Weโve spent the past month and a half on the background to the story of David and Bat Sheva. Iโve emphasized how a ืืื ืืฉืจืื has to put the needs of the nation ahead of his own needs, that he has to be able to give up his own personal life for the country. That was Davidโs mistake with ืขืืื, and that is the lesson of the ืืืื stories that adumbrate our chapter. I emphasized this way of looking at the story because it reflects how the Maharal understood ืืืดื's reading of David and Bat Sheva, which we will look at now. Itโs time to look at the story itself.
ื ืืืื ืืชืฉืืืช ืืฉื ื ืืขืช ืฆืืช ืืืืืืื ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืช ืืืื ืืืช ืขืืืื ืขืื ืืืช ืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืืชื ืืช ืื ื ืขืืื ืืืฆืจื ืขื ืจืื; ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืจืืฉืืื
ื ืืืื ืืขืช ืืขืจื ืืืงื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉืืื ืืืชืืื ืขื ืื ืืืช ืืืื ืืืจื ืืฉื ืจืืฆืช ืืขื ืืื; ืืืืฉื ืืืืช ืืจืื ืืืื
ืืืจื ืืฉื ืจืืฆืช ืืขื ืืื of course means he saw her from his roof, not that she was bathing on the roof. Weโve talked about the implication of ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืจืืฉืื, and we will have to look at ืืืงื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉืืื. But first, when did this incident happen? David became king in Jerusalem when he was 37, and lived 70 years. Heโs spent at least some time moving the ืืจืื to Jerusalem, then fighting all the wars in ืคืจืง ื. The only explicit chronology here is that it is one year after the start of the war with ืขืืื. We know that Shlomo was born after the Bat Sheva affair, but of all the kings of Judah, we have no statement of how old he was when he ascended to the throne.
The Seder Olam assumes that all incidents in the rest of ืฉืืืื ื occur sequentially, and calculates that Shlomo was 12:
โฆืืืื ืืชื ืืืฉื ืฉืื ืฉื ืื ืขืฉืจื ืฉื ื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืื.
The Seder Olam also assumes that Shlomo was born shortly after the Bat Sheva affair, which means that David is 70-13 = 57 at that point. He has been king in Jerusalem for 20 years. Now, I assume that the final chapters of ืฉืืืื ื are appendices to the sefer as a whole, so I do not think that the Seder Olamโs chronology accurately reflects the text, but it seems clear that Shlomo is a young man when he becomes king, so 12 is a reasonable estimate of his age.
Nonetheless, we will discuss Rav Medanโs analysis that shows that Shlomo was born well after the Bat Sheva affair. The Yalkut says that David was in mourning for his role with Bat Sheva for 22 years:
ืืืดื ืฉื ื ืฉื ืกืชืืงื ืจืื ืืงืืฉ ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื, ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืก ืฉื ืืืขืืช ืืืื ืคืชื ืืืคืจ ืฉื ืืืจ (ืชืืืื ืงื:ื) ืึดึผื ืึตืคึถืจ ืึทึผืึถึผืึถื ืึธืึธืึฐืชึดึผื.
I will assume that Davidโs ืจืื ืืงืืฉ returns when he is reinstated as ืืื ืืฉืจืื, after Avshalomโs rebellion, which was about 3 years before Davidโs death. That would put the Bat Sheva affair when David is 70-3-22 = 45 years old, and has been king for 8 years. It is not clear where the midrash gets this number of 22; it may be an allusion to Yaakov, and his loss of the ืจืื ืืงืืฉ for 22 years:
ืืืืืจื ืืืื ืืช ืื ืืืจื ืืืกืฃ ืืฉืจ ืืืจ ืืืื ืืืจื ืืช ืืขืืืืช ืืฉืจ ืฉืื ืืืกืฃ ืืฉืืช ืืชื; ืืชืื ืจืื ืืขืงื ืืืืืื
ืืชืื ืจืื ืืขืงื: ืฉืึธืจึฐืชึธื ืขึธืึธืื ืฉืึฐืึดืื ึธื, ืฉืึถืคึผึตืจึฐืฉืึธื ืึดืึผึถื ึผืึผ.
ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ื ืฉืืจื ืื ืืชืื ืขืฆืืืช ืืื ืืชืื ืขืฆืืืช ืืื ืืชืื ืฉืืืง ืืื ืืชืื ืงืืืช ืจืืฉ ืืื ืืชืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืชืื ืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืชืื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืฆืื, ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืืื ื ื:ืื) ืึฐืขึทืชึผึธื ืงึฐืืึผ ืึดื ืึฐื ึทืึผึตื; ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึผึฐื ึทืึผึตื ืึทืึฐื ึทืึผึตื ืึทืชึผึฐืึดื ืขึธืึธืื ืึทื ืืณ.
So again, I would take that number as an estimate. So we are left with David having been king in Jerusalem somewhere between 8 and 20 years when he finds himself walking on the roof of his palace, when the rest of Israel is at war. What is he thinking? Rabbi Fohrman makes the point that David has a prophecy about his legacy:
ืื ืึผึดื ืึดืึฐืึฐืืึผ ืึธืึถืืึธ ืึฐืฉืึธืึทืึฐืชึผึธ ืึถืช ืึฒืึนืชึถืืึธ ืึทืึฒืงึดืืึนืชึดื ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืขึฒืึธ ืึทืึฒืจึถืืึธ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึตืฆึตื ืึดืึผึตืขึถืืึธ; ืึทืึฒืึดืื ึนืชึดื ืึถืช ืึทืึฐืึทืึฐืชึผืึนื
ืื ืืึผื ืึดืึฐื ึถื ืึผึทืึดืช ืึดืฉืึฐืึดื; ืึฐืึนื ึทื ึฐืชึผึดื ืึถืช ืึผึดืกึผึตื ืึทืึฐืึทืึฐืชึผืึน ืขึทื ืขืึนืึธืื
The son who will build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ is one who ืึตืฆึตื ืึดืึผึตืขึถืืึธ, in the future. He has children already, but they are not the chosen one.
ื ืึฐืึตืึผึถื ืึธืืึผ ืึผึฐื ึตื ืึธืึดืื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื ืึนืึทื ืืึน ืึผึฐืึถืึฐืจืึนื; ืึทืึผึฐืืึนืจ ืึทืึฐื ึนื ืึทืึฒืึดืื ึนืขึทื ืึทืึผึดืึฐืจึฐืขึตืืึดืืช ืฉืึตื ึดื ืึผึธื ึดืึผึตืื ืึทืึฒืึดืืึทืึดื ืึทืึผึทืจึฐืึฐืึดืืชื
ื ืึทืฉึผืึฐืึดืฉืึดื ืึฐืึทืึฐืฉืึธืืึนื ืึผึถื ืึทืขึฒืึธื ืึผึทืช ืชึผึทืึฐืึทื ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึผึฐืฉืืึผืจ; ืึธืจึฐืึดืืขึดื ืึฒืึนื ึดืึผึธื ืึถื ืึทืึผึดืืชื
ื ืึทืึฒืึดืืฉืึดื ืฉืึฐืคึทืึฐืึธื ืึทืึฒืึดืืึธื; ืึทืฉึผืึดืฉึผืึดื ืึดืชึฐืจึฐืขึธื ืึฐืขึถืึฐืึธื ืึดืฉืึฐืชึผืึนื
ื ืฉืึดืฉึผืึธื ื ืึนืึทื ืืึน ืึฐืึถืึฐืจืึนื ืึทืึผึดืึฐืึธืึฐ ืฉืึธื ืฉืึถืึทืข ืฉืึธื ึดืื ืึฐืฉืึดืฉึผืึธื ืึณืึธืฉืึดืื; ืึผืฉืึฐืึนืฉืึดืื ืึฐืฉืึธืืึนืฉื ืฉืึธื ึธื ืึธืึทืึฐ ืึผึดืืจืึผืฉืึธืึธึดืื
ื ืึฐืึตืึผึถื ื ืึผืึผึฐืืึผ ืืึน ืึผึดืืจืึผืฉืึธืึธืึดื; ืฉืึดืึฐืขึธื ืึฐืฉืืึนืึธื ืึฐื ึธืชึธื ืึผืฉืึฐืึนืึนื ืึทืจึฐืึผึธืขึธื ืึฐืึทืช ืฉืืึผืขึท ืึผึทืช ืขึทืึผึดืืึตืื
ื ืึฐืึดืึฐืึธืจ ืึถืึฑืึดืืฉืึธืึธืข ืึถืึฑืึดืืคึธืึถืื
ื ืึฐื ึนืึทืึผ ืึฐื ึถืคึถื ืึฐืึธืคึดืืขึทื
ื ืึถืึฑืึดืืฉืึธืึธืข ืึฐืึถืึฐืึธืึธืข ืึถืึฑืึดืืคึถืึถื ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืขึธืื
ื ืึผึนื ืึผึฐื ึตื ืึธืึดืื ืึดืึผึฐืึทื ืึผึฐื ึตื ืคึดืืึทืึฐืฉืึดืื ืึฐืชึธืึธืจ ืึฒืืึนืชึธืื
It seems clear that the ืึทืช ืฉืืึผืขึท of ืืืจื ืืืืื is our Bat Sheva (we will deal with the minor name change, along with her other 3 children). Davidโs first children after Chevron are Bat Shevaโs. That means he has no ืืืฆืื ืืืฆืื at this point. For years after he comes to Jerusalem he knows that his son will fulfill his legacy, but he has no son. That night, when he is pacing on his roof, he is facing the complete failure of his mission. He will not build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, the wars that he undertook for the glory of G-d degenerated into violent massacres, his nation faced three years of famine because of its injustice to the disadvantaged (see ืฉืืืื ื ืคืจืง ืื) and now the army is stuck in a quagmire besieging Amon.
And he looks down, and there is a beautiful woman exposed below him. This is a sign from G-d; this is his ืึผืึทืฉืขืจื. This is not a justification for Davidโs behavior; he is still wrong. But it allows us to understand him.
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
ืืืจ ืจื ืืืืื ืืืจ ืจื: ืืขืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืขืฆืื ืืืื ื ืกืืื, ืฉืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ืขืฆืื ืืืื ื ืกืืื ืื ืืฉื. ืืืจ ืืคื ืื: ืจืืฉืดืข ืืคื ื ืื ืืืืจืื โืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืฆืืง ืืืืงื ืืขืงืโ ืืืื ืืืืจืื โืืืงื ืืืโ? ืืืจ: ืืื ืื ืืื ืกื ืื ืืืช ืื ืืื ืกืืช ืื. ืืืจ ืืคื ืื: ืจืืฉืดืข ืืื ื ื ืื ืกื ื! ืฉื ืืืจ (ืชืืืื ืื:ื) โืืื ื ื ืืณ ืื ืกื ื ืืืืณโ. ืืืจ: ืืื ืกื ื ืื ืืขืืืื ื ืืืืชื ืืืื ืืืืืืื ืื ืืืืขืชืื ืื; ืืืืื ืื ื ืงื ืืืืขื ื ืื ืืื ืกืื ื ืื ืืืืจ ืขืจืื. ืืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืื:ื) โืืืื ืืขืช ืืขืจื ืืืงื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉืืื ืืืืณโ.
ืืืจ ืจื ืืืืื ืฉืืคื ืืฉืืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืฉืืื ืฉื ืืื, ืื ืชืขืืื ืืื ื ืืืื: ืืืจ ืงืื ืืฉ ืืืื, ืืฉืืืขื ืจืขื ืืืจืขืืื ืฉืืข.
There isnโt much discussion of what exactly the gemara is referring to with ืืื ืื ืืื ืกื ืื; we know the test of Avraham but we have no explicit tests of Yitzchak or Yaakov. Rather than speculate, I want to focus on what the gemara means when it describes David as asking that people say ืืืงื ืืื. That was actually part of the ื ืืืื when Nathan told him he would not build the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ:
ื ืืขืชื ืื ืชืืืจ ืืขืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืฆืืึพืืช ืื ื ืืงืืชืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืืช ื ืืื ืขื ืขืื ืขื ืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืช ืืืืจืชื ืืช ืื ืืืืื ืืคื ืื; ืืขืฉืชื ืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจืฅื
We need to take aggada seriously but not literally. I do not think that David was davening shacharis, looked in his Artscroll siddur:
ืึผึธืจืึผืึฐ ืึทืชึผึธื ืืณ ืึฑืืงึตืื ืึผ ืึตืืืงึตื ืึฒืืืชึตืื ืึผ, ืึฑืืงึตื ืึทืึฐืจึธืึธื, ืึฑืืงึตื ืึดืฆึฐืึธืง, ืึตืืืงึตื ืึทืขึฒืงื. ืึธืึตึพื ืึทืึผึธืืื ืึทืึผึดืึผืืจ ืึฐืึทื ึผืืจึธืโฆ
Then said, โthey should include me in there!โ. Why do we say ืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืฆืืง ืืืืงื ืืขืงื? Itโs from ืืณ's first appearance to Moshe:
ืืืืืจ ืขืื ืืืงืื ืื ืืฉื ืื ืชืืืจ ืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืณ ืืืงื ืืืชืืื ืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืฆืืง ืืืืงื ืืขืงื ืฉืืื ื ืืืืื; ืื ืฉืื ืืขืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืจ ืืจื
โืืื ืืืจื ืืืจ ืืจโ ืืืืืจ ืื โืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืฆืืง ืืืืงื ืืขืงืโโฆืืื ืืืืจืืช ืืืฉืจ ืืืืืจื ืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืฆืืง ืืืขืงื (ืชืืืื ื ื:ื) ืึดืฉึฐืืึทืข ืึตึพื ืึฐืึทืขึฒื ึตื.
Each of the ืืืืช had a unique relationship with ืืงืืดื:
In our Amidah prayer we refer to G-d as Elokei Avraham and Elokei Yitzhak and Elokei Yaakovโโthe G-d of Abraham and the G-d of Isaac and the G-d of Jacob.โ Why do we not say simply, โthe G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?โ Because, answers the Besht, while it is true that each of the fathers accepted G-d because his own father had told him about Him, because religion was part of a cherished tradition, that was not enough; he also had to discover G-d by his own initiative. G-d was indeed Elokei Avraham, the G-d of Abraham. But Isaac had to find Him on his own and make Him Elokei Yitzhak, the God of Isaac. And Jacob, though he knew of G-d from his father and grandfather, he too had to discover Him on his own,and make of G-d the Elokei Yaakov. That is why we refer to the Almighty as both Elokeinu and Elokei Avotenu, โour G-d,โ and โthe G-d of our fathers.โ
But we donโt add anyone else (not even ืืืงื ืืฉื) because of the specific necessity of mentioning ืืืืืช ืืณ:
ืืืจ ืจื: ืื ืืจืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืจืช ืืฉืโืืื ื ืืจืื. ืืจืื ืืืื ื ืืืจ: ืื ืืจืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืืชโืืื ื ืืจืื.
ืืืจืืืช ืฉื ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืช, ืืืื ื ืืืื ืืคืชืืื, ืืืืชืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืืช. ืืื ืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืช, ืืืืจืื ืืืื ื ืืืืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืขื ืื ืืขืืื ืฉืืืืืข ืืืืืชื.
ืืณ is ืืื ืืขืืื. A ืืื has to be acknowledged by his subjects:
ืืืฉ ืืืื ืืื โืืืโ ืืืื โืืืฉืโ, ืฉืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืืืืจืช ืืขื ืืืจืฆืื ื, ืืืืืฉื ืืื ืืื ืืืงื.
While the world is not yet at the point of (ืืืจืื ืื:ื)โ ืึฐืึธืึธื ืืณ ืึฐืึถืึถืึฐ ืขึทื ืึธึผื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ, it is necessary at least for all of ืื ืกืช ืืฉืจืื to acknowledge ืืณ. And the ืืืืช were ืื ืกืช ืืฉืจืื; their relationship with ืืณ was the relationship of the nation as a whole:
ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืฉ ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืืงื ืืื
ืืืงืฉ ืืืณ ืืืชืจ ืืื ืฉืืจ ืฆืืืงืื ืืคื ื ืื ืืฉืืื
ืื ืืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืฆืืง ืืืงื ืืขืงื,
ืืคื ื ืฉืืื ืืงืืดื ืืืื ืฉืื ืขื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืื
ืขื ืืืื ืฉืืืื, ืืืืืืช ืืื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืืื
ืืฉืจืืืืช ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืจืื
ืืืงื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืฆืืง ืืืขืงื. ืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืื
ืฉืืฉืดื ืืืื ืฉืื ืขื ืืืืืช ืืคื ื ืฉืื ืืืืช ืื
ืืืื, ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืืืืช ืืืช ืืื, ืฉืื ืืืืืืช
ื ืืฉื ืืื ืืืื, ืฉืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืฉื
ืืื ืืืจื ืืดื ืฉืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืืขื ืืื ืืืื,
ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ืืืืืช ืืื ื ืืฉื ืืื ืืื. ืืืฉ ืืืืจ
ืื ืื
ืืืงื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืงื ืืืจืื.
In the eyes of ืืืดื, David is telling ืืณ: I can do this. I can be the one: ืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืืขื ืืื ืืืื. My relationship with You is the relationship of the people as a whole with you. There is no โmeโ; I do not have my own needs. He was wrong. The high-minded, well-intentioned justifications were just that. The Bat Sheva affair, under it all, was his ืืืจ ืงืื that ืืฉืืืขื ืจืขื.
If this was a test that David failed, what was the correct answer? David in fact had a study guide: the story of Avigail and Naval:
ืื ืืืื ืืขืฉืจืช ืืืืื; ืืืืฃ ืืณ ืืช ื ืื ืืืืชื
ืื ืืืฉืืข ืืื ืื ืืช ื ืื ืืืืืจ ืืจืื ืืณ ืืฉืจ ืจื ืืช ืจืื ืืจืคืชื ืืื ื ืื ืืืช ืขืืื ืืฉื ืืจืขื ืืืช ืจืขืช ื ืื ืืฉืื ืืณ ืืจืืฉื; ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืืืื ืืงืืชื ืื ืืืฉืื
If the exposure of Bat Sheva was a sign from ืืณ that she was his ืึผืึทืฉืขืจื, then we (as the readers, with the previous story in mind) and David (as the one living these stories) know what to expect: Uriah is one of Davidโs ืืืืจืื, off fighting an interminable war. David just has to wait, and he will get the news that Uriah has died in battle. He will then marry Bat Sheva as an act of ืืืื, an act of selfless ืืกื, demonstrating that he is fit to be ืืื ืืฉืจืื. But he fails.
ืชื ื ืืื ืจืื ืืฉืืขืื: ืจืืืื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืช ืฉืืข ืืช ืืืืขื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืคืื.
- ืคึผึทืึผึธื
- unripe fruit
- ืคึผึทื
- preemie, premature baby
ืฉืืืื ืคืื: ืฉืงืคืฅ ืืช ืืฉืขื ืืืืงืง ืขืดื ืขืืืจื.
Letโs look at the ืคืจืง ืชืืืืื that ืืืดื connected to this story:
ื ืืืื; ืฉืคืื ื ืืณ ืื ืื ื ืืชืื ืืืืชื;
ืืืืณ ืืืืชื ืื ืืืขืื
ื ืืื ื ื ืืณ ืื ืกื ื; ืฆืจืืคื (ืฆืจืคื) ืืืืืชื ืืืืื
ื ืื ืืกืื ืื ืื ืขืื ื; ืืืชืืืืชื ืืืืชืื
ื ืื ืืฉืืชื ืขื ืืชื ืฉืื; ืืขื ื ืขืืืื ืื ืืืืื
ื ืฉื ืืชื ืงืื ืืจืขืื; ืืขื ืจืฉืขืื ืื ืืฉืื
ื ืืจืืฅ ืื ืงืืื ืืคื; ืืืกืืื ืืช ืืืืื ืืณื
David is very sure of himself here; ืืชืื ืืืืชื. It is an explicit allusion to the ืืืืช:
ืึทืึฐืึดื ืึทืึฐืจึธื ืึถึผื ืชึดึผืฉึฐืืขึดืื ืฉึธืื ึธื ืึฐืชึตืฉึทืืข ืฉึธืื ึดืืืฃ ืึทืึตึผืจึธื ืืณ ืึถื ืึทืึฐืจึธื ืึทืึนึผืืึถืจ ืึตืึธืื ืึฒื ึดื ืึตึพื ืฉึทืืึทึผึพื ืึดืชึฐืึทืึตึผืึฐ ืึฐืคึธื ึทื ืึถืึฐืึตื ืชึธืึดืืื
And he mentions the three ืืืืืช that exemplify the ืืืืช, that are the foundation of the world:
ืขื ืฉืืืฉื ืืืจืื ืืขืืื ืขืืืโืขื ืืชืืจื, ืืขื ืืขืืืื, ืืขื ืืืืืืช ืืืกืืื.
ืชึดึผืชึตึผื ืึฑืึถืช ืึฐืึทืขึฒืงึนื ืึถืกึถื ืึฐืึทืึฐืจึธืึธื; ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ื ึดืฉึฐืืึทึผืขึฐืชึธึผ ืึทืึฒืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืึดืืึตื ืงึถืึถื.
And ืืฆืืง represents ืขืืืื, both in the ืขืงืื and (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื)โ ืึทืึผึถืขึฐืชึผึทืจ ืึดืฆึฐืึธืง ืึทืืณ. David has all of these: ืึทืกึฐืึผึฐืึธ,โ ืึฒืึดืชึผึถืึธ and ืึดืึฐืึผึทืึฒืึธ.
David describes how he does not associate with bad people. ืืชืื is a synonym for people:
ืืชื: ืื ืฉื, ืืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ื) ืึฐืชึตื ืึดืกึฐืคึผึธืจ.
ืืขื ื ืขืืืื: ืื ืื ืกืื ืืกืชืจ ืืขืฉืืช ืืืืฉื ืืขืฉืืื.
David is claiming to be among those he describes as ืึทืฉืึฐืจึตื ืึธืึดืืฉื:
ื ืึทืฉืึฐืจึตื ืึธืึดืืฉื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึนื ืึธืึทืึฐ ืึผึทืขึฒืฆึทืช ืจึฐืฉืึธืขึดืื;
ืึผืึฐืึถืจึถืึฐ ืึทืึผึธืึดืื ืึนื ืขึธืึธื ืึผืึฐืืึนืฉืึทื ืึตืฆึดืื ืึนื ืึธืฉืึธืื
ื ืึผึดื ืึดื ืึผึฐืชืึนืจึทืช ืืณ ืึถืคึฐืฆืึน; ืึผืึฐืชืึนืจึธืชืึน ืึถืึฐืึผึถื ืืึนืึธื ืึธืึธืึฐืึธืื
And therefore:
ืึทืฉืึฐืจึตื ืืึนืฉืึฐืึตื ืึตืืชึถืึธ ืขืึนื ืึฐืึทืึฐืืึผืึธ ืกึผึถืึธืื
All David wants is to be there, in the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ, singing his ืชืืืืื to ืืณ:
ื ืึทืฉืึฐืึดืขึท ืืงืื ืชืืื; ืืืกืคืจ ืื ื ืคืืืืชืืื
ื ืืณ ืืืืชื ืืขืื ืืืชื; ืืืงืื ืืฉืื ืืืืืื
So David asks that he be tested, so that his voice will be heard in public:
ื ืื ืชืืกืฃ ืขื ืืืืื ื ืคืฉื; ืืขื ืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืื
ื ืืฉืจ ืืืืืื ืืื; ืืืืื ื ืืืื ืฉืืื
ืื ืืื ื ืืชืื ืืื; ืคืื ื ืืื ื ืื
ืื ืจืืื ืขืืื ืืืืฉืืจ; ืืืงืืืื ืืืจื ืืณื
And, the eyes of the gemara, ืืณ tells David: Letโs see if you are worthy of having My name attached to yours: ืืืงื ืืื. Does your relationship to ืืณ really represent the relationship of all ืื ืกืช ืืฉืจืื to ืืณ? Can you get beyond your own personal needs and think only of the needs of the people? Or is your drive, ืืณ ืืืืชื ืืขืื ืืืชื, all about you?
The gemara continues:
ืืืชืืื ืขื ืื ืืืช ืืืื ืืืจื ืืฉื ืจืืืฆืช ืืขื ืืื ืืืืฉื ืืืืช ืืจืื ืืื: ืืช ืฉืืข ืืื ืงื ืืืืคื ืจืืฉื ืชืืชื ืืืชื. ืืชื ืฉืื, ืืืืื ืืื ืืฆืืคืจืชื; ืคืชืง ืืื ืืืจื, ืคืชืงื ืืืืชื, ืืืืืื ืืืืืื. ืืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืื:ื) โืืืฉืื ืืื ืืืืจืืฉ ืืืฉื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืช ืืช ืฉืืข ืืช ืืืืขื ืืฉืช ืืืจืื ืืืชื ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืงืื ืืชืื ืืืื ืืืฉืื ืขืื ืืืื ืืชืงืืฉืช ืืืืืืชื ืืชืฉื ืื ืืืชืโ ืืืืื ื ืืืชืื (ืชืืืื ืื:ื) ืึผึธืึทื ึฐืชึผึธ ืึดืึผึดื ืคึผึธืงึทืึฐืชึผึธ ืึผึทืึฐืึธื ืฆึฐืจึทืคึฐืชึผึทื ึดื ืึทื ืชึผึดืึฐืฆึธื;
ืึทืึผึนืชึดื ืึผึทื ืึทืขึฒืึธืจ ืคึผึดื. ืืืจ: ืืืื ืืืื ื ืคื ืืคืืืื ืืืื ืืกื ื ืื, ืืื ืืืจ ืื ืื ืืืืชื.
The way the Maharal understands the aggadah, the honeycomb is a metaphor for Torah (ืึผืึฐืชืึผืงึดืื ืึดืึผึฐืึทืฉื ืึฐื ึนืคึถืช ืฆืึผืคึดืื), while the hunting is a metaphor for leisure activities. By strolling on the roof, David lost his focus on ืึผืึฐืชืึนืจึธืชืึน ืึถืึฐืึผึถื ืืึนืึธื ืึธืึธืึฐืึธื, and that might have saved him. And the gemara says that after Bat Sheva returned home, David realizes that he has made a terrible mistake: ืึผึธืึทื ึฐืชึผึธ ืึดืึผึดื ืคึผึธืงึทืึฐืชึผึธ ืึผึทืึฐืึธื ืฆึฐืจึทืคึฐืชึผึทื ึดื ืึทื ืชึผึดืึฐืฆึธื. You tested and inspected me at night, and found me wanting. ืึทืึผึนืชึดื ืึผึทื ืึทืขึฒืึธืจ ืคึผึดื: I schemed; if only those words had not passed my lips.
But as far as David knows, this was a one-time error; serious but he could get past it. The ืคืจืง ืชืืืืื that ืืืดื associate with his reaction implies that he expects to be punished, but he will continue to be ืืฉืื ืืณ. It is only when he discovers that Bat Sheva is pregnant, that things go downhill and his crimes build on one another.
There are many ways to read ืชืืืืื ืคืจืง ืื, which ืืืดื understand as Davidโs initial response to his sin. The Radakโs father, ืืืกืฃ ืงืืื, interprets it through the eyes of the gemara.
ื ืชืคืื ืืืื;
ืฉืืขื ืืณ ืฆืืง ืืงืฉืืื ืจื ืชื ืืืืื ื ืชืคืืชื;
ืืื ืฉืคืชื ืืจืืื
ื ืืืคื ืื ืืฉืคืื ืืฆื; ืขืื ืื ืชืืืื ื ืืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืื ืช ืืื ืคืงืืช ืืืื ืฆืจืคืชื ื ืื ืชืืฆื;
ืืืชื ืื ืืขืืจ ืคืื
ื ืืคืขืืืช ืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืคืชืื ืื ื ืฉืืจืชื ืืจืืืช ืคืจืืฅื
ืืืคื ืื ืืฉืคืื ืืฆื: ืคืจืฉ ืืื ื ืืื, ืืืจื ืืืจืื: ืื ืืชืคืื ืืืืช ืขื ืืขืฉื ืืช ืฉืืข; ืืืงืฉ ืืืคื ื ืืงืืืฉ, ืืจืื ืืื, ืืืืจ: ืืืคื ืื ืืฉืคืื ืืฆื, ืื ืืืฉืคื ืืฆื ืืืคื ืื, ืฉืื ืชืฉืคืื ื ืื.
ืขืื ืื ืชืืืื ื ืืืฉืจืื: ืจืื ืืืฉืจืื ืฉืขืฉืืชื, ืืื ืชืืื ืืื ืืขืื, ืืฉืคืื ื ืืจื ืืืืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืขืื.
The word ืชืคืืโฆis not โa pleaโ but a kind of self-evaluation, the search for proper understanding before G-d. Therefore it is possible to add here the descriptive phrase ืืื ืฉืคืชื ืืจืืโฆ.Man is prone to deceive himself when it comes to the taking of an inventory of his faults and virtues.
Artscroll translates ืืคืขืืืช ืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืคืชืื as describing โhuman deeds accord with the word of Your lipsโ, but David admits that he failed:
ืื ื ืฉืืจืชื ืืจืืืช ืคืจืืฅ: ืืืืืจ: ืขืฉืืชื ืืืขืฉื ืืจืฉืข ืืืคืจืืฅ.
ื ืชืื ืืฉืจื ืืืขืืืืชืื; ืื ื ืืืื ืคืขืืื
ื ืื ื ืงืจืืชืื ืื ืชืขื ื ื ืื; ืื ืืื ื ืื ืฉืืข ืืืจืชืื
ืชืื: ืืงืืจ ืืืงืื ืฆืืื ืืื (ืืืจืื ื:ืื) ืฉืึธืืึนืจ ืึถืช ืืึนื ืึทืฉึผืึทืึผึธืช ; (ืืจืืืื ื:ื) ืึธืึนืึฐ ืึฐืงึธืจึธืืชึธ. ืืืืจ:
ืืฉืจื ืืืขืืืืชืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืขืืืืชืื ืืืืจืื ืชืื ืืืชื.
The contrast is with the previous perek, when David asserts ืจืืื ืขืืื ืืืืฉืืจ. Now it is a prayer for the future.
ื ืึทืคึฐืึตื ืืกืืื ืืืฉืืข ืืืกืื ืืืชืงืืืืื ืืืืื ืื
ื ืฉืืจื ื ืืืืฉืื ืืช ืขืื; ืืฆื ืื ืคืื ืชืกืชืืจื ืื
ื ืืคื ื ืจืฉืขืื ืื ืฉืืื ื; ืืืื ืื ืคืฉ ืืงืืคื ืขืืื
ื ืืืืื ืกืืจื; ืคืืื ืืืจื ืืืืืชื
ืื ืืฉืจืื ื ืขืชื ืกืืืื ื (ืกืืืื ื); ืขืื ืืื ืืฉืืชื ืื ืืืช ืืืจืฅื
ืื ืืืื ื ืืืจืื ืืืกืืฃ ืืืจืฃ; ืืืืคืืจ ืืฉื ืืืกืชืจืืื
ืื ืงืืื ืืณ ืงืืื ืคื ืื ืืืจืืขืื;
ืคืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืจืฉืข ืืจืืื
Davidโs approach to his enemies, in this reading, is unique. Since he is pleading nolo contendere, he does not ask that they be destroyed. They are the instrument of ืืณ's justice. Most commentators translate ืืชืงืืืืื ืืืืื ื as โthose who rise up against Your right handโ, but I would translate it as โthose who rise up with Your right handโ, based on ืจืฉืข ืืจืื in ืคืกืืง ืื:
ืคืืื ื ืคืฉื: ืืื ืจืฉืข ืฉืืื ืืจืื ืฉืืชื ืืฉืืืื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืืืืืืืื ืื
And the way David wishes to be saved in interesting:
ืื ืึดืึฐืชึดืื ืืื ืืณ ืืืชืื ืืืื
ืืืงื ืืืืื ืืฆืคืื ื (ืืฆืคืื ื) ืชืืื ืืื ื;
ืืฉืืขื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืชืจื ืืขืืืืืืื
ืื ืื ื ืืฆืืง ืืืื ืคื ืื; ืืฉืืขื ืืืงืืฅ ืชืืื ืชืื
I would translate ืึดืึฐืชึดืื as โfrom peopleโ (not necessarily โfrom those who dieโ), evoking the previous perek, ืึฐืชึตื ืฉืึธืึฐื:
ืืืชืื ืืื: ืืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ืืื, ืจืณืณื ืฉืขื ืืื ืืชื ืคืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืขืืืื.
ืืื is from ืืืืื, โrustโ, evoking decay but referring to all human beings:
ืฉืึดืึฐืขืึผ ืึนืืช ืึผึธื ืึธืขึทืึผึดืื; ืึทืึฒืึดืื ืึผ ืึผึธื ืึนืฉืึฐืึตื ืึธืึถืื
And David hopes they will be fat and happy:
โI do not envy them,โ says David. โLet them have all the pleasure they want on earth. Let them have many children and leave their riches to their decendants.โ
Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep a-nights.
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look,
He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.
David ends the perek confident that he will survive, ืืฆืืง ืืืื ืคื ืื. His constant dedication to the word of G-d will be rewarded:
ื ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืข ืืืณ; ื ืืจ ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
ื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชื; ืื ืืขืื ืขื ืขืจืฉ ืืฆืืขืื
ื ืื ืืชื ืฉื ืช ืืขืื ื; ืืขืคืขืคื ืชื ืืืื
ื ืขื ืืืฆื ืืงืื ืืืณ; ืืฉืื ืืช ืืืืืจ ืืขืงืื
ืืื โืืฉืืขื ืืืงืืฅ ืชืืื ืชืโ? ืืืจ ืจื ื ืืื ืืจ ืืฆืืง: ืืื ืชืืืืื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืฉืื ื ืืขืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืื, ืืืงืืดื ืืฉืืืขื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ื ืืขืืื ืืื.
But in the metaphor of ืกื ืืืจืื ืงื,ื, he has shot away the ืืืชื, the โhoneycombโ of Torah that was protecting him. Things are going to get much worse.