ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Make Good Choices

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

The census is completed. David has a bad feeling about this: (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™)โ€Ž ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื”ืณ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืžืื“ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™. And he is right:

ื™ื ื•ื™ืงื ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ;
ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื” ืืœ ื’ื“ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื—ื–ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจืƒ ื™ื‘ ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื“ื‘ืจืช ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืฉืœืฉ ืื ื›ื™ ื ื•ื˜ืœ ืขืœื™ืš; ื‘ื—ืจ ืœืš ืื—ืช ืžื”ื ื•ืืขืฉื” ืœืšืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื’ื“ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœื•; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืœืš ืฉื‘ืข ืฉื ื™ื ืจืขื‘ ื‘ืืจืฆืš ืื ืฉืœืฉื” ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ื ืกืš ืœืคื ื™ ืฆืจื™ืš ื•ื”ื•ื ืจื“ืคืš ื•ืื ื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉืœืฉืช ื™ืžื™ื ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืจืฆืš ืขืชื” ื“ืข ื•ืจืื” ืžื” ืืฉื™ื‘ ืฉืœื—ื™ ื“ื‘ืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื“

His choices, ืจืขื‘,โ€Ž ื“ื‘ืจ and ื—ืจื‘, are the ways ื”ืณ punishes nations:

ืœื– ืจืขื‘ ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืืจืฅ ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืฉื“ืคื•ืŸ ื™ืจืงื•ืŸ ืืจื‘ื” ื—ืกื™ืœ ื›ื™ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื›ื™ ื™ืฆืจ ืœื• ืื™ื‘ื• ื‘ืืจืฅ ืฉืขืจื™ื• ื›ืœ ื ื’ืข ื›ืœ ืžื—ืœื”ืƒ ืœื— ื›ืœ ืชืคืœื” ื›ืœ ืชื—ื ื” ืืฉืจ ืชื”ื™ื” ืœื›ืœ ื”ืื“ื ืœื›ืœ ืขืžืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืขื•ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื ื’ืข ืœื‘ื‘ื• ื•ืคืจืฉ ื›ืคื™ื• ืืœ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื–ื”ืƒ ืœื˜ ื•ืืชื” ืชืฉืžืข ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืžื›ื•ืŸ ืฉื‘ืชืš ื•ืกืœื—ืช ื•ืขืฉื™ืช ื•ื ืชืช ืœืื™ืฉ ื›ื›ืœ ื“ืจื›ื™ื• ืืฉืจ ืชื“ืข ืืช ืœื‘ื‘ื•; ื›ื™ ืืชื” ื™ื“ืขืช ืœื‘ื“ืš ืืช ืœื‘ื‘ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืื“ืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื—

ื” ื•ื™ืขืžื“ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื‘ืงื”ืœ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื•ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ; ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื—ืฆืจ ื”ื—ื“ืฉื”ืƒโ€ฆื˜ ืื ืชื‘ื•ื ืขืœื™ื ื• ืจืขื” ื—ืจื‘ ืฉืคื•ื˜ ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ืจืขื‘ ื ืขืžื“ื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื–ื” ื•ืœืคื ื™ืš ื›ื™ ืฉืžืš ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื–ื”; ื•ื ื–ืขืง ืืœื™ืš ืžืฆืจืชื ื• ื•ืชืฉืžืข ื•ืชื•ืฉื™ืขืƒโ€ฆื™ื‘ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื”ืœื ืชืฉืคื˜ ื‘ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื• ื›ื— ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื”ืžื•ืŸ ื”ืจื‘ ื”ื–ื” ื”ื‘ื ืขืœื™ื ื•; ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืœื ื ื“ืข ืžื” ื ืขืฉื” ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ืš ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›

ืฉืœืฉืชื™ืš ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื™ืžื•ืชื• ื•ื‘ืจืขื‘ ื™ื›ืœื• ื‘ืชื•ื›ืš ื•ื”ืฉืœืฉื™ืช ื‘ื—ืจื‘ ื™ืคืœื• ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืชื™ืš; ื•ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ืช ืœื›ืœึพืจื•ื— ืื–ืจื” ื•ื—ืจื‘ ืืจื™ืง ืื—ืจื™ื”ืืƒ

ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื”:ื™ื‘

ื•ืฉืœื—ืชื™ ื‘ื ืืช ื”ื—ืจื‘ ืืช ื”ืจืขื‘ ื•ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืขื“ ืชืžื ืžืขืœ ื”ืื“ืžื” ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื™ ืœื”ื ื•ืœืื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ืืƒ

ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ื›ื“:ื™

They represent a level of collective punishment, more general that ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ืคืจื˜ื™ืช.

ืžื’ื™ื“ ืฉืžืื—ืจ ืฉื ืชื ื” ืจืฉื•ืช ืœืžืฉื—ื™ืช ืœื—ื‘ืœ , ืื™ื ื• ืžื‘ื—ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฆื“ื™ืง ืœืจืฉืข.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื‘:ื›ื‘

This goes back to the introduction of the perek, ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ืœื—ืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ, that ื”ืณ is punishing Israel as a whole, as a society that has not learned to live ื™ืฉื‘ืชื ื‘ื˜ื—. And David is explicitly told to solve the Trolley Problem: who will he sacrifice?

ื ืชื—ืฉื‘ ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืคื ื™ ืขืฆืžื• ื•ืืžืจ ืื ื‘ื•ืจืจ ืื ื™ ื—ืจื‘, ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ื™ื”ื™ื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืžื” ืื™ื›ืคืช ืœื• ืœื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉื™; ื”ื•ื ื‘ื˜ื•ื— ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื•. ืื ื‘ื•ืจืจ ืื ื™ ืจืขื‘, ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ื™ื”ื™ื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืžื” ืื™ื›ืคืช ืœื• ืœื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉื™; ื”ื•ื ื‘ื˜ื•ื— ืขืœ ืื•ืฆืจื•ืชื™ื•. ื ื‘ืจื•ืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ื›ืœ ืฉื•ื™ืŸ ื‘ื•: ื“ื‘ืจ.

ื“ื‘ืจ ืื—ืจ: ืื ื‘ื•ืจืจ ืื ื™ ื—ืจื‘, ืื™ืŸ ื—ืจื‘ .ื‘ืœื ืจืขื‘; ืื ื‘ื•ืจืจ ืื ื™ ืจืขื‘, ืื™ืŸ ืจืขื‘ ื‘ืœื ื—ืจื‘โ€ฆ

ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื’ื“ ืจืžื–ื•: ืขึทืชึผึธื” ื“ึผึทืข ื•ึผืจึฐืึตื” ืžึธื” ืึธืฉืึดื™ื‘ ืฉืึนืœึฐื—ึดื™ ื“ึธื‘ึธืจโ€”ื“ึผึถื‘ึถืจ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœื:ื

However, thatโ€™s not really what he chooses:

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื’ื“ ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืžืื“; ื ืคืœื” ื ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืจื‘ื™ื ืจื—ืžื• ื•ื‘ื™ื“ ืื“ื ืืœ ืืคืœื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™ื“

Thatโ€™s not really an answer (one could argue that both ืจืขื‘ and ื“ื‘ืจ are ื™ื“ ื”ืณ; in fact heโ€™s just experienced ืจืขื‘ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ืฉื ื” ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื ื” as ื™ื“ ื”ืณ. It sounds more like he is refusing to choose.

A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?

WarGames

I think this is exactly what David chooses. ื ืคืœื” ื ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืณ is his denial of responsibility. He canโ€™t choose. So ื”ืณ imposes the default consequence of counting the Jewish people:

ื›ื™ ืชืฉื ืืช ืจืืฉ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืคืงื“ื™ื”ื ื•ื ืชื ื• ืื™ืฉ ื›ืคืจ ื ืคืฉื• ืœื”ืณ ื‘ืคืงื“ ืืชื; ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื”ื ื ื’ืฃ ื‘ืคืงื“ ืืชืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืœ:ื™ื‘

And that is what will happen:

ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื”ืณ ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื”ื‘ืงืจ ื•ืขื“ ืขืช ืžื•ืขื“; ื•ื™ืžืช ืžืŸ ื”ืขื ืžื“ืŸ ื•ืขื“ ื‘ืืจ ืฉื‘ืข ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื˜ื•

But before we get to that, I want to talk about that pasuk: ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื’ื“ ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืžืื“. It is very familiar to us:

ื ื•ืœืื—ืจ ืฉื™ืกื™ื™ื ืฉืœื™ื— ืฆื™ื‘ื•ืจ ื—ื–ืจืช ื”ืชืคื™ืœื”โ€”ื ื•ืคืœื™ื ืขืœ ืคื ื™ื”ื ื•ืžืชื—ื ื ื™ื. ื•ืขื ื™ืŸ ื ืคื™ืœืช ืืคื™ื ื”ื•ื ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืกื“ืจ ื”ืชืคื™ืœื” ื‘ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ืกื“ืจื™ื: ืชื—ื™ืœื” ืชืคื™ืœื” ื“ืžื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื•ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืขื“ ืฉืžื•ื ื” ืขืฉืจื”, ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ืชืคื™ืœื” ื“ืžืขื•ืžื“, ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื ืคื™ืœืช ืืคื™ื, ื›ืžื• ืฉืขืฉื” ืžืฉื” ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื˜:ื˜): ื•ึธืึตืฉึตืื‘ ื‘ึธึผื”ึธืจ; ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™:ื™): ื•ึฐืึธื ึนื›ึดื™ ืขึธืžึทื“ึฐืชึดึผื™ ื‘ึธื”ึธืจ; (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื˜:ื™ื—) ื•ึธืึถืชึฐื ึทืคึทึผืœ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ื”ืณ (ื˜ื•ืจ). ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืื—ืจ ื›ืš โ€ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืœื ื ื“ืข ืžื” ื ืขืฉื”โ€œ, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ: ื”ืชืคืœืœื ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ืื•ืคืŸ ื”ื™ื›ื•ืœืช, ื•ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื–ื” ืœื ื ื“ืข ืžื” ื ืขืฉื”, ื•ืจืง ืขืœื™ืš ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•.

ื—โ€ฆืžื ื”ื’ื™ื ื• ืœื•ืžืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ โ€ืจื—ื•ื ื•ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื—ื˜ืืชื™โ€ฆโ€œ ืขื“ โ€ื™ื‘ื•ืฉื• ืจื’ืขโ€œ. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืžืงื•ื“ื ืคืกื•ืง โ€ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื’ื“ ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืžืื•ื“โ€ฆโ€œ, ื•ืื ื• ืื™ืŸ ื ื•ื”ื’ื™ืŸ ืœืืžืจื•.

ืขืจื•ืš ื”ืฉื•ืœื—ืŸ, ืื•ืจื— ื—ื™ื™ื ืงืœืดื

Rav Soloveitchik was very against adding that introductory pasuk:

ืชื—ื ื•ืŸ ืœื ื™ืืžืจ ืคืกื•ืง ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉื ืืžืจ ื’ื‘ื™ ืคื•ืจืขื ื™ื•ืช ืจืง ื™ืชื—ื™ืœ โ€ืจื—ื•ื ื•ื—ื ื•ืŸโ€œ.

ืžืขืฉื” ืจื‘, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืคืกื“ืดื– ื•ืงืจืดืฉ ื•ืชืคื™ืœื” ืžื˜ืณ

Our ืชื—ื ื•ืŸ is meant to be a prayer that we not be punished harshly for our sins, not (as in our perek) that we will be punished but have to choose how.

ืชื—ื ื•ืŸโ€”ืชื—ื™ื ื” ืฉืื•ืžืจื™ื ืื—ืจื™ ืชืคืœืช ื”ืขืžื™ื“ื” ื‘ืฉื—ืจื™ืช ื•ื‘ืžื ื—ื” ื‘ื™ืžื•ืช ื”ื—ื•ืœ. ื”ืชืคื™ืœื” ื ืงืจืืช ืชื—ื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืฉืœ ืชื—ื™ืœืชื”: ืจื—ื•ื ื•ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืœืคื ื™ืš, ื”ืณ ืžืœื ืจื—ืžื™ื ืจื—ื ืขืœื™ ื•ืงื‘ืœ ืชื—ื ืชื™.

ืคืชื™ื—ื” ื–ื• ื”ื™ื ื”ืงื“ืžื” ืœืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื”ื‘ื: ื”ืณ ืืœ ื‘ืืคืš ืชื•ื›ื™ื—ื ื™ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื•ืณ).

ืื ืฆื™ืงืœื•ืคื“ื™ื” ื™ื”ื•ื“ื™ืช ื“ืขืช, ืชื—ื ื•ืŸ

While I hate to disagree with Rav Soloveitchik, I will say ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื’ื“ ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืžืื“, because ืชื—ื ื•ืŸ is less about asking for ื—ืŸ and ืจื—ืžื™ื and more about our helplessness: we donโ€™t even know how to ask. As the ืขืจื•ืš ื”ืฉื•ืœื—ืŸ says, weโ€™ve spent the last hour praying but donโ€™t feel weโ€™ve accomplished anything. This comes from the prayer of ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ we quoted above:

ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื”ืœื ืชืฉืคื˜ ื‘ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื• ื›ื— ืœืคื ื™ ื”ื”ืžื•ืŸ ื”ืจื‘ ื”ื–ื” ื”ื‘ื ืขืœื™ื ื•; ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืœื ื ื“ืข ืžื” ื ืขืฉื” ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ืš ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื›:ื™ื‘

And the perek of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that we say has this theme:

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ื‘ื ื’ื™ื ื•ืช ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช; ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ื”ืณ ืืœ ื‘ืืคืš ืชื•ื›ื™ื—ื ื™; ื•ืืœ ื‘ื—ืžืชืš ืชื™ืกืจื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื•

ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช is probably a musical instrument:

ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช: ื›ื™ื ื•ืจ ืฉืœ ืฉืžื•ื ื” ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช ืฉืžื•. ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืฆื™ื ื• (ื‘ื“ืดื” ื ื˜ื•) ืคืœื•ื ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื• ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช ืœื ืฆื—.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•:ื

But we can certainly interpret it midrashically:

ื•ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื ื›ื ืก ื“ื•ื“ ืœื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืจื—ืฅ ื•ืจืื” ืขืฆืžื• ืขื•ืžื“ ืขืจื•ื, ืืžืจ ืื•ื™ ืœื™ ืฉืืขืžื•ื“ ืขืจื•ื ื‘ืœื ืžืฆื•ื”. ื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ืžื™ืœื” ืฉื‘ื‘ืฉืจื•, ื ืชื™ื™ืฉื‘ื” ื“ืขืชื•. ืœืื—ืจ ืฉื™ืฆื ืืžืจ ืขืœื™ื” ืฉื™ืจื” ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“โ€œ ืขืœ ืžื™ืœื” ืฉื ื™ืชื ื” ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ื™.

ืžื ื—ื•ืช ืžื’,ื‘

ื•ื”ื“ืจืฉ ืขืœ ื”ืžื™ืœื” ืฉื ืชื ื” ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช; ื•ื–ื”ื• ืจื—ื•ืง.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•:ื

There is one other perek called ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช:โ€Ž ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื™ื‘. We talked about it in Great Responsibility, and how it was connected to Davidโ€™s feeling of guilt over the destruction of Nov. As I said then:

The number seven in ืชื ืดืš symbolizes โ€œeverything in the worldโ€, as in the seven days of creation. Eight symbolizes the step beyond thatโ€”the active involvement of the human being in the world. That is one explanation of the ื‘ืจื™ืช ืžื™ืœื” on the eighth day. A psalm ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืช is one that reflects man acting as the agent of ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, even to the point of deciding his own punishment.

Me, Great Responsibility

So our minhag associates this perek with our story; not with Davidโ€™s suffering, but with his watching his people about to suffer.

ื”ืณ ืืœ ื‘ืืคืš ืชื•ื›ื™ื—ื ื™; ื•ืืœ ื‘ื—ืžืชืš ืชื™ืกืจื ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•:ื‘

ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ืœื—ืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœโ€ฆ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื

David is specifically asking that ื”ืณ's ื”ื•ื›ื—ื” and ืžื•ืกืจ not be ื‘ืืคืš:

ื”ืณ ืืœ ื‘ืืคืš: ื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืืฃ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื—ืžื”, ืฉื”ืืฃ ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ืขืก ื”ื ื’ืœื”, ื•ื”ื—ืžื” ื”ื™ื ืชื‘ืขืจืช ืืฉ ื”ื›ืขืก ื‘ื ืกืชืจ ื‘ื ื˜ื™ืจืช ืฉื ืื” ื•ืื™ื‘ื”โ€ฆื•ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืงืฉ ืฉืชื•ื›ื—ื” ื–ื• ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ื‘ืืฃ ืจืง ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืจื›ื™ืโ€ฆื•ื”ืชื•ื›ื—ื” ื”ืžื’ื•ืœื” ืชื”ื™ื” ืชืžื™ื“ ืžืื”ื‘ื” ืžืกื•ืชืจืชโ€ฆื•ืœื›ืŸ ื‘ืงืฉ ืฉืขืœ ื›ืœ ืคื ื™ื ืืœ ื‘ื—ืžืชืš ืชื™ืกืจื ื™, ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืื™ื‘ื” ืคื ื™ืžื™ืช ื•ื ื˜ื™ืจืช ืฉื ืื” ื›ืื•ื™ื‘ ื”ืžื™ืกืจ, ืจืง ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื—:ื”) ื›ึดึผื™ ื›ึทึผืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื™ึฐื™ึทืกึตึผืจ ืึดื™ืฉื ืึถืช ื‘ึฐึผื ื•ึน ื”ืณ ืึฑืœึนืงึถื™ืšึธ ืžึฐื™ึทืกึฐึผืจึถืšึธึผ, ื•ืืžืจ (ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ื’:ื›ื“) [ื—ื•ึนืฉึตื‚ืšึฐ ืฉึดืื‘ึฐื˜ื•ึน ืฉื‚ื•ึนื ึตื ื‘ึฐื ื•ึน] ื•ึฐืึนื”ึฒื‘ื•ึน ืฉึดืื—ึฒืจื•ึน ืžื•ึผืกึธืจ.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•:ื‘

ืจืณ ื—ื ื™ื ื ืืžืจ: [ืžืฉืœ] ืœืžืœืš ืฉื›ืขืก ืขืœ ื‘ื ื• ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืคื ื™ื• ืื‘ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื ืฉื‘ืข ื”ืžืœืš ืฉื”ื•ื ื–ื•ืจืงื” ื‘ื•. ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืื ืื ื™ ื–ื•ืจืงื” ื‘ื• ืขื•ื“ ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ื—ื™ื™ื. ืžื” ืขืฉื” ื”ืžืœืš ื›ืชืชื” ื•ืขืฉืื” ืฆืจื•ืจื•ืช ืงื˜ื ื•ืช ื•ื”ื™ื” ื–ื•ืจืงื” ื‘ื• ืื—ืช ืื—ืช. ื ืžืฆื ืœื ื”ื–ื™ืง ืืช ื‘ื ื• ื•ืœื ื‘ื™ื˜ืœ ืืช ื’ื–ื™ืจืชื•.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•:ื‘

But thatโ€™s not what happens in our story. The ืืฃ remains. And so David is miserable:

ื’ ื—ื ื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ืืžืœืœ ืื ื™; ืจืคืื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ื™ ื ื‘ื”ืœื• ืขืฆืžื™ืƒ
ื“ ื•ื ืคืฉื™ ื ื‘ื”ืœื” ืžืื“; ื•ืืช (ื•ืืชื”) ื”ืณ ืขื“ ืžืชื™ืƒ
ื” ืฉื•ื‘ื” ื”ืณ ื—ืœืฆื” ื ืคืฉื™; ื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™ ืœืžืขืŸ ื—ืกื“ืšืƒ
ื• ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ืžื•ืช ื–ื›ืจืš; ื‘ืฉืื•ืœ ืžื™ ื™ื•ื“ื” ืœืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื•

Note that this is all psychological pain, not physical.

ื– ื™ื’ืขืชื™ ื‘ืื ื—ืชื™ ืืฉื—ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืœื™ืœื” ืžื˜ืชื™; ื‘ื“ืžืขืชื™ ืขืจืฉื™ ืืžืกื”ืƒ
ื— ืขืฉืฉื” ืžื›ืขืก ืขื™ื ื™; ืขืชืงื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืฆื•ืจืจื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื•

That is what happens in our story. After David prays ื—ื˜ืืชื™ ืžืื“ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ื•ืขืชื” ื”ืณ ื”ืขื‘ืจ ื ื ืืช ืขื•ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ืš ื›ื™ ื ืกื›ืœืชื™ ืžืื“, there is a paragraph break in the middle of a pasuk:

ื•ื™ืงื ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ;
ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื” ืืœ ื’ื“ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื—ื–ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™ื

ื•ื™ืงื ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ: ืœื ืฉื›ื‘ ืœื‘ื• ื‘ืœื™ืœื” ื•ืงื ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื”ื ื” ื‘ื ืืœื™ื• ื’ื“ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืฉื ื’ืœื” ืืœื™ื• ื‘ืœื™ืœื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™ื

ื›ื™ ื’ื ื‘ืœื™ืœื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ืฉื›ื‘ ืœื‘ื• ืžื“ืื’ื” ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื“:ื™ื

But then our perek turns. Like so much of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, it turns to an anticipatory prayer.

ื˜ ืกื•ืจื• ืžืžื ื™ ื›ืœ ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸ; ื›ื™ ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ืงื•ืœ ื‘ื›ื™ื™ืƒ
ื™ ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ืชื—ื ืชื™; ื”ืณ ืชืคืœืชื™ ื™ืงื—ืƒ
ื™ื ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื•ื™ื‘ื”ืœื• ืžืื“ ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™; ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื™ื‘ืฉื• ืจื’ืขืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื•

ื•ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ื”ืขืชื™ื“ ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ. ื•ื›ืœ ืื“ื ื—ื•ืœื” ื”ืžืชืคืœืœ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื–ื”, ื›ื™ ื‘ื˜ื•ื— ื”ื•ื ื›ื™ ื”ืืœ ื™ืฉืžืข ืชืคืœืชื• ืื ื™ืชืคืœืœ ื‘ืœื‘ ื ืฉื‘ืจ ื•ื ื“ื›ื”

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื•:ื˜

ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ืชื—ื ืชื™, ื”ืณ ืชื—ื ืชื™ ื™ืงื—. ื™ื‘ื•ืฉื• ื•ื™ื‘ื”ืœื• ืžืื“ ื›ืœ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™, ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ื™ื‘ื•ืฉื• ืจื’ืข: ืื›ืŸ ื–ื”ื• ืื—ื“ ื”ืงื•ื™ื ื”ืื•ืคื™ื™ื ื™ื ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ืœืžืฆื‘ ืจื•ื—ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืžืชืคืœืœ ื‘ื›ืœ ืจื—ื‘ื™ ืกืคืจ ืชื”ืœื™ื: ื›ืฉืžืฉ ื”ื–ื•ืจื—ืช ื•ืขื•ืœื” ืžืชื•ืš ืขื ื ื™ื ืงื•ื“ืจื™ื, ื›ืŸ ืชืขืœื” ืชืงื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ื”ืžืชืคืœืœ ื”ืžืชืงืจื‘ ื‘ืชืคืœืชื• ืœื‘ื•ืจืื•, ืžืชื•ืš ืœื”ื˜ ื”ืชืคืœื” ื”ื—ืžื”. ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“ ืฉื›ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื™ืื•ืฉ ื›ืŸ ืชืืžืฅ ื”ืชืงื•ื” ื”ืžืชืขื•ืจืจืช, ื›ืขื•ืžืง ื”ืฆืจื” ืืฉืจ ื‘ืชื•ื›ื” ื ืชื•ืŸ ื”ืžืชื—ื ืŸ ื›ืŸ ืชื’ื‘ื” ืจื•ืžืžื•ืช ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ืŸ, ืฉื™ืชืžืœื ืœื‘ื• ื”ืžืชืจื•ื ืŸ ืฉืœ ืžื™ ืฉืžืจื’ื™ืฉ โ€ื›ื™ ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ืงื•ืœ ื‘ื›ื™ื•, ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ืชื—ื ืชื•, ื”ืณ ืชืคืœืชื• ื™ืงื—โ€œ.

ื”ืžืชืคืœืœ ื‘ืชื”ืœื™ื, ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืข ืคืขื ืœื‘ื˜ื ืืช ื”ืืžื•ื ื” ื•ืืช ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ืŸ ื›ื™ ื’ื ืื "ื‘ืขืจื‘ ื™ืœื™ืŸ ื‘ื›ื™", ื”ืจื™ ื‘ืจืฆื•ืช ื”ืณ ืชืชืขื•ืจืจ ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ืจื ื”โ€”ืžืชืคืœืœ ื–ื” ื™ื•ื“ืข ื‘ืขืฆื ื’ื ืคืœืื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ืžืืœื”: ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื ื”ื• ื›ื™ ืœืขืชื™ื ืชื”ื ื›ื ื™ืกืชื• ืœื”ื™ื›ืœ ื”ืชืคืœื” ื‘ื—ื™ื ืช โ€ื”ืœื•ืš ื™ืœืš ื•ื‘ื›ื”โ€œ, ื”ืœื•ืš ื™ืœืš ื•ืชืชืขื˜ืฃ ืขืœื™ื• ื ืคืฉื•, ื•ื‘ืฆืืชื• ืžื”ื™ื›ืœ ื–ื” ื•ื”ื ื” ื˜ื”ืจื• ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื ืขืœืžื” ื›ืœ ืงื“ืจื•ืช ื•ื ืžื•ื’ื” ื›ืœ ืžื•ืขืงื” ืฉื‘ืœื‘, ื•ื”ืœื‘ ืฉื”ืชื—ื ืŸ ื”ื ื” ืขืชื” ื”ื•ื ืžืชืจื•ื ืŸ ื‘ื™ืฉื•ืขืช ื”ืณ ืฉื‘ืื” ื›ื”ืจืฃ ืขื™ืŸ, ืœืขืช ืขืชื” ื‘ืœื‘ื• ื”ื•ื, ืฉื ืชืžืœื ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ืŸ.

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

We donโ€™t end ืชื—ื ื•ืŸ with ื•ืื ื—ื ื• ืœื ื ื“ืข ืžื” ื ืขืฉื”. We end with ืขื–ืจื ื• ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืขื ื• ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืฉืžืš ื•ื”ืฆื™ืœื ื• ื•ื›ืคืจ ืขืœ ื—ื˜ืืชื™ื ื• ืœืžืขืŸ ืฉืžืš. Hope never dies.