Itโs time to look at the story of David and Bat Sheva. I assume everyone knows the story, or at least enough to have strong opinions about it. Weโll see how our preconceptions work with the text itself.
Good artists copy. Great artists steal.
I make no claim to greatness, but my approach to bat Sheva comes from an integration of my understanding of Rabbis Moshe Eisemann (Artscroll Divrei Hayamim I, A Pearl in the Sand and Music Made in Heaven), David Fohrman (The David and Batsheva Episode) and Yaakov Medan (ืืืจ ื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืงืื and ืืืืืช ืืช-ืฉืืข). Any errors or heresies are of course mine. Itโs a way of reading the story not as a love story but a story of power, failure and redemption, that goes from the delegation to Amon in ืคืจืง ื to the end of Avshalomโs rebellion in ืคืจืง ืื. It is a ืกืคืจ ื ืืืื, the story of what it means to be a ืืื ืืฉืจืื.
Part of the problem I have is that the story is pretty R-rated. Iโm a pediatrician and I have to be very explicit in talking about these sorts of things with teenagers, but Iโm uncomfortable using explicit language in the ืืืช ืืืจืฉ. So I will stick with ืืฉืื ื ืงืืื, and assume everyone knows what I mean by โconjugal relationsโ. ืืืดื, however, have no such compunctions, and I may have to use euphemisms in translating.
It is impossible to read the story of Bat Sheva as careful readers without keeping in mind its literary antecedents throughout ืชื ืดื. More than that, I would assume that David himself was aware of these stories as well, and they influenced how he thought about Bat Sheva. The antecedents we will look at are the stories of Davidโs literal ancestors, ืืืืื and ืชืืจ, of ืืขื and ืจืืช, and of ืืื himself and ืืืืื. Rav Medan would add the story of ืื ืืช ืืื as well, but think that will take us too far afield.
Yehudahโs story starts right after the sale of Yosef:
ื ืืืงื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืขืจ ืืืืจื; ืืฉืื ืชืืจื
ื ืืืื ืขืจ ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืจืข ืืขืื ื ืืณ; ืืืืชืื ืืณื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืื ื ืื ืื ืืฉืช ืืืื ืืืื ืืชื; ืืืงื ืืจืข ืืืืืื
ื ืืืืข ืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืจืข; ืืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืฉืช ืืืื ืืฉืืช ืืจืฆื ืืืืชื ื ืชื ืืจืข ืืืืืื
ื ืืืจืข ืืขืื ื ืืณ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื; ืืืืช ืื ืืชืื
ืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืชืืจ ืืืชื ืฉืื ืืืื ื ืืืช ืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืฉืื ืื ื ืื ืืืจ ืคื ืืืืช ืื ืืื ืืืืื; ืืชืื ืชืืจ ืืชืฉื ืืืช ืืืืื
โฆืื ืืชืกืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืืชื ืืขืืื ืืชืืก ืืฆืขืืฃ ืืชืชืขืืฃ ืืชืฉื ืืคืชื ืขืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืขื ืืจื ืชืื ืชื; ืื ืจืืชื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืื ื ืชื ื ืื ืืืฉืื
ืื ืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืืฉืื ืืืื ื; ืื ืืกืชื ืคื ืืื
โฆืื ืืืื ืืืฉืืฉ ืืืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืชื ืชืืจ ืืืชื ืืื ืื ื ืืจื ืืื ืื ืื; ืืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืฆืืืื ืืชืฉืจืฃื
โฆืื ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืืจ ืฆืืงื ืืื ื ืื ืขื ืื ืื ื ืชืชืื ืืฉืื ืื ื; ืืื ืืกืฃ ืขืื ืืืขืชืื
Tamar has twin sons, ืคึถืจึถืฅ and ืึธืจึทื, from Yehudah and it is unclear if they remain married or not:
ืืื ืืกืฃ ืขืื: ืึตืฉื ืืึนืึฐืจึดืื ืึนื ืืึนืกึดืืฃ, ืึฐืึตืฉื ืืึนืึฐืจึดืื ืึนื ืคึธืกึทืง. ืึทืึฒืึตืจืึน ืึผึทืึผึตื ืึถืึฐืึผึธื ืึผืึตืืึธื, ืึฐืึนื ืึธืกึธืคืึผ, ืึผืึฐืชึทืจึฐืึผึฐืึดืื ึธื ืึฐืึธื ืคึผึฐืกึธืงืึผ.
Ruth meets Boaz (who is Naomiโs husbandโs nephew) when she is gleaning in his fields, but Naomi tells her to go back to him that night:
ื ืืืืื ืืขื ืืืฉืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืื ืืงืฆื ืืขืจืื; ืืชืื ืืื ืืชืื ืืจืืืชืื ืืชืฉืืื
ื ืืืื ืืืฆื ืืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืฉ ืืืืคืช; ืืื ื ืืฉื ืฉืืืช ืืจืืืชืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืื ืืช; ืืชืืืจ ืื ืื ืจืืช ืืืชื ืืคืจืฉืช ืื ืคื ืขื ืืืชื ืื ืืื ืืชืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืจืืื ืืช ืืืณ ืืชื ืืืืืช ืืกืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืจืืฉืื; ืืืืชื ืืืช ืืืจื ืืืืืจืื ืื ืื ืืื ืขืฉืืจื
ืื ืืขืชื ืืชื ืื ืชืืจืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืชืืืจื ืืขืฉื ืื; ืื ืืืืข ืื ืฉืขืจ ืขืื ืื ืืฉืช ืืื ืืชื
ืื ืืขืชื ืื ืืื ื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื; ืืื ืืฉ ืืื ืงืจืื ืืื ืื
ืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืงืจ ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืคืฅ ืืืืื ืืืืืชืื ืื ืื ืื ืืณ; ืฉืืื ืขื ืืืงืจื
ืื ืืชืฉืื ืืจืืืืชื ืขื ืืืงืจ ืืชืงื ืืืจื ืืืืจ ืืืฉ ืืช ืจืขืื; ืืืืืจ ืื ืืืืข ืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืจืื
Itโs clear that nothing untoward happened between them that night, but it certainly could have:
ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืื ื: ืชืืงืคื ืฉื ืืืกืฃ ืขื ืืืชื ืืชื ืฉื ืืืขืโฆืืืชืื (ืจืืช ื:ื) โืืืื ืืืฆื ืืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืฉ ืืืืคืชโ. ืืื โืืืืคืชโ? ืืืจ ืจื: ืฉื ืขืฉื ืืฉืจื ืืจืืฉื ืืคืชืืช.
ืชืืงืคื ืฉื ืืืกืฃ ืขื ืืืชื ืืชื ืฉื ืืืขื: ืืืจ ืืืื ืฉื ืืืกืฃ ืืืืจ ืงื ืืงืื ืฉืืืืขื; ืชืืงืฃ ืืืจ ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืฉ ืื ืฉื; ืขื ืื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืฉื ืฉืืื ืขืืฉื ืืคื ืชืืื.
ืืจืืฉื ืืคืชืืช: ื ืชืงืฉื ืืืขืคืดื ืืืฉ ืืฆืจื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืคื ืืื ืืืชื ืืขืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืกืฃ ืืฉืช ืืืฉ ืืืชื ืืืื ื ืขืื ืืืืื.
David meets Avigail while he is on the run from Saul, when he is the leader of a band of vigilantes in ืืืืจ ืืืืื:
ื ืืืืฉ ืืืขืื ืืืขืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืืืืฉ ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืฆืื ืฉืืฉืช ืืืคืื ืืืืฃ ืขืืื; ืืืื ืืืื ืืช ืฆืื ื ืืืจืืื
ื ืืฉื ืืืืฉ ื ืื ืืฉื ืืฉืชื ืืืืื; ืืืืฉื ืืืืช ืฉืื ืืืคืช ืชืืจ ืืืืืฉ ืงืฉื ืืจืข ืืขืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื
โฆืื ืืืืืืืื ืืฉืช ื ืื ืืืื ื ืขืจ ืืื ืืื ืขืจืื ืืืืจ; ืื ื ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืืจื ืืช ืืื ืื ื ืืืขื ืืืื
โฆืื ืืชืืืจ ืืืืืื (ืืืืืื) ืืชืงื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืฉื ืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืืฉ ืฆืื ืขืฉืืืืช ืืืืฉ ืกืืื ืงืื ืืืื ืฆืืงืื ืืืืชืื ืืืืื; ืืชืฉื ืขื ืืืืจืืื
โฆื ืืืื ืืื ืจืืืช ืขื ืืืืืจ ืืืจืืช ืืกืชืจ ืืืจ ืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืจืืื ืืงืจืืชื; ืืชืคืืฉ ืืชืื
โฆืื ืืชืจื ืืืืืื ืืช ืืื ืืชืืืจ ืืชืจื ืืขื ืืืืืจ; ืืชืคื ืืืคื ืืื ืขื ืคื ืื ืืชืฉืชืื ืืจืฅื
ืื ืืชืคื ืขื ืจืืืื ืืชืืืจ ืื ืื ื ืืื ื ืืขืื; ืืชืืืจ ื ื ืืืชื ืืืื ืื ืืฉืืข ืืช ืืืจื ืืืชืื
ืื ืื ื ื ืืฉืื ืืื ื ืืช ืืื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืืขื ืืื ืขื ื ืื ืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืื ื ืื ืฉืื ืื ืืื ืขืื; ืืื ื ืืืชื ืื ืจืืืชื ืืช ื ืขืจื ืืื ื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืืชื
ืื ืืขืชื ืืื ื ืื ืืณ ืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืฉืจ ืื ืขื ืืณ ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืฉืข ืืื ืื; ืืขืชื ืืืื ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืืืงืฉืื ืื ืืื ื ืจืขืื
ืื ืืขืชื ืืืจืื ืืืืช ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืฉืคืืชื ืืืื ื; ืื ืชื ื ืื ืขืจืื ืืืชืืืืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืื
โฆืื ืืื ืชืืื ืืืช ืื ืืคืืงื ืืืืืฉืื ืื ืืืื ื ืืืฉืคื ืื ืื ื ืืืืืฉืืข ืืื ื ืื; ืืืืื ืืณ ืืืื ื ืืืืจืช ืืช ืืืชืื
โฆืื ืืืฉืืข ืืื ืื ืืช ื ืื ืืืืืจ ืืจืื ืืณ ืืฉืจ ืจื ืืช ืจืื ืืจืคืชื ืืื ื ืื ืืืช ืขืืื ืืฉื ืืจืขื ืืืช ืจืขืช ื ืื ืืฉืื ืืณ ืืจืืฉื; ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืืืื ืืงืืชื ืื ืืืฉืื
โฆืื ืืชืืืจ ืืชืงื ืืืืืื ืืชืจืื ืขื ืืืืืจ ืืืืฉ ื ืขืจืชืื ืืืืืืช ืืจืืื; ืืชืื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืื ืืชืื ืื ืืืฉืื
We dealt with Avigail in great detail back then. To summarize, it certainly seems as though she is flirting with David here, and he rushes to take her as soon as her husband is dead. ืืืดื saw something sordid in their interaction as well:
ืื ืืืืช ืืืคืืจื ืืื ืื
ืืืจื ืืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืื) ืืืืื ืืณ ืืืืื ื
ืืืืจืช ืืช ืืืชื
ืืืจ ืจื ื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืืืจื ืืื ืฉื
ืืืชืชื ืืืื ืฉืืชื ืคืืืื
ืืืื ืืืืจื
ืฉืคืื ืืืืื ืืจ ืืืืื
ืืขืื ืืื ืืืืืืคื
When she left him she said to him,
"and when the Lord shall have done good to my lord
. . . then remember thy handmaid."
R. Nahman said: This bears out the popular saying,
While a woman talks she spins.
Some adduce the saying:
The goose stoops as it goes along,
but its eyes peer afar.
The Midrash says there was a physical attraction between them from the start:
ืื ื ืืื ืจืืืืช ืขื ืืืืืจ ืืืจืืช ืืกืชืจ ืืืจ ืืืืณ: ื ืชืืื ืฉืืงื ืืืืื ืืืืจื, ื ืชืืืืช ืฉืืงื ืืชืคืืฉ ืืืชื, ืืงืจื ืืืื.
ืืื ืชืืื ืื ืืืช ืืคืืงื:โฆืื ืืืืืืื ืื, ืืืจื ืืื ืกืืคื ืืืืฉื ืืืฉื ืืืจืช, ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืช ืืื ืืฉืชืื?
As the midrash says, ืืืจื ืืื ืกืืคื ืืืืฉื ืืืฉื ืืืจืช. The story of Avigail and David, even at the level of ืคืฉื, is foreshadowing the story of Bat Sheva and David. ืืืดื understand that Avigail was in fact a ื ืืื, and her message to David was to beware of this exact situation. It seems that throughout ืชื ืดื there are these stories of apparent impropriety in the predecessors of David. Why?
The cradle of the monarchy is the cradle of the Melech HaMoshiach whose function it will be to eliminate all ambiguities. The time will come when we will understand it all. That is what Moshiach is all about.
โฆ The pivotal couplings in the establishment of the messianic lineโฆwere all fraught with ambiguities because these were meant to teach us that it is the nature of Moshiach not be daunted by appearances. When directed by the Ribono shel Olam, means can be sanctified by ends, and surface question marks can find their answers in the depths of divine wisdom and understanding.
Pace Rabbi Eisemann, I donโt like this answer. It smacks too much of Sabbateanism:
[T]he nihilism of the Sabbatian and Frankist movements, with its
doctrine so profoundly shocking to the Jewish conception of things that the violation of the Torah
could become its true fulfillment (bittulah shel torah zehu kiyyumah), was a dialectical outgrowth of
the belief in the Messiahship of Sabbatai Zeviโฆ
As long as the last divine sparks (nitzotzot) of holiness and good which fell at the time of Adamโs primordial sin into the impure realm of the kelipot (the hylic forces of evilโฆ) have not been gathered back again to their sourceโso the explanation ranโthe process of redemption is incomplete. It is therefore left to the Redeemer, the holiest of men, to accomplish what not even the most righteous souls in the past have been able to do: to descend through the gates of impurity into the realm of the kelipot and to rescue the divine sparks still imprisoned there.
โฆ
[From an essay by a Sabbatean:] โBut perhaps one can interpret the meaning of the text as follows: since such a person intends his deeds to redound to the benefit of all Israel โฆ if after sinning and passing through the kelipah he reconsiders and repents completely, he undoubtedly succeeds in raising up many sparks from the kelipah.โ
โฆ
Among the leaders of the Donmeh the antinomian blessing composed by Sabbatai Zevi, โBlessed art Thou O Lord our God, King of the universe, who permittest the forbidden [mattir isurim],โ became a byword.
So, what else to these stories have in common? In each, there is a childless widow who actively pursues her man. The gemara says:
ืืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืืจืืฉ ืืงืืฉ; ืืืืจ ืจืดื: ืื ืืืืชื ืื ืื ืืืืืชื ืืจืืื.
Rabbi Shulman argues that in each of these stories the marriage is a form of ืืกื for a woman who could not otherwise be supported in the society of ืชื ืดื. This is certainly true for Tamar and Ruth. But Avigail is a rich, beautiful widow. She would surely have no problem finding a husband if she so desired. When David takes her, it is not a ืืกื to her. I would argue that each of these stories are a form of ืืืื which is a ืืกื is to their late husbands.
ื ืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืชืืื ืืฉืช ืืืช ืืืืฆื ืืืืฉ ืืจ; ืืืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืืงืื ืื ืืืฉื ืืืืืื
ื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช; ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืื ืื ืืืคืฅ ืืืืฉ ืืงืืช ืืช ืืืืชื; ืืขืืชื ืืืืชื ืืฉืขืจื ืื ืืืงื ืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืืืื ืืืงืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืืฉืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื
ื ืืงืจืื ืื ืืงื ื ืขืืจื ืืืืจื ืืืื; ืืขืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืคืฆืชื ืืงืืชืื
ื ืื ืืฉื ืืืืชื ืืืื ืืขืื ื ืืืงื ืื ืืืืฆื ื ืขืื ืืขื ืจืืื ืืืจืงื ืืคื ืื; ืืขื ืชื ืืืืจื ืืื ืืขืฉื ืืืืฉ ืืฉืจ ืื ืืื ื ืืช ืืืช ืืืืื
ื ืื ืงืจื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื; ืืืช ืืืืฅ ืื ืขืื
In the case of Yehuda, it is explicitly called ืืืื. In the case of Boaz, it is clear from the ืืืืื of Naomiโs field that the goal was ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืช:
ื ืืืขื ืขืื ืืฉืขืจ ืืืฉื ืฉื ืืื ื ืืืื ืขืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืืจ ืืขื ืืืืืจ ืกืืจื ืฉืื ืคื ืคืื ื ืืืื ื; ืืืกืจ ืืืฉืื
ื ืืืงื ืขืฉืจื ืื ืฉืื ืืืงื ื ืืขืืจ ืืืืืจ ืฉืื ืคื; ืืืฉืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืงืช ืืฉืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืื ื ืืืืืืื; ืืืจื ื ืขืื ืืฉืื ืืฉืื ืืืืื
ื ืืื ื ืืืจืชื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืจ ืงื ื ื ืื ืืืฉืืื ืื ืื ืืงื ื ืขืื ืื ืชืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืืืข (ืืืืขื) ืื ืืื ืืืืชื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืจืื; ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืขื ืืืื ืงื ืืชื ืืฉืื ืืื ื ืขืื; ืืืืช ืจืืช ืืืืืืื ืืฉืช ืืืช ืงื ืืช ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืช ืขื ื ืืืชืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืคื ืืฉืืืช ืืช ื ืืืชื; ืืื ืื ืืชื ืืช ืืืืชื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื
ื ืืืืช ืืคื ืื ืืืฉืจืื ืขื ืืืืื ืืขื ืืชืืืจื ืืงืื ืื ืืืจ ืฉืืฃ ืืืฉ ื ืขืื ืื ืชื ืืจืขืื; ืืืืช ืืชืขืืื ืืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืืขื ืงื ื ืื; ืืืฉืืฃ ื ืขืืื
ื ืืืืืจ ืืขื ืืืงื ืื ืืื ืืขื ืขืืื ืืชื ืืืื ืื ืงื ืืชื ืืช ืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืืืื ืืืช ืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ื ืขืืื
ื ืืื ืืช ืจืืช ืืืืืื ืืฉืช ืืืืื ืงื ืืชื ืื ืืืฉื ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืช ืขื ื ืืืชื ืืื ืืืจืช ืฉื ืืืช ืืขื ืืืื ืืืฉืขืจ ืืงืืื; ืขืืื ืืชื ืืืืื
ืื ืืืืืจื ืื ืืขื ืืฉืจ ืืฉืขืจ ืืืืงื ืื ืขืืื; ืืชื ืืณ ืืช ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืืชื ืืจืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ื ืฉืชืืื ืืช ืืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืขืฉื ืืื ืืืคืจืชื ืืงืจื ืฉื ืืืืช ืืืื
ืื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืืืช ืคืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืชืืจ ืืืืืื ืื ืืืจืข ืืฉืจ ืืชื ืืณ ืื ืื ืื ืขืจื ืืืืชื
ืื ืืืงื ืืขื ืืช ืจืืช ืืชืื ืื ืืืฉื ืืืื ืืืื; ืืืชื ืืณ ืื ืืจืืื ืืชืื ืืื
โฆืื ืืชืงืจืื ื ืื ืืฉืื ืืช ืฉื ืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืื ืขืื; ืืชืงืจืื ื ืฉืื ืขืืื ืืื ืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืื
The gemara (ืืื ืืฆืืขื ืื,ื) explains that ืืคื ืื ืืืฉืจืืโฆืืงืื ืื ืืืจ wasnโt specifically a shoe; that was chosen here to evoke the ceremony of ืืืืฆื.
And in fact, the child, ืขืืื, fills the role of ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช:
Coming back to Ovedโwithin the context of yibum's logic, he is less the son of Boaz than of the dead Machlon. The neighboring women were right when they declared, โA son [or, more generically, a descendant] has been born to NaomiโโMachlonโs mother. Through the birth of Oved, Naomiโs own child, Machlon, became a father. The child in a sense came from her.
And in the case of David an Avigail, they also have a son. That son is named ืืืื, which evokes ื ืื's description as ืืืื ืืืื, โhe was a descendant of Calebโ:
ื ืืืืืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืืืืจืื; ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ืขื ืืืืจืขืืืชื ื ืืืฉื ืื ืืืื ืืืืืืื ืืฉืช ื ืื ืืืจืืื; ืืืฉืืฉื ืืืฉืืื ืื ืืขืื ืืช ืชืืื ืืื ืืฉืืจื
ืืขื ืืืช ืืื ืชื ื, ืืคืจืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืืขืื ืคืจืฉืช ืืืืืโฆืืืืช ืืื, ืฉืืจ
ืืฉืจื ืฉื ืืขืื, ืชืืกืืฃ ืืืืงืจื โืืืืืื ืืฉืช ื ืื ืืืจืืืโ. ืืื ืโฆืชืงืจื ืืืืโืืืื ืืงืื ืขื
ืฉื ืืขืื ืืืช, ืื ืฆืจ ืืขืืงืจื ืืืืช ืืืโฆืื ืืืื ืืืืืื,
ืืฉื ืฉืื ืืจืชื ืชืืจ ืืืช ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื. ืฉืชืืื ืืืื ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืขืืืื ืืืืืื, ืฉืื ืืืืื
ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื.
ืืืืจืื ื ืืื, ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืงื ืืืืืื ืขื ืฉื ื ืื ืืขื ื ืืืชื.
And what that means is that ืืืื, of all the sons of David mentioned above, is never involved in the struggle for succession. He doesnโt have the status of a royal prince; his legacy is that of ื ืื ืืืจืืื.
What does it mean, ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื? There is a halachic ืืืื, which applies only to the brother of dead, but thereโs clearly something deeper underlying that. Even before the Torah was given, it says ืืืืข ืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืจืข. Thereโs one other place where the Torah uses the expression ืขื ืฉื ืืืืื: in Yaakovโs blessing to Yosefโs sons:
ืืืืืืชื ืืฉืจ ืืืืืช ืืืจืืื ืื ืืืื; ืขื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืงืจืื ืื ืืืชืื
ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื โืื ืืื. ืืชื ืืืืจ:
ืื ืืื, ืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืฉื? ืืืกืฃโืงืืจืื ืืืชื ืืืกืฃ, ืืืื ืโืงืืจืื
ืืืชื ืืืื ื? ื ืืืจ ืืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื, ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืขื ืฉื
ืืืืื ืืงืจืื ืื ืืืชื, ืื ืฉื ืืืืืจ ืืืื ื ืืื, ืืฃ ืฉื
ืืืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืื.
In strictly judicial terms, the child represents the financial legacy of the dead brother.
ืืืืื ืืช ืืืืชื, ืืืื ืื ืืกื ืืืช ืืขืืื ืืืงืืื ืืื ืืืงื ืื ืืกื ืืืืื.
But there is a spiritual legacy implied as well:
ืืืื ืืืชื ืืืงื ืืจืข ืืืืื: ืืื ืืงืจื ืขื ืฉื ืืืช ืืฉืื ืจืฉืดื. ืืืื ืื ืืืช ืื ืืืฆืืช ืืชืืจื ื ืืืจ ืื ืื (ืืืจืื ืื:ื) โืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืืโ ืืืื ืืืื ืืฆืืื ืืงืจื ืืื ื ืืฉื ืืืื ืืืช. ืืืืจ ืืืืขื (ืจืืช ื:ื) โืืื ืืช ืจืืช ืืืืืืื ืืฉืช ืืืืื ืงื ืืชื ืื ืืืฉื ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืช ืขื ื ืืืชื ืืื ืืืจืช ืฉื ืืืช ืืขื ืืืื ืืืฉืขืจ ืืงืืืโ ืืชืงืจืื ื ืืืชื ืขืืื ืื ืืืืื. ืืขืื ืฉืืืจ โืืืืข ืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืจืขโ ืืื ืืจืขื ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืขืืื ืขื ืื ืืฉืืืช ืืจืขื ืืคื ืื ืื ืืงืจื ืฉื ืื ื ืืฉื ืืืื ืืืช? ืืจืื ืื ื ืืืื ืืชืืืื ืืขืฉืืช ืื; ืืื ืืืจ ืืืชืื โืืืืืจ ืืื ืโ ืืื ืืืจ โืืืืข ืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืจืขโ ืื ืืืืขื ืืจืืจื ืืืชื ืื ืืื, ืฉืื ืืืื ืื ืืืจืข. ืืื ืืขื ืื ืกืื ืืืื ืืกืืืืช ืืชืืจื ืืชืืืืช ืืืื ืื ืืจ ืืื ืืขืื ื ืจืืืื ืืฉืจ ื ืชื ืืื ืืฉื ืขืื ืื ืืจืืืช ืืืื ืื ืืฉืืืข. ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืงืืืื ืื ืงืืื ืืชืืจื ืืืืขืื ืื ืืฉ ืชืืขืืช ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืช ืงืืื ืื, ืืืืจืื ืืงืจืื ืืืฉืคืื, ืื ืื ืฉืืจื ืืงืจืื ืืืื ืืืฉืคืืชื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืืจืฉ ื ืืื ืืืืข ืืื ื ืชืืขืืชโฆืืืืฉืจ ืืืชื ืืชืืจื ืืืกืจื ืืฉืช ืงืฆืช ืืงืจืืืื ืจืฆื ืืงืืดื ืืืชืืจ ืืืกืืจ ืืฉืช ืืื ืืคื ื ืืืืื, ืืื ืจืฆื ืฉืืืื ืืคื ืื ืืืกืืจ ืืฉืช ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืชืโฆืืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืงืืืื ืื ืืืขืชื ืืขื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืคื ืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืขืฉื ืืื ืืื ืืืจืฉื ืื ืืืโืืืืชื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืกืืจ ืืฉืืจโืืงืจืื ืืืชื ืืืืื. ืืืื ืขื ืื ืืืขื ืืืขื ื ืขืื ืืืฉืื ืืช ืืืืฉืืื ืืืื.
I donโt know anything about the ืกืื ืืืื that the Ramban mentions, but ืืืื means that the ืืืื must effectively raise someone elseโs child. The ืืืืจ is seen as the child of the ืืืื ืืืช, and that is an act of supreme ืืกื. I would argue that the ancestors of ืืืืืช ืืฉืจืื needed to be able to express that ืืกื, to be able to give up a claim on oneโs own child.
The reason is that the ืืืืืช is inherited; a peaceful, lawful succession requires a dynasty (they hadnโt yet invented elections):
ืื ืื ืชืื ืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ืืณ ืืืงืื ื ืชื ืื ืืืจืฉืชื ืืืฉืืชื ืื; ืืืืจืช ืืฉืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืกืืืืชืื
ืื ืฉืื ืชืฉืื ืขืืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืืณ ืืืืื ืื; ืืงืจื ืืืื ืชืฉืื ืขืืื ืืื ืื ืชืืื ืืชืช ืขืืื ืืืฉ ื ืืจื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืืื ืืืื
โฆ
ื ืืืืชื ืจืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืชื ืกืืจ ืื ืืืฆืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืขื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืืืชื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืงืจื ืืฉืจืืื
ืืื ืืื ืื: ืืืื ืฉืื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืืืืช, ืืื ืงืืื ืืื ืืื.
But the fact that this authority is inherited does not mean it belongs to the king, the way personal property does. The successor inherits power that is granted by ืืณ to the ืขื as a whole: ืฉืื ืชืฉืื ืขืืื ืืื.
ืืืื ืืืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืื. ืื ืื? ืืืจ ืจื ืืื ืืจ ืืขืงื, ืืืชืื: ืืืขื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืืืชื ืืืืณ, ืืจืืฉื ืืื ืืื. ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืงืช ืืขื ืืฉืืื, ืืืื ืื ืืืขื ืืืื ืืืจืืช ืืืืืชื ืืื ืื? ืืืจ ืจื ืคืคื, ืืืจ ืงืจื: ืืื ืืื ืื ืืงืจื ืืฉืจืื, ืืืื ืฉืฉืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืงืจืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื, ืืืคืืื ืืื ืืฉืืื.
ืืืฉืืฉ ืืืืืงืช ืคืกืงื ืืืจืืฉื. ืฉืื ืืชืื โืืื ืืื ืื ืืงืจื ืืฉืจืืโ, ืฉืืจืฆื ืืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืงืจื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืกืืืช ืืืื, ืื ืืื ืืืจืืฉ ืืช ืื ืื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉืืื. ืืื ืืฉ ืืืืืงืช, ืืื ืืจืืฉื ืืืื ื ืืชืืื ืืฆืจืื ืืฉืืื.
And that is the message that ืืณ sends to David:
ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืช ืืช ืืืชืื ืืืงืืืชื ืืช ืืจืขื ืืืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืืขืื; ืืืืื ืชื ืืช ืืืืืชืื
ืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืช ืืฉืื; ืืื ื ืชื ืืช ืืกื ืืืืืชื ืขื ืขืืืื
ืื ืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืขืืชื ืืืืืชืื ืืฉืื ืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืขื ืื ื ืืืื
David almost gets the message; he does marry Bat Sheva, who is a childless widow, and it is her son who becomes the crown prince. But he gets it profoundly wrong.
- Chutzpah
- That quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan