Historical Setting of Tehillim 30/2
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Historical Setting of Tehillim 30
Exegetical Approaches
Absolution for David's Sin with Batsheva
Dedication of the House
Enemies of verse 2
Allusions to sickness and near death
God's anger
Thanksgiving for Delivery from Plague
Sources:Sforno
Historical setting – Sforno suggests that David wrote the psalm after he sinned by counting the nation (see Shemuel II 24 and Divrei HaYamim I 21). In it he both repents of his sin and thanks Hashem for the salvation from the plague that was brought as punishment for his deeds.
Dedication of the house – With the plague's cessation, David built an altar to Hashem on the threshing floor of Aravnah, the site upon which the Beit HaMikdash was later built. David, thus, was the one to dedicate the site to God.
"וְלֹא שִׂמַּחְתָּ אֹיְבַי לִי" – Sforno explains the reference to enemies as relating to the choice of punishment given to David: seven years of famine, 3 months of flight from enemies, or the 3 days of pestilence. David thanks Hashem that He sufficed with but one punishment, and did not also have him attacked by foes.
ה׳ הֶעֱלִיתָ מִן שְׁאוֹל נַפְשִׁי – This, too, is a reference to the punishments that David could have, but did not, receive. He thanks Hashem that he did not die from famine. [Alternatively, he thanks Hashem for not punishing him with גיהנם, hell, for his sins.
שִׁוַּעְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ וַתִּרְפָּאֵנִי – Sforno maintains that these words imply that David had prayed to Hashem to cure those smitten by the plague, and now thanks Hashem for listening and healing the sick.
כִּי רֶגַע בְּאַפּוֹ – Bavli Berakhot learns from the description of the plague's duration, which lasted "from the morning to the appointed time", that it lasted only from the time of the morning sacrifice to the afternoon sacrifice, and not a full three days as initially stated. Thus, David thanks Hashem that his anger "lasted but a moment".
אָמַרְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִי בַּל אֶמּוֹט – Ralbag suggests that in counting the nation David betrayed that he was trusting in the might of his own numbers rather than in Hashem's aid, and this was the core of his sin. David might be repenting for this self-confidence when he says, "אָמַרְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִי בַּל אֶמּוֹט". After the sin, he acknowledges that "בִּרְצוֹנְךָ הֶעֱמַדְתָּה לְהַרְרִי עֹז", recognizing that his might and success is due only to God's favor.1
Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness
Enemies of verse 2