ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Separation of Church and State

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Last week we dealt with Jerusalem as the political capital of Davidโ€™s united kingdom, that it was, in Rav Bin Nunโ€™s words, ืขื™ืจ ืืœึพืฉื‘ื˜ื™ืช ื•ืขืœึพืฉื‘ื˜ื™ืช. Now we will look at the other side of Jerusalem, as the religious capital of Israel. Immediately after taking Jerusalem, David decides to move the ืืจื•ืŸ from ืงืจื™ืช ื™ืขืจื™ื to Jerusalem:

ื•ื™ืงื”ืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืช ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืœ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืœื”ืขืœื•ืช ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืžืงื•ืžื• ืืฉืจ ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ืœื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื˜ื•:ื’

Why there? The Mishkan at this point in history is in Givon, with the central altar. It is the religious center of the country. Why move to a new city?

The Torah discusses the centralization of worship in Israel in Parashat Reโ€™eh:

ื‘ ืื‘ื“ ืชืื‘ื“ื•ืŸ ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืžืงืžื•ืช ืืฉืจ ืขื‘ื“ื• ืฉื ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ืืฉืจ ืืชื ื™ืจืฉื™ื ืืชื ืืช ืืœื”ื™ื”ื; ืขืœ ื”ื”ืจื™ื ื”ืจืžื™ื ื•ืขืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืขื•ืช ื•ืชื—ืช ื›ืœ ืขืฅ ืจืขื ืŸืƒ ื’ ื•ื ืชืฆืชื ืืช ืžื–ื‘ื—ืชื ื•ืฉื‘ืจืชื ืืช ืžืฆื‘ืชื ื•ืืฉืจื™ื”ื ืชืฉืจืคื•ืŸ ื‘ืืฉ ื•ืคืกื™ืœื™ ืืœื”ื™ื”ื ืชื’ื“ืขื•ืŸ; ื•ืื‘ื“ืชื ืืช ืฉืžื ืžืŸ ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื”ื•ืืƒ ื“ ืœื ืชืขืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืŸ ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ืืƒ ื” ื›ื™ ืื ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื›ื ืœืฉื•ื ืืช ืฉืžื• ืฉื ืœืฉื›ื ื• ืชื“ืจืฉื• ื•ื‘ืืช ืฉืžื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

Thereโ€™s an important detail in this:

โ€ื›ื™ ืื ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื›ืโ€œ, ื“ืจื•ืฉ ืขืœ ืคื™ ื ื‘ื™ื. ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืชืžืชื™ืŸ ืขื“ ืฉื™ืืžืจ ืœืš ื ื‘ื™ื ืชืœืžื•ื“ ืœื•ืžืจ ืœืฉื›ื ื• ืชื“ืจืฉื• ื•ื‘ืืช ืฉืžื” ื“ืจื•ืฉ ื•ืžืฆื•ื ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื™ืืžืจ ืœืš ื ื‘ื™ื.

ืกืคืจื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืฉืช ืจืื” ืคื™ืกืงื ืกื‘

The establishment of the Mikdash is a unique mitzvah, in that it requires the participation of a ื ื‘ื™ื. Other mitzvot expressed forbid the input of a ื ื‘ื™ื;โ€Ž ืœื ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ื”ื™ื.

ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ ืžื–ื‘ื—, ื•ื ืจืื” ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื“ื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ืขื ื™ื ื™ ืชื›ื ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื ื•, ื”ื•ื ืžืกื•ืจ ืœื ื‘ื™ื ื’ื ืœื“ืจื•ืฉ ืžืžื ื• ืฉื™ื•ื“ื™ืข ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื‘ื ื‘ื•ืื”, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื ื›ื ืก ื›ืœืœ ืœื”ื›ืœืœ ืฉืœ โ€ืืœื” ื”ืžืฆื•ืชโ€œ ืื™ืŸ ื ื‘ื™ื ืจืฉืื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืขืชื”, ื•ืœื ื‘ื›ืœืœ ืฉืœ โ€ืœื ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ื”ื™ืโ€œ.

ืฉื•ืดืช ืžืฉืคื˜ ื›ื”ืŸ ืœื”ืจืื™ืดื” ืงื•ืง (ืกื™ืณ ืฆืดื‘) cited by ืืœื™ื”ื• ืงืจืงื•ื‘ืกืงื™, ื”ืื ื ื‘ื™ื ืจืฉืื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ืžืฆื•ื” ื“ืจื‘ื ืŸ: ื‘ื™ืจื•ืจ ื”ืœื›ืชื™ ื•ื”ืฉืœื›ื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ื”ื’ื•ืช ื”ืจืžื‘ืดื

(for more details on this, see the shiur on ืคืจืฉืช ืจืื” ืชืฉืขืดื•)

But here, it only says ื•ื™ืงื”ืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืช ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืœ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื. Whereโ€™s the ื ื‘ื™ื? How can David do this on his own?

When ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื describes how ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ returned from exile to re-establish the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, it says at the end of the genealogical lists:

ื›ืœื ื”ื‘ืจื•ืจื™ื ืœืฉืขืจื™ื ื‘ืกืคื™ื ืžืืชื™ื ื•ืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ; ื”ืžื” ื‘ื—ืฆืจื™ื”ื ื”ืชื™ื—ืฉื ื”ืžื” ื™ืกื“ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ืจืื” ื‘ืืžื•ื ืชืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื˜:ื›ื‘

ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ืจืื” set up the structure of the ืžืฉืžืจื•ืช, the personnel of the ืžืงื“ืฉ, and presumably the other details of itโ€™s structure and location. But when did David meet with Samuel to do this? There are only two times recorded when they met; first, at Davidโ€™s annointing:

ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื•ื™ื‘ื™ืื”ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืื“ืžื•ื ื™ ืขื ื™ืคื” ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืจืื™;
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืงื•ื ืžืฉื—ื”ื• ื›ื™ ื–ื” ื”ื•ืืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื™ืงื— ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืช ืงืจืŸ ื”ืฉืžืŸ ื•ื™ืžืฉื— ืืชื• ื‘ืงืจื‘ ืื—ื™ื• ื•ืชืฆืœื— ืจื•ื— ื”ืณ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืžื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื•ืžืขืœื”; ื•ื™ืงื ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ื™ืœืš ื”ืจืžืชื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

Samuel never talks to David; he is still mourning the end of Saulโ€™s kingdom. The next time they meet is when David runs away from Saulโ€™s assasins (this is right before the story of ืžื—ืจ ื—ื•ื“ืฉ):

ื™ื— ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืจื— ื•ื™ืžืœื˜ ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ืจืžืชื” ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœื• ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœื• ืฉืื•ืœ; ื•ื™ืœืš ื”ื•ื ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ื ื•ื™ืช (ื‘ื ื™ื•ืช)ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืœืืžืจ; ื”ื ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื ื•ื™ืช (ื‘ื ื™ื•ืช) ื‘ืจืžื”ืƒ ื› ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืฉืื•ืœ ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืœืงื—ืช ืืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ืœื”ืงืช ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ื ื‘ืื™ื ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืขืžื“ ื ืฆื‘ ืขืœื™ื”ื; ื•ืชื”ื™ ืขืœ ืžืœืื›ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืจื•ื— ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืชื ื‘ืื• ื’ื ื”ืžื”ืƒ ื›ื ื•ื™ื’ื“ื• ืœืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ื•ื™ืชื ื‘ืื• ื’ื ื”ืžื”;
ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืžืœืื›ื™ื ืฉืœืฉื™ื ื•ื™ืชื ื‘ืื• ื’ื ื”ืžื”ืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืœืš ื’ื ื”ื•ื ื”ืจืžืชื” ื•ื™ื‘ื ืขื“ ื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉื›ื• ื•ื™ืฉืืœ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื™ืคื” ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ื‘ื ื•ื™ืช (ื‘ื ื™ื•ืช) ื‘ืจืžื”ืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ื™ืœืš ืฉื ืืœ ื ื•ื™ืช (ื ื™ื•ืช) ื‘ืจืžื”; ื•ืชื”ื™ ืขืœื™ื• ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืจื•ื— ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืœืš ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื™ืชื ื‘ื ืขื“ ื‘ืื• ื‘ื ื•ื™ืช (ื‘ื ื™ื•ืช) ื‘ืจืžื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื™ื˜

Samuel lives in ืจืžื”. What is ื ื•ื™ืช?

Targum translates ื ื•ื™ืช as ื‘ื™ืช ืื•ืœืคื ื, a school. ืจื“ืดืง elaborates:

โ€ฆื•ื”ื™ื” ื–ื” ื”ืžืงื•ื ืžืงื•ื ืœื‘ื ื™ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื ืฉื ื•ืœื•ืžื“ื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœโ€ฆ

ืจื“ืดืง ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื™ื˜:ื™ื— ื“ืดื” ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื ื•ื™ืช

A ื ื•ื” is literally a sheepcote, a shelter. But it has a specific metaphoric meaning:

ืขื–ื™ ื•ื–ืžืจืช ื™ึพื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื™ ืœื™ืฉื•ืขื”; ื–ื” ืึพืœื™ ื•ืื ื•ื”ื• ืึพืœื”ื™ ืื‘ื™ ื•ืืจืžืžื ื”ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื•:ื‘

ืชึปึผืงึฐืคึดื™ ื•ึฐืชึปืฉึฐืื‘ึทึผื—ึฐืชึดึผื™ ื“ึฐึผื—ึดื™ืœึธื ื™ึฐื™ึธ ืึฒืžึทืจ ื‘ึฐึผืžึตื™ืžึฐืจึตื™ื”ึผ ื•ึทื”ึฒื•ึธื” ืœึดื™ ืœึฐืคึธืจึดื™ืง; ื“ึตึผื™ืŸ ืึฑึพืœึธื”ึดื™ ื•ึฐืึถื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ืœึตื™ื”ึผ ืžึทืงึฐื“ึทึผืฉื ืึฑึพืœึธื”ึธื ื“ึทึผืึฒื‘ึธื”ึธืชึดื™ ื•ึฐืึถืคึฐืœึทื— ืงึณื“ึธืžื•ึนื”ึดื™ืƒ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืื•ื ืงืœื•ืก, ืฉื

ื ื—ื™ืช ื‘ื—ืกื“ืš ืขื ื–ื• ื’ืืœืช; ื ื”ืœืช ื‘ืขื–ืš ืืœ ื ื•ื” ืงื“ืฉืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื•:ื™ื’

ื“ึทึผื‘ึทึผืจึฐื”ึดื™ ื‘ึฐึผื˜ึธื‘ึฐื•ึธืชึธืšึฐ ืœึฐืขึทืžึธึผื ื“ึฐึผื ึธืŸ ื“ึดึผืคึฐืจึทืงึฐืชึธึผื; ื“ึทึผื‘ึทึผืจึฐื”ึดื™ ื‘ึฐึผืชึปืงึฐืคึธืšึฐ ืœึฐื“ึตื™ืจึธื ื“ึฐึผืงึปื“ึฐืฉึธืืšึฐืƒ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืื•ื ืงืœื•ืก, ืฉื

ื ื•ื™ืช was Samuelโ€™s yeshiva, where he retired from being Saulโ€™s ื ื‘ื™ื. It was a both a school for ื‘ื ื™ ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื and a sort of ืžื›ื•ืŸ ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ for planning the future ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

ื—ื–ืดืœ understand that this is what David and Samuel discussed:

ื“ืจืฉ ืจื‘ื ืžืื™ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื™ื˜) ื•ื™ืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ื ื•ื™ื•ืช ื‘ืจืžื” ื•ื›ื™ ืžื” ืขื ื™ืŸ ื ื•ื™ื•ืช ืืฆืœ ืจืžื” ืืœื ืฉื”ื™ื• ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ืŸ ื‘ืจืžื” ื•ืขื•ืกืงื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื•ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืขื•ืœื. ืืžืจื™ ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื–) ื•ืงืžืช ื•ืขืœื™ืช ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืžืœืžื“ ืฉื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ื’ื‘ื•ื” ืžื›ืœ ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื’ื‘ื•ื”ื” ืžื›ืœ ืืจืฆื•ืช. ืœื ื”ื•ื• ื™ื“ืขื™ ื“ื•ื›ืชื™ื” ื”ื™ื›ื ืื™ื™ืชื• ืกืคืจ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ื›ื•ืœื”ื• ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื™ื”ื•ืฉื•ืข ื™ื—) ื•ื™ืจื“ ื•ืขืœื” ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื•ืชืืจ ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืœ. ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืขืœื” ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืจื“ ืœื ื›ืชื™ื‘. ืืžืจื™ ืฉืดืž ื”ื›ื ื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ืžื•. ืกื‘ื•ืจ ืœืžื‘ื ื™ื™ื” ื‘ืขื™ืŸ ืขื™ื˜ื ื“ืžื“ืœื™. ืืžืจื™ ื ื™ืชืชื™ ื‘ื™ื” ืงืœื™ืœ ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื’) ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืชืคื™ื• ืฉื›ืŸ .

ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื ื“,ื‘

There are other details of Davidโ€™s meeting with Samuel hinted at in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, when David presents the plans of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ to his son:

ื•ื™ืงื”ืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืช ื›ืœ ืฉืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉืจื™ ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ื ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ืžื—ืœืงื•ืช ื”ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ืืœืคื™ื ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ืžืื•ืช ื•ืฉืจื™ ื›ืœ ืจื›ื•ืฉ ื•ืžืงื ื” ืœืžืœืš ื•ืœื‘ื ื™ื• ืขื ื”ืกืจื™ืกื™ื ื•ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ื•ืœื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื—ื™ืœ ืืœ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืงื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœ ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืื—ื™ ื•ืขืžื™; ืื ื™ ืขื ืœื‘ื‘ื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืžื ื•ื—ื” ืœืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ืœื”ื“ื ืจื’ืœื™ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื•ื”ื›ื™ื ื•ืชื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืชืƒ ื’ ื•ื”ืืœืงื™ื ืืžืจ ืœื™ ืœื ืชื‘ื ื” ื‘ื™ืช ืœืฉืžื™; ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ืžืœื—ืžื•ืช ืืชื” ื•ื“ืžื™ื ืฉืคื›ืชืƒ

โ€ฆ

ื™ื ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ืืช ืชื‘ื ื™ืช ื”ืื•ืœื ื•ืืช ื‘ืชื™ื• ื•ื’ื ื–ื›ื™ื• ื•ืขืœื™ืชื™ื• ื•ื—ื“ืจื™ื• ื”ืคื ื™ืžื™ื ื•ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื›ืคืจืชืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ืชื‘ื ื™ืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืจื•ื— ืขืžื• ืœื—ืฆืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ืœื›ืœ ื”ืœืฉื›ื•ืช ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืœืืฆืจื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื•ืœืืฆืจื•ืช ื”ืงื“ืฉื™ืืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืœืžื—ืœืงื•ืช ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืœื•ื™ื ื•ืœื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ืช ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ; ื•ืœื›ืœ ื›ืœื™ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื“ ืœื–ื”ื‘ ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ืœื–ื”ื‘ ืœื›ืœ ื›ืœื™ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื•ืขื‘ื•ื“ื”; ืœื›ืœ ื›ืœื™ ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ืœื›ืœ ื›ืœื™ ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื•ืขื‘ื•ื“ื”ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ืžืฉืงืœ ืœืžื ืจื•ืช ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื ืจืชื™ื”ื ื–ื”ื‘ ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ืžื ื•ืจื” ื•ืžื ื•ืจื” ื•ื ืจืชื™ื”; ื•ืœืžื ืจื•ืช ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ืœืžื ื•ืจื” ื•ื ืจืชื™ื” ื›ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ืžื ื•ืจื” ื•ืžื ื•ืจื”ืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืืช ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ืžืฉืงืœ ืœืฉืœื—ื ื•ืช ื”ืžืขืจื›ืช ืœืฉืœื—ืŸ ื•ืฉืœื—ืŸ; ื•ื›ืกืฃ ืœืฉืœื—ื ื•ืช ื”ื›ืกืฃืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื”ืžื–ืœื’ื•ืช ื•ื”ืžื–ืจืงื•ืช ื•ื”ืงืฉื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘ ื˜ื”ื•ืจ; ื•ืœื›ืคื•ืจื™ ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ืœื›ืคื•ืจ ื•ื›ืคื•ืจ ื•ืœื›ืคื•ืจื™ ื”ื›ืกืฃ ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ ืœื›ืคื•ืจ ื•ื›ืคื•ืจืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืœืžื–ื‘ื— ื”ืงื˜ืจืช ื–ื”ื‘ ืžื–ืงืง ื‘ืžืฉืงืœ; ื•ืœืชื‘ื ื™ืช ื”ืžืจื›ื‘ื” ื”ื›ืจื•ื‘ื™ื ื–ื”ื‘ ืœืคืจืฉื™ื ื•ืกื›ื›ื™ื ืขืœ ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื˜ ื”ึทื›ึผึนืœ ื‘ึผึดื›ึฐืชึธื‘ ืžึดื™ึผึทื“ ื”ืณ ืขึธืœึทื™ ื”ึดืฉื‚ึฐื›ึผึดื™ืœ ื›ึผึนืœ ืžึทืœึฐืึฒื›ื•ึนืช ื”ึทืชึผึทื‘ึฐื ึดื™ืชืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

What was this ื›ืชื‘ ืžื™ื“ ื”ืณ?

ืจืณ ื™ืจืžื™ื” ื‘ืฉื ืจืณ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ ื™ืฆื—ืง ืžื’ื™ืœื” ืฉืžืกืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœื“ื•ื“ ื ื™ืชื ื” ืœื”ื™ื“ืจืฉืƒ ืžื” ื˜ืขืžื (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื—;ื™ื˜) โ€ื”ื›ืœ ื‘ื›ืชื‘โ€œ ื–ื• ื”ืžืกื•ืจืช โ€ืžื™ื“ ื”ืณโ€œ ื–ื• ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ โ€ืขืœื™ ื”ืฉื›ื™ืœโ€œ ืžื™ื›ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืชื ื” ืœื”ื™ื“ืจืฉืƒ

ืชืœืžื•ื“ ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื;ื ื“ืฃ ื ื‘

ืžื’ื™ืœื” ืฉืžืกืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœื“ื•ื“: ืฉื”ื™ื” ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื” ืชื‘ื ื™ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ ืฉืžืกืจื” ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ืœืžืฉื” ื•ืžืžืฉื” ืœื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื•ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ืœื–ืงื ื™ื ื•ืžื–ืงื ื™ื ืœืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžืกืจื” ืœื“ื•ื“ ื•ื›ืฉืžืกืจื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ืืดืœ ื”ื›ืœ ื‘ื›ืชื‘ ืžื™ื“ ื”ืณ ืขืœื™ ื”ืฉื›ื™ืœ.

ืงืจื‘ืŸ ื”ืขื“ื” ืžืกื›ืช ืžื’ื™ืœื” ืคืจืง ื ื”ืœื›ื” ื

To sum up:

ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืจื— ื•ื™ืžืœื˜ ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ืจืžืชื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ: ืจืณ ื”ื•ื ื ื‘ืฉื ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ืกื™ ื‘ืื•ืชื• ื”ืœื™ืœื” ืฉื‘ืจื— ื“ื•ื“ ืžืœืคื ื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืœืžื“ ืžืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืžื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ืชืœืžื™ื“ ื•ื•ืชื™ืง ืœืžื“ ืœืžืื” ืฉื ื”.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ืฉืžื•ืืœ (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืคืจืฉื” ื›ื‘ ืกื™ืžืŸ ื“

So the establishment of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ requires ืžืกื•ืจืช,โ€Ž ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ and ื“ืจื™ืฉื”. Weโ€™ve seen ื“ืจื™ืฉื”: the whole understanding of the pasuk ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืชืคื™ื• ืฉื›ืŸ (and possibly Davidโ€™s political aspirations as well, as we shall see). Weโ€™ve seen ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื“ืฉ: thatโ€™s the role of ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื. What about ืžืกื•ืจืช?

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืื—ืจ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื•ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื ืกื” ืืช ืื‘ืจื”ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื ื™ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืงื— ื ื ืืช ื‘ื ืš ืืช ื™ื—ื™ื“ืš ืืฉืจ ืื”ื‘ืช ืืช ื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ืœืš ืœืš ืืœ ืืจืฅ ื”ืžืจื™ื”; ื•ื”ืขืœื”ื• ืฉื ืœืขืœื” ืขืœ ืื—ื“ ื”ื”ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ืืœื™ืšืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืฉื›ื ืื‘ืจื”ื ื‘ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื™ื—ื‘ืฉ ืืช ื—ืžืจื• ื•ื™ืงื— ืืช ืฉื ื™ ื ืขืจื™ื• ืืชื• ื•ืืช ื™ืฆื—ืง ื‘ื ื•; ื•ื™ื‘ืงืข ืขืฆื™ ืขืœื” ื•ื™ืงื ื•ื™ืœืš ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืืœืงื™ืืƒ ื“ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื•ื™ืฉื ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืช ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืžืงื•ื ืžืจื—ืงืƒ ..ืƒื˜ ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ื™ืขืจืš ืืช ื”ืขืฆื™ื; ื•ื™ืขืงื“ ืืช ื™ืฆื—ืง ื‘ื ื• ื•ื™ืฉื ืืชื• ืขืœ ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืžืžืขืœ ืœืขืฆื™ืืƒ โ€ฆื™ื“ ื•ื™ืงืจื ืื‘ืจื”ื ืฉื ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื”ืณ ื™ืจืื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื™ื•ื ื‘ื”ืจ ื”ืณ ื™ืจืื”ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื›ื‘

The ืขืงื“ื” was in ืืจืฅ ื”ืžืจื™ื”. Thatโ€™s significant:

ื•ื™ื—ืœ ืฉืœืžื” ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ื‘ื”ืจ ื”ืžื•ืจื™ื” ืืฉืจ ื ืจืื” ืœื“ื•ื™ื“ ืื‘ื™ื”ื• ืืฉืจ ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื‘ื’ืจืŸ ืืจื ืŸ ื”ื™ื‘ื•ืกื™ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื’:ื

The other interesting point is that this particular altar is called ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—, the altar. This is different from the other three altars that Abraham built:

ื• ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจ ืื‘ืจื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืขื“ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื›ื ืขื“ ืืœื•ืŸ ืžื•ืจื”; ื•ื”ื›ื ืขื ื™ ืื– ื‘ืืจืฅืƒ ื– ื•ื™ืจื ื”ืณ ืืœ ืื‘ืจื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื–ืจืขืš ืืชืŸ ืืช ื”ืืจืฅ ื”ื–ืืช; ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ื•ืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

ื•ื™ืขืชืง ืžืฉื ื”ื”ืจื” ืžืงื“ื ืœื‘ื™ืช ืืœ ื•ื™ื˜ ืื”ืœื”; ื‘ื™ืช ืืœ ืžื™ื ื•ื”ืขื™ ืžืงื“ื ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณ ื•ื™ืงืจื ื‘ืฉื ื”ืณืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ื‘:ื—

ื•ื™ืื”ืœ ืื‘ืจื ื•ื™ื‘ื ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืืœื ื™ ืžืžืจื ืืฉืจ ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ; ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœื”ืณืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ื’:ื™ื—

Hereโ€™s how the Pirkei Dโ€™Rabbi Eliezer sees it:

ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื”ื’ื™ืขื• ืœืฆื•ืคื™ื, ื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื’ื™ืขื• ืœืฆื•ืคื™ื ืจืื” ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ืขื•ืžื“ ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื™ ื”ื”ืจ, ืฉื ืณ โ€ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื•ื™ืฉื ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืช ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืžืงื•ืโ€œ, ื•ืžื” ืจืื”, ืขืžื•ื“ ืฉืœ ืืฉ ืขื•ืžื“ ืžืŸ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ืขื“ ื”ืฉืžื™ื, ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืฉื ืชืจืฆื” ื”ื ืขืจ ืœืขื•ืœื” ืชืžื™ืžื”โ€ฆ

ืจืณ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ืื•ืžืณ ื‘ืืฆื‘ืข ื”ืจืื” ื”ื‘ืดื” ืœืื‘ืจื”ื ืื‘ื™ื ื• ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ืืžืณ ืœื• ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืงื™ืŸ ื•ื”ื‘ืœ, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ื ื— ื•ื‘ื ื™ื•, ืฉื ืณ ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืื‘ืจื”ื ืžื–ื‘ื— ืื™ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื›ืืŸ ืืœื ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉื ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—, ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ื‘ื• ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื.

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

The Rambam explains that this is the reason for the location of the ืžื–ื‘ื— in the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ:

ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—, ืžืงื•ืžื• ืžื›ื•ื•ืŸ ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ; ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืฉื ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืžืžืงื•ืžื• ืœืขื•ืœื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื) โ€ื•ื–ื” ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœืขื•ืœื” ืœื™ืฉืจืืœโ€œ . ื•ื‘ืžืงื“ืฉ ื ืขืงื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง ืื‘ื™ื ื•, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื›ื‘,ื‘) โ€ื•ืœืš ืœืš ืืœ ืืจืฅ ื”ืžื•ืจื™ื™ื”โ€œ ื•ื ืืžืจ ( ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื’:ื) โ€ื•ื™ื™ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช, ื‘ื”ืจ ื”ืžื•ืจื™ื™ื”โ€œ . ื•ืžืกื•ืจืช ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ื›ื•ืœ, ืฉื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ืฉืœืžื” ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื‘ื’ื•ืจืŸ ืืจื•ื•ื ื”โ€”ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ืื‘ืจื”ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ืขืงื“ ืขืœื™ื• ื™ืฆื—ืง, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื‘ื ื” ื‘ื• ื ื•ื— ื›ืฉื™ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ืชื™ื‘ื”, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืฉื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืขืœื™ื• ืงื™ืŸ ื•ื”ื‘ืœ. ื•ื‘ื• ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืฉื ื‘ืจื ืงืจื‘ืŸ, ื•ืžืฉื ื ื‘ืจื; ืืžืจื• ื—ื›ืžื™ื, ืื“ื ืžืžืงื•ื ื›ืคืจืชื• ื ื‘ืจื.

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื‘ื—ื™ืจื” ื‘:ื

Note that it is the location of the ืžื–ื‘ื— that is important, not the ืงื“ืฉ ื”ืงื“ืฉื™ื. There is some discussion of the ืื‘ืŸ ื”ืฉืชื™ื” in the midrashim (especially Tanchuma) as the โ€œcenter of the worldโ€ but it is not the ืžืกื•ืจืช that establishes the โ€œbestโ€ location for the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ.

It is striking that the Rambam includes midrashic sources in the ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, a halachic work:

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื“ื” ื‘ืŸ ืคื–ื™ ืžืœื ืชืจื•ื•ื“ ืื—ื“ ื ื˜ืœ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืžืžืงื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ื‘ืจื ื‘ื• ืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ. ืืžืจ ื”ืœื•ืื™ ื™ื™ื‘ืจื ืžืžืงื•ื ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ืชื”ื ืœื• ืขืžื™ื“ื”. ื”ื“ื ื”ื•ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื‘) ื•โ€ื™ื™ืฆืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ืืช ื”ืื“ื ืขืคืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืื“ืžื”โ€œ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›) โ€ืžื–ื‘ื— ืื“ืžื” ืชืขืฉื” ืœื™โ€œ ืžื” ืื“ืžื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ืœื”ืœืŸ ืžื–ื‘ื— ืืฃ ื›ืืŸ ืžื–ื‘ื—.

ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ ื ื–ื™ืจ ื“ืฃ ืœื”,ื‘ ืคืจืง ื– ื”ืœื›ื” ื‘

ืžืŸ ื”ืื“ืžื”: ืจื‘ื™ ื‘ืจื›ื™ื” ื•ืจื‘ื™ ื—ืœื‘ื• ื‘ืฉื ืจื‘ื™ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืจ ื ื—ืžืŸ ืืžืจื• ืžืžืงื•ื ื›ืคืจืชื• ื ื‘ืจื, ื”ื™ืš ืžื” ื“ืืช ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›) ืžื–ื‘ื— ืื“ืžื” ืชืขืฉื” ืœื™, ืืžืจ ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื ื”ืจื™ ืื ื™ ื‘ื•ืจื ืื•ืชื• ืžืžืงื•ื ื›ืคืจืชื• ื•ื”ืœื•ืื™ ื™ืขืžื•ื“.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืคืจืฉืช ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืฉื” ื™ื“ ืกื™ืžืŸ ื—

Itโ€™s very rare for Rambam to do this. Why do we need to know the reason for the location of the ืžื–ื‘ื—?

I would suggest (based on an essay by Gidon Rothstein) that it goes back to the famous argument between the Rambam (Guide for the Perplexed, 3:32) and the Ramban (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื:ื˜) on the reasons for sacrifices. The Rambam says that sacrifices were incorporated into the mitzvot because that is what other, idolatrous cultures did, and ื”ืณ could not eliminate that from ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ's mindset, so He limited it and made it part of the system of mitzvot. They are a concession to human nature, not a truly spiritual rite.

The Ramban strenuously objects, citing the fact that sacrifices predate idolatry, and even ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื in ืกืคืจ ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช brought them. Clearly there is a spiritual meaning and significance to the ืงืจื‘ื ื™ืช. The ืžืฉืš ื—ื›ืžื” offers a compromise:

ื”ืงื“ืžื•ื ื™ื ื ื—ืœืงื• ื‘ื˜ืขื ื”ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช. ื”ืžื•ืจื” ืืžืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืœื”ืจื—ื™ืง ืœื‘ ื”ืื“ื ืžืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื”; ื•ื”ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื•ืกื™ืขืชื• ืืžืจื• ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืœืงืจื‘ ื›ืœ ื›ื•ื—ื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœืžื•ืช; ื•ื”ื•ื ืขื ื™ืŸ ืขืœืขืงื˜ืจื™ ืจื•ื—ื ื™, ืืฉืจ ื‘ืคื•ืขืœื•ืช ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื™ืขืฉื” ื’ื‘ื”ื•ืช ื‘ืขื•ืœืžื™ื ืฉื•ื ื™ื, ื›ื™ื“ื•ืข. ื•ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืฉ ืœื”ื›ืจื™ืข: ื›ื™ ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ืžื” ื”ื ืจืง ืœื”ืจื—ื™ืง ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ืžืœื‘ื‘ื•ืช ืขืžื• ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ืœื›ืŸ ืฆื•ื” ื›ื™ ื™ืงื˜ืจื• ืœืฉื ืฉืžื™ื; ืœื ื›ืŸ ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, ื”ืžื” ื•ื“ืื™ ืœืงืจื‘ ื”ืขื•ืžื•ืช ื•ืœื—ื‘ืจ ื“ื•ื“ื™ืโ€ฆื•ืžืงื•ืจ ืœื–ื”, ื”ื•ื, ื“ืชื ื• ื‘ืจื™ืฉ ืคืจืฉืช ื—ื˜ืืช (ืžืฉื ื” ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื™ื“:ื™) ืื™ืŸ ืจื™ื— ื ื™ื—ื•ื— ื‘ื‘ืžื” ืงื˜ื ื”โ€”ื”ืจื™ ื“ืงื“ืฉื™ ื‘ืžื” ืื™ื ื ืœืจื™ื— ื ื™ื—ื•ื—.

ืžืฉืš ื—ื›ืžื”, ื•ื™ืงืจื, ื”ืงื“ืžื”

Thus sacrifices anywhere else would be an unfortunate concession, not the ideal way to serve ื”ืณ. But at the historic ืžื–ื‘ื—,โ€Ž ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืช have a meaning that they do not have anywhere else:

Possibly, then, these Midrashim, our latest example of Rambam incorporating material he would not seem to have had to, show us a latent explanation for why the Beit HaMikdash was there: because Rambam understood it to be the place we humans got our start, the place we have always gone, sometimes to atone, but even more so to build our best relationship with Hashem.

Gidon Rothstein, Rambamโ€™s View of Sacrifices and Place of Mizbeiโ€™ach

Church and State

So we see Jerusalem as a political and and religious center. Why would both of these end up in the same place?

It may be a historical โ€œcoincidenceโ€, as Radak says (โ€Chance is the instrument of Providenceโ€œ, Horace Walpole):

ืื•ืœื™ ื”ื™ืชื” ืกื‘ื” ืžืืช ื”ืณ ืฉืœื ืชืœื›ื“ ื”ืžืฆื•ื“ื” ื”ื”ื™ื ืขื“ ืžืœื•ืš ื“ื•ื“ ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืชืงืจื ืขืœ ืฉืžื• ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืจืืฉ ืžืžืœื›ืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื˜ื•:ืกื’

But it was clearly intentional. As the Gemara says in the discussion of David and Samuelโ€™s meeting, political and religious leadership are two different things. But they wanted to keep them together:

ื’ืžื™ืจื™ ื“ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื‘ื—ืœืงื• ื“ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ื•ืฉื›ื™ื ื” ื‘ื—ืœืงื• ื“ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืื™ ืžื“ืœื™ื ืŸ ืœื™ื” ืžืชืคืœื™ื’ ื˜ื•ื‘ื ืžื•ื˜ื‘ ื“ื ื™ืชืชื™ ื‘ื™ื” ืคื•ืจืชื ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ืชืคื™ื• ืฉื›ืŸืƒ

ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื ื“ ื‘

One might be cynical and propose that David wanted the Mikdash in his capital to keep it under his control, but we will not be that cynical.

The reverse is more likely true: the political leadership needed to be in close proximity to the Mikdash to keep them (the king and judges) righteous:

ื•ืœืžื” ื ืกืžื›ื” ืคืจืฉืช ื“ื™ื ื™ืŸ ืœืคืจืฉืช ืžื–ื‘ื—, ืœื•ืžืจ ืœืš ืฉืชืฉื™ื ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืืฆืœ ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ [ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—].

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ื:ื

Rabbi Shulman understands the pasuk in ืงื•ื”ืœืช to refer to this:

ืึดื ืขึนืฉืึถืง ืจึธืฉื ื•ึฐื’ึตื–ึถืœ ืžึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธื˜ ื•ึธืฆึถื“ึถืง ืชึผึดืจึฐืึถื” ื‘ึทืžึผึฐื“ึดื™ื ึธื” ืึทืœ ืชึผึดืชึฐืžึทื”ึผ ืขึทืœ ื”ึทื—ึตืคึถืฅ; ื›ึผึดื™ ื’ึธื‘ึนื”ึผึท ืžึตืขึทืœ ื’ึผึธื‘ึนื”ึผึท ืฉืึนืžึตืจ ื•ึผื’ึฐื‘ึนื”ึดื™ื ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถืืƒ

ืงื•ื”ืœืช ืคืจืง ื”:ื–

The king is ื’ึธื‘ึนื”ึผึท ืžึตืขึทืœ ื’ึผึธื‘ึนื”ึผึท (the head of a system of government) but G-d is ื’ึฐื‘ึนื”ึดื™ื ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถื. There needs to be a partnership of human and divine judgment to establish ืฆึถื“ึถืง.

ื•ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง ืžืœืš ืฉืœื ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืžืฆื“ื™ืง ืืช ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื•, ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง, ืื“ื•ื ื™ ืฆื“ืง, ืฆื“ืง ื ืงืจืืช ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ื) โ€ืฆื“ืง ื™ืœื™ืŸ ื‘ื”โ€œ.

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” (ื•ื™ืœื ื) ืคืจืฉืช ืœืš ืœืš ืคืจืฉื” ืžื’ ืกื™ืžืŸ ื•

But I think there was a more personal reason. This is David, who never really wanted to be king. He was dedicated to establishing a ื‘ื™ืช ืืœื•ืงื™ื:

ื ืฉื™ืจ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช;
ื–ื›ื•ืจ ื”ืณ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื›ืœ ืขื ื•ืชื•ืƒ
ื‘ ืืฉืจ ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื”ืณ; ื ื“ืจ ืœืื‘ื™ืจ ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
ื’ ืื ืื‘ื ื‘ืื”ืœ ื‘ื™ืชื™; ืื ืืขืœื” ืขืœ ืขืจืฉ ื™ืฆื•ืขื™ืƒ
ื“ ืื ืืชืŸ ืฉื ืช ืœืขื™ื ื™; ืœืขืคืขืคื™ ืชื ื•ืžื”ืƒ
ื” ืขื“ ืืžืฆื ืžืงื•ื ืœื”ืณ; ืžืฉื›ื ื•ืช ืœืื‘ื™ืจ ื™ืขืงื‘ืƒ
ื• ื”ื ื” ืฉืžืขื ื•ื” ื‘ืืคืจืชื”; ืžืฆืื ื•ื” ื‘ืฉื“ื™ ื™ืขืจืƒ
ื– ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืœืžืฉื›ื ื•ืชื™ื•; ื ืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืœื”ื“ื ืจื’ืœื™ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืงืœื‘

And this was his one true desire:

ืื—ืช ืฉืืœืชื™ ืžืืช ื”ืณ ืื•ืชื” ืื‘ืงืฉ; ืฉื‘ืชื™ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™; ืœื—ื–ื•ืช ื‘ื ืขื ื”ืณ ื•ืœื‘ืงืจ ื‘ื”ื™ื›ืœื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื–:ื–

He needed to have ื”ืณ's house next door. And in the end, thatโ€™s all that mattered.