Difference between revisions of "David's Deathbed Instructions to Shelomo/2"
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<point><b>"וְאָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם רַךְ וּמָשׁוּחַ מֶלֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי צְרוּיָה קָשִׁים מִמֶּנִּי"</b> – These words of David after Yoav's assassination of Avner are difficult for this position as they attest to the fact that David did not view himself as powerful enough to act against Yoav.  This approach might respond that this might have been true right after David became king, but as the years passed he became much stronger and could easily have put down whomever he wanted. David, however, never felt the need to do so, as long as he could keep Yoav in check.</point> | <point><b>"וְאָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם רַךְ וּמָשׁוּחַ מֶלֶךְ וְהָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי צְרוּיָה קָשִׁים מִמֶּנִּי"</b> – These words of David after Yoav's assassination of Avner are difficult for this position as they attest to the fact that David did not view himself as powerful enough to act against Yoav.  This approach might respond that this might have been true right after David became king, but as the years passed he became much stronger and could easily have put down whomever he wanted. David, however, never felt the need to do so, as long as he could keep Yoav in check.</point> | ||
<point><b>Evidence of David's Trust in Yoav</b> – The fact that David asked Yoav to aid him in his killing of Uriah after his sin with Batsheva supports the idea that David was confident that Yoav was not to turn on him.</point> | <point><b>Evidence of David's Trust in Yoav</b> – The fact that David asked Yoav to aid him in his killing of Uriah after his sin with Batsheva supports the idea that David was confident that Yoav was not to turn on him.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>David's clemency to Shimi</b> – David pardoned Shimi because he felt that after the unrest caused by Avshalom's rebellion, the nation would be better served if there were no more assassinations.  Had he been worried that Shimi would cause him any more trouble, he would have killed him regardless but since he was confident that there was no need, he spared his life.</point> | + | <point><b>David's clemency to Shimi</b> – David pardoned Shimi because he felt that after the unrest caused by Avshalom's rebellion, the nation would be better served if there were no more assassinations.  Had he been worried that Shimi would cause him any more trouble, he would have killed him regardless, but since he was confident that there was no need, he spared his life.</point> |
− | <point><b>"וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל" / "וְהוֹרַדְתָּ אֶת שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּדָם שְׁאוֹל"</b> – This position, as above, does not differentiate between these terms, assuming that | + | <point><b>Yoav's participation in Adonyahu's rebellion</b> – Yoav's participation in Adonyahu's rebellion would appear to prove that David was not, in fact, able to keep Yoav in check.  This position would respond that Yoav was only capable of so doing because of David's frailty in his old age.  Moreover, this might have been what alerted David to the fact that the weak Shelomo would surely need to exterminate Yoav.</point> |
+ | <point><b>"וְלֹא תוֹרֵד שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּשָׁלֹם שְׁאֹל" / "וְהוֹרַדְתָּ אֶת שֵׂיבָתוֹ בְּדָם שְׁאוֹל"</b> – This position, as above, does not differentiate between these terms, assuming that David was directing his son to kill both enemies.  David felt that only their deaths would eliminate them as threats to Shelmo.</point> | ||
<point><b>"וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּחׇכְמָתֶךָ"</b> – David told Shelomo to use his wisdom and guile since he feared that in a pure power play, Shelomo might not be the victor. Shelmo's advantage lay in his wisdom.</point> | <point><b>"וְעָשִׂיתָ כְּחׇכְמָתֶךָ"</b> – David told Shelomo to use his wisdom and guile since he feared that in a pure power play, Shelomo might not be the victor. Shelmo's advantage lay in his wisdom.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>why didn't David help his son?</b> This position must explain why, if David thought that Yoav and Shimi were potential dangers to Shelomo, did he not take care of eliminating them himself, before he died? It is possible that David would have liked to but practically could not | + | <point><b>why didn't David help his son?</b> This position must explain why, if David thought that Yoav and Shimi were potential dangers to Shelomo, did he not take care of eliminating them himself, before he died?<fn>See how David prepares blueprints for the Beit HaMIkdash before his death, recognizing that Shelomo is too young to do it on his own. see Divrei HaYamim I 22:5: וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד שְׁלֹמֹה בְנִי נַעַר וָרָךְ וְהַבַּיִת לִבְנוֹת לַי"י לְהַגְדִּיל לְמַעְלָה לְשֵׁם וּלְתִפְאֶרֶת לְכׇל הָאֲרָצוֹת אָכִינָה נָּא לוֹ וַיָּכֶן דָּוִיד לָרֹב לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ.</fn> It is possible that David would have liked to but practically could not:<br/> |
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>Regarding Shimi, David was hampered by his oath, which precluded him from killing him. </li> | ||
+ | <li>Regarding Yoav, David likely felt that after his backing of Adoniyahu, it would have been impossible to punish Yoav with death while still sparing Aodniyahu.  As he was not ready to kill Adoniyahu, he needed to spare Yoav as well.</li> | ||
+ | </ul></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> |
Version as of 06:15, 25 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. Shelomo, in contrast, was a powerful monarch who could easily eliminate enemies.
- Civil war – Yoav killed Avner right as David was attempting to unite Israel under his leadership after the civil war with Ishboshet. David had not yet consolidated his power or proven himself to the nation, making him hesitant to retaliate, as he says: "וְאָנֹכִי הַיּוֹם רַךְ וּמָשׁוּחַ מֶלֶךְ".
- Internationals wars – The middle of David's reign was marked by both defensive and offensive wars,1 and thus also not an opportune time in which to eliminate his chief general.
- Sin and punishment – After David's sin with Batsheva, and Yoav's role in the cover-up, it became increasingly difficult to kill him. The family troubles that plagued David in the aftermath of the sin likely further contributed to his reluctance.
- Rebellions – The end of David's reign was filled with attempted coups. As such, after Avshalom's rebellion, when Shimi hinted that if David forgave him for his curse he would ensure that the tribes of Yosef re-pledge their allegiance him, David did not feel like he had any other choice but to agree not to kill him.2 Similarly, after Sheva. b. Bichri's coup, David was again in no position to eliminate Yoav.3
- Regarding Shimi, David knew that due to his oath, Shelomo would not be able to simply kill Shimi for his cursing of David since that would constitute a reneging on the oath. Thus, David told Shelomo to act with wile and convict him of a different capital crime. Similarly, once David had ignored Yoav's crimes for so long it would not be possible to suddenly punish him for them, so David advised his son to use his cunning to accomplish his goal.
- Alternatively, it is possible that David recognized that even if Shelmo's kingdom was stable and powerful, these opponents were nonetheless formidable threats and would require Shelomo's wisdom and guile to overpower.
- It is possible that David was not expecting Shelomo to act immediately, but rather to wait until he was established on the throne. David likely felt that he had ushered in an era of stability on the international front, so that within a few years Shelomo would be a powerful monarch capable of overcoming any internal enemies.
- David might have also recognized his son's extraordinary wisdom,4 and assumed that it would compensate for lack of experience or power.
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.
- Regarding Shimi, David was hampered by his oath, which precluded him from killing him.
- Regarding Yoav, David likely felt that after his backing of Adoniyahu, it would have been impossible to punish Yoav with death while still sparing Aodniyahu. As he was not ready to kill Adoniyahu, he needed to spare Yoav as well.
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.
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 political opponents.
- Shelomo's inexperience – He points that since Shelomo was still an inexperienced king,9 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 reneging on his oath. The fact that the death would be by proxy would not absolve David of guilt.
- "וַיָּשֶׂם דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה בְּשָׁלֹם" – Yoav is a trickster who pretends to be at peace, when his intention is really to kill. The phrase "וַיָּשֶׂם דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה בְּשָׁלֹם" means that Yoav's spilling of blood was an action worthy of doing only in wartime, against an enemy, yet he did so against those with whom he was supposedly at peace. David, thus, warns Shelomo to be careful in his interactions with Yoav, and to be fully cognizant of his potential for deceit .
- "וַיִּתֵּן דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה בַּחֲגֹרָתוֹ" – David shares that Yoav had put the blood of Avner and Amsa on his belt and shoe for all to see to teach Shelomo that Yoav is someone who gloats over his evil deeds, as if they were worthy of emulation.
- Excuse for Benayahu – Abarbanel addresses the issue only by Yoav and suggests that Shelomo's words were addressed specifically to Benayahu who was uncomfortable killing Yoav by the altar. Shelomo, thus, comforted him pointing out that Yoav was culpable on multiple fronts, not just for backing Adoniyahu, but also for having intentionally killed innocents regarding which the Torah itself states "וְכִי יָזִד אִישׁ עַל רֵעֵהוּ לְהׇרְגוֹ בְעׇרְמָה מֵעִם מִזְבְּחִי תִּקָּחֶנּוּ לָמוּת" (Shemot 24:14).
- Shelomo deviated from David's will – This position could also respond that despite David not requesting their deaths, Shelomo, on his own, felt a need to avenge his father's honor. Thus, he went beyond his father's exhortations and when the opportunity arose, he made sure to kill his opponents12 and declare that he was punishing them not only for their disloyalty to him but also for their prior deeds.