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ืชืงื ื™ื ื”ื• ื‘ืชืคืœื”, ืœื ื”ื•ื™ื ืŸ ื™ื›ื•ืœื™ืŸ ืœืžื™ืžืจ ืœื”ื•. ื•ืืช ืืžืจืช ื›ื•ืœื™ ื”ืื™ ื•ืื–ืœืช! ืžืฉืœ ืœืžืœืš ื‘ืฉืจ ื•ื“ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืืœืฃ ืืœืคื™ื ื“ื™ื ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื”ื™ื• ืžืงืœืกื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœ ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื”ืœื ื’ื ืื™ ื”ื•ื ืœื•.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืœื’,ื‘

Rav Hutner explains this in his discussion of ืชื”ืœื™ื ื˜:ื˜ื• that says ืืกืคืจื” ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืš:

ื‘ ื”ืชื—ืœืชื ืฉืœ ื“ื™ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ื”ืœืœื• ืžื•ืฉืจืฉืช ื”ื™ื ื‘ืžืืžืจื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืดื” (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื˜:ื˜ื•) โ€ืืกืคืจื” ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืšโ€œ. ื•ื™ืขื•ื™ืŸ ืฉื ื‘ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืฉื ื“ื—ืงื• ื”ืจื‘ื” ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื–ื” ืขื“ ืฉืžื—ืžืช ื”ื“ื—ืง ื”ื—ืœื™ื˜ื• ื›ื™ ื”ืื™ โ€ื›ืœโ€œ ืชื”ืœืชืš ื”ื•ื ืœืื• ื“ื•ืงื. ื›ื™ ื”ืจื™ ืกื™ื•ื ืฉื‘ื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื ื ืžื ืข ื”ื•ื ื‘ื”ื—ืœื˜.

ืืžื ื ืœืคื™ ื“ืขืชื ื• ืžืชืคืจืฉืช ื”ื™ื ืชื™ื‘ืช โ€ื›ืœโ€œ ื‘ื›ืืŸ ื›ืคื™ ืคืฉื•ื˜ื” ืžืžืฉ. ื•ืžื”ืœืš ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ืš ื”ื•ื: ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ืชื ืดืš ืฉื‘ื—ื™ื ืฉืœ ืžืขืœื” ื‘ืฆื•ืจืช ื“ื™ืžื•ื™ ืฉืœ ืžืฉืœื™ื, ื›ื’ื•ืŸ โ€œื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉืžื™ืโ€ ื“ื™ืžื•ื™ ืœืฉื‘ื— ื”ืจื•ืžืžื•ืช, โ€ืืจื™ื”โ€œ ื“ืžื•ื™ ืœืฉื‘ืช ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื”, ื•ื›ื“ื•ืžื”. ื•ื›ืชื‘ ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ื’ืจืดื ื›ื™ ื”ืขื“ื™ืคื•ืช ื”ื ืžืฆืืช ื‘ื‘ื™ื˜ื•ื™ โ€ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉืžื™ืโ€œ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืืฉืจ ื‘ืืžื™ืจืช ื”ืฉื‘ืช โ€ืžืจื•ืžืโ€œ ืขืฆืžื•, ื”ื™ื ื‘ื–ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื’ื‘ืœืช ื”ืฉื‘ื— ื”ื ืžืฆืืช ื‘ืชื•ืืจ โ€ืžืจื•ืžืโ€œ ืื™ื ื ื” ื ืžืฆืืช ื‘ืชืืจ โ€ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉืžื™ืโ€œ. ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื›ื™ ืขืฆื ืฉื‘ื— ื”ืจื•ืžืžื•ืช, ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืืœื ื‘ื’ื“ืจ ื›ืœื™ ื”ื›ืกืฃ ืฉืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ืืžืช ื™ืฉ ืœืงืœืกื• ื‘ื›ืœื™ ื–ื”ื‘โ€ฆืžื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืŸ ื‘ืชื•ืืจ โ€ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉืžื™ืโ€œ, ืื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ืžืฉื•ื ื”ื’ื‘ืœืช ื”ืฉื‘ื— ื›ืœ ืขื™ืงืจ, ืฉืžื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ืชื•ืืจ ื‘ื ื‘ืฆื™ื•ืจ ืชืžื•ื ื” ืžื•ื—ืฉื™ืช, ื”ืจื™ ื”ืฉืžื˜ืช ืงื™ืœื•ืก ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื ื™ืชื ืช ืœื”ืชืคืจืฉ ืžืฆื“ ื”ื’ื‘ืœืช ื”ื›ื•ื— ืœืžืฆื•ื ืชืžื•ื ื” ืžื•ื—ืฉื™ืช ืœืงื™ืœื•ืก ื–ื”.

ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉื”ืงื™ืœื•ืก ื”ื•ื ื‘ืชื•ืืจ ืžื•ืคืฉื˜ ืžื‘ืœื™ ืชืžื•ื ื”, ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื ืžืฉืžืฉ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ืœืขืฆื ื”ืฉื‘ื—; ื•ืื™ืœื• ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉื”ืงื™ืœื•ืก ื‘ื ื‘ืฆื™ื•ืจ ืฉืœ ืชืžื•ื ื”, ื”ืจื™ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ืืœื ื”ื’ื‘ืœื” ื‘ืžืฆื™ืื•ืชื” ืฉืœ ื”ืชืžื•ื ื”โ€”ื‘ืื™ืŸ ื”ื”ื’ื‘ืœื” ื ื•ื’ืขืช ื›ืœืœ ื‘ื’ื•ืคื• ืฉืœ ื”ืฉื‘ื—.

ื’ ืžืชื•ืš ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ื”ืœืœื• ืฉืœ ื”ื’ืจืดื ืœืžื“ื™ื ืื ื• ื›ืžื” ื™ืคื” ื›ื•ื—ื ืฉืœ ืžืฉืœื™ื ืœื’ื‘ื™ ืฉื‘ื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ืโ€ฆืžื™ ื”ื•ื ื–ื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืžืœื ืœื‘ื• ืื•ืชื• ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื“ื• ืœืžืฆื•ืช ืืช ืžืœื•ื ื”ืฉืคืข ืฉืœ ื”ืฆื™ื•ืจื™ื ื•ื”ืชืžื•ื ื•ืช ื•ื”ืžืฉืœื™ื ื”ืžืชืคืฉื˜ื™ื ื‘ืžืจื—ื‘ื™ ื›ืœืœื™ื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœืžื•ืช?โ€”ืžื›ืœ ื”ื™ืงื•ื ื›ื•ืœื•, ื•ืจืง ืœื‘ ืื—ื“ ืžื•ื›ืฉืจ ืœื–ื”: ืœื‘ื‘ื” ืฉืœ ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. โ€ืขื ื–ื• ื™ืฆืจืชื™ ืœื™ ืชื”ืœืชื™ ื™ืกืคืจื•โ€œ. ืกื•ื“ ื”ื™ืฆื™ืจื” ืฉืœ ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืกื™ืคื•ืจ ืชื”ืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื.

โ€ฆื•ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ืžื“ืจื’ืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืดื” ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ื•ื’ืข ืœืฉื‘ื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื, ืœื‘ื‘ื• ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ื‘ื” ืฉืœ ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื ื”ืคืฉื•ื˜ ืฉืœ ื”ืžืœื™ื: โ€ื ืขื™ื ื–ืžื™ืจื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœโ€œ. ื›ืœื•ืžืจ, ืžื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื™ื ื™ื ืืฉืจ ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื”ื ืœืฉืžืฉ ืœืžืฉืœื™ื ื‘ืฉื‘ื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื, ืชื•ืคืกื™ื ื”ื ืžืงื•ืžื ื‘ืœื‘ ื–ื”, ื”ืจื™ ืžืžื™ืœื ืฉื”ืœื‘ ื”ื–ื” ื”ื’ื™ืข ืขื“ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ืžื•ืชืจ ื‘ืงื™ืœื•ืกื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื.

ืคื—ื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง, ืคืกื— ืกื

David isnโ€™t claiming to express all praise of ื”ืณ, but all possible praise. He will use every aspect of his existence as a metaphor to help him verbalize the ineffable. And that forms the basis of our own prayers.

โ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืดื” ืžืคืจืฉ ื•ืžื’ื“ื™ืจ ืืช ืขืฆืžื•ืชื• ื“ื•ืงื ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื–ื” ืฉืœ โ€ืืกืคืจื” ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืšโ€œ. ื•ื”ื”ื“ื’ืฉื” ื”ื™ื ื›ืืŸ ื“ื•ืงื ืขืœ โ€ื›ืœโ€œ ื‘ืคืฉื•ื˜ื•; ื›ืœื•ืžืจโ€”ื›ืœ ืฉื˜ื— ื”ื”ื™ืชืจ ืฉืœ ื”ืฉืžืขืช ืฉื‘ื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืžืงื•ื ืžืฉืชืจืข ื”ื•ื ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื™. ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“ ืืœื ืฉื›ืœ ื™ื—ื™ื“ ื•ื™ื—ื™ื“ ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื ืคืฉื• ืžืชืจื•ืžืžืช ื‘ืงืจื‘ื• ืžืชื•ืš ืืžื™ืจืช ืฉื™ืจื•ืช ื•ืชืฉื‘ื—ื•ืช, ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื›ืœื•ืœ ืืช ืขืฆืžื• ืขื ื”ืดืฉืœื™ื— ืฆื‘ื•ืจ" ืฉืœ ื›ืœืœื™ื•ืช ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื‘ื›ื“ื™ ืœืชืคื•ืก ืžืงื•ื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื›ืš ื‘ืฉื˜ื— ื”ื”ื™ืชืจ ื”ื ืดืœ.

ื“ ื•ื–ื” ืฉืชื™ืงื ื• โ€ื›ืŸ ื—ื•ื‘ืช ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืฆื•ืจื™ื ื•ื’ื•ืžืจ ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœื”ืœืœ ื•ื’ื•ืžืจ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืฉื™ืจื•ืช ื•ืชืฉื‘ื—ื•ืช ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉื™ ืขื‘ื“ืš ืžืฉื™ื—ืšโ€œ. ื“ื”ืื™ โ€ืขืœโ€œ ื‘ืžื•ื‘ืŸ ืกืžื™ื›ื•ืช ื”ื•ื ืžืชืคืจืฉโ€ฆ ืกืžื™ื›ื•ืช ื–ื• ื”ื•ืคื›ืช ื›ืœ ืงื™ืœื•ืก ืคืจื˜ื™ ืฉืœ ื™ื—ื™ื“ ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื—ืœืง ื‘ืœืชื™ ื ืคืจื“ ืžื›ืœืœื™ื•ืช ื”ืงื™ืœื•ืกื™ื ืฉืœ โ€ืืกืคืจื” ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืšโ€œ.

ืคื—ื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง, ืคืกื— ืกื

Davidโ€™s mind, responsive as no other, found in the omnipresence of G-d the one experience that became the dominant force in his life, the atmosphere and living-space of his existenceโ€ฆIn the psalms we find all that we look for in vain in the books describing Davidโ€™s outward life. Triumphs and tragedies, periods of calm and of unrest, of supreme confidence and hopeless despair, mystic surrender and moral reflections, universal love and implacable wrath, find expression in the psalms. They have words like thunderbolts or the whisper of a breeze, raging fire or soothing rain, fragrant flowers or corrosive acid, spanning the whole range of human existence.

The psalms speak of all men of all times. Grief and joy, triumph and despair, assume in the psalms a life of their ownโ€ฆHere Davidโ€™s life-story becomes world history, the story of mankind through the ages; and through it resounds the dominant theme, the ever-recurring finale, of the hope of redemption. Individual and nationโ€ฆbecome one.

Henry Biberfeld, David, King of Israel, pp 134-136