ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: To Form a More Perfect Union

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Last time, we looked at the Temple bureaucracy that David established. The next perek deals with the civil bureaucracy. It describes three sets of authorities: the centralized, national administration; the tribal administration (analogous to state governments); and Davidโ€™s ื’ื™ื‘ื•ืจื™ื. They were the men who had been with him since his days as a bandit king in ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”, and seemed to form a parallel branch of government. ื—ื–ืดืœ called them Davidโ€™s Sanhedrin, filling the judicial and legislative roles (though there was no formal separation of powers as in the US constitution; they were primarily military leaders who grew into their roles as they aged, much as did David himself).

We have a brief summary of Davidโ€™s administration in the end of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ:

ื›ื’ ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ืืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืฆื‘ื ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื‘ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ืขืœ ื”ื›ืจื™ (ื”ื›ืจืชื™) ื•ืขืœ ื”ืคืœืชื™ืƒ ื›ื“ ื•ืื“ืจื ืขืœ ื”ืžืก; ื•ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื‘ืŸ ืื—ื™ืœื•ื“ ื”ืžื–ื›ื™ืจืƒ ื›ื” ื•ืฉื™ื (ื•ืฉื•ื) ืกืคืจ; ื•ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื›ื”ื ื™ืืƒ ื›ื• ื•ื’ื ืขื™ืจื ื”ื™ืืจื™ ื”ื™ื” ื›ื”ืŸ ืœื“ื•ื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›

And a similar summary earlier in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื:

ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืœื›ืœ ืขืžื•ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ืขืœ ื”ืฆื‘ื; ื•ื™ื”ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื‘ืŸ ืื—ื™ืœื•ื“ ืžื–ื›ื™ืจืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืฆื“ื•ืง ื‘ืŸ ืื—ื™ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ืžืœืš ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื›ื”ื ื™ื; ื•ืฉื•ืฉื ืกื•ืคืจืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ืขืœ ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ื•ื”ืคืœืชื™; ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืจืืฉื ื™ื ืœื™ื“ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™ื—

And we spent four hours analyzing those titles, in Happily Ever After. ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื– has a much longer list of ministers, with all the names that are typical for ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื, but itโ€™s the titles that are interesting:

ื›ื” ื•ืขืœ ืืฆืจื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš ืขื–ืžื•ืช ื‘ืŸ ืขื“ื™ืืœ;
ื•ืขืœ ื”ืืฆืจื•ืช ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื‘ืขืจื™ื ื•ื‘ื›ืคืจื™ื ื•ื‘ืžื’ื“ืœื•ืช ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื™ื”ื•ืƒ
ื›ื• ื•ืขืœ ืขืฉื™ ืžืœืื›ืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืœืขื‘ื“ืช ื”ืื“ืžื” ืขื–ืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ื›ืœื•ื‘ืƒ
ื›ื– ื•ืขืœ ื”ื›ืจืžื™ื ืฉืžืขื™ ื”ืจืžืชื™;
ื•ืขืœ ืฉื‘ื›ืจืžื™ื ืœืืฆืจื•ืช ื”ื™ื™ืŸ ื–ื‘ื“ื™ ื”ืฉืคืžื™ืƒ
ื›ื— ื•ืขืœ ื”ื–ื™ืชื™ื ื•ื”ืฉืงืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืคืœื” ื‘ืขืœ ื—ื ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ืจื™;
ื•ืขืœ ืืฆืจื•ืช ื”ืฉืžืŸ ื™ื•ืขืฉืƒ
ื›ื˜ ื•ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื”ืจืขื™ื ื‘ืฉืจื•ืŸ ืฉื˜ืจื™ (ืฉืจื˜ื™) ื”ืฉืจื•ื ื™;
ื•ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืงืจ ื‘ืขืžืงื™ื ืฉืคื˜ ื‘ืŸ ืขื“ืœื™ืƒ
ืœ ื•ืขืœ ื”ื’ืžืœื™ื ืื•ื‘ื™ืœ ื”ื™ืฉืžืขืœื™;
ื•ืขืœ ื”ืืชื ื•ืช ื™ื—ื“ื™ื”ื• ื”ืžืจื ืชื™ืƒ
ืœื ื•ืขืœ ื”ืฆืืŸ ื™ื–ื™ื– ื”ื”ื’ืจื™; ื›ืœ ืืœื” ืฉืจื™ ื”ืจื›ื•ืฉ ืืฉืจ ืœืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ืƒ
ืœื‘ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื™ื•ืขืฅ ืื™ืฉ ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ื•ืกื•ืคืจ ื”ื•ื; ื•ื™ื—ื™ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ื—ื›ืžื•ื ื™ ืขื ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ
ืœื’ ื•ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ื™ื•ืขืฅ ืœืžืœืš; ื•ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืืจื›ื™ ืจืข ื”ืžืœืšืƒ
ืœื“ ื•ืื—ืจื™ ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื•ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื•ืฉืจ ืฆื‘ื ืœืžืœืš ื™ื•ืื‘ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื–

Many of Davidโ€™s men have toponyms rather than patronyms, and there is some discussion about what that means. Are they actually foreigners, as suggested by Malbim?

ื”ื™ืฉืžืขืœื™, ื”ืžืจื ืชื™, ื”ื”ื’ืจื™: ื‘ื ื™ ื ื›ืจ ื”ื™ื•, ื•ืขืดื“ (ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ืกื:ื”) ื•ึฐืขึธืžึฐื“ื•ึผ ื–ึธืจึดื™ื ื•ึฐืจึธืขื•ึผ ืฆึนืื ึฐื›ึถื [ื•ึผื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื ึตื›ึธืจ ืึดื›ึผึธืจึตื™ื›ึถื ื•ึฐื›ึนืจึฐืžึตื™ื›ึถื], ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืงื™ืื™ื ื‘ืžืœืื›ื” ื–ื•.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื–:ืœ

Or Israelites who lived (or came from) other areas?

ื”ื™ืฉืžืขืœื™: ืฉื”ืชื’ื•ืจืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ; ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืงืจืื• โ€œื™ืฉืžืขืืœื™โ€. ื•ื›ืŸ โ€ื”ื”ื’ืจื™โ€œ (ืœื”ืœืŸ ืคืกืณ ืœื), ืฉื”ืชื’ื•ืจืจ ื‘ืืจืฅ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื’ืจ.

ืจื“ืดืง, ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื–:ืœ

Either way, it emphasizes the fact that Davidโ€™s kingdom was not isolated or isolationist, but was engaged with its neighbors in a network of international migrations.

The tribal leaders are mentioned by name:

ื˜ื– ื•ืขืœ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืจืื•ื‘ื ื™ ื ื’ื™ื“ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื–ื›ืจื™;
ืœืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืฉืคื˜ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืžืขื›ื”ืƒ
ื™ื– ืœืœื•ื™ ื—ืฉื‘ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืงืžื•ืืœ ืœืื”ืจืŸ ืฆื“ื•ืงืƒ
ื™ื— ืœื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืœื™ื”ื• ืžืื—ื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“;
ืœื™ืฉืฉื›ืจ ืขืžืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ืžื™ื›ืืœืƒ
ื™ื˜ ืœื–ื‘ื•ืœืŸ ื™ืฉืžืขื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืขื‘ื“ื™ื”ื•;
ืœื ืคืชืœื™ ื™ืจื™ืžื•ืช ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื™ืืœืƒ
ื› ืœื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื–ื™ื”ื•; ืœื—ืฆื™ ืฉื‘ื˜ ืžื ืฉื” ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืคื“ื™ื”ื•ืƒ
ื›ื ืœื—ืฆื™ ื”ืžื ืฉื” ื’ืœืขื“ื” ื™ื“ื• ื‘ืŸ ื–ื›ืจื™ื”ื•;
ืœื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื™ืขืฉื™ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื ืจืƒ
ื›ื‘ ืœื“ืŸ ืขื–ืจืืœ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืจื—ื; ืืœื” ืฉืจื™ ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื–

But we have no other information about them.

The interesting list is the ื’ื™ื‘ื•ืจื™ื. David has them organized in a schedule, with each serving for a month out of the year, similar to the ืžืฉืžืจื•ืช of the ื›ื”ื ื™ื and ืœื•ื™ื™ื.

ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืžืกืคืจื ืจืืฉื™ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช ื•ืฉืจื™ ื”ืืœืคื™ื ื•ื”ืžืื•ืช ื•ืฉื˜ืจื™ื”ื ื”ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ืœื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžื—ืœืงื•ืช ื”ื‘ืื” ื•ื”ื™ืฆืืช ื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื—ื“ืฉ ืœื›ืœ ื—ื“ืฉื™ ื”ืฉื ื”; ื”ืžื—ืœืงืช ื”ืื—ืช ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ

ื‘ ืขืœ ื”ืžื—ืœืงืช ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื™ืฉื‘ืขื ื‘ืŸ ื–ื‘ื“ื™ืืœ; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื’ ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืคืจืฅ ื”ืจืืฉ ืœื›ืœ ืฉืจื™ ื”ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸืƒ
ื“ ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืช ื”ื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ื™ ื”ืื—ื•ื—ื™ ื•ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ื•ืžืงืœื•ืช ื”ื ื’ื™ื“; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื” ืฉืจ ื”ืฆื‘ื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื”ื›ื”ืŸ ืจืืฉ; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ ื• ื”ื•ื ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ื’ึผึดื‘ึผื•ึนืจ ื”ึทืฉืึผึฐืœึนืฉืึดื™ื ื•ึฐืขึทืœ ื”ึทืฉืึผึฐืœึนืฉืึดื™ื; ื•ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืžื™ื–ื‘ื“ ื‘ื ื•ืƒ
ื– ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ื–ื‘ื“ื™ื” ื‘ื ื• ืื—ืจื™ื•; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื— ื”ื—ืžื™ืฉื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ื—ืžื™ืฉื™ ื”ืฉืจ ืฉืžื”ื•ืช ื”ื™ื–ืจื—; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื˜ ื”ืฉืฉื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉืฉื™ ืขื™ืจื ื‘ืŸ ืขืงืฉ ื”ืชืงื•ืขื™; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื™ ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™ ื—ืœืฅ ื”ืคืœื•ื ื™ ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื™ื ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื™ ืกื‘ื›ื™ ื”ื—ืฉืชื™ ืœื–ืจื—ื™; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื”ืชืฉื™ืขื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืชืฉื™ืขื™ ืื‘ื™ืขื–ืจ ื”ืขื ืชื•ืชื™ ืœื‘ื ื™ืžื™ื ื™ (ืœื‘ืŸ ื™ืžื™ื ื™); ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื™ื’ ื”ืขืฉื™ืจื™ ืœื—ื“ืฉ ื”ืขืฉื™ืจื™ ืžื”ืจื™ ื”ื ื˜ื•ืคืชื™ ืœื–ืจื—ื™; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื™ื“ ืขืฉืชื™ ืขืฉืจ ืœืขืฉืชื™ ืขืฉืจ ื”ื—ื“ืฉ ื‘ื ื™ื” ื”ืคืจืขืชื•ื ื™ ืžืŸ ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ
ื˜ื• ื”ืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ ืœืฉื ื™ื ืขืฉืจ ื”ื—ื“ืฉ ื—ืœื“ื™ ื”ื ื˜ื•ืคืชื™ ืœืขืชื ื™ืืœ; ื•ืขืœ ืžื—ืœืงืชื• ืขืฉืจื™ื ื•ืืจื‘ืขื” ืืœืฃืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื›ื–

The ืฉืึฐืœึนืฉืึดื™ื mentioned here (literally โ€œthe thirtyโ€) is the name for Davidโ€™s inner circle of allies who had been with him from the beginning. This organization clearly goes way back, since the fourth division was led by ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘, who was killed when David was still king in Chevron, in a civil war with Shaulโ€™s son (and so the list here says ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ื–ื‘ื“ื™ื” ื‘ื ื• ืื—ืจื™ื•).

ื™ื— ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืฉื ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื•ืขืฉื”ืืœ; ื•ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืงืœ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื›ืื—ื“ ื”ืฆื‘ื™ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉื“ื”ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ืจื“ืฃ ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจ; ื•ืœื ื ื˜ื” ืœืœื›ืช ืขืœ ื”ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืขืœ ื”ืฉืžืื•ืœ ืžืื—ืจื™ ืื‘ื ืจืƒโ€ฆื›ื’ ื•ื™ืžืืŸ ืœืกื•ืจ ื•ื™ื›ื”ื• ืื‘ื ืจ ื‘ืื—ืจื™ ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืืœ ื”ื—ืžืฉ ื•ืชืฆื ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืžืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื™ืคืœ ืฉื ื•ื™ืžืช ืชื—ืชื•; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื ืคืœ ืฉื ืขืฉื”ืืœ ื•ื™ืžืช ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื‘

And each of these men were at the head of an organization of 24,000, organized as ืฉืจื™ ื”ืืœืคื™ื ื•ื”ืžืื•ืช ื•ืฉื˜ืจื™ื”ื. That may refer to a military organization, but they are ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืืช ื”ืžืœืš, so it is more likely to be like the ืฉืจื™ ื”ืืœืคื™ื ื•ื”ืžืื•ืช who served Moshe:

ื™ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื—ืชืŸ ืžืฉื” ืืœื™ื•; ืœื ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืืชื” ืขืฉื”ืƒ ื™ื— ื ื‘ืœ ืชื‘ืœ ื’ื ืืชื” ื’ื ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื” ืืฉืจ ืขืžืš; ื›ื™ ื›ื‘ื“ ืžืžืš ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื ืชื•ื›ืœ ืขืฉื”ื• ืœื‘ื“ืšืƒ ื™ื˜ ืขืชื” ืฉืžืข ื‘ืงืœื™ ืื™ืขืฆืš ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืืœืงื™ื ืขืžืš; ื”ื™ื” ืืชื” ืœืขื ืžื•ืœ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื”ื‘ืืช ืืชื” ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืืœ ื”ืืœืงื™ืืƒ ื› ื•ื”ื–ื”ืจืชื” ืืชื”ื ืืช ื”ื—ืงื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจืช; ื•ื”ื•ื“ืขืช ืœื”ื ืืช ื”ื“ืจืš ื™ืœื›ื• ื‘ื” ื•ืืช ื”ืžืขืฉื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืขืฉื•ืŸืƒ ื›ื ื•ืืชื” ืชื—ื–ื” ืžื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืื ืฉื™ ื—ื™ืœ ื™ืจืื™ ืืœืงื™ื ืื ืฉื™ ืืžืช ืฉื ืื™ ื‘ืฆืข; ื•ืฉืžืช ืขืœื”ื ืฉืจื™ ืืœืคื™ื ืฉืจื™ ืžืื•ืช ืฉืจื™ ื—ืžืฉื™ื ื•ืฉืจื™ ืขืฉืจืชืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ืฉืคื˜ื• ืืช ื”ืขื ื‘ื›ืœ ืขืช ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื’ื“ืœ ื™ื‘ื™ืื• ืืœื™ืš ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ื™ืฉืคื˜ื• ื”ื; ื•ื”ืงืœ ืžืขืœื™ืš ื•ื ืฉืื• ืืชืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื™ื—

Again, this is the โ€œsanhedrinโ€, the system of judges and legislators. But unlike Mosheโ€™s sanhedrin, and like the organization of ืœื•ื™ื™ื that David set up, there is no permanent bureaucracy.

I think a rotation in the government is a very important and truly republican institutionโ€ฆIt is a circumstance strongly in favor of rotation, that it will have a tendency to diffuse a more general spirit of emulation, and to bring forward into office the genius and abilities of the continent.

The ambition of gaining the qualifications necessary to govern, will be in some proportion to the chance of success. If the office is to be perpetually confined to a few, other men of equal talents and virtue, but not possessed of so extensive an influence, may be discouraged from aspiring to it.

Melancton Smith, New Yorkโ€™s delegate to the Continental Congress, Speech in New York Convention, 25 June 1788

But in a government consisting of but a few members, elected for long periods, and far removed from the observation of the people, but few changes in the ordinary course of elections take place among the members; they become in some measure a fixed body, and often inattentive to the public good, callous, selfish, and the fountain of corruption.

The Founders' Constitution, anonymous essay attributed to Melancton Smith, Federal Farmer, no. 11, 10 January 1788

We have no evidence that David set this system of one month on, eleven months off, to prevent corruption. But Iโ€™d like to think itโ€™s true.

This list has twelve leaders of the ืžึทื—ึฐืœึฐืงื•ึนืช; the full list of the ื’ื™ื‘ื•ืจื™ื is in ืคืจืง ื™ื:

ื™ ื•ืืœื” ืจืืฉื™ ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื™ื“ ื”ืžืชื—ื–ืงื™ื ืขืžื• ื‘ืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ืขื ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœื”ืžืœื™ื›ื• ื›ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืณ ืขืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ื™ื ื•ืืœื” ืžืกืคืจ ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื™ื“; ื™ืฉื‘ืขื ื‘ืŸ ื—ื›ืžื•ื ื™ ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื™ื (ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ื)

ื”ื•ื ืขื•ืจืจ ืืช ื—ื ื™ืชื• ืขืœ ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ืชืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื•ืื—ืจื™ื• ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ื• ื”ืื—ื•ื—ื™; ื”ื•ื ื‘ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืƒ ื™ื’ ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืขื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื‘ืคืก ื“ืžื™ื ื•ื”ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื ืืกืคื• ืฉื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ืชื”ื™ ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžืœืื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื; ื•ื”ืขื ื ืกื• ืžืคื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ืืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืชื™ืฆื‘ื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื—ืœืงื” ื•ื™ืฆื™ืœื•ื” ื•ื™ื›ื• ืืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื; ื•ื™ื•ืฉืข ื”ืณ ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”ืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื™ื ืจืืฉ ืขืœ ื”ืฆืจ ืืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืืœ ืžืขืจืช ืขื“ืœื; ื•ืžื—ื ื” ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื—ื ื” ื‘ืขืžืง ืจืคืื™ืืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืื– ื‘ืžืฆื•ื“ื”; ื•ื ืฆื™ื‘ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืื– ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ืืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ืชืื• ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ืžื™ ื™ืฉืงื ื™ ืžื™ื ืžื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจืƒ ื™ื— ื•ื™ื‘ืงืขื• ื”ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ืžื—ื ื” ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืื‘ื• ืžื™ื ืžื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจ ื•ื™ืฉืื• ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืœ ื“ื•ื™ื“; ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืœืฉืชื•ืชื ื•ื™ื ืกืš ืืชื ืœื”ืณืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื—ืœื™ืœื” ืœื™ ืžืืœืงื™ ืžืขืฉื•ืช ื–ืืช ื”ื“ื ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื”ืืœื” ืืฉืชื” ื‘ื ืคืฉื•ืชื ื›ื™ ื‘ื ืคืฉื•ืชื ื”ื‘ื™ืื•ื ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ืœืฉืชื•ืชื; ืืœื” ืขืฉื• ืฉืœืฉืช ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ืืƒ
ื› ื•ืื‘ืฉื™ ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ื•ื”ื•ื ืขื•ืจืจ ืืช ื—ื ื™ืชื• ืขืœ ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ; ื•ืœื (ื•ืœื• ) ืฉื ื‘ืฉืœื•ืฉื”ืƒ ื›ื ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ื‘ืฉื ื™ื ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื”ื ืœืฉืจ; ื•ืขื“ ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ืœื ื‘ืืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™ืœ ืจื‘ ืคืขืœื™ื ืžืŸ ืงื‘ืฆืืœ; ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ื” ืืช ืฉื ื™ ืืจื™ืืœ ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืจื“ ื•ื”ื›ื” ืืช ื”ืืจื™ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื’ืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ื” ืืช ื”ืื™ืฉ ื”ืžืฆืจื™ ืื™ืฉ ืžื“ื” ื—ืžืฉ ื‘ืืžื” ื•ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืžืฆืจื™ ื—ื ื™ืช ื›ืžื ื•ืจ ืืจื’ื™ื ื•ื™ืจื“ ืืœื™ื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜; ื•ื™ื’ื–ืœ ืืช ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืžื™ื“ ื”ืžืฆืจื™ ื•ื™ื”ืจื’ื”ื• ื‘ื—ื ื™ืชื•ืƒ ื›ื“ ืืœื” ืขืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข; ื•ืœื• ืฉื ื‘ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืƒ ื›ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื™ื ื”ื ื• ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื”ื•ื ื•ืืœ ื”ืฉืœืฉื” ืœื ื‘ื; ื•ื™ืฉื™ืžื”ื• ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ืžืฉืžืขืชื•ืƒ
ื›ื• ื•ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ ื”ื—ื™ืœื™ื; ืขืฉื”ืืœ ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘
ืืœื—ื ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ื• ืžื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ืืƒ
ื›ื– ืฉืžื•ืช ื”ื”ืจื•ืจื™
ื—ืœืฅ ื”ืคืœื•ื ื™ืƒ
ื›ื— ืขื™ืจื ื‘ืŸ ืขืงืฉ ื”ืชืงื•ืขื™
ืื‘ื™ืขื–ืจ ื”ืขื ืชื•ืชื™ืƒ
ื›ื˜ ืกื‘ื›ื™ ื”ื—ืฉืชื™
ืขื™ืœื™ ื”ืื—ื•ื—ื™ืƒ
ืœ ืžื”ืจื™ ื”ื ื˜ืคืชื™
ื—ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืขื ื” ื”ื ื˜ื•ืคืชื™ืƒ
ืœื ืื™ืชื™ ื‘ืŸ ืจื™ื‘ื™ ืžื’ื‘ืขืช ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ
ื‘ื ื™ื” ื”ืคืจืขืชื ื™ืƒ
ืœื‘ ื—ื•ืจื™ ืžื ื—ืœื™ ื’ืขืฉ
ืื‘ื™ืืœ ื”ืขืจื‘ืชื™ืƒ
ืœื’ ืขื–ืžื•ืช ื”ื‘ื—ืจื•ืžื™
ืืœื™ื—ื‘ื ื”ืฉืขืœื‘ื ื™ืƒ
ืœื“ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืฉื ื”ื’ื–ื•ื ื™
ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืฉื’ื” ื”ื”ืจืจื™ืƒ
ืœื” ืื—ื™ืื ื‘ืŸ ืฉื›ืจ ื”ื”ืจืจื™
ืืœื™ืคืœ ื‘ืŸ ืื•ืจืƒ
ืœื• ื—ืคืจ ื”ืžื›ืจืชื™ ืื—ื™ื” ื”ืคืœื ื™ืƒ
ืœื– ื—ืฆืจื• ื”ื›ืจืžืœื™
ื ืขืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ืื–ื‘ื™ืƒ
ืœื— ื™ื•ืืœ ืื—ื™ ื ืชืŸ
ืžื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื”ื’ืจื™ืƒ
ืœื˜ ืฆืœืง ื”ืขืžื•ื ื™;
ื ื—ืจื™ ื”ื‘ืจืชื™ ื ืฉื ื›ืœื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื”ืƒ
ืž ืขื™ืจื ื”ื™ืชืจื™
ื’ืจื‘ ื”ื™ืชืจื™ืƒ
ืžื ืื•ืจื™ื” ื”ื—ืชื™
ื–ื‘ื“ ื‘ืŸ ืื—ืœื™ืƒ
ืžื‘ ืขื“ื™ื ื ื‘ืŸ ืฉื™ื–ื ื”ืจืื•ื‘ื ื™ ืจืืฉ ืœืจืื•ื‘ื ื™ ื•ืขืœื™ื• ืฉืœืฉื™ืืƒ
ืžื’ ื—ื ืŸ ื‘ืŸ ืžืขื›ื” ื•ื™ื•ืฉืคื˜ ื”ืžืชื ื™ืƒ
ืžื“ ืขื–ื™ื ื”ืขืฉืชืจืชื™;
ืฉืžืข
ื•ื™ืขื•ืืœ (ื•ื™ืขื™ืืœ)
ื‘ื ื™ ื—ื•ืชื ื”ืขืจืขืจื™ืƒ
ืžื” ื™ื“ื™ืขืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืจื™
ื•ื™ื—ื ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืชื™ืฆื™ืƒ
ืžื• ืืœื™ืืœ ื”ืžื—ื•ื™ื
ื•ื™ืจื™ื‘ื™
ื•ื™ื•ืฉื•ื™ื” ื‘ื ื™ ืืœื ืขื;
ื•ื™ืชืžื” ื”ืžื•ืื‘ื™ืƒ ืžื– ืืœื™ืืœ
ื•ืขื•ื‘ื“
ื•ื™ืขืฉื™ืืœ ื”ืžืฆื‘ื™ื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™ื

There are (as Malbim counts them) 53 names on this list. They are called ื”ืฉืœื•ืฉื™ื, the thirty, but at least in the first mention there is a ืงืจื™-ื›ืชื™ื‘ that it is to be read as ื”ึทืฉืึผึธืœึดื™ืฉืึดื™ื, which means โ€œthe third in commandโ€.

ื•ื™ืงื— ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืจื›ื‘ ื‘ื—ื•ืจ ื•ื›ืœ ืจื›ื‘ ืžืฆืจื™ื; ื•ึฐืฉืึธืœึดืฉืึดื ืขืœ ื›ืœื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื™ื“:ื–

The targum of both ืฉืึธืœึดื™ืฉืึดื™ื and ืฉืึฐืœึนืฉืึดื™ื is ื’ึดื‘ึผึธืจึดื™ืŸ.

ื•ึผื“ึฐื‘ึทืจ ืฉืึดืชึผึฐ ืžึฐืึธื” ืจึฐืชึดื›ึผึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึฐื—ึดื™ืจึธืŸ ื•ึฐื›ึนืœ ืจึฐืชึดื›ึผึตื™ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึธืึตื™ ื•ึฐื’ึดื‘ึผึธืจึดื™ืŸ ืžึฐืžึทื ึธืŸ ืขึทืœ ื›ึผึปืœึฐื”ื•ึนืŸ:

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืื•ื ืงืœื•ืก, ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื“:ื–

ืžืŸ ื”ึทืฉืึผึฐืœึนืฉืึดื™ื ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ืืœ ื”ืฉืœืฉื” ืœื ื‘ื; ื•ื™ืฉืžื”ื• ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืžืฉืžืขืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื’:ื›ื’

ืžึดืŸ ื’ึดื‘ึผึธืจึทื™ึธื ื™ึทืงึดื™ืจ ื•ึฐืœึดืชึฐืœึทืช ื’ึฐื‘ื•ึผืจึธืŸ ืœึธื ืžึฐื˜ึธื ื•ึผืžึทื ึฐื™ึตื™ื”ึผ ื“ึธื•ึดื“ ืขึทืœ ืžึดืฉืึฐืžึทืขึฐืชึผึตื™ื”ึผืƒ

ืชืจื’ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื’:ื›ื’

Specifically, David is the ืžืœืš, Yoav is ืฉืจ ืฆื‘ื, second in command over the army, ื™ืฉื‘ืขื ื‘ืŸ ื—ื›ืžื•ื ื™ is ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ื, second in command over the judiciary, and this group of ืฉืœื™\ื•ืฉื™ื is not โ€œthirtyโ€, but the next tier in the chain of command.

The first four have stories (which we will look at); the rest are simply listed as ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ ื”ื—ื™ืœื™ื. The parallel in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ is almost identical except that it ends early:

ื— ืืœื” ืฉืžื•ืช ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื“; ื™ืฉื‘ ื‘ืฉื‘ืช ืชื—ื›ืžื ื™ ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉืœืฉื™
ื”ื•ื ืขื“ื™ื ื• ื”ืขืฆื ื• (ื”ืขืฆื ื™) ืขืœ ืฉืžื ื” ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ื“ (ืื—ืช)ืƒ

โ€ฆ ืœื˜ ืื•ืจื™ื” ื”ื—ืชื™
ื›ืœ ืฉืœืฉื™ื ื•ืฉื‘ืขื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื’

And it is ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ that I want to look at. We skipped ืคืจืง ื›ื’ when we learned ืฉืžื•ืืœ, because I wanted to focus on the narrative of Davidโ€™s life and reign. Itโ€™s time to go back and look at some of the poetic parts.

ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ doesnโ€™t go into the long lists of names like ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื; it has a different purpose. It is a ืกืคืจ ื ื‘ื•ืื”, and the stories have moral messages. I would assume the text of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ is meant to be read more symbolically, and we need to look at the midrashim to read it correctly. We did something similar in comparing the stories of Davidโ€™s final wars in ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื and ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›, in Retirement Age. I assumed that ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื was a copy of the historical record, and the stories in ืฉืžื•ืืœ are poetic retellings that arenโ€™t really about historical characters; they are telling us about David himself.

ืึตืœึผึถื” ืฉืึฐืžื•ึนืช ื”ึทื’ึผึดื‘ึผื•ึนืจึดื™ื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื“โ€ฆืžืื™ ืงืืžืจ? ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืื‘ื”ื•, ื”ื›ื™ ืงืืžืจ: ื•ืืœื” ืฉืžื•ืช ื’ื‘ื•ืจื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“.

ืžื•ืขื“ ืงื˜ืŸ ื˜ื–,ื‘

The list of names and exploits in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ tell us of Davidโ€™s exploits, using the language of the chronicles that would be recorded in ืกืคืจ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื. Each of those names has a midrashic meaning; you can always find a midrashic meaning for a name.

ื•ื™ื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 (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžื˜ ื•) ื‘ึฐึผืกึนื“ึธื ืึทืœ ืชึธึผื‘ึนื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื™, ืืœื• ืžืจื’ืœื™ื; ื•ื‘ึดึผืงึฐื”ึธืœึธื ืึทืœ ืชึตึผื—ึทื“ ื›ึฐึผื‘ึนื“ึดื™ืช ืืœื• ืขื“ืช ืงืจื—.

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

Our list in ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ ends abruptly when it gets to ืื•ืจื™ื” ื”ื—ืชื™; the author of ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืืœ is abruptly giving up. The story of ืื•ืจื™ื” ื”ื—ืชื™ was not ืฉืžื•ืช ื’ื‘ื•ืจื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ but the story of his failure.

Iโ€™m not going to try to look at the midrashic meanings of all the names in that list, but I do want to look at the first four, which have stories associated with them.

ืืœื” ืฉืžื•ืช ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื“ื•ื“; ื™ึนืฉืึตื‘ ื‘ึผึทืฉืึผึถื‘ึถืช ืชึผึทื—ึฐื›ึผึฐืžึนื ึดื™ ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉืœืฉื™ ื”ื•ื ืขื“ื™ื ื• ื”ืขืฆื ื• (ื”ึธืขึถืฆึฐื ึดื™) ืขืœ ืฉืžื ื” ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ื“ (ืื—ืช)ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื›ื’:ื—

In ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื the name is ื™ืฉื‘ืขื ื‘ืŸ ื—ื›ืžื•ื ื™ and he kills ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ืช. So the gemara explains the changes: ื™ึนืฉืึตื‘ ื‘ึผึทืฉืึผึถื‘ึถืช refers to David, not ื™ืฉื‘ืขื. Among his โ€œsanhedrinโ€, he was Primus inter pares.

ื™ึนืฉืึตื‘ ื‘ึผึทืฉืึผึถื‘ึถืชโ€”ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื”, ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื™ ื›ืจื™ื ื•ื›ืกืชื•ืช ืืœื ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื™ ืงืจืงืข. ื“ื›ืœ ื›ืžื” ื“ื”ื•ื” ืจื‘ื™ื” ืขื™ืจื ื”ื™ืื™ืจื™ ืงื™ื™ื, ื”ื•ื” ืžืชื ื™ ืœื”ื• ืœืจื‘ื ืŸ ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื™ ื›ืจื™ื ื•ื›ืกืชื•ืช. ื›ื™ ื ื— ื ืคืฉื™ื”, ื”ื•ื” ืžืชื ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœืจื‘ื ืŸ ื•ื”ื•ื” ื™ืชื™ื‘ ืขืœ ื’ื‘ื™ ืงืจืงืข. ืืžืจื• ืœื™ื”: ืœื™ืชื™ื‘ ืžืจ ืื›ืจื™ื ื•ื›ืกืชื•ืช! ืœื ืงื‘ื™ืœ ืขืœื™ื”. ืชึผึทื—ึฐื›ึผึฐืžึนื ึดื™, ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ื•ื, ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ื”ืฉืคืœืช ืขืฆืžืš ืชื”ื ื›ืžื•ื ื™. ืฉืื ื™ ื’ื•ื–ืจ ื’ื–ืจื”, ื•ืืชื” ืžื‘ื˜ืœื”. ืจึนืืฉื ื”ึทืฉืึผึธืœึดืฉืึดื™โ€”ืชื”ื ืจืืฉ ืœืฉืœืฉืช ืื‘ื•ืช.

ืžื•ืขื“ ืงื˜ืŸ ื˜ื–,ื‘

Davidโ€™s humility opened the possibility of being like the ืฉืœืฉืช ืื‘ื•ืช, in a very specific sense.

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืืžืจ ืจื‘: ืœืขื•ืœื ืืœ ื™ื‘ื™ื ืื“ื ืขืฆืžื• ืœื™ื“ื™ ื ืกื™ื•ืŸ, ืฉื”ืจื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืžืœืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื‘ื™ื ืขืฆืžื• ืœื™ื“ื™ ื ืกื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื ื›ืฉืœ. ืืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ื•: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข ืžืคื ื™ ืžื” ืื•ืžืจื™ื โ€ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ืืœืงื™ ื™ืขืงื‘โ€œ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืื•ืžืจื™ื โ€ืืœืงื™ ื“ื•ื“โ€œ? ืืžืจ: ืื™ื ื”ื• ืžื™ื ืกื• ืœื™ ื•ืืช ืœื ืžื™ื ืกื™ืช ืœื™. ืืžืจ ืœืคื ื™ื•: ืจื‘ืฉืดืข ื‘ื—ื ื ื™ ื•ื ืกื ื™!โ€ฆืžื™ื“ (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื:ื‘) โ€ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœืขืช ื”ืขืจื‘ ื•ื™ืงื ื“ื•ื“ ืžืขืœ ืžืฉื›ื‘ื• ื•ื’ื•ืณโ€œ.

ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืงื–,ื

We looked at this gemara in This Will Be on the Final. When we daven to ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื, we are saying that our relationship with ื”ืงื‘ืดื” is like ืื‘ืจื”ื's relationship; he represents us. David had the opportunity to be a similar spiritual leader, but as we know, he failed that test. And that is the meaning of ืฉืžื ื” ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ืช.

ืขึทืœ ืฉืึฐืžื•ึนื ึถื” ืžึตืื•ึนืช ื—ึธืœึธืœ ื‘ึผึฐืคึทืขึทื ืึถื—ึธืช; ืฉื”ื™ื” ื–ื•ืจืง ื—ืฅ, ื•ืžืคื™ืœ ืฉืžื•ื ื” ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ ื‘ืคืขื ืื—ืช, ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžืชืื ื— ืขืœ ืžืืชื™ื, ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื‘:ื›ื˜-ืœ): [ืœื•ึผ ื—ึธื›ึฐืžื•ึผ ื™ึทืฉื‚ึฐื›ึผึดื™ืœื•ึผ ื–ึนืืช ื™ึธื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึผ ืœึฐืึทื—ึฒืจึดื™ืชึธืืƒ]  ืึตื™ื›ึธื” ื™ึดืจึฐื“ึผึนืฃ ืึถื—ึธื“ ืึถืœึถืฃ. ื™ืฆืชื” ื‘ืช ืงื•ืœ ื•ืืžืจื” (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื ื˜ื•:ื”): [ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืขึธืฉื‚ึธื” ื“ึธื•ึดื“ ืึถืช ื”ึทื™ึผึธืฉืึธืจ ื‘ึผึฐืขึตื™ื ึตื™ ื”ืณ ื•ึฐืœึนื ืกึธืจ ืžึดื›ึผึนืœ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืฆึดื•ึผึธื”ื•ึผ ื›ึผึนืœ ื™ึฐืžึตื™ ื—ึทื™ึผึธื™ื•] ืจึทืง ื‘ึผึดื“ึฐื‘ึทืจ ืื•ึผืจึดื™ึผึธื” ื”ึทื—ึดืชึผึดื™.

ืžื•ืขื“ ืงื˜ืŸ ื˜ื–,ื‘

Life is a Test

Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, Life is a Test

The midrashic reading of our perek tells us Davidโ€™s grade on the final: he got 800 out of 1000, a solid B. ื”ึทืœึฐื•ึทืื™ we should get that good a grade on the test of life

The next story is about ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ื•:

ื˜ ื•ืื—ืจื• ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื“ื™ (ื“ื“ื•) ื‘ืŸ ืื—ื—ื™; ื‘ืฉืœืฉื” ื’ื‘ืจื™ื (ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื) ืขื ื“ื•ื“ ื‘ื—ืจืคื ื‘ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื ืืกืคื• ืฉื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ื™ืขืœื• ืื™ืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื™ ื”ื•ื ืงื ื•ื™ืš ื‘ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืขื“ ื›ื™ ื™ื’ืขื” ื™ื“ื• ื•ืชื“ื‘ืง ื™ื“ื• ืืœ ื”ื—ืจื‘ ื•ื™ืขืฉ ื”ืณ ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื; ื•ื”ืขื ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืื—ืจื™ื• ืืš ืœืคืฉื˜ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื’

The parallel in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื gives us some context:

ื™ื‘ ื•ืื—ืจื™ื• ืืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื“ื•ื“ื• ื”ืื—ื•ื—ื™; ื”ื•ื ื‘ืฉืœื•ืฉื” ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืƒ ื™ื’ ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืขื ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื‘ืคืก ื“ืžื™ื ื•ื”ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื ืืกืคื• ืฉื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ืชื”ื™ ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžืœืื” ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื; ื•ื”ืขื ื ืกื• ืžืคื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ืืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืชื™ืฆื‘ื• ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื—ืœืงื” ื•ื™ืฆื™ืœื•ื” ื•ื™ื›ื• ืืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื; ื•ื™ื•ืฉืข ื”ืณ ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื™ื

ืคืก ื“ืžื™ื was the battle with ื’ื•ืœื™ืช. Again, these men had been with David from way back.

ื ื•ื™ืืกืคื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืืช ืžื—ื ื™ื”ื ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื•ื™ืืกืคื• ืฉื›ื” ืืฉืจ ืœื™ื”ื•ื“ื”; ื•ื™ื—ื ื• ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื•ื›ื” ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืขื–ืงื” ื‘ืืคืก ื“ืžื™ืืƒโ€ฆื“ ื•ื™ืฆื ืื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื ื™ื ืžืžื—ื ื•ืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื’ืœื™ืช ืฉืžื• ืžื’ืช; ื’ื‘ื”ื• ืฉืฉ ืืžื•ืช ื•ื–ืจืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื™ื–

But I could not find any midrashim on this, so I will cite a more contemporary source. The ื’ืŸ ื ืขื•ืœ, by Naphtali Herz Wessely in 18th century Germany (a student of Rabbi Yochanan Eybeschutz and a colleague of Moses Mendelsohn on the Biur, so pretty controversial) focuses on the ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช implied in ื•ืชื“ื‘ืง ื™ื“ื• ืืœ ื”ื—ืจื‘ even when ื™ื’ืขื” ื™ื“ื•.

(ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœ:ื›) ืœึฐืึทื”ึฒื‘ึธื” ืึถืช ื”ืณ ืึฑืœึนืงึถื™ืšึธ ื•ึผืœึฐื“ื‡ื‘ึฐืงึธื” ื‘ื•ึน: ื•ื›ื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืœืื“ื ืœื™ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ืฉื›ื™ื ื”? ืืœื: ื›ืœ ื”ืžืฉื™ื ื‘ืชื• ืœืชืœืžื™ื“ ื—ื›ื, ื•ื”ืขื•ืฉื” ืคืจืงืžื˜ื™ื ืœืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ื, ื•ื”ืžื”ื ื” ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ื ืžื ื›ืกื™ื•โ€”ืžืขืœื” ืขืœื™ื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืื™ืœื• ืžื“ื‘ืง ื‘ืฉื›ื™ื ื”.

ื›ืชื•ื‘ื•ืช ืงื™ื,ื‘

ื•ื™ืฉ ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ื’ื•ืคื ื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ื’ื•ืฃ ื‘ื’ื•ืฃ .ื›ืžื• โ€ฆื•ึทืชึผึดื“ึฐื‘ึผึทืง ื™ึธื“ื•ึน ืึถืœ ื”ึทื—ึถืจึถื‘, ื•ื”ื•ื ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืžืฉ. ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ืžื™ืŸ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ื ื”ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ื”ื ืคืฉื™, ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœืฆื•ื•ึนืช ืœื›ืœ ื”ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื ื•โ€ฆื–ืดืœ ื‘ืกืคืจื™โ€ฆโ€ืืœื ื”ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื•ื‘ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื”ื ื•ืžืขืœื” ืื ื™ ืขืœื™ืš ื›ืื™ืœื• ืขืœื™ืช ืœืžืจื•ื ื•ื ื˜ืœืชื”โ€œ ืขืดื›. ื•ืืœ ืชื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืฉื ืขืœื ืžื”ื ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ื”ื ืคืฉื™. ืื‘ืœ ื“ื‘ืจื• ื‘ื—ื›ืžื”. ื›ื™ ืจืื• ืงื•ืฉื™ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื™ืฆื•ื” ื”ืฉื ื‘ืดื” ืืช ื”ื”ืžื•ืŸ ืขืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ื ืžืชืช ืืœืงื™ื (ืžืœืื›ื™ ื’:ื˜ื–) ืœึฐืคึธื ึธื™ื• ืœึฐื™ึดืจึฐืึตื™ ื”ืณ ื•ึผืœึฐื—ึนืฉึฐืื‘ึตื™ ืฉึฐืืžื•ึน, ื•ืื™ื ื ื” ื‘ื™ื“ื• ืฉืœ ืื“ืโ€ฆื•ืœื›ืŸ ืืžืจื• ืฉืืขืคืดื› ื”ื•ื ื›ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ื“ื‘ื™ืงื” ืžืžืฉ. ื•ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ืฉื™ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื•ื‘ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื ื•ืžืขืœื” ืขืœื™ื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืืœื• ื ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ืฉื›ื™ื ื”, ื•ื”ื”ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื•ื‘ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื›ืœ ืื“ื.

ื’ืŸ ื ืขื•ืœ, ื‘ื™ืช ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื™:ื•

This paragraph tells us the value of ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช even when we donโ€™t have the real ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช to ื”ืณ; we donโ€™t feel spiritual at all. But we can support those who do, and we have the example of David here who drew strength from that ื“ื‘ืงื•ืช.

The next story is very odd, and it begs for a midrashic reading:

ื™ื ื•ืื—ืจื™ื• ืฉืžื” ื‘ืŸ ืื’ื ื”ืจืจื™; ื•ื™ืืกืคื• ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืœื—ื™ื” ื•ืชื”ื™ ืฉื ื—ืœืงืช ื”ืฉื“ื” ืžืœืื” ืขื“ืฉื™ื ื•ื”ืขื ื ืก ืžืคื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ืืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื—ืœืงื” ื•ื™ืฆื™ืœื” ื•ื™ืš ืืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื; ื•ื™ืขืฉ ื”ืณ ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื”ืƒ

ื™ื’ ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืฉืœืฉื™ื (ืฉืœืฉื”) ืžื”ืฉืœืฉื™ื ืจืืฉ ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืœ ืงืฆื™ืจ ืืœ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืžืขืจืช ืขื“ืœื; ื•ื—ื™ืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื—ื ื” ื‘ืขืžืง ืจืคืื™ืืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ื“ื•ื“ ืื– ื‘ืžืฆื•ื“ื”; ื•ืžืฆื‘ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืื– ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ืืƒ ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืชืื•ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ืžื™ ื™ืฉืงื ื™ ืžื™ื ืžื‘ืืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจืƒ

ื˜ื– ื•ื™ื‘ืงืขื• ืฉืœืฉืช ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ื ื‘ืžื—ื ื” ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืื‘ื• ืžื™ื ืžื‘ืืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจ ื•ื™ืฉืื• ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืœ ื“ื•ื“; ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ืœืฉืชื•ืชื ื•ื™ืกืš ืืชื ืœื”ืณืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื—ืœื™ืœื” ืœื™ ื”ืณ ืžืขืฉืชื™ ื–ืืช ื”ื“ื ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื”ื”ืœื›ื™ื ื‘ื ืคืฉื•ืชื ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ืœืฉืชื•ืชื; ืืœื” ืขืฉื• ืฉืœืฉืช ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื’

This is a complicated sugya in the gemara; I will select one branch of that discussion. The assumption is that ื•ื™ืชืื•ื” ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ; ืžื™ ื™ืฉืงื ื™ ืžื™ื ืžื‘ืืจ ื‘ื™ืช ืœื—ื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉืขืจ cannot be talking about water; ืžื™ื is a metaphor for Torah and the ืฉืขืจ is a metonym for ื‘ื™ืช ื“ื™ืŸ. David is asking for a halachic decision.

ืจื‘ ื”ื•ื ื ืืžืจ: ื’ื“ื™ืฉื™ื ื“ืฉืขื•ืจื™ื ื“ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื•ื• ื“ื”ื•ื• ืžื˜ืžืจื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื‘ื”ื•, ื•ืงื ืžื™ื‘ืขื™ื ืœื™ื” ืžื”ื• ืœื”ืฆื™ืœ ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ืžืžื•ืŸ ื—ื‘ื™ืจื•? ืฉืœื—ื• ืœื™ื” ืืกื•ืจ ืœื”ืฆื™ืœ ืขืฆืžื• ื‘ืžืžื•ืŸ ื—ื‘ื™ืจื• ืื‘ืœ ืืชื” ืžืœืš ืืชื”, ื•ืžืœืš ืคื•ืจืฅ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืœื• ื“ืจืš ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžื•ื—ื™ืŸ ื‘ื™ื“ื•โ€ฆโ€ื•ืœื ืื‘ื” ื“ื•ื“ ืœืฉืชื•ืชืโ€œ; ืืžืจ: ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ืื™ื›ื ืื™ืกื•ืจื ืœื ื ื™ื—ื ืœื™โ€ฆโ€ื•ื™ืกืš ืื•ืชื ืœื”ืณโ€œโ€ฆืžืฉื•ื ื“ืขื‘ื“ ืœืฉื ืฉืžื™ื.

ื‘ื‘ื ืงืžื ืก,ื‘

Itโ€™s another example of Davidโ€™s humility. He will not take advantage of his status as king, and will not destroy the field of another even if he is technically allowed to (Tosfot understands the question as, โ€œdoes he have to repay the ownerโ€; in a case of ืคื™ืงื•ื— ื ืคืฉ, he is certainly allowed to destroy the field).

The next story is of ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” whom we know well.

ื™ื— ื•ืื‘ื™ืฉื™ ืื—ื™ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืฆืจื•ื™ื” ื”ื•ื ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉืœืฉื™ (ื”ืฉืœืฉื”) ื•ื”ื•ื ืขื•ืจืจ ืืช ื—ื ื™ืชื• ืขืœ ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช ื—ืœืœ; ื•ืœื• ืฉื ื‘ืฉืœืฉื”ืƒ ื™ื˜ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืœืฉื” ื”ื›ื™ ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื”ื ืœืฉืจ; ื•ืขื“ ื”ืฉืœืฉื” ืœื ื‘ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื’

No midrashim but the Zohar takes ื”ืฉืœืฉื” in a kabbalistic sense:

ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ. ื’ืณ ืจืืฉื•ื ื•ืช ืฉื”ืŸ โ€ื—ื›ืžื”, ื‘ื™ื ื”, ื“ืขืชโ€œโ€ฆ

ืคืจื•ืฉ ื”ืกื•ืœื, ืกืคืจ ื”ื–ื”ืจ, ื”ืงื“ืžื” ื™ื‘, ืงื”,ื

And it has a similar message: David is the ืฉืจ, the leader and organizer of those with ื—ื›ืžื” ื‘ื™ื ื” ื•ื“ืขืช, divine wisdom.

The next story is of ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข, who was Davidโ€™s advisor and would become Shlomoโ€™s chief of staff.

ื› ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™ (ื—ื™ืœ) ืจื‘ ืคืขืœื™ื ืžืงื‘ืฆืืœ; ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ื” ืืช ืฉื ื™ ืืจืืœ ืžื•ืื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืจื“ ื•ื”ื›ื” ืืช ื”ืืจื™ื” (ื”ืืจื™) ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื‘ืืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื’ืƒ ื›ื ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ื” ืืช ืื™ืฉ ืžืฆืจื™ ืืฉืจ (ืื™ืฉ) ืžืจืื” ื•ื‘ื™ื“ ื”ืžืฆืจื™ ื—ื ื™ืช ื•ื™ืจื“ ืืœื™ื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜; ื•ื™ื’ื–ืœ ืืช ื”ื—ื ื™ืช ืžื™ื“ ื”ืžืฆืจื™ ื•ื™ื”ืจื’ื”ื• ื‘ื—ื ื™ืชื•ืƒ ื›ื‘ ืืœื” ืขืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ื™ื”ื•ื™ื“ืข; ื•ืœื• ืฉื ื‘ืฉืœืฉื” ื”ื’ื‘ืจื™ืืƒ ื›ื’ ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืœืฉื™ื ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ืืœ ื”ืฉืœืฉื” ืœื ื‘ื; ื•ื™ืฉืžื”ื• ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ืžืฉืžืขืชื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื›ื’

โ€ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™โ€œ: ืื˜ื• ื›ื•ืœื™ ืขืœืžื ื‘ื ื™ ืžืชื™ ื ื™ื ื”ื•? ืืœื: ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื—ื™, ืฉืืคื™ืœื• ื‘ืžื™ืชืชื• ืงืจื•ื™ ื—ื™. โ€ืจื‘ ืคืขืœื™ื ืžืงื‘ืฆืืœโ€œ, ืฉืจื™ื‘ื” ื•ืงื‘ืฅ ืคื•ืขืœื™ื ืœืชื•ืจื”. โ€ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ื” ืืช ืฉื ื™ ืืจืืœ ืžื•ืื‘โ€œ, ืฉืœื ื”ื ื™ื— ื›ืžื•ืชื• ืœื ื‘ืžืงื“ืฉ ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื•ืœื ื‘ืžืงื“ืฉ ืฉื ื™. โ€ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืจื“ ื•ื”ื›ื” ืืช ื”ืืจื™ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉืœื’โ€œ, ืื™ื›ื ื“ืืžืจื™: ื“ืชื‘ืจ ื’ื–ื™ื–ื™ ื“ื‘ืจื“ื, ื•ื ื—ืช ื•ื˜ื‘ืœ. ืื™ื›ื ื“ืืžืจื™: ื“ืชื ื ืกื™ืคืจื ื“ื‘ื™ ืจื‘ [ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช: ืžื”ืืจื™ ื“ืจื™ืฉ ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ืžื•ืจ ืฉื‘ืกืคืจื™ื] ื‘ื™ื•ืžื ื“ืกื™ืชื•ื.

ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื™ื—,ื‘

โ€œFighting the lion in the snowโ€ is read as a metaphor for his learning Torah even if was impossibly hard.

All these midrashim come to the conclusion is that ื•ืืœื” ืฉืžื•ืช ื’ื‘ื•ืจื•ืชื™ื• ืฉืœ ื“ื•ื“ refers not to his physical strength or even to his wisdom, but to his humility and willingness to submit to the rule of law as determined by ื—ื›ืžื™ื.

ื™ื— ื•ื”ื™ื” ื›ืฉื‘ืชื• ืขืœ ื›ืกื ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ื•ื›ืชื‘ ืœื• ืืช ืžืฉื ื” ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช ืขืœ ืกืคืจ ืžืœืคื ื™ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื”ืœื•ื™ืืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ืขืžื• ื•ืงืจื ื‘ื• ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื—ื™ื™ื• ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืœืžื“ ืœื™ืจืื” ืืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื• ืœืฉืžืจ ืืช ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื”ื–ืืช ื•ืืช ื”ื—ืงื™ื ื”ืืœื” ืœืขืฉืชืืƒ ื› ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ืจื•ื ืœื‘ื‘ื• ืžืื—ื™ื• ื•ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ืกื•ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฆื•ื” ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืื•ืœ ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ืืจื™ืš ื™ืžื™ื ืขืœ ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ื”ื•ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื• ื‘ืงืจื‘ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืคืจืง ื™ื–

And that is what the text means when it says ื•ื™ืžืœืš ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ืœื›ืœ ืขืžื•ืƒ.