Form and Function
Before we go on, I want to look at the structure of ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื and outline the future shiurim. We know that the division into ืฉืืืื ืืณ and ืฉืืืื ืืณ is a later, Christian division, but the text actually divides naturally into three parts. Rabbi Shulman has brought up the possibility that the three parts represent the three different authors of ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื: โืฉืืืื himself, ืื and ื ืชื.
ืฉืืืื ืืณ ืคืจืงืื ื-ืื are the story of Samuel and Saul, ending in the tragedy of ืืื ืืกืฃ ืฉืืืื ืืจืืืช ืืช ืฉืืื ืขื ืืื ืืืชื.โ ืคืจืง ืื is an epilogue, introducing David who remains a passive character who never speaks in the entire chapter.
ืฉืืืื ืืณ ืคืจืง ืื through ืฉืืืื ืืณ ืคืจืง ื is the story of David from shepherd to king and his single-mined mission to build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ. Weโre in the midst of that story now. It ends with a summary of Davidโs reign:
ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืขื ืื ืืฉืจืื; ืืืื ืืื ืขืฉื ืืฉืคื ืืฆืืงื ืืื ืขืืื
ืื ืืืืื ืื ืฆืจืืื ืขื ืืฆืื; ืืืืืฉืคื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืจื
ืื ืืฆืืืง ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืื ืืืืชืจ ืืื ืื; ืืฉืจืื ืกืืคืจื
ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืืข ืืืืจืชื ืืืคืืชื; ืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื
ืคืจืง ืืณ is an appendix, with a story that takes place during the previous narrative.
ืคืจืงืื ื-ื are โbook 3โ, with the story of Bat Sheva and all the consequences of that tragedy. It ends similarly, with:
ืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืฆืื ืืฉืจืื; ืืื ืื ืื ืืืืืืข ืขื ืืืจื (ืืืจืชื) ืืขื ืืคืืชืื
ืื ืืืืจื ืขื ืืืก; ืืืืืฉืคื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืืจื
ืื ืืฉืื (ืืฉืื) ืกืคืจ; ืืฆืืืง ืืืืืชืจ ืืื ืืื
ืื ืืื ืขืืจื ืืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืืื
ืคืจืง ืื through ืคืกืืง ืื is an appendix that I think tells the same story as ืคืจืง ืืณ, but more fully and much more darkly.
The rest of ืคืจืง ืื through ืคืจืง ืื are four poetic appendices, then ืคืจืง ืื is an epilogue that serves as the bridge to ืกืคืจ ืืืืื.
In the paragraph about the conquest of Jerusalem, there are two key phrases that we glossed over before:
ื ืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืืืืกื ืืืฉื ืืืจืฅ; ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืชืืื ืื ื ืื ืื ืืกืืจื ืืขืืจืื ืืืคืกืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืื
ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืช ืืฆืืช ืฆืืื ืืื ืขืืจ ืืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืกื ืืืืข ืืฆื ืืจ ืืืช ืืคืกืืื ืืืช ืืขืืจืื ืฉื ืื (ืฉื ืืื) ื ืคืฉ ืืื; ืขื ืื ืืืืจื ืขืืจ ืืคืกื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืชื
ื ืืืฉื ืืื ืืืฆืื ืืืงืจื ืื ืขืืจ ืืื; ืืืื ืืื ืกืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืืชืื
ื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื; ืืืณ ืืืงื ืฆืืืืช ืขืืื
Itโs time to look at them in more detail, as they serve as the segue into Davidโs attempt to build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ.
ืฆืืื
Iโm going to start with a halachic question brought up by Rabbi Florans, from Rabbi Yitzchok Zilbersteinโs book, ืืืขืจื ื ื:
ื๏ฌ ืฉื ืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืจืืช ืืืืื, ืืก๏ฌ ืืืช ืฉืืจืืช ืืื ืืฉืื๏ฌ ืืช.
ืืืจืื ๏ฌ ืืืคืืช, ืืขื ืืืจืืชื, ืืืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ื๏ฌ ืื
ืืืืื, ืืืงืื ืืืืฉืื โืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืืโ, ืืืฉืื โืืชืืืื ื ๏ฌ ืื ืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืฆืืื ืืจืืืื
ืืจืืจ ืืชื ืืณ ืืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืชื ืืฆืืืโโฆ
ื๏ฌ ืชื ืืกืชืคืง, ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืชืื โืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืืโ, ืื ืฉืื ืืฆื ืืื ืืืื
ืืื ืฉืืชื โืืชืืืื ื ๏ฌ ืื ืื ืโ, ืืคื ื ืฉ๏ฌ ื ืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืื?
Rabbi Zilberstein cites Rav Chaim Kanievsky who says that the mistaken bentcher must repeat the bracha. ืฆืืื is fundamentally different from ืืจืืฉืืื:
โฆืืฉืืืืจืื โืืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืชื ืืฆืืืโ,
ืืืืื ื ืืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, ืืื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืืจืืฉืืืโฆ
ืืืืื ื, ืืชืคืืืช ืฉืืื ืึพืขืฉืจื, ืื ื ืืชืคืืืื ืืชืชืืื ื ๏ฌ ืื ืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืฆืืื,
ืืืืืจ, ืืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, ืฉืฉื ืืงืจืืื ืืช ืืงืจืื ืืช, ืืืืื ืืืจืืช ืืืืื ืื ื
ืืชืคืืืื ืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืื ืขืืจ ืืงืืืฉ, ืืืืื ื ๏ฌ ื ืื ืืจืืฉืืื ืฉืชืื ื. ืืืืืื, ืื
ืืืงืื ืืืชืื โืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืืโ, ืฉืืื ืืงืฉื ืขื ืื ืืจืืฉืืื, ืืชื โืชืืืื ื ๏ฌ ืื ืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืฆืืืโ , ืฉืืื ืืงืฉื ืืกืืืืช ืื ืื ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, ืื ืืฆื ืืื ืืืื.
We have a separate bracha in ืฉืืื ืึพืขืฉืจื for rebuilding Jerusalem, ืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืื. Even though we explained that ืืื ื ืืจืืฉืืื is for the restoration of Jerusalem as the religious capital of Israel; the presence of the ืฉืืื ื in ืฆืืื is something different.
So what does ืฆืืื mean?
The word does not appear in ืชื ืดื until our pasuk, and never again in ืกืคืจ ืฉืืืื. It appears once in ืกืคืจ ืืืืื:
ืื ืืงืื ืฉืืื ืืช ืืงื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืช ืื ืจืืฉื ืืืืืช ื ืฉืืื ืืืืืช ืืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืจืืฉืื; ืืืขืืืช ืืช ืืจืื ืืจืืช ืืณ ืืขืืจ ืืื ืืื ืฆืืืื
Note that Solomon is taking the ark from ืฆืืื into the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, which seems backward. We always think of ืฆืืื as a synonym for ืืจ ืืืืช.
After that, it appear more than 150 times in that sense, and three times as an ordinary word (as ืฆึดืึผืึผื):
ืึทืึผึนืืึถืจ ืึธื ืึทืฆึผึดืึผืึผื ืึทืึผึธื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึฒื ึดื ืจึนืึถื; ืึทืึผึนืืึฐืจืึผ ืึตืึธืื ืึทื ึฐืฉืึตื ืึธืขึดืืจ ืึทืงึผึถืึถืจ ืึดืืฉื ืึธืึฑึพืึนืึดืื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึผึธื ืึดืืืึผืึธื ืึทืึผึดืงึฐืจึธื ืึถืช ืึทืึผึฐืึธืจึดืื ืึธืึตืึผึถื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืขึธืฉืึดืืชึธ ืขึทื ืึทืึผึดืึฐืึผึทื ืึผึตืืชึพืึตืื
ืึทืฆึผึดืืึดื ืึธืึฐ ืฆึดืึผึปื ึดืื ืฉืึดืึดื ืึธืึฐ ืชึผึทืึฐืจืึผืจึดืื ืฉืึดืชึดื ืึดืึผึตืึฐ ืึทืึฐืกึดืึผึธื ืึผึถืจึถืึฐ ืืืืชื (ืึธืึธืึฐืชึผึฐ); ืฉืืึผืึดื ืึผึฐืชืึผืึทืช ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื ืฉืึปืึดื ืึถื ืขึธืจึทืึดืึฐ ืึตืึผึถืื
ืึฐืขึธืึฐืจืึผ ืึธืขึนืึฐืจึดืื ืึผึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึฐืจึธืึธื ืขึถืฆึถื ืึธืึธื ืึผืึธื ึธื ืึถืฆึฐืืึน ืฆึดืึผืึผื ืขึทื ืงึธืึฐืจืึผ ืึนืชืึน ืึทืึฐืงึทืึผึฐืจึดืื ืึถื ืึผึตืื ืึฒืืึนื ืึผืึนืื
So ืฆืืื is a signpost, a place to look for direction. As a mountaintop, itโs not an lookout, ืืฆืคื, but an โlook-atโ. In the sense that Rav Kanievsky uses above, itโs the place we pray to:
ืจึฐืฆึตื ืืณ ืึฑึพืืึตืื ืึผ ืึผึฐืขึทืึผึฐืึธ ืึดืฉืจึธืึตื ืึผืึดืชึฐืคึดืึผึธืชึธื ืึฐืึธืฉืึตื ืึถืช ืึธืขึฒืืืึธื ืึดืึฐืึดืืจ ืึผึตืืชึถืึธ. ืึฐืึดืฉึผืึตื ืึดืฉืจึธืึตื ืึผืชึฐืคึดืึผึธืชึธื ืึผึฐืึทืึฒืึธื ืชึฐืงึทืึผึตื ืึผึฐืจึธืฆืื.
As the Zohar says:
ืืกืคืจ ืืฆืืื ืฉื ืืณ; ืืชืืืชื ืืืจืืฉืืื
ืืชืื (ืชืืืื ืงื) โืืกืคืจ ืืฆืืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืชืืืชื ืืืจืืฉืืโ, ืืื ืืฆืืื ืืืงืืฉื ืฉืจื ืืืืืจื ืฉืื ืงืืืฉื ืืืงื ืืื, ืืืืจ ืืื ืืื.
So Solomon moves the ืืจืื from ืฆืืื, the tent that David used to house it and where he established a regular service of prayer (see ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืคืจืง ืื), to the new ืฆืืื, which would also be a center of prayer:
ืื ืืืขืื ืฉืืื ืืคื ื ืืืื ืืณ ื ืื ืื ืงืื ืืฉืจืื; ืืืคืจืฉ ืืคืื ืืฉืืืื
โฆืื ืืคื ืืช ืื ืชืคืืช ืขืืื ืืื ืชืื ืชื ืืณ ืืืงื; ืืฉืืข ืื ืืจื ื ืืื ืืชืคืื ืืฉืจ ืขืืื ืืชืคืื ืืคื ืื ืืืืื
ืื ืืืืืช ืขืื ื ืคืชืืช ืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจืช ืืืื ืฉืื ืฉื ืืฉืืข ืื ืืชืคืื ืืฉืจ ืืชืคืื ืขืืื ืื ืืืงืื ืืืื
ื ืืฉืืขืช ืื ืชืื ืช ืขืืื ืืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืชืคืืื ืื ืืืงืื ืืื; ืืืชื ืชืฉืืข ืื ืืงืื ืฉืืชื ืื ืืฉืืื ืืฉืืขืช ืืกืืืชื
โฆ
ืื ืืืขืฆืจ ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืจ ืื ืืืืื ืื; ืืืชืคืืื ืื ืืืงืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืฉืื ืืืืืืชื ืืฉืืืื ืื ืชืขื ืื
ืื ืืืชื ืชืฉืืข ืืฉืืื ืืกืืืช ืืืืืช ืขืืืื ืืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืชืืจื ืืช ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืื; ืื ืชืชื ืืืจ ืขื ืืจืฆื ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื ืืขืื ืื ืืืื
ืื ืจืขื ืื ืืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืฉืืคืื ืืจืงืื ืืจืื ืืกืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืฆืจ ืื ืืืื ืืืจืฅ ืฉืขืจืื ืื ื ืืข ืื ืืืืื
ืื ืื ืชืคืื ืื ืชืื ื ืืฉืจ ืชืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืืขืื ืืืฉ ื ืืข ืืืื ืืคืจืฉ ืืคืื ืื ืืืืช ืืืื
ืื ืืืชื ืชืฉืืข ืืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืืชื ืืกืืืช ืืขืฉืืช ืื ืชืช ืืืืฉ ืืื ืืจืืื ืืฉืจ ืชืืข ืืช ืืืื; ืื ืืชื ืืืขืช ืืืื ืืช ืืื ืื ืื ื ืืืืื
โฆืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืจื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื; ืืื ืืืจืฅ ืจืืืงื ืืืขื ืฉืืื
ืื ืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืช ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืืืงื ืืืจืขื ืื ืืืื; ืืื ืืืชืคืื ืื ืืืืช ืืืื
ืื ืืชื ืชืฉืืข ืืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืืชื ืืขืฉืืช ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืงืจื ืืืื ืื ืืจื ืืืขื ืืืขืื ืื ืขืื ืืืจืฅ ืืช ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืชื ืืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืขืช ืื ืฉืื ื ืงืจื ืขื ืืืืช ืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืชืื
ืฆืืื as a signpost brings to mind the first โsignpostโ ืื ื ืืฉืจืื had, in the desert:
ืืืณ ืืื ืืคื ืืื ืืืื ืืขืืื ืขื ื ืื ืืชื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืขืืื ืืฉ ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืืืืื
I want to analyze a ืคืจืง ืชืืืืื that starts with this idea of ืฆืืื as the center of our ืชืคืืืืช. As we shall see, it is the original ืชืคืืช ืืฉื (a little out of place this time of year):
ื ืืื ืฆื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืฉืืจื
ื ืื ืืืื ืชืืื ืืืงืื ืืฆืืื; ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืจื
ื ืฉืืข ืชืคืื ืขืืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืื
ื ืืืจื ืขืื ืช ืืืจื ืื ื; ืคืฉืขืื ื ืืชื ืชืืคืจืื
ื ืืฉืจื ืชืืืจ ืืชืงืจื ืืฉืื ืืฆืจืื;
ื ืฉืืขื ืืืื ืืืชื; ืงืืฉ ืืืืืื
ื ื ืืจืืืช ืืฆืืง ืชืขื ื ื ืืืงื ืืฉืขื ื;
ืืืื ืื ืงืฆืื ืืจืฅ ืืื ืจืืงืืื
ื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืืื; ื ืืืจ ืืืืืจืื
ื ืืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืื; ืืืืื ืืืืืื
ื ืืืืจืื ืืฉืื ืงืฆืืช ืืืืชืชืื; ืืืฆืื ืืงืจ ืืขืจื ืชืจื ืืื
ื ืคืงืืช ืืืจืฅ ืืชืฉืงืงื ืจืืช ืชืขืฉืจื ื ืคืื ืืืงืื ืืื ืืื;
ืชืืื ืืื ื ืื ืื ืชืืื ืื
ืื ืชืืืื ืจืื ื ืืช ืืืืื; ืืจืืืืื ืชืืืื ื ืฆืืื ืชืืจืื
ืื ืขืืจืช ืฉื ืช ืืืืชื; ืืืขืืืื ืืจืขืคืื ืืฉืื
ืื ืืจืขืคื ื ืืืช ืืืืจ; ืืืื ืืืขืืช ืชืืืจื ืื
ืื ืืืฉื ืืจืื ืืฆืื ืืขืืงืื ืืขืืคื ืืจ;
ืืชืจืืขืขื ืืฃ ืืฉืืจืื
Introduction
David starts by saying, I am inadequate to address You, ืืณ.
ืื ืืืื ืชืืื: ืืฉืชืืงื ืชืืื ืื ืืคื ืฉืืื ืงืฅ ืืฉืืื ืืืืจืื ืืฉืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืจืข
ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืจ has an implied โbutโ; David swore to establish ืืงืื ืืืณ:
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช;
ืืืืจ ืืณ ืืืื ืืช ืื ืขื ืืชืื
ื ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืข ืืืณ; ื ืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
ื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชื; ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืขืจืฉ ืืฆืืขืื
ื ืื ืืชื ืฉื ืช ืืขืื ื; ืืขืคืขืคื ืชื ืืืื
ื ืขื ืืืฆื ืืงืื ืืืณ; ืืฉืื ืืช ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
And he cannot remain silent, so he hopes ืืณ who is ืฉืืข ืชืคืื will hear him, even though ืืืจื ืขืื ืช ืืืจื ืื ื. He hopes to be the one chosen to come close to the ืฉืืื ื.
Then the perek has the familiar structure of ืชืคืืื:
ืืื ืืืื ืืฆืื ืื, ืื ืืืโืฉืืื ืืื ืืชืคืื ืืืชืื ื ืืื ืืื, ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื, ืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืื ืฆืจืืื ืฉืืื ืฆืจืื ืืื ืืืงืฉื ืืืชืืื ื, ืืืืจ ืื ื ืืชื ืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืืณ ืขื ืืืืื ืฉืืฉืคืืข ืื: ืื ืืื ืืคื ืืืื.
ืฉืื
ืืณ is all-powerful and awe-inspiring; psukim 6-9. It ends with the fact that people from all ends of the earth (ืืฉืื ืงืฆืืช) are in awe of ืืณ's wonders, but praise the security implicit in the regular cycles of days and seasons, ืืืฆืื ืืงืจ ืืขืจื ืชืจื ืื.
This is the segue to the fact that we need rain, but as a blessing, not a flood.
ืื ืืืจื ืืณ ืืช ืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืณ ืื ืืื ืื ืืกืฃ ืืงืื ืขืื ืืช ืืืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืืื ืื ืืฆืจ ืื ืืืื ืจืข ืื ืขืจืื; ืืื ืืกืฃ ืขืื ืืืืืช ืืช ืื ืื ืืืฉืจ ืขืฉืืชืื
ืื ืขื ืื ืืื ืืืจืฅ; ืืจืข ืืงืฆืืจ ืืงืจ ืืื ืืงืืฅ ืืืจืฃ ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืฉืืชืื
ืืงืฉื
Then the ืืงืฉื part. It is more subtle than simply asking for rain. We continue to praise ืืณ but itโs much more specific: We need rain and ืืณ will give it to us; psukim 10-13.
ืชืฉืงืงื means โyou water itโ, as in ืื ืขืื:
ืืื ืืขืื ืื ืืืจืฅ ืืืฉืงื ืืช ืื ืคื ื ืืืืืื
Or Jacob (I like the pun):
ื ืืืื ืืืฉืจ ืจืื ืืขืงื ืืช ืจืื ืืช ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืช ืฆืื ืืื ืืื ืืื; ืืืืฉ ืืขืงื ืืืื ืืช ืืืื ืืขื ืคื ืืืืจ ืืืฉืง ืืช ืฆืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืฉืง ืืขืงื ืืจืื; ืืืฉื ืืช ืงืื ืืืืื
Metzudot translates ืคืื as โreservoirโ:
ืคืื ืืืงืื: ืืืช ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื
And the rain is divinely decreed at ืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื; โ ืขืืจืช ืฉื ืช ืืืืชื:
ื ืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืชื ืื ืฉืื ืืจืฉืชื ืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืฆืืชื ืืฉื; ืืฉืจ ืชืืจืข ืืช ืืจืขื ืืืฉืงืืช ืืจืืื ืืื ืืืจืงื
ืื ืืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืชื ืขืืจืื ืฉืื ืืจืฉืชื ืืจืฅ ืืจืื ืืืงืขืช; ืืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืชืฉืชื ืืืื
ืื ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืจืฉ ืืชื; ืชืืื ืขืื ื ืืณ ืืืงืื ืื ืืจืฉืืช ืืฉื ื ืืขื ืืืจืืช ืฉื ืื
ืืืืื
When the fields are green and the flocks well-fed, ืืชืจืืขืขื ืืฃ ืืฉืืจื.
But it all starts with ืืืงืื ืืฆืืื, the signpost that directs our prayer.
United Jerusalem
Jerusalem is builded as a city that is in the public domainื
One more perek that expresses the union of Jerusalem as religious capital and Jerusalem as political capital:
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช ืืืื;
ืฉืืืชื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืช ืืณ ื ืืื
ื ืขืืืืช ืืื ืจืืืื ื ืืฉืขืจืื ืืจืืฉืืื
ื ืืจืืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืฉืืืจื ืื ืืืืื
ื ืฉืฉื ืขืื ืฉืืืื ืฉืืื ืึพื ืขืืืช ืืืฉืจืื; ืืืืืช ืืฉื ืืณื
ื ืื ืฉืื ืืฉืื ืืกืืืช ืืืฉืคื; ืืกืืืช ืืืืช ืืืื
ื ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืจืืฉืื; ืืฉืืื ืืืืืื
ื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืื; ืฉืืื ืืืจืื ืืชืืื
ื ืืืขื ืืื ืืจืขื ืืืืจื ื ื ืฉืืื ืืื
ื ืืืขื ืืืช ืืณ ืืืงืื ื ืืืงืฉื ืืื ืืื
Rashi understands Davidโs happiness at overhearing people say ืืืช ืืณ ื ืื even though ืืืช ืืณ doesnโt exist. Even after he gets the news that he will not build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, he wants people to be enthusiastic about it:
ืฉืืืชื ืืืืืจืื ืื: ืฉืืขืชื ืื ื ืืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืชื ืืืืช ืืืชื ืืงื ืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืืื ื ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืื ืขืื ืืจืื! ืืื ื ืฉืื.
And then we stand transfixed:
ืขืืืืืช: ืืืขื ืขืืื ื ืืืกืชืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืืืืณ ืืืืคื ืืฉืขืจืืโฆ
It is the city of both ืืืืช ืืฉื ืืณ and ืืกืืืช ืืืฉืคื; we pray both ืืืขื ืืื ืืจืขื, for the people, and ืืืขื ืืืช ืืณ ืืืงืื ื, for the ืฉืืื ื.
ืืืงื ืฆืืืืช
ืฆืืืืช is an odd word. Thereโs a halachic question whether it counts as a divine name or not:
ืชืดืจ: ืืชื ืืืฃ ืืื ืืึพืืืื, ืึพื ืืืืณ ืืดื ืืื ื ื ืืืง. ืฉืื ืืืช ืืฉึพืื, ืืืฃ ืืืช ืืึพืื ื, ืฆืื ืืืช ืืฆืืืืช ืืดื ื ืืืง. ืจืื ืืืกื ืืืืจ ืฆืืืืช ืืืื ื ืืืง, ืฉืื ื ืงืจื ืฆืืืืช ืืื ืขื ืฉื ืืฉืจืื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืฉืืืช ื) ืืืืฆืืชื ืืช ืฆืืืืชื ืืช ืขืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืื. ืืืจ ืฉืืืื: ืืื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืืกื.
We hold that, as part of ืืณ ืฆืืืืช, it is divine (and I probably should say and write ืืณ ืฆืืงืืช). As a divine name, it was literally invented by Chana:
ื ืืชืงื ืื ื ืืืจื ืืืื ืืฉืื ืืืืจื ืฉืชื; ืืขืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืขื ืืืกื ืขื ืืืืืช ืืืื ืืณื
ื ืืืื ืืจืช ื ืคืฉ; ืืชืชืคืื ืขื ืืณ ืืืื ืชืืืื
ืื ืืชืืจ ื ืืจ ืืชืืืจ ืืณ ืฆืืืืช ืื ืจืื ืชืจืื ืืขื ื ืืืชื ืืืืจืชื ื ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืช ืืืชื ืื ืชืชื ืืืืชื ืืจืข ืื ืฉืื ืื ืชืชืื ืืืณ ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืจืืฉืื
ืึทืชึดึผืึนึผืจ ื ึถืึถืจ ืึทืชึนึผืืึทืจ ืืณ ืฆึฐืึธืืึนืช. ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืขืืจ: ืืืื
ืฉืืจื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืืช ืขืืืื, ืื ืืื ืืื
ืฉืงืจืื ืืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืฆืืืืช ืขื ืฉืืืชื ืื ื
ืืงืจืืชื ืฆืืืืช; ืืืจื ืื ื ืืคื ื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื:
ืจืืื ื ืฉื ืขืืื, ืืื ืฆืืื ืฆืืืืช ืฉืืจืืช ืืขืืืื
ืงืฉื ืืขืื ืื ืฉืชืชื ืื ืื ืืื?
But what does it mean? What are the hosts that ืืณ is the G-d of? It covers both all of creation:
ืืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืจืฅ ืืื ืฆืืืื
And specifically ืื ื ืืฉืจืื:
ืืืื ืืงืฅ ืฉืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืืจืืข ืืืืช ืฉื ื; ืืืื ืืขืฆื ืืืื ืืื ืืฆืื ืื ืฆืืืืช ืืณ ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืืื
As Rabbi Shulman points out, a ืฆืื is not a mass but an army, a group organized with a common purpose with a common leader.
David adopts this name when looking at ืื ื ืืฉืจืื united in ืืณ's service:
ืืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืคืืฉืชื ืืชื ืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืืช ืืืืืืื; ืืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืณ ืฆืืืืช ืืืงื ืืขืจืืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืจืคืชื
And itโs the name used when he finally brings the ืืจืื to Jerusalem:
ื ืืืงื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉืจ ืืชื ืืืขืื ืืืืื ืืืขืืืช ืืฉื ืืช ืืจืื ืืืืงืื ืืฉืจ ื ืงืจื ืฉื ืฉื ืืณ ืฆืืืืช ืืฉื ืืืจืืื ืขืืืื
โฆืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืขืืืช ืืขืืื ืืืฉืืืื; ืืืืจื ืืช ืืขื ืืฉื ืืณ ืฆืืืืชื
He dedicates an entire ืคืจืง ืชืืืืื to explaining the name, in the ืคืจืง dedicated to that accomplishment:
ื ืืืื ืืืืืจ;
ืืืณ ืืืจืฅ ืืืืืื; ืชืื ืืืฉืื ืืื
ื ืื ืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืกืื; ืืขื ื ืืจืืช ืืืื ื ืื
ื ืื ืืขืื ืืืจ ืืณ; ืืื ืืงืื ืืืงืื ืงืืฉืื
ื ื ืงื ืืคืื ืืืจ ืืื;
ืืฉืจ ืื ื ืฉื ืืฉืื ื ืคืฉื; ืืื ื ืฉืืข ืืืจืืื
ื ืืฉื ืืจืื ืืืช ืืณ; ืืฆืืงื ืืืืงื ืืฉืขืื
ื ืื ืืืจ ืืจืฉื; ืืืงืฉื ืคื ืื ืืขืงื ืกืืื
ื ืฉืื ืฉืขืจืื ืจืืฉืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืคืชืื ืขืืื;
ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืืื
ื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื;
ืืณ ืขืืื ืืืืืจ; ืืณ ืืืืจ ืืืืืื
ื ืฉืื ืฉืขืจืื ืจืืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืคืชืื ืขืืื;
ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืื
ื ืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื;
ืืณ ืฆืืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืกืืื
ืืณ created the world. It doesnโt make sense to limit His Presence.
ืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืืฉืืื ืืกืื ืืืืจืฅ ืืื ืจืืื; ืื ืื ืืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืื ื ืื ืืื ืื ืืงืื ืื ืืืชืื
But still, we have ืืจ ืืณ, and only one who fulfills his word can successfully go up there. I think David is talking about himself here, as weโve mentioned:
ื ืฉืืจ ืืืขืืืช;
ืืืืจ ืืณ ืืืื ืืช ืื ืขื ืืชืื
ื ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืข ืืืณ; ื ืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
And only he can bring the ืืจืื ืืืช ืืณ. And it is more than a ืืจืื for the Jews; David sees himself ushering in what we now call ืืืืช ืืฉืื. Hirsch notes that the perek addresses G-d in the third person; the ืคื ืื of ืืืงืฉื ืคื ืื refers to ืืขืงื.
Mankind, with all its varied cultures and civilizations, but all seeking G-d, is turned into one united group, all serving Himโฆ[t]his is the ืืืจ ืืจืฉื, these are the ones that seek your face, Jacobโฆ[T]hey seek that which you too seek; they strive toward the same goal toward which your face also is turned; they seek your guidance.
And then David addresses the gates of Jerusalem to admit ืืื ืืืืื. Thereโs a twist here; it sounds like David is referring to himself as the โking of gloryโ but no, itโs ืืณ the all-powerful, who is acting as ืืื, meaning the leader and representative of His people:
ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืืชื ื ืื ืืชืจ ืืืืื ืืืืืช ืืืื ืืขืฆืื ืฉืื ืืฉืืจ ืืขื ืืืืืืชื ืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืืืืื ืขืืืื ืืืงืืื ืขืื ืืืืืชื. ืืืืฉื ืืื ืฉืืืืืชื ืื ืืืื ืืืื ืช ืืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืจืฅ ืื ืืืื ืืืช ืืืืืช ืชืืช ืืืฉืืชื.
And He is king of ืืืื, which in ืชื ืดื has the specific meaning of the physical manifestion of ืืณ's power
Just as ืืื, weight, gives us the idea of the material, mass or content of an object, so ืืืื designates the spiritual weight, the impression that the mental and moral worth of a person makes on usโฆApplied to G-d, ืืืื is the impression, the trail which His intervention in earthly affairs leaves behind it, from which one gets an intimation of His Presence and His GreatnessโฆSo the appearance of the cloud is called ืืืื ืืณ, because as the impression of the Presence of G-d amongst the People, it gives an intimation of this Presence.
So when is ืืณ the ืืื ืืืืื? It is precisely when He is ืืณ ืฆืืืืช, G-d over His army, the people united in His service.
The image of ืฆืืืืช ืืณ surrounding the ืฆืืื of ืืณ ืฆืืืืช is the image of ืื ื ืืฉืจืื surrounding the pillar of fire and cloud. As the Ramban says, the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ is the permanent re-enactment of ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื:
ืืกืื ืืืฉืื ืืื, ืฉืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืฉืื ืขื ืืจ ืกืื ื ืฉืืื ืขืืื ืื ืกืชืจโฆืืืื ืืืฉืื ืชืืื ืขื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืจืื ืืื ืืืจ ืกืื ืโฆ
ืืืืกืชืื ืืคื ืืืชืืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืืชื ืชืืจื ืืืืื ืื ืฉืืชืื ื ืืื ืืืื ืกืื ืืืฉืื ืืืืช ืืืงืืฉโฆ