Showing posts with label King David. Show all posts

Tehillim 119:22

Sunday, February 11, 2018 · Posted in , , ,

Tehillim 119:22
גַּל מֵעָלַי חֶרְפָּה וָבוּז כִּי עֵדֹתֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי
gal me'alai cherpa vavuz ki edoteicha natzarti
Remove from me insult and contempt; for I have kept Your testimonies.


King David refers to the sixth obstruction, namely, those who vilify and abuse Yisrael. Accordingly, he pleads, "Remove from me insult and contempt; for I have kept Your testimonies."

Why do they vilify and abuse me? It is because "I have kept Your testimonies."

A different interpretation says: "Remove from me humiliation and reproach." Help me to keep the Torah, so others will not say to me: First remove the beam from between your own eyes, before you tell us to remove the splinter from ours. Only then will I be able to say, "I have kept Your testimonies."

Then again, King David pleads: "Remove from me insult and contempt" because "I have kept Your testimonies." I was not ashamed to do so in the presence of those who ridicule me. Indeed, I ask: Let them not accuse me, nor ridicule anyone who adheres to Your Torah. May these words of the Scripture come true for us: "And all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of Hashem; and they will be afraid of you" (Devarim 28:10).

Remove from me: Heb. גל, an expression of rolling, like (Bereishit 29:10): “and he rolled (ויגל) the stone.”

- Me'am Lo'ez; Chabad

Tehillim 119:19

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 · Posted in , , , , , , ,

Tehillim 119:19
גֵּר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ אַל-תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ
ger anochi vaaretz al-taster mimeni mitzvoteicha
I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

The main obstacle to achievement is the brevity of human life.  For no man can accomplish enough in his short span to encompass all necessary knowledge in every part of the Torah.  Hence the King David pleads that at least he should understand the practical mitzvot. "I am a stranger on the earth," so "do not hide Your commandments from me." As the Scripture indeed says elsewhere, "and keep His commandments, for that is the entire man" (Kohelet 12:13).

"I am a stranger on the earth" and my days are few, so "do not hide Your commandments from me."  Let them not stay hidden so that I may implement them.  If I fail to keep them now, when shall I keep them?

"I am a stranger on the earth," and do not know the day of my departure.  So, "do not hide Your commandments from me."  I am like a passing stranger who requires that provisions for the road be at hand in case he must depart suddenly.

King David felt that since a man's stay in this world is only temporary, he must equip himself with Torah learning and the observance of mitzvot.

The story is told about a certain province in India where the inhabitants would elect a king to rule over them for one year.  Once, they crowned a fool who was unaware of this time limitation to his reign, and he built palaces for himself.  At the conclusion of his year-long reign, he was separated from all his wealth.  He was succeeded to the throne by a sage, who soon found out that his reign would last only a year.  He then invested much effort to amass a great deal of money, which he deposited in another country.  At the end of the year he had everything, and he rejoiced in both places.

"I am a stranger "גר" (ger) on the earth." The Midrash says, "Was, then, David a stranger? He said, rather, just as one who today becomes a convert (ger) is ignorant of Torah, so a man's eyes are open and yet he may be unable to distinguish between his right hand and his left hand in Torah knowledge.  If David, who composed all these songs and psalms, said, 'I am a stranger on the earth' and know nothing, it is assuredly true of us that we know nothing!"

We are both strangers and settlers (cf. v. 39:13), like all our forefathers (cf. Bereishit 23:4). "For our days on earth are a shadow" (Iyov 8:9). Just as this shadow passes, so the human being passes away.  However, our days are like a shadow only when we do not study and apply the Torah.

Thus our Sages teach, "The day is short, the work is abundant, and the workers are lazy; the reward is ample and the master urges."

Accordingly, it says, "I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me."

I ask, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your Torah" (v119:18).  Profound secrets are not revealed to those not sufficiently deserving, but I am a stranger here on earth.  My soul is carved from on high.

"I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me." King David is telling us that his entire existence in this world is like that of an alien in a strange land. He is here only for one purpose: to collect Torah and mitzvot to bring to the World to Come. Therefore he beseeches Hashem: "Do not hide Your mitzvot from me." Indeed, every Jew should try to emulate the behavior of King David. A person should strive to make Torah his primary occupation.

The Chofetz Chaim related an excellent parable to illustrate this idea:

When a person wants to build a house, he doesn't plan it himself. Rather, he hires a professional architect to draw up a blueprint of his future home. This blueprint provides the builder with an exact model, showing the size and location of each room.

A wealthy man hired a prominent architect, and told him, "I have a certain piece of property, and I want to build the most spectacular mansion in town on it. I hear you do superb work, and I'd like to hire you to draw up a blueprint. Put special emphasis on making a large and luxurious living room. However, don't scrimp on the foyer either, because I want my guests to have a good impression as soon as they enter the house."

The architect's first step was to measure the size of the property. Realizing that there was a major problem, he immediately returned to the owner to report back.

"Listen, I measured your property down to the inch. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough room for both a spacious living room and a large foyer. If you want a luxurious living room, you'll have to make the foyer smaller, because whatever you add to the one will detract from the other. I'll do whatever you wish, but if you want my advice, I think you should choose a small entrance-way and a luxurious and spacious living room. Besides, this is the normal way people build houses. They put the accent on the beauty and comfort of the living room, and make the foyer secondary. If you do the opposite, you'll be the laughing-stock of the whole community. People will say to themselves, 'Look at that fool! He sits his guests in a cramped salon and puts their jackets in a luxurious coatroom!'"

The Chofetz Chaim concludes: The purpose of our time in this world is to build a mansion for ourselves in the World to Come. Yet what do we do? We invest most of our efforts in enlarging and decorating the foyer! We don't realize that this only makes our real, eternal home that much smaller. What foolishness!

"I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me."  If one views each day as a fountainhead of burgeoning opportunities - if he sees the events in his life as true occasions for eternity, if one actively looks to uncover and achieve new sources for his soul’s satisfaction - then he is taking the teachings of King David to heart.  The Chayei Adam devotes an entire Chapter (Chapter 68) to appreciating and accomplishing Mitzvot.  If possible, one should study it, and even review it again from time to time.   Hashem has given and continues to give us gifts of immense proportions daily--let us try hard to appreciate, to rejoice in, and make the most of these Heavenly gifts.

Tehillim 119:1 - Tehillim 119:2 - Tehillim 119:3 - Tehillim 119:4 - Tehillim 119:5 - Tehillim 119:6 - Tehillim 119:7 - Tehillim 119:8 - Tehillim 119:9 - Tehillim 119:10 - Tehillim 119:11 - Tehillim 119:12 - Tehillim 119:13 -  Tehillim 119:14 - Tehillim 119:15 - Tehillim 119:16 - Tehillim 119:17 - Tehillim 119:18

Tehillim 119:11

Tehillim 119:11                                                            
בְּלִבִּי צָפַנְתִּי אִמְרָתֶךָ לְמַעַן לֹא אֶחֱטָא לָךְ
belibi tzafanti imratecha lemaan lo echeta lach
Your word have I stored in my heart, so that I would not sin against You.

So great was my love for Your commandments (v119:10), that "I stored them in my heart, so that I would not sin against You" by forgetting to observe them.

The Torah conveys that forgetting the mitzvot results in their abrogation; as it says, "Beware that you do not forget HaShem your G-d" (Devarim 8:11).

When I studied, "Your word I stored in my heart."  I also tried to remember the ruling of halachah, "so that I would not sin against You."  If I remembered only the arguments of the discourse, I might come to commit a sin.

A subtle explanation is based on the teaching of the Sefer Charedim that the mitzvah of circumcision also includes a mitzvah pertaining to the heart.  As it says, "And you will circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it will be a sing of the covenant between Me and you" (Bereishit 17:11).  A person should recall (bring up in his heart) every day that he is a bonded servant to the King of the world, and he will not rebel against Him.  That is what David says here, "Your word have I stored in my heart."  This pertains to the commandment of circumcision, as our Sages expound concerning the verse, "I rejoice at Your word" (v119:162).  Hence "I would not sin against You."

A subtle interpretation associates these verse with a different matter.  Our Sages teach: How do we know that when a disciple who sits before his teacher discerns an argument in favor of a poor litigant, he must not keep silent? For it says, "Do not be afraid before any man" (Devarim 1:17).  It also says, however, that one who makes a ruling in Torah law in the presence of his teacher is deserving of death.  Accordingly, the Scripture on the one hand asks, "How shall a youth keep his path pure by observing Your word?" (v119:9).  On the other hand it answers: At times "with my whole heart have I sought You" (v119:10), and at times "your word have I stored in my heart, so that I would not sin."

This also teaches that certain of the hidden things of the world should be kept hidden underneath one's garments.

David attests: Whenever I found something perplexing in any Torah text, due to lack of knowledge on my part, I did not utter what could be construed as startling. Rather, "Your word I stored in my heart."  And I entreated the Almighty for help to clarify His secrets, "so that I would not sin against You" by speaking out.

The Gemara interprets King David's statement as, "I did not rule when doing so would have constituted a sin."

"I have stored."  Mere knowledge of Torah is not enough.  Its words must be meditated upon and kept in the forefront of one's mind.  Only in this way will they produce the salutary effect of refining one's character and conduct, and bringing him closer to G-d.


Tehillim 119:10
Tehillim 119:9
Tehillim 119:8
Tehillim 119:7
Tehillim 119:6
Tehillim 119:5
Tehillim 119:4
Tehillim 119:3
Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1


MeAm Lo'ez
Sefer Tehillim - The Schottenstein Edition

Tehillim 119:10

Friday, January 31, 2014 · Posted in , , , , , ,

Tehillim 119:10 bechol libi derashticha al tashgeni mimitzvoteicha
With my whole heart have I sought You; O let me not stray from Your commandments.

"With my whole heart have I sought You" through prayer.  So "let me not stray from Your commandments."  Remove from me the obstacles that can prevent me from observing the commandments.

King David perceives himself as one who tries to be careful about the Torah's commandments, but knows that he is far from perfect and that a terrible danger of failure lies in wait.

This accords with the teachings of our Sages that when one comes to be purified, he is helped to remove the obstacles in his way.

Having said, "Happy are they who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart" (v119:2), King David says about himself, "With my whole heart have I sought You."

King David posed the question, "How shall a youth keep his path pure?"  How shall he remove all obstacles from his path?  He answered, "By observing Your word" (v119:9).  Let him observe the commandments as I have endeavored to observe them.  For as the present verse makes clear, "With my whole heart have I sought You."  I did not seek You halfheartedly.  My sole concern was for the sake of Heaven, and not for my own honor.  Therefore, I plead, "Let me not stray from Your commandments."  Do not let me err in their performance, but help me to understand and to keep them properly.  Similarly, King Shlomo pleaded, "Give therefore Your servant an understanding heart" (Melachim Alef 3:9).

The Midrash says:  The heart of the righteous brings them into Gan Eden, and the heart of the wicked casts them down to Hell.  Thus the Scripture says, "Behold, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry; behold, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; behold, My servants will rejoice, but you will be ashamed; behold, My servants will sing for joy of heart, but you will cry for sorrow of heart, and will howl for vexation of spirit" (Yeshayahu 65:13, 14).  Similarly, David says to Shlomo, "And you, Shlomo my son, know and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; HaShem searches all hearts" (Divrei HaYamim Alef 28:9)

"With my whole heart have I sought You."  I longed to know the secrets of the Torah and its reasons.  Accordingly, I beseech You, "Let me not stray from Your commandments."  Let me not be as one who gazes upon what is hidden, and is stricken.

"With my whole heart have I sought You; O let me not stray from Your commandments."  It is the way of someone who acts in haste that he will err at times.  I beseech You, therefore: Let no my immense longing for the Torah cause me to fall into error and stumbling.

Tehillim 119:9
Tehillim 119:8
Tehillim 119:7
Tehillim 119:6
Tehillim 119:5
Tehillim 119:4
Tehillim 119:3
Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1


MeAm Lo'ez
Chazal

Tehillim 119:9

Sunday, January 26, 2014 · Posted in , , , , , , ,

Tehillim 119:9 bameh yezakeh naar et archo lishmor kidvarecha
How shall a youth keep his path pure?  by observing Your word.

King David begins with a question concerning education:  "How shall a youth keep his path pure?"  How to educate the youth so that he will keep up "his path" after he matures?  He answers: "By observing Your word."  If he will keep the Torah and observe the mitzvot as You uttered them and You commanded them, he will then utilize this training on his own.  For that which a youth does becomes rooted in him, and he then continues to do the same with ease.  "Train a youth in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Mishlei 22:6).  It is otherwise when the person is educated after he has matured.

That is what it says, "We whose sons are as plants grown up in their youth..." (v144:12).  The young plant can be inclined to any side we may desire.  This is not so for the mature plant.

The term yezakeh connotes to purify and keep lucid, as in, "Her nazirites were more pure than snow" (Eicha / Lam. 4:7).  Thus he says here: "How shall the youth keep his path pure?"  The answer is: "By observing Your word."   A man's path cannot be set pure solely through study, but through deeds.  Just as a father is duty-bound to teach his son knowledge, so it is his duty to train him to act.  Then, the son's path will be pure, provided the son begins in his youth.

That is what Shlomo says, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" (Mishlei 20:11).  The youth will be rid of his childishness, and it will be said of him, "This is not a child."  If that is so the, it will assuredly be so when he is grown up.

The Scripture speaks here of "his path (archo)" in the sense of a winding pathway.  It is difficult to know where one must go on this path simply by following common sense alone.  One must study much in order not to stray.  Accordingly, it says: "How shall a youth keep his path pure?"  The answer is: "By observing Your word."  Through study and observance in one's youth, the "path" becomes a well-trodden way or road (derech).  The grown man can then walk on the road with assurance and reach his destination.  Expressed figuratively, he knows the "way" - when and where - to be merciful and charitable, strict or lenient, and so on.

The Midrash says: Thus are the tzaddik (righteous).  By diligence, watchfulness and investigation, they attain life in the Olam HaBah (World to Come).  Accordingly, David says, "You make me know the path of life" (v16:11); and Moshe says, "Make me know Your way" (Shemot 33:13); and David also says, "Teach me Your way" (v27:11).  It is also written, "Thus says HaShem: 'Stand on the highways, and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is, and walk upon it'" (Yirmeyahu 6:16).  Behold the road Avraham walked and see the road Nimrod trod.  Which one of them succeeded?  See the road walked by Yaakov and see the road Esav trod.  Which one of them succeeded?  Say, therefore, "How shall a youth keep his path pure? - by observing Your words!"

It makes a difference whether a man hears a command and obeys, or whether a man hears pleasant things, examines them, and then heeds them.  That is what King David says here: "How shall a youth keep his path pure?"  The answer is: "By observing Your word."  That is to say: When he is educated that keeping the mitzvot is a good thing, he keeps them with greater willingness.  For he is inspired to do so deep in his heart.

In Sefer Baal Shem Tov, Parashat Vayigash, there it is mentioned that the Baal Shem Tov once remarked that it was an wondrous segulah (remedy) to say the verse Tehillim 119:9 as a way to break one's anger.

The keruvim (cherubim) also taught about the importance of training one's children.  From the time that they are very little, one must train his children to study Torah and keep the commandments.  This is why the keruvim were in the form of a little boy and a little girl. (Abarbanel)  A parent must teach both his sons and his daughters to keep the Shabbat, to avoid mixing milk and meat, and to recite blessings before eating.  The same is true of all the other commandments of the Torah.  It is thus written, "How shall a child purify his path?  By keeping Your word" (Tehillim 119:9).   Thus if a parent does not correct his child when he sees him playing with fire on the Shabbat, or neglecting to wash his hands in the morning, or eating without a blessing, or before worship, then this bad habit will become fixed, and it will be very difficult to get rid of when the child gets older.  Since the person has acquired bad habits from childhood, he will not avoid things that are forbidden, even when he is a adult.

It is written, "From the mouths of babes and sucklings, You have founded strength" (Tehillim 8:3) .  This teaches that it was through the young children and babies that the Torah was given to Yisrael.  It was the children who were the guarantors of the Torah.  G-d said to Yisrael, "Your oath is not enough for Me to give you the Torah.  You must bring Me a guarantor, to ensure that you will keep it.  It is like anyone taking a loan, who must present a guarantor, so that if he does not pay, the lender has someone from who to collect."  The Benei Yisrael finally presented their children as guarantors.  If a parent does not keep the Torah, he can be punished through his small children.  This is discussed in Parashat Yitro.  This was one reason that G-d commanded us to place the keruvim on the Aron. The keruvim had the forms of a young boy and a young girl, to reach that the children are our guarantors for the Torah.  A person should not violate the Torah that is contained in the Tablets.

The keruvim also taught that the world is sustained primarily through the breath of the young children who are beginning their Torah studies. This is more precious than the Torah studied by older people.  Their breath is perfectly pure, without the taint of sin and evil thoughts.  Children can also study all day long, which is often impossible for older people.

Tehillim 119:8
Tehillim 119:7
Tehillim 119:6
Tehillim 119:5
Tehillim 119:4
Tehillim 119:3
Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1

MeAm Lo'ez
Chazal

Tehillim 119:4

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 · Posted in , , , ,

Tehillim 119:4 atah tzivitah fikudeicha lishmor meod
You have ordained Your commands, that we should observe them diligently.

King David now goes on to explain why the Holy One has commanded that we fulfill 613 Mitzvot.   If when we simply "do no wrong," we also "walk in His ways" (v119:3).  Why has the Holy One commanded that we fulfill 613 mitzvot?  The answer is, "You have ordained Your commands, that we should observe them diligently."  When there are many mitzvot to keep, there are always occasions for performing any number of them!

It is "that we should observe them diligently" in order to make them part of our souls.  Thereafter, we will perform them with heart and soul.



Tehillim 119:3
Tehillim 119:2
Tehillim 119:1


MeAm Lo'ez
Chazal

Tehillim 119:1

Sunday, December 8, 2013 · Posted in , , , ,

Tehillim [Psalms] 119

King David composed this psalm as a prayer for success in matters of the spirit and for completeness in Torah achievement.  He arranged the verse in alphabetical order, eight verses to every letter.  It was also David's intention to strengthen the hand of those who study Torah, to help them persevere and overcome all trials. (MeAm Lo'ez)

Each 176 verses of Tehillim 119 (except verse 122) contains at least one synonym for Torah.  Verse 122 contains the word tov (good) which some explain to refer to Torah as well.

In Sefer Avodat Hakodesh, by the Chida, it is written:  Let everyone strive to complete every week the eight-fold chapter of the Book of Psalms.  This is an auspicious prescription for avoiding all harm and loss.  He lists the verse to be recited on different days, together with the different plsams that follows the present psalm.

On the first day of the week (Sunday):  the verses beginning with the letters א׳ ב׳ ג׳, plus Tehillim 120, 121, 124.

Second day (Monday): the verses beginning with ד׳ ה׳ ו׳, plus Tehillim 122, 123, 124.

Third day (Tuesday): the verses beginning with ז׳ ח׳ ט׳, plus Tehillim 125, 126, 127.

Fourth day (Wednesday): the verses beginning with י׳ כ׳ ל׳, plus Tehillim 128, 129, 130.

Fifth day (Thursday): the verses beginning with מ׳ נ׳ ס׳, plus Tehillim 129, 130, 124.

Sixth day (Friday): the verses beginning with ע׳ פ׳ צ׳, plus Tehillim 131, 132.

Shabbat (7th day - Saturday): the verses beginning with ק׳ ר׳ ש׳ ת׳, plus Tehillim 133, 134.




Tehillim 119:1 Ashrei temimei darech haholchim betorat HASHEM
Happy are they whose way is perfect [integrity] who walk with the Torah of HASHEM.



Yosef Karduner singing "Ashrei Temimei Darech & Likutei Moharan Book 1 Chapter 1"



Translation of song:

Happy are they whose way is perfect [integrity] who walk with the Torah of HASHEM

Know! That through the Torah are received all the prayers and all the requests that we request and pray for.  And the grace and the importance of Yisrael is elevated and soars whatever it is that they need.  Whether in spiritual things or in physical things.

Happy are they whose way is perfect [integrity] who walk with the Torah of HASHEM.

Because now through our great sins, [the] beauty and true importance of Yisrael has fallen.  Because now the main portion of the beauty and the importance is found by them.  But by means of the Torah are raised the beauty and importance of Yisrael.  Because the Torah is called "Let her be as the loving doe and graceful deer."  Because [the Torah] bestows beauty [grace] on all those who learn it.  And through this is received all the prayers and requests.

Happy are they whose way is perfect [integrity] who walk with the Torah of HASHEM.

"Happy are they" who walk in the "way" that brings one to completeness and integrity and not to condemnation; "who walk with the Torah of HaShem."

As our Sages have taught: Anyone whose fear of G-d precedes his wisdom, his wisdom endures.

King David extols the quality of integrity, when he says, "I was upright before Him, and have kept myself from my iniquity" (Shmuel bet 22:24).  For one who conducts himself with integrity does not sin readily.  As David says, When I am upright "before Him" - when I am along with Him, and no other human being sees me - I keep "myself from my iniquity."  This he also says, "I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart" (v101:2)

Similarly, King Shlomo says, "The just man walks with his integrity; happy are his children after him" (Mishlei 20:7).  If his children are happy for his sake, then he is certainly happy.

The Holy One asked of Avraham to be "upright" (Bereishit 17:1).  Similarly, Moshe said to the Benei Yisrael, "You will be upright with HaShem your G-d" (Devarim 18:13).  That is, if you are upright, then you are with HaShem your G-d.

Yisrael is upright and the Torah is upright.  Hence it says here, "Happy are those whose way is integrity."

Shlomo also says, "He who walks with integrity walks surely" (Mishlei 10:9).  The one who walks with integrity, will be informed with the glad tiding that G-d will make his ways successful.  "But he who perverts his ways will be found out" (ibid.).  Generally, whatever has two ways become known in the world.

When one walks with integrity, the Holy One chooses him and his worship.  Thus it says, "He that walks in a way of integrity, he will minister to Me" (v101.6); and it says, "You will be upright with HaShem your G-d" (Devarim 18:13).

When one walks with an upright heart in all his ways, he merits to dwell in the company of the Almighty.  As it says, "Who will sojourn in Your Tent?  Who will dwell upon the mountain of Your Sanctuary?  He that walks uprightly and acts justly, and speaks truth in his heart" (15:1, 2)

Similarly, King David has extolled here those who walk with integrity.


What is Integrity?

A man should utter his words without deceit; he should trade without cheating; and his heart and mouth be the same.  For if a man says one thing with the mouth and another with the heart, not only is he not called upright, he is a flatterer and a liar.  As it says, "Deceit is in the heart of those who imagine evil..." (Mishlei 12:20).

It is of the quality of integrity that a person is charitable towards other people. As it says, "Charity keeps him that is upright in the way" (ibid. 13:6).

When one walks with integrity, the Holy One helps him do his work and He causes him to become upright in all his ways.  As it says, "With the merciful You show Yourself merciful, with the upright man You show Yourself upright" (v18:26).

"Happy are they whose way is integrity."  Their integrity is not a result of their temperament, but it is because they "walk with the Torah of HaShem."

It is not possible to follow the path of integrity unless all of one's deeds are for the sake of Heaven, there are no ulterior motives.

"Integrity" must itself be in accordance with G-d's will.  For it is only from the Torah that we know how and when to act with integrity.  Thus our Sages say, commenting on the verse, "Yaakov was an upright man, dwelling in tents" (Bereishit 25:27):  He ruled his integrity.

When does a man know that his way is upright?  It is when he keeps G-d's commandments even while on the way (road).  It about such people as these that the Scritpure says, "Happy are they  whose way is integrity, who walk with the Torah of HaShem."

Most of the present psalm speak in the second person singular, and only the first three verses are in the remote third person form.  David pleaded and petitioned in prayer that the Holy One favor him with knowledge, understanding and intelligence.  Accordingly, he opened with the first three verses that convey the conditions for granting these three things.  One is Torah study, since an ignorant person cannot have fear of G-d.  The second condition is to "depart from evil and do good" (v34:15).  The third condition is to keep perfecting oneself in Torah study daily through constant acquisition of new knoweldge.

That is the process of walking "with the Torah of HaShem."  A person will not merit to study Torah except if he empties his heart of the empty pursuits of the world and is convinced that this world is only a way-station.  Nor is it possible to fulfill the mitzvot perfectly except by knowing the Torah and the foundation of the commandments.



- MeAm Lo'ez
- Schottenstein Sefer Tehillim
- Stone Edition Tanach


Haftarah Toledot

Shmuel Alef [1 Samuel] 20:18 - 42
Machar Chodesh
Parashat Toledot

"Any loving relationship which depends upon something, [when] that thing is gone, the love is gone. But any which does not depend upon something will never come to an end. 

What is a loving relationship which does not depend upon something? 
That is the love of David and Yonatan." 
(Avot 5:18)

20:18 Vayomer lo Yehonatan machar chodesh venifkadetaki yipaked moshavecha
Yehonatan said to him, "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty."
Yonatan returned to the plan which he and David were discussing.  He reviewed the details which had already been spelled out, and reassured David that he would reveal everything he discovered.  Yonatan also proposed how exactly this should be done, which is what David asked before they went out to the field to speak in private (v20:11).

19 Veshilashta teired me'od uvata el-hamakom asher-nistarta sham beyom hama'aseh veyashavta etzel ha'even ha'azel"On the third day you will be missed even more. Then go to  the place where you hid on the day of the deed, and stay near the marker stone."
The opening words of the verse, veshilashta teired me'od, has been translated according to rendition of Yonatan ben Uziel.  The word teired, which usually means "go down," is thus explained as "missed even more."  If Shaul had not been intending to harm David, then David's absence would not arouse in Shaul any more than a bit of annoyance.  But if Shaul had been ready to kill David, then after two days of David's not appearing before the king, he would be sorely missed.  He would "go down" even further in Shaul's estimation, and Shaul would certainly see in David's fleeing yet another pretext for putting him to death.

An alternative interpretation of the verse is that one the third day David was to teired me'od ("go down far") into the field where he had been hiding the first time he and Yonatan attempted to determine Shaul's intentions (v19:3).  He was to descend farther into the valley, to the hidden spot where Yonatan met him then.m

Yet another reading of these words suggests veshilashta does not mean "on the third day," but that Yonatan was telling David to "mark one, twice and thrice" the spot where he was to hide.  This way there would be no misunderstanding between them.  The word is similarly used in Devarim (19:3) where the Benei Yisrael are told to mark the borders of the land into three parts.

The words beyom hama'aseh, here translated as "on the day of the deed," can also be rendered, "on the day of doing."  As opposed to this occasion, which was Rosh Chodesh - a day on which they did not engage in their usual work - the first time David hid in this filed was a weekday, a "day of doing" and action.

Or alternatively, the yom hama'aseh to which Yonatan referred was as opposed to the day on which they spoke, which was Shabbat.  Hence, this chapter is read as the haftorah whenever the day before Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbat.

The "marker stone" is explained as having been either a gathering place, or a guidepost for travelers, or a target at which arrows were shot.

20 Va'ani shloshet hachitzim tzidah oreh leshalach-li lematarah
"I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as if I shot at a target."
By suggesting the shooting of arrows as a sign between them, Yonatan was adding to the plan which David had originally outlined (20:5-7).  The three arrows were symbolic of the three days which David would hide.

Yonatan devised this scheme of seemingly shooting at the marker stone - or as some suggest, to the side of it - so that his servant, whom he would send to fetch the arrows, would suspect nothing.

21 Vehineh eshlach et-hana'ar lech metza et-hachitzim im-amor omar lana'ar hineh hachitzim mimecha vahenah kachenu vavo'ah ki-shalom lecha ve'ein davar chai-HASHEM"Behold, I will send the youth, saying, 'Go find the arrows.'  If I repeatedly say to the youth, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of you,' take it and come, for peace is to you and the matter is naught; as HASHEM lives."
It was customary for nobility to engage in this sport of shooting arrows at some distant target, and then having their servants fetch them.  Sometimes, the servant would stop before reaching the spot where the arrow landed and his master had to instruct him to keep going.  Other times, the servant would pass by the spot and he would have be called back.

Here, Scripture relates the first part of the sign:  If Yonatan would tell his servant that he had gone too far, that the arrows lay in a place he had already passed over, David would understand that Yonatan had determined it was safe for him to return.

If that were the case, David was to "take it and come."  The commentators offer a number of possibilities for what "it" is.  Either David was to take the arrow or he was to take the sign, and return.  Another suggestion is that Yonatan wanted David to "take him," the servant, and come.

22 Ve'im-koh omar la'elem hineh hachitzim mimecha vahal'ah lech ki shilachacha HASHEMBut if I say this to the young man: 'Behold, the arrows are beyond you!' then go, for [this is a signal that] HASHEM has sent you away.
23 Vehadavar asher dibarnu ani va'atah hineh HASHEM beini uveinecha ad-olamBut this matter of which you and I spoke, behold, HASHEM remains [witness] between me and you forever."
There are those who explain that if Yonatan called to the servant, saying, "The arrows are on this side of you," it would mean that even though Shaul was angry, his anger was on this side - i.e., under his control.  In other words, there was no threat to David's life.  Not so if he said, "The arrows are farther on than you."  This would mean that his anger had gone further than it should have - i.e., out of Shaul's control.  In that case, David would understand that he was being sent away.

Yonatan understood that should he have to call the servant back to look in a place he had already passed, it would require some coaxing.  He therefore said, "If I repeatedly say to the youth."  But if he should have to send him farther on, the servant would readily comply.   Therefore, here, he said, "If I say this to the young man."

In the previous verse, Yonatan referred to the servant as the na'ar ("youth").  Here, he called him the elem ("young man"), a designation used in only one other instance in Scripture (v17:56).   The word is related to ne'elam, which means hidden and unknown.  Thus it might be that Yonatan employed this term here to indicate that should there be real danger, David was to remain "hidden" from Shaul, and this should be "unknown" even to the servant.

24 Vayisater David basadeh vayehi hachodesh vayeshev hamelech el-halechem le'echolDavid concealed himself in the field. It was the New Moon and the king sat at the meal to eat.
25 Vayeshev hamelech al-moshavo kefa'am befa'am el-moshav hakir vayakom Yehonatan vayeshev Avner mitzad Shaul vayipaked mekom DavidThe king sat at his seat as at other times, at the seat by the wall; Yehonatan stood up and Avner sat at Shaul's side, and David's seat was empty.
Shaul sat with his back to the wall, which was the seat at the head of the table.  Others explain that "on a seat next to the wall" indicates that they sat in a semicircle, as the judges in the Sanhedrin.  The king, because he sat at the center, the height of the arc, was closest to the wall.

The order of seating had David on Shaul's immediate right, and Yonatan at David's right. Avner, Shaul's general, sat to the kings left.  With David absent, there was no one sitting between Shaul and Yonatan.  As it was customary to recline while eating, and it was not considered proper for a son to recline at his father's right hand, Yonatan stood up and waited until Avner had come to take David's seat alongside the king.

According to this first interpretation, the words which follow in the verse, "David's seat was empty," mean that the place was empty of its usual occupant, David.  Alternatively, it is suggested that David's place did indeed remain empty.  After Yonatan stood up, Avner, who according to this interpretation was sitting not to Shaul's left but to Yonatan's right, exchanged places with Yonatan.  This enabled Yonatan to take a seat at the table for now Avner sat between him and his father.  It also made sense that Avner would not sit in David's seat, as he must have assumed that David might yet arrive to the meal.

Yet another possibility is that Yonatan took a seat opposite Shaul.  This coincides with the later verse which implies that when Shaul later raised the spear to strike his son, he had only to reach out towards him (20:33).

The reason Yonatan first sat in his own seat when he knew full well that he would have to move once Shaul took his place, was so that his father should not suspect he knew beforehand that David would not be coming.  This would also cause Shaul to take note of David's absence that much sooner.

26 Velo-diber Shaul me'umah bayom hahu ki amar mikreh hu bilti tahor hu ki-lo tahorShaul said nothing on that day, for he thought, "He had an accident, he is without purity; [he did not come] for he is not pure."
Shaul said nothing about David being absent because he presumed that David had experienced a nocturnal emission.  This presumption was characteristic of Shaul's enmity for David.

The repetitiveness of Shaul's words also suggests the following interpretation:  Shaul said to himself, "David had an accidental pollution, he is without purity.  Why? because he is not pure - he thinks evil thoughts during the day."  This is as our sages taught: Whoever guards against evil thoughts during the day will not experience an accidental pollution at night.

Our sages have pointed to the apparent circumlocution of this verse - "he is without purity; for he is not pure" - to show how important it is to avoid foul or unclean language.  Scripture goes out of its way to use the word tahor (pure) rather than simply saying, "he had an accident, and is tamei (impure)."

The commentators have suggested various subtle readings for this verse:

  1. That Shaul never assumed that David had entertained evil thoughts.  Rather, on the first day he attributed David's absence to a mikreh, alternatively translated as an unexpected occurrence.  "something unforeseen has come up," he told himself, "and that is why David has not come.  It cannot be that he is without purity, as he would be without purity only if he entertained evil thoughts."  However, when David again failed to appear on the morrow, Shaul began to wonder if perhaps David's disappearance was not unintentional.
  2. There are no accidental occurrences.  Everything that transpires is because G-d so willed and designed it.  Thus, Shaul was saying, "Who says that David had an accidental pollution?  When anyone says this, it is a sign that he is without purity.  He himself is not pure, for nothing happens without His guidance."  This can be likened to what Avraham said to the angels, "I will get a morsel of bread for you to refresh yourselves... because it is for this reason that you have passed by your servant" (Bereisit 18:5).  His intention was not that they had come by his tent in order to eat and drink, for even if it were so, one would never embarrass one's guests by speaking so tactlessly.  Rather, his intention was to tell them that their passing by was certainly not accidental; that it had been so designed by divine providence.  G-d had arranged the matter so that he, Avraham, could fulfill the mitzvah of hospitality.
  3. A third opinion sees this in connection with the teachings of the sages:  Judge all men favorably, for if a person sees guilt in his fellow, it is a sign that he himself bears guilt; whoever charges others charges them with his own defects.  Moreover, one who suspects the innocent is afflicted physically - a sign that he himself is lacking.  Thus the verse says that Shaul said nothing on that day, for he said to himself, "He had an accident."  In other words, he judged David favorably.  Why did Shaul do this?  Surely it was because only one "without purity" finds fault in others, and it is he who "is not pure."

27 Vayehi mimocharat hachodesh hasheni vayipaked mekom David vayomer Shaul el-Yehonatan beno madua lo-va ven-Yishai gam-temol gam-hayom el-halachem
It was the day following the New Moon, the second, and David's place was empty. So Shaul said to Yehonatan, his son, "Why did the son of Yishai not come to the meal either yesterday or today?"
Until the time of Hillel the son of Rabbi Yehudah the Prince (359 c.e.), who was the first to establish the lunar calendar according to astronomic calculations, Rosh Chodesh was determined by the court making a formal declaration after receiving testimony from witness who had seen the new moon.  This was based on the verse (Shemot 12:2), "This chodesh shall be for you" - G-d, as it were, pointed to the new moon and said to Moshe, "When it appears like this, sanctify the moon."  In other words, it was a mitzvah to establish Rosh Chodesh based on human sighting and declaration.  When this was no longer possible, for reasons brought in the Talmud, the Jews were forced to institute the fixed calendar in its stead.

The lunar month is twenty-nine days twelve and a fraction hours.  Because it is impossible to divide a day in half so that part would belong to the previous month and part to the new month, some months are reckoned as thirty days and others as twenty-nine.  Witnesses who saw the new moon on the night following the twenty ninth of the month testified before the court, and if their testimony was accepted, the court resolved that the following day belong to the new month and declared it Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the next month. If, however, the new moon was not seen on that night of the twenty ninth, the court resolved that the thirtieth day belonged to the previous month.  However, in this case, both the last day of the previous month and the first day of the new month were celebrated as Rosh Chodesh.

Now, in our case the witnesses who came to testify that they had seen the new moon only came to the court after the thirtieth day of the previous month.  Therefore, as mentioned (20:5), Rosh Chodesh was celebrated for two days.  This is the meaning of "on the day following the chodesh, the second."  The second modifies "the new moon," it was the second day of Rosh Chodesh.

Others maintain that they only celebrated one day Rosh Chodesh, on the first of the new month, so that "on the day following the new moon, the second [day]" refers to the second day of that month; here second modifies "the day following."  Yet another possibility is that second refers to the second new moon of the month - i.e., it was a Jewish leap year and this took place on Rosh Chodesh of the added month, the second Adar.

28 Vaya'an Yehonatan et-Shaul nish'ol nish'al David me'imadi ad-Beit-lechemYehonatan answered Shaul, "David asked me for permission to go to Beit-lechem.
29 Vayomer shalcheni na ki zevach mishpachah lanu ba'ir vehu tzivah-li achi ve'atah im-matzati chen be'eineicha imaltah na ve'er'eh et-echai al-ken lo-va el-shulchan hamelechHe said, 'Please grant me leave, for we have a family feast-offering in the city, and he - my brother - summoned me; so now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me be excused that I may see my brothers.' That is why he did not come to the king's table."
A careful reading of the verses, including those which follow, shows that Shaul intentionally avoided referring to David by name, calling him "the son of Yishai," instead.  Yonatan, on the other hand, did not have to mention David by name.  It was understood of whom they spoke.  But he did so intentionally, out of his great love for David.

Yonatan said, "nishal nishal (he repeatedly asked)," rather than the more common expression shaol sh'al, so as not to even imply that he had uttered his father's name, Shaul.  This, of course, would have been disrespectful.

30 Vayichar-af Shaul biYehonatan vayomer lo ben-na'avat hamardut halo yadati ki-vocher atah leven-Yishai levashtecha ulvoshet ervat imechaShaul anger flared up at Yehonatan, and he said to him, "you are the son of a wanton and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you choose the son of Yishai, to your own shame and the shame of your mother's nakedness?
An alternative reading of "ben na'avat hamardut" suggests that Shaul's accusation was not directed primarily at Yonatan, but at his mother - "you are the son of a wanton and rebellious woman!" Shaul charged that Yonataon had inherited these traits from his mother, who had been unfaithful to him.  Or else, that she had not allowed Shaul to discipline Yonatan when he was a child, and as a result he had grown into a rebellious son of rebellious mother.

Yonatan ben Uziel translates Shaul's words - "A son, wanton and rebellious!" - as referring to neither Yonatan nor his mother, but to David.  He was casting aspersions on David's family.  Once said, he expressed his shock that David would have found favor with Yonatan.  "How could you have possibly allowed him to escape from here?!"

31 Ki chol-hayamim asher-ben-Yishai chai al-ha'adamah lo tikon atah umalchutecha ve'atah shlach vekach oto elai ki ven-mavet huFor all the days that the son of Yishai is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established! And now send and bring him to me, for he is deserving of death!"
Shaul said to Yonatan, "Since you will not establish your rule because of David, it is only right that he be eliminated."

32 Vaya'an Yehonatan et-Shaul aviv vayomer elav lamah yumat meh asahBut Yehonatan spoke up to his father Shaul, and said to him, "Why should he die? What has he done?"
33 Vayatel Shaul et-hachanit alav lehakoto vayeda Yehonatan ki-chalah hi me'im aviv lehamit et-DavidShaul hurled his spear at him to strike him. Yehonatan then realized that his father had decided to kill David.
Yonatan sought to defend David.  "What has David done that you accuse him of rebellion?  G-d Himself has chosen him as king."

When a man is accused of having committed some sin for which he deserves to be punished, it is only right to defend him and attempt to save him from punishment if he is not generally known to transgress in this way.  Thus, when Shaul complained about Yonatan's defending David, Yonatan replied, "Why should he be put to death?  If it is because of the rumor that he seeks the king's life, what has he done that would lead one to believe David would transgress in this way?"

The Torah teaches that when a Jew sees his fellow Jew committing a sin, he has an obligation to admonish him in order to help him turn from evil.  Indeed, Scritpure stresses the importance of this mitzvah with the words "admonish, you shall surely admonish" (VaYikra 19:17) - the repetition serving to emphasize the need to even be prepared to suffer as a result.  The vers, however, does not specify just how much the one offering the rebuke is obligated to endure.  This, is learnt from here.

Some do find in Yonatan's reply an admonishment of Shaul's position, albeit a subdued and respectful one.  They adduce from this that with certain stipulations as son is permitted to admonish his father.  The Talmud adds that the same applies to a student rebuking his rabbi.

34 Vayakom Yehonatan me'im hashulchan bachari-af velo-achal beyom hachodesh hasheni lechem ki netzav el-David ki hichlimo avivYehonatan arose from the table enraged; he did not partake of food on that second day of the month, for he was saddened over David, and because his father had humiliated him.
The verse gives two reasons for why Yonatan did not eat.  One, he was worried about David.  Yonatan understood that if his father was ready to kill his own son for befriending David, he would certainly not hesitate to kill David himself.  He thus rose from the table in anger and could not eat.  The second reason, which reads the verse as though the word and appears between the two reason, was that Yonatan's father had shamed him with word and deed, and so he could not eat.

Although the reasons are two, the fact that Scripture does not obviously distinguish between them (the word and does not appear) would seem to allude to their connectedness.  Even though his father had shamed him publicly, Yonatan's concern was for David.  He loved David as hi own soul and worried for him more than for himself.

Another interpreation is that ooutwardly Yonatan was saddened because his father had shamed him, but in his heart he was saddened over David.

Alternatively, this is read as two reasons given for two separate actions.  Yonatan got up from the table because he was saddened over David, whom his father had decided to kill.  And Yonatan did not break bread because Shaul "had shamed him" - David - calling him "wanton and rebellious!"

35 Vayehi vaboker vayetze Yehonatan hasadeh lemo'ed David vena'ar katon imoIt happened in the morning that Yonatan went out to the field which David had designated, and a small youth accompanied him.
Yonatan went out in the morning.  He did not go at night, lest he arouse suspicion.  He went as though he were going for a walk, and he did not go alone but took his servant.  This small youth would suspect nothing of the plan Yonatan had devised with David and his presence would belie any suggestion that Yonatan had gone to secretly meet with David.

According to Ynatan ben Uziel's translation, "Yonatan went out to the field at the time David had designated."  This leads some commentators to conclude that it refers to the third day of David's hiding in the field.  And although David had suggested that he come that night, Yonatan went in the morning.  There was no longer any reason to wait, Shaul's intentions were already quite clear.

36 Vayomer lena'aro rutz metza-na et-hachitzim asher anochi moreh hana'ar ratz vehu-yarah hachetsi leha'aviroHe said to his youth, "Run, please find the arrows that I shoot." The youth ran, and he shot the arrow to go past him.
37 Vayavo hana'ar ad-mekom hachetzi asher yarah Yehonatan vayikra Yehonatan acharei hana'ar vayomer halo hachetzi mimecha vahal'ahThe youth arrived at the place of the arrow that Yonatan had shot, and Yonatan called after the youth and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?"
Yonatan provided David with the agreed upon sign that Shau's heart was set against him.

The word leha'aviro ("past him") can also be understood as "to move him past."  Yonatan wanted to move the youth past the place he was standing to the marker stone.  The idiomatic expression leha'aviro mida'ato means to remove someone's reason, and this suggests a third possibility.  Yonatan shot the arrow to trick the youth and dissuade him from reasoning that this was anything but sport.

From the verses it seems that Yonatan shot no more than one arrow, though he had promised David that he would shoot three.  One suggestion is that he only intended to use a second and third arrow if for some reason David would not get a clear message from the first one. In devising the plan, Yonatan had taken into account that there might be other archers in the field or that his first shot might go astray.

Other commentators read the verse as though Yonatan did shoot more than one arrow: "And the youth came to the place of the arrow which Yonatan had shot"  - this refers to the first arrow; and Yonatan called after the youth, and said, "But the arrow is farther on than you" - this refers to another arrow, the one meant to warn David.

38 Vayikra Yehonatan acharei hana'ar meherah chushah al-ta'amod vayelaket na'ar Yehonatan et-hachitzim vayavo el-adonavYehonatan then called out after the attendant, "Quickly, hurry, do not stand still!" Yehonatan's attendant gathered the arrows and came to his master.
39 Vehana'ar lo-yada me'umah ach Yehonatan veDavid yad'u et-hadavarThe attendant knew nothing; only Yehonatan and David understood the matter.
The scripted form of the word chetz (arrow) in this verse is singular, however, according to tradition it is read in the plural, chitzim (arrows).  This further highlights the uncertainty surrounding the amount of arrows Yonatan actually shot.  One suggestion is that although all three were shot, the youth gathered them up as quickly as if there had been only one.

When an archer shoots an arrow, sometimes those sent to fetch it search in a place closer than where the arrow came to rest.  Other times, they search much farther than where the arrow actually landed.  This is what Yonatan proposed to David: "in this way G-d will guide us.  I will shoot the arrows at the marker stone.  If the youth runs after the arrow and I have to tell him to return because he's passed it, this will be a providential sign that all is well - G-d's will is that you return.  But if the youth stops before reaching the arrow and I have to tell him to keep going, this will be a providential sign that there is danger - it has been decreed by Heaven that you flee from here."

With this we can better understand the sequence of events.  It is impossible for a man to outrace an arrow.  Yonatan therefore told the youth, "Run, please find the arrows which I shoot" (v20:36).  In this way it was possible for the youth to go father than the arrow and then have to return to get them.  The verse then says that the youth ran and Yonatan shot the arrow past him.

40 Vayiten Yehonatan et-kelav el-hana'ar asher-lo vayomer lo lech havei ha'irYehonatan gave his equipment to his attendant and said to him, "Go, bring it to the city."
41 Hana'ar ba veDavid kam me'etzel hanegev vayipol le'apav artzah vayishtachu shalosh pe'amim vayishku ish et-re'ehu vayivku ish et-re'ehu ad-David higdilThe attendant went and David stood up from the southern side and he fell on his face to the ground and prostrated himself three times. Then they kissed one another and cried one with the other until David exceeded.
The "southern side" refers to the southern region, and arid and rocky area in which travelers found refuge from the even harsher conditions of the desert.

Alternateively, the "southern side" refers to the southern side of the marker stone, the side where David hid. Thus Yonatan purposely shot the arrows to the north of the stone.

The question which obviously comes to mind is: If David and Yonatan in any case met and spoke together, what was the point of shooting the arrows and signallying by calling out to the youth?  However, it seems that even now Yonatan was not intending to come together with David.  Yet he suspected that David might not able to resist their speaking to one another before parting and so he sent his servant away.  Moreover, Yonatan had to take into account that someone might happen along and discover them before they could talk together, and so he relied on the shooting of the arrows to ensure that David received the warning.  Only when he saw that all was clear did David emerge into the open to embrace Yonatan.

The commentators offer a number of explanations for why David's crying exceeded Yonatan's.  Simply, whereas Yonatan could return home, he had to flee for Shaul would certainly be seeking to take his life.  Yonatan understood that this was the reason for David's exceedinly bitter weeping and hurried to send him on his way.  Another suggestion is that this is a hint to the future, when David would weep on Yonatan's untimely death.

Alternatively, "until David exceeded" means that David began to weep loudly and Yonatan feared that they would be discovered.  He therefore blessed him and sent him away.

42 Vayomer Yehonatan le-David lech leshalom asher nishbanu shneinu anachnu beshem HASHEM lemor HASHEM yihyeh beini uveinecha uvein zar'i uvein zar'acha ad-olamYehonatan said to David, "Go to peace. What the two of us have sworn in the Name of HASHEM - saying, 'HASHEM will be [a witness] between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring' - shall be forever!"
Yonatan assured David that through they were parting, their bond of love would not be severed.

"Go to peace," Yonatan told David, "and remember our oath.  Indeed, the very fact that we were able to swear true allegiance to one another is proof that G-d is with us."

It is also possible to understand Yonatan's words the other way round, "The very fact that we have both sworn in the name of HaShem is a sign that you will go to peace." (cf. v1:17)

In saying, "For we have sworn both of us," Yonatan wanted to impress upon David that they had sworn as equals.  He had not sworn as the son of the king, lest following generations later say their ancestor David had agreed under duress, for how could he refuse the king's son.  No, they had sworn as equals and out of love - both of them willingly - binding them and all their seed forever.

And, just as their bond of love would be everlasting, so would be their pact.  "HASHEM will between me and you...forever," he told David.  "Although we are parting, HASHEM will be forever."

There is a very great lesson to be learnt from Yonatan's exemplary behavior.  Despite all that he had to endure at his father's table, he mentions none of it to David on whose behalf he spoke.  This was both so that he would not be guilty of tale-bearing and slander against his father, and so that David would not be anguished by the news.  He therefore chose his words carefully, telling David to "Go to peace," for there was no hope that Shaul would have a change of heart and cease his pursuit of him.

In the merit of his tears, David achieved greatness and his enemies were vanquished.  As he asked of G-d (Tehillim 56:9) "Put my tears in Your flask, are they not in Your ledger?"  The shedding of tears is never left unanswered; heaven's gate of tears is never shut.

Parashat Toledot

- MeAm Lo'ez, Sefer Shmuel Alef

Haftarah Chayei Sarah

Melachim Alef [1 Kings] 1:1-31
Parashat Chayei Sarah

[David HaMelech - King David]

1:1 Vehamelech David zaken ba bayamim vayechasuhu babegadim velo yicham lo
King David was old and advanced in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he wasn't warmed.
There were three who were crowned with old age, Avraham, Yehoshua and David.  All were men that had withstood great trials.  The Bible describes all three by the words, "old and advanced in years."  It says "Avraham was old and advanced in years," (Bereishit 21:1) and "Yehoshua was old and advanced in years" (Yehoshua 23:1).  (Bereishit Rabbah 59:6)

Thus King Shlomo said, "The crown of glory is old age, on the way of righteousness it is found."  Of Avraham G-d said, "For I have known him, so that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of G-d, to do righteousness and justice." (Bereishit 18:19)

There are some who advance in years without showing their age.  Others suffer from old age before their time.  But Avraham, Yehoshua and David grew old according to their years.

Happy is the man who advances in years, and the years do not advance upon him!  Though he has lived many years and no longer has the strength of his youth, he remains in control of himself and his affairs.  Old age does not overcome him.  Till his last days, King David rule over the Jewish People.  He was able to prevent the strong and arrogant from taking advantage of the weak, and he kept the nation from falling into turmoil.

Another meaning of the expression, "advance in years"  (ba bayamim) is that all his years (literally, "days) came froward to testify to the righteousness that he had done.  There was not one day that he had not acted righteously and that was not full of good deeds.  Not so for the wicked!  Their days hide in shame!  They are afraid to come forward and reveal the evil deeds that were done on them.

Nonetheless, King David did not become old without suffering.  His body became cold, and it could not be warmed.  No matter how much clothing he put on, he remained cold.  For clothing does not give a person warmth.  It only helps the body retain its own heat.  If the body does not produce heat, no clothing can warm it.

Why was King David made to suffer this way?  Towards the end of David's life, when his kingdom had been firmly established and his armies were victorious over the enemies of Yisrael, he thought that no harm could come to them any more.  So he ordered that a census be taken of the whole Jewish People.  That is something that no ruler of Yisrael should ever do.  It can provoke the evil eye and bring catastrophe.  His advisers warned him against it, but he was not afraid, and refused to heed their advice.

G-d sent a plague, and seventy thousand men died.  As the Angel of Death approached Yerushalayim, G-d had pity and commanded him to stop.  David saw the angel in the heavens with his sword stretched out toward the city, and he begged G-d to spare the people.  He said, "I am the one that sinned, and I have done evil.  These sheep, what have they done?  Oh, G-d, let Your hand be upon me and my father's house, and let there be no plague on the people" (Divre HaYamim Alef 21:17)

The Angel of Death took his sword and wiped it off on David's cloak.  Then he put it back into its sheath and returned to heaven.  David's entire body was chilled with fright.  The terror of that experience never left him.  From that moment on he could never again find warmth.

Another reason that his clothes could not warm him is that, long before, he had acted disrespectfully toward clothing.  One time, when King Shaul was pursuing David, he stopped to relieve himself in a cave.  He did not realize that in that very cave David and his men were hiding.  David wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to Shaul and prove that he meant him no harm, so he crept up quietly behind him and cut off the corner of his robe.  Shaul did not realize, and he got up and left.  Then David came out of the cave and called out to him.  He held up the piece of the robe and said, "As I have cut off the corner of your robe and not killed you, so you know that I do not mean you any harm" (Shmuel Alef 24:12)  Shaul was very moved.  He blessed David and stopped pursuing him.

But David was sorry that he had cut the robe.  Though he had meant well by it, it was nonetheless an act of disrespect.  For so great a person as David, even a minor act like this is significant.  Now, through the suffering of his old age, he atoned for it.

2 Vayomeru lo avadav yevakshu l'adoni hamelech na'arah vetulah ve'amdah lifnei hamelech utehi-lo sochenet veshachvah vecheikecha vecham l'adoni hamelech
His servants said to him, "Let them search for a virgin girl for my master, the king, and she will stand before the king and be a helper for him.  She will lie in your bosom, and it will be warm for my master, the king."
3 Vayevakshu na'arah yafah bechol gevul Yisra'el vayimtze'u et-Avishag haShunamit vayavi'u otah lamelech
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the borders of Yisrael.  They found Avishag the Shunamit and brought her to the king.
4 Vehana'arah yafah ad-me'od vatehi lamelech sochenet vatesharetehu vehamelech lo yeda'ah
The girl was very beautiful, and she became a helper for the king and served him, but the king did not know her.
King David's servants consulted the doctors and wise men.  They said, "Clothes will not keep the king warm as long as his body does not warm itself."  So the servants looked for another way to warm him up.  Some say they wanted him to have a companion just so that he would be warmed by the heat of her body when she was close to him.  Others say that they hoped he would be stimulated and enlivened by her beauty, and his own body would again produce its own heat.

David was not permitted to marry Avishag because he already had eighteen wives. The Torah limits the number of wives a king may marry, as it says, "He will not have many wives" (Devarim 17:17).  By tradition, we know that eighteen are permitted and no more.  To have married Avishag, he would have had to divorce one of them.  That he could not do.  The court decreed that, if it be necessary for his health, it would be better for him to undergo the temptation of being alone with an unmarried woman than to cause one of his wives to suffer by divorcing her.

See what a serious thing divorce is!  Even under these circumstances, they would not permit it!  Which among David's wives would not have willingly accepted divorce for the sake of her husband, the beloved king of Yisrael?  It would not have been a shame for her but a distinction.  Nonetheless, the court forbade it.

If a man divorces his first wife, even the altar in the Temple sheds tears, as it says, "This, too, have you done.  You have covered the altar of G-d with tears, crying and weeping.  He no longer turns toward the meal offering, to accept it with good will from your hand.  And when you say, 'For what reason?' Because G-d testified between you and the wife of your youth, whom you have betrayed, though she is your companion and the woman of yoru covenant." (Malachi 2:13)

By being together with Avishag and resisting temptation, David achieved complete repentance for the sin of taking Bat-Sheva.  Although he had already repented, been punished and forgiven, his repentance was not yet complete.  He had never had the opportunity to withstand a similar temptation.  That is the test of true repentance.  If a person again finds himself in the situation in which he once sinned, but this time he resits temptation, it is clear that he no longer has that weakness.  He has overcome it, and is therefore worthy of having his earlier sin completely wiped away.

Why does the Bible tell about David's last days here, in the Book of Melachim (Kings)? Why were they not included in the book of Shmuel, along with the rest of the story of David's life?  The Book of Melachim deals with the lives of King Shlomo and subsequent kings.  One would have expected it to have begun with the verse "Shlomo sat ont he throne of David, his father." (Melachim Alef 2:12)

This chapter and the first eleven verses of the next chapter serve as an introduction to the reign of King Shlomo.  Even though they are concerned primarily with King David, their purpose is to tell how Shlomo came to be the next king.  David's age and weakness misled Adoniyah to think that he might claim the throne for himself.  But David arose to face this challenge.  While he was still alive, he had Shlomo anointed, so that it would be clear to the whole nation that he had chosen him as his successor.

We are also told here about Avishag the Shunamit, because it was through her that Adoniyah later made another attempt to seize the throne.  In that way, this chapter serves as an introduction to the incidents that will be described in Chapter Two.

This chapter also supports the legitimacy of Shlomo's succession to the throne.  It was not because of his love for Bat-Sheva that David chose her son, Shlomo, to succeed him.  By resisting Avishag, David showed himself to be above the temptation of the flesh, and totally in control of himself.  No wife, however beloved and favored, could persuade him to give her or her children anything that was not rightfully theirs.  It was only because he understood that it was G-d's will that Shlomo be the next King of Yisrael that he chose him.  To his dying day, King David was the true servant of G-d.  His every desire was to do G-d's will and find favor in His eyes. (Arbrabanel)

5 Va'Adoniyah ven-Chaggit mitnase lemor ani emloch vaya'as lo rechev ufarashim vachamishim ish ratzim lefanavAdoniyah son of Chaggit elevated himself, saying, "I will be king."  He made himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men running before him.
6 Velo-atzavo aviv miyamav lemor madua kachah asita vegam-hu tov-to'ar me'od ve'oto yaldah acharei AvshalomIn all his life, his father had never caused him to suffer criticism by saying, "Why have you done this?"  He was also very handsome, and he was born after Avshalom.
Adoniyah thought that if he would be able to establish himself as David's successor while his father was yet alive, no one would challenge him after David died.  He began to conduct himself like a king.

His chariot was the sort that only kings rode in.  His fifty runners were all men whose spleens had been removed and whose feet had been carved out.  This made them able to run swiftly for long distances without become tired.  They could run over thorns without being hurt.  Such contingents of runners were only maintained by kings, as it involved two difficult operations.  Their spleens were removed while they were yet small.  The spleen is not an essential organ of the body, so removing it did not otherwise harm them.  As for their feet, the practice was to burn their heels with hot metal plates.  The skin would then die, and they would cut it off until they got down to the bones. (Sanhedrin 21b; Rashi)

But, far from securing the throne for himself, Adoniyah only succeeded in demonstrating how unfit he was to be King of Yisrael.  The Torah says that a king must be G-d-fearing and humble.  Adoniyah was haughty and arrogant.  He put on a show to impress people, rather than studying G-d's Torah and developing the qualities of a true and dedicated leader.

"he was born after Avshalom" - he was the oldest of David's surviving sons.  Amnon, David's first son, and Avshalom, his third, had been killed.  Perhaps Daniel, the second son, had also already died.  In any case, even if he was not the oldest, he was much older than Shlomo, who was still only a child.

Others understand the words oto yaldah acharei Avshalom (he was born after Avshalom)" to not to refer to when he was born but how he was brought up.  They would translate the words, "he was raised after the manner of Avshalom."  Adoniyah's mother, Chaggit, raised him the same way that Maakah had raised Avshalom.  Both had spoiled their children.  That is why both children rebelled and were eventually killed.

There were many similarities between Adoniyah and Avshalom.  Both were very handsome.  Both rebelled against David.  Each got himself a following and had a chariot with fifty runners going ahead of him. David loved them both, and it was, perhaps, his love that led them to think they could get away with rebelling.

From here we see that the wicked are blamed for the wickedness of others.  By mentioning Avshalom, the Bible implies that he was partially responsible for Adoniyah's corruption.  Perhaps it was because Chaggit followed the example of Maakah in raising her son and spoiled him.  Or perhaps Adoniyah was encouraged to defy his father by Avshalom's earlier rebellion.  Even though Avshalom had ultimately failed, the very fact that he could attempt such a thing made it possible for others consider it as well.

But there was also a big difference between them.  Avshalom tried to kill his father.  Adoniyah respected his father's decision, at least as long as he was alive.

7 Vayihyu devarav im Yo'av ben-Tzruyah ve'im Evyatar hakohen vayazru acharei Adoniyah 
He would speak with Yoav son of Tzruyah and with Evyatar, the kohen, and they helped and followed Adoniyah.
8 VeTzadok hakohen uVenayahu ven-Yehoyada veNatan hanavi veShim'i veRe'i vehagiborim asher le-David lo hayu im Adoniyahu
But Tzadok the kohen, and Benayahu son of Yehoyada, and Natan the prophet, and Shimei and Rei, the brave men of David were not with Adoniyah.
Adoniyah thought that if he had Yoav and Evyatar on his side he would surely succeed.  Had they not helped his father? They could bring him success too!  They were popular and respected leaders.  They would guarantee a sizable following for whomever they supported.  Yoav would gain him the support of the army.  Evyatar would give him spiritual direction and bring him divine blessing.  They were both wise and experienced.  He would follow their advice as David had, and, like David, he would always succeed.

Yoav and Evyatar, for their parts, each had his own reason for following Adoniyah.  Yoav was guilty of murder.  David had sworn not to kill him, but Yoav suspected that he would command Shlomo to do it if he became king.  Evyatar, too, did not want to see Shlomo become king.  David favored Tzadok, and Shlomo would certainly follow his father's direction and appoint him as Kohen Gadol (High Priest).

There were already indications at the time of the rebellion of Avshalom that Evyatar would lose his position.  He had asked for direction from the Urim and Tumim, but had not been answered..  He was also subject to the curse of the descendants of Eli.  He hoped that under Adoniyah he would be able to serve as Kohen Gadol, and that he would again be worthy of prophecy and escape the curse.  Both also hoped that by supporting Adoniyah now, he would listen to them afterwards, when he became king.

Those who were faithful to DAvid, on the other hand, realized that Adoniyah was not his choice, and refused to follow him.  Natan the prophet had been the one to predict that Shlomo would become king.  He had conveyed the word of G-d to David, as it says, "Behold, a son will be born to you, he will be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around, for Shlomo will be his name, forever" (Divre HaYamim Alef 22:9, 10).  He certainly would not follow Adoniyah, because he knew it was not the will of G-d.

It was significant that Tzadok the kohen and Benayahu son of Yehoyada did not go along with Adoniyah.  They were, respectively, Kohen Gadol and Chief Judge of the Sanhedrin.  These two officials must always be present when a king is anointed.  There must also be a revelation of G-d's approval  through a prophet before the anointment. The absence of even one of these things would have been sufficient reason to invalidate Adoniyah.

9 Vayizbach Adoniyahu tzon uvakar umeri im even haZochelet asher-etzel Ein Rogel vayikra et-kol-echav benei hamelech ulechol-anshei Yehudah avdei hamelech
Adoniyah slaughtered sheep and cattle and fattened animals at the Ston of Zochelet that is near the Spring of Rogel.  He called all his brothers, the sons of the king, and all the men of Yehudah, the servants of the king.
10 Ve'et Natan hanavi uVenayahu ve'et-hagiborim ve'et-Shlomoh achiv lo kara
But Natan the prophet and Benayahu and the brave men and Shlomo, his brother, he did not call.
Adoniyah was not satisfied to conduct himself as if he were king.  He decided to have himself crowned already, while his father was still alive.  The location that he chose was a popular gathering place for all the people.  The Spring of Rogel was where the women came to wash the clothes.  It was called Rogel because they would trample the clothes in the water with their feet, to clean them.  Otheres say it was where the young men gathered to play games and have competitions, one of which was to try to push the stone and move it.  That was a feat of great strength  that few could do.  Another explanation is that it was a high stone that travelers would climb, and from on top of it they would be able to see which way they to go.  Adoniyah hoped to attract all these people to follow him.

He also came to this spot because it was customary to anoint kings near running water.  Natan, the prophet, chose such a location to anoint Shlomo.  The water was a sign of blessing.  It indicated that his reign should, like the water, continue on and on.

Adoniyah knew that not all those he invited supported him, but he hoped that once they had eaten and drunk and enjoyed themselves he would be able to convince them.

11 Vayomer Natan el-Bat-Sheva em-Shlomo lemor halo shamat ki malach Adoniyahu ven-Chaggit va'adoneynu David lo yada
Natan said to Bat-Sheva, the mother of Shlomo, "Did you not hear that Adoniyah ben Chaggit has become king, and our master, David, does not know?
12 Ve'atah lechi iyatzech na etzah umalti et-nafshech ve'et-nefesh benech Shlomo
Now, go, and let me advise you.  You will save your life and the life of your son, Shlomo.
13 Lechi uvo'i el-hamelech David ve'amart elav halo-atah adoni hamelech nishbata la'amatcha lemor ki-Shlomo venech yimloch acharai vehu yeshev al-kis'i umadua malach Adoniyahu
Go and come to King David, and say to him, 'Didn't you, my master the king, swear to your maidservant, saying, "Shlomo, your son, will rule after me, and he will sit on my throne"? So why has Adoniyah become king?'
14 Hineh odach medaberet sham im-hamelech va'ani avo acharaych umileti et-devarayich
While you are still speaking there with the king, I will come after you and complete your words."
Natan did not want to be the first to complain about Adoniyah.  He had been the one to convey G-d's word to David that he appoint Shlomo to succeed him.  He did not want to appear to be trying to defend his own prophecy, so he asked Bat-Sheva to break the news to David..

But why did Natan feel it necessary to take any action on behalf of Shlomo?  Had not G-d told him that Shlomo would be the next king?  What could Adoniyah do against the word of G-d?  King Shlomo himself later wrote in the Sefer Mishlei (19:21), "Many are the thoughts in the heart of man, but it is the will of G-d that prevails."  G-d did not need Natan's help to bring His word to fruition.

Could Natan have doubted the truth of his own prophecy?  Certainly not!  But perhaps he was afraid that G-d no longer favored Shlomo.  Prophecy is, after all, not necessarily unconditional.  If a person sins, the blessings that were in store for him may be taken away even if they had been foretold by a prophet.  The Jewish People were supposed to enter the Holy Land during the second year after the exodus from Egypt, but because they sinned and did not trust G-d they were condemned to wander in the desert for forty years instead.  Shaul, too, had been made king of Yisrael, and his descendants were to follow him, but the throne was taken away from them for his failure to eradicated Amalek as G-d had commanded.

15 Vatavo Vat-Sheva el-hamelech hachadrah vehamelech zaken me'od va'Avishag haShunamit mesharat et-hamelech
Bat-Sheva went to the king, into the inner room.  The king was very old, and Avishag, the Shunamit, was serving the king.
16 Vatikod Bat-Sheva vatishtachu lamelech vayomer hamelech mah-lach
Bat-Sheva bent her head and bowed to the king.  The king said, "What is your problem?"
17 Vatomer lo adoni atah nishbata b'HaShem Elokeicha la'amatecha ki-Shlomo venech yimeloch acharai vehu yeshev al-kis'i
She said to him, "My master, your swore by HaShem your G-d, to your maidservant, Shlomo your son, will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.'
18 Ve'atah hineh Adoniyah malach ve'atah adoni hamelech lo yadata
But now, behold, Adoniyah has become king, and you, my master the king, did not know.
19 Vayizbach shor umeri-vetzon larov vayikra lechol-benei hamelech ule-Evyatar hakohen ule-Yo'av sar hatzava veli-Shlomoh avdecha lo kara
He has slaughtered many oxen and fattened animals and sheep, and invited all the children of the kin, and Evyatar the priest and Yoav, the general of the army, but Shlomo, your servant, he did not invite.
20 Ve'atah adoni hamelech einei chol-Isra'el aleicha lehagid lahem mi yeshev al-kise adoni-hamelech acharav
You, my master, the king, the eyes of all Yisrael are upon you, to tell them who will sit on the throne of my master, the king, after him.
21 Vehayah kishchav adoni-hamelech im-avotav vehayiti ani uveni Shlomo chata'im
When my master, the king, will lie with his fathers, then will I and my son Shlomo be considered sinners."
The Tanach again mentions David's age to emphasize the great effort required to arise and oppose Adoniyah.  He no longer had the strength to rule the people or mediate in their disputes.  The many years of fighting and suffering had taken their toll of him.  He could not even teach Torah or serve as a spiritual guide. Even the company of his wives and closest friends was too great a strain upon him.  Avishag alone took care of him and was his constant companion.  Nonetheless, when he heard of the danger to his son, Shlomo, he arose like a lion in his defense.

As soon as he saw Bat-Sheva, David realized that something was the matter.  She would never have troubled him were it not something serious.  So, without any delay or formalities, he asked her what it was.

Bat-Sheva prepared her words with great thought and deliberation.  She began addressing David as "my master," an expression of respect rather than familiarity.  Then she proceeded to remind him of the oath he had taken to appoint Shlomo as his successor.  She alluded to several aspects of this oath which it absolutely binding.  First, it was made using G-d's Name, as she said, "you swore by HaShem, your G-d." Furthermore, the oath had been made as a personal promise to her, as she said, "to your maidservant."  Such an oath cannot be revoked without the permission of the person to whom it was made.

Nor was there anything intrinsically wrong with the oath, that it might be invalidated. Although Adoniyah was older, Shlomo was also King David's son, and therefore fit to succeed him. Bat-Sheva also quoted David's own words, "Shlomo, your son, will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne."  He could not deny that he had said it himself.

Why had David made this promise?  When the first son of David and Bat-Sheva died, she became very depressed.  She said, "Even if I have another son and even if he survives, the rest of David's children will never treat him as an equal."  She would hot have relations with him again until he came to her and said, "G-d has revealed to me that you will, indeed, have another son, and that he will be king after me and sit on my throne."  David specifically used two expressions, "be king after me" and "sit on my throne" to indicate two aspects of Shlomo's reign.  But the expression "be king after me" he foretold that Shlomo would rule over all twelve tribes, just as he himself had done.  By the words "sit on my throne" he indicated that Shlomo's reign would be one of peace and prosperity.  Shlomo would be able to spend his days sitting on his throne, judging and guiding his people, and he would not have to go out to war.

After this introduction, Bat-Sheva proceeded to describe the rebellion of Adoniyah.

Bat-Sheva concluded by reminding David of the gravity of the situation and the potential danger.  Some say the words vehayiti ani uveni Shlomo mean "I and my son Shlomo will be sinners." We will actually have sinned by not telling you now, when we should have.  We will therefore deserve whatever befalls us, as well as being responsible for whatever tragedy befalls the Jewish People as a result of our negligence.

Other say it means "we will be treated like sinners."  Adoniyah will have us killed or exiled so that his claim to the throne will not be disputed.

Thus, not only did Bat-Sheva follow Natan's advice to alert David of Adoniyah's rebellion. She greatly improved upon it.  In her wisdom she presented her case in such a way that David would almost certainly arise on her behalf.

22 Vehineh odenah medaberet im-hamelech veNatan hanavi ba
She was still speaking with the king, and Natan the prophet came.
23 Vayagidu lamelech lemor hineh Natan hanavi vayavo lifnei hamelech vayishtachu lamelech al-apav artzah
They told the king, "Here is Natan, the prophet!"  He came to the king,a nd he bowed on his face to the ground to the king.
Natan did not ask for permission to enter King David's presence.  A prophet has the right to see the king whenever he needs to and even to speak before the king grants him permission.  Nonetheless, he must show the same respect for the king as anyone else.  He must stand up and bow before him, and not sit unless the king gives him leave.  If the king summons him, he must come and appear before him.

The only one who does not have to show this sort of respect for the king is the Kohen Gadol (High Priest).  He is not required to come at the king's request, and if he does choose to come, he does not have to stand.  On the contrary, there are situations in which the king must stand for him, as it says, "before Eleazar, the priest, he will stand" (BaMidbar 27:21). That is when the king asking the advice of the Urim and Tumim.  Nonetheless, it is proper for the High Priest to show the king respect of his own volition.  Like all other Jews, he is commanded to honor the king, as it says, "You will surely put a king upon yourselves" (Devarim 17:15).  It is the duty of the people to elevate the king above everyone else.

24 Vayomer Natan adoni hamelech atah amarta Adoniyahu yimeloch acharai vehu yeshev al-kis'i
Natan said, "Did you say, 'Adoniyah will rule after me, and he will sit on my throne'?
25 Ki yarad hayom vayizbach shor umeri-vetzon larov vayikra lechol-benei hamelech ulesarei hatzava ule-Evyatar hakohen vehinam ochlim veshotim lefanav vayomeru yechi hamelech Adoniyahu
For he has gone down today, and slaughtered many oxen and fatted animals and sheep.  He invited all the children of the king, and all the officers of the army, and Evyatar, the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and they said, 'Long live King Adoniyah!"
26 Veli ani-avdecha ule-Tzadok hakohen veli-Vnayahu ven-Yehoyada veli-Shlomoh avdecha lo kara
But as for me, your servant, and Tzadok, the priest, and Bnayahu ben Yehoyada, and Shlomo, your servant he did not invite us.
27 Im me'et adoni hamelech niheyah hadavar hazeh velo hodata et-avdecha mi yeshev al-kise adoni-hamelech acharav
Is this thing from my master, the king, and you did not let your sevants know who would sit on the throne of my master, the king, after him?"
Natan took the approach opposite that of Bat-Sheva.  He began by pretending that he did not know whether Adoniyah was acting with David's permission or not.  He said, "Have you perhaps changed your mind about whom you have chosen to be your successor?  Why did you not inform me?  Is it that you know I support Shlomo?" (Abrabanel)

He went on to describe the extent of Adoniyah's support. Whereas Bat-Sheva had tried to minimize it so that David would not be afraid he had lost the people's loyalty, Natan wanted to make clear to David that Adoniyah had indeed rebelled against him. He even told David that Adoniyah's followers had already declared him king and were toasting him as such.

It was not mentioned above that they had actually called Adoniyah "king," but Natan knew it and told David.  Thus the Tanach reveals here something that was omitted before.  We find many instances like that in the Tanach.  The same story is told in two places, but with different details.  Between them we can put together a more complete picture of what actually happened.

The differences between Natan's presentation and Bat-Sheva's reflect their very different positions and the different ways in which they were affected by the situation.  As a prophet, it was Natan's duty to rebuke the king and correct him when he erred.  A prophet dare not fear those to whom he has been sent, or be afraid of incurring their wrath, lest he hesitate to criticize them as he should.  He must confront them with the full force of their sins.  He is G-d's messenger.  He does not speak for himself.

Natan therefore presented David with the worst possible interpretation of Adoniyah's actions.  He laid the entire responsibility on David himself, assuming that everything he had done was with David's approval.  Some even understand these words as a statement rather than a question:  "You said, 'Adoniyah will rule after me, and he will sit on my throne.'"

Bat-Sheva, on the other hand, did not want to appear to be falsely accusing the king.  Being a concerned party, her criticism could not be objective.  She therefore came not to criticize David, but to plead for herself and for her son.

28 Vaya'an hamelech David vayomer kir'u-li le-Vat-Shava vatavo lifnei hamelech vata'amod lifnei hamelech
King David answered and said, "Call Bat-Sheva to me!"  She came before the king and stood before the king.
29 Vayishava hamelech vayomar chai-HaShem asher-padah et-nafshi mikol-tzara
Then the king swore, saying, "By the life of G-d Who saved my soul from all trouble,
30 Ki ka'asher nishbati lach b'HaShem Elokei Yisra'el lemor ki-Shlomoh venech yimloch acharai vehu yeshev al-kis'i tachtai ki ken e'eseh hayom hazeh
as I swore to you by HaShem, the G-d of Yisrael, saying that Shlomo your son would be king after me, and that he would sit on my throne in my place, so will I do this very day!"
Some say that Bat-Sheva left the room when Natan came in.  She did not want David to realize that they had arranged to come one after the other.  Nor did it seem strange to David that she left, as Natan might have had something private to discuss that he did not want even the king's wife to hear.  Others say that she moved away from David's bed, but did not leave.

David wanted to address his answer to her rather than to Natan because she was the one who was most affected by it. It was to her that he had sworn before, and now he would reaffirm that oath.

By the words, "from all trouble" David referred to three dangers that had threatened him during his lifetime.  They were, his wars with the Pelishtim, the persecution of Shaul, and the rebellion of Avshalom.  These were not just personal dangers. All three threatened to take his kingdom away from him.  It was therefore fitting to mention them now, as he promised the kingdom of Shlomo.  He said, "Just as G-d made me King of Yisrael, even though there were many that opposed me and would have destroyed me, so will Shlomo become king in spite of all his enemies.

31 Vatikod Bat-Sheva apayim eretz vatishtachu lamelech vatomer yechi adoni hamelech David le'olam
Bat-Sheva bowed on her face to the ground and prostrated herself to the king, and said, "May my master, King David, live forever."
When Bat-Sheva gave David this blessing, she was not referring to life in this world.  David was already close to death.  It would be nothing but a mockery to wish long life to one who is lying on his deathbed.  Furthermore, even a healthy person knows that he will not live forever.  It only a very exceptional person like the prophet Eliyahu who escapes physical death.  Even the greatest of prophets and the most pious men eventually die.  Such a blessing is not realistic.  To pray for such a thing is to pray in vain.

In this particular case, there is another reason that Bat-Sheva could not have meant physical life.  If David really were to live forever, she and Shlomo would be in no danger from Adoniyah.  Adoniyah would not try to take the throne from David as long as he was alive.  There would therefore have been no need for Shlomo to become king.

Bat-Sheva might also have been alluding to the enteral life that David would merit by having a son following in his footsteps.  As long as a person leaves children who continue his good deeds in this world, it is as if he never died.  His soul shares in the merit of their good deeds, so it is continually rising higher in Paradise.  They carry on his work for him when he is no longer able to do it himself.  That is why the Tanach later says, "David lay with his fathers," rather than "David died."  Even after he died, it was as if he was still alive, because his sons, Shlomo, carried on his good work.

Parashat Chayei Sarah

MeAm Lo'ez 

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