ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: No News is Good News

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Avshalom is dead, and David is in hiding in Machanayim. Achimatz, the son of Tzadok, wants to bring him the news.

ื•ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื‘ืŸ ืฆื“ื•ืง ืืžืจ ืืจื•ืฆื” ื ื ื•ืื‘ืฉืจื” ืืช ื”ืžืœืš; ื›ื™ ืฉืคื˜ื• ื”ืณ ืžื™ื“ ืื™ื‘ื™ื•ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—:ื™ื˜

Achimatz was the one who risked his life to tell David about Avshalomโ€™s plans in the first place.

ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื—ื•ืฉื™ ืืœ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ืืœ ืื‘ื™ืชืจ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื›ื–ืืช ื•ื›ื–ืืช ื™ืขืฅ ืื—ื™ืชืคืœ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื ื•ืืช ื–ืงื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื•ื›ื–ืืช ื•ื›ื–ืืช ื™ืขืฆืชื™ ืื ื™ืƒ ื˜ื– ื•ืขืชื” ืฉืœื—ื• ืžื”ืจื” ื•ื”ื’ื™ื“ื• ืœื“ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจ ืืœ ืชืœืŸ ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื‘ืขืจื‘ื•ืช ื”ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื’ื ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืชืขื‘ื•ืจ ืคืŸ ื™ื‘ืœืข ืœืžืœืš ื•ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืชื•ืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ืขืžื“ื™ื ื‘ืขื™ืŸ ืจื’ืœ ื•ื”ืœื›ื” ื”ืฉืคื—ื” ื•ื”ื’ื™ื“ื” ืœื”ื ื•ื”ื ื™ืœื›ื• ื•ื”ื’ื™ื“ื• ืœืžืœืš ื“ื•ื“; ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœื• ืœื”ืจืื•ืช ืœื‘ื•ื ื”ืขื™ืจื”ืƒ ื™ื— ื•ื™ืจื ืืชื ื ืขืจ ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœืื‘ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืœื›ื• ืฉื ื™ื”ื ืžื”ืจื” ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืื™ืฉ ื‘ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื ื•ืœื• ื‘ืืจ ื‘ื—ืฆืจื• ื•ื™ืจื“ื• ืฉืืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ืชืงื— ื”ืืฉื” ื•ืชืคืจืฉ ืืช ื”ืžืกืš ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื”ื‘ืืจ ื•ืชืฉื˜ื— ืขืœื™ื• ื”ืจืคื•ืช; ื•ืœื ื ื•ื“ืข ื“ื‘ืจืƒ ื› ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืืœ ื”ืืฉื” ื”ื‘ื™ืชื” ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืื™ื” ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื•ื™ื”ื•ื ืชืŸ ื•ืชืืžืจ ืœื”ื ื”ืืฉื” ืขื‘ืจื• ืžื™ื›ืœ ื”ืžื™ื; ื•ื™ื‘ืงืฉื• ื•ืœื ืžืฆืื• ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื–

And he seems to think that David will consider this good news.

ื›ื™ ืฉืคื˜ื• ื”ืณ: ืขืฉื” ืžืฉืคื˜ื•, ืœื ืงื•ื ื ืงืžืชื• ืžื™ื“ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื•.

ื•ืœืขื“ืดืŸ ืœืชืช ืกื‘ืจื ืœืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื•ื”ืคืฆืจื•ืชื• ืืฉืจ ื”ืจื‘ื” ืœื”ืคืฆื™ืจโ€ฆืฉื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื”ื™ื ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื‘ื‘ื—ื™ื ืช ืฉื”ืฉื™ืดืช ื™ืฆื ื•ื ืœื—ื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื›ื™ ื”ืจื™ ื”ื™ืขืจ ื•ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื‘ื• ื™ืžื—ืื• ื›ืฃ ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ืืœื” ื”ื™ื” ืœื” ืœื‘ ืœื”ื ืงื ืžืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื•ืžื™ ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื™ืดืช ืžื” ืชืขืฉื”, ืืœื (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงื:ื) ื—ึถืกึถื“ ื•ึผืžึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื˜ ืึธืฉึดืื™ืจึธื” ืœึฐืšึธโ€ฆื•ื–ื”ื• ืื•ืžืจื• ื•ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื‘ืŸ ืฆื“ื•ืง ืืžืจ ืืจื•ืฆื” ื•ืื‘ืฉืจื” ืืช ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืืขืคืดื™ ืฉืื™ื ื” ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื›ื™ ืœื ื ืขืœื ืžืžื ื• ืฉื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ืžืช, ืื‘ืœ ืชื”ื™ื” ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื‘ื‘ื—ื™ื ืช ืืฉืจ ืฉืคื˜ื• ื”ืณ, ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ื™ืฆื ื•ื ืœื—ื ื‘ื ืขืคืดื™ ืฉื ื™ื ืขื“ื™ื ื”ื™ืขืจ ื•ื”ืืœื”โ€ฆ

ื•ืœืขื“ืดืŸ ืฉืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื‘ื ื‘ื”ืฆืœืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื”ืขื ื‘ื’ื™ืœื•ื™ ืขืฆืช ื—ื•ืฉื™ ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื‘ื—ืจ ื’ืดื› ืœื’ืžื•ืจ ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ืœื‘ืฉืจ ืžื™ืชืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ืโ€ฆ[(ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื” ื›ื‘:ื–) โ€ื”ืžืชื—ื™ืœ ื‘ืžืฆื•ื•ื” ืื•ืžืจื™ื ืœื• ื’ืžื•ืจโ€œ].

ื›ืœื™ ื™ืงืจ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื™ื˜-ื›ื‘

But Yoav doesnโ€™t think this is a good idea.

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœื ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉืจื” ืืชื” ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื•ื‘ืฉืจืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ืื—ืจ; ื•ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืœื ืชื‘ืฉืจ ื›ื™ ืขืœ (ื›ืŸ) ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ืžืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—:ื›

ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ื”ืฉื™ื‘ื• ืœื ืื™ืฉ ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ืืชื” ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื”, ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืืชื” ืื“ื ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ื›ื”ืŸ ืœื”ืฉื ื•ืื™ืŸ ืจืื•ื™ ืฉืชื•ืœื™ืš ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื›ื™ ืื ืœืฉืžื— ื‘ื” ืืช ืฉื•ืžืขื”, ื•ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืœื ืชื‘ืฉืจ ื›ื™ ืžืช ื‘ืŸ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ืœื ื™ืฉืžื— ื“ื•ื“ ืขื ื”ืฉืžื•ืขื”.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืœ, ืฉื

So Yoav picks someone else.

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœื›ื•ืฉื™ ืœืš ื”ื’ื“ ืœืžืœืš ืืฉืจ ืจืื™ืชื”; ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ื›ื•ืฉื™ ืœื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ืจืฅืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—:ื›ื

He is a ื›ื•ืฉื™, usually translated as โ€œEthiopianโ€. ื›ื•ืฉ referred to all of Africa south of Egypt. ื›ื•ืฉ gave rise to the first empire:

ื• ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื—ื ื›ื•ืฉ ื•ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ืคื•ื˜ ื•ื›ื ืขืŸืƒ ื– ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื›ื•ืฉ ืกื‘ื ื•ื—ื•ื™ืœื” ื•ืกื‘ืชื” ื•ืจืขืžื” ื•ืกื‘ืชื›ื; ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืจืขืžื” ืฉื‘ื ื•ื“ื“ืŸืƒ ื— ื•ื›ื•ืฉ ื™ืœื“ ืืช ื ืžืจื“; ื”ื•ื ื”ื—ืœ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื’ื‘ืจ ื‘ืืจืฅืƒ ื˜ ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื’ื‘ืจ ืฆื™ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ; ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื™ืืžืจ ื›ื ืžืจื“ ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ืฆื™ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ ื™ ื•ืชื”ื™ ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ื‘ื‘ืœ ื•ืืจืš ื•ืื›ื“ ื•ื›ืœื ื” ื‘ืืจืฅ ืฉื ืขืจืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื™

Ibn Ezra makes an interesting point that resonates with American history:

ื•ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ื ื”ื ืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืงืœืœ ื ื— ืืช ื—ื ื•ื”ื ื” ืฉื›ื—ื• ื›ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ืžื›ื•ืฉ ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื•ืชื”ื™ ืจืืฉื™ืช ืžืžืœื›ืชื• ื‘ื‘ืœ.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื˜:ื›ื”

And whenever we see the nation of ื›ื•ืฉ in ืชื ืดืš, it is as a warrior nation (thatโ€™s probably a sampling error; it was far enough away that the only interaction would have been an invasion).

ื– ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœืืกื ื—ื™ืœ ื ืฉื ืฆื ื” ื•ืจืžื— ืžื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืืœืฃ
ื•ืžื‘ื ื™ืžืŸ ื ืฉืื™ ืžื’ืŸ ื•ื“ืจื›ื™ ืงืฉืช ืžืืชื™ื ื•ืฉืžื•ื ื™ื ืืœืฃ; ื›ืœ ืืœื” ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ ื—ื™ืœืƒ ื— ื•ื™ืฆื ืืœื™ื”ื ื–ืจื— ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื‘ื—ื™ืœ ืืœืฃ ืืœืคื™ื ื•ืžืจื›ื‘ื•ืช ืฉืœืฉ ืžืื•ืช; ื•ื™ื‘ื ืขื“ ืžืจืฉื”ืƒ ื˜ ื•ื™ืฆื ืืกื ืœืคื ื™ื•; ื•ื™ืขืจื›ื• ืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ื’ื™ื ืฆืคืชื” ืœืžืจืฉื”ืƒ ื™ ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืกื ืืœ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืื™ืŸ ืขืžืš ืœืขื–ืจ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืจื‘ ืœืื™ืŸ ื›ื— ืขื–ืจื ื• ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ืš ื ืฉืขื ื• ื•ื‘ืฉืžืš ื‘ืื ื• ืขืœ ื”ื”ืžื•ืŸ ื”ื–ื”; ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ืืชื” ืืœ ื™ืขืฆืจ ืขืžืš ืื ื•ืฉืƒ
ื™ื ื•ื™ื’ืฃ ื”ืณ ืืช ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืืกื ื•ืœืคื ื™ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”; ื•ื™ื ืกื• ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ืืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื“

But ื›ื•ืฉื™ is more commonly used as a symbol of the exotic, the foreign:

ื”ึฒื™ึทื”ึฒืคึนืšึฐ ื›ึผื•ึผืฉึดืื™ ืขื•ึนืจื•ึน ื•ึฐื ึธืžึตืจ ื—ึฒื‘ึทืจึฐื‘ึปึผืจึนืชึธื™ื•; ื’ึทึผื ืึทืชึถึผื ืชึผื•ึผื›ึฐืœื•ึผ ืœึฐื”ึตื™ื˜ึดื™ื‘ ืœึดืžึปึผื“ึตื™ ื”ึธืจึตืขึทืƒ

ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ื™ื’:ื›ื’

ื”ึฒืœื•ึนื ื›ึดื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื›ึปืฉึดืื™ึดึผื™ื ืึทืชึถึผื ืœึดื™ ื‘ึฐึผื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื ึฐืึปื ื”ืณ; ื”ึฒืœื•ึนื ืึถืช ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื”ึถืขึฑืœึตื™ืชึดื™ ืžึตืึถืจึถืฅ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทื™ึดื ื•ึผืคึฐืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ึดึผื™ื ืžึดื›ึทึผืคึฐืชึผื•ึนืจ ื•ึทืึฒืจึธื ืžึดืงึดึผื™ืจืƒ

ืขืžื•ืก ื˜:ื–

And ื—ื–ืดืœ took anyone called ื›ื•ืฉื™ as โ€œoutstandingโ€, โ€œuniqueโ€:

ืฉืึดื’ึผึธื™ื•ึนืŸ ืœึฐื“ึธื•ึดื“ ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพืฉืึธืจ ืœึทื”ืณ ืขึทืœึพื“ึผึดื‘ึฐืจึตื™ึพื›ื•ึผืฉื ื‘ึผึถืŸึพื™ึฐืžึดื™ื ึดื™ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื–:ื

ื›ื•ืฉ: ืžื” ื›ื•ืฉื™ ืžืฉื•ื ื” ื‘ืขื•ืจื• ืืฃ ืฉืื•ืœ ืžืฉื•ื ื” ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื•.

ืจืฉืดื™, ืฉื

And this messenger, called ื”ึทื›ึผื•ึผืฉืึดื™ with a ื”ื ื”ื™ื“ื™ืขื”, is identified with the ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ who found Avshalom hanging but refused to kill him:

ื•ื™ืจื ืื™ืฉ ืื—ื“ ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœื™ื•ืื‘; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืจืื™ืชื™ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื ืชืœื•ื™ ื‘ืืœื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื™

ืžื” ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื–ื” ื’ื•ืคื• ืžืฉื•ื ื” ืžื›ืœ ื”ื‘ืจื™ื•ืช ื›ืš ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื™ืžื™ื ื™ ืžืฉื•ื ื” ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ื• ื•ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื ืงืจื ืฉืžื• ื›ื•ืฉื™.

ืจืณ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืื•ืžืจ, ื‘ื ื•ืจืื” ื™ืฉืจื• ื•ืชื•ืžื• ืฉืœ ืื•ืชื• ื”ืื™ืฉ ืฉืืžืจ ืœื™ื•ืื‘, ืืคื™ืœื• ืืชื” ื ื•ืชืŸ ืœื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื›ืกืฃ ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“ ืื™ื ื™ ืขื•ื‘ืจ ืขืœ ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืžืœืš. ืืžืจ ืœื• ื™ื•ืื‘, ื‘ื‘ืงืฉื” ืžืžืš ืฉืชืจืื™ื ื™ ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืชืœื•ื™ ื‘ื•, ื•ืœื ืงื‘ืœ. ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ื›ื•ืจืข ื•ืžืฉืชื—ื•ื” ืœืคื ื™ื•, ืฉื ืณ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœื ื›ืŸ ืื•ื—ื™ืœื” ืคื ื™ืš, ื•ืœืงื— ืื•ืชื• ื‘ื–ืจื•ืข ื•ื”ืจืื” ืœื• ืืช ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืชืœื•ื™ ื‘ื•.

ืคืจืงื™ ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื ื’:ื–

Yoav is playing a subtle game by sending him as the messenger, since he doesnโ€™t know how David will react to the news:

ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ืฉืœื— ืื•ืชื•, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžื’ื™ื“, ื•ืขืดื™ ื”ื™ืชื” ื”ืฆืœืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื•ืืžืจ ืœื• โ€ืœืšโ€œ, ื•ืœื ืืžืจ ืœื• ืœืจื•ืฅ, ื•ื“ื™ื™ืง ื‘ืœืฉื•ื ื• ืฉื™ืืžืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืžื” ืฉืจืื”, ืฉืจืื” ืื•ืชื• ืชืœื•ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืืœื”, ื•ื™ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ื“ื•ื“ ืฉื”ื•ืจื™ื“ื• ืื•ืชื• ืžืŸ ื”ืืœื” ื•ืชืคืกื• ืื•ืชื•, ื•ื”ื•ื ืืกื•ืจ ื‘ื›ื‘ืœื™ื ื•ื ื—ืฉืชื™ื ื‘ื™ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“, ื•ื™ื•ืื‘ ืจืฆื” ืฉืœื ื™ืกืคืจ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืฉืœื ื™ื ื–ืง ืžืคื ื™ ื”ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ืฉื™ืงื‘ืœ ื‘ืคืชืื•ืžื™ื•ืช, ื•ื’ื ื”ืžื‘ืฉืจ ืœื ื™ื ื–ืง. ืื‘ืœ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ืžื™ื”ืจ ืœืจื•ืฅ ื•ืœื ืฉืžืข ื”ื™ื˜ื‘ ืืช ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ืœื• ื™ื•ืื‘.

ื•ื’ื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœื•ืžืจ, ืฉื™ื•ืื‘ ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉืื ื”ื•ื ื™ืกืคืจ ืœื“ื•ื“ ืฉืืขืดืค ืฉื™ื•ืื‘ ืฉื™ื“ืœ ืื•ืชื• ื•ื”ืชื—ื™ื™ื‘ ืœื• ืขืฉืจื” ื›ืกืฃ ื•ื—ื’ืจื” ืื—ืช, ื”ื•ื ืกื™ืจื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ื›ื•ื—ื• ืœืœื›ืช ืœื”ืจื•ื’ ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ืขื“ ืฉื™ื•ืื‘ ืชืคืก ื‘ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื›ื•ื—ื• ื•ืื™ืœืฅ ืื•ืชื• ืœื”ืจืื•ืช ืืช ืžืงื•ืžื•, ืขื™ืดื› ื™ืงื ื” ืœืขืฆืžื• ื–ื›ื•ืช ืœืžืœื™ืฅ ืืฆืœ ื“ื•ื“, ืฉื“ื•ื“ ืœื ื™ืคื’ืข ื‘ื•.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื›ื

Weโ€™ve seen David kill the messenger before:

ื™ื’ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื“ื•ื“ ืืœ ื”ื ืขืจ ื”ืžื’ื™ื“ ืœื• ืื™ ืžื–ื” ืืชื”; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื’ืจ ืขืžืœืงื™ ืื ื›ื™ืƒ
ื™ื“ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ื“ื•ื“; ืื™ืš ืœื ื™ืจืืช ืœืฉืœื— ื™ื“ืš ืœืฉื—ืช ืืช ืžืฉื™ื— ื”ืณืƒ
ื˜ื• ื•ื™ืงืจื ื“ื•ื“ ืœืื—ื“ ืžื”ื ืขืจื™ื ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื’ืฉ ืคื’ืข ื‘ื•; ื•ื™ื›ื”ื• ื•ื™ืžืชืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื

And similarly with Ish Boshetโ€™s assassins. ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ walked on eggshells when David was upset:

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™ ื•ื™ืžืช ื”ื™ืœื“; ื•ื™ืจืื• ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืœื• ื›ื™ ืžืช ื”ื™ืœื“ ื›ื™ ืืžืจื• ื”ื ื” ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืช ื”ื™ืœื“ ื—ื™ ื“ื‘ืจื ื• ืืœื™ื• ื•ืœื ืฉืžืข ื‘ืงื•ืœื ื• ื•ืื™ืš ื ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื• ืžืช ื”ื™ืœื“ ื•ืขืฉื” ืจืขื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื‘:ื™ื—

But Achimatz persists:

ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืกืฃ ืขื•ื“ ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื‘ืŸ ืฆื“ื•ืง ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœ ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžื” ืืจืฆื” ื ื ื’ื ืื ื™ ืื—ืจื™ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœืžื” ื–ื” ืืชื” ืจืฅ ื‘ื ื™ ื•ืœื›ื” ืื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ืžืฆืืชืƒ ื›ื’ ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžื” ืืจื•ืฅ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ืจื•ืฅ; ื•ื™ืจืฅ ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ื›ืจ ื•ื™ืขื‘ืจ ืืช ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžื” ืืจื•ืฅ: ืจื•ืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืขื ื›ืœ ื–ื” ืืจื•ืฅ ืื ื™ ืœืจืื•ืช ืื ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื™ืจื•ืฅ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืžื ื™ ืื• ืœื ื™ืจื•ืฅ ื›ืžื•ื ื™. ื•ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื”ืžืœืš ืขื ื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื›ื‘ืจ ื™ื“ืข ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™, ื”ื ื” ื™ืฉืžื— ื‘ืจืื•ืชื• ื”ืฉืชื“ืœื•ืช ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื‘ืžืจื•ืฆืชื•, ื•ื–ื”ื• ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžื” ืืจื•ืฅ, ืื ืœื”ื‘ื—ื™ืŸ ืžืจื•ืฆืช ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื•ืื ืœืžืฆื•ื ื—ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื“ื•ื“.

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืœ, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื›ื’

Meanwhile, back in Machanayim:

ื›ื“ ื•ื“ื•ื“ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ ื”ืฉืขืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืœืš ื”ืฆืคื” ืืœ ื’ื’ ื”ืฉืขืจ ืืœ ื”ื—ื•ืžื” ื•ื™ืฉื ืืช ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ื™ืจื ื•ื”ื ื” ืื™ืฉ ืจืฅ ืœื‘ื“ื•ืƒ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืงืจื ื”ืฆืคื” ื•ื™ื’ื“ ืœืžืœืš ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืื ืœื‘ื“ื• ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื‘ืคื™ื•; ื•ื™ืœืš ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ืงืจื‘ืƒ ื›ื• ื•ื™ืจื ื”ืฆืคื” ืื™ืฉ ืื—ืจ ืจืฅ ื•ื™ืงืจื ื”ืฆืคื” ืืœ ื”ืฉืขืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื ื” ืื™ืฉ ืจืฅ ืœื‘ื“ื•; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ื’ื ื–ื” ืžื‘ืฉืจืƒ ื›ื– ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืฆืคื” ืื ื™ ืจืื” ืืช ืžืจื•ืฆืช ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืžืจืฆืช ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื‘ืŸ ืฆื“ื•ืง; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืื™ืฉ ื˜ื•ื‘ ื–ื” ื•ืืœ ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื™ื‘ื•ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

The way the ืงื”ื™ืœืช ื™ืขืงื‘ reads this, David is nervously pacing in the entryway, waiting for news of the battle. The lookout sees a lone runner and calls out to David, who joins him on the roof of the gatehouse. David, who doesnโ€™t have the keen vision of the lookout but knows a lot more about war, says that it isnโ€™t the vanguard of an attacking army but a messenger, not a security threat. The lookout then sees a second runner in the distance and thinks thatโ€™s suspicious; now he calls out to the gateman to close the gates. David still thinks there is no threat; it is just another messenger.

And when David hears that the first messenger is Achimatz, he (in a wonderful example of โ€the triumph of hope over experienceโ€œ) figures that it must be good news.

ื•ื™ืงืจื ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื• ืœืžืœืš ืœืืคื™ื• ืืจืฆื”;
ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ืจื•ืš ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ืš ืืฉืจ ืกื’ืจ ืืช ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืื• ืืช ื™ื“ื ื‘ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—:ื›ื—

ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ืงืฉ ืžืžื ื• ืื™ืฉื•ืจ ืœึฐืžึทื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžืฉืชืžืข ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ืฉืืžืจ โ€ืกื’ืจโ€œ, ื“ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืฉื ืชืคืกื• ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื”ื ืฉืœ ืื ืฉื™ ื“ื•ื“, ื•ืœืคื™ ื–ื” ืžืฉืžืข ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ื ืชืคืก ื—ื™ ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื”ื.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ื›ื—

But when David questions Achimatz directly, he realizes that Yoav was right. This wasnโ€™t a good idea at all. Achimatz lies through his teeth:

ื›ื˜ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืœื•ื ืœื ืขืจ ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืื—ื™ืžืขืฅ ืจืื™ืชื™ ื”ื”ืžื•ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืœืฉืœื— ืืช ืขื‘ื“ ื”ืžืœืš ื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืืช ืขื‘ื“ืš ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืžื”ืƒ ืœ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืกื‘ ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื›ื”; ื•ื™ืกื‘ ื•ื™ืขืžื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

The midrash reads โ€œื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื›ื”โ€ as a positive thing, โ€œstand by meโ€, a promotion:

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืกื‘ ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื›ื” ื•ื™ืกื‘ ื•ื™ืขืžื“: ืืžืจ ืจื‘ื™ ืื‘ื ื‘ืจ ื›ื”ื ื ืื ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ื›ื•ืก [duke] ืื™ืชืขื‘ื™ื“ ืื™ืคืจื›ื•ืก [prefect] ื•ืื™ ื”ื™ื” ืื™ืคืจื’ื›ื•ืก ืื™ืชืขื‘ื™ื“ ืืกื˜ืจื˜ืœื™ื˜ื•ืก [stratelate, military โ€Žgovernor].

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืงื ืดื

But the ืคืฉื˜ seems more negative. David suspects something, and he wants Achimatz close by when he learns the truth from the next messenger.

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืกื•ื‘ ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื›ื”: ืคื” ืœืฆื“ ืื—ื“ ื•ื”ืชื™ืฆื‘ ื›ื” ื•ื ืฉืžืข ืžื” ื™ืืžืจ ื–ื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ืœ

ืœื ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื‘ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื™ืชื‘ืฉืจ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ืฉืคื˜ืš ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื•ื ืžื™ื“ ื›ืœ ื”ืงืžื™ื ืขืœื™ืšืƒ

ืœื‘ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืžืœืš ืืœ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื”ืฉืœื•ื ืœื ืขืจ ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ื; ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื™ื”ื™ื• ื›ื ืขืจ ืื™ื‘ื™ ืื“ื ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ืงืžื• ืขืœื™ืš ืœืจืขื”ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ืคืจืง ื™ื—

The ื›ื•ืฉื™ doesnโ€™t lie to David, but doesnโ€™t tell him anything either. But David clearly gets the hint; the next pasuk is ื•ึทื™ึผึดืจึฐื’ึผึทื– ื”ึทืžึผึถืœึถืšึฐ ื•ึทื™ึผึทืขึทืœ ืขึทืœึพืขึฒืœึดื™ึผึทืช ื”ึทืฉืึผึทืขึทืจ ื•ึทื™ึผึตื‘ึฐืšึผึฐ. And the midrash says that David, just as Yoav feared, was going to take his anger out on someone:

ื•ื™ืฉ ื’ื™ืจืกืื•ืช ื‘ืคืกื™ืงืชื ื“ืจื‘ ื›ื”ื ื (ืœื‘ ื•ื‘ื™ืœืงืดืฉ ื—ืดื ืจืžื– ืชืชืงื ), ืฉื“ื•ื“ ื”ืจืื” ืœืจืืฉื™ ื”ืฉื•ืžืจื™ื ืฉืœื• ื›ื™ื“ื•ืŸ ื›ืจืžื– ืœื“ืงื•ืจ ืืช ื”ื›ื•ืฉื™, ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืคืจืงื™ ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ (ืกื•ืฃ ืคืจืง ื ื’) , ื•ื›ืชื‘ ืฉื ื‘ื‘ื™ืื•ืจ ื”ืจื“ืดืœ ืฉืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื”ื›ื•ืฉื™ ื”ื™ื” ืื ื•ืก ื•ื‘ืขืœ ื›ื•ืจื—ื• ืœืงื— ืื•ืชื• ื™ื•ืื‘ ืœื”ืจืื•ืช ืืช ื”ืžืงื•ื ืฉืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืชืœื•ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืืœื”, ืžื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ื›ืœ ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ืžื—ืžืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ื ืœื™ื•ืื‘ ื•ืกืคืจ ืœื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืจืื” ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืชืœื•ื™, ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ื”ืชื’ืœื’ืœ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืฉื”ืจื’ื• ืืช ืื‘ืฉืœื•ื, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืจืžื– ื“ื•ื“ ืฉื™ื”ืจื’ื• ืื•ืชื• ื›ื“ื™ืŸ ืžื•ืจื“ ื‘ืžืœื›ื•ืช, ืฉืขื‘ืจ ืขืœ ืฆื™ื•ื•ื™ื• ืฉืœ ื”ืžืœืš ืฉืืžืจ โ€ืœืื˜ ืœื™ ืœื ืขืจ ืœืื‘ืฉืœื•ืโ€œ.

ืžืฉื‘ืฆื•ืช ื–ื”ื‘, ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ ื™ื—:ืœื‘

But David doesnโ€™t hurt anyone. He goes into a deep depression, as we will see next time.