David/0
David
Overview
David HaMelekh is probably one of the most beloved – and complex – of all Biblical figures. He is simultaneously poet and politician, savior and killer, devoted father and adulterous husband. He can be harsh and exacting with loyal followers, yet he is often merciful and forgiving of opponents. David unites the nation into one kingdom and is promised a continuous dynasty, yet his reign is marked by rebellion after rebellion. He makes Yerushalayim both his political and spiritual capital, demonstrates great faith in and love for Hashem, but he is forbidden from building the Mikdash. How are we to understand this composite of opposites?
Unique Traits
Faith in Hashem
"לאהבה את שונאך"
David the Warrior
David and Golyat
Conquest of Yerushalayim
Defensive Battles
Battles of Conquest
Musician and Poet
Possible Sins and Flaws
David and Batsheva
Shemuel II 11 recounts the story of David's sin with Batsheva without any attempt to obscure the king's objectionable behavior. According to a simple reading of the verses, David commits adultery with Batsheva and then has her husband, Uriah, killed in battle so as to marry her and cover up the sin. Given that David is reputed to be an upright figure, how are we to understand his actions? Moreover, if he really committed such heinous crimes, how is it that David did not lose his kingship? [For discussion, see David and Batsheva.]
- Mitigate David's guilt – R. Yonatan in Bavli Shabbat opts to exonerate David, claiming that he did not violate the Biblical prohibitions of adultery or murder.1
- Maintain David's guilt - Abarbanel, in contrast, prefers to say that David sinned egregiously as per the simple reading of the text, but also repented sincerely, and therein lay his greatness.
- Middle position - Ralbag takes a middle position, claiming that David was guilty of murder but technically innocent of adultery. He nonetheless chastises David's behavior as immoral.
Counting the Nation
Shemuel II 242 tells of David's decision to count the nation and the consequent plague that killed 70,000 people. Though the narrative implies that the census was the cause of the catastrophe, it is not clear what sin was transgressed that led to such a severe punishment. How was David's census different from the many others in Tanakh which were conducted without disastrous consequences?
- Direct Head Count – David sinned in directly counting the nation rather than using a redemptive object.
- Unnecessary - It was not the manner in which David counted the nation that was problematic, but the census itself.
- No sin of David -
