ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: The Bnei Korach Psalms

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Weโ€™ve looked at the ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื of one of the Leviim who served with David:

ื•ื™ืขื–ื‘ ืฉื ืœืคื ื™ ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณ ืœืืกืฃ ื•ืœืื—ื™ื•; ืœืฉืจืช ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืชืžื™ื“ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื•ื ื‘ื™ื•ืžื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–:ืœื–

There is one other group, the ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—, who are listed in the titles of 11 chapters of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. Where ืืกืฃ and his brothers served in Jerusalem, with the ืืจื•ืŸ,โ€Ž ื”ื™ืžืŸ, the descendant of ืงืจื—, served in the ืžืฉื›ืŸ in Givon:

ื˜ื– ื•ืืœื” ืืฉืจ ื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ: ืžืžื ื•ื— ื”ืืจื•ืŸืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืžืฉื›ืŸ ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ ื‘ืฉื™ืจ ืขื“ ื‘ื ื•ืช ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื›ืžืฉืคื˜ื ืขืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชืืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืืœื” ื”ืขืžื“ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื: ืžื‘ื ื™ ื”ืงื”ืชื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื•ืืœืƒ ื™ื˜ ื‘ืŸ ืืœืงื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ืจื—ื ื‘ืŸ ืืœื™ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืชื•ื—ืƒ ื› ื‘ืŸ ืฆื™ืฃ (ืฆื•ืฃ) ื‘ืŸ ืืœืงื ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ืขืžืฉื™ืƒ ื›ื ื‘ืŸ ืืœืงื ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืฆืคื ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืชื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ืืกื™ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืกืฃ ื‘ืŸ ืงืจื—ืƒ ื›ื’ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฆื”ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืงื”ืช ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื•

Note the ื™ื—ื•ืก here: ื”ื™ืžืŸ is the grandson of ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื, who is the descendant of the ืงืจื— who rebelled against Moshe.

We know that ื”ื™ืžืŸ was one of the ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—, since he is presented that way in ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:

ืฉื™ืจ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—;
ืœืžื ืฆื— ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืช ืœืขื ื•ืช; ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคื—:ื

His cousin ืืกืฃ was a ื ื‘ื™ื. He was not, but he did have a reputation for wisdom:

ื™ ื•ืชืจื‘ ื—ื›ืžืช ืฉืœืžื” ืžื—ื›ืžืช ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืงื“ื ื•ืžื›ืœ ื—ื›ืžืช ืžืฆืจื™ืืƒ ื™ื ื•ื™ื—ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ื”ืื“ื ืžืื™ืชืŸ ื”ืื–ืจื—ื™ ื•ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื•ื›ืœื›ืœ ื•ื“ืจื“ืข ื‘ื ื™ ืžื—ื•ืœ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืฉืžื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ืกื‘ื™ื‘ืƒ

ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื”

ืœื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— is an odd way to introduce perakim of ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื. Every other ื›ื•ืชืจืช that has an attribution, has the name of a single author.

ื‘ืจื•ืจ ื”ื•ื, ื›ื™ ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ ืฉื•ืจืจ ืืช ื›ืœื ื•โ€ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—โ€œ ื”ื•ื ืฉืžื• ื”ืกืคืจื•ืชื™. ืื—ืจื™ ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืขื ื•, ื›ื™ โ€ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—โ€œ ื”ื•ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืชื—ืช ื™ื—ื™ื“, ื ื“ืข ื’ื ืืช ืฉื ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขื•ื“ ืžืขืชื” ื›ืœ ื“ึนื—ืง ื‘ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืฉืœ ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ืคืดื— ืฉืึดื™ืจ ืžึดื–ึฐืžื•ึนืจ ืœึดื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ืงึนืจึทื—โ€ฆืžึทืฉื‚ึฐื›ึผึดื™ืœ ืœึฐื”ึตื™ืžึธืŸ ื”ึธืึถื–ึฐืจึธื—ึดื™, ืฉื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื”ืขืœื™ื ืืช ืฉืžื• ื‘ืขื ื•ึธืชื• ื•ื™ึดื—ึตืก ืืช ืคืจื™ ืจื•ื—ื• ืœืื‘ื•ืชื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื•ืœืžืฉืคื—ืชื•, ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ืชื” ื™ื“ื•ืขื” ื‘ืฉื โ€ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—โ€œ. ื•ืจืง ืขื•ืจื›ื™ ืชื”ืœื™ื ืจืฉืžื• ืืช ืฉืžื• ื”ืคืจื˜ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืื—ืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืืœื” ืžืฉื™ืจื™ื•, ืืฉืจ ื ืืกืคื• ืืœ ืงื‘ื•ืฆืช ื”ืชื”ืœื•ืช.

ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื–ืœื™ื’ืจ, ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—

I would read this not so much as a pseudonym, but rather the name of his band: ื”ื™ืžืŸ and the ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—. Why that? Why connect himself to his notorious ancestor? The name comes from a pasuk in ืคืจืฉืช ืคื ื—ืก:

ื˜ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื™ืื‘ ื ืžื•ืืœ ื•ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื; ื”ื•ื ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื ืงืจื™ืื™ ื”ืขื“ื” ืืฉืจ ื”ืฆื• ืขืœ ืžืฉื” ื•ืขืœ ืื”ืจืŸ ื‘ืขื“ืช ืงืจื— ื‘ื”ืฆืชื ืขืœ ื”ืณืƒ ื™ ื•ืชืคืชื— ื”ืืจืฅ ืืช ืคื™ื” ื•ืชื‘ืœืข ืืชื ื•ืืช ืงืจื— ื‘ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื“ื”; ื‘ืื›ืœ ื”ืืฉ ืืช ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื•ืžืืชื™ื ืื™ืฉ ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืœื ืกืƒ ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืœื ืžืชื•ืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื›ื•

ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— ืœื ืžืชื•: ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืขืฆื” ืชื—ืœื”, ื•ื‘ืฉืขืช ื”ืžื—ืœืงืช ื”ืจื”ืจื• ืชืฉื•ื‘ื” ื‘ืœื‘ื.

ืจืฉืดื™,ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื•:ื™ื

The ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื— were proud of ืงืจื— their forefather. His ideas were fine; just implemented badly. They just were going to do it right.

We discussed this in ืคืจืฉืช ืงืจื— ืชืฉืขืดื“.

ื ื•ื™ืงื— ืงืจื— ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฆื”ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืงื”ืช ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™; ื•ื“ืชืŸ ื•ืื‘ื™ืจื ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื™ืื‘ ื•ืื•ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืคืœืช ื‘ื ื™ ืจืื•ื‘ืŸืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืงืžื• ืœืคื ื™ ืžืฉื” ื•ืื ืฉื™ื ืžื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื•ืžืืชื™ื ื ืฉื™ืื™ ืขื“ื” ืงืจืื™ ืžื•ืขื“ ืื ืฉื™ ืฉืืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืงื”ืœื• ืขืœ ืžืฉื” ื•ืขืœ ืื”ืจืŸ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืืœื”ื ืจื‘ ืœื›ื ื›ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื“ื” ื›ืœื ืงื“ืฉื™ื ื•ื‘ืชื•ื›ื ื”ืณ; ื•ืžื“ื•ืข ืชืชื ืฉืื• ืขืœ ืงื”ืœ ื”ืณืƒ ื“ ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืžืฉื” ื•ื™ืคืœ ืขืœ ืคื ื™ื•ืƒ ื” ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ืงืจื— ื•ืืœ ื›ืœ ืขื“ืชื• ืœืืžืจ ื‘ืงืจ ื•ื™ื“ืข ื”ืณ ืืช ืืฉืจ ืœื• ื•ืืช ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ ืืœื™ื•; ื•ืืช ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ื• ื™ืงืจื™ื‘ ืืœื™ื•ืƒ ื• ื–ืืช ืขืฉื•: ืงื—ื• ืœื›ื ืžื—ืชื•ืช ืงืจื— ื•ื›ืœ ืขื“ืชื•ืƒ ื– ื•ืชื ื• ื‘ื”ืŸ ืืฉ ื•ืฉื™ืžื• ืขืœื™ื”ืŸ ืงื˜ืจืช ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ ืžื—ืจ ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืื™ืฉ ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ื”ื•ื ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ; ืจื‘ ืœื›ื ื‘ื ื™ ืœื•ื™ืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

The Midrash expands on Korachโ€™s complaint of ื›ืœ ื”ืขื“ื” ื›ืœื ืงื“ืฉื™ื and connects it to the previous parasha:

ืœื— ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœื”ื ื•ืขืฉื• ืœื”ื ืฆื™ืฆืช ืขืœ ื›ื ืคื™ ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื”ื ืœื“ืจืชื; ื•ื ืชื ื• ืขืœ ืฆื™ืฆืช ื”ื›ื ืฃ ืคืชื™ืœ ืชื›ืœืชืƒ ืœื˜ ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื›ื ืœืฆื™ืฆืช ื•ืจืื™ืชื ืืชื• ื•ื–ื›ืจืชื ืืช ื›ืœ ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืณ ื•ืขืฉื™ืชื ืืชื; ื•ืœื ืชืชื•ืจื• ืื—ืจื™ ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ื•ืื—ืจื™ ืขื™ื ื™ื›ื ืืฉืจ ืืชื ื–ื ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื”ืืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

ืžื” ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืœืžืขืœื” ืžืŸ ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื•) ื•ืขืฉื• ืœื”ื ืฆื™ืฆื™ืช. ืงืคืฅ ืงืจื— ื•ืืžืจ ืœืžืฉื” ื˜ืœื™ืช ืฉื›ื•ืœื” ืชื›ืœืช ืžื”ื• ืฉืชื”ื ืคื˜ื•ืจื” ืžืŸ ื”ืฆื™ืฆื™ืช? ืืดืœ ื—ื™ื™ื‘ืช ื‘ืฆื™ืฆื™ืช. ืืดืœ ืงืจื— ื˜ืœื™ืช ืฉื›ื•ืœื” ืชื›ืœืช ืื™ืŸ ืคื•ื˜ืจืช ืขืฆืžื” ืืจื‘ืข ื—ื•ื˜ื™ืŸ ืคื•ื˜ืจื•ืช ืื•ืชื”โ€ฝ

ื‘ื™ืช ืžืœื ืกืคืจื™ื ืžื”ื• ืฉื™ื”ื ืคื˜ื•ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืžื–ื•ื–ื”? ืืžืจ ืœื• ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ื‘ืžื–ื•ื–ื”. ืืดืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื›ื•ืœื” ืจืขืดื” ืคืจืฉื™ื•ืช ืื™ื ื” ืคื•ื˜ืจืช ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืช ืคืจืฉื” ืื—ืช ืฉื‘ืžื–ื•ื–ื” ืคื•ื˜ืจืช ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ืชโ€ฝ

ืืžืจ ืœื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืืœื• ืœื ื ืฆื˜ื•ื™ืช ืขืœื™ื”ืŸ ื•ืžืœื‘ืš ืืชื” ื‘ื•ื“ืืŸ. ื”ื”ืดื“ ื•ื™ืงื— ืงืจื— ืื™ืŸ ื•ื™ืงื— ืืœื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืคืœื™ื’ื ืฉืœื‘ื• ืœืงื—ื•.

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื” ื™ื—:ื’

The analogy is clear: just as a garment of techelet shouldnโ€™t need an extra thread of techelet to make us remember the mitzvot, and a room of sefarim shouldnโ€™t need one more tiny scroll, so too an entire nation that heard G-dโ€™s voice at Sinai doesnโ€™t need another prophet to tell them His word.

And we are sympathetic to his claims. As Rabbi Sacks says:

They were surely right to say, โ€œAll the community are holy.โ€ That, after all, is what God asked the people to be: a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, meaning, a kingdom all of whose members are (in some sense) priests, and a nation all of whose citizens are holy.

They were equally right to say, โ€œGod is with them.โ€ That was the point of the making of the Tabernacle: โ€œhave them make Me sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among themโ€ (Ex. 25: 8). Exodus ends with the words: โ€œSo the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travelsโ€ (Ex. 40: 38). The Divine presence was visibly with the people wherever they went.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Servant Leadership

But how could he dare to go against Moshe after all the miracles that had taken place? Rashi explains:

ื•ืงืจื— ืฉืคืงื— ื”ื™ื” ืžื” ืจืื” ืœืฉื˜ื•ืช ื–ื”, ืขื™ื ื• ื”ื˜ืขืชื•, ืจืื” ืฉืœืฉืœืช ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื™ื•ืฆืื” ืžืžื ื•, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืฉืฉืงื•ืœ ื›ื ื’ื“ ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ. ืืžืจ ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื• ืื ื™ ื ืžืœื˜, ื•ื›ืดื“ ืžืฉืžืจื•ืช ืขื•ืžื“ื•ืช ืœื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื• ื›ื•ืœื ืžืชื ื‘ืื™ื ื‘ืจื•ื— ื”ืงื•ื“ืฉ, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ืดื” ืืณ ื›ื”:ื”) ื›ืœ ืืœื” ื‘ื ื™ื ืœื”ื™ืžืŸ, ืืžืจ ืืคืฉืจ ื›ืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ืขืชื™ื“ื” ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืžืžื ื™ ื•ืื ื™ ืื“ื•ื, ืœื›ืš ื ืฉืชืชืฃ ืœื‘ื•ื ืœืื•ืชื” ื—ื–ืงื”, ืฉืฉืžืข ืžืคื™ ืžืฉื” ืฉื›ื•ืœื ืื•ื‘ื“ื™ื ื•ืื—ื“ ื ืžืœื˜. ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื”ืณ ื”ื•ื ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ, ื˜ืขื” ื•ืชืœื” ื‘ืขืฆืžื•, ื•ืœื ืจืื” ื™ืคื”, ืœืคื™ ืฉื‘ื ื™ื• ืขืฉื• ืชืฉื•ื‘ื”, ื•ืžืฉื” ื”ื™ื” ืจื•ืื”.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื–:ื–, ื“ืดื” ืจื‘ ืœื›ื ื‘ื ื™ ืœื•ื™

And it is the wording of the Torah that makes it clear that Korach considers himself part of a chain: ื“ืชืŸ,โ€Ž ืื‘ื™ืจื and ืื•ืŸ are named in the usual fasion: with patronymic and tribe. Korach is named father after son for four generations, and the Torah might have gone further:

ื•ืœื ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืขืงื‘, ืฉื‘ืงืฉ ืจื—ืžื™ื ืขืœ ืขืฆืžื• ืฉืœื ื™ื–ื›ืจ ืฉืžื• ืขืœ ืžื—ืœื•ืงืชื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื˜:ื•) ื•ื‘ืงื”ืœื ืืœ ืชื—ื“ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™. ื•ื”ื™ื›ืŸ ื ื–ื›ืจ ืฉืžื• ืขืœ ืงืจื—, ื‘ื”ืชื™ื—ืกื ืขืœ ื”ื“ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ื“ืดื” ื ื•:ื›ื‘-ื›ื’) ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืืกืฃ ื‘ืŸ ืงืจื— ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฆื”ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืงื”ืช ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœ.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื–:ื, ื“ืดื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฆื”ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืงื”ืช ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™

The Midrash makes the connection even stronger:

ื•ื™ืงื— ืงืจื— ืฉืขืฉื” ืงืจื—ื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื‘ืŸ ื™ืฆื”ืจ ืฉื”ืจืชื™ื— ืืช ื”ืขื•ืœื ื›ืœื• ื›ืฆื”ืจื™ื. ื‘ืŸ ืงื”ืช ืฉื”ืงื”ื” ืฉื™ื ื™ ืžื•ืœื™ื“ื•. ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ ืฉื ืขืฉื” ืœื•ื™ื” ืœื’ื™ื”ื ื. ื•ืœื™ื—ืฉื‘ ื ืžื™ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืขื™ืงื‘ ืขืฆืžื• ืœื’ื™ื”ื ื, ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืงืฉ ืจื—ืžื™ื ืขืœ ืขืฆืžื• ืฉืœื ื™ื—ืฉื‘ ืขืžื”ื ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ืกื“ื ืืœ ืชื‘ื ื ืคืฉื™ ืืœื• ืžืจื’ืœื™ื, ื•ื‘ืงื”ืœื ืืœ ืชื—ื“ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ ืืœื• ืขื“ืช ืงืจื—.

ืžื“ืจืฉ ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™, ืงืจื—, ืจืžื– ืชืฉืดื , ื“ืดื” ื•ื™ืงื— ืงืจื—

This is an astounding midrash. It sees the roots of Korachโ€™s rebellion in his ancestors, who were all great ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื. I think the explanation is what we mentioned before: Korachโ€™s claims that we are all equal before ื”ืณ are true. We need to protest when those in power abuse that power. And the lineage of Korach embodies that principle. We first see that in the story of ืœื•ื™ and ื“ื™ื ื”, when he and ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ rescue her from ืฉื›ื. Jacob is concerned about ืึท ืฉืึทื ื“ืข ืคึฟืึทืจ ื“ืขืจ ื’ื•ื™ื™ื:โ€Ž (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื“:ืœ)โ€Ž ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ืขืงื‘ ืืœ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื•ืืœ ืœื•ื™ ืขื›ืจืชื ืืชื™ ืœื”ื‘ืื™ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื™ืฉื‘ ื”ืืจืฅ.โ€Ž ืœื•ื™ and ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ respond: there is an injustice, we have to fight: (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื“:ืœื)โ€Ž ื”ื›ื–ื•ื ื” ื™ืขืฉื” ืืช ืื—ื•ืชื ื•?

The chain continues in Shmuel, the descendant of Korach. The Gemara discussed what happened when he was first brought, as a young child, to ืขืœื™ the ื›ื”ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ:

ื›ื“ ื•ืชืขืœื”ื• ืขืžื” ื›ืืฉืจ ื’ืžืœืชื• ื‘ืคืจื™ื ืฉืœืฉื” ื•ืื™ืคื” ืื—ืช ืงืžื— ื•ื ื‘ืœ ื™ื™ืŸ ื•ืชื‘ืื”ื• ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ืฉืœื•; ื•ื”ื ืขืจ ื ืขืจืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืฉื—ื˜ื• ืืช ื”ืคืจ; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืช ื”ื ืขืจ ืืœ ืขืœื™ืƒ ื›ื• ื•ืชืืžืจ ื‘ื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื—ื™ ื ืคืฉืš ืื“ื ื™; ืื ื™ ื”ืืฉื” ื”ื ืฆื‘ืช ืขืžื›ื” ื‘ื–ื” ืœื”ืชืคืœืœ ืืœ ื”ืณืƒ ื›ื– ืืœ ื”ื ืขืจ ื”ื–ื” ื”ืชืคืœืœืชื™; ื•ื™ืชืŸ ื”ืณ ืœื™ ืืช ืฉืืœืชื™ ืืฉืจ ืฉืืœืชื™ ืžืขืžื•ืƒ ื›ื— ื•ื’ื ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืฉืืœืชื”ื• ืœื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ื”ื•ื ืฉืื•ืœ ืœื”ืณ; ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืฉื ืœื”ืณืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื

ืืœ ื”ื ืขืจ ื”ื–ื” ื”ืชืคืœืœืชื™. ืืดืจ ืืœืขื–ืจ: ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžื•ืจื” ื”ืœื›ื” ืœืคื ื™ ืจื‘ื• ื”ื™ื”, ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ื™ืฉื—ื˜ื• ืืช ื”ืคืจ ื•ื™ื‘ื™ืื• ืืช ื”ื ืขืจ ืืœ ืขืœื™. ืžืฉื•ื ื“ื•ื™ืฉื—ื˜ื• ืืช ื”ืคืจ ื”ื‘ื™ืื• ื”ื ืขืจ ืืœ ืขืœื™? ืืœื ืืžืจ ืœื”ืŸ ืขืœื™ ืงืจืื• ื›ื”ืŸ ืœื™ืชื™ ื•ืœืฉื—ื•ื˜. ื—ื–ื ื”ื• ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื“ื”ื•ื• ืžื”ื“ืจื™ ื‘ืชืจ ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืžื™ืฉื—ื˜; ืืžืจ ืœื”ื•: ืœืžื” ืœื›ื• ืœืื”ื“ื•ืจื™ ื‘ืชืจ ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืžื™ืฉื—ื˜? ืฉื—ื™ื˜ื” ื‘ื–ืจ ื›ืฉืจื”! ืื™ื™ืชื•ื”ื• ืœืงืžื™ื” ื“ืขืœื™. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืžื ื ืœืš ื”ื? ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืžื™ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ืฉื—ื˜ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ? ื•ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื›ืชื™ื‘โ€”ืžืงื‘ืœื” ื•ืื™ืœืš ืžืฆื•ืช ื›ื”ื•ื ื”! ืžื›ืืŸ ืœืฉื—ื™ื˜ื” ืฉื›ืฉืจื” ื‘ื–ืจ. ืืžืจ ืœื™ื”: ืžื™ืžืจ ืฉืคื™ืจ ืงื ืืžืจืช; ืžื™ื”ื• ืžื•ืจื” ื”ืœื›ื” ื‘ืคื ื™ ืจื‘ืš ืืช, ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืžื•ืจื” ื”ืœื›ื” ื‘ืคื ื™ ืจื‘ื• ื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืžื™ืชื”. ืืชื™ื ื—ื ื” ื•ืงื ืฆื•ื—ื” ืงืžื™ื”: ืื ื™ ื”ืืฉื” ื”ื ืฆื‘ืช ืขืžื›ื” ื‘ื–ื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ืืžืจ ืœื”: ืฉื‘ืงื™ ืœื™ ื“ืืขื ืฉื™ื”, ื•ื‘ืขื™ื ื ืจื—ืžื™ ื•ื™ื”ื™ื‘ ืœืš ืจื‘ื ืžื™ื ื™ื”. ืืžืจื” ืœื™ื” ืืœ ื”ื ืขืจ ื”ื–ื” ื”ืชืคืœืœืชื™.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ืœื,ื‘

Whatโ€™s the big deal about not waiting for a ื›ื”ืŸ to slaughter the sacrifice? Does that warrant the punishment of a little kid? Thereโ€™s a backstory here:

ื™ื ื•ื™ืœืš ืืœืงื ื” ื”ืจืžืชื” ืขืœ ื‘ื™ืชื•; ื•ื”ื ืขืจ ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉืจืช ืืช ื”ืณ ืืช ืคื ื™ ืขืœื™ ื”ื›ื”ืŸืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืขืœื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ืœื™ืขืœ: ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ืืช ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ืืช ื”ืขื ื›ืœ ืื™ืฉ ื–ื‘ื— ื–ื‘ื— ื•ื‘ื ื ืขืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื›ื‘ืฉืœ ื”ื‘ืฉืจ ื•ื”ืžื–ืœื’ ืฉืœืฉ ื”ืฉื ื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ื•ืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื”ื›ื” ื‘ื›ื™ื•ืจ ืื• ื‘ื“ื•ื“ ืื• ื‘ืงืœื—ืช ืื• ื‘ืคืจื•ืจ ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืœื” ื”ืžื–ืœื’ ื™ืงื— ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื‘ื•; ื›ื›ื” ื™ืขืฉื• ืœื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื‘ืื™ื ืฉื ื‘ืฉืœื”ืƒ ื˜ื• ื’ื ื‘ื˜ืจื ื™ืงื˜ืจื•ืŸ ืืช ื”ื—ืœื‘ ื•ื‘ื ื ืขืจ ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ื•ืืžืจ ืœืื™ืฉ ื”ื–ื‘ื— ืชื ื” ื‘ืฉืจ ืœืฆืœื•ืช ืœื›ื”ืŸ; ื•ืœื ื™ืงื— ืžืžืš ื‘ืฉืจ ืžื‘ืฉืœ ื›ื™ ืื ื—ื™ืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ื”ืื™ืฉ ืงื˜ืจ ื™ืงื˜ื™ืจื•ืŸ ื›ื™ื•ื ื”ื—ืœื‘ ื•ืงื— ืœืš ื›ืืฉืจ ืชืื•ื” ื ืคืฉืš; ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• (ืœื) ื›ื™ ืขืชื” ืชืชืŸ ื•ืื ืœื ืœืงื—ืชื™ ื‘ื—ื–ืงื”ืƒ ื™ื– ื•ืชื”ื™ ื—ื˜ืืช ื”ื ืขืจื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืžืื“ ืืช ืคื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื›ื™ ื ืืฆื• ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ืืช ืžื ื—ืช ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืžืฉืจืช ืืช ืคื ื™ ื”ืณ: ื ืขืจ ื—ื’ื•ืจ ืืคื•ื“ ื‘ื“ืƒ

โ€ฆ

ื›ื‘ ื•ืขืœื™ ื–ืงืŸ ืžืื“; ื•ืฉืžืข ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืฉื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื• ืœื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืืช ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉื›ื‘ื•ืŸ ืืช ื”ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ืคืชื— ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื‘

ืขื•ื“ ืกืคืจ ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ ื”ื™ื” ื–ืงืŸ ื•ืฉืžืข ื”ื—ืžืก ืฉื”ื™ื• ืขื•ืฉื™ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื• ืœื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžืขื ื™ืŸ ืœืงื—ืชื ืžื”ื ื”ื‘ืฉืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืฉืœ ืื• ื”ื—ื™ ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื”ืงื•ื“ื, ื•ืฉืžืข ื’ื ื›ืŸ ืืช ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉื›ื‘ื•ืŸ ื”ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืฆื•ื‘ืื•ืช ืคืชื— ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“, ื•ืจืื•ื™ ืฉืชื“ืข ืฉืื™ืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื ื” ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืžืฉื’ืœ ืฉืื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืจืื•ื™ ืฉื™ื’ื ื” ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืฉื‘ื ืœืขืœื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืขืœื™ ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ื—ื˜ื ื”ืขืฆื•ื ื•ืœื ืžืฆืื ื• ืฉื’ื ื” ืื•ืชื ืจืง ืขืœ ื”ื—ื˜ื ืฉื–ื›ืจ ืชื—ืœื” ื•ืœื–ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืจืฆื•ืŸ ื‘ื–ื” ื›ื™ ื”ื ืฉื™ื ื”ืฆื•ื‘ืื•ืช ืคืชื— ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ ืžืฆื“ ื”ื‘ืืชื ืงื ื™ื”ืŸ ื•ื”ื ื”ื–ื‘ื•ืช ื•ื”ื™ื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ืžืชืขืฆืœื™ืŸ ื‘ื”ืงืจื‘ืช ืงืจื‘ื ื™ื”ืŸ ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ื›ื‘ื™ืŸ ื•ืงื ื™ื”ืŸ ืœื ืงืจื‘ื• ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืื•ืคืŸ ื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ื›ื‘ื™ืŸ ืืช ื”ื ืฉื™ื ืฉืœื ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื• ืงืจื‘ื ื•ืชื™ื”ืŸ ื‘ื“ืจืš ืฉื™ื›ืœื• ืœืœื›ืช ืœื‘ืชื™ื”ืŸ ื•ื–ื”ื• ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื ืื•ืช ืžืื“ ืœืคื™ ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื•ืœืคื™ ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื•ื‘ื“ืจืš ื–ืืช ื”ื‘ื™ื ื• ืจื–ืดืœ ื–ื” ื”ืคืกื•ืง ืจืดืœ ืฉืœื ืฉื›ื‘ื• ืขืžื”ืŸ ืื‘ืœ ื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ื”ื™ืŸ ืงื ื™ื”ืŸ.

ืจืœื‘ืดื’ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื‘:ื›ื‘

So the โ€œwaiting for a ื›ื”ืŸโ€ was a symptom of the corruption of the ืžืฉื›ืŸ and the ื›ื”ื•ื ื”. Shmuel was making the same claim as Korach: ื›ืœ ื”ืขื“ื” ื›ืœื ืงื“ืฉื™ื, so ืฉื—ื™ื˜ื” ื›ืฉืจื” ื‘ื–ืจ. He was challenging the status quo, the entire power of the ื›ื”ื ื™ื. And he would become the ื ื‘ื™ื of the destruction of the ืžืฉื›ืŸ and the ื›ื”ื•ื ื”:

ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื”ื ื” ืื ื›ื™ ืขืฉื” ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ืืฉืจ ื›ืœ ืฉืžืขื• ืชืฆืœื™ื ื” ืฉืชื™ ืื–ื ื™ื•ืƒ ื™ื‘ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืืงื™ื ืืœ ืขืœื™ ืืช ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™ ืืœ ื‘ื™ืชื• ื”ื—ืœ ื•ื›ืœื”ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ื”ื’ื“ืชื™ ืœื• ื›ื™ ืฉืคื˜ ืื ื™ ืืช ื‘ื™ืชื• ืขื“ ืขื•ืœื ื‘ืขื•ืŸ ืืฉืจ ื™ื“ืข ื›ื™ ืžืงืœืœื™ื ืœื”ื ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ืœื ื›ื”ื” ื‘ืืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™ ืœื‘ื™ืช ืขืœื™; ืื ื™ืชื›ืคืจ ืขื•ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ืขืœื™ ื‘ื–ื‘ื— ื•ื‘ืžื ื—ื” ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื’

And he warns of the dangers of the ืžืœื›ื•ืช

ื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื–ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืžืœืš ืืฉืจ ื™ืžืœืš ืขืœื™ื›ื; ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื›ื ื™ืงื— ื•ืฉื ืœื• ื‘ืžืจื›ื‘ืชื• ื•ื‘ืคืจืฉื™ื• ื•ืจืฆื• ืœืคื ื™ ืžืจื›ื‘ืชื•ืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ืœืฉื•ื ืœื• ืฉืจื™ ืืœืคื™ื ื•ืฉืจื™ ื—ืžืฉื™ื; ื•ืœื—ืจืฉ ื—ืจื™ืฉื• ื•ืœืงืฆืจ ืงืฆื™ืจื• ื•ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื›ืœื™ ืžืœื—ืžืชื• ื•ื›ืœื™ ืจื›ื‘ื•ืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืืช ื‘ื ื•ืชื™ื›ื ื™ืงื— ืœืจืงื—ื•ืช ื•ืœื˜ื‘ื—ื•ืช ื•ืœืืคื•ืชืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ืืช ืฉื“ื•ืชื™ื›ื ื•ืืช ื›ืจืžื™ื›ื ื•ื–ื™ืชื™ื›ื ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื™ืงื—; ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ื•ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื–ืจืขื™ื›ื ื•ื›ืจืžื™ื›ื ื™ืขืฉืจ; ื•ื ืชืŸ ืœืกืจื™ืกื™ื• ื•ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ื•ืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ื›ื ื•ืืช ืฉืคื—ื•ืชื™ื›ื ื•ืืช ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื›ื ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื•ืืช ื—ืžื•ืจื™ื›ื ื™ืงื—; ื•ืขืฉื” ืœืžืœืื›ืชื•ืƒ ื™ื– ืฆืื ื›ื ื™ืขืฉืจ; ื•ืืชื ืชื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ืืƒ ื™ื— ื•ื–ืขืงืชื ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืžืœืคื ื™ ืžืœื›ื›ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ื—ืจืชื ืœื›ื; ื•ืœื ื™ืขื ื” ื”ืณ ืืชื›ื ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื—

Shmuel is the populist. Centralized authority is dangerous and corrupting.

And his descendants would become the new leaders of the prayers in the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, the ื‘ื ื™ ืงืจื—. We will have to see how their psalms reflect this instinct to fight unjust authority, the knowlege that we are all equal in the eyes of ื”ืณ.

Propaganda Pieceโ€” ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื—, ืคื“ and ืžื‘-ืžื’, 12/19/2023

Eschatologyโ€” ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคื–, ืคื”, ืžื• and ืžื–, 12/26/2023

Silly Love Songsโ€” ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื”, 1/9/2024

Dumb Animalsโ€” ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื˜, 1/16/2024