ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: Politically Incorrect

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

Last time we saw David coronated king in Chevron. He will next move his capital and the religious center of the country to Jerusalem. Weโ€™ll spend a long time talking about that.

But before that, I want to look at a ืคืจืง ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, written not by David but by Asaf the Levite, that tells us how we got here and where we are going:

ื ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ ืœืืกืฃ;
ื”ืื–ื™ื ื” ืขืžื™ ืชื•ืจืชื™; ื”ื˜ื• ืื–ื ื›ื ืœืืžืจื™ ืคื™ืƒ
ื‘ ืืคืชื—ื” ื‘ืžืฉืœ ืคื™; ืื‘ื™ืขื” ื—ื™ื“ื•ืช ืžื ื™ ืงื“ืืƒ
ื’ ืืฉืจ ืฉืžืขื ื• ื•ื ื“ืขื; ื•ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ืกืคืจื• ืœื ื•ืƒ
ื“ ืœื ื ื›ื—ื“ ืžื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืœื“ื•ืจ ืื—ืจื•ืŸ ืžืกืคืจื™ื ืชื”ืœื•ืช ื”ืณ;
ื•ืขื–ื•ื–ื• ื•ื ืคืœืืชื™ื• ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื”ืƒ
ื” ื•ื™ืงื ืขื“ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืขืงื‘ ื•ืชื•ืจื” ืฉื ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ;
ืืฉืจ ืฆื•ื” ืืช ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ืืƒ
ื• ืœืžืขืŸ ื™ื“ืขื• ื“ื•ืจ ืื—ืจื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื ื™ื•ืœื“ื•; ื™ืงืžื• ื•ื™ืกืคืจื• ืœื‘ื ื™ื”ืืƒ
ื– ื•ื™ืฉื™ืžื• ื‘ืืœืงื™ื ื›ืกืœื; ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื›ื—ื• ืžืขืœืœื™ ืึพืœ; ื•ืžืฆื•ืชื™ื• ื™ื ืฆืจื•ืƒ
ื— ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื• ื›ืื‘ื•ืชื ื“ื•ืจ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžืจื”;
ื“ื•ืจ ืœื ื”ื›ื™ืŸ ืœื‘ื•; ื•ืœื ื ืืžื ื” ืืช ืึพืœ ืจื•ื—ื•ืƒ
ื˜ ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ื ื•ืฉืงื™ ืจื•ืžื™ ืงืฉืช; ื”ืคื›ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ืงืจื‘ืƒ
ื™ ืœื ืฉืžืจื• ื‘ืจื™ืช ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ื‘ืชื•ืจืชื• ืžืื ื• ืœืœื›ืชืƒ
ื™ื ื•ื™ืฉื›ื—ื• ืขืœื™ืœื•ืชื™ื•; ื•ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื• ืืฉืจ ื”ืจืืืƒ
ื™ื‘ ื ื’ื“ ืื‘ื•ืชื ืขืฉื” ืคืœื; ื‘ืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื ืฉื“ื” ืฆืขืŸืƒ
ื™ื’ ื‘ืงืข ื™ื ื•ื™ืขื‘ื™ืจื; ื•ื™ืฆื‘ ืžื™ื ื›ืžื• ื ื“ืƒ
ื™ื“ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ื‘ืขื ืŸ ื™ื•ืžื; ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื‘ืื•ืจ ืืฉืƒ
ื˜ื• ื™ื‘ืงืข ืฆืจื™ื ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ; ื•ื™ืฉืง ื›ืชื”ืžื•ืช ืจื‘ื”ืƒ
ื˜ื– ื•ื™ื•ืฆื ื ื•ื–ืœื™ื ืžืกืœืข; ื•ื™ื•ืจื“ ื›ื ื”ืจื•ืช ืžื™ืืƒ
ื™ื– ื•ื™ื•ืกื™ืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืœื—ื˜ื ืœื• ืœืžืจื•ืช ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื‘ืฆื™ื”ืƒ
ื™ื— ื•ื™ื ืกื• ืึพืœ ื‘ืœื‘ื‘ื ืœืฉืืœ ืื›ืœ ืœื ืคืฉืืƒ
ื™ื˜ ื•ื™ื“ื‘ืจื• ื‘ืืœืงื™ื; ืืžืจื• ื”ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืึพืœ ืœืขืจืš ืฉืœื—ืŸ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจืƒ
ื› ื”ืŸ ื”ื›ื” ืฆื•ืจ ื•ื™ื–ื•ื‘ื• ืžื™ื ื•ื ื—ืœื™ื ื™ืฉื˜ืคื•;
ื”ื’ื ืœื—ื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืชืช; ืื ื™ื›ื™ืŸ ืฉืืจ ืœืขืžื•ืƒ
ื›ื ืœื›ืŸ ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ื•ื™ืชืขื‘ืจ;
ื•ืืฉ ื ืฉืงื” ื‘ื™ืขืงื‘; ื•ื’ื ืืฃ ืขืœื” ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ื›ื‘ ื›ื™ ืœื ื”ืืžื™ื ื• ื‘ืืœืงื™ื; ื•ืœื ื‘ื˜ื—ื• ื‘ื™ืฉื•ืขืชื•ืƒ
ื›ื’ ื•ื™ืฆื• ืฉื—ืงื™ื ืžืžืขืœ; ื•ื“ืœืชื™ ืฉืžื™ื ืคืชื—ืƒ
ื›ื“ ื•ื™ืžื˜ืจ ืขืœื™ื”ื ืžืŸ ืœืื›ืœ; ื•ื“ื’ืŸ ืฉืžื™ื ื ืชืŸ ืœืžื•ืƒ
ื›ื” ืœื—ื ืื‘ื™ืจื™ื ืื›ืœ ืื™ืฉ; ืฆื™ื“ื” ืฉืœื— ืœื”ื ืœืฉื‘ืขืƒ
ื›ื• ื™ืกืข ืงื“ื™ื ื‘ืฉืžื™ื; ื•ื™ื ื”ื’ ื‘ืขื–ื• ืชื™ืžืŸืƒ
ื›ื– ื•ื™ืžื˜ืจ ืขืœื™ื”ื ื›ืขืคืจ ืฉืืจ; ื•ื›ื—ื•ืœ ื™ืžื™ื ืขื•ืฃ ื›ื ืฃืƒ
ื›ื— ื•ื™ืคืœ ื‘ืงืจื‘ ืžื—ื ื”ื•; ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืœืžืฉื›ื ืชื™ื•ืƒ
ื›ื˜ ื•ื™ืื›ืœื• ื•ื™ืฉื‘ืขื• ืžืื“; ื•ืชืื•ืชื ื™ื‘ื ืœื”ืืƒ
ืœ ืœื ื–ืจื• ืžืชืื•ืชื; ืขื•ื“ ืื›ืœื ื‘ืคื™ื”ืืƒ
ืœื ื•ืืฃ ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœื” ื‘ื”ื ื•ื™ื”ืจื’ ื‘ืžืฉืžื ื™ื”ื;
ื•ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื›ืจื™ืขืƒ
ืœื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ื–ืืช ื—ื˜ืื• ืขื•ื“; ื•ืœื ื”ืืžื™ื ื• ื‘ื ืคืœืื•ืชื™ื•ืƒ
ืœื’ ื•ื™ื›ืœ ื‘ื”ื‘ืœ ื™ืžื™ื”ื; ื•ืฉื ื•ืชื ื‘ื‘ื”ืœื”ืƒ
ืœื“ ืื ื”ืจื’ื ื•ื“ืจืฉื•ื”ื•; ื•ืฉื‘ื• ื•ืฉื—ืจื• ืึพืœืƒ
ืœื” ื•ื™ื–ื›ืจื• ื›ื™ ืืœืงื™ื ืฆื•ืจื; ื•ืึพืœ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื’ืืœืืƒ
ืœื• ื•ื™ืคืชื•ื”ื• ื‘ืคื™ื”ื; ื•ื‘ืœืฉื•ื ื ื™ื›ื–ื‘ื• ืœื•ืƒ
ืœื– ื•ืœื‘ื ืœื ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืขืžื•; ื•ืœื ื ืืžื ื• ื‘ื‘ืจื™ืชื•ืƒ
ืœื— ื•ื”ื•ื ืจื—ื•ื ื™ื›ืคืจ ืขื•ืŸ ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื—ื™ืช;
ื•ื”ืจื‘ื” ืœื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืืคื•; ื•ืœื ื™ืขื™ืจ ื›ืœ ื—ืžืชื•ืƒ
ืœื˜ ื•ื™ื–ื›ืจ ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉืจ ื”ืžื”; ืจื•ื— ื”ื•ืœืš ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื•ื‘ืƒ
ืž ื›ืžื” ื™ืžืจื•ื”ื• ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ; ื™ืขืฆื™ื‘ื•ื”ื• ื‘ื™ืฉื™ืžื•ืŸืƒ
ืžื ื•ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ื•ื™ื ืกื• ืึพืœ; ื•ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ืชื•ื•ืƒ
ืžื‘ ืœื ื–ื›ืจื• ืืช ื™ื“ื•; ื™ื•ื ืืฉืจ ืคื“ื ืžื ื™ ืฆืจืƒ
ืžื’ ืืฉืจ ืฉื ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ืืชื•ืชื™ื•; ื•ืžื•ืคืชื™ื• ื‘ืฉื“ื” ืฆืขืŸืƒ
ืžื“ ื•ื™ื”ืคืš ืœื“ื ื™ืืจื™ื”ื; ื•ื ื–ืœื™ื”ื ื‘ืœ ื™ืฉืชื™ื•ืŸืƒ
ืžื” ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื”ื ืขืจื‘ ื•ื™ืื›ืœื; ื•ืฆืคืจื“ืข ื•ืชืฉื—ื™ืชืืƒ
ืžื• ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืœื—ืกื™ืœ ื™ื‘ื•ืœื; ื•ื™ื’ื™ืขื ืœืืจื‘ื”ืƒ
ืžื– ื™ื”ืจื’ ื‘ื‘ืจื“ ื’ืคื ื; ื•ืฉืงืžื•ืชื ื‘ื—ื ืžืœืƒ
ืžื— ื•ื™ืกื’ืจ ืœื‘ืจื“ ื‘ืขื™ืจื; ื•ืžืงื ื™ื”ื ืœืจืฉืคื™ืืƒ
ืžื˜ ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื ื—ืจื•ืŸ ืืคื• ืขื‘ืจื” ื•ื–ืขื ื•ืฆืจื”; ืžืฉืœื—ืช ืžืœืื›ื™ ืจืขื™ืืƒ
ื  ื™ืคืœืก ื ืชื™ื‘ ืœืืคื•; ืœื ื—ืฉืš ืžืžื•ืช ื ืคืฉื; ื•ื—ื™ืชื ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืกื’ื™ืจืƒ
ื ื ื•ื™ืš ื›ืœ ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื; ืจืืฉื™ืช ืื•ื ื™ื ื‘ืื”ืœื™ ื—ืืƒ
ื ื‘ ื•ื™ืกืข ื›ืฆืืŸ ืขืžื•; ื•ื™ื ื”ื’ื ื›ืขื“ืจ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจืƒ
ื ื’ ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืœื‘ื˜ื— ื•ืœื ืคื—ื“ื•; ื•ืืช ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื”ื ื›ืกื” ื”ื™ืืƒ
ื ื“ ื•ื™ื‘ื™ืื ืืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ืงื“ืฉื•; ื”ืจ ื–ื” ืงื ืชื” ื™ืžื™ื ื•ืƒ
ื ื” ื•ื™ื’ืจืฉ ืžืคื ื™ื”ื ื’ื•ื™ื ื•ื™ืคื™ืœื ื‘ื—ื‘ืœ ื ื—ืœื”;
ื•ื™ืฉื›ืŸ ื‘ืื”ืœื™ื”ื ืฉื‘ื˜ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ื ื• ื•ื™ื ืกื• ื•ื™ืžืจื• ืืช ืืœืงื™ื ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ; ื•ืขื“ื•ืชื™ื• ืœื ืฉืžืจื•ืƒ
ื ื– ื•ื™ืกื’ื• ื•ื™ื‘ื’ื“ื• ื›ืื‘ื•ืชื; ื ื”ืคื›ื• ื›ืงืฉืช ืจืžื™ื”ืƒ
ื ื— ื•ื™ื›ืขื™ืกื•ื”ื• ื‘ื‘ืžื•ืชื; ื•ื‘ืคืกื™ืœื™ื”ื ื™ืงื ื™ืื•ื”ื•ืƒ
ื ื˜ ืฉืžืข ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืชืขื‘ืจ; ื•ื™ืžืืก ืžืื“ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ
ืก ื•ื™ื˜ืฉ ืžืฉื›ืŸ ืฉืœื•; ืื”ืœ ืฉื›ืŸ ื‘ืื“ืืƒ
ืกื ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืœืฉื‘ื™ ืขื–ื•; ื•ืชืคืืจืชื• ื‘ื™ื“ ืฆืจืƒ
ืกื‘ ื•ื™ืกื’ืจ ืœื—ืจื‘ ืขืžื•; ื•ื‘ื ื—ืœืชื• ื”ืชืขื‘ืจืƒ
ืกื’ ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื• ืื›ืœื” ืืฉ; ื•ื‘ืชื•ืœืชื™ื• ืœื ื”ื•ืœืœื•ืƒ
ืกื“ ื›ื”ื ื™ื• ื‘ื—ืจื‘ ื ืคืœื•; ื•ืืœืžื ืชื™ื• ืœื ืชื‘ื›ื™ื ื”ืƒ
ืกื” ื•ื™ืงืฅ ื›ื™ืฉืŸ ืึพื“ื ื™; ื›ื’ื‘ื•ืจ ืžืชืจื•ื ืŸ ืžื™ื™ืŸืƒ
ืกื• ื•ื™ืš ืฆืจื™ื• ืื—ื•ืจ; ื—ืจืคืช ืขื•ืœื ื ืชืŸ ืœืžื•ืƒ
ืกื– ื•ื™ืžืืก ื‘ืื”ืœ ื™ื•ืกืฃ; ื•ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ืืคืจื™ื ืœื ื‘ื—ืจืƒ
ืกื— ื•ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืืช ืฉื‘ื˜ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”; ืืช ื”ืจ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ืืฉืจ ืื”ื‘ืƒ
ืกื˜ ื•ื™ื‘ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืจืžื™ื ืžืงื“ืฉื•; ื›ืืจืฅ ื™ืกื“ื” ืœืขื•ืœืืƒ
ืข ื•ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื•; ื•ื™ืงื—ื”ื• ืžืžื›ืœืืช ืฆืืŸืƒ
ืขื ืžืื—ืจ ืขืœื•ืช ื”ื‘ื™ืื•; ืœืจืขื•ืช ื‘ื™ืขืงื‘ ืขืžื•; ื•ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ื—ืœืชื•ืƒ
ืขื‘ ื•ื™ืจืขื ื›ืชื ืœื‘ื‘ื•; ื•ื‘ืชื‘ื•ื ื•ืช ื›ืคื™ื• ื™ื ื—ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืขื—

Who was Asaf? He was one of the leaders of the ืžืฉื•ืจืจื™ื, the Levitical singers in the ืžืฉื›ืŸ:

ื˜ื– ื•ืืœื” ืืฉืจ ื”ืขืžื™ื“ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืจ ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ; ืžืžื ื•ื— ื”ืืจื•ืŸืƒ ื™ื– ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืžืฉืจืชื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืžืฉื›ืŸ ืื”ืœ ืžื•ืขื“ ื‘ืฉื™ืจ ืขื“ ื‘ื ื•ืช ืฉืœืžื” ืืช ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื; ื•ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื›ืžืฉืคื˜ื ืขืœ ืขื‘ื•ื“ืชืืƒ ื™ื— ื•ืืœื” ื”ืขืžื“ื™ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื; ืžื‘ื ื™ ื”ืงื”ืชื™ ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžื•ืืœืƒโ€ฆื›ื“ ื•ืื—ื™ื• ืืกืฃ ื”ืขืžื“ ืขืœ ื™ืžื™ื ื• ืืกืฃ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืจื›ื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขืืƒ ื›ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžื™ื›ืืœ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ืขืฉื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืœื›ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื• ื‘ืŸ ืืชื ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื–ืจื— ื‘ืŸ ืขื“ื™ื”ืƒ ื›ื– ื‘ืŸ ืื™ืชืŸ ื‘ืŸ ื–ืžื” ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขื™ืƒ ื›ื— ื‘ืŸ ื™ื—ืช ื‘ืŸ ื’ืจืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืœื•ื™ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื•

But he wasnโ€™t literally ืขืœ ื™ืžื™ื ื• of ื”ื™ืžืŸ ื”ืžืฉื•ืจืจ:

ื“ ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืœืคื ื™ ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืณ ืžืŸ ื”ืœื•ื™ื ืžืฉืจืชื™ื; ื•ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื•ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ื•ืœื”ืœืœ ืœื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ

ื” ืืกืฃ ื”ืจืืฉ ื•ืžืฉื ื”ื• ื–ื›ืจื™ื”; ื™ืขื™ืืœ ื•ืฉืžื™ืจืžื•ืช ื•ื™ื—ื™ืืœ ื•ืžืชืชื™ื” ื•ืืœื™ืื‘ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื•ืขื‘ื“ ืื“ื ื•ื™ืขื™ืืœ ื‘ื›ืœื™ ื ื‘ืœื™ื ื•ื‘ื›ื ืจื•ืช ื•ืืกืฃ ื‘ืžืฆืœืชื™ื ืžืฉืžื™ืขืƒ ื• ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื• ื•ื™ื—ื–ื™ืืœ ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื‘ื—ืฆืฆืจื•ืช ืชืžื™ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืืœืงื™ืืƒ ื– ื‘ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืื– ื ืชืŸ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื‘ืจืืฉ ืœื”ื“ื•ืช ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื™ื“ ืืกืฃ ื•ืื—ื™ื•ืƒ

โ€ฆ

ืœื– ื•ื™ืขื–ื‘ ืฉื ืœืคื ื™ ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณ ืœืืกืฃ ื•ืœืื—ื™ื•; ืœืฉืจืช ืœืคื ื™ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืชืžื™ื“ ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื•ื ื‘ื™ื•ืžื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื˜ื–

David would set up two centers of worship, one at the ืžืฉื›ืŸ in ื’ื‘ืขื•ืŸ, and one with the ืืจื•ืŸ in ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื.โ€Ž ืืกืฃ was the head of the latter. And he was more than a singer:

ืœื‘ื ื™ ืืกืฃ ื–ื›ื•ืจ ื•ื™ื•ืกืฃ ื•ื ืชื ื™ื” ื•ืืฉืจืืœื” ื‘ื ื™ ืืกืฃ; ืขืœ ื™ื“ ืืกืฃ ื”ึทื ึผึดื‘ึผึธื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื”ืžืœืšืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื›ื”:ื‘

ื”ื ื‘ื: ืขืœ ืืกืฃ ื™ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžืชื ื‘ื ื‘ืจื”ืดืง ืขืดื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื›ื™ื ื• ืœื”ื™ื™ืฉื™ืจื• ืืœ ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื”.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืฉื

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื™ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื”ืžืœืš ื•ื”ืฉืจื™ื ืœืœื•ื™ื ืœื”ืœืœ ืœื”ืณ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื“ื•ื™ื“ ื•ืืกืฃ ื”ื—ื–ื”; ื•ื™ื”ืœืœื• ืขื“ ืœืฉืžื—ื” ื•ื™ืงื“ื• ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื‘ ื›ื˜:ืœ

This particular perek is called a ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ.

[Rav Schwab discusses the ื‘ืจื›ื” of ืืชื” ื—ื•ื ืŸ]โ€Ž ื”ืฉื›ืœ means practical, applied wisdom. If one has wisdom in theory only but does not apply it to his practical life, behavior and character, this wisdom is not called ื”ืฉื›ืœ. โ€ฆWe find (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื:ื–)โ€Ž ืœืžืขืŸ ืชืฉื›ื™ืœ, which means, in accordance with the context there, that by the practical application of the mitzvos HaTorah, you will be successful in your endeavors.

โ€ฆThere may be people who are ื“ื•ืจืฉ ืืช ืืœื•ืงื™ื in that they daven frequently, learn Torah in depth, and may even be the source of chidushei Torah; yet they could still lack the element of ืžืฉื›ื™ืœโ€ฆ

Rav Schwab on Prayer

Notably, a ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ was not meant to be sung, but to be orated:

ืžืฉื›ื™ืœโ€”ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืชื•ืจื’ืžืŸ

ืคืกื—ื™ื ืงื™ื–,ื

ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืžืชื•ืจื’ืžืŸ: ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ ื•ืื—ืจ ืžืคืจืฉ.

ืจืฉืดื™ , ืฉื

Itโ€™s a lesson that Asaf wants to teach.


ืื‘ื™ืขื” ื—ื™ื“ื•ืช ืžื ื™ ืงื“ื

The first 8 psukim are the introduction: Asaf is telling us what he is going to say. Itโ€™s going to be a ืžืฉืœ and a ื—ื™ื“ื”, a parable and a riddle, so we have to pay attention. But itโ€™s a lesson that has been handed down though history, and he is going to review Jewish history to make his point. ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื–-ื— are the point: past generations were a ื“ื•ืจ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžืจื” but we need to do better: ื™ืฉื™ืžื• ื‘ืืœืงื™ื ื›ืกืœื.โ€Ž ื›ืกื™ืœ generallly means โ€œfoolโ€ but here it means โ€œrelianceโ€:

ื›ืกืœื: ื‘ื˜ื—ื•ื ื ื›ืžื• ืื ืฉืžืชื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื›ืกืœื™ (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœื).

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ืฆื™ื•ืŸ, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื—:ื–

Hirsch explains it as โ€œthat unshakeable trust which men place in G-d and his promises even though there may be nothing in the physical world that might serve as visible or tangible vindicationโ€ฆ[that may] seem utter โ€˜follyโ€™ to the materialist mind which can only understand that which it can see and touchโ€.

ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื

The perek is largely about the selection of David and Jerusalem, and ืืคืจื™ื is a metonym for the Israel in the days of the Judges, when the center of the country was in ืฉื™ืœื”, in ืืคืจื™ื.

ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื”ืคืฉื˜ ื›ื™ ืขืงืจ ื–ื” ื”ืžื–ืžื•ืจ ื ืืžืจ ืขืœ ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื“ื•ื“ ื•ื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื”ืจ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื‘ืžืœื•ืš ื“ื•ื“ ืื—ืจ ืฉื—ืจื‘ื” ืฉื™ืœื” ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืœื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื•ื‘ืฉื‘ื˜ ืืคืจื™ื ืœื ื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ืื—ืจ ืฉื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ื ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ืœืฉื›ืŸ ืฉืžื• ื‘ืฉื™ืœื” ื•ื”ืขื“ ื”ื ืืžืŸ ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืฉื‘ื˜ ืืคืจื™ื ืจื•ืžื™ ืงืฉืช ื”ื ืื ืฉื™ ืฉื™ืœื” ืฉืืžืจ ืื—ืจื™ื”ื ืœื ืฉืžืจื• ื‘ืจื™ืช ืืœืงื™ื.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื—:ื˜

Itโ€™s also a hint to the kingdom of Saul, who was from ื‘ื ื™ืžื™ืŸ, from the children of ืจื—ืœ, as opposed to David, from ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”, from the children of ืœืื”.

But thereโ€™s also a reference to one of the first rebellions of ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, from an obscure verse in ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื:

ื› ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ืฉื•ืชืœื—; ื•ื‘ืจื“ ื‘ื ื• ื•ืชื—ืช ื‘ื ื• ื•ืืœืขื“ื” ื‘ื ื• ื•ืชื—ืช ื‘ื ื•ืƒ ื›ื ื•ื–ื‘ื“ ื‘ื ื• ื•ืฉื•ืชืœื— ื‘ื ื• ื•ืขื–ืจ ื•ืืœืขื“; ื•ื”ืจื’ื•ื ืื ืฉื™ ื’ืช ื”ื ื•ืœื“ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ื›ื™ ื™ืจื“ื• ืœืงื—ืช ืืช ืžืงื ื™ื”ืืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ื™ืชืื‘ืœ ืืคืจื™ื ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื™ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื; ื•ื™ื‘ืื• ืื—ื™ื• ืœื ื—ืžื•ืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื–

The midrash says that ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื tried to calculate the end of the Egyptian servitude, since ื”ืณ said (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื˜ื•:ื™ื’)โ€Ž ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืœืื‘ืจื ื™ื“ืข ืชื“ืข ื›ื™ ื’ืจ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื–ืจืขืš ื‘ืืจืฅ ืœื ืœื”ื ื•ืขื‘ื“ื•ื ื•ืขื ื• ืืชื ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื”ืƒ

ื‘ื ื ื•ืŸ ืžื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืืคืจื™ื ื•ืืžืจ ืœื”ื ื ื’ืœื” ืœื™ ื”ื‘ืดื” ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืืชื›ื ืžืžืฆืจื™ื, ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ื‘ื’ืื•ืช ืœื‘ื ืฉื”ื ืžื–ืจืข ื”ืžืœื›ื•ืช ื•ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ ื›ื— ื‘ืžืœื—ืžื” ืœืงื—ื• ืืช ื ืฉื™ื”ื ื•ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ื•ื™ืฆืื• ืžืžืฆืจื™ื, ื•ืจื“ืคื• ื”ืžืฆืจื™ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื”ื ื•ื”ืจื’ื• ืžื”ื ืžืืชื™ื ืืœืฃ ื›ืœื ื’ื‘ื•ืจื™ื, ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ื•ื›ื•ืณ .

ืคืจืงื™ ื“ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ (ื”ื™ื’ืจโ€”ื—ื•ืจื‘) ืคืจืง ืžื–

ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ืฉืžื ื• ืœืงืฅ ื•ื˜ืขื• ืฉืœืฉื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ื™ืฆืื• ืฉืœื ื‘ืจืฉื•ืช ื•ื”ืจื’ื•ื ื‘ื ื™ ืคืœืฉืช, ืฉื ืืณ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ืฉื•ืชืœื— ื•ื‘ืจื“ ื‘ื ื•โ€ฆื•ื”ืจื’ื•ื ืื ืฉื™ ื’ืช ื”ื ื•ืœื“ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ื›ื™ ื™ืจื“ื• ืœืงื—ืช ืืช ืžืงื ื™ื”ื (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืคืจืง ื–), ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ื ื ื•ืฉืงื™ ืจื•ืžื™ ืงืฉืช ื”ืคื›ื• ื‘ื™ื•ื ืงืจื‘ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื—:ื˜), ืžืคื ื™ ืžื”, ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืœื ืฉืžืจื• ื‘ืจื™ืช ื”ืณ ื•ื‘ืชื•ืจืชื• ืžืื ื• ืœืœื›ืช (ืฉื ืฉื ื™), ืขื‘ืจื• ืขืœ ื”ืงืฅ ืฉื ื’ื–ืจ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื‘ืชืจื™ื.

ืฉื›ืœ ื˜ื•ื‘ (ื‘ื•ื‘ืจ) ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืฉืช ื‘ืฉืœื— ืคืจืง ื™ื’ ืกื™ืžืŸ ื™ื–

They figured 400 years from the ื‘ืจื™ืช ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ื‘ืชืจื™ื, but it was really 430 years from then:

ืž ื•ืžื•ืฉื‘ ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ืฉืœืฉื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื”ืƒ ืžื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืžืงืฅ ืฉืœืฉื™ื ืฉื ื” ื•ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื”; ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื‘ืขืฆื ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื™ืฆืื• ื›ืœ ืฆื‘ืื•ืช ื”ืณ ืžืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื™ื‘

(This is an object warning against trying to calculate when Mashiach will come: (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืฆื–,ื‘)โ€Ž ืชื™ืคื— ืขืฆืžืŸ ืฉืœ ืžื—ืฉื‘ื™ ืงื™ืฆื™ืŸ)

However, this doesnโ€™t fit the ืคืฉื˜, since the psalm goes on to say that theyโ€”ื‘ื ื™ ืืคืจื™ืโ€”forgot the great deeds that ื”ืณ did in Egypt, which would have been after the premature exit.

ื ื’ื“ ืื‘ื•ืชื ืขืฉื” ืคืœื

ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ื™ื‘-ื˜ื– describe the miracles that ื”ืณ did in the wilderness when the Jews left: He split the sea, led them with pillars of cloud and fire, and gave them water in the desert.


ื•ื™ื•ืกื™ืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืœื—ื˜ื ืœื•

Hirsch translates ื™ื•ืกื™ืคื• ืขื•ื“ ืœื—ื˜ื as โ€œthey went on continually to sin against Himโ€. The specific sins that the perek refers to is ืชื‘ืขืจื” and ืงื‘ืจื•ืช ื”ืชืื•ื”. Weโ€™ll see why specifically those two. But we need to review the story:

ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื”ืขื ื›ืžืชืื ื ื™ื ืจืข ื‘ืื–ื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ื”ืณ ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืืคื• ื•ืชื‘ืขืจ ื‘ื ืืฉ ื”ืณ ื•ืชืื›ืœ ื‘ืงืฆื” ื”ืžื—ื ื”ืƒ ื‘ ื•ื™ืฆืขืง ื”ืขื ืืœ ืžืฉื”; ื•ื™ืชืคืœืœ ืžืฉื” ืืœ ื”ืณ ื•ืชืฉืงืข ื”ืืฉืƒ ื’ ื•ื™ืงืจื ืฉื ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืชื‘ืขืจื”; ื›ื™ ื‘ืขืจื” ื‘ื ืืฉ ื”ืณืƒ ื“ ื•ื”ืืกืคืกืฃ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืงืจื‘ื• ื”ืชืื•ื• ืชืื•ื”; ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื•ื™ื‘ื›ื• ื’ื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ืžื™ ื™ืื›ืœื ื• ื‘ืฉืจืƒ ื” ื–ื›ืจื ื• ืืช ื”ื“ื’ื” ืืฉืจ ื ืื›ืœ ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ื—ื ื; ืืช ื”ืงืฉืื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืื‘ื˜ื—ื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ื—ืฆื™ืจ ื•ืืช ื”ื‘ืฆืœื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืฉื•ืžื™ืืƒ ื• ื•ืขืชื” ื ืคืฉื ื• ื™ื‘ืฉื” ืื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ื‘ืœืชื™ ืืœ ื”ืžืŸ ืขื™ื ื™ื ื•ืƒโ€ฆื™ ื•ื™ืฉืžืข ืžืฉื” ืืช ื”ืขื ื‘ื›ื” ืœืžืฉืคื—ืชื™ื• ืื™ืฉ ืœืคืชื— ืื”ืœื•; ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ืžืื“ ื•ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืžืฉื” ืจืขืƒ

โ€ฆ

ืœื ื•ืจื•ื— ื ืกืข ืžืืช ื”ืณ ื•ื™ื’ื– ืฉืœื•ื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ื™ื ื•ื™ื˜ืฉ ืขืœ ื”ืžื—ื ื” ื›ื“ืจืš ื™ื•ื ื›ื” ื•ื›ื“ืจืš ื™ื•ื ื›ื” ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืช ื”ืžื—ื ื” ื•ื›ืืžืชื™ื ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ ืœื‘ ื•ื™ืงื ื”ืขื ื›ืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ื•ื›ืœ ื”ืœื™ืœื” ื•ื›ืœ ื™ื•ื ื”ืžื—ืจืช ื•ื™ืืกืคื• ืืช ื”ืฉืœื• ื”ืžืžืขื™ื˜ ืืกืฃ ืขืฉืจื” ื—ืžืจื™ื; ื•ื™ืฉื˜ื—ื• ืœื”ื ืฉื˜ื•ื— ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืช ื”ืžื—ื ื”ืƒ ืœื’ ื”ื‘ืฉืจ ืขื•ื“ื ื• ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื˜ืจื ื™ื›ืจืช; ื•ืืฃ ื”ืณ ื—ืจื” ื‘ืขื ื•ื™ืš ื”ืณ ื‘ืขื ืžื›ื” ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“ืƒ ืœื“ ื•ื™ืงืจื ืืช ืฉื ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื ืงื‘ืจื•ืช ื”ืชืื•ื”; ื›ื™ ืฉื ืงื‘ืจื• ืืช ื”ืขื ื”ืžืชืื•ื™ืืƒ

ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืคืจืง ื™ื

As presented in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื, the people admit ื”ืณ can give them water but question whether He can give them ืœื—ื, in sense of โ€œsubstantial foodโ€โ€”ื•ืœื—ื ืœื‘ื‘ ืื ื•ืฉ ื™ืกืขื“. And they want fleshโ€”ืฉืืจ. This word is unusal; it generally means not โ€œmeatโ€ but โ€œflesh and bloodโ€, a close relative:

ืื™ืฉ ืื™ืฉ ืืœ ื›ืœ ืฉืืจ ื‘ืฉืจื• ืœื ืชืงืจื‘ื• ืœื’ืœื•ืช ืขืจื•ื”; ืื ื™ ื”ืณืƒ

ื•ื™ืงืจื ื™ื—:ื•

This is the source of Rashiโ€™s comment that ื”ืชืื•ื• ืชืื•ื” is more than a lust for meat, it was a lust for ืขืจื•ื”:

ื‘ื›ื” ืœืžืฉืคื—ื•ืชื™ื•: โ€ฆืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ืืžืจื• ืœืžืฉืคื—ื•ืชื™ื• ืขืœ ืขืกืงื™ ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืช, ืขืœ ืขืจื™ื•ืช ื”ื ืืกืจื•ืช ืœื”ื.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื:ื™

I would read ืœื›ืŸ ืฉืžืข ื”ืณโ€ฆื•ืืฉ ื ืฉืงื” ื‘ื™ืขืงื‘ as a reference to the previous incident of ืชื‘ืขืจื”: โ€Thus ื”ืณ had heard and sent a fireโ€œ. Asaf is saying that ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ignored the fact that they had just gone through the punishment for complaining, and forgot that ื•ื™ืžื˜ืจ ืขืœื™ื”ื ืžืŸ ืœืื›ืœ. Therefore ื•ื™ืžื˜ืจ ืขืœื™ื”ื ื›ืขืคืจ ืฉืืจ,โ€Ž ื”ืณ sent them the flesh they demanded, then ื•ื™ื”ืจื’ ื‘ืžืฉืžื ื™ื”ื.

And that continues in the cycle of Jewish history. The Jews forget ื”ืณ, suffer, call out for mercy, ื”ืณ forgives them, but then they sin again. That is the message of ืคืกื•ืงื™ื ืœื‘-ืœื–. Itโ€™s the central theme of ืกืคืจ ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื:

ื™ื ื•ื™ืขืฉื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืช ื”ืจืข ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื”ืณ; ื•ื™ืขื‘ื“ื• ืืช ื”ื‘ืขืœื™ืืƒ ื™ื‘ ื•ื™ืขื–ื‘ื• ืืช ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ื•ืชื ื”ืžื•ืฆื™ื ืื•ืชื ืžืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื™ืœื›ื• ืื—ืจื™ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ืžืืœื”ื™ ื”ืขืžื™ื ืืฉืจ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ื ื•ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ื; ื•ื™ื›ืขืกื• ืืช ื”ืณืƒ โ€ฆื™ื“ ื•ื™ื—ืจ ืืฃ ื”ืณ ื‘ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ืชื ื ื‘ื™ื“ ืฉืกื™ื ื•ื™ืฉืกื• ืื•ืชื; ื•ื™ืžื›ืจื ื‘ื™ื“ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื”ื ืžืกื‘ื™ื‘ ื•ืœื ื™ื›ืœื• ืขื•ื“ ืœืขืžื“ ืœืคื ื™ ืื•ื™ื‘ื™ื”ืืƒ โ€ฆื™ื— ื•ื›ื™ ื”ืงื™ื ื”ืณ ืœื”ื ืฉืคื˜ื™ื ื•ื”ื™ื” ื”ืณ ืขื ื”ืฉืคื˜ ื•ื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ืžื™ื“ ืื™ื‘ื™ื”ื ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื”ืฉื•ืคื˜; ื›ื™ ื™ื ื—ื ื”ืณ ืžื ืืงืชื ืžืคื ื™ ืœื—ืฆื™ื”ื ื•ื“ื—ืงื™ื”ืืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืžื•ืช ื”ืฉื•ืคื˜ ื™ืฉื‘ื• ื•ื”ืฉื—ื™ืชื• ืžืื‘ื•ืชื ืœืœื›ืช ืื—ืจื™ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ืœืขื‘ื“ื ื•ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ืช ืœื”ื; ืœื ื”ืคื™ืœื• ืžืžืขืœืœื™ื”ื ื•ืžื“ืจื›ื ื”ืงืฉื”ืƒ

ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ืคืจืง ื‘

And this is the message of ืชื‘ืขืจื” and ืงื‘ืจื•ืช ื”ืชืื•ื”. They just got out of one fire and they go and provoke ื”ืณ again. They never learn. Thatโ€™s what Asaf wants his audience to hear: ื•ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื• ื›ืื‘ื•ืชื ื“ื•ืจ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžืจื”.

The first part of the perek ends on a relatively happy note that we quote at ืžืขืจื™ื‘:โ€Ž ื•ื”ื•ื ืจื—ื•ื ื™ื›ืคืจ ืขื•ืŸ ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื—ื™ืช. But itโ€™s not as positive as it seems when we quote it out of context: ื”ืณ is promising that He wonโ€™t destroy everyone, since we are only human, ืจื•ื— ื”ื•ืœืš ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื•ื‘.


The second part of the perek goes through some of the same themes as the first, that ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ keep sinning because they do not remember ื”ืณโ€˜s power and wrath. But here it reviews the ten plagues. Itโ€™s very interesting; the list is out of order (and Iโ€™m not sure why). It also leaves out three of them: ื›ื™ื ื™ื,โ€Ž ืฉื—ื™ืŸ and ื—ืฉืš. Hirsch (among others) explains that before most of the plagues, Moshe warned the Egyptians what was coming, so they would have a chance to repent. Before these three, there was no warning. They were meant simply as punishment. The lesson of this perek is to listen to ื”ืณโ€™s warning, so those plagues are not relevant.

Frogs?

When we illustrate the plagues in childrenโ€™s books, we always use the frogs because they are so cute; itโ€™s a much less intimidating plague than wild animals or massive hailstorms. But are they really so benign? Our perek says ืฆืคืจื“ืข ื•ืชืฉื—ื™ืชื, the frog destroyed them. Are ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ื really just frogs?

ื•ื”ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ื ื—ืœืงื• ื‘ืžืœืช ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ื. ื•ืจื‘ื™ื ืืžืจื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื™ืŸ ื“ื’ ื ืžืฆื ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื™ืงืจื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืขืจื‘ ืืœึพืชืžืกื—, ื•ื™ื•ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื•ื—ื•ื˜ืฃ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื. ื•ืื—ืจื™ื ืืžืจื• ื›ื™ ื”ื ื”ื ืžืฆืื™ื ื‘ืจื•ื‘ื™ ื”ื ื”ืจื•ืช ืฉืžืฉืžื™ืขื™ื ืงื•ืœ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื“ื•ืข.

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื, ืฉืžื•ืช ื–:ื›ื˜

Google translate tells us that ุชู…ุณุงุญ, tamsach, means crocodile.

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is an African crocodile and the second largest extant reptile in the world, after the saltwater crocodileโ€ฆOn average the Nile crocodile is between 4.1 metres (13 ft) to 5 metres (16 ft), weighing around 410 kg (900 lb). However, specimens measuring 6.1 metres (20 ft) in length and weighing 900 kg (2,000 lb) are not uncommon. They have thick scaly skin that is heavily armored.

The Nile crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator and a very aggressive species of crocodile that is capable of taking almost any animal within its range. They are generalists, taking a variety of prey. Their diet consists mostly of different species of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. The Nile crocodile is an ambush predator and can wait for hours, days and even weeks for the suitable moment to attack. They are quite agile predators and wait for the opportunity for the prey item to come close within the range of attack. Even swift prey are not immune to attack. Like other crocodiles, Nile crocodiles have an extremely powerful bite that is unique amongst all animals and sharp conical teeth that sink into flesh allowing for a grip that is almost impossible to loosen. They can apply high levels of force for extended periods of time, a great advantage for holding down large prey underwater to drown.

Wikipedia, Nile Crocodile, accessed 2013-12-22

The Netziv puts them together:

ื›ื• ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœ ืžืฉื” ื‘ื ืืœ ืคืจืขื”; ื•ืืžืจืช ืืœื™ื• ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืฉืœื— ืืช ืขืžื™ ื•ื™ืขื‘ื“ื ื™ืƒ ื›ื– ื•ืื ืžืืŸ ืืชื” ืœืฉืœื—; ื”ื ื” ืื ื›ื™ ื ื’ืฃ ืืช ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœืš ื‘ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ืืƒ ื›ื— ื•ืฉืจืฅ ื”ื™ืืจ ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ื ื•ืขืœื• ื•ื‘ืื• ื‘ื‘ื™ืชืš ื•ื‘ื—ื“ืจ ืžืฉื›ื‘ืš ื•ืขืœ ืžื˜ืชืš; ื•ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ื•ึผื‘ึฐืขึทืžึผึถืšึธ ื•ื‘ืชื ื•ืจื™ืš ื•ื‘ืžืฉืืจื•ืชื™ืšืƒ ื›ื˜ ื•ื‘ื›ื” ื•ึผื‘ึฐืขึทืžึผึฐืšึธ ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš ื™ืขืœื• ื”ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื–

The Netziv reads the text carefullyโ€”what does ืคืกื•ืง ื›ื˜ add?

ื•ื›ืืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืขึทืžึผึฐืšึธ ื‘ืฉื•ืดื ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืขื ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ ืฉื•ืžืจื™ ืจืืฉ ืคืจืขื”. ื•ืžืฉืดื” ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืžืงืจื ืงื•ื“ื ืœื‘ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ืš. ืžืฉื•ื ื“ื—ืฉื™ื‘ื™ ื™ื•ืชืจ. ื•ื–ื” ื”ืžื›ื” ื”ื™ืชื™ืจื” ืœื ืฉืœื˜ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืขืžื™ ืคืจืขื” ืืœื ื‘ื• ืชื—ืœื” ื•ื‘ืฉื•ืžืจื™ ืจืืฉื• ื•ื‘ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื”ืžื” ืฉืจื™ ื™ื•ืขืฆื™ื•. ื•ื”ื ื” ื™ื“ื•ืข ื“ืขื•ืช ืฉื•ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื ื–ืดืœ ืื ื”ื™ื• ื”ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ื ืžื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื“ื•ืข ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืช ื”ื ืžืฆื ืขื•ื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื‘ื™ืื•ืจ ื•ื ืงืจื (ืงืจืืงืื“ื™ืœ) ืื• ื”ื•ื ืžื™ืŸ ื”ื ืžืฆื ื‘ืจื•ื‘ื™ ื”ื ื”ืจื•ืช ื•ืฆื•ืขืงื™ื ื•ืžื›ืจื›ืจื™ื. ื•ืœืคื™ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื• ืฉื ื™ ื”ืคืจื•ืฉื™ื ืืžืช. ื‘ื›ืœ ืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื ื”ื™ื” ืžื™ืŸ ื”ืฉื ื™ ื•ืœื ื”ืฉื—ื™ืชื•. ืืš ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืคืจืขื” ื•ืขืžื• ื•ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื™ืฆืื• ืžื™ืŸ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ื™ืื•ืจ ื•ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื™ื ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขืดื— ื™ืฉืœื— ื‘ื ืขืจื•ื‘ ื•ื™ืื›ืœื ื•ืฆืคืจื“ืข ื•ืชืฉื—ื™ืชื ื•ื–ื” ื ื›ืœืœ ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื™ืขืœื• ื”ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ื. ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื”ืžืขื•ืœื™ื ืฉื‘ืฆืคืจื“ืขื™ื.

ื”ืขืžืง ื“ื‘ืจ, ืฉืžื•ืช ื–:ื›ื˜

ื•ื™ื ื—ื ืœื‘ื˜ื—

And then ื”ืณ led the Jews to safety in ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, and they messed up. ื•ื™ืกื’ื• ื•ื™ื‘ื’ื“ื• ื›ืื‘ื•ืชื. They betrayed G-d with idol worship, and even warped the service of the ืžืฉื›ืŸ:

ื›ืงืฉืช ืจืžื™ื”: ืžื•ืจื” ื”ืงืฉืช ื”ืจืžืื™ ืžืจืื” ืขืฆืžื• ื›ืžื•ืจื” ืœืฆื“ ื–ื” ื•ื‘ืจื’ืข ื—ื•ื–ืจ ื•ืžื”ืคืš ืขืฆืžื• ืœื™ืจื•ืช ื‘ืฆื“ ืื—ืจ ืืœ ืžืงื•ื ื”ื ืจืฆื” ื›ืŸ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื• ืืช ื”ืณ ื›ืœ ื™ืžื™ ื”ืฉื•ืคื˜ ื•ื‘ืžื•ืช ื”ืฉื•ืคื˜ ื ื”ืคื›ื• ื›ืจื’ืข ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ื”ื’ืœื•ืœื™ื.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื—:ื ื–

And this corruption led to the destruction of ืžืฉื›ืŸ ืฉื™ืœื”, and all of Israel falling into the hands of the Philistines. This was in the generation immediately before Asaf, and probably within the memories of many of his audience. Not only was the ืžืฉื›ืŸ lost, but ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ were devastated:

ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื• ืื›ืœื” ืืฉ:ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ืžืฉืœ ื ืงืจืื” ื”ืžืœื—ืžื” ืืฉ, ื›ืžื• (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื:ื›ื—): ื›ื™ ืืฉ ื™ืฆืื” ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืŸ. ื•ืืžืจ ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื•, ื›ื™ ื”ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื ื”ื ื”ื™ื•ืฆืื™ื ืœืžืœื—ืžื”. ื•ื‘ืชื•ืœื•ืชื™ื• ืœื ื”ื•ืœืœื•, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืžืชื• ื”ื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื ืœื ื ื›ื ืกื• ื”ื‘ืชื•ืœื•ืช ืœื—ื•ืคื”, ืฉื”ื™ื• ื ืฉื•ืื•ืช ืœื‘ื—ื•ืจื™ื ืฉืžืชื• ืื ื”ื™ื• ื—ื™ื™ื. ื•ื”ื•ืœืœื• ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉืžื—ืช ื”ื—ื•ืคื”, ื•ื›ืŸ ืงืจืื• ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื—ื•ืคื” (ืขื™ืจื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื ื“ ื•ืขื•ื“) ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืœื•ืœื, ื•ื ืงืจื ื›ืŸ ืœืคื™ ืฉืžื”ืœืœื™ื ื‘ืฉื™ืจื™ื ื”ื—ืชืŸ ื•ื”ื›ืœื”.

ืจื“ืดืง, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื—:ืกื’

ื•ืืœืžื ืชื™ื• ืœื ืชื‘ื›ื™ื ื”

ื›ื”ื ื™ื• ื‘ื—ืจื‘ ื ืคืœื•; ื•ืืœืžื ืชื™ื• ืœื ืชื‘ื›ื™ื ื”ืƒ is a reference to a specific incident in the fall of Shilo:

ื™ื— ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื›ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ื™ืคืœ ืžืขืœ ื”ื›ืกื ืื—ืจื ื™ืช ื‘ืขื“ ื™ื“ ื”ืฉืขืจ ื•ืชืฉื‘ืจ ืžืคืจืงืชื• ื•ื™ืžืช ื›ื™ ื–ืงืŸ ื”ืื™ืฉ ื•ื›ื‘ื“; ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉืคื˜ ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืืจื‘ืขื™ื ืฉื ื”ืƒ ื™ื˜ ื•ื›ืœืชื• ืืฉืช ืคื™ื ื—ืก ื”ืจื” ืœืœืช ื•ืชืฉืžืข ืืช ื”ืฉืžื•ืขื” ืืœ ื”ืœืงื— ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืžืช ื—ืžื™ื” ื•ืื™ืฉื”; ื•ืชื›ืจืข ื•ืชืœื“ ื›ื™ ื ื”ืคื›ื• ืขืœื™ื” ืฆืจื™ื”ืƒ ื› ื•ื›ืขืช ืžื•ืชื” ื•ืชื“ื‘ืจื ื” ื”ื ืฆื‘ื•ืช ืขืœื™ื” ืืœ ืชื™ืจืื™ ื›ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื™ืœื“ืช; ื•ืœื ืขื ืชื” ื•ืœื ืฉืชื” ืœื‘ื”ืƒ ื›ื ื•ืชืงืจื ืœื ืขืจ ืื™ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืœืืžืจ ื’ืœื” ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ; ืืœ ื”ืœืงื— ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืืœ ื—ืžื™ื” ื•ืื™ืฉื”ืƒ ื›ื‘ ื•ืชืืžืจ ื’ืœื” ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืžื™ืฉืจืืœ; ื›ื™ ื ืœืงื— ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืืœืงื™ืืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืคืจืง ื“

Pinchasโ€™s wife (the daughter-in-law of Eli) did not weep over the death of her husband but over the loss of the ืืจื•ืŸ. Many look at this as a positive:

ืœื ืชื‘ื›ื™ื ื”: ื›ื™ ื”ืจื‘ื• ืœื‘ื›ื•ืช ืขืœ ืœืงื™ื—ืช ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ืœืžื•ืœ ื–ื” ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื ื—ืฉื‘ ืฆืขืจ ืืœืžื ื•ืชื ืœืžืื•ืžื”.

ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“, ืชื”ืœื™ื ืขื—:ืกื“

But Rabbi Shulman argued that this was a reflection of the misplaced priorities of the kohanim of the time; they cared more for the ritual of the ืžืฉื›ืŸ than for respect for people.

ื•ื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืืช ืฉื‘ื˜ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”

The end of the perek extols David and his tribe, and the sanctuary that he plans on building in Jerusalem. This is why I called this essay โ€œPolitically Incorrectโ€. Thereโ€™s no way David himself could say this; he is trying to unite all of Israel under his leadership. Boasting about how wonderful he is and how the other tribes were rejected just wouldnโ€™t help. But Asaf can say this.

But reading the subtext gives a very different understanding. The ืžืฉืœ and ื—ื™ื“ื” that Asaf speaks about in the beginning is the cycle of Jewish history, how ื”ืณ punishes Israel but eventually forgives, then Israel sins again and is punished again. Asaf is telling David, โ€œremember the destruction of Shilo. Your ืžืงื“ืฉ may be built ื›ืืจืฅ ื™ืกื“ื” ืœืขื•ืœื but it can still be destroyed.โ€ This is the message that got ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื•, the prophet of the ื—ื•ืจื‘ืŸ ื‘ื™ืช ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, almost killed:

ื“ ืืœ ืชื‘ื˜ื—ื• ืœื›ื ืืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืฉืงืจ ืœืืžืจ; ื”ื™ื›ืœ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื›ืœ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ื›ืœ ื”ืณ ื”ืžื”ืƒ ื” ื›ื™ ืื ื”ื™ื˜ื™ื‘ ืชื™ื˜ื™ื‘ื• ืืช ื“ืจื›ื™ื›ื ื•ืืช ืžืขืœืœื™ื›ื; ืื ืขืฉื• ืชืขืฉื• ืžืฉืคื˜ ื‘ื™ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ืจืขื”ื•ืƒ ื• ื’ืจ ื™ืชื•ื ื•ืืœืžื ื” ืœื ืชืขืฉืงื• ื•ื“ื ื ืงื™ ืืœ ืชืฉืคื›ื• ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื”; ื•ืื—ืจื™ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ืœื ืชืœื›ื• ืœืจืข ืœื›ืืƒ ื– ื•ืฉื›ื ืชื™ ืืชื›ื ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื‘ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื™ ืœืื‘ื•ืชื™ื›ื; ืœืžืŸ ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“ ืขื•ืœืืƒ ื— ื”ื ื” ืืชื ื‘ื˜ื—ื™ื ืœื›ื ืขืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืฉืงืจ ืœื‘ืœืชื™ ื”ื•ืขื™ืœืƒ ื˜ ื”ื’ื ื‘ ืจืฆื— ื•ื ืืฃ ื•ื”ืฉื‘ืข ืœืฉืงืจ ื•ืงื˜ืจ ืœื‘ืขืœ; ื•ื”ืœืš ืื—ืจื™ ืืœื”ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชืืƒ ื™ ื•ื‘ืืชื ื•ืขืžื“ืชื ืœืคื ื™ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื–ื” ืืฉืจ ื ืงืจื ืฉืžื™ ืขืœื™ื• ื•ืืžืจืชื ื ืฆืœื ื• ืœืžืขืŸ ืขืฉื•ืช ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืชื•ืขื‘ื•ืช ื”ืืœื”ืƒ ื™ื ื”ืžืขืจืช ืคืจืฆื™ื ื”ื™ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืช ื”ื–ื” ืืฉืจ ื ืงืจื ืฉืžื™ ืขืœื™ื• ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื›ื; ื’ื ืื ื›ื™ ื”ื ื” ืจืื™ืชื™ ื ืื ื”ืณืƒ ื™ื‘ ื›ื™ ืœื›ื• ื ื ืืœ ืžืงื•ืžื™ ืืฉืจ ื‘ืฉื™ืœื• ืืฉืจ ืฉื›ื ืชื™ ืฉืžื™ ืฉื ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื”; ื•ืจืื• ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืœื• ืžืคื ื™ ืจืขืช ืขืžื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœืƒ ื™ื’ ื•ืขืชื” ื™ืขืŸ ืขืฉื•ืชื›ื ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืžืขืฉื™ื ื”ืืœื” ื ืื ื”ืณ; ื•ืื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื™ื›ื ื”ืฉื›ื ื•ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ืœื ืฉืžืขืชื ื•ืืงืจื ืืชื›ื ื•ืœื ืขื ื™ืชืืƒ ื™ื“ ื•ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืœื‘ื™ืช ืืฉืจ ื ืงืจื ืฉืžื™ ืขืœื™ื• ืืฉืจ ืืชื ื‘ื˜ื—ื™ื ื‘ื• ื•ืœืžืงื•ื ืืฉืจ ื ืชืชื™ ืœื›ื ื•ืœืื‘ื•ืชื™ื›ื ื›ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืœืฉืœื•ืƒ

ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ื–

This, however, is not a prophecy of destruction, itโ€™s a ืžืฉื›ื™ืœ, a lesson for the future.