ื‘ืกืดื“

Kavanot: The King and I

Thoughts on Tanach and the Davening

The three remaining perakim attributed to Moshe have a common theme:

ืฆื’:ื ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ ื’ืื•ืช ืœื‘ืฉโ€ฆ

ืฆื–:ื ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅโ€ฆ

ืฆื˜:ื ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ ื™ืจื’ื–ื• ืขืžื™ืโ€ฆ

ืกืคืจ ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื

The Artscroll translation makes this a declaration about the future:

Hashem will have reigned He will have donned grandeur Hashem will have donned might and girded Himself; even firmed the world that it should not falter.

Artscroll Tehillim, 93:1

[The translation generally follows the view that this psalm reflects the pronouncements that will be made in the Messianic era. Accordingly, the past tense syntax of the psalm will be uttered in retrospect.]

Artscroll commentary ad loc.

And that is usually the way we take that statement of ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ:

ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐืƒ

ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ื˜ื–:ืœื

But there is the familiar line that puts the three tenses together:

ื”ืณ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ ื”ืณ ื™ึดืžึฐืœึนืšึฐ ืœึฐืขื•ึนืœึธื ื•ึธืขึถื“

ืชืคื™ืœืช ื™ื”ื™ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื•ืขื•ื“

And that makes it clear that we read ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ not as the prophetic perfect but as the past. The problem with trying to interpret it is that it is not a pasuk in ืชื ืดืš; it is a combination of three psukim. The past we quoted above; there is one more, in the middle of a perek but also one of the perakim attributed to Moshe:

ืืžืจื• ื‘ื’ื•ื™ื ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ ืืฃ ืชื›ื•ืŸ ืชื‘ืœ ื‘ืœ ืชืžื•ื˜; ื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืขืžื™ื ื‘ืžื™ืฉืจื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื•:ื™

The present is in ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื:

ื”ืณ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐ ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขื“; ืื‘ื“ื• ื’ื•ื™ื ืžืืจืฆื•ืƒ

ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™:ื˜ื–

And the future is in ืฉื™ืจืช ื”ื™ื:

ื”ืณ ื™ึดืžึฐืœึนืšึฐ ืœึฐืขึนืœึธื ื•ึธืขึถื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ื•:ื™ื—

So we (at least in the liturgy) understand ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ as referring to the past. We can understand what it means to say ื”ืณ is king, and will be king; a good part of the Rosh Hashana liturgy is declaring ื”ืณ king:

ื•ื™ืฉ ื”ื‘ื“ืœ ื‘ื™ืŸ โ€ืžืœืšโ€œ ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ โ€ืžื•ืฉืœโ€œ, ืฉื”ืžืœืš ื”ื•ื ื”ื ื‘ื—ืจ ื‘ื‘ื—ื™ืจืช ื”ืขื ื•ื‘ืจืฆื•ื ื, ื•ื”ืžื•ืฉืœ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื“ ื—ื–ืงื”.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœื–:ื—

[ืฉืžืข ื™ืฉืจืืœ] ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื”ืณ ืื—ื“: ื”ืณ ืฉื”ื•ื ืืœืงื™ื ื• ืขืชื”, ื•ืœื ืืœืงื™ ื”ืืžื•ืช, ื”ื•ื ืขืชื™ื“ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื”ืณ ืื—ื“.

ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื•:ื“

ื”ืณ is king now, because we accept Him as king. ื”ืณ will be king ืœืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื, when the entire world accepts Him.

But then what does it mean that ื”ืณ was king, before anyone accepted Him? There is an idea that pervades the writings of the Maharal:

ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืš ืœื“ืขืช, ื›ื™ ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงืฉืจ ืืช ืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ืขื“ ืฉื”ื›ืœ ืื—ื“. ื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืฆืจื™ืš ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืœืš ืื—ื“, ื•ืœื ืฉื ื™ ืžืœื›ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืื™ืš ื™ืชืงืฉืจ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืื—ื“ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืฉื ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืฉื ื™ื ื”ื ืžื—ื•ืœืงื™ื. ื•ืงืจืื• ืจื–ืดืœ (ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช ื™ื’,ื, ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื•, ื“) ืฉืึฐืžึทืข ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ื”ืณ ืึฑืœึนืงึตื™ื ื•ึผ ื”ืณโ€‰โ€‰ืึถื—ึธื“ ืงื‘ืœืช ืžืœื›ื•ืชื•โ€ฆื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืื—ื“ื•ืช ืืœื ืœืžืœืš, ืฉื”ื•ื ื™ื—ื™ื“ ื‘ืขืžื•, ื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ื™ืชืงืฉืจ ื”ื›ืœ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ืœืœ ืื—ื“.

ื’ื•ืจ ืืจื™ื” , ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื›ื—:ื˜ื•

ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ื”ื™ื ืื—ืช ื•ื™ื”ื ืžืชืื—ื“ืช ื”ื›ืœ ื›ืžื• ื”ืžืœืš ื‘ืขื ืฉืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ืžืชืงืฉืจ ื”ืขื ืขื“ ืฉื ืขืฉื” ืื—ื“โ€ฆื›ืš ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื ื”ื ืžืฆื˜ืจืคื™ืโ€ฆื•ื ืžืฆื ื”ื›ืœ ืžืŸ ืคื•ืขืœ ืื—ื“โ€ฆ

ืžื”ืจืดืœ, ื—ื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ ืื’ื“ื•ืช ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืœื–,ื

ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ from the time of creation, not from ืงื‘ืœืช ืขื•ืœ ืžืœื›ื•ืช, but from the fact that it is ื”ืณ's ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” that gives order and purpose to the universe and makes it a unified whole. ืžืœืš here is a metaphor for what it means to have laws of physics and a predictable universe.

So letโ€™s look at the first perek in this series:

ื ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ื’ืื•ืช ืœื‘ืฉ;
ืœื‘ืฉ ื”ืณ ืขื– ื”ืชืื–ืจ; ืืฃ ืชื›ื•ืŸ ืชื‘ืœ ื‘ืœ ืชืžื•ื˜ืƒ
ื‘ ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืกืืš ืžืื–; ืžืขื•ืœื ืืชื”ืƒ
ื’ ื ืฉืื• ื ื”ืจื•ืช ื”ืณ ื ืฉืื• ื ื”ืจื•ืช ืงื•ืœื; ื™ืฉืื• ื ื”ืจื•ืช ื“ื›ื™ืืƒ
ื“ ืžืงืœื•ืช ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืื“ื™ืจื™ื ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ ื™ื; ืื“ื™ืจ ื‘ืžืจื•ื ื”ืณืƒ
ื” ืขื“ืชื™ืš ื ืืžื ื• ืžืื“ ืœื‘ื™ืชืš ื ืื•ื” ืงื“ืฉ; ื”ืณ ืœืืจืš ื™ืžื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื’

Itโ€™s hard to figure out how this holds together: it starts with ื”ืณ has reigned; His throne has been set since creation. That fits with the theme of ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ. But then there are two psukim about loud water, then the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ is built. Whatโ€™s with the water praising ื”ืณ?

Itโ€™s interesting that the first mention of G-d as King, along with the first mention of the ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืžืงื“ืฉ, is in the celebration of ื”ืณ's control of the water:

ื‘ ืขื–ื™ ื•ื–ืžืจืช ื™ื” ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืœื™ ืœื™ืฉื•ืขื”; ื–ื” ืึพืœื™ ื•ืื ื•ื”ื• ืืœืงื™ ืื‘ื™ ื•ืืจืžืžื ื”ื•ืƒ
โ€ฆ ื™ื– ืชื‘ืืžื• ื•ืชื˜ืขืžื• ื‘ื”ืจ ื ื—ืœืชืš ืžื›ื•ืŸ ืœืฉื‘ืชืš ืคืขืœืช ื”ืณ; ืžืงื“ืฉ ืื“ื ื™ ื›ื•ื ื ื• ื™ื“ื™ืšืƒ
ื™ื— ื”ืณ ื™ืžืœืš ืœืขืœื ื•ืขื“ืƒ

ืฉืžื•ืช ืคืจืง ื˜ื•

There is an important symbolism in ื”ืณ's control of the water.

ืชื ื™ื ื”ื™ื” ืจืณ ืžืื™ืจ ืื•ืžืจ: ืžื” ื ืฉืชื ื” ืชื›ืœืช ืžื›ืœ ืžื™ื ื™ ืฆื‘ืขื•ื ื™ืŸ? ืžืคื ื™ ืฉื”ืชื›ืœืช ื“ื•ืžื” ืœื™ื, ื•ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืจืงื™ืข, ื•ืจืงื™ืข ืœื›ืกื ื”ื›ื‘ื•ื“, ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื›ื“:ื™) ื•ึฐืชึทื—ึทืช ืจึทื’ึฐืœึธื™ื• ื›ึผึฐืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตื” ืœึดื‘ึฐื ึทืช ื”ึทืกึผึทืคึผึดื™ืจ ื•ึผื›ึฐืขึถืฆึถื ื”ึทืฉืึผึธืžึทื™ึดื ืœึธื˜ึนื”ึทืจ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื™ื—ื–ืงืืœ ื:ื›ื•) ื›ึผึฐืžึทืจึฐืึตื” ืึถื‘ึถืŸ ืกึทืคึผึดื™ืจ ื“ึผึฐืžื•ึผืช ื›ึผึดืกึผึตื.

ืžื ื—ื•ืช ืžื’,ื‘

The ืชื›ืœืช of ืฆื™ืฆื™ืช reminds us of three things: the ื™ื, the ืจืงื™ืข, and the ื›ืกื ื”ื›ื‘ื•ื“. But the proof text that the gemara brings only mentions ืจืงื™ืข, and the ื›ืกื ื”ื›ื‘ื•ื“.

The ื›ืœื™ ื™ืงืจ says that ื™ื and ืจืงื™ืข, as servants of ื”ืงื‘ืดื”, represent two different ways of serving.

(ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืœื‘:ื) ื”ืื–ื™ื ื• ื”ืฉืžื™ื [ื•ืื“ื‘ืจื”; ื•ืชืฉืžืข ื”ืืจืฅ ืืžืจื™ ืคื™]: ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืœืžืฉื”: ืืžื•ืจ ืœื”ื ืœื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื”ืกืชื›ืœื• ื‘ืฉืžื™ื ืฉื‘ืจืืชื™โ€ฆืฉืฉืžื— ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืจืฆื•ื ื™ ืฉื ืืžืจ (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื™ื˜:ื•) ื•ึฐื”ื•ึผื ื›ึฐึผื—ึธืชึธืŸ ื™ึนืฆึตื ืžึตื—ึปืคึธึผืชื•ึน [ื™ึธืฉึดื‚ื™ืฉื‚ ื›ึฐึผื’ึดื‘ึผื•ึนืจ ืœึธืจื•ึผืฅ ืึนืจึทื—]โ€ฆ

ื•ื›ืŸ ืœืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ (ื™ืจืžื™ื” ื”:ื›ื‘) ื”ึทืื•ึนืชึดื™ ืœึนื ืชึดื™ืจึธืื•ึผ ื ึฐืึปื ื”ืณ ืึดื ืžึดืคึผึธื ึทื™ ืœึนื ืชึธื—ึดื™ืœื•ึผ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืฉื‚ึทืžึฐืชึผึดื™ ื—ื•ึนืœ ื’ึผึฐื‘ื•ึผืœ ืœึทื™ึผึธื, ืฉืžืฉืขื” ืฉื’ื–ืจืชื™ ืขืœื™ื• ืฉืžื ืฉื™ื ื” ืืช ืžื“ืชื• ื•ืืžืจ ืืขืœื” ื•ืืฆื™ืฃ ืืช ื”ืขื•ืœื?โ€ฆื•ืœื ืขื•ื“ ืืœื ืฉืžืฆื˜ืขืจ ื•ืื™ืŸ ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืžื” ืœืขืฉื•ืช, ื›ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืชึฐื’ึผึธืขึฒืฉืื•ึผ ื•ึฐืœึนื ื™ื•ึผื›ึธืœื•ึผ.

ื™ืœืงื•ื˜ ืฉืžืขื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืชืชืงืžืดื‘

ืœืคื™ ืฉืžืŸ ื”ื™ื ืื™ืŸ ืœืœืžื•ื“ ื›ื™ ืื ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ืืช ื”ืณ ืžื™ืจืื”, ืฉื”ืจื™ ืืžืจ ื‘ื™ื โ€ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“ ืืœื ืฉืžืฆื˜ืขืจ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ื›ื•ืณโ€œ ื•ื›ืžืดืฉ โ€ื”ืื•ืชื™ ืœื ืชื™ืจืื• ื ืื•ื ื”ืณ ืืฉืจ ืฉืžืชื™ ื—ื•ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ืœื™ืโ€œ ืฉืดืž ืฉืžืŸ ื”ื™ื ืื™ืŸ ืœืœืžื•ื“ ื›ื™ ืื ื”ื™ืจืื”โ€ฆืขืดื› ืืžืจ ื•ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืจืงื™ืข ื›ื™ ืขืดื™ ืฉื™ื–ื›ื•ืจ ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ืžืขืฉื” ื”ื™ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ืžื” ื›ืืœื• ื”ื™ื ืชืžื™ื“ ื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื™ื”ื™ื” ื“ื•ืžื” ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื›ืืœื• ื”ื•ื ืžืกืชื›ืœ ื‘ืจืงื™ืข ืชืžื™ื“โ€ฆืžื” ื”ืจืงื™ืข ืื™ื ื” ืžืฉื ื” ืžื“ืชื• ื•ืœื ืขื•ื“ ืืœื ืฉืฉืžื— ืœืขื‘ื•ื“ ื›ืš ื™ืขื‘ื•ื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืืช ื”ืณ ื‘ืฉืžื—ื” ืžืื”ื‘ื”.

ื›ืœื™ ื™ืงืจ, ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื˜ื•:ืœื—

We look at the ื™ื and appreciate ื”ืณ's ืžื“ืช ื”ื“ื™ืŸ, imposing structure and order on the universe.

Itโ€™s interesting that many cultures have, as part of their creation myths, a common theme. Hermann Gunkel, a German Lutheran, compared the Hebrew Bible to other near eastern religions and noted that the pagan mythologies all had a creation myth that started with a great battle between the sky god and the sea god (usually a serpent or dragon), that ended with the defeat of the dragon and the creation of the world. He called that the Chaoskampf, the โ€œChaos Battleโ€, because the sea represents the chaos of the unformed world that has to be subdued by the sky god, representing order.

And that seems to be what ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช is describing:

ื ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื‘ืจื ืืœืงื™ื ืืช ื”ืฉืžื™ื ื•ืืช ื”ืืจืฅืƒ ื‘ ื•ื”ืืจืฅ ื”ื™ืชื” ืชื”ื• ื•ื‘ื”ื• ื•ื—ืฉืš ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ืชื”ื•ื; ื•ืจื•ื— ืืœืงื™ื ืžืจื—ืคืช ืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื”ืžื™ืืƒ

ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืคืจืง ื

This doesnโ€™t mean that the Torah is derived from paganism; just the opposite is true. Pagan mythology is a degenerate version of the truth that humanity once knew.

ื ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืื ื•ืฉ ื˜ืขื• ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืื“ื ื˜ืขื•ืช ื’ื“ื•ืœื”, ื•ื ื‘ืขืจื” ืขืฆืช ื—ื›ืžื™ ืื•ืชื• ื”ื“ื•ืจ; ื•ืื ื•ืฉ ืขืฆืžื•, ืžืŸ ื”ื˜ื•ืขื™ื. ื•ื–ื• ื”ื™ื™ืชื” ื˜ืขื•ืชื: ืืžืจื• ื”ื•ืื™ืœ ื•ื”ืืœ ื‘ืจื ื›ื•ื›ื‘ื™ื ืืœื• ื•ื’ืœื’ืœื™ื ืืœื• ืœื”ื ื”ื™ื’ ืืช ื”ืขื•ืœื, ื•ื ืชื ื ื‘ืžืจื•ื, ื•ื—ืœืง ืœื”ื ื›ื‘ื•ื“, ื•ื”ื ืฉืžืฉื™ื ื”ืžืฉืžืฉื™ื ืœืคื ื™ื•โ€”ืจืื•ื™ื™ื ื”ื ืœืฉื‘ื—ื ื•ืœืคืืจื, ื•ืœื—ืœื•ืง ืœื”ื ื›ื‘ื•ื“โ€ฆ

ื‘โ€ฆื•ื”ืชื—ื™ืœื• ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื–ื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืฆื•ืจื•ืช ื‘ื”ื™ื›ืœื•ืช ื•ืชื—ืช ื”ืื™ืœื ื•ืช ื•ื‘ืจืืฉื™ ื”ื”ืจื™ื ื•ืขืœ ื”ื’ื‘ืขื•ืช, ื•ืžืชืงื‘ืฆื™ื ื•ืžืฉืชื—ื•ื•ื™ื ืœื”ื; ื•ืื•ืžืจื™ืŸ ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขื ืฉื–ื• ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ืžื˜ื™ื‘ื” ื•ืžืจื™ืขื”, ื•ืจืื•ื™ ืœืขื•ื‘ื“ื” ื•ืœื™ืจืื” ืžืžื ื”โ€ฆื•ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืืจื›ื• ื”ื™ืžื™ื, ื ืฉืชืงืข ื”ืฉื ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ื”ื ื•ืจื ืžืคื™ ื›ืœ ื”ื™ืงื•ื ื•ืžื“ืขืชื, ื•ืœื ื”ื›ื™ืจื•ื”ื•: ื•ื ืžืฆืื• ื›ืœ ืขื ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื”ื ืฉื™ื ื•ื”ืงื˜ื ื™ื, ืื™ื ืŸ ื™ื•ื“ืขื™ืŸ ืืœื ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ืฉืœ ืขืฅ ื•ืื‘ืŸ ื•ื”ื”ื™ื›ืœ ืฉืœ ื‘ื ื™ื™ืŸ, ืฉื ืชื—ื ื›ื• ืžืงื˜ื ื•ืชืŸ ืœื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื•ืช ืœื”ืŸ ื•ืœืขื•ื‘ื“ืŸ, ื•ืœื”ื™ืฉื‘ืข ื‘ืฉืžืŸโ€ฆ

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ื–ืจื” ืคืจืง ื

Monotheism is not a higher stage of some process of growth following on a lower stage of polytheism. Monotheism is itself primary and basic; it has been the dominant mode of worship from as far back as human memory goes. All the other modes of religious faith came after it, and not before. For this truth, the scriptural text itself, though it does not say so in precisely this fashion, is the chief evidence.

Adin Steinsaltz, Biblical Images, p. 13

Creation, as described by the Torah, was the ื‘ืจื™ืื” ื™ืฉ ืžืื™ืŸ of unformed matter (called ื—ื•ืžืจ), then the six days of imposing order, form, on it (called ืฆื•ืจื”).

ื•ืขืชื” ืฉืžืข ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื”ืžืงืจื ืขืœ ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื•ื‘ืจื•ืจ. ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ื‘ืจื ื›ืœ ื”ื ื‘ืจืื™ื ืžืืคื™ืกื” ืžื•ื—ืœื˜ืช. ื•ืื™ืŸ ืืฆืœื ื• ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืงื“ืฉ ื‘ื”ื•ืฆืืช ื”ื™ืฉ ืžืื™ืŸ ืืœื ืœืฉื•ืŸ โ€ื‘ืจืโ€œ; ื•ืื™ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”โ€ื ืขืฉื”โ€œโ€”ืชื—ืช ื”ืฉืžืฉ ืื• ืœืžืขืœื”โ€”ื”ื•ื•ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืื™ืŸ ื”ืชื—ืœื” ืจืืฉื•ื ื”. ืื‘ืœ ื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืžืŸ ื”ืืคืก ื”ื’ืžื•ืจ ื”ืžื•ื—ืœื˜ ื™ืกื•ื“ ื“ืง ืžืื“, ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ืžืžืฉ, ืื‘ืœ ื”ื•ื ื›ื•ื— ืžืžืฆื™ื, ืžื•ื›ืŸ ืœืงื‘ืœ ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ื•ืœืฆืืช ืžืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื— ืืœ ื”ืคื•ืขืœ. ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื—ื•ืžืจ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ื ืงืจื ืœื™ื•ื•ื ื™ื โ€ื”ื™ื•ืœื™โ€œ. ื•ืื—ืจ ื”ื”ื™ื•ืœื™ ืœื ื‘ืจื ื“ื‘ืจ, ืื‘ืœ ื™ืฆืจ ื•ืขืฉื”, ื›ื™ ืžืžื ื• ื”ืžืฆื™ื ื”ื›ืœ ื•ื”ืœื‘ื™ืฉ ื”ืฆื•ืจื•ืช ื•ืชื™ืงืŸ ืื•ืชืŸ.

โ€ฆื•ื”ื—ื•ืžืจ ื”ื–ื”, ืฉืงืจืื• ื”ื™ื•ืœื™, ื ืงืจื ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืงื“ืฉ โ€ืชึนึผื”๏ฌตโ€œ, ื•ื”ืžืœื” ื ื’ื–ืจื” ืžืœืฉื•ื ื (ืงื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ืŸ ืž,ื‘): โ€ื‘ืชื•ื”ื ืขืœ ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื•ืชโ€œ. ืžืคื ื™ ืฉืื ื‘ื ืื“ื ืœื’ื–ื•ืจ ื‘ื• ืฉึตื, ืชื•ื”ื ื•ื ืžืœืš ืœืงื•ืจืื• ื‘ืฉื ืื—ืจ, ื›ื™ ืœื ืœื‘ืฉ ืฆื•ืจื” ืฉื™ืชืคืฉ ื‘ื” ื”ืฉื ื›ืœืœ. ื•ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ื”ื ืœื‘ืฉืช ืœื—ื•ืžืจ ื”ื–ื” ื ืงืจืืช ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืงื“ืฉ โ€ื‘ึนึผื”๏ฌตโ€œ, ื•ื”ืžืœื” ืžื•ืจื›ื‘ืช, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ โ€๏ฌฑ๏ญ‹ ื”๏ฌตืโ€œ.

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ, ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื:ื

Hylomorphism is a philosophical doctrine developed by the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, which conceives every physical entityโ€ฆas a compound of matterโ€ฆand immaterial formโ€ฆThe word is a 19th-century term formed from the Greek words แฝ•ฮปฮท (hyle: โ€œwood, matterโ€) and ฮผฮฟฯฯ†ฮฎ (morphฤ“: โ€formโ€œ).

Wikipedia, Hylomorphism

The Maharal, in many places, says that water in this sense is the symbol of ื—ื•ืžืจ.

ื”ืžื™ื ืื™ืŸ ืœื”ื ืฆื•ืจื” ื’ืžื•ืจื”, ื•ืœื›ืš ื ืงืจืื™ื ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืจื‘ื™ื, ื•ืœื ืชืžืฆื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื™ื—ื™ื“ ื‘ืžื™ื. ืœืคื™ ืฉื›ืœ ืื—ื“ื•ืช ืžื›ื— ื”ืฆื•ืจื” ื”ืžืื—ื“ ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ, ื•ื”ืžื™ื ื”ื ื‘ืœื™ ืฆื•ืจื” ื’ืžื•ืจื”, ื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื”ืžื™ื, ืฉื”ื ื‘ืœื™ ืฆื•ืจื” ืžืงื•ื™ืžืช, ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืจื‘ื™ื.

ื’ื‘ื•ืจื•ืช ื”ืฉื ื™ื—

ื•ืขื•ื“ ื ืงืจื โ€ื ื”ืจืโ€œ, ื›ื™ ื›ื— ื”ื—ืžืจื™ ื”ื˜ื‘ืขื™ ื”ื•ื ื ื•ื”ื’ ื‘ืชืžื™ื“ื•ืช, ื•ืื™ื ื• ื ื— ืœืขื•ืœื, ืจืง ื ื•ื”ื’ ื›ืžื ื”ื’ื•.

ื’ื‘ื•ืจื•ืช ื”ืฉื ืžื

ืžืงืœื•ืช ืžื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืื“ื™ืจื™ื ืžืฉื‘ืจื™ ื™ื; ืื“ื™ืจ ื‘ืžืจื•ื ื”ืณ is the fact that ื”ืณ created ื™ืฉ ืžืื™ืŸ, then imposed order on chaos, ืฆื•ืจื” on ื—ื•ืžืจ, in creation, culminating in the human being who would go on to create a space for ื”ืณ to exist in that created world, ืœื‘ื™ืชืš ื ืื•ื” ืงื“ืฉ.

ื‘ืฉืฉื™ ื”ื™ื• ืื•ืžืจื™ื: โ€ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ื’ืื•ืช ืœื‘ืฉโ€œ, ืขืœ ืฉื ืฉื’ืžืจ ืžืœืื›ืชื• ื•ืžืœืš ืขืœื™ื”ืŸ.

ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉื ื” ืœื,ื

The next perek looks at the consequence of ื”ืณ ืžึธืœึธืšึฐ: the world should rejoice about creation:

ื ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ืื™ื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืืƒ
ื‘ ืขื ืŸ ื•ืขืจืคืœ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื™ื•; ืฆื“ืง ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืกืื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื–

ื”ืณ ืžืœืš: ืžื‘ืืจ ืฉืขืดื™ ืžืœื•ื›ืช ื”ืณ ื‘ืื•ืคืŸ ื–ื” ืฉื”ื™ื ื”ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ื‘ืืžืฆืขื•ืช ื”ื˜ื‘ืข, ืขื™ืดื› ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื–:ื

Weโ€™ve talked before about ื›ืกื ื”ืณ as a symbol of ื”ืณโ€˜s manifestation in the world. But that usually isnโ€™t visible. ื”ืณโ€™s hand in nature is hidden behind the scenes.

ืขื ืŸ ื•ืขืจืคืœ: ืžืฆื™ื™ืจ ื‘ืฆื“ ื”ื–ื” ืฉื”ื”ืฉื’ื—ื” ื ืกืชืจืช ื•ืื™ื ื” ื ื™ื›ืจืช ืœื›ืœ, ื›ื™ ืจื‘ื™ื ื™ื“ืžื• ืฉื”ืขื•ืœื ื ื•ื”ื’ ื”ืžื ื”ื’ ื”ื˜ื‘ืขื™ ื”ืžื—ื•ื™ื‘ ืžืŸ ื”ืžืขืจื›ืช, ื•ื™ืžืฉื™ืœ ื›ืืœื• ืขื ืŸ ื•ืขืจืคืœ ืกื•ื›ื›ื™ื ืกื‘ื™ื‘ื™ื• ื‘ืœ ื™ืจืื”ื• ืื“ื ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื™ื’ื”ื•, ื›ื™ ื”ืฉื’ื—ืชื• ื ืกืชืจืช. ื•ื‘ื›ืดื– ืฆื“ืง ื•ืžืฉืคื˜ ืžื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืกืื•, ืฉื”ื”ื ื”ื’ื” ื”ืฉืžื™ื™ืžื™ืช ืฉื ืงืจืืช ื›ืกื ื”ืณ.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื–:ื‘

But the hand of ื”ืณ isnโ€™t always invisible. We can see it if we look.

ื’ ืืฉ ืœืคื ื™ื• ืชืœืš; ื•ืชืœื”ื˜ ืกื‘ื™ื‘ ืฆืจื™ื•ืƒ
ื“ ื”ืื™ืจื• ื‘ืจืงื™ื• ืชื‘ืœ; ืจืืชื” ื•ืชื—ืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื–

Even while this dark era bursts like a ruinous thunderstormโ€ฆits flashes of lightning serve to enlighten those still capable of acquiring better knowledge and understanding.

Hirsch Psalms, XCVII:4

ื” ื”ืจื™ื ื›ื“ื•ื ื’ ื ืžืกื• ืžืœืคื ื™ ื”ืณ; ืžืœืคื ื™ ืื“ื•ืŸ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ
ื• ื”ื’ื™ื“ื• ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืฆื“ืงื•; ื•ืจืื• ื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ื ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื•ืƒ
ื– ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื›ืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ืคืกืœ ื”ืžืชื”ืœืœื™ื ื‘ืืœื™ืœื™ื;
ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื• ื›ืœ ืืœื”ื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื–

But if we look carefully, we see that (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื™ื˜:ื‘)โ€Ž ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืžืกืคืจื™ื ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืึพืœ; ื•ืžืขืฉื” ื™ื“ื™ื• ืžื’ื™ื“ ื”ืจืงื™ืข. So to here, ื”ื’ื™ื“ื• ื”ืฉืžื™ื ืฆื“ืงื•. Donโ€™t be fooled by the apparent existence of ืืœื•ื”ื™ื, the multiplicity of forces in the universe. They all ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื• ื›ืœ ืืœื”ื™ื. As the Maharal said, ื”ืžืœืš ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืงืฉืจ ืืช ืžืœื›ื•ืชื• ืขื“ ืฉื”ื›ืœ ืื—ื“.

And then we have the volta: the perek starts talking about ืฆื™ื•ืŸ. I havenโ€™t found any commentators who are bothered by this; if the perek was written by Moshe, how could it mention a place that would not exists for another 400 years? I would assume that the second half of the perek was written by David, and talks about the Jewish people react to the realization that ื”ืณ ืžืœืš. The perek starts with ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ; ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ืื™ื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื, a universal message. Now we see how we should react.

ื— ืฉืžืขื” ื•ืชืฉืžื— ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ืชื’ืœื ื” ื‘ื ื•ืช ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”
ืœืžืขืŸ ืžืฉืคื˜ื™ืš ื”ืณืƒ
ื˜ ื›ื™ ืืชื” ื”ืณ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ;
ืžืื“ ื ืขืœื™ืช ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืืœื”ื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื–

Itโ€™s the same ืฉืžื—ื” and ื’ื™ืœื” that ื”ืณ rules ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืืœื”ื™ื. But the difference is that weโ€™re supposed to do something with that joy:

ื™ ืื”ื‘ื™ ื”ืณ ืฉื ืื• ืจืข;
ืฉืžืจ ื ืคืฉื•ืช ื—ืกื™ื“ื™ื•; ืžื™ื“ ืจืฉืขื™ื ื™ืฆื™ืœืืƒ
ื™ื ืื•ืจ ื–ืจืข ืœืฆื“ื™ืง; ื•ืœื™ืฉืจื™ ืœื‘ ืฉืžื—ื”ืƒ
ื™ื‘ ืฉืžื—ื• ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ื‘ื”ืณ; ื•ื”ื•ื“ื• ืœื–ื›ืจ ืงื“ืฉื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื–

Acceptance of ื”ืณ ืžืœืš should lead to us being ืื”ื‘ื™ ื”ืณ:

ื•ื”ื™ืืš ื”ื™ื ื”ื“ืจืš ืœืื”ื‘ืชื•, ื•ื™ืจืืชื•? ื‘ืฉืขื” ืฉื™ืชื‘ื•ื ืŸ ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื• ื•ื‘ืจื•ืื™ื• ื”ื ืคืœืื™ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื, ื•ื™ืจืื” ืžื”ื ื—ื›ืžืชื• ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื” ืขืจืš ื•ืœื ืงืฅโ€”ืžื™ื“ ื”ื•ื ืื•ื”ื‘ ื•ืžืฉื‘ื— ื•ืžืคืืจ ื•ืžืชืื•ื•ื” ืชืื•ื•ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืœื™ื“ืข ื”ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืžื‘:ื’): ืฆึธืžึฐืึธื” ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึดื™ ืœึตืืœึนืงึดื™ื ืœึฐืึตึพืœ ื—ึธื™ .

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื™ืกื•ื“ื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื‘:ื‘

And that leads to ืฉื ืื• ืจืข and ื™ืฉืจื™ ืœื‘.

The last ื”ืณ ืžืœืš perek is even harder to attribute to Moshe, because it jumps right in to the mention of ืฆื™ื•ืŸ:

ื ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ื™ืจื’ื–ื• ืขืžื™ื; ื™ืฉื‘ ื›ืจื•ื‘ื™ื ืชื ื•ื˜ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ
ื‘ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ; ื•ืจื ื”ื•ื ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื˜

And then mentions Shmuel by name:

ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ ื‘ื›ื”ื ื™ื• ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืฉืžื•;
ืงืจืื™ื ืืœ ื”ืณ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืขื ืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื˜:ื•

So I would assume we have the skeleton of the original psalm written by Moshe:

ื ื”ืณ ืžืœืš ื™ืจื’ื–ื• ืขืžื™ื; ื™ืฉื‘ ื›ืจื•ื‘ื™ื ืชื ื•ื˜ ื”ืืจืฅืƒ
โ€ฆื’ ื™ื•ื“ื• ืฉืžืš ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื ื•ืจื; ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื”ื•ืืƒ
โ€ฆื” ืจื•ืžืžื• ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื•ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ื“ื ืจื’ืœื™ื•; ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื”ื•ืืƒ
โ€ฆื˜ ืจื•ืžืžื• ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื•ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื•;
ื›ื™ ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื˜

Here it is not ืื”ื‘ืช ื”ืณ and ืชื’ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ, but ื™ืจืืช ื”ืณ and ื™ืจื’ื–ื• ืขืžื™ื. Loving ื”ืณ means yearning to be close to Him, but that is impossible, so that love inextorably leads to awe and a feeling of distance:

ื•ื›ืฉืžื—ืฉื‘ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืืœื• ืขืฆืžืŸ, ืžื™ื“ ื”ื•ื ื ืจืชืข ืœืื—ื•ืจื™ื•, ื•ื™ื™ืจื ื•ื™ืคื—ื“ ื•ื™ื™ื“ืข ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืจื™ื” ืงื˜ื ื” ืฉืคืœื” ืืคืœื”, ืขื•ืžื“ ื‘ื“ืขืช ืงืœื” ืžืขื•ื˜ื” ืœืคื ื™ ืชืžื™ื ื“ืขื•ืช, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื•ื™ื“ (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ื—:ื“-ื”): ื›ึผึดื™ ืึถืจึฐืึถื” ืฉืึธืžึถื™ืšึธโ€ฆืžึธื” ืึฑื ื•ึนืฉื ื›ึผึดื™ ืชึดื–ึฐื›ึผึฐืจึถื ึผื•ึผ.

ืžืฉื ื” ืชื•ืจื”, ื”ืœื›ื•ืช ื™ืกื•ื“ื™ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื‘:ื‘

And that is connected to the ืžืฉื›ืŸ and ืžืงื“ืฉ, the ื›ืจื•ื‘ื™ื, the ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื• and especially the ื”ื“ื ืจื’ืœื™ื•. We pointed out that while the symbolism of G-d โ€œsittingโ€ on a โ€œthroneโ€ is of ื”ืณ's actions in the world, the โ€œfootstoolโ€ that G-d โ€œrestsโ€ on is the actions of human beings in the world. We are the ื›ืจื•ื‘ื™ื that carry ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืณ on the earth. Again, ื”ืณ ืžืœืš implies a responsibility to be His emissaries in the world.

And so David adds the verses that make that mission specific to ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ:

ื‘ ื”ืณ ื‘ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืœ; ื•ืจื ื”ื•ื ืขืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ืืƒ
โ€ฆื“ ื•ืขื– ืžืœืš ืžืฉืคื˜ ืื”ื‘;
ืืชื” ื›ื•ื ื ืช ืžื™ืฉืจื™ื; ืžืฉืคื˜ ื•ืฆื“ืงื” ื‘ื™ืขืงื‘ ืืชื” ืขืฉื™ืชืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื˜

And then he adds three exemplars of that mission:

ื• ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ ื‘ื›ื”ื ื™ื• ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืงืจืื™ ืฉืžื•;
ืงืจืื™ื ืืœ ื”ืณ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืขื ืืƒ
ื– ื‘ืขืžื•ื“ ืขื ืŸ ื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื™ื”ื; ืฉืžืจื• ืขื“ืชื™ื• ื•ื—ืง ื ืชืŸ ืœืžื•ืƒ
ื— ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ืืชื” ืขื ื™ืชื;
ืึพืœ ื ืฉื ื”ื™ื™ืช ืœื”ื; ื•ื ืงื ืขืœ ืขืœื™ืœื•ืชืืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื˜

ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืณ ืืœื™ ืื ื™ืขืžื“ ืžืฉื” ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืœืคื ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื ืคืฉื™ ืืœ ื”ืขื ื”ื–ื”; ืฉืœื— ืžืขืœ ืคื ื™ ื•ื™ืฆืื•ืƒ

ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ื˜ื•:ื

ื‘ืขืช ืฉื ืžืฆืื• ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ ื‘ื™ืŸ ื›ื”ื ื™ื•, ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ืžืฆื ื‘ื™ืŸ ืงื•ืจืื™ ืฉืžื•, ืจืดืœ ื‘ืขืช ืฉื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื ื‘ืžื“ืจื’ื” ื›ื–ืืช ืฉื™ืฉืจื” ืฉื›ื™ื ืชื• ืขืœื™ื”ื ื‘ื“ืจืš ืคืœืื™ื™, ื•ื™ืžืฆื ืขื ื›ื”ื ื™ื• ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืžืฆื ืขื ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ, ืฉื™ื“ืžื• ื›ื”ื ื™ื• ื›ืžืฉื” ื•ืื”ืจืŸ ื‘ื“ื™ื‘ื•ืง ืืœื•ึพื” ืขืžื”ื, ื•ืงื•ืจืื™ ืฉืžื• ื™ื“ืžื• ื›ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื•ืžืคืจืฉ ื›ืžื• ืฉืขื ื” ืœืฉืžื•ืืœ ื‘ืขืช ืงืจื ืืœื™ื• ื•ื™ื ื•ืกืก ื ืก ืœื”ืชื ื•ืกืกโ€ฆืื– ื“ื•ืžื” ื”ืณ ื›ืฉื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื ื•ื›ืืœื• ื“ื™ืจืชื• ื‘ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื• ืœืžื˜ื”.

ืžืœื‘ื™ืดื, ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืฆื˜:ื•-ื˜

But the perek ends with a universal plea:

ืจื•ืžืžื• ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื• ื•ื”ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื•;
ื›ื™ ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืณ ืืœืงื™ื ื•ืƒ

ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืคืจืง ืฆื˜:ื˜

ื• ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื ื›ืจ ื”ื ืœื•ื™ื ืขืœ ื”ืณ ืœืฉืจืชื• ื•ืœืื”ื‘ื” ืืช ืฉื ื”ืณ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืœื• ืœืขื‘ื“ื™ื ื›ืœ ืฉืžืจ ืฉื‘ืช ืžื—ืœืœื• ื•ืžื—ื–ื™ืงื™ื ื‘ื‘ืจื™ืชื™ืƒ ื– ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืื•ืชื™ื ืืœ ื”ืจ ืงื“ืฉื™ ื•ืฉืžื—ืชื™ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืชืคืœืชื™ ืขื•ืœืชื™ื”ื ื•ื–ื‘ื—ื™ื”ื ืœืจืฆื•ืŸ ืขืœ ืžื–ื‘ื—ื™; ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ืชื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืชืคืœื” ื™ืงืจื ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ืืƒ

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ื ื•