ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Rock of Ages

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

We have almost completed ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ. We skipped the ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื-like appendices, ืคืจืง ื›ื‘ and the first seven psukim of ืคืจืง ื›ื’.

We are going to go back now, to ืคืจืง ื›ื‘, which actually is a perek of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื,โ€Ž ืคืจืง ื™ื—, with many subtle differences:

ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœืขื‘ื“ ื”ืณ ืœื“ื•ื“;
ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ืณ ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช
ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฆื™ืœ ื”ืณ ืื•ืชื•
ืžื›ืฃ ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื• ื•ืžื™ื“ื•ืžื›ืฃ ืฉืื•ืœืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื™ื—:ืืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื‘:ื

As Abarbanel puts it, this is Davidโ€™s anthem:

ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ืฉื ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ื—ืฉื‘ื• ื”ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœื™ื• ื”ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ืกื•ืฃ ื™ืžื™ื• ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื”ืฆื™ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืžื›ืœ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื• ื—ื‘ืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœื”ืฉื ื”ื•ื“ืื” ื›ื•ืœืœืช ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืชืฉื•ืขื•ืชื™ื•, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื”ื•ืฉืžื” ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื‘ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ื•ืชื›ืœื™ืชื. ื•ื“ืขืชื™ ื ื•ื˜ื” ืฉื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื—ื‘ืจื” ื‘ื‘ื—ืจื•ืชื• ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ืฆืจื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืขืฉืื” ื›ื•ืœืœืช ืœื›ืœ ื”ืฆืจื•ืช, ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ืคืขื ื•ืคืขื ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืžืฆื™ืœื• ืžื›ืœ ืฆืจื” ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช, ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ืื ื›ืŸ ืฉื’ื•ืจื” ื‘ืคื™ื• ื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœื”ืฉื ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืชืฉื•ืขื” ืฉืขืฉื” ืขืžื• ืœื”ืคืœื™ื.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื‘:ื

Presumably, this was a life-long work in progress, that David wrote and re-wrote many times. Asking which of the two versions is the โ€œrealโ€ one is meaningless.

The version in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื adds ืœืžื ืฆื— ืœืขื‘ื“ ื”ืณ ืœื“ื•ื“. David is uniquely called ืขื‘ื“ ื”ืณ, because this perek isnโ€™t really about Davidโ€™s victory over his enemies; itโ€™s about Davidโ€™s victory over himself and his dedication to ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืณ.

The first thing to notice is that he would sing this after each victory, but there was one victory that was different: ืžื›ืฃ ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื• ื•ืžื›ืฃ ืฉืื•ืœ. Saul was not one of ื›ืœ ืื™ื‘ื™ื•, even as Saul sought to kill him. The gemara says that even singing about Saulโ€™s death was a mistake:

ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœื“ื•ื“: ื“ื•ื“, ืฉื™ืจื” ืืชื” ืื•ืžืจ ืขืœ ืžืคืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืฉืื•ืœ? ืืœืžืœื™ ืืชื” ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื”ื•ื ื“ื•ื“โ€”ืื™ื‘ื“ืชื™ ื›ืžื” ื“ื•ื“ ืžืคื ื™ื•. ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื–:ื): ืฉืึดื’ึผึธื™ื•ึนืŸ ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื“ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืฉืึธืจ ืœึทื”ืณ ืขึทืœ ื“ึผึดื‘ึฐืจึตื™ ื›ื•ึผืฉื ื‘ึผึถืŸ ื™ึฐืžึดื™ื ึดื™.

ืžื•ืขื“ ืงื˜ืŸ ื˜ื–,ื‘

ื•ื–ื›ื™ื ื• ื‘ื”ืื™ ืขื ื™ื ื ืœื›ืžื” ืฉื•ืจื•ืช ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื—ื–ื•ืดื ื–ืฆืดืœ ืฉืจืฉื ืขืœ ื’ืœื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื’ืžืจื ืฉืœื•: โ€ืืดืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœื“ื•ื“, ืฉื™ืจื” ืืชื” ืื•ืžืจ ื•ื›ื•ืณโ€œ: ื•ื“ืื™ ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืžืฆื˜ืขืจ ืขืœ ืžื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ืฉืื•ืœ, ื›ืžื‘ื•ืืจ ื‘ื›ืชื•ื‘, ืืœื ื”ื™ื” ืกื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื—ื™ื™ื‘ ื’ื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืจื” ืขืœ ื—ืœืง ื”ืฉืœื•ื” ืฉื”ื’ื™ืข ืืœื™ื•, ื•ื›ื“ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื ื˜,ื‘) ืžึตืช ืึธื‘ึดื™ื• ื•ึฐื”ื•ึผื ื™ื•ึนืจึฐืฉืื•ึน, ื‘ึผึทืชึผึฐื—ึดืœึผึธื” ืื•ึนืžึตืจ: โ€ื‘ึผึธืจื•ึผืšึฐ โ€ฆ ื“ึผึทื™ึผึทื™ืŸ ื”ึธืึฑืžึถืชโ€œ, ื•ึผืœึฐื‘ึทืกึผื•ึนืฃ ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ: โ€ื‘ึผึธืจื•ึผืšึฐ โ€ฆ ื”ึทื˜ึผื•ึนื‘ ื•ึฐื”ึทืžึผึตื˜ึดื™ื‘โ€œ. ื•ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉืฉื’ื” ื‘ื–ื”, ื“ื”ื›ื ืื™ืŸ ืœืขืจื‘ ืฉื•ื ืฉืžื—ื” ืžืฉื•ื ื’ื•ื“ืœ ื”ืฆืจื”. ื•ืขื•ื“ ื“ื”ืชื ื”ื•ื ืžื‘ืจืš ืขืœ ื”ื ื›ืกื™ื ืฉืืคืฉืจ ืฉื™ืžื•ืช ืื‘ื™ื• ืขื ื™, ืื‘ืœ ื”ื›ื ืขื™ืงืจ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ืขืœ ืžื™ืชืชื•, ื•ืืดืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืืœืžืœื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ืฉืžื—ื” ืœืคื ื™ ืืœื ื’ื–ื™ืจื” ื”ื™ื ืžืœืคื ื™โ€ฆ

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื›:ื

There is a lesson here, that Davidโ€™s son would learn:

ื‘ื ืคืœ ืื•ื™ื‘ืš ืืœ ืชืฉืžื—; ื•ื‘ื›ืฉืœื• ืืœ ื™ื’ืœ ืœื‘ืšืƒ

ืžืฉืœื™ ื›ื“:ื™ื–

But David still feels the need to celebrate when ื”ืณ saves him, and this song reflects that feeling. There is one other โ€œenemyโ€ who fits in that category: Davidโ€™s son Avshalom. David never sings at Avshalomโ€™s death, because he felt that Avshalom was a victim, not the perpetrator of the rebellion. We will look at this more later.

ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ
ืืจื—ืžืš ื”ืณ ื—ื–ืงื™ืƒ
ื’ ื”ืณ ืกืœืขื™ ื•ืžืฆื•ื“ืชื™
ื•ืžืคืœื˜ื™ ืœื™;
ืึพืœื™ืืœืงื™ ืฆื•ืจื™ ืื—ืกื” ื‘ื•;
ืžื’ื ื™ ื•ืงืจืŸ ื™ืฉืขื™
ืžืฉื’ื‘ื™ืƒื•ืžื ื•ืกื™
ืžืฉืขื™ ืžื—ืžืก ืชืฉืขื ื™
ื“ ืžื”ืœืœ ืืงืจื ื”ืณ; ื•ืžืŸ ืื™ื‘ื™ื•ืžืื™ื‘ื™ ืื•ืฉืขืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

The midrash notes the parallelism and multiple synonyms, and says each represents a different ืื•ื™ื‘:

ืจื‘ื ืŸ ืืžืจื™: ื›ืœืคื™ ืฉื ืคืœื• ืœืคื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืขืฉืจื” ืฉื•ื ืื™ื. ืฉืื•ืœ, ื“ื•ืื’, ื•ืื—ื™ืชื•ืคืœ, ืฉื‘ืข ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื›ืจื™, ื•ืฉืžืขื™ ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจื, ืฉื•ื‘ืš, ื•ื’ืœื™ืช ื•ืฉืœืฉืช ืื—ื™ื•โ€ฆื—ืžืฉื” ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื—ืžืฉื” ืžืื•ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื›ื•ืดื. ื•ื›ื ื’ื“ืŸ ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืขืฉืจื” ืžื™ื ื™ ืงืœื•ืกื™ืŸ ื•ืืœื• ื”ืŸ: ื—ื–ืงื™ ื•ืกืœืขื™ ื•ืžืฆื•ื“ืชื™ ื•ืžืคืœื˜ื™. ืืœืงื™ ืฆื•ืจื™ ืื—ืกื” ื‘ื•. ืžื’ื ื™ ื•ืงืจืŸ ื™ืฉืขื™ ืžืฉื’ื‘ื™ ื•ืžื ื•ืกื™.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื™ื—:ื—

ื—ื–ืดืœ did not see Avshalom as Davidโ€™s enemy; Rabbi Shulman talked about Avshalomโ€™s plans to claim to rule after David, not to overthrow him. It was Achitofel who was the villian, who manipulated Avshalom into outright civil war.

The next section describes Davidโ€™s response to adversity: he prays to ื”ืงื‘ืดื”. And ื”ืณ answers ืžื”ื™ื›ืœื•, which for David does not mean from the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ; that hasnโ€™t been built yet. The image is of ื”ืณ responding from the highest heavens, coming to rescue David:

ื” ื›ื™ ืืคืคื•ื ื™ ื—ื‘ืœื™ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ ืžื•ืช; ื•ื ื—ืœื™ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ ื™ื‘ืขืชื•ื ื™ืƒ
ื• ื—ื‘ืœื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืกื‘ื‘ื•ื ื™ืกื‘ื ื™; ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ ืžื•ืงืฉื™ ืžื•ืชืƒ
ื– ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืืงืจื ื”ืณ
ื•ืืœ ืืœืงื™ ืืฉื•ืขืืงืจื;
ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืžื”ื™ื›ืœื• ืงื•ืœื™;
ื•ืฉื•ืขืชื™ ืœืคื ื™ื• ืชื‘ื•ื ื‘ืื–ื ื™ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

And the description of ื”ืณ's response is interesting:

ื— ื•ึทืชึผึดื’ึฐืขึทืฉื(ื•ึทื™ึผึดืชึฐื’ึผึธืขึทืฉื) ื•ืชืจืขืฉ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ืžื•ืกื“ื™ ื”ืจื™ืืžื•ืกื“ื•ืช ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ืจื’ื–ื•;
ื•ื™ืชื’ืขืฉื• ื›ื™ ื—ืจื” ืœื•ืƒ
ื˜ ืขืœื” ืขืฉืŸ ื‘ืืคื• ื•ืืฉ ืžืคื™ื• ืชืื›ืœ;
ื’ื—ืœื™ื ื‘ืขืจื• ืžืžื ื•ืƒ
ื™ ื•ื™ื˜ ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื™ืจื“; ื•ืขืจืคืœ ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ื•ืƒ
ื™ื ื•ื™ืจื›ื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืจื•ื‘ ื•ื™ืขืฃ; ื•ื™ื“ืื•ื™ืจื ืขืœ ื›ื ืคื™ ืจื•ื—ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืช ื—ืฉืš ืกืชืจื• ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืชื™ื• ืกื›ืชื•;
ื—ืฉื›ืชื—ืฉืจืช ืžื™ื ืขื‘ื™ ืฉื—ืงื™ืืƒ
ื™ื’ ืžื ื’ื” ื ื’ื“ื•; ืขื‘ื™ื• ืขื‘ืจื• ื‘ืจื“ ื•ื’ื—ืœื™ ืืฉืƒ
ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืจืขื ื‘ืฉืžื™ืืžืŸ ืฉืžื™ื ื”ืณ
ื•ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื™ืชืŸ ืงืœื•;
ื‘ืจื“ ื•ื’ื—ืœื™ ืืฉืƒ
ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื—ืฆื™ื•ื—ืฆื™ื ื•ื™ืคื™ืฆื; ื•ื‘ืจืงื™ื ืจื‘ ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึปืžึผึตื(ื•ึทื™ึผึธื”ึนื)ืƒ
ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืจืื• ืืคื™ืงื™ ืžื™ื ื•ื™ื’ืœื• ืžื•ืกื“ื•ืช ืชื‘ืœ;
ืžื’ืขืจืชืš ื”ืณ ืžื ืฉืžืช ืจื•ื— ืืคืšืืคื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

Itโ€™s interesting because it is wrong. It is a description of great miracles, of the earth shaking and the heavens spewing fire. That isnโ€™t how David fought his battles; his miracles were ื ืกื™ื ื ืกืชืจื™ื. This sounds much more like a description of ื™ืฆื™ืืช ืžืฆืจื™ื and ืžืขืžื“ ื”ืจ ืกื™ื ื™.

ื”ืจื™ ืฉื ื™ ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืžื›ืจื™ืขื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืืช ื–ื”: ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื—ื“ ืื•ืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื˜:ื›) ื•ึทื™ึผึตืจึถื“ ื”ืณ ืขึทืœ ื”ึทืจ ืกึดื™ื ึทื™ ื•ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื—ื“ ืื•ืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›:ื™ื˜) ืึทืชึผึถื ืจึฐืึดื™ืชึถื ื›ึผึดื™ ืžึดืŸ ื”ึทืฉืึผึธืžึทื™ึดื ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึทืจึฐืชึผึดื™ ืขึดืžึผึธื›ึถืโ€ฆืžืœืžื“ ืฉื”ืจื›ื™ืŸ ื”ืžืงื•ื ื‘ืดื” ืฉืžื™ื ื”ืขืœื™ื•ื ื™ื ืขืœ ืจืืฉ ื”ื”ืจ ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืžื”ื ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืขืœ ืจืืฉ ื”ื”ืจ, ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ: ื•ื™ื˜ ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื™ืจื“ ื•ืขืจืคืœ ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ื•.

ืžื›ื™ืœืชื ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ื—ืื™, ืฉืžื•ืช ื›:ื™ื˜

This is not a description of how ื”ืณ saved David; it is a description of why ื”ืณ saved David. ื”ืณ had manifested in the world in a way that presented a choice.

โ€ฆื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื”ื–ื” ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืžืชืŸ ืชื•ืจื”, ื•ืžืžื ื• ื ืงื— ืจืื™ื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืฉืืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ื”ื‘ืื™ื ื›ืื—ื“ ืฉืžื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื—ื“ื™ื• ื‘ืžืชืŸ ืชื•ืจื”. ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืžืชื™ื™ื—ืกื™ื ืืœ ืฉื™ืจืช ื“ื•ื“ ื›ืคื™ ื”ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืฉื–ื›ืจืชื™ ื‘ืคืกื•ืง โ€ื›ื™ ืืคืคื•ื ื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื—ื‘ืœื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืกื‘ื•ื ื™โ€œ ืฉื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ืื•ื™ื‘ ื›ืื•ื™ื‘ ื”ื ืคืฉโ€ฆื•ืœื–ื” โ€ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืืงืจื ื”ืณ ื•ืืฉื•ืขโ€œ ืืœื™ื• ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืืœืงึทื™, ื›ื™ ื ื—ืžืชื™ ืžื–ื“ื•ืŸ ืœื‘ื™ ืฉื“ื—ื™ืชื™ื• ื›ื‘ื™ื›ื•ืœ ื‘ืฉืชื™ ื™ื“ื™ ืžื”ื™ื•ืชื• ืืœืงื™โ€ฆื”ื ื ื™ ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฆืจ ืœื™ ืืงืจื ื”ืณ ื•ืืœ ืืœืงื™ ืืงืจื; ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืืงืจื ืฉื™ื—ื–ื•ืจ ืœื”ื™ื•ืชื• ืืœืงื™ ื•ืืงื‘ืœ ืขื•ืœ ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื•. โ€ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ื•ื›ื•ืณโ€œโ€ฆืฉื›ืžื• ืฉื‘ืขืช ืžืชืŸ ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืชื’ืขืฉ ื•ืชืจืขืฉ ื”ืืจืฅ ื‘ืฉืœื ืจืฆื• ื”ืื•ืžื•ืช ืœืงื‘ืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืขื•ืœื ื—ื•ื–ืจ ืœืชื”ื• ื•ื‘ื•ื”ื• ื•ืžื•ืกื“ื™ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืฉื”ื ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื™ืจื’ื–ื• ื•ื™ืชื’ืขืฉื• ื™ืขืŸ ื›ื™ ื—ืจื” ืœื• ืœื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืขืœ ืฉืœื ืจืฆื• ื”ืื•ืžื•ืช ืœืงื‘ืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืขืœื” ืขืฉืŸ ื‘ืืคื• ื›ื•ืณ.

ื›ืœื™ ื™ืงืจ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื›ื‘:ื™

When he fights his battles, David doesnโ€™t see the enemy in front of him; if he is facing a battle, then ื”ืณ is telling him he has done something wrong. And that is why the description of ื”ืณโ€˜s manifestation ends with ื‘ืจื“ ื•ื’ื—ืœื™ ืืฉ. That was the classic example of someone (ืคืจืขื”) looking at ื”ืณโ€™s awesome power and given a choice of how to respond.

ื™ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืžืฉื” ื”ืฉื›ื ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ืœืคื ื™ ืคืจืขื”; ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœื™ื• ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืฉืœื— ืืช ืขืžื™ ื•ื™ืขื‘ื“ื ื™ืƒ ื™ื“ ื›ื™ ื‘ืคืขื ื”ื–ืืช ืื ื™ ืฉืœื— ืืช ื›ืœ ืžื’ืคืชื™ ืืœ ืœื‘ืš ื•ื‘ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ื•ื‘ืขืžืš ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืชื“ืข ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืžื ื™ ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒโ€ฆื™ื— ื”ื ื ื™ ืžืžื˜ื™ืจ ื›ืขืช ืžื—ืจ ื‘ืจื“ ื›ื‘ื“ ืžืื“ ืืฉืจ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื›ืžื”ื• ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ืœืžืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื•ืกื“ื” ื•ืขื“ ืขืชื”ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ืขืชื” ืฉืœื— ื”ืขื– ืืช ืžืงื ืš ื•ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืœืš ื‘ืฉื“ื”; ื›ืœ ื”ืื“ื ื•ื”ื‘ื”ืžื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืžืฆื ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื•ืœื ื™ืืกืฃ ื”ื‘ื™ืชื” ื•ื™ืจื“ ืขืœื”ื ื”ื‘ืจื“ ื•ืžืชื•ืƒ ื› ื”ื™ืจื ืืช ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืžืขื‘ื“ื™ ืคืจืขื” ื”ื ื™ืก ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื•ืืช ืžืงื ื”ื• ืืœ ื”ื‘ืชื™ืืƒ ื›ื ื•ืืฉืจ ืœื ืฉื ืœื‘ื• ืืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืขื–ื‘ ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื•ืืช ืžืงื ื”ื• ื‘ืฉื“ื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื˜

ื”ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื›ื™ ื‘ืคืขื ื”ื–ืืช ืื ื™ ืฉื•ืœื— ื›ืœ ืžื’ื™ืคื•ืชื™, ื‘ืคืขื ื”ื–ืืช ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ื‘ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืฉืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืœืš ืœืฉืœื•ื— ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืืชื” ืจื•ืฆื” ืœืฉืœื•ื—, ื“ื‘ืจ ื–ื” ื ืงืจื ื‘ืคืขื ื”ื–ืืช, ื•ืื“ืจื‘ื ืžื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืคืขื ื”ื–ืืช ื•ืœื ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื›ืš ื‘ืฉืืจ ื”ื”ืชืจืื•ืชโ€ฆื”ื ื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืœืš ืœืฉืœื•ื— ืืช ื‘ื ื™ ื•ืชืžืืŸ ืœืฉืœื—ื• ื”ื ื ื™ ื”ื•ืจื’ ื‘ื ืš ื‘ื›ื•ืจืš, ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื–ื” ืžื™ื“โ€ฆ

ื’ื•ืจ ืืจื™ื”, ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜:ื™ื“

After ืคืจืขื” chooses poorly, he loses his free will, and becomes a passive observer to the destruction of Egypt.

ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ืœื‘ ืคืจืขื” ื•ืœื ืฉืœื— ืืช ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื›ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ื“ ืžืฉื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜:ืœื”

And ืคืจืขื” is saved from the ืžื›ื•ืช in order to give him yet another choice: ื•ื™ืจืื• ืืคื™ืงื™ ืžื™ื ื•ื™ื’ืœื• ืžื•ืกื“ื•ืช ืชื‘ืœ.โ€Ž ื”ืณ has taken his free will up to the edge of ื™ื ืกื•ืฃ, but he can decide whether to chase the people into the miraculously split sea. He again chooses poorly.

ืืžืจ ืื•ื™ื‘ ืืจื“ืฃ ืืฉื™ื’ ืื—ืœืง ืฉืœืœ; ืชืžืœืืžื• ื ืคืฉื™ ืืจื™ืง ื—ืจื‘ื™ ืชื•ืจื™ืฉืžื• ื™ื“ื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื•:ื˜

But David says that when he saw ื”ืณ's power, he is saved, because his ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” and ืชืคื™ืœื” have been accepted.

ื™ื– ื™ืฉืœื— ืžืžืจื•ื ื™ืงื—ื ื™; ื™ืžืฉื ื™ ืžืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืืƒ
ื™ื— ื™ืฆื™ืœื ื™ ืžืื™ื‘ื™ ืขื–; ื•ืžืฉื ืื™ ื›ื™ ืืžืฆื• ืžืžื ื™ืƒ
ื™ื˜ ื™ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ ื‘ื™ื•ื ืื™ื“ื™; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื”ืณ ืœืžืฉืขืŸ ืœื™ืƒ
ื› ื•ื™ื•ืฆื™ืื ื™ ืœืžืจื—ื‘ื•ื™ืฆื ืœืžืจื—ื‘ ืืชื™;
ื™ื—ืœืฆื ื™ ื›ื™ ื—ืคืฅ ื‘ื™ืƒ
ื›ื ื™ื’ืžืœื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ืฆื“ืงืชื™;
ื›ื‘ืจ ื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื™ืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื›ื™ ืฉืžืจืชื™ ื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืณ;
ื•ืœื ืจืฉืขืชื™ ืžืืœืงื™ืƒ
ื›ื’ ื›ื™ ื›ืœ ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ื• ืœื ื’ื“ื™; ื•ื—ืงืชื™ื• ืœื ืืกื™ืจ ืžื ื™ืืกื•ืจ ืžืžื ื”ืƒ
ื›ื“ ื•ืื”ื™ื” ืชืžื™ื ืขืžื•ืœื•; ื•ืืฉืชืžืจื” ืžืขื•ื ื™ืƒ
ื›ื” ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืณ ืœื™ ื›ืฆื“ืงืชื™; ื›ื‘ืจ ื™ื“ื™ื›ื‘ืจื™ ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

The Ramchal takes this perek as the exemplar of ื ืงื™ื•ืช, one of his steps in ืžืกื™ืœืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื toward true righteousness. ื ืงื™ื•ืช, โ€cleanlinessโ€œ, means spiritual cleanliness, ื›ึผึฐื‘ึนืจ ื™ื“ื™ ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ื•.

ืžื“ืช ื”ื ืงื™ื•ืช ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ื•ืช ื”ืื“ื ื ืงื™ ืœื’ืžืจื™ ืžื›ืœ ืžื“ื” ืจืขื” ื•ืžื›ืœ ื—ื˜ืโ€ฆ

ื•ื”ื•ื ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ [ื“ื•ื“] ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ื“ื‘ืจื™ื•: โ€ื™ื’ืžืœื ื™ ื”ืณ ื›ืฆื“ืงื™ ื›ื‘ื•ืจ ื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื™โ€œ. ื•ืืžืจ ืขื•ื“: โ€ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืณ ืœื™ ื›ืฆื“ืงื™ ื›ื‘ื•ืจ ื™ื“ื™ ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ื•โ€œ, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื•ืจ ื•ื”ื ืงื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื–ื” ืฉื–ื›ืจื ื•. ื•ืื– ื—ื–ืจ ื•ืืžืจ [ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ืœ ื•ึพืœื—]: โ€ื›ื™ ื‘ืš ืืจื•ืฅ ื’ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€œ, โ€ืืจื“ื•ืฃ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ื•ืืฉื™ื’ืโ€œ.

ืžืกื™ืœืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื™ืณ

This ื ืงื™ื•ืช doesnโ€™t mean that David was sinless; he certainly committed his share of terrible ืขื‘ื™ืจื•ืช! But he did ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” whole-heartedly and โ€œcleanedโ€ himself so that he warranted salvation. And more then just being saved; he earned the right to participate in his own salvation.

ืืจื‘ืขื” ืžืœื›ื™ื ื”ื™ื•, ืžื” ืฉืชื‘ืข ื–ื” ืœื ืชื‘ืข ื–ื”. ื•ืืœื• ื”ืŸ: ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืืกื, ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื•ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื•. ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™ื—:ืœื—): ืึถืจึฐื“ึผื•ึนืฃ ืื•ึนื™ึฐื‘ึทื™ ื•ึฐืึทืฉึผื‚ึดื™ื’ึตื. ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื: ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื” ื›ืŸ. ื”ื“ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘: (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืœ:ื™ื–): ื•ึทื™ึผึทื›ึผึตื ื“ึผึธื•ึดื“ ืžึตื”ึทื ึผึถืฉืึถืฃ ื•ึฐืขึทื“ ื”ึธืขึถืจึถื‘ ืœึฐืžึธื—ึณืจึธืชึธืโ€ฆืขืžื“ ืืกื ื•ืืžืจ: ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ ื›ื— ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ืœื”ื, ืืœื ืื ื™ ืจื•ื“ืฃ ืื•ืชื ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื”. ืืžืจ ืœื•: ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื”. ืฉื ืืžืจ: (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื™ื“:ื™ื‘): ื•ึทื™ึผึดืจึฐื“ึผึฐืคึตื ืึธืกึธื ื•ื’ื•ืณ ื›ึผึดื™ ื ึดืฉืึฐื‘ึผึฐืจื•ึผ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ื”ืณ ื•ึฐืœึดืคึฐื ึตื™ ืžึทื—ึฒื ึตื”ื•ึผ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฉื‚ึฐืื•ึผ ืฉืึธืœึธืœ ื”ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึตื” ืžึฐืึนื“. โ€ืœืคื ื™ ืืกืโ€œ ืื™ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื›ืืŸ, ืืœื, โ€ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืœืคื ื™ ืžื—ื ื”ื•โ€œ. ืขืžื“ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื•ืืžืจ: ืื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ ื›ื— ืœื ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ื•ืœื ืœืจื“ื•ืฃ, ืืœื ืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืจื” ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื”. ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื”. ืฉื ืืžืจ: (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื›:ื›ื‘): ื•ึผื‘ึฐืขึตืช ื”ึตื—ึตืœึผื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืจึดื ึผึธื” ื•ึผืชึฐื”ึดืœึผึธื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ืขืžื“ ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื•ืืžืจ: ืื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ ื›ื— ืœื ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ื•ืœื ืœืจื“ื•ืฃ ื•ืœื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื™ืจื”. ืืœื ืื ื™ ื™ืฉืŸ ืขืœ ืžื˜ืชื™ ื•ืืชื” ืขื•ืฉื”. ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืื ื™ ืขื•ืฉื”. ืฉื ืืžืจ: (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื™ื˜:ืœื”): ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื‘ึผึทืœึผึทื™ึฐืœึธื” ื”ึทื”ื•ึผื ื•ึทื™ึผึตืฆึตื ืžึทืœึฐืึทืšึฐ ื”ืณ ื•ึทื™ึผึทืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐืžึทื—ึฒื ึตื” ืึทืฉึผืื•ึผืจ ื•ื’ื•ืณ.

ืื™ื›ื” ืจื‘ื” ื“:ื˜ื•

ื•ืืžืจื• ื–ื›ืจื•ื ื ืœื‘ืจื›ื”: ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ื” ื ื–ื”ืจ ื•ืžื ืงื” ืขืฆืžื• ื ืงื™ื•ืŸ ื’ืžื•ืจ ืžื›ืœ ืืœื”, ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื”ื•ืœืš ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ืŸ ื—ื–ืง, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืฉื•ืืœ: ืืจื“ื•ืฃ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ื•ืืฉื™ื’ื ื•ืœื ืืฉื•ื‘ ืขื“ ื›ืœื•ืชื, ืžื” ืฉืœื ืฉืืœื• ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ืืกื ื•ื—ื–ืงื™ื” ืœืคื™ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ืžื ื•ืงื™ื ื›ืœ ื›ืš.

ืžืกื™ืœืช ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื™ืณ

The perek continues:

ื›ื• ืขื ื—ืกื™ื“ ืชืชื—ืกื“; ืขื ื’ื‘ืจ ืชืžื™ื ืชืชืžืืƒ
ื›ื– ืขื ื ื‘ืจ ืชืชื‘ืจืจ; ื•ืขื ืขืงืฉ ืชืชืคืชืœืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

JPS translates that last pasuk as "With the pure, You act purely, and with the perverse, You are wily.โ€œ But that seems wrong; ื”ืณ should act โ€purelyโ€œ with everyone. I think the ื”ืชืคืขืœ form on those verbs means more โ€With the pure, You seem to be pure; and with the perverse, You seem to be crooked".

ืžื™ ื—ื›ื ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืืœื” ื ื‘ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ื“ืขื; ื›ื™ ื™ืฉืจื™ื ื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืฆื“ืงื™ื ื™ืœื›ื• ื‘ื ื•ืคืฉืขื™ื ื™ื›ืฉืœื• ื‘ืืƒ

ื”ื•ืฉืข ื™ื“:ื™

ื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืณ are like a sidewalk, easy enough to walk on, but going perpendicular to them means hitting the curb and tripping. ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” just means turning a little so you are going in the right direction.

ื›ื— ื›ื™ ืืชื”ื•ืืช ืขื ืขื ื™ ืชื•ืฉื™ืข; ื•ืขื™ื ื™ืื•ืขื™ื ื™ืš ืขืœ ืจืžื•ืช ืชืฉืคื™ืœืƒ
ื›ื˜ ื›ื™ ืืชื” ืชืื™ืจ ื ืจื™ื ื™ืจื™ ื”ืณ; ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื•ื”ืณ ื™ื’ื™ื” ื—ืฉื›ื™ืƒ
ืœ ื›ื™ ื‘ืš ืืจืฅ ื’ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื‘ืืœืงื™ ืื“ืœื’ ืฉื•ืจืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

This was Davidโ€™s ultimate victory: with ื”ืณ's help, he โ€œleapt a wallโ€ in The Battle of Jerusalem.

ื›ื™ ื‘ืš ืืจื•ืฅ ื’ื“ื•ื“: ืจืณ ื—ื™ื™ื ื‘ืฉื ืจืณ ืœื•ื™ ืืžืจ ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื”ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžืœื—ืžื” ืขื ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™, ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืœ ืžื›ื” ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ื•ื™ื’ืข ื‘ืฆื ื•ืจ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื”:ื—), ื•ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื—ืจ ืื•ืžืจ ื›ืœ ืžื›ื” ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ [ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื”] ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืจืืฉ ื•ืœืฉืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื™ื:ื•), ืžื” ืขืฉื” ื™ื•ืื‘, ื”ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืจื•ืฉ ืื—ื“ ืจืขื ืŸ, ื•ืงื‘ืขื• ื‘ืฆื“ ื”ื—ื•ืžื”, ื•ื›ืคืฃ ืืช ืจืืฉ ื”ื‘ืจื•ืฉ ืฉื”ื•ื ืจืš, ื•ืขืœื” ืขืœ ืจืืฉื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“, ื•ื ืชืœื” ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืจื•ืฉ, ื•ื“ื™ืœื’ ืขืœ ื”ื—ื•ืžื”, ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ื™ึถื”ึถืœึฐืžึตื ึดื™ ืฆึทื“ึผึดื™ืง ื—ึถืกึถื“ ื•ึฐื™ื•ึนื›ึดื™ื—ึตื ึดื™ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืžื ื”), ืžื” ืขืฉื” ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, ืงื™ืฆืจ ืืช ื”ื—ื•ืžื”, ื•ืขืœื” ื“ื•ื“ ืื—ืจื™ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื‘ืืœืงื™ ืื“ืœื’ ืฉื•ืจ.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ืœื™ื (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื™ื—:ื›ื“

ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืื ืฉื™ื• ื›ืœ ืžื™ ืฉื™ืขืœื” ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื•ื™ืกื™ืจ ืืช ื”ืฆืœืžื™ืโ€ฆื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืจืืฉ, ื•ืขืœื” ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœืจืืฉ. ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ืงื ื” ืืช ืขื™ืจ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืžื›ืจ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื‘ื›ืชื‘ ืขื•ืœื ืœืื—ื•ื–ืช ืขื•ืœื, ืžื” ืขืฉื” ืœืงื— ืžื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืฉืงืœื™ื ื”ืจื™ ื›ืœื ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉืงืœื™ื, ืฉื ืณ ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืืจื ื•ืŸ.

ืคืจืงื™ ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ (ื”ื™ื’ืจ), โ€ื—ื•ืจื‘โ€œ ืคืจืง ืœื”

The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War

That ends part one of the perek. Part two starts with Davidโ€™s philosophy of ืžืฆื•ื•ืช:

ืœื ื”ืึพืœ ืชืžื™ื ื“ืจื›ื•;
ืืžืจืช ื”ืณ ืฆืจื•ืคื”; ืžื’ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืœื›ืœ ื”ื—ืกื™ื ื‘ื•ืƒ
ืœื‘ ื›ื™ ืžื™ ืึพืœื•ื” ืžื‘ืœืขื“ื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ืžื™ ืฆื•ืจ ื–ื•ืœืชื™ืžื‘ืœืขื“ื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

ื”ืึพืœ ืชืžื™ื ื“ืจื›ื•: ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืœื ื ืชืŸ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืืช ื”ืžืฆื•ื•ืช ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืœื ื›ื“ื™ ืœืฆืจืฃ ืื•ืชืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ โ€ืืžืจืช ื”ืณ ืฆืจื•ืคื”โ€œโ€ฆื•ื›ื™ ืžื” ืื™ื›ืคืช ืœื™ื” ืœื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืฉื•ื—ื˜ ืžืŸ ื”ืงื ื” ื•ืื•ื›ืœ ืื• ืžืŸ ื”ื–ื ื‘.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื™ื—:ื›ื“

The act of obedience to ื”ืณโ€”David is called ืขื‘ื“ ื”ืณโ€”is itself purifying, and because of his submission to ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, he will become the ruler of human beings. The tone of the second half is not of Davidโ€™s trouble and rescue, ื—ื‘ืœื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืกื‘ื‘ื•ื ื™ and ื”ืณ brought him back from the verge of death. It is about his victory over all who stand against him:

ืœื’ ื”ืึพืœ ื”ืžืื–ืจื ื™ืžืขื•ื–ื™ ื—ื™ืœ; ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืชืžื™ื ื“ืจื›ื™ืƒ
ืœื“ ืžืฉื•ื” ืจื’ืœื™ ื›ืื™ืœื•ืช; ื•ืขืœ ื‘ืžืชื™ ื™ืขืžื™ื“ื ื™ืƒ
ืœื” ืžืœืžื“ ื™ื“ื™ ืœืžืœื—ืžื”; ื•ื ื—ืชื” ืงืฉืช ื ื—ื•ืฉื” ื–ืจื•ืขืชื™ืƒ
ืœื• ื•ืชืชืŸ ืœื™ ืžื’ืŸ ื™ืฉืขืš; ื•ื™ืžื™ื ืš ืชืกืขื“ื ื™; ื•ืขื ื•ืชืš ืชืจื‘ื ื™ืƒ
ืœื– ืชืจื—ื™ื‘ ืฆืขื“ื™ ืชื—ืชื ื™; ื•ืœื ืžืขื“ื• ืงืจืกืœื™ืƒ
ืœื— ืืจื“ื•ืฃืืจื“ืคื” ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ ื•ืืฉื™ื’ืื•ืืฉืžื™ื“ื; ื•ืœื ืืฉื•ื‘ ืขื“ ื›ืœื•ืชืืƒ
ืœื˜ ื•ืื›ืœื ื•ืืžื—ืฆื ื•ืœื ื™ื›ืœื• ืงื•ืื™ืงื•ืžื•ืŸ; ื•ื™ืคืœื• ืชื—ืช ืจื’ืœื™ืƒ
ืž ื•ืชืื–ืจื ื™ ื—ื™ืœ ืœืžืœื—ืžื”; ืชื›ืจื™ืข ืงืžื™ ืชื—ืชื ื™ืƒ
ืžื ื•ืื™ื‘ื™ ื ืชืชื” ืœื™ ืขืจืฃ; ื•ืžืฉื ืื™ ื•ืืฆืžื™ืชืืƒ
ืžื‘ ื™ืฉื•ืขื• ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžื•ืฉื™ืข; ืขืœ ื”ืณ ื•ืœื ืขื ืืƒ
ืžื’ ื•ืืฉื—ืงื ื›ืขืคืจ ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ืจื•ื—ื›ืขืคืจ ืืจืฅ; ื›ื˜ื™ื˜ ื—ื•ืฆื•ืช ืืจื™ืงืืื“ืงื ืืจืงืขืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

Ironically, David alludes to ืคืจืขื” here: ืึถืจึฐื“ึผื•ึนืฃ ืื•ึนื™ึฐื‘ึทื™ ื•ึฐืึทืฉื‚ึผึดื™ื’ึตื ื•ึฐืœึนื ืึธืฉืื•ึผื‘ ืขึทื“ ื›ึผึทืœึผื•ึนืชึธื is the same claim as ืึธืžึทืจ ืื•ึนื™ึตื‘ ืึถืจึฐื“ึนึผืฃ ืึทืฉึดึผื‚ื™ื’ ืึฒื—ึทืœึตึผืง ืฉึธืืœึธืœ. The difference is, of course, ื•ึทืชึผึฐืึทื–ึผึฐืจึตื ึดื™ ื—ึทื™ึดืœ ืœึทืžึผึดืœึฐื—ึธืžึธื” ืชึผึทื›ึฐืจึดื™ืขึท ืงึธืžึทื™ ืชึผึทื—ึฐืชึผึธื™. David attributes his success to ื”ืณ's help, not to his own military prowess.

And that leads not just to victory, but to sovereignty.

I was as proud as a peacock, for I had taken a kingdom the size of Vermont, and created an empire as large as the state of Maine!

Joseph Heller, God Knows, p. 256

ืžื“ ื•ืชืคืœื˜ื ื™ ืžืจื™ื‘ื™ ืขืื™;
ืชืฉื™ืžื ื™ืชืฉืžืจื ื™ ืœืจืืฉ ื’ื•ื™ื; ืขื ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ื™ืขื‘ื“ื•ื ื™ืƒ
ืžื” ื‘ื ื™ ื ื›ืจ ื™ืชื›ื—ืฉื• ืœื™ืœืฉืžืข ืื–ืŸ ื™ืฉืžืขื• ืœื™; ื‘ื ื™ ื ื›ืจ ื™ื›ื—ืฉื• ืœื™ืƒ
ืžื• ื‘ื ื™ ื ื›ืจ ื™ื‘ืœื•; ื•ื™ื—ืจื’ื• ืžืžืกื’ืจื•ืชื™ื”ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

And the perek ends with a summary:

ืžื– ื—ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ื‘ืจื•ืš ืฆื•ืจื™; ื•ื™ืจื•ื ืืœื•ืงื™ ืฆื•ืจ ื™ืฉืขื™ืƒ
ืžื— ื”ืึพืœ ื”ื ื•ืชืŸ ื ืงืžื•ืช ืœื™; ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจื•ืžืจื™ื“ ืขืžื™ื ืชื—ืชื™ืƒ
ืžื˜ ืžืคืœื˜ื™ื•ืžื•ืฆื™ืื™ ืžืื™ื‘ื™;
ืืฃ ืžืŸ ืงืžื™ื•ืžืงืžื™ ืชืจื•ืžืžื ื™; ืžืื™ืฉ ื—ืžืกื™ื ืชืฆื™ืœื ื™ืƒ
ื  ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ืื•ื“ืš ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ื”ืณื”ืณ ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื; ื•ืœืฉืžืš ืื–ืžืจื”ืƒ
ื ื ืžึทื’ึฐื“ึผึดืœ(ืžึดื’ึฐื“ึผื•ึนืœ) ื™ืฉื•ืขื•ืช ืžืœื›ื•;
ื•ืขืฉื” ื—ืกื“ ืœืžืฉื™ื—ื• ืœื“ื•ื“ ื•ืœื–ืจืขื•; ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

We quote that last pasuk in ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ and say ืžึทื’ึฐื“ึผึดืœ on weekdays and ืžึดื’ึฐื“ึผื•ึนืœ on Shabbat (and other holidays). Itโ€™s not clear why we do this. Baruch Epstein gives a well-known reason:

ื”ืžื ื”ื’ ืืฆืœื ื• ืœื•ืžืจ ื‘ื ื•ืกื— ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ ืืช ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืคืกื•ืง โ€ืžื’ื“ื™ืœ ื™ืฉื•ืขื•ืช ืžืœื›ื•โ€œ (ืืฉืจ ื‘ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืณ ื•ื‘ืชื”ืœื™ื), ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื‘ื—ื•ืœ โ€ืžื’ื“ื™ืœโ€œ, ื•ื‘ืฉื‘ืช โ€ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ, ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืฆื•ื™ืŸ ื‘ืกื“ื•ืจื™ื: โ€ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ.

โ€ฆ

ื•ื‘ื ื•ืกื— ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื‘ื ื”ื ื•ืกื— ืžืชื”ืœื™ื โ€” โ€ืžื’ื“ื™ืœโ€œ ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืขื™ืงืจ ืžืงื•ืžื” ืฉืœ ืคืจืฉื” ื–ื• ื”ื•ื ื‘ืชื”ืœื™ื ื‘ื™ืŸ ื™ืชืจ ืงื•ื‘ืฅ ืชื”ืœื•ืช ื“ื•ื“. ื•ืื—ื“ ื”ืกื•ืคืจื™ื ื”ืžืขืชื™ืงื™ื ืืช ื”ืกื“ื•ืจ ื‘ื›ืชื™ื‘ืช ื™ื“ (ืงื•ื“ื ืฉื ืชื’ืœื” ื”ื“ืคื•ื) ืื• ื”ื‘ืขืœื™ื ืฉืœ ื”ืกื“ื•ืจ ืจืฉื ืœื• ื‘ื’ืœื™ื•ืŸ ื›ื–ื”: โ€ื‘ืฉื‘ืณ ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ.

โ€ฆ

ื•ืฉื•ื‘ ื—ืฉื‘ ืื—ื“ ื”ืžืขืชื™ืงื™ื ื”ื‘ืื™ื, ื›ื™ ื”ืžืœื” โ€ื‘ืฉื‘ืณ ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ ืคืชืจื•ื ื” ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ื›ืœื•ืžืจ, ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืื•ืžืจื™ื โ€ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ, ื•ืœื ื—ืฉื‘ ื”ืจื‘ื”, ื•ื›ืชื‘ ื‘ืกื“ื•ืจื• ื”ื ืขืชืง ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ืžืคื•ืจืฉ โ€ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ, ื•ืžืื•ืชื” ื”ื”ืขืชืงื” ื‘ื ืœื”ืขืชืงื” ืฉื ื™ื”, ื•ืžืฉื ื™ื” ืœืฉืœื™ืฉื™ืช ื•ื›ืŸ ืœื”ืœืื” ื•ืžื›ืชืดื™ ืœื“ืคื•ืก, ื•ืžื“ืคื•ืก ืœื“ืคื•ืก ื›ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”!

ื•ืžื›ืœ ื–ื” ืžื‘ื•ืืจ, ืฉืื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืœืฉื•ื ื•ืช, ื•ืืคืฉืจ ืœื•ืžืจ โ€ืžื’ื“ื™ืœโ€œ ื›ืคื™ ื”ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืชื”ืœื™ื ื•ื›ืŸ โ€ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ ื›ืคื™ ื”ืงืจื™ ื‘ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืณ, ื•ื›ื–ื” ื›ืŸ ื–ื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ื—ื•ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช. ื•ื‘ื ื•ืกื— ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ ื‘ืจืžื‘ืดื ื‘ื ื”ื ื•ืกื— ื‘ืกืชืžื โ€ืžื’ื“ื•ืœโ€œ.

ื‘ืจื•ืš ืืคืฉื˜ื™ืŸ, ืžืงื•ืจ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื›ื•:ื’

We like this answer; it lets us feel superior to those ignorant primitives who came before us who couldnโ€™t even read the notes correctly.

However, as Rabbi Raymond Apple points out, this cannot be right. To understand why, we need to review some history. This comes from an article by Dovid Hoffman, a columnist for the Yated Neโ€™eman.

The division of the book of Samuel into two parts was introduced by Cardinal Stephen Langton in the early 13th century [the Septuagint has Samuel and Kings in one, 4-part book called Kingdoms 1, Kingdoms 2, Kingdoms 3, etc.].

The first Jew to utilize this system in a manuscript was probably Rav Shlomo ben Yishmael who did so in about 1330, explaining that that this was a great bonus during the theological disputations of the times:

These are the chapters, known as kapitels, invented by the non-Jews for the twenty-four books, and the names of the twenty-four books in their tongue, which we copied from them so that a person should be able to give them a quick reply to their questions that they ask us every day regarding our belief and the holy Torah, when they cite proofs from Torah verses, the Neviโ€™im, or other seforim, and say to us: see and read in that book regarding that verse of that chapter, and we do not know what the chapters are in order to provide a swift answer. Therefore, I copied them.

[But it did not gain widespread use until Daniel Bomberg invented the ืžืงืจืื•ืช ื’ื“ื•ืœื•ืช in 1518. He was a Christian printer who figured Jews loved books, so he could make lots of money selling books to them (he also invented the modern Shas, with the pagination we use today).] His editor, Chacham Yaakov ben Chaim of Tunisia explained in his introduction that he was forced to utilize [an older, Jewish] Concordance [that adopted the Christian system] to write his textual notes where he compares verses to one another, since without its clear chapter and verse system, it would be impossible for readers to know which verses he was referring to.

from Hoffmanโ€™s article

Why is this relevant? The Rishon David Abudraham wrote one of the first commentaries on the siddur. On ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ he writes:

ื•ืงื‘ืœืชื™ ืžืจื‘ืชื™ ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืœื•ืžืจ ืžื’ื“ื•ืœ ื™ืฉื•ืขื•ืช ื‘ื•ื™ืดื• ื•ื‘ื—ื•ืœ ืžื’ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ื•ืดื“ ื•ื ืดืœ ื”ื˜ืขื ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ืฉื‘ืช ื”ื•ื ืžืœืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ื—ื•ืœ.

ืกืคืจ ืื‘ื•ื“ืจื”ื, ืกื“ืจ ื‘ืจื›ืช ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื”

The Abudraham wrote his book in 1339, so it is unlikely (to say the least) that siddur writers were labelling ืคืกื•ืงื™ื as ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืณ, if no one called it ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืณ. So why the difference in readings? Itโ€™s not clear what Abudraham means by ื”ืฉื‘ืช ื”ื•ื ืžืœืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ, but it may be (based on the Abarbanel) that ืžึทื’ึฐื“ึผึดืœ is a present-tense verb, with the sense that ื”ืณ is making His salvation great: ื™ืฉื•ืขื” is an ongoing process. ืฉื‘ืช is ืžืขื™ืŸ ืขื•ืœื ื”ื‘ื; we see the ื™ืฉื•ืขื” as an already-completed ืžึดื’ึฐื“ึผื•ึนืœ. In the same sense, ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื represents the ongoing salvation of Israel; ื”ืณ is ืžึทื’ึฐื“ึผึดืœ. The end of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ is the summary of Davidโ€™s life; he was a ืžึดื’ึฐื“ึผื•ึนืœ.

And so, when we read Davidโ€™s ืฉื™ืจื”, we thank ื”ืณ for His continuing salvation, and we notice that David describes himself with three terms:

ื•ื”ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื”ื–ื” ืฉืืžืจ ืžืœื›ื• ื•ืžืฉื™ื—ื• ื•ื“ื•ื“, ืขื ื™ื ื• ืืฆืœื™ ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœื™ื• ื”ืฉืœื•ื ืจืื” ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ืฉืœืฉ ืžื“ืจื’ื•ืช, ื”ืืชืช ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื•ื”ืฉื ื™ืช ืงื•ื“ื ื–ื” ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ืžืฉื•ื— ืขืœ ื™ื“ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœืžืœืš ืงื•ื“ื ืฉื ืžืœืš ื‘ืคืขืœ ืขื ื”ื™ืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ื ืจื“ืฃ ืžืฉืื•ืœ ืขืจ ื™ื•ื ืžื•ืชื•, ื•ื”ืžื“ืจื’ื” ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ืช ื”ื™ื ืงื•ื“ื ื”ืžืฉื™ื—ื” ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ืœื‘ื“ ื“ื•ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉื™ ืจื•ืขื” ืฆืืŸ, ื•ืืžืจ ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ืฉืœืฉืช ื”ื–ืžื ื™ื ื”ืืœื” ืขืฉื” ื”ืึพืœ ื™ืชื‘ืจืš ืขืžื• ืœื”ืคืœื™ื.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘:ื›ื‘

Our task is to see the hand of ื”ืงื‘ืดื” in all phases of life, when we are on top of the world, ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; when we are in despair, ื ืจื“ืฃ ืžืฉืื•ืœ; and all the boring times in between when life just goes on, ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชื• ืœื‘ื“ ื“ื•ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉื™ ืจื•ืขื” ืฆืืŸ. We are always in a position to declare ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช.