Difference between revisions of "David's Deathbed Instructions to Shelomo/2"
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| − | <p>David's instructions to Shelomo were not a request to exterminate his enemies, and did not reflect a reversal of the policies of his own reign.</p> | + | <p>David's instructions to Shelomo were not a request to exterminate his enemies, and did not reflect a reversal of the policies of his own reign. He was simply warning his son to be wary of potential poiltical opponents.</p> |
<mekorot><multilink><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimI2" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimI2" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 2</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MalbimMelakhimI2-5-6" data-aht="source">Malbim</a><a href="MalbimMelakhimI2-5-6" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 2:5-6</a><a href="MalbimMelakhimI2-8-8" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 2:8-8</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimI2" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelMelakhimI2" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 2</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MalbimMelakhimI2-5-6" data-aht="source">Malbim</a><a href="MalbimMelakhimI2-5-6" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 2:5-6</a><a href="MalbimMelakhimI2-8-8" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 2:8-8</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
<point><b>Why didn't David kill Yoav and Shimi?</b> Though David had wanted to kill both Yoav and Shimi, circumstances did not allow him to do so:<br/> | <point><b>Why didn't David kill Yoav and Shimi?</b> Though David had wanted to kill both Yoav and Shimi, circumstances did not allow him to do so:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b>Yoav not legally culpable</b> – Since Yoav killed Avner without witnesses and warning, he did not meet the criteria for capital punishment. Even though David could have exercised his unique rights as king and killed him regardless, being newly anointed and relatively weak,<fn>See David's words, "וְאָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם רַךְ וּמָשׁוּחַ מֶלֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי צְרוּיָה קָשִׁים מִמֶּנִּי" (<a href="ShemuelII3-21-39" data-aht="source">Shemuel II 3:39</a>)</fn> he did not feel that it was an opportune time to do so, especially considering the power held by Yoav and his brother, Avishai.</li> | <li><b>Yoav not legally culpable</b> – Since Yoav killed Avner without witnesses and warning, he did not meet the criteria for capital punishment. Even though David could have exercised his unique rights as king and killed him regardless, being newly anointed and relatively weak,<fn>See David's words, "וְאָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם רַךְ וּמָשׁוּחַ מֶלֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי צְרוּיָה קָשִׁים מִמֶּנִּי" (<a href="ShemuelII3-21-39" data-aht="source">Shemuel II 3:39</a>)</fn> he did not feel that it was an opportune time to do so, especially considering the power held by Yoav and his brother, Avishai.</li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Shimi blackmailed David into forgiveness</b> – Though Shimi was "the first of the house of Yosef" to return after Avshalom's rebellion, and ostensibly expressing his remorse, he was in fact blackmailing David, intimating that if David did not forgive him, he would ensure that Israel not return their allegiance to his rule.  Thus, it was only from lack of choice that David swore not to harm him.</li> | + | <li><b>Shimi blackmailed David into forgiveness</b> – Though Shimi was "the first of the house of Yosef" to return after Avshalom's rebellion, and ostensibly expressing his remorse for his earlier curse, he was in fact blackmailing David, intimating that if David did not forgive him, he would ensure that Israel not return their allegiance to his rule.  Thus, it was only from lack of choice that David swore not to harm him.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>No double standards</b> – Abarbanel brings two arguments to prove that David could not have been asking Shelomo to kill his old opponents for their crimes against him:<br/> | <point><b>No double standards</b> – Abarbanel brings two arguments to prove that David could not have been asking Shelomo to kill his old opponents for their crimes against him:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li>Inexperience – He points that since Shelomo was still an inexperienced king, in the same position that David himself had been when Yoav killed Avner, it does not make sense that David would have instructed him to do what he himself had been loathe to do under the same circumstances | + | <li>Inexperience – He points that since Shelomo was still an inexperienced king, in the same position that David himself had been when Yoav killed Avner, it does not make sense that David would have instructed him to do what he himself had been loathe to do under the same circumstances.</li> |
<li>Oath to Shimi still binding – He further points out that asking Shelomo to kill Shimi would be a reneging on his oath as the fact that the death would be by proxy would not  absolve David of a role in the matter!</li> | <li>Oath to Shimi still binding – He further points out that asking Shelomo to kill Shimi would be a reneging on his oath as the fact that the death would be by proxy would not  absolve David of a role in the matter!</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>"...וְגַם אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה"</b> – David tells Shelomo to be wary of Yoav's past deeds, not so that he can punish them, but so that  he should recognize the type of person he is.  Thus, if he does similar acts during Shelomo's reign, Shelomo should know to respond appropriately.</point> | <point><b>"...וְגַם אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה"</b> – David tells Shelomo to be wary of Yoav's past deeds, not so that he can punish them, but so that  he should recognize the type of person he is.  Thus, if he does similar acts during Shelomo's reign, Shelomo should know to respond appropriately.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b>"וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל"</b> – Abarbanel reinterprets this | + | <point><b>"וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל"</b> – Abarbanel reinterprets this phrase, claiming that it does not mean that Shelomo should kill Yoav but that the two should not sit in peace with each other (or, in other words, that Shelomo should make sure to distance  and exile Yoav from himself)</point> |
| − | <point><b>"אַל תְּנַקֵּהוּ.. וְהוֹרַדְתָּ אֶת שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּדָם שְׁאוֹל"</b> – </point> | + | <point><b>"אַל תְּנַקֵּהוּ.. וְהוֹרַדְתָּ אֶת שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּדָם שְׁאוֹל"</b> – In these words David is not instructing Shelomo to find Shimi guilty and kill him for his having cursed David, but rather warning him that if Shimi acts similarly under Shelomo's reign, then "do not hold him guiltless,,," but kill him if necessary.</point> |
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Shelomo's reasons</b></point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
</approaches> | </approaches> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> | ||
Version as of 12:56, 22 April 2018
David's Deathbed Instructions to Shelomo
Exegetical Approaches
Changing Circumstances
David asked Shelomo to deal with his opponents even though he himself had not done so because he realized that with the change of monarch, there was to be an accompanying change in the strength of the kingdom. This approach subdivides regarding the direction of this change and whether it views David or Shelomo as the stronger king:
From Weakness to Strength
As much of David's reign was marked by turmoil and attempted rebellions, he never found himself in the position of strength needed to assassinate his opponents.
From Strength to Weakness
As David was a strong king, he had no need to kill his opponents and could keep them in check without bloodshed. Shelomo, though, was a young boy who would need to rid himself of any threats to his kingdom.
"שְׁלֹמֹה בְנִי נַעַר וָרָךְ"
Change of Heart
During most of his reign, David intentionally maintained a policy of clemency towards his enemies, refusing to kill them. The stresses of the end of his life, however, hardened him, making him rethink this policy and instruct Shelomo to act differently.
Sources:Hoil Moshe
No Change
David's instructions to Shelomo were not a request to exterminate his enemies, and did not reflect a reversal of the policies of his own reign. He was simply warning his son to be wary of potential poiltical opponents.
Why didn't David kill Yoav and Shimi? Though David had wanted to kill both Yoav and Shimi, circumstances did not allow him to do so:
- Yoav not legally culpable – Since Yoav killed Avner without witnesses and warning, he did not meet the criteria for capital punishment. Even though David could have exercised his unique rights as king and killed him regardless, being newly anointed and relatively weak,1 he did not feel that it was an opportune time to do so, especially considering the power held by Yoav and his brother, Avishai.
- Shimi blackmailed David into forgiveness – Though Shimi was "the first of the house of Yosef" to return after Avshalom's rebellion, and ostensibly expressing his remorse for his earlier curse, he was in fact blackmailing David, intimating that if David did not forgive him, he would ensure that Israel not return their allegiance to his rule. Thus, it was only from lack of choice that David swore not to harm him.
No double standards – Abarbanel brings two arguments to prove that David could not have been asking Shelomo to kill his old opponents for their crimes against him:
- Inexperience – He points that since Shelomo was still an inexperienced king, in the same position that David himself had been when Yoav killed Avner, it does not make sense that David would have instructed him to do what he himself had been loathe to do under the same circumstances.
- Oath to Shimi still binding – He further points out that asking Shelomo to kill Shimi would be a reneging on his oath as the fact that the death would be by proxy would not absolve David of a role in the matter!
"...וְגַם אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה" – David tells Shelomo to be wary of Yoav's past deeds, not so that he can punish them, but so that he should recognize the type of person he is. Thus, if he does similar acts during Shelomo's reign, Shelomo should know to respond appropriately.
"וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל" – Abarbanel reinterprets this phrase, claiming that it does not mean that Shelomo should kill Yoav but that the two should not sit in peace with each other (or, in other words, that Shelomo should make sure to distance and exile Yoav from himself)
"אַל תְּנַקֵּהוּ.. וְהוֹרַדְתָּ אֶת שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּדָם שְׁאוֹל" – In these words David is not instructing Shelomo to find Shimi guilty and kill him for his having cursed David, but rather warning him that if Shimi acts similarly under Shelomo's reign, then "do not hold him guiltless,,," but kill him if necessary.
Shelomo's reasons
