ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Paved with Good Intentions

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

After David ends his period of ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืจืฉื•ืช and creates his kingdom of (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื˜ื•)โ€Ž ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืœื›ืœ ืขืžื•, he sends a delegation to Amon:

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืžืช ืžืœืš ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ; ื•ื™ืžืœืš ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื• ืชื—ืชื™ื•ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ืขื ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื ื—ืฉ ื›ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืื‘ื™ื• ืขืžื“ื™ ื—ืกื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื—ืžื• ื‘ื™ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืืœ ืื‘ื™ื•; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืืจืฅ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™

Now, this is strikingly different from the way he treated Amonโ€™s sister state, Moav:

ื•ื™ืš ืืช ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ืžื“ื“ื ื‘ื—ื‘ืœ ื”ืฉื›ื‘ ืื•ืชื ืืจืฆื” ื•ื™ืžื“ื“ ืฉื ื™ ื—ื‘ืœื™ื ืœื”ืžื™ืช ื•ืžืœื ื”ื—ื‘ืœ ืœื”ื—ื™ื•ืช; ื•ืชื”ื™ ืžื•ืื‘ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื ืฉืื™ ืžื ื—ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื—:ื‘

There is no hint in ืชื ืดืš what the king of Amon might have done, that David would say ื›ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืื‘ื™ื• ืขืžื“ื™ ื—ืกื“. Even the most stringent ื‘ืขืœื™ ืคืฉื˜ have to go back to the Aggadah:

ื ื•ื™ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืžืฉื ื•ื™ืžืœื˜ ืืœ ืžืขืจืช ืขื“ืœื; ื•ื™ืฉืžืขื• ืื—ื™ื• ื•ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืืœื™ื• ืฉืžื”ืƒ โ€ฆื’ ื•ื™ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืžืฉื ืžืฆืคื” ืžื•ืื‘; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœ ืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘ ื™ืฆื ื ื ืื‘ื™ ื•ืืžื™ ืืชื›ื ืขื“ ืืฉืจ ืื“ืข ืžื” ื™ืขืฉื” ืœื™ ืืœืงื™ืืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืืช ืคื ื™ ืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืขืžื• ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื”ื™ื•ืช ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืžืฆื•ื“ื”ืƒ

ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื’ื“ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ืชืฉื‘ ื‘ืžืฆื•ื“ื” ืœืš ื•ื‘ืืช ืœืš ืืจืฅ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”; ื•ื™ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ื‘ื ื™ืขืจ ื—ืจืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

And then Davidโ€™s family disappears, except for one brother who becomes the ื ืฉื™ื of ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”:

ื˜ื– ื•ืขืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืจืื•ื‘ื ื™ ื ื’ื™ื“ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื–ื›ืจื™;
ืœืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืฉืคื˜ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืžืขื›ื”ืƒ
ื™ื– ืœืœื•ื™ ื—ืฉื‘ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืงืžื•ืืœ ืœืื”ืจืŸ ืฆื“ื•ืงืƒ
ื™ื— ืœื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืœื™ื”ื• ืžืื—ื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“;
ืœื™ืฉืฉื›ืจ ืขืžืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ืžื™ื›ืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื–

ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื•ืจื— ืžืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ, ื”ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื›ืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื™ื• ืืฆืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืžื•ืื‘. ืืžืจ ืœื”ื: ืงื‘ืœื• ื‘ื™ืช ืื‘ื ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืืช ืคื ื™ ืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ืฉื‘ ื ื ืื‘ื™ ื•ืืžื™โ€œ. ืงื‘ืœื• ืื•ืชื, ื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฆื ื“ื•ื“ ืขืžื“ ืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื”ืจื’ ืœืื‘ื™ื• ื•ืœืืžื• ื•ืœืื—ื™ื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืœื ื ืฉืชื™ื™ืจ ืžื”ื ืืœื ืื—ื“ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื–:ื™ื—) โ€ืœื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืœื™ื”ื• ืžืื—ื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“โ€œ ืฉืœื ื ืฉืชื™ื™ืจ ืžื”ื ืืœื ื”ื•ื ื•ื‘ืจื— ืžืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื”ืœืš ืืฆืœ ื ื—ืฉ ืžืœืš ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ืฉืœื— ืžืœืš ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ืืžืจ ืœื ื—ืฉ ืฉืžื ื‘ื ืืฆืœืš ืื—ื“ ืžืื—ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœืื• ื•ืฉืžืจื• ืขื“ ืฉื‘ื ื“ื•ื“.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืจืžื– ืงืžื–

But Amonโ€™s response is shocking:

ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืฉืจื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ืืœ ื—ื ื•ืŸ ืื“ื ื™ื”ื ื”ืžื›ื‘ื“ ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืื‘ื™ืš ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ืš ื›ื™ ืฉืœื— ืœืš ืžื ื—ืžื™ื; ื”ืœื•ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื—ืงืจ ืืช ื”ืขื™ืจ ื•ืœืจื’ืœื” ื•ืœื”ืคื›ื” ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืืœื™ืšืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ืงื— ื—ื ื•ืŸ ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ื’ืœื— ืืช ื—ืฆื™ ื–ืงื ื ื•ื™ื›ืจืช ืืช ืžื“ื•ื™ื”ื ื‘ื—ืฆื™ ืขื“ ืฉืชื•ืชื™ื”ื; ื•ื™ืฉืœื—ืืƒ ื” ื•ื™ื’ื“ื• ืœื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืœืงืจืืชื ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื ื›ืœืžื™ื ืžืื“; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ื™ืจื—ื• ืขื“ ื™ืฆืžื— ื–ืงื ื›ื ื•ืฉื‘ืชืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™

As an aside, David has them wait in ื™ืจื—ื• because itโ€™s right over the Jordan, and because no one lived there:

ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืข ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืขืช ื”ื”ื™ื ืœืืžืจ; ืืจื•ืจ ื”ืื™ืฉ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ื™ืงื•ื ื•ื‘ื ื” ืืช ื”ืขื™ืจ ื”ื–ืืช ืืช ื™ืจื™ื—ื• ื‘ื‘ื›ืจื• ื™ื™ืกื“ื ื” ื•ื‘ืฆืขื™ืจื• ื™ืฆื™ื‘ ื“ืœืชื™ื”ืƒ

ื™ื”ื•ืฉื•ืข ื•:ื›ื•

What went wrong in Davidโ€™s overture to Amon? ื—ื–ืดืœ read ืชื ืดืš as ืกืคืจื™ ื ื‘ื•ืื”, so there must be a message in the textโ€™s choice of what incidents to relate. There is an inherent problem in trusting Amon:

ื“ ืœื ื™ื‘ื ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ืžื•ืื‘ื™ ื‘ืงื”ืœ ื”ืณ; ื’ื ื“ื•ืจ ืขืฉื™ืจื™ ืœื ื™ื‘ื ืœื”ื ื‘ืงื”ืœ ื”ืณ ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ ื” ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืœื ืงื“ืžื• ืืชื›ื ื‘ืœื—ื ื•ื‘ืžื™ื ื‘ื“ืจืš ื‘ืฆืืชื›ื ืžืžืฆืจื™ื; ื•ืืฉืจ ืฉื›ืจ ืขืœื™ืš ืืช ื‘ืœืขื ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืขื•ืจ ืžืคืชื•ืจ ืืจื ื ื”ืจื™ื ืœืงืœืœืšืƒ ื• ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืœืฉืžืข ืืœ ื‘ืœืขื ื•ื™ื”ืคืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืœืš ืืช ื”ืงืœืœื” ืœื‘ืจื›ื”; ื›ื™ ืื”ื‘ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืšืƒ ื– ืœื ืชื“ืจืฉ ืฉืœืžื ื•ื˜ื‘ืชื ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ืš ืœืขื•ืœืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื’

ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื›ืชื‘ืชื™ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›:ื™) ื›ึดึผื™ ืชึดืงึฐืจึทื‘ ืึถืœ ืขึดื™ืจ ืœึฐื”ึดืœึธึผื—ึตื ืขึธืœึถื™ื”ึธ ื•ึฐืงึธืจึธืืชึธ ืึตืœึถื™ื”ึธ ืœึฐืฉึธืืœื•ึนื, ืœืืœื• ืœื ืชืขืฉื• ื›ืŸ; โ€ืœื ืชื“ืจื•ืฉ ืฉืœื•ืžื ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ืชืโ€œ. ืืช ืžื•ืฆื ื‘ืžื™ ืฉื‘ื ืขืžื”ื ื‘ืžื“ืช ืจื—ืžื™ื ืœืกื•ืฃ ื‘ื ืœื™ื“ื™ ื‘ื–ื™ื•ืŸ, ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื•ืฆืจื•ืจ; ื•ืื™ื–ื”? ื–ื” ื“ื•ื“ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™) โ€ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ืขื ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื ื—ืฉโ€œ. ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื: ืืชื” ืชืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™? ืื ื™ ื›ืชื‘ืชื™ ืœื ืชื“ืจื•ืฉ ืฉืœื•ืžื ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ืชื, ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื” ืขืžื ื’ืžื™ืœื•ืช ื—ืกื“? (ืงื”ืœืช ื–:ื˜ื–) ืึทืœ ืชึผึฐื”ึดื™ ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตื”, ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื ืื“ื ืžื•ื•ืชืจ ืขืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื”. ื•ื–ื” ืฉื•ืœื— ืœื ื—ื ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ื•ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืขืžื• ื—ืกื“ ืกื•ืฃ ื‘ื ืœื™ื“ื™ ื‘ื–ื™ื•ืŸ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™) โ€ื•ื™ืงื— ื—ื ื•ืŸ ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ื’ืœื— ืืช ื—ืฆื™ ื–ืงื ื ื•ื™ื›ืจืช ืืช ืžื“ื•ื™ื”ื ื‘ื—ืฆื™ ืขื“ ืฉืชื•ืชื™ื”ื ื•ื™ืฉืœื—ืโ€œ, ื•ื‘ื ืœื™ื“ื™ ืžืœื—ืžื” ืขื ืืจื ื ื”ืจื™ื ื•ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื•ื‘ื” ื•ืžืœื›ื™ ืžืขื›ื” ื•ืขื ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸโ€ฆืžื™ ื’ืจื ืœื“ื•ื“ ื›ืš? ืฉื‘ืงืฉ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืขื ืžื™ ืฉืืžืจ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื ืชื“ืจื•ืฉ ืฉืœื•ืžื.

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื” (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืคืจืฉืช ืคื™ื ื—ืก ืคืจืฉื” ื›ื ืกื™ืžืŸ ื”

The pasuk of ืึทืœ ืชึผึฐื”ึดื™ ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตื” is the same one ื—ื–ืดืœ use to describe Saul who had pity on the king of Amalek:

ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœืฉืื•ืœ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื:ื˜ื•) ืœืš ื•ื”ื›ื™ืช ืืช ืขืžืœืงโ€ฆื™ืฆืื” ื‘ืช ืงื•ืœ ื•ืืžืจื” ืœื• (ืงื•ื”ืœืช ื–:ื˜ื–) ืืœ ืชื”ื™ ืฆื“ื™ืง ื”ืจื‘ื”. ื•ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื“ื•ืื’ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื:ื›ื‘) ืกื•ื‘ ืืชื” ื•ืคื’ืข ื‘ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื™ืฆืื” ื‘ืช ืงื•ืœ ื•ืืžืจื” ืœื• (ืงื•ื”ืœืช ื–:ื™ื–) ืึทืœ ืชึผึดืจึฐืฉืึทืข ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตื”.

ื™ื•ืžื ื›ื‘,ื‘

The Kesef Mishna proposes a reason that David might have felt that he was justified in his overture to Amon:

ื›ืชื‘ื• ื”ื’ื”ื•ืช ืžื™ื™ืžื•ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ ืœื ืชื“ืจื•ืฉ ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื›ืชื‘ ืจืืดื [ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžืžึตื™ืฅ, ืžื’ื“ื•ืœื™ ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช, ืžื—ื‘ืจ ืกืคืจ ื™ืจืื™ื] ื‘ื“ืดื? ื‘ื“ืจื™ืฉืช ืฉืœื•ื ื“ืืกื•ืจ, ืื‘ืœ ืชืฉืœื•ืžื™ ืฉืœื•ื ืžื•ืชืจ, ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืื ืขืฉื• ืขืžืš ื—ืกื“ ืžื•ืชืจ ืœืคืงื“ื ืœืฉืœื•ื ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ื•ื™ืžืช ืžืœืš ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืžืœื•ืš ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื• ืชื—ืชื™ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ืขื ื—ื ื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื ื—ืฉ ื›ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืื‘ื™ื• ืขืžื“ื™ ื—ืกื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื—ืžื•โ€œ ืขื›ืดืœ. ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืชืžื•ื” ืขืœ ื–ื” ืฉืืžืจื• ื—ื–ืดืœ ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ [ืฉืœื ื›ื”ื•ื’ืŸ ืขืฉื” ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื–ื”].

ื›ืกืฃ ืžืฉื ื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืžืœื›ื™ื ื•:ื•

Rambamโ€™s formulation indicates that the prohibition is addressed to the community rather than the individualโ€ฆThus may Dovid have rationalized. He sent the messengers as an individual who appreciated a favor once done to his familyโ€ฆit had nothing to do with his kingly duties and therefore did not fall within the public domain.

Rabbi Moshe M. Eisemann, Music Made in Heaven, p. 73

The ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘ makes the same point, noting that the pasuk says ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื—ืžื• ื‘ื™ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืืœ ืื‘ื™ื•, not ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืจื™ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”, and they went ืœื ื—ืžื• ืืœ ืื‘ื™ื•, not as king of Amon but as a son in mourning.

But the truth is that the king represents the people as a whole. Nothing David does now represents himself as an individual. Whatever good Amon did to him personally does not outweigh the utter evil that Amon not so long before had committed against Israel:

ื ื•ื™ืขืœ ื ื—ืฉ ื”ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื•ื™ื—ืŸ ืขืœ ื™ื‘ื™ืฉ ื’ืœืขื“; ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื›ืœ ืื ืฉื™ ื™ื‘ื™ืฉ ืืœ ื ื—ืฉ ื›ืจืช ืœื ื• ื‘ืจื™ืช ื•ื ืขื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื”ื ื ื—ืฉ ื”ืขืžื•ื ื™ ื‘ื–ืืช ืื›ืจืช ืœื›ื ื‘ื ืงื•ืจ ืœื›ื ื›ืœ ืขื™ืŸ ื™ืžื™ืŸ; ื•ืฉืžืชื™ื” ื—ืจืคื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืืœื™ื• ื–ืงื ื™ ื™ื‘ื™ืฉ ื”ืจืฃ ืœื ื• ืฉื‘ืขืช ื™ืžื™ื ื•ื ืฉืœื—ื” ืžืœืื›ื™ื ื‘ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืื ืื™ืŸ ืžื•ืฉื™ืข ืืชื ื• ื•ื™ืฆืื ื• ืืœื™ืšืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ื”ืžืœืื›ื™ื ื’ื‘ืขืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจื• ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื‘ืื–ื ื™ ื”ืขื; ื•ื™ืฉืื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืช ืงื•ืœื ื•ื™ื‘ื›ื•ืƒ ื” ื•ื”ื ื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ื ืื—ืจื™ ื”ื‘ืงืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื“ื” ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืื•ืœ ืžื” ืœืขื ื›ื™ ื™ื‘ื›ื•; ื•ื™ืกืคืจื• ืœื• ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืื ืฉื™ ื™ื‘ื™ืฉืƒ ื• ื•ืชืฆืœื— ืจื•ื— ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœ ืฉืื•ืœ ื‘ืฉืžืขื• (ื›ืฉืžืขื•) ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื”; ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืืคื• ืžืื“ืƒ ื– ื•ื™ืงื— ืฆืžื“ ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื™ื ืชื—ื”ื• ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืœืืžืจ ืืฉืจ ืื™ื ื ื• ื™ืฆื ืื—ืจื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืื—ืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื›ื” ื™ืขืฉื” ืœื‘ืงืจื•; ื•ื™ืคืœ ืคื—ื“ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื”ืขื ื•ื™ืฆืื• ื›ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ืƒ โ€ฆื™ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืžื—ืจืช ื•ื™ืฉื ืฉืื•ืœ ืืช ื”ืขื ืฉืœืฉื” ืจืืฉื™ื ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ืžื—ื ื” ื‘ืืฉืžืจืช ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื™ื›ื• ืืช ืขืžื•ืŸ ืขื“ ื—ื ื”ื™ื•ื; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื”ื ืฉืืจื™ื ื•ื™ืคืฆื• ื•ืœื ื ืฉืืจื• ื‘ื ืฉื ื™ื ื™ื—ื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื™ื

And here Amon proves the point by humiliating David despite his best intentions.

How does David respond to this provocation? We donโ€™t see in the text (the next psukim are about Amonโ€™s response to how they think David will respond), but there is a chapter of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that may be relevant:

ื ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ
ื‘ ืืš ืืœ ืืœืงื™ื ื“ื•ืžื™ื” ื ืคืฉื™; ืžืžื ื• ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื™ืƒ
ื’ ืืš ื”ื•ื ืฆื•ืจื™ ื•ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื™; ืžืฉื’ื‘ื™ ืœื ืืžื•ื˜ ืจื‘ื”ืƒ
ื“ ืขื“ ืื ื” ืชื”ื•ืชืชื• ืขืœ ืื™ืฉ ืชึผึฐืจึธืฆึผึฐื—ื•ึผ ื›ืœื›ื;
ื›ืงื™ืจ ื ื˜ื•ื™; ื’ื“ืจ ื”ื“ื—ื•ื™ื”ืƒ
ื” ืืš ืžืฉืืชื• ื™ืขืฆื• ืœื”ื“ื™ื— ื™ืจืฆื• ื›ื–ื‘;
ื‘ืคื™ื• ื™ื‘ืจื›ื•; ื•ื‘ืงืจื‘ื ื™ืงืœืœื• ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื‘

ืขืœ ื™ื“ื•ืชื•ืŸ: ืฉื ื›ืœื™ ืฉื™ืจ. ื•ืžื“ืจืฉ ืื’ื“ื” ืขืœ ื”ื“ืชื•ืช ื•ืขืœ ื”ื“ื™ื ื™ืŸ ื”ื ื’ื–ืจื™ื ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื”ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื

ื“ื•ืžื™ื” ื ืคืฉื™: ืžืฆืคื” ื ืคืฉื™.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื‘

ื“ื•ืžื™ื”: ืžื—ืจื™ืฉื” ื•ืฉื•ืชืงืช ืขืœ ืฉืชื‘ื ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื‘

Artscroll combines these as โ€œOnly for G-d does my soul wait silentlyโ€.

The phrase ืœื ืืžื•ื˜ ืจื‘ื” seems grammatically off; it literally means โ€œI will not falter largeโ€. The commentators have to add words:

ืœื ืืžื•ื˜: ืžื•ื˜ื” ืจื‘ื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื’

ืžืฉื’ื‘ื™ ืœื ืืžื•ื˜ ืจื‘ื”: ืžืื“.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื’

Even so, it seems to be damning by faint praise: ื”ืณ will only let me slip a little? Sforno reads ืจื‘ื” as an apostrophe. This perek is addressed to ืขืžื•ืŸ and its capital ืจื‘ื”, or ืจื‘ืช ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ:

ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืืžืจ ืขืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ืฉืงืจืขื• ื‘ื’ื“ื™ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืืฉืจ ืฉืœื— ืœื ื—ื ืืช ื—ื ื•ืŸ ืžืœื›ื ืขืœ ืžื™ืชืช ืื‘ื™ื• ืฉืืžืจื™ ืœื• ืฉื”ื ื”ื™ื• ืžืจื’ืœื™ื.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื‘, ื”ืงื“ืžื”

ืœื ืืžื•ื˜ ืจื‘ื”: ื“ืขื• ืœืš ืจื‘ืช ื‘ื ื™ ืขืžื•ืŸ ืฉืœื ืืžื•ื˜ ื•ืœื ืื–ื“ื–ืข ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืžืœื—ืžืชืš.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื’

ืขื“ ืื ื” ืชื”ื•ืชืชื•: ืžื’ื–ืจืช ื”ึทื•ึผื•ึนืช ืชื—ืฉื‘ื• ืขืœื™ื•.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื“

ื›ึดึผื™ ื”ื•ึผื ื™ึทืฆึดึผื™ืœึฐืšึธ ืžึดืคึทึผื— ื™ึธืงื•ึผืฉื; ืžึดื“ึถึผื‘ึถืจ ื”ึทื•ึผื•ึนืชืƒ

ืชื”ืœื™ื ืฆื:ื’

ืขื“ ืื ื” ืชื”ื•ืชืชื• ืขืœ ืื™ืฉ: ืืžื ื ืืชื ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื—ื ื•ืŸ ืžืœื›ื›ื ืขื“ ืื ื” ืชืฉื™ืžื• ื”ื•ื•ืช ื•ืžื—ืฉื‘ื” ืจืขื” ื‘ื“ืžื™ื•ื ื•.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื“

ืชึผึฐืจึธืฆึผึฐื—ื•ึผ could be read as โ€œmay you all be murderedโ€:

ืชืจืฆื—ื• ื›ื•ืœื›ื: ื™ื”ื™ ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืฉืชืจืฆื—ื• ื›ื•ืœื›ื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื“

But that doesnโ€™t seem to fit the theme of trusting in ื”ืณ. Artscroll cites Rashbam and Ibn Yachya (neither of which I can find) that this is David addressing his enemies, โ€œYou all plan to murder me!โ€. His enemies are subtle, setting up the situation so they cannot be blamed:

ื“ืจืฉ ืจื‘ื: ืžืื™ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘) โ€ืขื“ ืื ื” ืชื”ื•ืชืชื• ืขืœ ืื™ืฉ ืชืจืฆื—ื• ื›ื•ืœื›ื ื›ืงื™ืจ ื ื˜ื•ื™ ื’ื“ืจ ื”ื“ื—ื•ื™ื”โ€œ? ืžืœืžื“ ืฉื”ื™ื• ื ื•ืชื ื™ืŸ ืขื™ื ื™ื”ืŸ ื‘ื‘ืขืœื™ ืžืžื•ืŸ ื•ืžื•ืฉื™ื‘ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืืฆืœ ืงื™ืจ ื ื˜ื•ื™ ื•ื“ื•ื—ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืขืœื™ื• ื•ื‘ืื™ื ื•ื ื•ื˜ืœื™ืŸ ืืช ืžืžื•ื ื•.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื˜,ื

And more that that, they would arrange for their victim to be liable for the damage:

ื•ื“ื•ื—ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืขืœื™ื• ื›ื•ืณ: ืฉื ื•ื˜ืœื™ืŸ ืžืžื•ื ืŸ ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ื›ืื™ืœื• ื”ืคื™ืœื• ืœื”ืŸ ื”ืงื™ืจ ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื, โ€ื•ื ื•ื˜ืœื™ืŸ ืžืžื•ื ื•โ€œ ืจืฆื•ื ื• ืœืืžืจ ืฉืœ ื”ืงื™ืจ, ืฉืื•ืžืจื™ื ืฉื”ื–ื™ืงื• ืœื”ืคื™ืœ ืœื”ืŸ ื›ื•ืชืœ ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืœืฉืœื ืื•ืชื• ื”ืงื™ืจ.

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

ืืš ืžืฉืืชื• ื™ืขืฆื• ืœื”ื“ื™ื— means โ€œonly because of hisโ€”the ืื™ืฉ of ืคืกื•ืง ื“โ€”elevated stature do they plot to topple himโ€.

And Sforno continues to read all this as referring to the Amonites:

ื™ืจืฆื• ื›ื–ื‘: ืจืฆื• ืœื•ืžืจ ืœื• ืฉืฉืœื—ืชื™ ืื•ืชื ืœืžืจื’ืœื™ื ืฉื”ื•ื ื›ื–ื‘.

ืกืคื•ืจื ื•, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื”

Second verse, same as the first!

Hermanโ€™s Hermits, Iโ€™m Henery the Eighth, I Am

ื• ืืš ืœืืœืงื™ื ื“ื•ืžื™ ื ืคืฉื™; ื›ื™ ืžืžื ื• ืชืงื•ืชื™ืƒ
ื– ืืš ื”ื•ื ืฆื•ืจื™ ื•ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื™; ืžืฉื’ื‘ื™ ืœื ืืžื•ื˜ืƒ
ื— ืขืœ ืืœืงื™ื ื™ืฉืขื™ ื•ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™; ืฆื•ืจ ืขื–ื™ ืžื—ืกื™ ื‘ืืœืงื™ืืƒ
ื˜ ื‘ื˜ื—ื• ื‘ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ืขืช ืขื ืฉืคื›ื• ืœืคื ื™ื• ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื;
ืืœืงื™ื ืžื—ืกื” ืœื ื• ืกืœื”ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื‘

This stich expresses the same faith in ื”ืณ, but here itโ€™s addressed to the people: ื‘ื˜ื—ื• ื‘ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ืขืช, ืขื rather than the ืจืฉืขื™ื.

Then David concludes that there is no point in worrying about their evil plans; itโ€™s all ื”ื‘ืœ. Thatโ€™s usually translated as โ€œvanityโ€ but that word has a different meaning in modern English. ื”ื‘ืœ means โ€œbreath, puff of airโ€.

ื™ ืืš ื”ื‘ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื›ื–ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ ืื™ืฉ;
ื‘ืžืื–ื ื™ื ืœืขืœื•ืช; ื”ืžื” ืžื”ื‘ืœ ื™ื—ื“ืƒ
ื™ื ืืœ ืชื‘ื˜ื—ื• ื‘ืขืฉืง ื•ื‘ื’ื–ืœ ืืœ ืชื”ื‘ืœื•;
ื—ื™ืœ ื›ื™ ื™ื ื•ื‘ ืืœ ืชืฉื™ืชื• ืœื‘ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ืื—ืช ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืฉืชื™ื ื–ื• ืฉืžืขืชื™; ื›ื™ ืขื– ืœืืœืงื™ืืƒ
ื™ื’ ื•ืœืš ืึพื“ื ื™ ื—ืกื“; ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืชืฉืœื ืœืื™ืฉ ื›ืžืขืฉื”ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืกื‘

ืืš ื”ื‘ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื: ื•ืืœ ืชื™ืจืื• ืžื”ื ืžืื—ืจ ืฉื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืžื—ืกื” ืœื ื• ื‘ืขืช ืฆืจื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื™

ื—ื™ืœ ื›ื™ ื™ื ื•ื‘: ืื ืชืจืื• ืจืฉืขื™ื ืฉืžืžื•ื ื ืžืฆืœื™ื— ื•ื’ื“ืœ ืืœ ืชืฉื™ืชื• ืœื‘.

ื™ื ื•ื‘: ื™ืฆืžื— ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืชื ื•ื‘ื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื™ื

ืื—ืช ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืฉืชื™ื ื–ื• ืฉืžืขืชื™ in the ืคืฉื˜ is simply emphatic: โ€œื”ืณ has said this not once but many timesโ€.

ืื—ืช ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœืงื™ื. ืคืขื ื•ืฉืชื™ื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืคืขืžื™ื ืจื‘ื•ืช ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื”ื™ื ื•ืฉืžืขื ื• ืžืคื™ ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื• ื›ื™ ื”ืขื•ื– ืœืืœืงื™ื ืœื‘ื“ื•, ืœื›ืŸ ืื™ืŸ ืœื• ืœืื“ื ืœื‘ื˜ื•ื— ืœื ื‘ื›ื—ื• ื•ืœื ื‘ืžืžื•ื ื•.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื™ื‘

ื—ื–ืดืœ saw in this pasuk the idea that Torah has multiple levels of meaning; one word of G-d should be heard in multiple ways:

ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ื™ ื“ืืžืจ ืงืจื (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืกื‘:ื™ื‘) โ€ืื—ืช ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœืงื™ื ืฉืชื™ื ื–ื• ืฉืžืขืชื™; ื›ื™ ืขื– ืœืืœืงื™ืโ€œ: ืžืงืจื ืื—ื“ ื™ื•ืฆื ืœื›ืžื” ื˜ืขืžื™ื.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืœื“,ื

But the meaning in context is that ื”ืณ has said over and over again that He will mete out the appropriate punishment; ืืชื” ืชืฉืœื ืœืื™ืฉ ื›ืžืขืฉื”ื•. There is no reason for David to seek revenge against Amon. He thinks he has learned the lessons of the wars with Moav and Edom. But life is never that easy.