ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

We have now completed the story of David and Bat Sheva, but it never really goes away. We will look at all of the rest of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ though the lens of Bat Sheva.

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ ื•ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืื—ื•ืช ื™ืคื” ื•ืฉืžื” ืชืžืจ; ื•ื™ืื”ื‘ื” ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื

Even the beginning of this perek, ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ, is a form of paralipsis: this is a new story, so donโ€™t think about the old one.

ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื“ืŸ ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ ืื—ืจื™ ืกืžื•ืš, ืื—ืจ ืžื•ืคืœื’, ื•ืจืณ ื”ื•ื ื ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ ืื—ืจ ืกืžื•ืš ืื—ืจื™ ืžื•ืคืœื’.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ืžื“:ื•

ืœื›ืŸ ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ืื—ืจโ€œ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืกืžื™ืš ืื•ืชื•, ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืื™ืœื• ื”ื™ื” ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื—ื“โ€ฆืื‘ืœ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืฉื›ืชื™ื‘ โ€ืื—ืจื™โ€œ, ืืคื™ืœื• ื”ื™ื” ืกืžื•ืš ื‘ื–ืžืŸ ื”ื•ื ืžื•ืคืœื’ ืžืžื ื•, ืฉืื™ืŸ ืฆืจื™ืš ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ืคืœื’ ื–ืžืŸ ืืจื•ืš, ืจืง ืฉืื™ื ื• ื›ืžื• ืžืขืฉื” ืื—ื“, ื•ื–ื”ื• ืžื•ืคืœื’ ืฉืืžืจื•.

ื’ื•ืจ ืืจื™ื”, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื‘:ื™ื–

And the text gives us a spoiler: this new story is not good.

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืœื•ื™ ื•ืื™ืชื™ืžื ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ: ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” ืžืกื•ืจืช ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื ื• ืžืื ืฉื™ ื›ื ืกืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื”; ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื•ื™ื”ื™โ€œ ืื™ื ื• ืืœื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฆืขืจ. (ืืกืชืจ ื:ื) ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื‘ึดึผื™ืžึตื™ ืึฒื—ึทืฉึฐืื•ึตืจื•ึนืฉื ื”ื•ื” ื”ืžืŸ; (ืจื•ืช ื:ื) ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื‘ึดึผื™ืžึตื™ ืฉึฐืืคึนื˜ ื”ึทืฉึนึผืืคึฐื˜ึดื™ื ื”ื•ื” ืจืขื‘; (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื•:ื,ื”) ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื›ึดึผื™ ื”ึตื—ึตืœ ื”ึธืึธื“ึธื ืœึธืจึนื‘โ€ฆื•ึทื™ึทึผืจึฐื ื”ืณ ื›ึดึผื™ ืจึทื‘ึธึผื” ืจึธืขึทืช ื”ึธืึธื“ึธืโ€ฆ

ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื™,ื‘

Starting with ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ is like a high school English teacher assigning an essay: our job is to โ€œcompare and contrastโ€ the previous story, of David and Bat Sheva, with this one, Amnon and Tamar.

Who are Avshalom, Tamar and Amnon?

ื‘ ื•ื™ืœื“ื• (ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ื•) ืœื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื ื™ื ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื›ื•ืจื• ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืœืื—ื™ื ืขื ื”ื™ื–ืจืขืืœืชืƒ ื’ ื•ืžืฉื ื”ื• ื›ืœืื‘ ืœืื‘ื™ื’ืœ (ืœืื‘ื™ื’ื™ืœ) ืืฉืช ื ื‘ืœ ื”ื›ืจืžืœื™; ื•ื”ืฉืœืฉื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ืŸ ืžืขื›ื” ื‘ืช ืชืœืžื™ ืžืœืš ื’ืฉื•ืจืƒ ื“ ื•ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ ืื“ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื—ื’ื™ืช; ื•ื”ื—ืžื™ืฉื™ ืฉืคื˜ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ื˜ืœืƒ ื” ื•ื”ืฉืฉื™ ื™ืชืจืขื ืœืขื’ืœื” ืืฉืช ื“ื•ื“; ืืœื” ื™ืœื“ื• ืœื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื’

We know nothing about Amnon except that he is Davidโ€™s ื‘ื›ื•ืจ. His mother, ืื—ื™ื ืขื, was one of Davidโ€™s two wives when he was a โ€œbandit kingโ€ in ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” (note the tense of ืœึธืงึทื—: David had married ืื—ื™ื ืขื before he married ืื‘ื™ื’ื™ืœ).

ืžื‘ ื•ืชืžื”ืจ ื•ืชืงื ืื‘ื™ื’ื™ืœ ื•ืชืจื›ื‘ ืขืœ ื”ื—ืžื•ืจ ื•ื—ืžืฉ ื ืขืจืชื™ื” ื”ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืœืจื’ืœื”; ื•ืชืœืš ืื—ืจื™ ืžืœืื›ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืชื”ื™ ืœื• ืœืืฉื”ืƒ ืžื’ ื•ืืช ืื—ื™ื ืขื ืœึธืงึทื— ื“ื•ื“ ืžื™ื–ืจืขืืœ; ื•ืชื”ื™ื™ืŸ ื’ื ืฉืชื™ื”ืŸ ืœื• ืœื ืฉื™ืืƒ

ืžื“ ื•ืฉืื•ืœ ื ึธืชึทืŸ ืืช ืžื™ื›ืœ ื‘ืชื• ืืฉืช ื“ื•ื“; ืœืคืœื˜ื™ ื‘ืŸ ืœื™ืฉ ืืฉืจ ืžื’ืœื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื›ื”

And when he becomes king of ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”, he has only those two wives:

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืฉืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื”ืณ ืœืืžืจ ื”ืืขืœื” ื‘ืื—ืช ืขืจื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœื™ื• ืขืœื”; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืื ื” ืืขืœื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื—ื‘ืจื ื”ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืขืœ ืฉื ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื’ื ืฉืชื™ ื ืฉื™ื• ืื—ื™ื ืขื ื”ื™ื–ืจืขืœื™ืช ื•ืื‘ื™ื’ื™ืœ ืืฉืช ื ื‘ืœ ื”ื›ืจืžืœื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื‘

So Amnon grows up with the expectation that he is the crown prince; he will become king after David. But when David moves to Jerusalem, Natan tells him thatโ€™s not what is going to happen:

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

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื–:ื™ื‘

But the Torah tells us Amnon doesnโ€™t lose his status as the ื‘ื›ื•ืจ:

ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื ื—ื™ืœื• ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื• ืืช ืืฉืจ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื‘ื›ืจ ืืช ื‘ืŸ ื”ืื”ื•ื‘ื” ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื”ืฉื ื•ืื” ื”ื‘ื›ืจืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื:ื˜ื–

He may have expected to become king, but thatโ€™s not automatic. The Torah only says that the kingโ€™s son should be the heir apparent; there may be an assumption that it will be the eldest, but itโ€™s not required:

ื˜ื• ืฉื•ื ืชืฉื™ื ืขืœื™ืš ืžืœืš ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื‘ื•; ืžืงืจื‘ ืื—ื™ืš ืชืฉื™ื ืขืœื™ืš ืžืœืš ืœื ืชื•ื›ืœ ืœืชืช ืขืœื™ืš ืื™ืฉ ื ื›ืจื™ ืืฉืจ ืœื ืื—ื™ืš ื”ื•ืืƒ โ€ฆื› ื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™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื–

ื”ื•ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื•: ืžึทื’ึผึดื™ื“ ืฉืึถืึดื ื‘ึผึฐื ื•ึน ื”ึธื’ื•ึผืŸ ืœึฐืžึทืœึฐื›ื•ึผืช ื”ื•ึผื ืงื•ึนื“ึตื ืœึฐื›ึธืœ ืึธื“ึธื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื–:ื›

We donโ€™t explicitly see the relationship between Amnon and David, but we do see how David felt about two of his other sons, ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื and ืื“ื ื™ื”. Even when they are actively rebelling against him, he refuses to discipline them:

ื•ื™ืฆื• ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืืช ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื•ืืช ืืชื™ ืœืืžืจ ืœืื˜ ืœื™ ืœื ืขืจ ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืฉืžืขื• ื‘ืฆื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืฉืจื™ื ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื”

ืœืื˜ ืœื™ ืœื ืขืจ: ืื ื™ืงืจื ืœืคื ื™ื›ื ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื”, ื—ืžืœื• ืขืœื™ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

ื” ื•ืื“ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื—ื’ื™ืช ืžืชื ืฉื ืœืืžืจ ืื ื™ ืืžืœืš; ื•ื™ืขืฉ ืœื• ืจื›ื‘ ื•ืคืจืฉื™ื ื•ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืจืฆื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื•ืƒ ื• ื•ืœื ืขืฆื‘ื• ืื‘ื™ื• ืžื™ืžื™ื• ืœืืžืจ ืžื“ื•ืข ื›ื›ื” ืขืฉื™ืช; ื•ื’ื ื”ื•ื ื˜ื•ื‘ ืชืืจ ืžืื“ ื•ืืชื• ื™ืœื“ื” ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

And that is hinted at by Tamar when she is trying to get away from Amnon:

ื•ืื ื™ ืื ื” ืื•ืœื™ืš ืืช ื—ืจืคืชื™ ื•ืืชื” ืชื”ื™ื” ื›ืื—ื“ ื”ื ื‘ืœื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืขืชื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื™ื’

The Septuagint says explicitly that ื•ืœื ืขืฆื‘ื• ืื‘ื™ื• ืžื™ืžื™ื• applied to Amnon as well:

ื•ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืžืข ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื”; ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืœื• ืžืื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื›ื

ฮšฮฑแฝถ แผคฮบฮฟฯ…ฯƒฮตฮฝ แฝ ฮฒฮฑฯƒฮนฮปฮตแฝบฯ‚ ฮ”ฮฑฯ…ฮนฮด ฯ€แฝฑฮฝฯ„ฮฑฯ‚ ฯ„ฮฟแฝบฯ‚ ฮปแฝนฮณฮฟฯ…ฯ‚ ฯ„ฮฟแฝปฯ„ฮฟฯ…ฯ‚ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฮธฯ…ฮผแฝฝฮธฮท ฯƒฯ†แฝนฮดฯฮฑ ฮบฮฑแฝถ ฮฟแฝฮบ แผฮปแฝปฯ€ฮทฯƒฮตฮฝ ฯ„แฝธ ฯ€ฮฝฮตแฟฆฮผฮฑ ฮ‘ฮผฮฝฯ‰ฮฝ ฯ„ฮฟแฟฆ ฯ…แผฑฮฟแฟฆ ฮฑแฝฯ„ฮฟแฟฆ แฝ…ฯ„ฮน แผ ฮณแฝฑฯ€ฮฑ ฮฑแฝฯ„แฝนฮฝ แฝ…ฯ„ฮน ฯ€ฯฯ‰ฯ„แฝนฯ„ฮฟฮบฮฟฯ‚ ฮฑแฝฯ„ฮฟแฟฆ แผ ฮฝ.

And king David heard of all these things, and was very angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of his son Amnon, because he loved him, for he was his first-born.

Septuagint, Kings II 13:21

So we have the picture of a prince, pampered but without responsibilities; David doesnโ€™t expect him to be king.

And who is Tamar? She is Avshalomโ€™s sister, not Amnonโ€™s, even though they are half-brothers, and Amnon calls her ืื—ืชื™:

ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืชื—ืœ; ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ืœืจืื•ืชื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืชื‘ื•ื ื ื ืชืžืจ ืื—ืชื™ ื•ืชืœื‘ื‘ ืœืขื™ื ื™ ืฉืชื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืช ื•ืื‘ืจื” ืžื™ื“ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื•

So she is more of a sister to Avshalom. There are basically two possibilities:

  1. She is a full sister to Avshalom (they have the same mother and father) but a half sister to Amnon (they have the same father, David, but not the same mother).
  2. She is a half sister to Avshalom (they have the same mother, ืžืขื›ื” ื‘ืช ืชืœืžื™ ืžืœืš ื’ืฉื•ืจ, but not the same father) but a step sister to Amnon (no blood relation at all, but she grows up in Davidโ€™s household).

The problem is that she says, ื•ืขืชื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืš. Even if David loves Amnon so much that he will not refuse him anything, we are working with the assumption that the Torah forms the normative universe of our story. Incest is forbidden:

ืขืจื•ืช ืื—ื•ืชืš ื‘ืช ืื‘ื™ืš ืื• ื‘ืช ืืžืš ืžื•ืœื“ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืื• ืžื•ืœื“ืช ื—ื•ืฅ ืœื ืชื’ืœื” ืขืจื•ืชืŸืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื—:ื˜

Abarbanel goes with option one. When Tamar says ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืš, she is simply lying to get away:

ื•ื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ืชืžืจ ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื™ืœื“ื” ืื•ืชื ืžืขื›ื” ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื ืชื’ื™ื™ืจื”, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืงืจืื” ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืื—ื•ืชื™ ื•ื”ื™ื ื’ื ื”ื™ื ืืžืจื” ืื—ื™ ื”ื•ืโ€ฆื•ืืžื ื ืžื” ืฉืืžืจื” ืชืžืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืš ืœื ืืžืจื” ื›ื™ ืื ืœื”ื ืฆืœ ืžื™ื“ื•โ€ฆื•ืชื ื—ื•ืžื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ื”ื‘ืœ ื”ื™ื• ื•ืจืฆืชื” ืœื“ื—ื•ืชื• ื‘ืงืฉ, ืืฃ ื›ื™ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื” ื”ืขื™ื“ื” ืขืœ ืืžืชืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืžืจื” ื›ึดึผื™ ืœึนื ื™ึตืขึธืฉึถื‚ื” ื›ึตืŸ ื‘ึฐึผื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ; ืึทืœ ืชึทึผืขึฒืฉึตื‚ื” ืึถืช ื”ึทื ึฐึผื‘ึธืœึธื” ื”ึทื–ึนึผืืช.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื

Tosafot goes with option two:

ื ืจืื” ืœืžื™ืžืจ ื“ืชืžืจ ืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ื‘ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืฉืืžื” ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื™ืชื” ืžืขื•ื‘ืจืช ื›ืฉื‘ืืช ืœืžืœื—ืžื”. ื•ื”ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื™ื—) ื›ึตืŸ ืชึผึดืœึฐื‘ึผึทืฉืึฐืŸึธ ื‘ึฐื ื•ึนืช ื”ึทืžึผึถืœึถืšึฐ ื”ึทื‘ึผึฐืชื•ึผืœึนืช ืžึฐืขึดื™ืœึดื™ื, ืžืชื•ืš ืฉื’ื“ืœื” ื‘ื—ื™ืงื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืงืจื™ ืœื” ื‘ืช ืžืœืš.

ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช, ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื,ื, ื“ืดื” ื“ืื™ ืกืดื“ ื‘ืช ื ื™ืฉื•ืื™ืŸ ื”ื•ืื™ ืื—ืชื™ื” ืžื™ ื”ื•ื” ืฉืจื™ื™ื” ืœื™ื”

But ื—ื–ืดืœ, followed by most ืžืคืจืฉื™ื, say there is a third possibility: Avshalom and Tamar have the same mother and the same father, but they are not technically siblings (and so neither are Amnon and Tamar) because Tamar was born to a non-Jewish mother, while Avshalom was born after she became part of the Jewish people. This is the ืกื•ื’ื™ื of the ืืฉืช ื™ืคืช ืชืืจ:

ื™ ื›ื™ ืชืฆื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ืขืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ืš; ื•ื ืชื ื• ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ื‘ื™ื“ืš ื•ืฉื‘ื™ืช ืฉื‘ื™ื•ืƒ ื™ื ื•ืจืื™ืช ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ื” ืืฉืช ื™ืคืช ืชืืจ; ื•ื—ืฉืงืช ื‘ื” ื•ืœืงื—ืช ืœืš ืœืืฉื”ืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื”ื‘ืืชื” ืืœ ืชื•ืš ื‘ื™ืชืš; ื•ื’ืœื—ื” ืืช ืจืืฉื” ื•ืขืฉืชื” ืืช ืฆืคืจื ื™ื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื”ืกื™ืจื” ืืช ืฉืžืœืช ืฉื‘ื™ื” ืžืขืœื™ื” ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื” ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืš ื•ื‘ื›ืชื” ืืช ืื‘ื™ื” ื•ืืช ืืžื” ื™ืจื— ื™ืžื™ื; ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืŸ ืชื‘ื•ื ืืœื™ื” ื•ื‘ืขืœืชื” ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืš ืœืืฉื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

ื•ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืชืžืจ ื‘ืช ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ื”ื™ืชื” ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื•ืขืชื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื ื [ืืœ] ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืšโ€œ ื•ืื™ ืกืดื“ ื‘ืช ื ื™ืฉื•ืื™ืŸ ื”ื•ืื™ ืื—ืชื™ื” ืžื™ ื”ื•ื” ืฉืจื™ื ืœื™ื”? ืืœื ืฉืžืข ืžื™ื ื” ื‘ืช ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ื”ื™ืชื”.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื,ื

ื ืชืขื‘ืจื” ืžื‘ื™ืื” ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื•ืœื“ ื’ืจ ื•ืื™ื ื• ื‘ื ื• ืœื“ื‘ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืŸ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื”; ืืœื ืฉื‘ื™ืช ื“ื™ืŸ ืžื˜ื‘ื™ืœื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืขืœ ื“ืขืชื. ื•ืชืžืจ ืžื‘ื™ืื” ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ื”ื™ื™ืชื” ืื‘ืœ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื ื•ืœื“ ืžืื—ืจ ื”ื ื™ืฉื•ืื™ืŸ. ื ืžืฆืืช ืชืžืจ ืื—ื•ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืžืื™ืžื• ื•ืžื•ืชืจืช ืœื”ื™ื ืฉื ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ; ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื ืื•ืžืจืช โ€ื“ื‘ืจ ื ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืšโ€œ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื™ื’).

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื” ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืžืœื›ื™ื ื•ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื—:ื™

Thereโ€™s a lot of halachic discussion and subtlety in the laws of ืืฉืช ื™ืคืช ืชืืจ that Iโ€™m not going to go into; we dealt with some of them in the shiur titled The Mystery of Absalomโ€™s Mother. But it does allow us to understand the sequence of laws in ืคืจืฉืช ื›ื™ ืชืฆื:

ื™ื ื•ืจืื™ืช ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ื” ืืฉืช ื™ืคืช ืชืืจ; ื•ื—ืฉืงืช ื‘ื” ื•ืœืงื—ืช ืœืš ืœืืฉื”ืƒโ€ฆ

ื˜ื• ื›ื™ ืชื”ื™ื™ืŸ ืœืื™ืฉ ืฉืชื™ ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืื—ืช ืื”ื•ื‘ื” ื•ื”ืื—ืช ืฉื ื•ืื” ื•ื™ืœื“ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื ื”ืื”ื•ื‘ื” ื•ื”ืฉื ื•ืื”; ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ื‘ืŸ ื”ื‘ื›ืจ ืœืฉื ื™ืื”ืƒโ€ฆ

ื™ื— ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” ืื™ื ื ื• ืฉืžืข ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ื‘ืงื•ืœ ืืžื•; ื•ื™ืกืจื• ืืชื• ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืžืข ืืœื™ื”ืืƒโ€ฆื›ื ื•ืจื’ืžื”ื• ื›ืœ ืื ืฉื™ ืขื™ืจื• ื‘ืื‘ื ื™ื ื•ืžืช ื•ื‘ืขืจืช ื”ืจืข ืžืงืจื‘ืš; ื•ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ืฉืžืขื• ื•ื™ืจืื•ืƒโ€ฆ

ื›ื‘ ื•ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืื™ืฉ ื—ื˜ื ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื•ืช ื•ื”ื•ืžืช; ื•ืชืœื™ืช ืืชื• ืขืœ ืขืฅืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื

ื›ืœ ืžืืŸ ื“ื ืกื™ื‘ ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ื ืคื™ืง ืžื™ื ื™ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื”, ืฉื›ืŸ ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ื“ื•ื“, ืขืœ ืฉื—ืžื“ ืžืขื›ื” ื‘ืช ืชืœืžื™ ืžืœืš ื’ืฉื•ืจ ื‘ืฆืืชื• ืœืžืœื—ืžื”, ื™ืฆื ืžืžื ื• ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ืฉื‘ื™ืงืฉ ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ืื•ืชื•, ื•ืฉื›ื‘ ืขื ื ืฉื™ื• ืœืขื™ื ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืœืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืฉืžืฉ, ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ื ื”ืจื’ื• ื›ืžื” ืจื‘ื‘ื•ืช ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ืขืฉื” ืžื—ืœื•ืงืช ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื ื—ื•ืžื (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืคืจืฉืช ื›ื™ ืชืฆื ืกื™ืžืŸ ื

ืืžืจ [ืจืฉืดื™: ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืœื“ื•ื“]: ืžืื™ ื˜ืขืžื ืงื ืกื™ื‘ืช ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ? ืืดืœ: ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ืจื—ืžื ื ืฉืจื™ื™ื”! ืืดืœ: ืœื ื“ืจืฉืช ืกืžื•ื›ื™ืŸ? ื“ืกืžื™ืš ืœื™ื”: (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื:ื™ื—) โ€ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืื™ืฉ ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื”โ€œ; ื›ืœ ื”ื ื•ืฉื ื™ืคืช ืชื•ืืจ ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื”!

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื–,ื

So Amnon has a crush on his (half or adoptive) sister, but doesnโ€™t do anything about it:

ื•ื™ืฆืจ ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ ืœื”ืชื—ืœื•ืช ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืชืžืจ ืื—ืชื• ื›ื™ ื‘ืชื•ืœื” ื”ื™ื; ื•ื™ืคืœื ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืœื” ืžืื•ืžื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื‘

ืœื ืœื‘ื ืขืœื™ื” ื‘ืื•ื ืก ืื• ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืคืชื•ื™ โ€ื›ื™ ื‘ืชื•ืœื” ื”ื™ืโ€œ ื•ื”ื‘ืชื•ืœื•ืช ื”ื™ื• ืฆื ื•ืขื•ืช ื‘ื”ื™ื›ืœ ื•ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืฉืชื–ื“ืžืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉื

But then he gets some advice from his cousin and friend. With friends like that, who needs enemies?

ื•ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ ืจืข ื•ืฉืžื• ื™ื•ื ื“ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขื” ืื—ื™ ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื™ื•ื ื“ื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืžืื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื’

ื•ื™ื•ื ื“ื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืžืื“: ืจืณืณืœ ืœืžืฆื•ื ืชื—ื‘ื•ืœื•ืช ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืจืข ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ืฉื™ืื”ื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ืงืฉื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ืขืฉื™ื™ืชื• ืืš ื›ืืฉืจ ืจืื” ืฉื”ืกื›ื™ืžื” ืขืฆืช ื™ื•ื ื“ื‘ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืชื™ืจ ืœืขืฆืžื• ืขืฉื™ื™ืชื”.

ืจืœื‘ืดื’, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื’

ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืœืจืฉืขื”.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื,ื

ื•ื™ื•ื ื“ื‘ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืื™ืฉ ื—ื›ื ืœืจืฉืขื” ื›ื•ืณ: ืžืœืช ื—ื›ื ื ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ื”ืžื—ื›ื™ื ื‘ื“ืขืชื• ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉืื™ืŸ ืฉืืจ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ืŸ ืœืกื•ืฃ ื“ืขืชื• ืืš ืขืœ ื”ืจื•ื‘ ื ืืžืจ ื‘ืžื—ื›ื™ื ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื‘ืฉื•ื ื—ื›ืžื” ืžื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืŸ ื”ื›ื ืœื ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ื“ื‘ ื‘ื–ื” ืฉื•ื ื—ื›ืžื” ืœื”ื™ื˜ื™ื‘ ืืš ืœื”ืจืข ื™ื“ืข.

ืžื”ืจืฉืดื, ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช, ืžืกื›ืช ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื,ื

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืžื“ื•ืข ืืชื” ื›ื›ื” ื“ืœ ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื”ืœื•ื ืชื’ื™ื“ ืœื™; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืืช ืชืžืจ ืื—ื•ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื ืื—ื™ ืื ื™ ืื”ื‘ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื“

ื“ืœ: ื›ื—ื•ืฉ, ื›ืžื• (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื:ื™ื˜): ื“ืœื•ืช ื•ืจืขื•ืช ืชื•ืืจ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื“

ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื™ื”ื•ื ื“ื‘ ืฉื›ื‘ ืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ืš ื•ื”ืชื—ืœ; ื•ื‘ื ืื‘ื™ืš ืœืจืื•ืชืš ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœื™ื• ืชื‘ื ื ื ืชืžืจ ืื—ื•ืชื™ ื•ืชื‘ืจื ื™ ืœื—ื ื•ืขืฉืชื” ืœืขื™ื ื™ ืืช ื”ื‘ืจื™ื” ืœืžืขืŸ ืืฉืจ ืืจืื” ื•ืื›ืœืชื™ ืžื™ื“ื”ืƒ ื• ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืชื—ืœ; ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ืžืœืš ืœืจืื•ืชื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืชื‘ื•ื ื ื ืชืžืจ ืื—ืชื™ ื•ืชืœื‘ื‘ ืœืขื™ื ื™ ืฉืชื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืช ื•ืื‘ืจื” ืžื™ื“ื”ืƒ ื– ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืชืžืจ ื”ื‘ื™ืชื” ืœืืžืจ; ืœื›ื™ ื ื ื‘ื™ืช ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืื—ื™ืš ื•ืขืฉื™ ืœื• ื”ื‘ืจื™ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื’

Itโ€™s not clear what ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืช are, but they clearly are quick-cooking things you could make on a portable stove, so our modern latkes are a good translation:

ื•ืชืœื‘ื‘ ืœืขื™ื ื™ ืฉืชื™ ืœื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืช: ื”ื•ื ืžืขืฉื” ืžืจื—ืฉืช ืงื™ืฉืคื™ืณืณืœ ื‘ืœืขืณืณื–

ืจืœื‘ืดื’, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื•

ืžืจื—ืฉืช: ื›ึผึฐืœึดื™ ื”ื•ึผื ืฉืึถื”ึธื™ึธื” ื‘ึผึทืžึผึดืงึฐื“ึผึธืฉื, ืขึธืžึนืง, ื•ึผืžึดืชึผื•ึนืšึฐ ืฉืึถื”ึดื™ื ืขึฒืžึปืงึผึธื”, ืฉืึทืžึฐื ึธื”ึผ ืฆึธื‘ื•ึผืจ ื•ึฐืึตื™ืŸ ื”ึธืื•ึผืจ ืฉื‚ื•ึนืจึฐืคื•ึน.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื•ื™ืงืจื ื‘:ื–

Thereโ€™s a hint here that the text wants us to think about Yosef as well as David and Bat Sheva. The word ื‘ืจ is unusual; used in later books of ืชื ืดืš, but the only earlier use is throughout the story of Yosef:

ื•ื™ืงื‘ืฆื• ืืช ื›ืœ ืื›ืœ ื”ืฉื ื™ื ื”ื˜ื‘ื•ืช ื”ื‘ืืช ื”ืืœื”; ื•ื™ืฆื‘ืจื• ื‘ืจ ืชื—ืช ื™ื“ ืคืจืขื” ืื›ืœ ื‘ืขืจื™ื ื•ืฉืžืจื•ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ืžื:ืœื”

And sending Tamar ื”ื‘ื™ืชื” echoes the Yosef story:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื•ื™ื‘ื ื”ื‘ื™ืชื” ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžืœืื›ืชื•; ื•ืื™ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ืžืื ืฉื™ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืฉื ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื˜:ื™ื

Then we have the explicit story of the rape:

ื— ื•ืชืœืš ืชืžืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืื—ื™ื” ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื›ื‘; ื•ืชืงื— ืืช ื”ื‘ืฆืง ื•ืชืœื•ืฉ (ื•ืชืœืฉ) ื•ืชืœื‘ื‘ ืœืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ืชื‘ืฉืœ ืืช ื”ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืชืƒ ื˜ ื•ืชืงื— ืืช ื”ืžืฉืจืช ื•ืชืฆืง ืœืคื ื™ื• ื•ื™ืžืืŸ ืœืื›ื•ืœ; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ืฆื™ืื• ื›ืœ ืื™ืฉ ืžืขืœื™ ื•ื™ืฆืื• ื›ืœ ืื™ืฉ ืžืขืœื™ื•ืƒ ื™ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืืœ ืชืžืจ ื”ื‘ื™ืื™ ื”ื‘ืจื™ื” ื”ื—ื“ืจ ื•ืื‘ืจื” ืžื™ื“ืš; ื•ืชืงื— ืชืžืจ ืืช ื”ืœื‘ื‘ื•ืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉืชื” ื•ืชื‘ื ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ ืื—ื™ื” ื”ื—ื“ืจื”ืƒ ื™ื ื•ืชื’ืฉ ืืœื™ื• ืœืื›ืœ; ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ื‘ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื” ื‘ื•ืื™ ืฉื›ื‘ื™ ืขืžื™ ืื—ื•ืชื™ืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ืชืืžืจ ืœื• ืืœ ืื—ื™ ืืœ ืชืขื ื ื™ ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืขืฉื” ื›ืŸ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ืืœ ืชืขืฉื” ืืช ื”ื ื‘ืœื” ื”ื–ืืชืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืื ื™ ืื ื” ืื•ืœื™ืš ืืช ื—ืจืคืชื™ ื•ืืชื” ืชื”ื™ื” ื›ืื—ื“ ื”ื ื‘ืœื™ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืขืชื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื ื ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืžื ืขื ื™ ืžืžืšืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ืœืฉืžืข ื‘ืงื•ืœื”; ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ืžืžื ื” ื•ื™ืขื ื” ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืืชื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื’

And we have another linguistic allusion to Yosef here:

ื•ืœื ื™ื›ืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืœื”ืชืืคืง ืœื›ืœ ื”ื ืฆื‘ื™ื ืขืœื™ื• ื•ื™ืงืจื ื”ื•ืฆื™ืื• ื›ืœ ืื™ืฉ ืžืขืœื™; ื•ืœื ืขืžื“ ืื™ืฉ ืืชื• ื‘ื”ืชื•ื“ืข ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืืœ ืื—ื™ื•ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื”:ื

But ืœื ื™ืขืฉื” ื›ืŸ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ืืœ ืชืขืฉื” ืืช ื”ื ื‘ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช is more reminiscent of the rape of Dinah:

ื‘ ื•ื™ืจื ืืชื” ืฉื›ื ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžื•ืจ ื”ื—ื•ื™ ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืืจืฅ; ื•ื™ืงื— ืืชื” ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืืชื” ื•ื™ืขื ื”ืƒ โ€ฆื– ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืื• ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื“ื” ื›ืฉืžืขื ื•ื™ืชืขืฆื‘ื• ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืœื”ื ืžืื“; ื›ื™ ื ื‘ืœื” ืขืฉื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืฉื›ื‘ ืืช ื‘ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ ื•ื›ืŸ ืœื ื™ืขืฉื”ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ืœื“

Interestingly, ื—ื–ืดืœ say that Tamar fought back violently:

ืืžืจ ืจืณ ื™ืฆื—ืงโ€ฆืงืฉืจื” ืœื• ื ื™ืžื ื•ืขืฉืืชื• ื›ืจื•ืช ืฉืคื›ื”.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื›ื,ื

ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ืืžืจื• ื‘ืคืจืงื™ ืื‘ื•ืช (ื”:ื˜ื–) ื›ืœ ืื”ื‘ื” ืฉื”ื™ื ืชืœื•ื™ื” ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื˜ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื˜ืœื” ืื”ื‘ื” ื–ื• ืื”ื‘ืช ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื•ืชืžืจ ื›ื•ืณ, ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืชืœื•ื™ื” ื”ืื”ื‘ื” ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื‘ื–ื ื•ืช ื•ื‘ื ื™ืื•ืฃ ื‘ื˜ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืžืฉ ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื›ืจื•ืช ืฉืคื›ื” ื‘ื˜ืœื” ื”ืื”ื‘ื”.

ืžื”ืจืฉืดื, ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช, ืฉื

Tamarโ€™s response is to beg Amnon to take care of her; the social reality is that after she is violated, ืื ื™ ืื ื” ืื•ืœื™ืš ืืช ื—ืจืคืชื™โ€”she will be shunned by society.

ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืฉื ืื” ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืฉื ืื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืžืื“ ื›ื™ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ืฉื ืื” ืืฉืจ ืฉื ืื” ืžืื”ื‘ื” ืืฉืจ ืื”ื‘ื”; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื” ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืงื•ืžื™ ืœื›ื™ืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืชืืžืจ ืœื• ืืœ ืื•ื“ืช ื”ืจืขื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ืžืื—ืจืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืช ืขืžื™ ืœืฉืœื—ื ื™; ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ืœืฉืžืข ืœื”ืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืช ื ืขืจื• ืžืฉืจืชื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืœื—ื• ื ื ืืช ื–ืืช ืžืขืœื™ ื”ื—ื•ืฆื”; ื•ื ืขืœ ื”ื“ืœืช ืื—ืจื™ื”ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืขืœื™ื” ื›ืชื ืช ืคืกื™ื ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ืชืœื‘ืฉืŸ ื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื‘ืชื•ืœืช ืžืขื™ืœื™ื; ื•ึทื™ึนึผืฆึตื ืื•ืชื” ืžืฉืจืชื• ื”ื—ื•ืฅ ื•ื ืขืœ ื”ื“ืœืช ืื—ืจื™ื”ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ืชืงื— ืชืžืจ ืืคืจ ืขืœ ืจืืฉื” ื•ื›ืชื ืช ื”ืคืกื™ื ืืฉืจ ืขืœื™ื” ืงืจืขื”; ื•ืชืฉื ื™ื“ื” ืขืœ ืจืืฉื” ื•ืชืœืš ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื–ืขืงื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื’

ืืœ ืื•ื“ื•ืช ื”ืจืขื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืืœ ืชืขืฉื” ืขืกืง ื”ืจืขื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช, ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื ื™ื•ืชืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืžื”ืื—ืจืช.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื˜ื–

ื›ื— ื›ื™ ื™ืžืฆื ืื™ืฉ ื ืขืจ ื‘ืชื•ืœื” ืืฉืจ ืœื ืืจืฉื” ื•ืชืคืฉื” ื•ืฉื›ื‘ ืขืžื”; ื•ื ืžืฆืื•ืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ืื™ืฉ ื”ืฉื›ื‘ ืขืžื” ืœืื‘ื™ ื”ื ืขืจ ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื›ืกืฃ; ื•ืœื• ืชื”ื™ื” ืœืืฉื” ืชื—ืช ืืฉืจ ืขื ื” ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืฉืœื—ื” ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

Tamar is wearing a ื›ืชื ืช ืคืกื™ื. The text is telling us that if we werenโ€™t convinced by the subtle allusions to the Yosef story, it is going to hit us between the eyes with a 2 x 4. What is a ื›ืชื ืช ืคืกื™ื? We know the musical answer, an โ€amazing technicolor dreamcoatโ€œ but ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” (and the Septuagint) connect it to the Aramaic word ืคืก, meaning โ€œpalmโ€:

ืคึผึทืกึผึดื™ื, ืฉืึถื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ืžึทื’ึผึทืขึทืช ืขึทื“ ืคึผึทืก ื™ึธื“ื•ึน. ื“ึผึธื‘ึธืจ ืึทื—ึตืจ, ืคึผึทืกึดื™ื, ืฉืึถื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื“ึทืงึผึธื” ื•ึฐืงึทืœึผึธื” ื‘ึผึฐื™ื•ึนืชึตืจ ื•ึฐื ึดื˜ึฐืžึถื ึถืช ื‘ึผึฐืคึทืก ื™ึทื“.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ืคื“:ื—

ฮšฮฑแฝถ แผฯ€ ฮฑแฝฯ„แฟ†ฯ‚ แผ ฮฝ ฯ‡ฮนฯ„แฝผฮฝ ฮบฮฑฯฯ€ฯ‰ฯ„แฝนฯ‚ แฝ…ฯ„ฮน ฮฟแฝ•ฯ„ฯ‰ฯ‚ แผฮฝฮตฮดฮนฮดแฝปฯƒฮบฮฟฮฝฯ„ฮฟ ฮฑแผฑ ฮธฯ…ฮณฮฑฯ„แฝณฯฮตฯ‚ ฯ„ฮฟแฟฆ ฮฒฮฑฯƒฮนฮปแฝณฯ‰ฯ‚ ฮฑแผฑ ฯ€ฮฑฯฮธแฝณฮฝฮฟฮน ฯ„ฮฟแฝบฯ‚ แผฯ€ฮตฮฝฮดแฝปฯ„ฮฑฯ‚ ฮฑแฝฯ„แฟถฮฝ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผฮพแฝตฮณฮฑฮณฮตฮฝ ฮฑแฝฯ„แฝดฮฝ แฝ ฮปฮตฮนฯ„ฮฟฯ…ฯฮณแฝธฯ‚ ฮฑแฝฯ„ฮฟแฟฆ แผ”ฮพฯ‰ ฮบฮฑแฝถ แผ€ฯ€แฝณฮบฮปฮตฮนฯƒฮตฮฝ ฯ„แฝดฮฝ ฮธแฝปฯฮฑฮฝ แฝ€ฯ€แฝทฯƒฯ‰ ฮฑแฝฯ„แฟ†ฯ‚.

And she had on herself a garment reaching to the wrist, for so were the kingโ€™s daughters that were virgins attired in their apparel. And his servant led her forth, and shut the door behind her.

Septuagint, Kings II 13:18, with the translation of Heath Dewrell

(Heath Dewrell, cited above, connects ืคืกื™ื to the Akkadian passฤmu,meaning โ€œveilโ€, worn by married and marriageable women, but that doesnโ€™t fit with Yosef.)

So it would be a garment worn by someone who did not engage in manual labor, and the Malbim says that it was delicate enough that it was an indoor garment only. Throwing Tamar out clad only in her ื›ืชื ืช ืคืกื™ื is even more humiliating.

ื•ืขืœื™ื” ื›ืชื ืช ืคืกื™ื: ื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืชื•ื ืช ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžืขื™ืœ, ืฉื”ื›ืชื•ื ืช ื”ื•ื ื”ืชื—ืชื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืžืขื™ืœ ื™ืขื˜ืคื• ื‘ื• ืžืœืžืขืœื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื, ื•ื“ืจืš ื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื‘ืชื•ืœื•ืช ืœืขื˜ื•ืฃ ืžืขื™ืœ ืขืœ ื›ืชื•ื ืช ื”ืคืกื™ื ืฉืœืžื˜ื”, ื•ื‘ืฉืขืช ืžืขืฉื” ื”ืกื™ืจ ืžืขืœื™ื” ื”ืžืขื™ืœ ื”ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื•ืœื ืœื‘ืฉื” ืจืง ื›ืชื•ื ืช ื”ืคืกื™ื, ื•ื›ืฉื”ื•ืฆื™ืื” ืœื ืขื˜ืคื” ื”ืžืขื™ืœ, ืจืง ื•ืขืœื™ื” ื›ืชื•ื ืช ืคืกื™ื ืฉื”ื•ืฆื™ืื” ื‘ื‘ื’ื“ ื”ืชื—ืชื•ืŸ, ื”ื’ื ืฉื›ืŸ ืชืœื‘ืฉื ื” ื‘ื ื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื‘ืชื•ืœืช ืžืขื™ืœื™ื ื•ืื™ืŸ ื“ืจื›ื ืœืฆืืช ื‘ื›ืชื•ื ืช, ื‘ื›ืดื– ื•ื™ื•ืฆื ืื•ืชื” ืžืฉืจืชื• ื”ื—ื•ืฅ ืžื•ืคืฉื˜ืช ืžืžืขื™ืœ ื•ื‘ื–ื•ื™ื” ืžื›ื‘ื•ื“ื”, ื•ื“ื—ื•ืคื” ื›ืื—ืช ื”ืงื“ืฉื•ืช.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื™ื—

The idea that the ื›ืชื•ื ืช is an undergarment is hinted at in the Yosef story as well:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืืœ ืื—ื™ื•; ื•ื™ืคืฉื™ื˜ื• ืืช ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืืช ื›ืชื ืชื• ืืช ื›ืชื ืช ื”ืคืกื™ื ืืฉืจ ืขืœื™ื•ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื–:ื›ื’

ืืช ื›ืชื ืชื•: ื–ึถื” ื—ึธืœื•ึผืง.

ืืช ื›ืชื ืช ื”ืคืกื™ื: ื”ื•ึผื ืฉืึถื”ื•ึนืกึดื™ืฃ ืœื•ึน ืึธื‘ึดื™ื• ื™ื•ึนืชึตืจ ืขึทืœ ืึถื—ึธื™ื•.

ืจืฉืณื™, ืฉื

Itโ€™s impossible to ignore the allusions to Yosef. But what do we do with that? I think the parallel that is closest to this story, the one we are being led to keep in mind while we read about Tamar and Amnon, is the story of Yosef and Potipharโ€™s wife. Tamar is Yosef, the beautiful (the text calls this out for both of them), innocent victim who goes ื”ื‘ื™ืชื” to the perpetrator who demands ืฉื›ื‘ื™/ื” ืขืžื™. But our story subverts the Yosef one. Yosef can run away and be saved; Tamar is violated. And I think that is the point of the parallel. What saves Yosef? The image of his father:

(ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื˜:ื™ื‘) ื•ึทืชึดึผืชึฐืคึฐึผืฉึตื‚ื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึดื’ึฐื“ื•ึน ืœึตืืžึนืจ ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ื‘ืื•ืชื” ืฉืขื” ื‘ืืชื” ื“ื™ื•ืงื ื• ืฉืœ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ื ืจืืชื” ืœื• ื‘ื—ืœื•ืŸ. ืืžืจ ืœื•: ื™ื•ืกืฃ, ืขืชื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืื—ื™ืš ืฉื™ื›ืชื‘ื• ืขืœ ืื‘ื ื™ ืืคื•ื“ ื•ืืชื” ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื; ืจืฆื•ื ืš ืฉื™ืžื—ื” ืฉืžืš ืžื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื?

ืกื•ื˜ื” ืœื•,ื‘

Even at the level of ืคืฉื˜, it is the lessons from ื‘ื™ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ that allow him to say (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื˜:ื˜)โ€Ž ื•ืื™ืš ืืขืฉื” ื”ืจืขื” ื”ื’ื“ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ื•ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืœืืœืงื™ืืƒ.

ื›ื™ ื”ืณ ืืชื•. ืฉืึตื ืฉืึธืžึทื™ึดื ืฉืึธื’ื•ึผืจ ื‘ึผึฐืคึดื™ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื˜:ื’

And it is the image of Tamar and Amnonโ€™s father that dooms Tamar. The lesson that Davidโ€™s children learn from his relationship with Bat Sheva is that kings can take whatever woman they want. Power is to be used to benefit the powerful. David canโ€™t deny Tamar to Amnon as long as he is married to Bat Sheva.

The narrative then foreshadows the reaction of Tamarโ€™s brother, Avshalom, that we will deal with later.

ื› ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื” ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื—ื™ื” ื”ืืžื™ื ื•ืŸ ืื—ื™ืš ื”ื™ื” ืขืžืš ื•ืขืชื” ืื—ื•ืชื™ ื”ื—ืจื™ืฉื™ ืื—ื™ืš ื”ื•ื ืืœ ืชืฉื™ืชื™ ืืช ืœื‘ืš ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”; ื•ืชืฉื‘ ืชืžืจ ื•ืฉืžืžื” ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืื—ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื ื•ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืžืข ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื”; ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืœื• ืžืื“ืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ืœื ื“ื‘ืจ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืขื ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืœืžืจืข ื•ืขื“ ื˜ื•ื‘; ื›ื™ ืฉื ื ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืืช ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืขื ื” ืืช ืชืžืจ ืื—ืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื’

And to pull yet another parallel to Yosef:

ื•ื™ืจืื• ืื—ื™ื• ื›ื™ ืืชื• ืื”ื‘ ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืžื›ืœ ืื—ื™ื• ื•ื™ืฉื ืื• ืืชื•; ื•ืœื ื™ื›ืœื• ื“ื‘ืจื• ืœืฉืœืืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื–:ื“

But ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ isnโ€™t about Amnon, Tamar or Avshalom. Itโ€™s about David. We need to look at this through Davidโ€™s eyes. His response is ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืœื• ืžืื“, which weโ€™ve seen once before:

ื ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื”ืณ ืืช ื ืชืŸ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉื ื™ ืื ืฉื™ื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืขื™ืจ ืื—ืช ืื—ื“ ืขืฉื™ืจ ื•ืื—ื“ ืจืืฉืƒโ€ฆ ื” ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืืฃ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืื™ืฉ ืžืื“; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœ ื ืชืŸ ื—ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื‘ืŸ ืžื•ืช ื”ืื™ืฉ ื”ืขืฉื” ื–ืืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

David is given two parables for him to understand what went wrong with him and Bat Sheva: the prophetic poor manโ€™s sheep and the experiential Amnon and Tamar. If Tamar corresponds to Yosef, then David corresponds to Yaakov, who saw himself in everything that happened to his child:

ืึธืžึทืจ ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตืœ ื‘ึผึทืจ ื ึทื—ึฐืžึธืŸ โ€ืึตืœึผึถื” ืชึผื•ึนืœึฐื“ื•ึนืช ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนื‘ืƒ ื™ื•ึนืกึตืฃโ€œ, ืœึนื ื”ึธื™ึธื” ืฆึธืจึดื™ืšึฐ ืงึฐืจึธื ืœึฐืžึตื™ืžึทืจ ื›ึผึตืŸ ืึถืœึผึธื ืึตืœึผึถื” โ€ืชึผื•ึนืœึฐื“ื•ึนืช ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนื‘, ืจึฐืื•ึผื‘ึตืŸโ€œ. ืึถืœึผึธื ืžึทื” ืชึผึทืœึฐืžื•ึผื“ ืœื•ึนืžึทืจ ื™ื•ึนืกึตืฃ, ืึถืœึผึธื ืฉืึถื›ึผึธืœ ืžึทื” ืฉึผืึถืึตื™ืจึทืข ืœึธื–ึถื” ืึตื™ืจึทืข ืœึธื–ึถื”โ€ฆืžึทื” ื–ึผึถื” ืึดืžึผื•ึน ืขึฒืงึธืจึธื”, ืึทืฃ ื–ึถื” ืึดืžึผื•ึน ืขึฒืงึธืจึธื”โ€ฆืžึทื” ื–ึผึถื” ืึธื—ึดื™ื• ืฉื‚ื•ึนื ึตื ืื•ึนืชื•ึน, ืึทืฃ ื–ึถื” ืึถื—ึธื™ื• ืฉื‚ื•ึนื ึฐืึดื™ื ืื•ึนืชื•ึน. ืžึทื” ื–ึผึถื” ืึธื—ึดื™ื• ื‘ึผึดืงึผึตืฉื ืœึฐื”ึธืจึฐื’ื•ึน, ืึทืฃ ื–ึถื” ื‘ึผึดืงึผึฐืฉืื•ึผ ืึถื—ึธื™ื• ืœึฐื”ึธืจึฐื’ื•ึนโ€ฆ.ื–ึถื” ื™ึธืฆึธื ืœึฐื—ื•ึผืฆึธื” ืœึธืึธืจึถืฅ, ื•ึฐื–ึถื” ื™ึธืฆึธื ืœึฐื—ื•ึผืฆึธื” ืœึธืึธืจึถืฅโ€ฆ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ืคื“:ื•

And all of Yosefโ€™s suffering was the gradual but inexorable result of his own actions:

ื“ืชื ื™ื: ื ืžืฆื ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืฉืคื™ืจืฉ ืžืื‘ื™ื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืฉืชื™ื ืฉื ื” ื›ืฉื ืฉืคื™ืจืฉ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืื‘ื™ื ื• ืžืื‘ื™ื•

ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื™ื–,ื

The entire story of Amnon and Tamar is set up as a ืžื™ื“ื” ื›ื ื’ื“ ืžื™ื“ื” for David himself:

ื•ืœืขื“ืดืŸ ืœื“ืงื“ืง ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืชื•ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืืžื•ืจ ื’ื‘ื™ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ื“ื•ืข ื”ื•ื ืฉืืžื ื•ืŸ ื–ื” ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื•ืโ€ฆื•ืืคืฉืจ ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ื•ื•ื ืช ื”ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืžืกืงื ืช ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉื’ืžืœ ื”ืฉืดื™ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœืื•ืจื™ื” ื•ืืฉืชื• ื‘ื’ืœื•ื™ ืขืจื•ืชื” ื•ืฉืคื™ื›ื•ืช ื“ื ืื•ืจื™ื” ื•ืœื–ื” ืืžืจ ื’ื‘ื™ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“, ืฉืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ ืฉืขืฉื” ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืฉืจืื•ื™ื” ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื• ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืœื ืฉืื›ืœื” ืคื’ื”, ื™ื‘ื ื ื ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ื’ืžื•ืœ ืœื• ื“ื•ืžื” ื‘ื“ื•ืžื” ืฉืจืื•ื™ื” ื•ืžื•ืชืจืช ื”ื™ืชื” ืชืžืจ ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ ืื ื™ืืจื™ืš ืืคื• ืžืขื˜ ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืื•ืชื” ืžืื‘ื™ื• ืืœื ืฉืื›ืœื” ืคื’ื”, ืฉืœื ืขืฆืจ ืจื•ื—ื• ื–ืžืŸ ืžื•ืขื˜ .ื•ื–ื”ื• ืฉืืžืจ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“โ€ฆืจืดืœ ื“ื•ืžื” ืœื• ื‘ืชื›ื•ื ื•ืชื™ื• ืฉื’ื ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื” ื›ืŸ.

ื›ืœื™ ื™ืงืจ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื

O wad some Powโ€™r the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion

Robert Burns, To a Louse

The message to David is: this is you, a warped, extreme version of you. Just like Amnon, you were ื“ืœ [ื‘ืŸ] ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ from love and it led to terrible things. But I would argue that Davidโ€™s ื“ืœื•ืช was not the love of a woman but for the one thing David truly loves:

ื”ืณ ืื”ื‘ืชื™ ืžืขื•ืŸ ื‘ื™ืชืš; ื•ืžืงื•ื ืžืฉื›ืŸ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื•:ื—

And weโ€™ve talked many times about how that leads to ื—ื˜ื ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข. David is now given another look at what that meant. We donโ€™t see his reaction to the story of Amnon and Tamar beyond the ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืœื• ืžืื“, but from this point on, he becomes a much more passive character, reacting to events rather than creating them.

What was going on in Israel as a whole after Nathan comes to David? ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ doesnโ€™t tell us; all we see is how his sons react. But the gemara discusses it:

[ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื—ื˜ื ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข] ืืคืจืขื• ืžื’ื•ืคื™ื”, ื“ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืฉืฉื” ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื ืฆื˜ืจืข ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืคืจืฉื• ื”ื™ืžื ื• ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื•ื ืกืชืœืงื” ื”ื™ืžื ื• ืฉื›ื™ื ื”.

ื™ื•ืžื ื›ื‘,ื‘

The idea that ื ืฆื˜ืจืข ื“ื•ื“, he was stricken with ืฆืจืขืช, I think is symbolic for his rejection:

ืชื ื• ืจื‘ื ืŸ: ืืฉืจ ื ืฉื™ื ื™ื—ื˜ืโ€ฆืืžืจ ืจื‘ ืื‘ื“ื™ืžื™ ื‘ืจ ื—ืžื: ืคืจื˜ ืœื ืฉื™ื ืฉื ืฆื˜ืจืข, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื”): ื•ึทื™ึฐื ึทื’ึทึผืข ื”ืณ ืึถืช ื”ึทืžึถึผืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ืžึฐืฆึนืจึธืข ืขึทื“ ื™ื•ึนื ืžึนืชื•ึน ื•ึทื™ึตึผืฉึถืื‘ ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึตื™ืช ื”ึทื—ึธืคึฐืฉึดืื™ืช ื•ึฐื™ื•ึนืชึธื ื‘ึถึผืŸ ื”ึทืžึถึผืœึถืšึฐ ืขึทืœ ื”ึทื‘ึทึผื™ึดืช [ืฉึนืืคึตื˜ ืึถืช ืขึทื ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ]. ืžื“ืงืืžืจ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื—ืคืฉื™ืช, ืžื›ืœืœ ื“ืขื“ ื”ืฉืชื ืขื‘ื“ ื”ื•ื”.

ื”ื•ืจื™ื•ืช ื™,ื

ื’ื ื™ืฉ ืœื“ืขืช ื•ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ืžื” ืœื’ืžืจื™ ืืœ ื”ืžืฆื•ืจืข, ื›ื™ ื”ืžืฆื•ืจืข ื ื‘ื“ืœ ืžืŸ ื”ืขื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืืฆืœื• (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื’:ืžื•) ืžึดื—ื•ึผืฅ ืœึทืžึทึผื—ึฒื ึถื” ืžื•ึนืฉึธืื‘ื•ึน. ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืกื•ืœืง ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืœืœ ื•ืื™ื ื ื• ื ื›ืœืœ ื‘ื›ืœืœ. ื•ื›ืš ื”ืžืœืš ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืžืกื•ืœืง ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืœืœ ื•ืื™ื ื ื• ื‘ื›ืœืœโ€ฆื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื“ืžื™ื•ืŸ ืืœ ื”ืžืฆื•ืจืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื ื‘ื“ืœ ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืœืœ.

โ€ฆ[ืžืœืš] ื™ื•ืชืจ ื—ืคืฉื™ ืžืŸ ืฉืืจ ื”ื‘ืจื™ื•ืช ืฉื™ืฉ ืขืœื™ื”ื ืฉื™ืขื‘ื•ื“ ืžืŸ ืื—ืจ ื•ื–ื” ื”ืžืœื“ ื”ื•ื ื—ืคืฉื™ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขืœื™ื• ืฉืขื‘ื•ื“ ื›ืžื• ื”ืžืฆื•ืจืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ืคืฉื™, ืจืง ืจืื•ื™ ืฉื™ื ื”ื’ ืžืขืฆืžื• ืขื‘ื“ื•ืช ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉืขื‘ื“ ืขืฆืžื• ืœืขื ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืžืฉื•ืขื‘ื“ ืืœื™ื”ื ื›ืžื• ื”ืขื‘ื“.

ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช ืžื”ืจืดืœ ืžืคืจืื’, ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื,ื‘

The series of four psalms concluding with Psalm 41 (the final psalm of the First Book) deals with one themeโ€”the illness with which David was afflicted as a result of his sins. Rather than viewing his sickness as a purely negative experience, David sought to learn from it and share with posterity the lessons and insights which he gained from his suffering.

Artscroll Tehillim, Introduction to Psalm 38

There is no hint in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ about a literal illness. I would understand this as symbolic, as the loss of public support that resulted from ื—ื˜ื ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข. Weโ€™ve looked at ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื— and ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืœื˜ already in the context of the consequences of the Bat Sheva affair. Now I want to look at another in this series that seems to touch on Amnon and Tamar.

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ืืฉืจื™ ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืืœ ื“ืœ; ื‘ื™ื•ื ืจืขื” ื™ืžืœื˜ื”ื• ื”ืณืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื

The ื“ืœ is the connection to our story:

ืืœ ื“ืœ: ื—ื•ืœื” ืœื‘ืงืจื• ื›ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื’:ื“) ืžึทื“ึผื•ึผืขึท ืึทืชึธึผื” ื›ึธึผื›ึธื” ื“ึทึผืœ ื“ืืžื ื•ืŸ

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื:ื‘

ืืฉืจื™ ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืืœ ื“ืœ: ืจืณืณืœ ืืฉืจื™ ืœื”ื’ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ื•ืžืขื™ื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉื›ืœื• ืขืœ ืขื ื™ื ื™ ื”ื“ืœ ื•ืžืงืจื™ื•, ื›ื™ ืžืŸ ืงื™ื•ื ื”ื“ืœ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื•ืื™ืš ื™ืฉืžืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืคื’ืขื™ื, ื™ืชืจืื” ื‘ื—ื•ืฉ ื”ืฉื’ื—ืช ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ื—ืœืฉื™ื ื•ื”ื ื“ื›ืื™ืโ€ฆื›ืœ ืงื™ื•ืžื• ื”ื•ื ืจืง ืขืณืณื™ ื”ืฉื’ื—ืช ื”ืณ ื”ืคืจื˜ื™ื™ืช

ืžืœื‘ื™ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื:ื‘

ืžืœื˜ื”ื• ื”ืณ is (intentionally, I think) ambiguous. Does it refer to the ื“ืœ: โ€Happy is one who learns from the sick who is savedโ€ฆโ€œ; or to the ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ: โ€Happy is one who learns from the sick; such a person will be savedโ€ฆโ€œ? Both are true, but the underlying meaning of the perek isnโ€™t clear until ืคืกื•ืง ื“;โ€Ž ืจืฉ ื“ื•ื™ must be talking about the illness.

ื’ ื”ืณ ื™ืฉืžืจื”ื• ื•ื™ื—ื™ื”ื• ื™ืืฉืจ (ื•ืืฉืจ) ื‘ืืจืฅ; ื•ืืœ ืชืชื ื”ื• ื‘ื ืคืฉ ืื™ื‘ื™ื•ืƒ
ื“ ื”ืณ ื™ืกืขื“ื ื• ืขืœ ืขืจืฉ ื“ื•ื™; ื›ืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื• ื”ืคื›ืช ื‘ื—ืœื™ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื

David is switching between illness (ื™ืฉืžืจื”ื• ื•ื™ื—ื™ื”ื•) and physical danger (ื ืคืฉ ืื™ื‘ื™ื•) because each is symbolic of the other: ื ืฆื˜ืจืข ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืคืจืฉื• ื”ื™ืžื ื• ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ go together. The volta here is in the middle of the pasuk, when David turns from a description (with ื”ืณ in third person) to prayer (with ื”ืณ in second person), and in the next pasuk, makes it about himself:

ื” ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ื”ืณ ื—ื ื ื™; ืจืคืื” ื ืคืฉื™ ื›ื™ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืœืšืƒ
ื• ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ื™ืืžืจื• ืจืข ืœื™; ืžืชื™ ื™ืžื•ืช ื•ืื‘ื“ ืฉืžื•ืƒ
ื– ื•ืื ื‘ื ืœืจืื•ืช ืฉื•ื ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื‘ื• ื™ืงื‘ืฅ ืื•ืŸ ืœื•; ื™ืฆื ืœื—ื•ืฅ ื™ื“ื‘ืจืƒ
ื— ื™ื—ื“ ืขืœื™ ื™ืชืœื—ืฉื• ื›ืœ ืฉื ืื™; ืขืœื™ ื™ื—ืฉื‘ื• ืจืขื” ืœื™ืƒ
ื˜ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ ื™ืฆื•ืง ื‘ื•; ื•ืืฉืจ ืฉื›ื‘ ืœื ื™ื•ืกื™ืฃ ืœืงื•ืืƒ
ื™ ื’ื ืื™ืฉ ืฉืœื•ืžื™ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื˜ื—ืชื™ ื‘ื• ืื•ื›ืœ ืœื—ืžื™;
ื”ื’ื“ื™ืœ ืขืœื™ ืขืงื‘ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื

Davidโ€™s complaint is not so much about the illness,but the lack of friends. Everyone has abandoned him and even those who appear to support him are really conspiring against him. Weโ€™ve talked about how that happened with ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ, his closest advisor and ื—ื‘ืจื•ืชื.

ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ื”ืณ ื—ื ื ื™: ืื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืœื™ ืžื‘ืงืจื™ื ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื•ื›ืฉืื ื™ ืฆื•ืขืง ืžืชื•ืš ื—ื•ืœื™ื™ ื•ืื•ืžืจ ื”ืณ ื—ื ื ื™ ื•ื’ื•ืณ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ืฉืžื—ื™ื ืขืœื™ ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืจืข ืœื™ ืžืชื™ ื™ืžื•ืช ื•ื’ื•ืณ

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื:ื”

ืฉื•ื ื™ื“ื‘ืจ: ืžืจืื” ืขืฆืžื• ื›ืื™ืœื• ื”ื•ื ืžื™ืฆืจ ื•ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืœืคื ื™ ื™ืงื‘ื•ืฅ ืœื‘ื• ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืช ืื•ืŸ ืœืขืฆืžื• ืžื” ืจืขื” ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืฆืืชื• ื•ื›ืฉื™ื•ืฆื ืœื—ื•ืฅ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืื•ืชื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื:ื–

ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ ื™ืฆื•ืง ื‘ื• is an interjection in the midst of his complaints: โ€œMay their lawlessness be cast back at them; may they fall ill instead of me!โ€ Again, he is mixing the image of illness with political intrigue.

ื™ื ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ ื—ื ื ื™ ื•ื”ืงื™ืžื ื™; ื•ืืฉืœืžื” ืœื”ืืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื‘ื–ืืช ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ื›ื™ ื—ืคืฆืช ื‘ื™; ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ืจื™ืข ืื™ื‘ื™ ืขืœื™ืƒ
ื™ื’ ื•ืื ื™ ื‘ืชืžื™ ืชืžื›ืช ื‘ื™; ื•ืชืฆื™ื‘ื ื™ ืœืคื ื™ืš ืœืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื

ื•ืืฉืœืžื” ืœื”ื: ืžื” ืฉืืžืจื• ืจืข ืขืœื™ ื‘ืขื•ื“ื ื™ ื—ื•ืœื”, ื•ืœื ืืžืจ ืฉื™ืขืฉื” ืœื”ื ืจืขโ€ฆื•ืจืื™ืชื™ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื’ืื•ืŸ (ืจื‘ื ื• ืกืขื“ื™ื”): ื•ืืฉืœืžื” ืœื”ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื•ืช ืชื—ืช ืจืขื•ืช.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื:ื™ื

ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ ื—ื ื ื™ ื•ื”ืงื™ืžื ื™ ื•ืืฉืœืžื” ืœื”ื: ืืžืจ ืœื• [ื”ืณ]: ื“ื•ื“ ืžื” ืืชื” ืžืฉืœื ืœื”ื, ืจืขื”? ืืžืจ: ื—ืก ื•ืฉืœื•ื! (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืœื”:ื™ื’) ื•ึทืึฒื ึดื™ ื‘ึทึผื—ึฒืœื•ึนืชึธื ืœึฐื‘ื•ึผืฉึดืื™ ืฉึธื‚ืง; ื›ืฉื—ืœื™ืชื™ ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ืžืชืคืœืœื™ื ืขืœื™ ืฉืืžื•ืช, ื•ื›ืฉื”ื ื—ื•ืœื™ื ืื ื™ ืžืชืคืœืœ ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ืžืชื›ืกื” ืฉืงโ€ฆืœื›ืŸ ื•ืืชื” ื”ืณ ื—ื ื ื™. ื•ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืื•ืžืจ ืœื•: ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื›ืŸ ื™ื•ื“ืข ืื ื™ ื›ื™ ื—ืคืฆืช ื‘ื™.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉื›ืจ ื˜ื•ื‘ ืžื:ื“

So what has David learned, ืืฉืจื™ ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืืœ ื“ืœ? That he canโ€™t rely on people to help him when he is down, that he can only rely on ื”ืณ;โ€Ž (ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ื™ื–:ื–)โ€Ž ื‘ึธึผืจื•ึผืšึฐ ื”ึทื’ึถึผื‘ึถืจ ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื™ึดื‘ึฐื˜ึทื— ื‘ึทึผื”ืณ ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื” ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืžึดื‘ึฐื˜ึทื—ื•ึน. Itโ€™s a good lesson, and itโ€™s true, but if we are connecting this to the story of Amnon and Tamar, then itโ€™s the wrong lesson. He canโ€™t claim ื•ืื ื™ ื‘ืชืžื™ ืชืžื›ืช ื‘ื™:

ืงืฉื” ืœื”ืชืขืœื ืžืŸ ื”ืงืฉืจ ื”ื‘ืจื•ืจ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžืขืฉื” ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืชืžืจ ืœื‘ื™ืŸ ืžืขืฉื” ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืช-ืฉื‘ืข. ืงืฉืจ ื–ื” ืื™ื ื• ืจืง ื‘ืชื—ื•ื ื”ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ื”ืืœื•ืงื™ืช ื”ืกืžื•ื™ื”. ื”ื•ื ืื—ื•ื– ื‘ื—ื˜ืื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืงืฉืจ ืฉืœ ืกื™ื‘ื” ื•ืžืกื•ื‘ื‘. ืืžื ื•ืŸ, ืฉื™ื“ืข ื‘ืงืœื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืื‘ื™ื•, ืขืฉื” ื‘ืชืžืจ ื›ื—ืคืฆื•. ื”ื•ื ื™ื“ืข, ืฉืื ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ื• โ€ื˜ื•ืœ ืงื™ืกื ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื™ื ื™ืšโ€œ, ื™ืขื ื” ืœื• ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ื‘ืช-ืฉื‘ืขโ€”โ€ื˜ื•ืœ ืงื•ืจื” ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืขื™ื ื™ืšโ€œ. ื•ืื›ืŸ ื—ืจื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“, ืืš ื”ื•ื ืœื ืขืฉื” ื“ื‘ืจ ืœืืžื ื•ืŸ.

ื”ืจื‘ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืžื“ืŸ, ืžื’ื™ืœืช ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข, ืขืžืณ 146

ื—ื–ืจืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ื”ื™ื™ืชื” ืžื•ื’ื‘ืœืช ื•ืžืฆื•ืžืฆืžืช. ืœืžืขืฉื” ื–ื• ื ื™ื˜ืœื” ืžืžื ื• ืžื™ื“ ืœืื—ืจ ืฉื—ื˜ืโ€ฆืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ืืžื ื•ืŸ ื•ืชืžืจโ€”ื“ื•ื“ ืœืžืขืฉื” ื›ื‘ืจ ืื™ื ื• ืžืœืš. ืกื™ืจื•ื‘ื• ืฉืœ ืืžื ื•ืŸ ืœื‘ืงืฉ ืžื“ื•ื“ ืจืฉื•ืช ืœืงื—ืช ืืช ืชืžืจ ื›ืคื™ ืฉื‘ื™ืงืฉื” ืžืžื ื•, ื•ืฉืชื™ืงืชื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืขืœ ืžืขืฉื” ืืžื ื•ืŸโ€ฆืžืขื™ื“ื™ื ืฉื“ื•ื“ ืœื ืฉืœื˜ ืืฃ ื‘ื‘ื ื™ื•.

ื”ืจื‘ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืžื“ืŸ, ืžื’ื™ืœืช ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข, ืขืžืณ 154

At this point David may technically be the king, but without the support of the people, he may have power but no authority. All he sees is are the whisperings behind his back and the gathering conspiracies:

ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, ืจื™ื‘ื•ื ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื, ื’ืœื•ื™ ื•ื™ื“ื•ืข ืœืคื ื™ืš ืฉืื ื”ื™ื• ืžืงืจืขื™ื ืืช ื‘ืฉืจื™ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื“ืžื™ ืฉื•ืชืช ืœืืจืฅ. ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“, ืืœื ืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืขื•ืกืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื’ืขื™ื ื•ืื”ืœื•ืช ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื™: ื“ื•ื“, ื”ื‘ื ืขืœ ืืฉืช ืื™ืฉ ืžื™ืชืชื• ื‘ืžื”?

ื‘ื‘ื ืžืฆื™ืขื, ื ื˜,ื

We could see David going down the same path as Saul, becoming more and more paranoid as his crimes multiply. But David will realize that the whispers are not unfounded, and he has not yet completed the ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” that will allow him to return to his status as ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

We''ll end on a positive note. The perek ends with an extended โ€œAmenโ€, as do all the books of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. Rav Chaim of Volozhin sees in this one a hint to Davidโ€™s one desire, to build the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื”ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“ ื”ืขื•ืœื; ืืžืŸ ื•ืืžืŸืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืžื:ื™ื“

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, in a gloss to Nefesh HaChaim 1:6 [which I have been unable to find], explains that the Temple is the point where the two worlds meet [understanding ืžื”ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“ ื”ืขื•ืœื as ืžื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ื–ื” ื•ืขื“ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื]. Since the Divine Presence dwells there, this world of matter and the future world of the spirit blend there and become one. For that reason, one of the benedictions recitedโ€ฆin the First Temple concluded with the words ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื”ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“ ื”ืขื•ืœื [in the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, both worlds are really one ื”ืขื•ืœื].

Artscroll Tehillim, Psalm 41:14, footnote, with my glosses