ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Last Will and Testament

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

As I ended with last time, we are going to return to the narrative of Davidโ€™s life and his attempts to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. But ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ends with the relevation of ื”ืจ ื”ื‘ื™ืช and David building a ืžื–ื‘ื— there:

ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื“ื•ื“ ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœื•ืช ื•ืฉืœืžื™ื; ื•ื™ืขืชืจ ื”ืณ ืœืืจืฅ ื•ืชืขืฆืจ ื”ืžื’ืคื” ืžืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื›ื”

And then it stops.

[W]e suggest that Sefer Shemuel does not end with David HaMelechโ€™s death, since Sefer Shemuelโ€™s agenda is not to present the biography of David HaMelech. Rather, it concludes with the story of David HaMelechโ€™s acquisition of Aravnah the Yevusiโ€™s granary as the future site of the Beit HaMikdash and his construction of a Mizbeiโ€™ach on the site, since the agenda of Sefer Shemuel is, as we said, to describe the dramatic ascent of Am Yisrael from a splintered people with a problematic spiritual center to a people with a great leader, ushering in the dawn of the era of the Beit HaMikdash.

Chaim Jachter, From David to Destruction, Introduction

I would put it a little differently; ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ in fact begins with a united Israel. In the first narrative that involves the larger country, the Israelites are fighting as one nation:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ืฆื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืงืจืืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ื™ื—ื ื• ืขืœ ื”ืื‘ืŸ ื”ืขื–ืจ ื•ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื—ื ื• ื‘ืืคืงืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื“:ื

We donโ€™t appreciate Eli as a ืฉื•ืคื˜;โ€Ž (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื“:ื™ื—)โ€Ž ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉืคื˜ ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืจื‘ืขื™ื ืฉื ื”. We focus on his failure as a ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ. But the Israel of the end of ืกืคืจ ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื was a squabbling mess of independent tribes, and here they are united. I think we have to credit Eli for that, ื•ืื›ืžืดืœ.

I think the message of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ is the lack of a religious center, and how the destruction of the ืžืฉื›ืŸ and the lack of a ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ leads to the re-splintering of the nation, and how David rebuilds it and re-unites to the brink of creating the permanent ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. The actual building is left for the sequel. There is some foreshadowing in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ that the fault lines in the nation still exist, and when the sequel (ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื) ends up being written, it isnโ€™t so much about building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ and the society that maintains it. It is about the split in the nation and the ultimate destruction of that ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

Be that as it may, for the continuation of our story we need to look elsewhere. And that elsewhere is ืกืคืจ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื.

ื›ื• ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขืœ ืขืœื•ืช ื•ืฉืœืžื™ื; ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืœ ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขื ื”ื• ื‘ืืฉ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืขืœ ืžื–ื‘ื— ื”ืขืœื”ืƒ

ื›ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืœืžืœืืš ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื—ืจื‘ื• ืืœ ื ื“ื ื”ืƒ ื›ื— ื‘ืขืช ื”ื”ื™ื ื‘ืจืื•ืช ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื›ื™ ืขื ื”ื• ื”ืณ ื‘ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™; ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื— ืฉืืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ืžืฉื›ืŸ ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืžืฉื” ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•ืžื–ื‘ื— ื”ืขื•ืœื” ื‘ืขืช ื”ื”ื™ื; ื‘ื‘ืžื” ื‘ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸืƒ ืœ ื•ืœื ื™ื›ืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืœื›ืช ืœืคื ื™ื• ืœื“ืจืฉ ืืœืงื™ื; ื›ื™ ื ื‘ืขืช ืžืคื ื™ ื—ืจื‘ ืžืœืืš ื”ืณืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

David gets a signโ€”the angel with a sword pointing at the threshing floor of Arnon, north of what was then Jerusalem properโ€”and a command from Gad to build an altar there. When he does, the fire comes down from heaven and the plague ends, and then the text says, ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื— ืฉื. From then on, he will offer sacrifices only there, even though the ืžืฉื›ืŸ is in ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸ.

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

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื

It is the ืžื–ื‘ื— that is divinely commanded.

ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—, ืžืงื•ืžื• ืžื›ื•ื•ืŸ ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ; ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉื ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืžืžืงื•ืžื• ืœืขื•ืœื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื) ื–ึถื” ืžึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึทื— ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื” ืœึฐื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ. ื•ื‘ืžืงื“ืฉ ื ืขืงื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง ืื‘ื™ื ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื‘:ื‘) ื•ึฐืœึถืšึฐ ืœึฐืšึธ ืึถืœ ืึถืจึถืฅ ื”ึทืžึผึนืจึดื™ึผึธื” ื•ื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื’:ื) ื•ึทื™ึผึธื—ึถืœ ืฉืึฐืœึนืžึนื” ืœึดื‘ึฐื ื•ึนืช ืึถืช ื‘ึผึตื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ึผึดื™ืจื•ึผืฉืึธืœึทื™ึดื ื‘ึผึฐื”ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึผื•ึนืจึดื™ึผึธื” ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื ึดืจึฐืึธื” ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื™ื“ ืึธื‘ึดื™ื”ื•ึผ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื”ึตื›ึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึดืžึฐืงื•ึนื ื“ึผึธื•ึดื™ื“ ื‘ึผึฐื’ึ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” ืคืจืง ื‘

We think of the ื”ื™ื›ืœ, with the ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉื™ื, as the essential point of the ืžืงื“ืฉ; and the ืžื–ื‘ื— is just placed in front of that. But Rambam clearly holds that the ืžื–ื‘ื— is the critical location, and the ื”ื™ื›ืœ is placed in the vicinity.

Since ืคืจืง ื—, David had already filled storehouses with gold and silver planning for this, but now, he can start the project in earnest. Now he starts buying the actual building materials.

ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœื›ื ื•ืก ืืช ื”ื’ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ืขืžื“ ื—ืฆื‘ื™ื ืœื—ืฆื•ื‘ ืื‘ื ื™ ื’ื–ื™ืช ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืœืงื™ืืƒ ื’ ื•ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืœืจื‘ ืœืžืกืžืจื™ื ืœื“ืœืชื•ืช ื”ืฉืขืจื™ื ื•ืœืžื—ื‘ืจื•ืช ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“; ื•ื ื—ืฉืช ืœืจื‘ ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉืงืœืƒ ื“ ื•ืขืฆื™ ืืจื–ื™ื ืœืื™ืŸ ืžืกืคืจ; ื›ื™ ื”ื‘ื™ืื• ื”ืฆื™ื“ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืฆืจื™ื ืขืฆื™ ืืจื–ื™ื ืœืจื‘ ืœื“ื•ื™ื“ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœื›ื ื•ืก ืืช ื”ื’ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ seems independent of the next part of the pasuk: ื•ื™ืขืžื“ ื—ืฆื‘ื™ื ืœื—ืฆื•ื‘. What ื’ืจื™ื are being assembled? Are they particularly good at stonework? And ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœื›ื ื•ืก means โ€œDavid planned to assembleโ€, not that he did. Ralbag understands this as a callback to the story of the famine and the Givonim. We said that David restored the Givonim to their historic role in the ืžืงื“ืฉ.

ื•ืžืŸ ื”ื ืชื™ื ื™ื ืฉื ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ื”ืฉืจื™ื ืœืขื‘ื“ืช ื”ืœื•ื™ื ื ืชื™ื ื™ื ืžืืชื™ื ื•ืขืฉืจื™ื; ื›ืœื ื ืงื‘ื• ื‘ืฉืžื•ืชืƒ

ืขื–ืจื ื—:ื›

These โ€œื ืชื™ื ื™ืโ€ that David โ€œื ืชืŸโ€ were the ื’ืจื™ื mentioned here.

ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื›ื ื•ืก ืืช ื”ื’ืจื™ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ืชื‘ืืจ ื‘ืกืคืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื:ื”) ื›ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื“ ืืช ื”ื’ื‘ืขื•ื ื™ื ืžื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืฉื™ื‘ื ื•ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžื” ืฉื™ืฆื˜ืจืš ืœื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

ืจืœื‘ืดื’, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื‘

When did this all happen? Based on the gemara in Sukkah about the digging of the foundations, I assume it before Avshalomโ€™s rebellion. Iโ€™ve presented this chronology before; this is expanded and slightly modified (I pushed Shlomoโ€™s birth up a bit). This is my opinion, my headcanon.

Davidโ€™s Age Event
25 David anointed
26 David kills Goliath
27 David and Shmuel plan the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ; destruction of Nov
28 David is a Philistine vassal in Ziklag
30 Death of Saul; David becomes king in Chevron over Judah
32 Death of Ish Boshet
35 Avshalom born
37 David becomes king over all Israel
38 Conquest of Jerusalem and war of independence against the Philistines
40 Nathan tells David he will not build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ
41-48 The ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื”ืจืฉื•ืช of ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื—
46 3 year famine (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื)
48 The Givonim are appeased
49 War with Ammon
50 Bat Sheva affair
51 The child dies, as do Bat Shevaโ€™s next 3 children
53 The census (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“)
54 The plague and revelation of the site of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ
55 The rape of Tamar
57 Amnon murdered and Avshalom in exile
58 Birth of Shlomo; Achitophel turns against David
60 Shlomo is publicly presented as heir; Avshalom allowed to return but David will not see him
62 Avshalom allowed back to the palace but starts plotting against David.
65 Avshalom openly rebels (40 years from when David was anointed as king)
66 The rebellion of Sheva ben Bichri
69 David abdicates in favor of Shlomo
70 David dies

So David starts building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ in earnest at age 54, then at age 58 he has the child he has been praying for.

ื›ื™ ื™ืžืœืื• ื™ืžื™ืš ื•ืฉื›ื‘ืช ืืช ืื‘ืชื™ืš ื•ื”ืงื™ืžืชื™ ืืช ื–ืจืขืš ืื—ืจื™ืš ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ืš; ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ืชื™ ืืช ืžืžืœื›ืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื™ื‘

ื›ื“ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืืฉืชื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื” ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืขืžื”; ื•ืชืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ื•ื™ืงืจื (ื•ืชืงืจื) ืืช ืฉืžื• ืฉืœืžื” ื•ื”ืณ ืื”ื‘ื•ืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื™ื“ ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืช ืฉืžื• ื™ื“ื™ื“ื™ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืณืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

And ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื skips ahead to the year before David dies. Shlomo is 11.

ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื™ ื ืขืจ ื•ืจืš ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืœื”ืณ ืœื”ื’ื“ื™ืœ ืœืžืขืœื” ืœืฉื ื•ืœืชืคืืจืช ืœื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฆื•ืช ืื›ื™ื ื” ื ื ืœื•; ื•ื™ื›ืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืจื‘ ืœืคื ื™ ืžื•ืชื•ืƒ ื• ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื•; ื•ื™ืฆื•ื”ื• ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

What follows is Davidโ€™s will, the legacy he wants to give to his son. Itโ€™s not the legacy of an estateโ€”that, the kingdom of Israelโ€”is the story of ืคืจืง ื of ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื ื. It is an ethical will.

Unlike legal wills, ethical willsโ€”also known as legacy lettersโ€”are not written by lawyers, but by you. They can include life lessons, values, blessings and hopes for the future, apologies to those you fear you may have hurt or gratitude to those you think you have not thanked enough.

Deborah Quilter, The Ethical Will: Life Is About More Than Your Possessions

ื– ื•ื™ืื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 ื™ื ืขืชื” ื‘ื ื™ ื™ื”ื™ ื”ืณ ืขืžืš; ื•ื”ืฆืœื—ืช ื•ื‘ื ื™ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœื™ืšืƒ ื™ื‘ ืืš ื™ืชืŸ ืœืš ื”ืณ ืฉื›ืœ ื•ื‘ื™ื ื” ื•ื™ืฆื•ืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืœืฉืžื•ืจ ืืช ืชื•ืจืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืšืƒ ื™ื’ ืื– ืชืฆืœื™ื— ืื ืชืฉืžื•ืจ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืืช ื”ื—ืงื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ื ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื” ื”ืณ ืืช ืžืฉื” ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ื•ืืœ ืชื—ืชืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ืขื ื™ื™ ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ืชื™ ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื–ื”ื‘ ื›ื›ืจื™ื ืžืื” ืืœืฃ ื•ื›ืกืฃ ืืœืฃ ืืœืคื™ื ื›ื›ืจื™ื ื•ืœื ื—ืฉืช ื•ืœื‘ืจื–ืœ ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉืงืœ ื›ื™ ืœืจื‘ ื”ื™ื”; ื•ืขืฆื™ื ื•ืื‘ื ื™ื ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ืชื™ ื•ืขืœื™ื”ื ืชื•ืกื™ืฃืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ืขืžืš ืœืจื‘ ืขืฉื™ ืžืœืื›ื” ื—ืฆื‘ื™ื ื•ื—ืจืฉื™ ืื‘ืŸ ื•ืขืฅ; ื•ื›ืœ ื—ื›ื ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ื”ืƒ ื˜ื– ืœื–ื”ื‘ ืœื›ืกืฃ ื•ืœื ื—ืฉืช ื•ืœื‘ืจื–ืœ ืื™ืŸ ืžืกืคืจ; ืงื•ื ื•ืขืฉื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื”ืณ ืขืžืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

Weโ€™ve talked about ื“ื ืœืจื‘ ืฉืคื›ืช many times, and what that means in the context of building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. Davidโ€™s charge to Shlomo has three messages: keep the Torah, ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ, and build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ (for which I have gotten everything ready). It echoes very closely ื”ืณ's charge to Yehoshua:

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ืžื•ืช ืžืฉื” ืขื‘ื“ ื”ืณ; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืŸ ื ื•ืŸ ืžืฉืจืช ืžืฉื” ืœืืžืจืƒ ื‘ ืžืฉื” ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืžืช; ื•ืขืชื” ืงื•ื ืขื‘ืจ ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื”ื–ื” ืืชื” ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ืืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืื ื›ื™ ื ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ืœื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื’ ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ืชื“ืจืš ื›ืฃ ืจื’ืœื›ื ื‘ื• ืœื›ื ื ืชืชื™ื•; ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™ ืืœ ืžืฉื”ืƒ ื“ ืžื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื”ืœื‘ื ื•ืŸ ื”ื–ื” ื•ืขื“ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื ื”ืจ ืคืจืช ื›ืœ ืืจืฅ ื”ื—ืชื™ื ื•ืขื“ ื”ื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื‘ื•ื ื”ืฉืžืฉ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื’ื‘ื•ืœื›ืืƒ ื” ืœื ื™ืชื™ืฆื‘ ืื™ืฉ ืœืคื ื™ืš ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ืš; ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืขื ืžืฉื” ืื”ื™ื” ืขืžืš ืœื ืืจืคืš ื•ืœื ืืขื–ื‘ืšืƒ ื• ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ; ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืชื ื—ื™ืœ ืืช ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ืืช ื”ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ ืœืื‘ื•ืชื ืœืชืช ืœื”ืืƒ ื– ืจืง ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ืžืื“ ืœืฉืžืจ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื›ื›ืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ืš ืžืฉื” ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืืœ ืชืกื•ืจ ืžืžื ื• ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืื•ืœ; ืœืžืขืŸ ืชืฉื›ื™ืœ ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืœืšืƒ ื— ืœื ื™ืžื•ืฉ ืกืคืจ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื”ื–ื” ืžืคื™ืš ื•ื”ื’ื™ืช ื‘ื• ื™ื•ืžื ื•ืœื™ืœื” ืœืžืขืŸ ืชืฉืžืจ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื›ื›ืœ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื•; ื›ื™ ืื– ืชืฆืœื™ื— ืืช ื“ืจื›ืš ื•ืื– ืชืฉื›ื™ืœืƒ ื˜ ื”ืœื•ื ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ืš ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ืืœ ืชืขืจืฅ ื•ืืœ ืชื—ืช; ื›ื™ ืขืžืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืœืšืƒ

ื™ื”ื•ืฉื•ืข ืคืจืง ื

Again, three messages: keep the Torah, ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ, and conquer ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ (for which I have gotten everything ready). Abarbanel points out that there are three โ€œื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅโ€ corresponding to three areas that Joshua will need to be strong:

ืื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืœืคืจืฉ ื”ืคืกื•ืงื™ื, ืฉืฆื•ื” ื”ืึพืœ ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ืœื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ืฉื™ืชื—ื–ืง ื‘ืฉืœืฉื” ืขื ื™ื ื™ื. ื”ืื—ื“ ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืขื ื‘ื”ื ื”ื’ืชื ื›ืคื™ ื”ืจืื•ื™ ื•ืœื ื™ื’ื•ืจ ืžืคื ื™ ืื™ืฉ, ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉืจื•ื‘ื™ ื”ืงื˜ื˜ื•ืช ื”ื ื‘ื—ืœื•ืงืช ื”ืืจืฆื•ืชโ€ฆืœื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื• ืฉื™ืฆื˜ืจืš ืืœ ื—ื•ื–ืง ืจื‘ ื‘ื”ื ื”ื’ืช ื”ืขื, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ื ื—ื™ืœ ืœื”ื ืืช ื”ืืจืฅ, ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื™ืฆื˜ืจืš ื—ื•ื–ืง ื•ืื•ืžืฅ ืจื‘.

ื”ื—ื•ื–ืง ื”ืฉื ื™ ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืืœ ื™ืชืณ ื•ื–ื” ืฉืœื ื™ืžืฉืš ืื—ืจ ืชืื•ื•ืชื™ื•, ืื‘ืœ ื™ืชื—ื–ืง ืœื›ื‘ื•ืฉ ืืช ื™ืฆืจื• ื•ืœืฉืžื•ืจ ืืช ื›ืœ ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ื›ื™ ื–ื” ืžื’ื•ื“ืœ ื”ืื•ืžืฅ, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื”ืชื ื (ืคืจืงื™ ืื‘ื•ืช ื“:ื) ืื™ื–ื” ื’ื™ื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื›ื•ื‘ืฉ ืืช ื™ืฆืจื•, ื•ืœื–ื” ืืžืจ ื‘ื—ื•ื–ืง ื”ืฉื ื™ ื”ื–ื” ืจืง ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ืžืื“, ืฉื”ื–ื”ื™ืจ ืขืœื™ื• ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื”ืื—ืจื™ื.

ื•ื”ื—ื•ื–ืง ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื”ื•ื ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ ื”ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืœื ืฆื—ื, ื•ืžืคื ื™ ื–ื” ืืžืจ ื‘ื—ื•ื–ืง ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื”ื–ื”, ื”ืœื ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ืš ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ืืœ ืชืขืจื•ืฅ ื•ืืœ ืชื—ืช, ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืœื ื™ืขืจื•ืš ื•ืœื ื™ื—ืช ืžืคื ื™ ื”ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื.

ื•ื”ื ื” ืืžืจ ื›ืืŸ ื”ืœื ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ืš ืžื” ืฉืœื ืืžืจ ื‘ืฉื ื™ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื, ืœืคื™ ืฉืขื“ ืขืชื” ืœื ื”ื–ื”ื™ืจ ื”ืืœ ื™ืชืณ ืœื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ืขืœ ืฉื ื™ ืžื™ื ื™ ื”ื—ื•ื–ืง ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื, ืื‘ืœ ืขืœ ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ืฆื•ื”ื• ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ื•ื™ืœืš, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœืดื ื›ืดื’) ื•ื™ืฆื• ืืช ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืŸ ื ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืชื‘ื™ื ืืช ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื:ื•

Just as Yehoshua is going to be the ืžืœืš, to lead the people into their new phase of existence, as a nation in their land; so will Shlomo lead the people into their new phase of existence as an ืื•ืจ ืœื’ื•ื™ื, which is what the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is all about: ืœืฉื ื•ืœืชืคืืจืช ืœื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฆื•ืช.

ื”ืณ tells Yehoshua ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ in dealing with other people. Being a ืžืœืš means being a judge, which means making hard choices.

ื‘ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—) โ€ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื•ืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื”โ€œ ื•ื”ืœื ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื™ืฉ ืžืฉืคื˜ ืื™ืŸ ืฆื“ืงื” ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉืคื˜?

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื•,ื‘

and ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ in your service to ื”ืณ, because power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ืจื•ื ืœื‘ื‘ื• ืžืื—ื™ื• ื•ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ืกื•ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืื•ืœ ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืืจื™ืš ื™ืžื™ื ืขืœ ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ื”ื•ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื• ื‘ืงืจื‘ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื–:ื›

The third ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ is about being a military leader. That should not be relevant to Shlomo, because ืฉืœื•ื ื•ืฉืงื˜ ืืชืŸ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื•.

ืชื ืดืš records other ethical wills that David leaves to Shlomo. He presents one later in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, in front of the entire people, that summarizes the previous one.

ื› ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ ื•ืขืฉื” ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ื•ืืœ ืชื—ืช; ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ืืœืงื™ ืขืžืš ืœื ื™ืจืคืš ื•ืœื ื™ืขื–ื‘ืš ืขื“ ืœื›ืœื•ืช ื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ืช ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณืƒ ื›ื ื•ื”ื ื” ืžื—ืœืงื•ืช ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืœื•ื™ื ืœื›ืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ืขืžืš ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ื” ืœื›ืœ ื ื“ื™ื‘ ื‘ื—ื›ืžื” ืœื›ืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื•ื”ืฉืจื™ื ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืœื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

And there are two in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. We dealt with ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื‘ in Crowning Glory.

ื ืœืฉืœืžื”; ืืœืงื™ื ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ืš ืœืžืœืš ืชืŸ; ื•ืฆื“ืงืชืš ืœื‘ืŸ ืžืœืšืƒ ื‘ ื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืขืžืš ื‘ืฆื“ืง; ื•ืขื ื™ื™ืš ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜ืƒ ื’ ื™ืฉืื• ื”ืจื™ื ืฉืœื•ื ืœืขื; ื•ื’ื‘ืขื•ืช ื‘ืฆื“ืงื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื‘

And we discussed ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื›ื– in A Dream Deferred.

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช ืœืฉืœืžื”; ืื ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื•ื ืขืžืœื• ื‘ื•ื ื™ื• ื‘ื•; ืื ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ืฉืžืจ ืขื™ืจ ืฉื•ื ืฉืงื“ ืฉื•ืžืจืƒ ื‘ ืฉื•ื ืœื›ื ืžืฉื›ื™ืžื™ ืงื•ื ืžืื—ืจื™ ืฉื‘ืช ืื›ืœื™ ืœื—ื ื”ืขืฆื‘ื™ื; ื›ืŸ ื™ืชืŸ ืœื™ื“ื™ื“ื• ืฉื ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงื›ื–

They summarize the reason why we care about the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. If having a pretty building is so important, just build it! But Davidโ€™s point is that it is only a symbol. It can only be built if ื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืขืžืš ื‘ืฆื“ืง; ื•ืขื ื™ื™ืš ื‘ืžืฉืคื˜. And without ื”ืณ's approval, it means nothing: ืื ื”ืณ ืœื ื™ื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื•ื ืขืžืœื• ื‘ื•ื ื™ื• ื‘ื•.

They are all consistent with Davidโ€™s message in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื.

But the interesting ethical will is the one in ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื:

ื ื•ื™ืงืจื‘ื• ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžื•ืช; ื•ื™ืฆื• ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ืœืืžืจืƒ ื‘ ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืœืš ื‘ื“ืจืš ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ื—ื–ืงืช ื•ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœืื™ืฉืƒ ื’ ื•ืฉืžืจืช ืืช ืžืฉืžืจืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืœืœื›ืช ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื• ืœืฉืžืจ ื—ืงืชื™ื• ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ื• ื•ืขื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื›ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืจืช ืžืฉื” ืœืžืขืŸ ืชืฉื›ื™ืœ ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื” ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชืคื ื” ืฉืืƒ ื“ ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืงื™ื ื”ืณ ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื• ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœื™ ืœืืžืจ ืื ื™ืฉืžืจื• ื‘ื ื™ืš ืืช ื“ืจื›ื ืœืœื›ืช ืœืคื ื™ ื‘ืืžืช ื‘ื›ืœ ืœื‘ื‘ื ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ื ืคืฉื; ืœืืžืจ ืœื ื™ื›ืจืช ืœืš ืื™ืฉ ืžืขืœ ื›ืกื ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื” ื•ื’ื ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœืฉื ื™ ืฉืจื™ ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืื‘ื ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื ืจ ื•ืœืขืžืฉื ื‘ืŸ ื™ืชืจ ื•ื™ื”ืจื’ื ื•ื™ืฉื ื“ืžื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื“ืžื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ื—ื’ืจืชื• ืืฉืจ ื‘ืžืชื ื™ื• ื•ื‘ื ืขืœื• ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•ืƒ ื• ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ื—ื›ืžืชืš; ื•ืœื ืชื•ืจื“ ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœื ืฉืืœืƒ ื– ื•ืœื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืจื–ืœื™ ื”ื’ืœืขื“ื™ ืชืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ื•ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืื›ืœื™ ืฉืœื—ื ืš; ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ืงืจื‘ื• ืืœื™ ื‘ื‘ืจื—ื™ ืžืคื ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื—ื™ืšืƒ ื— ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืžืš ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื‘ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ืžื‘ื—ืจื™ื ื•ื”ื•ื ืงืœืœื ื™ ืงืœืœื” ื ืžืจืฆืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ืœื›ืชื™ ืžื—ื ื™ื; ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืจื“ ืœืงืจืืชื™ ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ืืฉื‘ืข ืœื• ื‘ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ืื ืืžื™ืชืš ื‘ื—ืจื‘ืƒ ื˜ ื•ืขืชื” ืืœ ืชื ืงื”ื• ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืืชื”; ื•ื™ื“ืขืช ืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื” ืœื• ื•ื”ื•ืจื“ืช ืืช ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ื“ื ืฉืื•ืœืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื‘

There are also three messages here: keep the Torah, ื•ื—ื–ืงืช ื•ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœืื™ืฉ (which sounds parallel to ื—ื–ืง ื•ืืžืฅ), and reward my friends/kill my enemies. Seems much more petty than the glorious ื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืขืžืš ื‘ืฆื“ืง.

We need to review who all those people are. Yoav was Davidโ€™s nephew, his general and his chief enforcer. Avner was Saulโ€™s and then Ish Boshetโ€™s general (and Saulโ€™s uncle), and he had killed Asael, Yoavโ€™s brother, during the civil war between Ish Boshet and David. Avner later tried trying to re-unite the country but Yoav didnโ€™t trust him.

ื›ื• ื•ื™ืฆื ื™ื•ืื‘ ืžืขื ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืืชื• ืžื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืกืจื”; ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืƒ ื›ื– ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืื‘ื ืจ ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ ื•ื™ื˜ื”ื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืœ ืชื•ืš ื”ืฉืขืจ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืืชื• ื‘ืฉืœื™; ื•ื™ื›ื”ื• ืฉื ื”ื—ืžืฉ ื•ื™ืžืช ื‘ื“ื ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื’

Amasa was Davidโ€™s nephew and Avshalomโ€™s general during his rebellion. In the final battle of that rebellion, Yoav killed Avshalom against Davidโ€™s orders. David fired him and, trying to re-unite the country, appointed Amasa in his place. Amasa was leading the army during the rebellion of ืฉื‘ืข ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื›ืจื™:

ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœืขืžืฉื ื”ืฉืœื•ื ืืชื” ืื—ื™; ื•ืชื—ื– ื™ื“ ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ื–ืงืŸ ืขืžืฉื ืœื ืฉืง ืœื•ืƒ ื™ ื•ืขืžืฉื ืœื ื ืฉืžืจ ื‘ื—ืจื‘ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื™ื“ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ื›ื”ื• ื‘ื” ืืœ ื”ื—ืžืฉ ื•ื™ืฉืคืš ืžืขื™ื• ืืจืฆื” ื•ืœื ืฉื ื” ืœื• ื•ื™ืžืช; ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืื—ื™ื• ืจื“ืฃ ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื‘ืข ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื›ืจื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›

As I have said many times, Yoav was fiercely loyal to King David; at least to the idea of King David. He would do whatever he thought was necessary to preserve his reign, even if David himself disagreed. And Yoav never met a problem that couldnโ€™t be solved with a sharp blade under the fifth rib.

ื•ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืจืš ื•ืžืฉื•ื— ืžืœืš ื•ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืงืฉื™ื ืžืžื ื™; ื™ืฉืœื ื”ืณ ืœืขืฉื” ื”ืจืขื” ื›ืจืขืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื’:ืœื˜

ืืžืจ ืจืณ ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืคื“ืช: ืื™ืœืžืœื ืฉื™ื˜ื ื• ืฉืœ ื™ื•ืื‘, ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื ื—ื•ืžื (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืคืจืฉืช ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ืกื™ืžืŸ ื’

So was ืœื ืชื•ืจื“ ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœื ืฉืืœ a command to kill Yoav? Abarbanel says it was not a command but a prediction; he admits he was wrong to tolerate (and even take advantage of; see Uriah) Yoavโ€™s violence. ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ื—ื›ืžืชืš: Yoav will be a problem. Deal with it directly.

ื•ืื—ืจื™ ืฉืกืคืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืœ ื”ืžืขืฉื” ื”ื–ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ื™ื•ืื‘ ื ื’ื“ื•, ืืžืจ ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• โ€ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื‘ื—ื›ืžืชืšโ€œ, ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืืœ ืชืชื ื”ื’ ื‘ืขืฆืชื•, ื•ืืœ ืชื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ื›ื ื—ืจืฉื™ื ื•ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉืจ ืฆื‘ืื™, ื•ืืชื” ื ืขืจ ื•ืจืš, ื•ืฉืชืฆื“ืง ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชืš ื ืžืฉืš ืื—ืจื™ื•. ืœื ืชืขืฉื” ื›ืŸ; ืื‘ืœ ื”ืชื—ื–ืง โ€ื•ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœืื™ืฉโ€œ, ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ืœื ื›ื—ื›ืžืชืš ื•ืœื ื›ื—ื›ืžืชื•. ื•ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ืฉืžืจ ืžืžื ื•, ืื™ืขืฆืš ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืืœืงื™ื ืขืžืš ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืขืžืš ื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ืœื”ื™ื•ืชื• ื’ื ืฉื‚ึตื‘ ื’ื ื™ึธืฉึดืื™ืฉื, ื”ืจื—ืง ืžืขืœื™ื• ื“ืจื›ืš, ื•ืœื ืชืฉื‘ ืขืžื• ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื‘ืœ ืชื’ืจืฉื”ื•. ื•ืื– ืœื ื™ืžืฉื•ืœ ื‘ืš ื›ืืฉืจ ืžืฉืœ ื‘ื™, ื•ืœืคื™ ื–ื” ืœื• ืฆื•ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ืฉื™ื”ืจื’ื”ื• ื›ื™ ืื ืฉืœื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืžื• ื‘ืฉืœื•ื. ื•ื’ื ื–ื” ืœื ืฆื•ื” ืขืœื™ื• ืœื”ืขื ื™ืฉื• ื›ื™ ืื ืœืชืช ืขืฆื” ืœืฉืœืžื” ืฉื™ืฉืžืจ ืžืžื ื•.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื‘:ื•

The bottom line is that preserving the unity of the country outweighs more transient political concerns.

ื‘ืจื–ืœื™ ื”ื’ืœืขื“ื™ was one of those who supported David during Avshalomโ€™s rebellion, and David had tried to reward him:

ืœื’ ื•ื‘ืจื–ืœื™ ื–ืงืŸ ืžืื“ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื ื™ื ืฉื ื”; ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ืœื›ืœ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ืžื—ื ื™ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืžืื“ืƒ ืœื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื‘ืจื–ืœื™; ืืชื” ืขื‘ืจ ืืชื™ ื•ื›ืœื›ืœืชื™ ืืชืš ืขืžื“ื™ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ ืœื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ืจื–ืœื™ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš; ื›ืžื” ื™ืžื™ ืฉื ื™ ื—ื™ื™ ื›ื™ ืืขืœื” ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ ืœื• ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื ื™ื ืฉื ื” ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ืื“ืข ื‘ื™ืŸ ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœืจืข ืื ื™ื˜ืขื ืขื‘ื“ืš ืืช ืืฉืจ ืื›ืœ ื•ืืช ืืฉืจ ืืฉืชื” ืื ืืฉืžืข ืขื•ื“ ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืฉืจื™ื ื•ืฉืจื•ืช; ื•ืœืžื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืขื‘ื“ืš ืขื•ื“ ืœืžืฉื ืืœ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ืœื– ื›ืžืขื˜ ื™ืขื‘ืจ ืขื‘ื“ืš ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ืืช ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ืœืžื” ื™ื’ืžืœื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื’ืžื•ืœื” ื”ื–ืืชืƒ ืœื— ื™ืฉื‘ ื ื ืขื‘ื“ืš ื•ืืžืช ื‘ืขื™ืจื™ ืขื ืงื‘ืจ ืื‘ื™ ื•ืืžื™; ื•ื”ื ื” ืขื‘ื“ืš ื›ึดืžึฐื”ึธื ื™ืขื‘ืจ ืขื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืขืฉื” ืœื• ืืช ืืฉืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืšืƒ

ืœื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืชื™ ื™ืขื‘ืจ ื›ึดืžึฐื”ึธื ื•ืื ื™ ืืขืฉื” ืœื• ืืช ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืš; ื•ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืชื‘ื—ืจ ืขืœื™ ืืขืฉื” ืœืšืƒ ืž ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืช ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืขื‘ืจ; ื•ื™ืฉืง ื”ืžืœืš ืœื‘ืจื–ืœื™ ื•ื™ื‘ืจื›ื”ื• ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืœืžืงืžื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

The ื’ืœืขื“ was the part of the country most isolated from ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” and the central government in Jerusalem. It had been the center of Ish Boshetโ€™s kingdom, when it was split from Davidโ€™s ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”:

ื— ื•ืื‘ื ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื ืจ ืฉืจ ืฆื‘ื ืืฉืจ ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืœืงื— ืืช ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉืช ื‘ืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจื”ื• ืžื—ื ื™ืืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ืžืœื›ื”ื• ืืœ ื”ื’ืœืขื“ ื•ืืœ ื”ืืฉื•ืจื™ ื•ืืœ ื™ื–ืจืขืืœ; ื•ืขืœ ืืคืจื™ื ื•ืขืœ ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื•ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ืœื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื‘

So publicly demonstrating that the children of the ืื™ืฉ ื’ื“ื•ืœ of ื’ืœืขื“ shows that preserving the unity of the country outweighs more transient political concerns.

ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื is different. He was a cousin of Saul.

ื” ื•ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืขื“ ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื; ื•ื”ื ื” ืžืฉื ืื™ืฉ ื™ื•ืฆื ืžืžืฉืคื—ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืฉืžื• ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื™ืฆื ื™ืฆื•ื ื•ืžืงืœืœืƒ ื• ื•ื™ืกืงืœ ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืžื™ืžื™ื ื• ื•ืžืฉืžืืœื•ืƒ ื– ื•ื›ื” ืืžืจ ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืงืœืœื•; ืฆื ืฆื ืื™ืฉ ื”ื“ืžื™ื ื•ืื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ืœื™ืขืœืƒ ื— ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืขืœื™ืš ื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื“ืžื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ืžืœื›ืช ืชื—ืชื• ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื”ืณ ืืช ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื‘ื™ื“ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื ืš; ื•ื”ื ืš ื‘ืจืขืชืš ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื“ืžื™ื ืืชื”ืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืœืžื” ื™ืงืœืœ ื”ื›ืœื‘ ื”ืžืช ื”ื–ื” ืืช ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš; ืืขื‘ืจื” ื ื ื•ืืกื™ืจื” ืืช ืจืืฉื•ืƒ

ื™ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืžื” ืœื™ ื•ืœื›ื ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื™ื”; ื›ื™ (ื›ื”) ื™ืงืœืœ ื•ื›ื™ (ื›ื™) ื”ืณ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืงืœืœ ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืžื™ ื™ืืžืจ ืžื“ื•ืข ืขืฉื™ืชื” ื›ืŸืƒ

ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื•ืืœ ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื”ื ื” ื‘ื ื™ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืžืžืขื™ ืžื‘ืงืฉ ืืช ื ืคืฉื™; ื•ืืฃ ื›ื™ ืขืชื” ื‘ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ื”ื ื—ื• ืœื• ื•ื™ืงืœืœ ื›ื™ ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืจืื” ื”ืณ ื‘ืขื•ื ื™ (ื‘ืขื™ื ื™); ื•ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ื”ืณ ืœื™ ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืชื—ืช ืงืœืœืชื• ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืื ืฉื™ื• ื‘ื“ืจืš;
ื•ืฉืžืขื™ ื”ืœืš ื‘ืฆืœืข ื”ื”ืจ ืœืขืžืชื• ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื™ืงืœืœ ื•ื™ืกืงืœ ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ืœืขืžืชื• ื•ืขืคืจ ื‘ืขืคืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

But when David won the civil war, ืฉืžืขื™ tried to make amends:

ื™ื– ื•ื™ืžื”ืจ ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื‘ืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ืืฉืจ ืžื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืจื“ ืขื ืื™ืฉ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืœืงืจืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ืขืžื• ืžื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื•ืฆื™ื‘ื ื ืขืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื—ืžืฉืช ืขืฉืจ ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ืขืฉืจื™ื ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืืชื•; ื•ืฆืœื—ื• ื”ื™ืจื“ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ืขื‘ืจื” ื”ืขื‘ืจื” ืœืขื‘ื™ืจ ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ ื‘ืขื™ื ื•; ื•ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ื ืคืœ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ืขื‘ืจื• ื‘ื™ืจื“ืŸืƒ ื› ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื™ื—ืฉื‘ ืœื™ ืื“ื ื™ ืขื•ืŸ ื•ืืœ ืชื–ื›ืจ ืืช ืืฉืจ ื”ืขื•ื” ืขื‘ื“ืš ื‘ื™ื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืžื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืœืฉื•ื ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืœื‘ื•ืƒ ื›ื ื›ื™ ื™ื“ืข ืขื‘ื“ืš ื›ื™ ืื ื™ ื—ื˜ืืชื™; ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ืืชื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืช ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืœืจื“ืช ืœืงืจืืช ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืขืŸ ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืชื—ืช ื–ืืช ืœื ื™ื•ืžืช ืฉืžืขื™; ื›ื™ ืงืœืœ ืืช ืžืฉื™ื— ื”ืณืƒ

ื›ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืžื” ืœื™ ื•ืœื›ื ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื›ื™ ืชื”ื™ื• ืœื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืœืฉื˜ืŸ; ื”ื™ื•ื ื™ื•ืžืช ืื™ืฉ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื™ ื”ืœื•ื ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ืื ื™ ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฉืžืขื™ ืœื ืชืžื•ืช; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืข ืœื• ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

And in the confrontation with Adoniah, ืฉืžืขื™ remains loyal to Shlomo and Davidโ€™s plan to designate him as heir apparent:

ื•ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ืฉืžืขื™ ื•ืจืขื™ ื•ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืขื ืื“ื ื™ื”ื•ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื:ื—

And David acknowleges that loyalty here: ื•ื”ื ื” ืขืžืš ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื. But still he demands: ืืœ ืชื ืงื”ื•โ€ฆื•ื”ื•ืจื“ืช ืืช ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ื“ื ืฉืื•ืœ. Thatโ€™s stronger than what he said about Yoav: ื•ืœื ืชื•ืจื“ ืฉื™ื‘ืชื• ื‘ืฉืœื ืฉืืœ.

ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืืชื”: ืชืŸ ืœื‘ืš ืœืžืฆื ืœื• ืขื•ืŸ ืžื•ืช ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืื—ืจ, ื•ื–ื”ื•: ื•ึฐื™ึธื“ึทืขึฐืชึผึธ ืึตืช ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืชึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถื” ืœึผื•ึน.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื‘:ื˜

And that is what Shlomo does:

ืœื• ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœืฉืžืขื™ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื‘ื ื” ืœืš ื‘ื™ืช ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืช ืฉื; ื•ืœื ืชืฆื ืžืฉื ืื ื” ื•ืื ื”ืƒ ืœื– ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฆืืชืš ื•ืขื‘ืจืช ืืช ื ื—ืœ ืงื“ืจื•ืŸ ื™ื“ืข ืชื“ืข ื›ื™ ืžื•ืช ืชืžื•ืช; ื“ืžืš ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืจืืฉืšืƒ ืœื— ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืžืขื™ ืœืžืœืš ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ืŸ ื™ืขืฉื” ืขื‘ื“ืš; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื™ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืืƒ

ืœื˜ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืงืฅ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ื•ื™ื‘ืจื—ื• ืฉื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื ืœืฉืžืขื™ ืืœ ืื›ื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืžืขื›ื” ืžืœืš ื’ืช; ื•ื™ื’ื™ื“ื• ืœืฉืžืขื™ ืœืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ื‘ื’ืชืƒ ืž ื•ื™ืงื ืฉืžืขื™ ื•ื™ื—ื‘ืฉ ืืช ื—ืžืจื• ื•ื™ืœืš ื’ืชื” ืืœ ืื›ื™ืฉ ืœื‘ืงืฉ ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื•; ื•ื™ืœืš ืฉืžืขื™ ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืžื’ืชืƒ

ืžื ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื”; ื›ื™ ื”ืœืš ืฉืžืขื™ ืžื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื’ืช ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืƒ ืžื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœืฉืžืขื™ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ื”ืœื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ืš ื‘ื”ืณ ื•ืืขื“ ื‘ืš ืœืืžืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฆืืชืš ื•ื”ืœื›ืช ืื ื” ื•ืื ื” ื™ื“ืข ืชื“ืข ื›ื™ ืžื•ืช ืชืžื•ืช; ื•ืชืืžืจ ืืœื™ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืžืขืชื™ืƒ ืžื’ ื•ืžื“ื•ืข ืœื ืฉืžืจืช ืืช ืฉื‘ืขืช ื”ืณ; ื•ืืช ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืขืœื™ืšืƒ ืžื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ืฉืžืขื™ ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืจืขื” ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืข ืœื‘ื‘ืš ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืช ืœื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™; ื•ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ื”ืณ ืืช ืจืขืชืš ื‘ืจืืฉืšืƒ ืžื” ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ืจื•ืš; ื•ื›ืกื ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ ืžื• ื•ื™ืฆื• ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ื™ืฆื ื•ื™ืคื’ืข ื‘ื• ื•ื™ืžืช; ื•ื”ืžืžืœื›ื” ื ื›ื•ื ื” ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื‘

All the ืžืคืจืฉื™ื take this positively; what a wonderful thing Shlomo did!

ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ืจื•ืš: ื•ืœื ื™ื—ืฉื‘ ืœื• ืœื—ื˜ื ืžื” ืฉื’ืจื ืœืš ื”ืžื›ืฉื•ืœ ื”ื–ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืžืืช ื”ืณ ืขืดื™ ืขื•ื ืš, ื•ื–ื” ืขื“ ืฉโ€ื›ืกื ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืโ€œ ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ืณ ืจื‘ ืจื™ื‘ ื—ืจืคืชื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื‘:ืžื”

But ื—ื–ืดืœ had a different perspective. They noted that right after this comment of ื•ื”ืžืžืœื›ื” ื ื›ื•ื ื” ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืœืžื” we have the beginning of the end:

ื•ื™ืชื—ืชืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ืคืจืขื” ืžืœืš ืžืฆืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืงื— ืืช ื‘ืช ืคืจืขื” ื•ื™ื‘ื™ืื” ืืœ ืขื™ืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื“ ื›ืœืชื• ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืืช ื‘ื™ืชื• ื•ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ืืช ื—ื•ืžืช ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืกื‘ื™ื‘ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื’:ื

ื•ื™ืชื—ืชืŸ ืฉืœืžื”: ื•ื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉืžืขื™ ืจื‘ื• ืงื™ื, ืœื ื ืชื—ืชืŸ ื‘ื•, ืžื›ืืŸ ืืžืจื•: ืœืขื•ืœื ื™ื“ื•ืจ ืื“ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืจื‘ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื’:ื

This is from the gemara:

ื•ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื—ื™ื™ื ื‘ืจ ืืžื™ ืžืฉืžื™ื” ื“ืขื•ืœื: ืœืขื•ืœื ื™ื“ื•ืจ ืื“ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืจื‘ื•, ืฉื›ืœ ื–ืžืŸ ืฉืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ืงื™ื™ื ืœื ื ืฉื ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื‘ืช ืคืจืขื”.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื—,ื

The midrash goes further:

ื•ื™ืชื—ืชืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ืคืจืขื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืืดืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืœืขื•ืœื ื™ื“ื•ืจ ืื“ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืจื‘ื•, ืฉื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื ืงื™ื™ื ืœื ื ืฉื ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื‘ืช ืคืจืขื”โ€ฆื•ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื ืฉื ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื‘ืช ืคืจืขื” ื™ืจื“ ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืœ ื•ื ืขืฅ ืงื ื” ื‘ื™ื ื•ื”ืขืœื” ื”ื™ื ืฉืจื˜ื•ืŸ, ื•ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืขืฉื” ื™ืจื‘ืขื ื‘ืŸ ื ื‘ื˜ ืฉื ื™ ืขื’ืœื™ื ืฉืœ ื–ื”ื‘ ื ื‘ื ื” ืขืœื™ื”ื ื›ืจืš ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ืจื•ืžื™.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ื ืดืš ืงืขืดื‘

Killing ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื led to the alliance with ืคืจืขื” and the influence of ื‘ืช ืคืจืขื”.โ€Ž ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืœ is the angel of ื”ืณ's intervention in history (see ืคืจืฉืช ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืชืฉืขืดื–). That one event caused a grain of sand to stick, and would lead to the civil war under ื™ืจื‘ืขื and not only to the destruction of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, but to the rise of Rome and the destruction of the second ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

ื—ื–ืดืœ see ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื as an important person, a ืชืœืžื™ื“ ื—ื›ื:

ื•ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื” ื‘ืจื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื ื•ืื™ืชื™ืžื ืจื‘ื™ ื”ื™ืœืœ ื‘ืจื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ื™ ื•ื•ืœืก: ืžื™ืžื•ืช ืžืฉื” ื•ืขื“ ืจื‘ื™ ืœื ืžืฆื™ื ื• ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืื—ื“โ€ฆื”ื ื”ื•ื” ืฉืœืžื”? ื”ื•ื” ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื!

ื’ื™ื˜ื™ืŸ ื ื˜,ื

And he was the ancestor of Mordechai:

ืื™ืฉ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืฉื•ืฉืŸ ื”ื‘ื™ืจื”; ื•ืฉืžื• ืžืจื“ื›ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืื™ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ืงื™ืฉ ืื™ืฉ ื™ืžื™ื ื™ืƒ

ืืกืชืจ ื‘:ื”

ืงืจื™ ืœื™ื” โ€ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™โ€œโ€”ืืœืžื ืžื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืงืืชื™, ื•ืงืจื™ ืœื™ื” โ€ื™ืžื™ื ื™โ€œโ€”ืืœืžื ืžื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ืงืืชื™! ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื ื—ืžืŸ: ืžืจื“ื›ื™ ืžื•ื›ืชืจ ื‘ื ื™ืžื•ืกื• ื”ื™ื”. ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื” ื‘ืจ ื‘ืจ ื—ื ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™: ืื‘ื™ื• ืžื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ, ื•ืืžื• ืžื™ื”ื•ื“ื”. ื•ืจื‘ื ืŸ ืืžืจื™: ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืช ืžืชื’ืจื•ืช ื–ื• ื‘ื–ื•. ืžืฉืคื—ืช ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืื•ืžืจืช: ืื ื ื’ืจืžื™ ื“ืžืชื™ืœื™ื“ ืžืจื“ื›ื™, ื“ืœื ืงื˜ืœื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื. ื•ืžืฉืคื—ืช ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ืืžืจื”: ืžื™ื ืื™ ืงืืชื™.

ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื™ื‘,ื‘

When ื—ื–ืดืœ say he was a ืจื‘ to Shlomo, what does that mean? What did he teach Shlomo? David had been told: ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉืžื• ื•ืฉืœื•ื ื•ืฉืงื˜ ืืชืŸ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื•. Thatโ€™s a prophecy, not a prediction. Itโ€™s not guaranteed to come true. How do you teach the value of ืฉืœื•ื?

It seems that bringing the cousin of man who tried to kill you, the one who cursed you and stoned you at your lowest point, the one who begged for your forgiveness and to whom you swore not to harmโ€”bringing that man to live with you, would be the greatest example of the value of ืฉืœื•ื.

So what happened here? After the whole lecture about the evils of ื•ื™ืฉื ื“ืžื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ืฉืœื, now David is asking Shlomo to do exactly that. Rav Dessler says that David could be ืžื•ื•ืชืจ on his honor, and see ืฉืžืขื™'s curses as the will of ื”ืณ. But that is at a higher spiritual level. Running a government requires respect for the government, and if Shlomo was to be king, he could not let the lรจse-majestรฉ pass.

ื•ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืฉืืžื ื ื‘ื“ืจื’ื” ื”ืขืœื™ื•ื ื” ืจื•ืื™ื ื’ื™ืœื•ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื”ืณ ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื ืขืฉื”, ืื‘ืœ ื‘ื“ืจื’ื” ื”ืชื—ืชื•ื ื” ืฉืœ ืจืื™ื™ืช ื”ื”ื ื”ื’ื” ื”ื˜ื‘ืขื™ืช ื”ืจื™ ืงืœืœืช ืžืฉื™ื— ื”ืณ ื”ืกืชืจ ื”ื•ื ืœืฉื›ื™ื ื”, ื•ื”ื ื”ื’ืช ื”ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ืœืฆืืช ื™ื“ื™ ื”ื“ืจื’ื” ื”ืชื—ืชื•ื ื” ื’ื ื›ืŸ, ื•ื‘ื“ืจื’ื” ื–ื• ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืœื”ื ื™ื— ื”ืžื•ืจื“ ื‘ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ืœื™ ืขื•ื ืฉ. ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืฆื•ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืดื” ืœืคื ื™ ืžื•ืชื• ืฉื™ื•ืžืช ืฉืžืขื™ ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ืกื™ืจ ืืช ื”ื”ืกืชืจ ื”ื ืดืœ ื•ืœื”ื—ื–ื™ืจ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ืœืžืงื•ืžื• ื›ืœืคื™ ืืœื” ืฉื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื”ื ื”ื’ื” ื”ื˜ื‘ืขื™ืช.

ืžื›ืชื‘ ืžืืœื™ื”ื• ื”, ื”ืณ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืงืœืœ, ืขืžืณ 106

And that is, of course, true. But I think thereโ€™s something more than that. I am sure David instructed Shlomo in many things; the author of ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื had to select what went into the book. I think this was included to highlight a sort of blind spot David had with respect to the family of Saul. We saw something similar in his dealing with ืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช, Saulโ€™s grandson:

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžืคื™ื‘ืฉืช ืืชื” ื•ืฆื™ื‘ื ืชื—ืœืงื• ืืช ื”ืฉื“ื”, ื™ืฆืชื” ื‘ืช ืงื•ืœ ื•ืืžืจื” ืœื•: ืจื—ื‘ืขื ื•ื™ืจื‘ืขื ื™ื—ืœืงื• ืืช ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”. ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืื™ืœืžืœื™ ืœื ืงื™ื‘ืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืจืข ืœื ื ื—ืœืงื” ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื•ื“, ื•ืœื ืขื‘ื“ื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื”, ื•ืœื ื’ืœื™ื ื• ืžืืจืฆื ื•.

ืฉื‘ืช ื ื•,ื‘

ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื is about how Israel split into two halves that could not survive without the other. For all Davidโ€™s advice ื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืขืžืš ื‘ืฆื“ืง, we see the hints of that here. Davidโ€™s command about ืฉืžืขื™ foreshadowed what was to come.