ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Talking Kings and Successions

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

But thick as you are, pay attention My words are a matter of pride Itโ€™s clear from your vacant expressions The lights are not all on upstairs But weโ€™re talking kings and successions Even you canโ€™t be caught unawares

Lyrics from The Lion King, Be Prepared

Last time we talked about Davidโ€™s ethical wills to Shlomo. Now I want to go back a perek to Davidโ€™s old age (heโ€™s only 69, but government service ages you).

ื•ืืดืœ ืจื‘ ื ื—ืžืŸ ืœืจืณ ื™ืฆื—ืง: ืžืดื“ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื—:ื) ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดื™ ื›ึผึทืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื–ึธืงึตืŸ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึผืึตืœ? ื•ืžื™ ืกื™ื‘ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื›ื•ืœื™ ื”ืื™? ื•ื”ื ื‘ืจ ื ืดื‘ ื”ื•ื”!โ€ฆืืดืœ: ื”ื›ื™ ืืดืจ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ, ื–ืงื ื” ืงืคืฆื” ืขืœื™ื•.

ืชืขื ื™ืช ื”,ื‘

ื ื•ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื–ืงืŸ ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืžื™ื; ื•ื™ื›ืกื”ื• ื‘ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื ื•ืœื ื™ื—ื ืœื•ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืœื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื™ื‘ืงืฉื• ืœืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื ืขืจื” ื‘ืชื•ืœื” ื•ืขืžื“ื” ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืชื”ื™ ืœื• ืกื›ื ืช; ื•ืฉื›ื‘ื” ื‘ื—ื™ืงืš ื•ื—ื ืœืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ื‘ืงืฉื• ื ืขืจื” ื™ืคื” ื‘ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ืžืฆืื• ืืช ืื‘ื™ืฉื’ ื”ืฉื•ื ืžื™ืช ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืชื” ืœืžืœืšืƒ ื“ ื•ื”ื ืขืจื” ื™ืคื” ืขื“ ืžืื“; ื•ืชื”ื™ ืœืžืœืš ืกื›ื ืช ื•ืชืฉืจืชื”ื• ื•ื”ืžืœืš ืœื ื™ื“ืขื”ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

I will not deal with Avishag (we looked at this story in If This Be Treason, as an example of what it means to marry the concubine of a king). This story tells us that David was perceived to be weak, which leads to the next story.

ื•ื”ื ื” ื ื›ืชื‘ ื›ืืŸ ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืฉื’ ื”ืฉื•ื ืžื™ืชโ€ฆื›ื“ื™ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ื™ื” ื–ืงืŸ ื•ื—ืœืฉ ืžืื“ ื•ื ืชืงืจืจ ื“ืžื• ื›ืดื› ืฉืขื ื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื™ื›ืกื•ื”ื• ื‘ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžืชื—ืžื, ืขื“ ืฉื”ื•ืฆืจื›ื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ืœื‘ืงืฉ ื ืขืจื” ืฉืชืฉื›ื‘ ื‘ื—ื™ืงื• ืœื—ืžืžื•, ื•ืขื ื”ื™ื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื˜ื‘ืขื• ืื•ื”ื‘ ื”ื ืฉื™ื ื•ื ืจื“ืฃ ืื—ืจ ื”ืžืฉื’ืœ, ื”ื ื” ื”ื™ื” ื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ื—ืกืจื•ืŸ ื”ื›ื—ื•ืช ื›ืœ ื›ืš ืฉืœื ื™ื“ืขื” ื•ืœื ืงืจื‘ ืืœื™ื” ืœืฉื›ื‘ ืขืžื”.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืœ, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื, ื”ืงื“ืžื”

ื” ื•ืื“ื ื™ื” ื‘ื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 ื– ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ืขื ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื•ืขื ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ; ื•ื™ืขื–ืจื• ืื—ืจื™ ืื“ื ื™ื”ืƒ ื— ื•ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ืฉืžืขื™ ื•ืจืขื™ ื•ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืขื ืื“ื ื™ื”ื•ืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื— ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ืฆืืŸ ื•ื‘ืงืจ ื•ืžืจื™ื ืขื ืื‘ืŸ ื”ื–ื—ืœืช ืืฉืจ ืืฆืœ ืขื™ืŸ ืจื’ืœ; ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืช ื›ืœ ืื—ื™ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืœื›ืœ ืื ืฉื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ื™ ื•ืืช ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื•ืืช ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื ื•ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ืื—ื™ื• ืœื ืงืจืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

It needs to be emphasized that this is not a rebellion. Adoniah was the oldest surviving son who was eligible for the ืžืœื›ื•ืช, and he says ืื ื™ ืึถืžึฐืœึนืšึฐ, not (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื˜ื•:ื™)โ€Ž ืžึธืœึทืšึฐ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื•ืŸ. Avshalom had declared himself king; Adoniah is declaring himself heir apparent. We know that David wanted Shlomo to succeed him, and I think it was public knowledge. But itโ€™s clear that Adoniah had been publicly claiming ืื ื™ ืืžืœืš and David never corrected him. So maybe David didnโ€™t really mean it when he said that Shlomo would succeed him. Yoav and Aviatar werenโ€™t going against the explicit command of the king.

ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื™ื” ืื“ื•ื ื™ื”ื• ื›ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืืžืจ ืœื”ืžืœื™ืš ืฉืœืžื” ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉืœื ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืื‘ืœ ื—ืฉื‘ ื‘ืœื‘ื• ืื‘ื™ ืื•ื”ื‘ ืื•ืชื™ ื•ืœื ื’ืขืจ ื‘ื™ ืžื™ืžื™ ืื›ื ืก ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื” ื‘ื™ืžื™ื• ื•ืื ืœื ื™ืจืข ืœื• ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืฉืื ื™ ืืžืœื•ืš.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื:ื•

And David does not gainsay Adoniah. Itโ€™s not clear to me why not, and none of the classical commentators remark on this. Itโ€™s possible that he thought, after all the civil wars, that having a strong military leader was more important to the country than building the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ. Yes, he had a ื ื‘ื•ืื” that Shlomo was the chosen child who would build it, but itโ€™s not our job to make prophecies come true. Shlomo could end up king after Adoniah pacified the kingdom. But the ื ื‘ื™ื had other plans.

ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื ืชืŸ ืืœ ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืื ืฉืœืžื” ืœืืžืจ ื”ืœื•ื ืฉืžืขืช ื›ื™ ืžืœืš ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื—ื’ื™ืช; ื•ืื“ื ื™ื ื• ื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ืขืชื” ืœื›ื™ ืื™ืขืฆืš ื ื ืขืฆื”; ื•ืžืœื˜ื™ ืืช ื ืคืฉืš ื•ืืช ื ืคืฉ ื‘ื ืš ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ืœื›ื™ ื•ื‘ืื™ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœื™ื• ื”ืœื ืืชื” ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ืœืืžืชืš ืœืืžืจ ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ื™ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™; ื•ืžื“ื•ืข ืžืœืš ืื“ื ื™ื”ื•ืƒ ื™ื“ ื”ื ื” ืขื•ื“ืš ืžื“ื‘ืจืช ืฉื ืขื ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ืื ื™ ืื‘ื•ื ืื—ืจื™ืš ื•ืžืœืืชื™ ืืช ื“ื‘ืจื™ืšืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

Note that Nathan is lying here. As we said before, ืžึธืœึทืšึฐ ืึฒื“ึนื ึดื™ึผึธื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึถืŸ ื—ึทื’ึผึดื™ืช isnโ€™t accurate; Adoniah just said ืื ื™ ืึถืžึฐืœึนืšึฐ. But there was a higher value.

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืื™ืœืขื ืžืฉื•ื ืจื‘ื™ ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืจื‘ื™ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ: ืžื•ืชืจ ืœื• ืœืื“ื ืœืฉื ื•ืช ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืฉืœื•ืโ€ฆ ืจื‘ื™ ื ืชืŸ ืื•ืžืจ: ืžืฆื•ื•ื”.

ื™ื‘ืžื•ืช ืกื”,ื‘

David might have hoped that Adoniah and Shlomo could work together. But Nathan knew that if Adoniah became king, Shlomo would be dead. Thatโ€™s just how things worked.

ื˜ื• ื•ืชื‘ื ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื—ื“ืจื” ื•ื”ืžืœืš ื–ืงืŸ ืžืื“; ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื’ ื”ืฉื•ื ืžื™ืช ืžืฉืจืช ืืช ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืชืงื“ ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ื•ืชืฉืชื—ื• ืœืžืœืš; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืžื” ืœืšืƒ ื™ื– ื•ืชืืžืจ ืœื• ืื“ื ื™ ืืชื” ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ื‘ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืœืืžืชืš ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ื™ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™; ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืขืชื” ื”ื ื” ืื“ื ื™ื” ืžืœืš; ื•ืขืชื” ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื— ืฉื•ืจ ื•ืžืจื™ื ื•ืฆืืŸ ืœืจื‘

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืœืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืœื™ืื‘ ืฉืจ ื”ืฆื‘ื; ื•ืœืฉืœืžื” ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœื ืงืจืืƒ ื› ื•ืืชื” ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืขื™ื ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขืœื™ืš; ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœื”ื ืžื™ ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™ื•ืƒ ื›ื ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืฉื›ื‘ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืขื ืื‘ืชื™ื•; ื•ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืื ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื—ื˜ืื™ืืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื”ื ื” ืขื•ื“ื ื” ืžื“ื‘ืจืช ืขื ื”ืžืœืš; ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ื™ื’ื™ื“ื• ืœืžืœืš ืœืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื; ื•ื™ื‘ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืœืžืœืš ืขืœ ืืคื™ื• ืืจืฆื”ืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื ืชืŸ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืืชื” ืืžืจืช ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ื™ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™; ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™ืƒ ื›ื” ื›ื™ ื™ืจื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื— ืฉื•ืจ ื•ืžืจื™ื ื•ืฆืืŸ ืœืจื‘ ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืœืฉืจื™ ื”ืฆื‘ื ื•ืœืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื”ื ื ืื›ืœื™ื ื•ืฉืชื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื•; ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืื“ื ื™ื”ื•ืƒ ื›ื• ื•ืœื™ ืื ื™ ืขื‘ื“ืš ื•ืœืฆื“ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ืœืฉืœืžื” ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœื ืงืจืืƒ ื›ื– ืื ืžืืช ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื ื”ื™ื” ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”; ื•ืœื ื”ื•ื“ืขืช ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš (ืขื‘ื“ืš) ืžื™ ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™ื•ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

There are two key parts of Bat Shevaโ€™s argument: ืืชื” ื ืฉื‘ืขืชโ€ฆื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ื™ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™ and ื•ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืื ื™ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื—ื˜ืื™ื (the implication that Adoniah would kill Shlomo). David decides to publicly reassert that Shlomo will be king after him.

ื›ื— ื•ื™ืขืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืงืจืื• ืœื™ ืœื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข; ื•ืชื‘ื ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืชืขืžื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืข ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ื—ื™ ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ืคื“ื” ืืช ื ืคืฉื™ ืžื›ืœ ืฆืจื”ืƒ ืœ ื›ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ ืœืš ื‘ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืืžืจ ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ื™ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™ ืชื—ืชื™; ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ืืขืฉื” ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”ืƒ ืœื ื•ืชืงื“ ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืืคื™ื ืืจืฅ ื•ืชืฉืชื—ื• ืœืžืœืš; ื•ืชืืžืจ ื™ื—ื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืœืขืœืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

But when did David swear to Bat Sheva that Shlomo would be king? All we have recorded is a ื ื‘ื•ืื” that ื”ืณ loved Shlomo, but thatโ€™s not the same thing.

ื›ื“ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ื“ื•ื“ ืืช ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ืืฉืชื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ืืœื™ื” ื•ื™ืฉื›ื‘ ืขืžื”; ื•ืชืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ื•ื™ืงืจื (ื•ืชืงืจื) ืืช ืฉืžื• ืฉืœืžื” ื•ื”ืณ ืื”ื‘ื•ืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื™ื“ ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืช ืฉืžื• ื™ื“ื™ื“ื™ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืณืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ืœืืžืชืš: ื™ื•ื“ืข ื”ื™ื” ื ืชืŸ ืฉื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื”, ืฉืฉืžืข ื–ื” ืžืžื ื”. ื•ืœืžื” ื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื”? ืืžืจื•, ื›ื™ ื›ืฉืžืช ื”ื™ืœื“ ืืžืจื” ื‘ืช ืฉื‘ืข ื”ื™ืœื“ ืžืช ืžืคื ื™ ื”ืขื•ืŸ. ืืคื™ืœื• ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื™ ืžืžืš ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœ ืงื™ื™ืžื, ื™ื‘ื•ื–ื• ืื•ืชื• ืื—ื™ื• ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื‘ืืชื™ ืืœื™ืš ื‘ืขื•ืŸ ืžืชื—ืœื”; ื•ืœื ืจืฆืชื” ืœื”ื–ืงืง ืœื• ืขื“ ืฉื ืฉื‘ืข ืœื” ื›ื™ ื”ื‘ืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืžืžื ื” ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื™ืžืœื•ืš ืื—ืจื™ื•. ื•ืืžืจ ืœื”, ื›ื™ ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื ืืžืจ ืœื• ื–ื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื:ื™ื’

The narrative there [in I Kings] does not make it clear how Nathan and Batheva knew that Solomon was supposed to be king. In her speech to the king, Bathsheva talks of an oath which David had made to her, but this is never explicated in Scripture. The Sages find only a hint of it in II Samuel 12:24-25. Nevertheless, it seems clear that it was generally assumed that Solomon was to be king, since Adoniyah invited neither him nor anyone else of the kingโ€™s inner circle to the coronation which he organized for himself.

โ€ฆ[I]n Davidโ€™s mind it must have been clear that Solomon was to succeed himโ€ฆthen from [(ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื‘:ื•)โ€Ž ื•ื™ืงืจื ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ื•ื™ืฆื•ื”ื• ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืช ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ] it is obvious that Solomon, too, had already been informed of his destiny before Adoniyahโ€™s pretensions. This raises the question of why Bathseva makes no mention of this in her argument to David.

Rabbi Moshe Eisemann, Artscroll Divrei Hayamim I, p. 291

Rav Eisemann asks why Bat Sheva mentions the oath but not the public declaration that Shlomo would be his heir. I think those were the same thing. ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื describes the first time Shlomo is presented to the public:

ื ื•ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื–ืงืŸ ื•ืฉื‘ืข ื™ืžื™ื; ื•ึทื™ึผึทืžึฐืœึตืšึฐ ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื• ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืืกืฃ ืืช ื›ืœ ืฉืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืœื•ื™ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื’

Itโ€™s not clear when that happened, but then there are 5 chapters of organizing the future ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, then another public celebration:

ื› ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœื›ืœ ื”ืงื”ืœ ื‘ืจื›ื• ื ื ืืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื›ื; ื•ื™ื‘ืจื›ื• ื›ืœ ื”ืงื”ืœ ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ืชื™ื”ื ื•ื™ืงื“ื• ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืณ ื•ืœืžืœืšืƒ ื›ื ื•ื™ื–ื‘ื—ื• ืœื”ืณ ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ื•ื™ืขืœื• ืขืœื•ืช ืœื”ืณ ืœืžื—ืจืช ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืคืจื™ื ืืœืฃ ืืœื™ื ืืœืฃ ื›ื‘ืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ ื•ื ืกื›ื™ื”ื; ื•ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื ืœืจื‘ ืœื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืื›ืœื• ื•ื™ืฉืชื• ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื‘ืฉืžื—ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”; ื•ึทื™ึผึทืžึฐืœึดื™ื›ื•ึผ ืฉื ื™ืช ืœืฉืœืžื” ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืžืฉื—ื• ืœื”ืณ ืœื ื’ื™ื“ ื•ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ืœื›ื”ืŸืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืฉืœืžื” ืขืœ ื›ืกื ื”ืณ ืœืžืœืš ืชื—ืช ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืื‘ื™ื• ื•ื™ืฆืœื—; ื•ื™ืฉืžืขื• ืืœื™ื• ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืฉืจื™ื ื•ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ื’ื ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื ืชื ื• ื™ื“ ืชื—ืช ืฉืœืžื” ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ื’ื“ืœ ื”ืณ ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ืœืžืขืœื” ืœืขื™ื ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืขืœื™ื• ื”ื•ื“ ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืืฉืจ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืžืœืš ืœืคื ื™ื• ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื˜

So my assumption is that ืคืจืง ื›ื’ describes a public presentation of Shlomo as heir apparent, when he is 2 or so years old, and that included an oath to Bat Sheva.

Infant Simba is presented to the pride

David is 60 years old, ื–ืงืŸ ื•ืฉื‘ืข ื™ืžื™ื but not yet ื•ื”ืžืœืš ื–ืงืŸ ืžืื“. That is when Avshalom starts plotting to take over, because he is the oldest surviving son of David. But ื•ึทื™ึผึทืžึฐืœึตืšึฐ ืืช ืฉืœืžื” doesnโ€™t mean he was crowned king; David is still the king. The coronation of Shlomo wonโ€™t happen for another ten years, in ืคืจืง ื›ื˜. But that is described as ื•ึทื™ึผึทืžึฐืœึดื™ื›ื•ึผ ืฉื ื™ืช ืœืฉืœืžื”. The first time is described in ืกืคืจ ืžืœื›ื™ื, in our chapter:

ืœื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืงืจืื• ืœื™ ืœืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืœื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ืœื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืœื”ื ืงื—ื• ืขืžื›ื ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืื“ื ื™ื›ื ื•ื”ืจื›ื‘ืชื ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืคืจื“ื” ืืฉืจ ืœื™; ื•ื”ื•ืจื“ืชื ืืชื• ืืœ ื’ื—ื•ืŸืƒ ืœื“ ื•ืžืฉื— ืืชื• ืฉื ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืœืžืœืš ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ืชืงืขืชื ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ืืžืจืชื ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ ืœื” ื•ืขืœื™ืชื ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื‘ื ื•ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืžืœืš ืชื—ืชื™; ื•ืืชื• ืฆื•ื™ืชื™ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ื’ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืขืœ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”ืƒ ืœื• ื•ื™ืขืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืžืŸ; ื›ืŸ ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ืœื– ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืขื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ (ื™ื”ื™ื”) ืขื ืฉืœืžื”; ื•ื™ื’ื“ืœ ืืช ื›ืกืื• ืžื›ืกื ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ืƒ ืœื— ื•ื™ืจื“ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื”ืคืœืชื™ ื•ื™ืจื›ื‘ื• ืืช ืฉืœืžื” ืขืœ ืคืจื“ืช ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“; ื•ื™ืœื›ื• ืืชื• ืขืœ ื’ื—ื•ืŸืƒ ืœื˜ ื•ื™ืงื— ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืืช ืงืจืŸ ื”ืฉืžืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ืื”ืœ ื•ื™ืžืฉื— ืืช ืฉืœืžื”; ื•ื™ืชืงืขื• ื‘ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื™ื—ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ ืž ื•ื™ืขืœื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื”ืขื ืžื—ืœืœื™ื ื‘ื—ืœืœื™ื ื•ืฉืžื—ื™ื ืฉืžื—ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”; ื•ืชื‘ืงืข ื”ืืจืฅ ื‘ืงื•ืœืืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

So if it was public knowlege that David wanted Shlomo to be king, what was Yoav thinking when he followed Adoniyah? I assume that Yoav, as always, has what he thinks is Davidโ€™s best interests in mind. When the kingdom is at peace, itโ€™s fine to have a peace-loving kid on the throne, one who would probably choose wisdom over wealth or power if given the chance. But in the ten years since Davidโ€™s announcement, the country has gone through two civil wars. It needs a strong leader. Yoav thinks David made a mistake with Shlomo, and David needs to do ื”ืชืจืช ื ื“ืจื™ื, void his oath, and designate a real king.

And if we think in terms of the halachot of ื”ืชืจืช ื ื“ืจื™ื, we understand why ื ืชืŸ needs Bat Sheva to say ื ืฉื‘ืขืช ืœืืžืชืš ืœืืžืจ ื›ื™ ืฉืœืžื” ื‘ื ืš ื™ืžืœืš ืื—ืจื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™. Such an oath is much stronger.

ื ื“ืจ ืขืœ ื“ืขืช ื—ื‘ื™ืจื•, ืื™ืŸ ืžืชื™ืจื™ืŸ ืœื• ืืœื ืื ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื• ืœืื•ืชื• ืฉื ื“ืจ ืขืœ ื“ืขืชื•. ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื ื“ืืคื™ืœื• ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื•, ืื™ืŸ ืžืชื™ืจื™ืŸ ืืœื ืžื“ืขืชื• ื•ืจืฆื•ื ื•,ื•ื›ืŸ ืขื™ืงืจ. ื•ื“ื•ืงื ืฉื ื“ืจ ืขืœ ื“ืขืชื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฉื•ื ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืฉืขืฉื” ืœื•.

ืฉื•ืœื—ืŸ ืขืจื•ืš ื™ื•ืจื” ื“ืขื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื ื“ืจื™ื ืจื›ื—:ื›

And now Adoniahโ€™s incipient reign ends:

ืžื ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืงืจืื™ื ืืฉืจ ืืชื• ื•ื”ื ื›ืœื• ืœืื›ืœ; ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืช ืงื•ืœ ื”ืฉื•ืคืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืžื“ื•ืข ืงื•ืœ ื”ืงืจื™ื” ื”ื•ืžื”ืƒ ืžื‘ ืขื•ื“ื ื• ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื”ื ื” ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื‘ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ื ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™ืœ ืืชื” ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ ืชื‘ืฉืจืƒ ืžื’ ื•ื™ืขืŸ ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœืื“ื ื™ื”ื•; ืื‘ืœ ืื“ื ื™ื ื• ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ื”ืžืœื™ืš ืืช ืฉืœืžื”ืƒ ืžื“ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ืืชื• ื”ืžืœืš ืืช ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืืช ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื•ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื”ืคืœืชื™; ื•ื™ืจื›ื‘ื• ืืชื• ืขืœ ืคืจื“ืช ื”ืžืœืšืƒ ืžื” ื•ื™ืžืฉื—ื• ืืชื• ืฆื“ื•ืง ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืœืžืœืš ื‘ื’ื—ื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืขืœื• ืžืฉื ืฉืžื—ื™ื ื•ืชื”ื ื”ืงืจื™ื”; ื”ื•ื ื”ืงื•ืœ ืืฉืจ ืฉืžืขืชืืƒ ืžื• ื•ื’ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืฉืœืžื” ืขืœ ื›ืกื ื”ืžืœื•ื›ื”ืƒ ืžื– ื•ื’ื ื‘ืื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ืœื‘ืจืš ืืช ืื“ื ื™ื ื• ื”ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจ ื™ื™ื˜ื‘ ืืœืงื™ืš (ืืœืงื™ื) ืืช ืฉื ืฉืœืžื” ืžืฉืžืš ื•ื™ื’ื“ืœ ืืช ื›ืกืื• ืžื›ืกืืš; ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ื”ืžืœืš ืขืœ ื”ืžืฉื›ื‘ืƒ ืžื— ื•ื’ื ื›ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš; ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฉืจ ื ืชืŸ ื”ื™ื•ื ื™ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื›ืกืื™ ื•ืขื™ื ื™ ืจืื•ืชืƒ ืžื˜ ื•ื™ื—ืจื“ื• ื•ื™ืงืžื• ื›ืœ ื”ืงืจืื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœืื“ื ื™ื”ื•; ื•ื™ืœื›ื• ืื™ืฉ ืœื“ืจื›ื•ืƒ ื  ื•ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ื™ืจื ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืœืžื”; ื•ื™ืงื ื•ื™ืœืš ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ื‘ืงืจื ื•ืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื—ืƒ ื ื ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœืฉืœืžื” ืœืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืื“ื ื™ื”ื• ื™ืจื ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”; ื•ื”ื ื” ืื—ื– ื‘ืงืจื ื•ืช ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ืœืืžืจ ื™ืฉื‘ืข ืœื™ ื›ื™ื•ื ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ืื ื™ืžื™ืช ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื• ื‘ื—ืจื‘ืƒ ื ื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืœืžื” ืื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื‘ืŸ ื—ื™ืœ ืœื ื™ืคืœ ืžืฉืขืจืชื• ืืจืฆื”; ื•ืื ืจืขื” ืชืžืฆื ื‘ื• ื•ืžืชืƒ ื ื’ ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื” ื•ื™ื•ืจื“ื”ื• ืžืขืœ ื”ืžื–ื‘ื— ื•ื™ื‘ื ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืœืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืฉืœืžื” ืœืš ืœื‘ื™ืชืšืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื

Notice what has happened: Shlomo is now ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœืžื”. David is still alive, but he has abdicated in favor of his son. There canโ€™t be two kings simultaneously, and now there should be no struggle for Davidโ€™s successor after he dies.

ืœื ืœื™ืžื•ืช ืฉืื•ืœ ื•ืœื ืœื™ืžื•ืช ืฉืžื•ืืœ? ื›ื‘ืจ ื”ื’ื™ืขื” ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื“ื•ื“, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื ื•ื’ืขืช ื‘ื—ื‘ืจืชื” ืืคื™ืœื• ื›ืžืœื ื ื™ืžื.

ืชืขื ื™ืช ื”,ื‘

ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื:ื–) ื›ึผึดื™ ืึทืชึผึธื” ืชึผึธื‘ื•ึนื [ืึถืช ื”ึธืขึธื ื”ึทื–ึผึถื” ืึถืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื ึดืฉืึฐื‘ึผึทืข ื”ืณ ืœึทืึฒื‘ึนืชึธื], ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื:ื›ื’) ื›ึผึดื™ ืึทืชึผึธื” ืชึผึธื‘ึดื™ื [ืึถืช ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืึถืœ ื”ึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื ึดืฉืึฐื‘ึผึทืขึฐืชึผึดื™ ืœึธื”ึถื]. ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ื™ื•ื—ื ืŸ: ืืžืจ ืœื• ืžืฉื” ืœื™ื”ื•ืฉืข: ืืชื” ื•ื”ื–ืงื ื™ื ืฉื‘ื“ื•ืจ ืขืžื”ื. ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื”: ื˜ื•ืœ ืžืงืœ ื•ื”ืš ืขืœ ืงื“ืงื“ื ื“ึผึทื‘ึผึธืจ ืื—ื“ ืœื“ื•ืจ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ ื“ึผึทื‘ึผึธืจึดื™ืŸ ืœื“ื•ืจ.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื—,ื

ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื™ื–:ื˜ื•): ืฉื‚ื•ึนื ืชึธึผืฉึดื‚ื™ื ืขึธืœึถื™ืšึธ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ. โ€ืžืœืšโ€œ ื•ืœื ืฉื ื™ื. ื•ืžืžื ื• ืื ื—ื ื• ืœื•ืžื“ื™ื ืœืฉืืจ ืฉืจืจื•ืช, ืฉื“ึทื‘ึผึธืจ ืื—ื“ ืœื“ื•ืจ ื•ืœื ืฉื ื™ื, ื•ืืคื™ืœื• ื™ืฉ ืจืื•ื™ ืื—ืจ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืžื ื•, ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ืฉืขื‘ืจื• ื”ื™ื• ืžืœื›ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื›ื•ื”ื ื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื, ื‘ืงืฆืชื ื”ื™ื• ื›ืžื” ืื ืฉื™ื ืจืื•ื™ื™ื [=ื™ื•ืชืจ] ืœืžืœื›ื•ืช ืžืŸ ื”ืฉื‘ื˜ ื”ื ื‘ื—ืจ [=ืฉื‘ื˜ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”], ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืจืฉืื™ื ืœื”ืขื‘ื™ืจ ืžื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื›ื‘ืจ ืžืœืš.

ืชืฉื•ื‘ืช ื”ืžื‘ื™ืดื˜, ืžื•ื‘ื ื‘ึพืื‘ื™ืขื“ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ, โ€ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ืœืจืืฉโ€œโ€”ืœื ืœืฉื ื™ ืจืืฉื™ื

So, if in these final days? weeks? months? of his life, David is now โ€œking emeritusโ€. What does he do in retirement?

I think we have a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื that describes Davidโ€™s feelings. We looked at a similar perek in Just Remember This, which discussed ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื˜,โ€Ž ืืœ ืชืฉืœื™ื›ื ื™ ืœืขืช ื–ืงื ื”; ื›ื›ืœื•ืช ื›ื—ื™ ืืœ ืชืขื–ื‘ื ื™, and the conclusion of (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืขื:ื™ื“)โ€Ž ื”ื•ืกืคืชื™ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืชื”ืœืชืš.

ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืœื™ืš ื”ืณ ืืงืจื: ื’ื ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืžืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืฉืœืคื ื™ื•, ืฉืงื•ืจื ืืœ ื”ืณ ืฉื™ืชืŸ ืฉืืœืชื• ืœื”ืฉืงื™ื˜ื• ืžืขืกืงื™ ื”ืขื•ืœื ื•ืœื”ื ื™ื— ืœื• ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืคื ื•ื™ ืœื”ืชืขืกืง ื‘ืฆืจื›ื™ ื”ื ืคืฉ ืฉื”ื™ื ืขื‘ื•ื“ืช ื”ืืœืงื™ื, ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื™ื›ืคืจื• ืขื•ื ื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืขื‘ืจื• ื•ืชืงืจื‘ ื ืคืฉื• ืืœ ื”ืืœืงื™ื.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื—:ื

ื ืœื“ื•ื“ ืืœื™ืš ื”ืณ ืืงืจื ืฆื•ืจื™ ืืœ ืชื—ืจืฉ ืžืžื ื™; ืคืŸ ืชื—ืฉื” ืžืžื ื™; ื•ื ืžืฉืœืชื™ ืขื ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจืƒ ื‘ ืฉืžืข ืงื•ืœ ืชื—ื ื•ื ื™ ื‘ืฉื•ืขื™ ืืœื™ืš; ื‘ื ืฉืื™ ื™ื“ื™ ืืœ ื“ื‘ื™ืจ ืงื“ืฉืšืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ื›ื™ ื‘ืื—ืจื™ืช ื™ืžื™ื• ื”ื™ืชื” ืกื‘ื” ืžืืช ื”ืณ, ื•ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ืกื›ื ื” ืขื ื™ืฉื‘ื™ ื‘ื ื‘ ืขื“ ืฉื ืฉื‘ืขื• ืื ืฉื™ื• ืฉืœื ื™ืฆื ืขื•ื“ ืขืžื”ื ืœืžืœื—ืžื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื—:ื•

The theme of ื ืžืฉืœืชื™ ืขื ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจ is very similar to that of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœ:

ื“ ื”ืณ ื”ืขืœื™ืช ืžืŸ ืฉืื•ืœ ื ืคืฉื™; ื—ื™ื™ืชื ื™ ืžื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจืƒ โ€ฆื™ ืžื” ื‘ืฆืข ื‘ื“ืžื™ ื‘ืจื“ืชื™ ืืœ ืฉื—ืช; ื”ื™ื•ื“ืš ืขืคืจ; ื”ื™ื’ื™ื“ ืืžืชืšืƒ ื™ื ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ื•ื—ื ื ื™; ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื” ืขื–ืจ ืœื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœ

And in fact, Dr. Gesundheit says they are chiastic pairs in this section of ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, centered around ืคืจืง ื›ื˜.

But I read them as fundamentally different. We looked at ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืœ in The Madness of King Saul, in the context of Davidโ€™s youth as a musician for the depressed and paranoid Saul. The ืฉืื•ืœ ื ืคืฉื™ and ืžื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจ were psychological states.

As the Talmud teaches (ื ื“ืจื™ื ื›ื‘,ื)โ€Ž ื›ืœ ื”ื›ื•ืืก ื›ืœ ืžื™ื ื™ ื’ื”ื™ื ื•ื ืฉื•ืœื˜ื™ืŸ ื‘ื•. The flames of frustration, anguish and melancholy which smolder within the heart of the depressed man are the equivalent of the fires of Gehinnom. Throughout the Book of Psalms, most references to โ€œfalling into the lower worldโ€ refer to this type of inferno.

Daas Chochma uโ€™Mussar vol. 3, pp. 20 and 22, quoted in Artscroll Tehillim, vol. 1, p. 361

Here David is not saying he is in ืฉืื•ืœ or is one of the ื™ื•ืจื“ื™ ื‘ื•ืจ (for which we need a metaphoric interpretation); he doesnโ€™t want to be like them. If ื”ืณ is deaf to my prayer, then He will not speak to me, because that is what my prayer is: to hear ื”ืณ's voice in in the world, and to be able to sing it to others. Thatโ€™s Davidโ€™s retirement plan: ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื.

ื’ ืืœ ืชืžืฉื›ื ื™ ืขื ืจืฉืขื™ื ื•ืขื ืคืขืœื™ ืื•ืŸ; ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืฉืœื•ื ืขื ืจืขื™ื”ื; ื•ืจืขื” ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ืืƒ ื“ ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ื›ืคืขืœื ื•ื›ืจืข ืžืขืœืœื™ื”ื; ื›ืžืขืฉื” ื™ื“ื™ื”ื ืชืŸ ืœื”ื; ื”ืฉื‘ ื’ืžื•ืœื ืœื”ืืƒ ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ึธื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึผ ืืœ ืคืขืœืช ื”ืณ ื•ืืœ ืžืขืฉื” ื™ื“ื™ื•; ื™ื”ืจืกื ื•ืœื ื™ึดื‘ึฐื ึตืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

The ืจืฉืขื™ื do not even try to understand the ways of ื”ืณ;โ€Ž ืœื ื™ื‘ื™ื ื• ืืœ ืคืขืœืช ื”ืณโ€”their understanding is not toward ื”ืณ. And so, in a chiastic pun, if they are in a state of ืœื ื™ึธื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึผ, then ื”ืณ will respond and ืœื ื™ึดื‘ึฐื ึตื, not build them up.

The volta turns the prayer of ืฉืึฐืžึทืข ืงื•ืœ ืชื—ื ื•ื ื™ into the gratitude of ืฉืึธืžึทืข ืงื•ืœ ืชื—ื ื•ื ื™; my prayers were answered.

ื• ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ; ื›ื™ ืฉืžืข ืงื•ืœ ืชื—ื ื•ื ื™ืƒ ื– ื”ืณ ืขื–ื™ ื•ืžื’ื ื™ ื‘ื• ื‘ื˜ื— ืœื‘ื™ ื•ื ืขื–ืจืชื™; ื•ื™ืขืœื– ืœื‘ื™; ื•ืžืฉื™ืจื™ ืื”ื•ื“ื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—

ืื”ื•ื“ื ื• is interesting; it is usually translated as โ€œI will thank himโ€, but that should be โ€œืื•ื“ื ื•โ€. A ื”ื“ literally is an echo, which I think fits better here.

The root of ื”ื•ึนื“ is actually ื”ึตื“, which means an echo. We find a similar usage in, ื ึธืชึทืชึผึธื” ืžึตื”ื•ึนื“ึฐืšึธ ืขึธืœึธื™ื•, โ€You shall give some of your glory to himโ€œ (Bamidbar 27:20). Yehoshua was to โ€œecho,โ€ or emulate, Moshe Rabbeinu.

โ€ฆSo the meaning of ื”ื•ึนื“ is the โ€œechoโ€ of HaKadosh Baruch Hu in response to our tefillah. The tefillah is not one sided. It starts with our praises, expressing our desire to please Him, but then HaKadosh Baruch Hu returns this love to us, and sends His blessings into the world. Similarly, the word ื”ึธื“ึธืจ, used together with ื”ื•ึนื“, also has the meaning of โ€œrespondingโ€ or โ€œreturningโ€. When we praise HaKadosh Baruch Hu, He returns this love to us. Therefore, (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื˜ื–:ื›ื–)โ€Ž ืขึนื– ื•ึฐื—ึถื“ึฐื•ึธื” ื‘ึดึผืžึฐืงึนืžื•ึน, strength and joy emanate from Him. As a result of our joyful singing to Him, HaKadosh Baruch Hu responds to us.

Rabbi Shimon Schwab, Rav Schwab on Prayer, p.118

But this is the opposite. Davidโ€™s ืฉื™ืจ starts from ื”ืณ ืขื–ื™ and then that ืฉื™ืจ is an echo of ื”ืงื‘ืดื”.

ืขื–โ€”strengthโ€”and song somehow go together to produce ื™ืฉื•ืขื”, salvation:

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

ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื•:ื‘

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvationโ€ฆ

Koren translation

ืขื–ื™ ื•ื–ืžืจืช ื™ึพื”:โ€ฆื•ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉืฉื‘ื—ื• ืฉืžื‘ื™ื ื™ื ื•ืžืฉื›ื™ืœื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื ื•ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ืขื•ื– ืœืกื‘ื•ืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืฆืจื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื. ื•ื–ื”ื• ืขื–ื™ ื‘ืกื‘ืœื•ืช ืžืฆืจื™ื, ื•ื–ืžืจืช ื™ื” ืžื” ืฉื ื–ืžืจื• ื‘ืขืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืฉืคืข ืจื‘ ื”ื•ื ื–ืžืจืช ื™ึพื”, ื‘ื›ื— ืืœืงื™. ื•ื›ืœ ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ืœื™ ืœื™ืฉื•ืขื”. ื›ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื”ืœืœ ื”ื™ื“ื•ืข (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื™ื—:ื›ื) ืื•ึนื“ึฐืšึธ ื›ึดึผื™ ืขึฒื ึดื™ืชึธื ึดื™ ื•ึทืชึฐึผื”ึดื™ ืœึดื™ ืœึดื™ืฉืื•ึผืขึธื”.

ื”ืขืžืง ื“ื‘ืจ, ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื•:ื‘

Having the strength to live is a reason to sing to ื”ืณ. Being able to sing to ื”ืณ is an even greater reason to sing to ื”ืณ. David canโ€™t ask for a better retirement than that, so he wishes it on all of ื›ืœืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ:

ื— ื”ืณ ืขื– ืœืžื•; ื•ืžืขื•ื– ื™ืฉื•ืขื•ืช ืžืฉื™ื—ื• ื”ื•ืืƒ ื˜ ื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื” ืืช ืขืžืš ื•ื‘ืจืš ืืช ื ื—ืœืชืš; ื•ืจืขื ื•ื ืฉืื ืขื“ ื”ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ื›ื—