DAVÍD MELECH YISRAEL 2 Samuel 5-7
CONTEXT: Hevron was the major city of Y’hudah, the seat of Davíd’s early power. The northern tribes, dominated by Efrayim, will, following the death of Sh’lomoh, be called Yisrael. Our narrator seems to be using “Yisrael” to include both south and north. The monarch’s first order of business will be to establish a central capital. Y’rushalayim is ideally located, and is as yet part of no Israelite tribe. Next, fix this city as cultic capital by bringing up the portable ark and perhaps building a temple.
HEVRON 2 Samuel 5:1-5
1All the tribes of Yisra’el came to Davíd at Hevron to say: “Behold we are your flesh and bone. 2Yesterday and the day before, while Sha’ul was king over us, you were the one who led Yisra’el out and in. Yahh has said to you, ‘You shall pastor my people, Yisra’el. You shall become ruler over Yisra’el.’” 3All the elders of Yisra’el came to the king at Hevron. The king cut a brit/covenant with them before Yahh. They anointed Davíd as king over Yisra’el.
4Davíd was thirty years old when he became king. He reigned forty years, 5in Hevron over Y’hudah for seven years, six months, and in Y’rushalayim, thirty-three years over all Yisra’el and Y’hudah.
DAVÍD CONQUERS Y’RUSHALAYIM FOR HIS CAPITAL
CONTEXT: The fact that this story is so brief and tantalizing adds to the likelihood of its reflecting a historical event. Little art went into the narrative. Archaeology, by both excavations and documents, contributes data that help. The well known Gihon spring, low on the hill just south and east of the Jerusalem old town wall, had a shaft, partly natural and partly man made which led upward to the town. This shaft may be the צנור, tsinor, “tunnel/shaft” by which an attacker might stealthily enter the town. Tanach suggests that around 700 BCE King Hezekiah had the shaft as seen today built (2 Chronicles 32:30). But excavators think that rudiments of the access may have existed much earlier.
Blind and lame are featured in this story. Here is the way Josephus, a military commander, explains it:
Now the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and were by extraction Canaanites, shut their gates, and placed the blind, and the lame, and all their maimed persons, upon the wall, in way of derision of the king, and said that the very lame themselves would hinder his entrance into it. This they did out of contempt of his power, and as depending on the strength of their walls. Davíd was hereby enraged, and began the siege of Jerusalem, and employed his utmost diligence and alacrity therein, as intending by the taking of this place to demonstrate his power, and to intimidate all others that might be of the like [evil] disposition towards him.
(Antiquities, Bk 7, Ch 3)
In the 1950’s, Yigal Yadin, a Hebrew University archaeologist, found the following in a Hittite soldiers’ oath of commitment in Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to Old Testament, p 354:
They parade in front of them a [blind woman] and a deaf man and [you speak] as follows: “See! Here is a blind woman and a deaf man. Whoever does evil to the king (and) the queen, let the oaths seize him! Let them make him blind! Let them [ma]ke him [deaf]! Let them [blind] him like a blind man! Let them [deafen] him like a deaf man! Let them [annihilate him], the man (himself) together with his wife, [his children] (and) his kin.
Yadin’s explanation, widely accepted, is that the Jebusites set out their blind and lame in a similar gesture, as much as to say that any attackers would become blind and lame like these. This would also justify Davíd’s hatred of the blind and the lame.
The saying, referred to in a gloss, about blind and lame not coming to the house is otherwise unknown in Tanach. The Septuagint renders “temple,” where priests with physical disabilities could not serve. (Leviticus 21:17)
The Chronicles version of this story differs significantly. Rather than modify the 2 Samuel version with insertions that may or may not be primary, I offer both, in parallel columns.
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2 Samuel 5:6-10 6The king and his men went to Y’rushalayim, with its indigenous Y’vusi. They said to Davíd: “You shall not come here unless you put aside the blind and the lame! Davíd shall not come here!” 7Davíd conquered the Tsiyon citadel, that is Davídtown. And on that day 8Davíd said: “Whoever strikes a Y’vusi! Whoever goes up the shaft! Whoever puts aside the blind and the lame, so hated to Davíd! (Therefore they say: “Blind and lame do not come to the House.”) 9Davíd dwelled in the citadel and called it Davídtown. He built it up all around, from the acropolis and further in. 10Davíd continued to grow greater, Yahh God of hosts being with him. |
1 Chronicles 11:4-9 4Davíd and all Yisra’el went to Yerushalayim, that is Y’vus. There the Y’vusi were residents of the land. 5The residents of Y’vus said to Davíd: “You shall not come here.” Davíd conquered the Tsiyon citadel, that is Davídtown. 6Davíd said: “Whoever strikes a Y’vusi first will become a leader and commander.” Yoav went up first and became leader. 7Davíd dwelled in the citadel, therefore they called it Davídtown. 8And he built the town around it, from the acropolis to the surrounding area. Yoav revived the rest of the town. 9Davíd continued to grow greater, Yahh of hosts being with him. |
13After he had arrived from Hevron Davíd took more concubines and women from Y’rushalayim and sons and daughters were born to him. 14The names of the Jerusalem born: Shamua, Shovav. Natan, Sh’lomo, 15Yivchar, Elishua, Nefeg, Yafiya, 16Elishama, Elyada (a.k.a. Ba’alyada), and Elipelet.
17P’lishtim heard that they had anointed Davíd to be king over Yisra’el. They all went up seeking Davíd. Davíd heard and went down to the citadel. 18P’lishitm arrived and spread into Emeq R’fa’im, (a valley to the southwest of Y’rushalayim.)
19Davíd asked of Yahh: “Should I go up against P’lishtim? Will you give them into my hand?”
Yahh said: “Go up, for I will indeed give the P’lishtim into your hand.”
20Davíd arrived at Ba’al P’ratsim, a nearby hill, and struck from there. He said; “Yahh has broken (parats) my enemies before me the way water breaks through.” That’s why he called the place Ba’al P’ratsim. 21The P’lishtim left there their idols and Davíd and his men carried them off.
22P’lishtim again went up and spread in Emeq R’fa’im. 23Davíd consulted Yahh, Who said: “Do not go up. Circle to their rear and approach them opposite the mulberry trees. 24When you hear the sound of their march in front of the mulberries, then be quick for then Yahh will go out before you to strike a P’lishti camp.” 25Davíd did so, as Yahh had commanded him, and he struck the P’lishtim from Geva (a nearby hill) to the approach to Gezer.
DAVÍD AND THE ARK, TEMPLE? 2 Samuel 6-7:17; 1 Chronicles 13:1-4, 15:1-27
CONTEXT: The Chronicles version opens with Davíd consulting the leaders and later inserts a detailed description of the kohanim and L’vi’im who, alone, were designated, in the post exilic period, to touch and carry the Holy Ark. (Exodus 25:13, Numbers 10:17,21) The account precedes the Ark action with a list, in chapter 12, of tribal leaders who supported Davíd in Hevron and then in Y’rusahalayim. Where Chronicles adds significant information – though it may be secondary -- the text appears, indented.
GEOGRAPHY: Ba’alah is another name for Kiryat Y’arim (Joshua 15:9; 1 Samuel 6:21). The site may earlier have been sacred to the god Ba’al. The Masoretic Hebrew seems to have confused the place name with the word for “the leaders,” as found in many translations.
GLOSSARY: Yahh Ts’vaot, frequently translated “Lord of Hosts,” refers to God’s might. Ts’va, צבא, is an armed force. “K’ruvim” כרובים, frequently transliterated “Cherubim,” refers to the angelic beings perched on the ark between whom Yahh may sits during an encounter with the people. (Exodus 36:10-22)
Among the celebratory gifts Davíd distributes to the people (1S 6:19) is eshpar, אשפר, a word of unknown meaning and etymology occurring only in this story. Traditional Jewish commentators thought it meant a meat cut. Others have suggested some sort of baked item. Robert Alter offers, “date cake.” My preference is a block of halva.
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2 Samuel 6 1Once again Davíd assembled all the select of Yisra’el, thirty battalions. 2He rose and, with all the people, went to Ba’alah of Y’hudah to bring up from there the Ark of God, over which is called the name: Yahh of Hosts, Who Sits between the K’ruvim. |
1 Chronicles 13 1Davíd consulted with the commanders of the battalions and companies and all the leaders. 2To the whole assembly of Yisra’el he said: “If it is good for you and is decisively determined from Yahh our God, let us send for and gather to us our remaining brothers in all the lands of Yisra’el, and with them the kohanim and the L’vi’im in their cities with the surrounding fields. 3Let us turn towards ourselves the Ark of our God, for we have not sought of it in the days of Sha’ul.” 4The whole gathering said to do it, for the thing was straight in the eyes of all the people. 15:1He built houses in Davídtown, and prepared a place for the Ark of God, setting a tent. |
3They loaded the Ark of God onto a new cart and bore it from the house of Avinadav on the hill. Uzah and his brothers, Avinadav’s sons, led the new cart with the Ark of God, 4the brothers walking in front of the Ark. 5Davíd and the whole house of Yisra’el were playing before Yahh with everything: cypress wood bones, lyres and harps, timbrels, shakers, and cymbals.
6When they arrived at a threshing floor belonging to Nachon the oxen stumbled and Uzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and held it. 7Yahh’s nose burned with anger against Uzah. The god struck him there for the lapse. He died there, by the Ark of God.
8Davíd was angry that Yahh had burst such an outburst (perets) against Uzah. To this day the place is called Perets Uzah.
9That day Davíd feared Yahh, saying: “How can the Ark of Yahh come to me?” 10He did not wish to remove it to himself, to Davídtown. He diverted it to the house of OvedEdom from Gat.
11The Ark of Yahh stayed three months at the OvedEdom’s house and Yahh blessed OvedEdom and all his household. 12It was reported to Davíd: “Yahh has blessed the house of OvedEdom and all of his on account of the Ark of God.”
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So Davíd went, and in joy brought up the Ark from OvedEdom’s house to Davídtown. 13With every six paces of the Ark bearers he sacrificed an ox and fattened sheep. 14Davíd, wearing a linen ephod whirled with all his might before Yahh. 15Thus Davíd and the whole house of Yisrael bring up the Ark of Yahh with shouting and sound of shofar. |
1 Chronicles 15 2Then Davíd said not to carry the Ark of God, except for the L’vi’im, for Yahh had chosen them to carry and serve it forever. 3He then assembled all Yisra’el to Y’rushalayim to bring the Ark of Yahh to its place which he had prepared. 4Davíd gathered the B’neyAharon and the L’vi’im… 11Then Davíd called to the kohanim Tsadok and Evyatar and to the L’vi’im: Uriel, AsaYahh, Yoel, Sh’ma’Yahh, Eliel, and Aminadav. 12He said to them: “You are the family heads of the L’vi’im. Sanctify yourselves, you and your brothers. Bring up the Ark of Yahh God of Yisra’el to the place I have prepared for it. 13As to the first time, because it was not you, Yahh burst out against us. Because we had not sought Him according to the rule.” 14The kohanim and L’vi’im sanctified themselves to bring up the Ark of Yahh God of Yisra’el. 15The B’neyLevi carried the Ark of God on their shoulders, with staves, as Moshe had commanded as the word of Yahh. 16And Davíd told the commanders of the L’vi’im to have their brothers the musicians stand and play their instruments, harps, lyres, cymbals in loud voiced joy… 22K’nanYahh, commander in matters of carrying for the L’vi’im directed the carrying, for he was a mevin (“understander”)… 24OvedEdom and YichiYahh were gatekeepers for the Ark. 25Davíd and the elders of Yisrael and the battalion commanders were those who went in joy to bring up the Ark of the B’rit of Yahh from OvedEdom’s house. The god having helped the L’vi’im, bearers of the Ark, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27Davíd was draped in a coat of fine linen. All the L’vi’im, Ark bearers and singers, and K’nanYahh, commander of the carrying, wore the linen ephod. |
16When the Ark reached Davídtown, Michal batSha’ul was looking out the window and saw the king, Davíd, leaping and whirling before Yahh and she mentally disdained him.
17They brought the Ark of Yahh and set it up in its place in the tent Davíd had prepared. Davíd then made burnt offerings before Yahh, and sh’lamim (“well being offerings”). 18When he finished the offerings he greeted the people in the name of Yahh Ts’va’ot. 19He then distributed to all, to all the roaring crowd, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a block of halva, and a cake of raisins. Everyone went home.
20Davíd returned to greet his home and Michal batSha’ul came out to meet him and said: “How honored today is the king of Yisrael, exposed to the eyes of his servants maids, the way any lowlife would expose himself.”
21“Before Yahh who chose me over your father and all his house,” said Davíd to Michal, “to command me to be leader over the people of Yahh, of Yisrael. I played before Yahh! 22I’ll belittle myself more than that, till I’m truly low, but with the maids you mentioned, with them I’ll be honored.”
23Michal batSha’ul died childless.
2 Samuel 7
CONTEXT: Ascertaining God’s will was thought to be reserved for Kohanim, “priests,” who divined by lots (urim and tumim), and prophets who received and interpreted dreams or even “word of God” messages.(Numbers 27:21, Deuteronomy 18:9-22). Hebrew for prophet is navi, נביא, meaning “spokesman,” including under ecstatic inspiration. This story introduces Natan who seems to be a courtier and advisor.
1When the king dwelt in his house and Yah had given him respite from his enemies round about, 2the king addressed Natan the prophet: “Look here, I dwell in a house of cedars while the Ark of God dwells among curtains.”
3Said Natan to the king: “Whatever is on your mind, go do, for Yah is with you.”
4That night the word of Yah came to Natan: 5“Go say to My servant, to Davíd, thus says Yah, ‘Would you build Me a house for My dwelling? 6I have never dwelled in a house, from the time I brought the B’neyYisrael from Mitsrayim (Egypt) to this day. I have been fine going about in a tent, in a tabernacle. 7In all that going about with all B’neiYisrael, did I ever speak a word to one of the judges of Yisrael whom I ordered to shepherd My people: “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedars?”
8‘I took you from the meadow, from the flock to be leader over My people, over Yisrael. 9I have been with you wherever you have gone. I have cut off from you all your enemies. I have made for you a great name, as the greatest in the land. 10I have set a place for My people, for Yisrael. I have planted him and he is settled, in place, no more to tremble. No more will the unjust trouble him as earlier, 11since the days when I ordered judges over my people, Yisrael.
‘I have given you rest from all your enemies. Be it known to you that Yah will establish a house for you. 12 When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise your seed after you, one from your loins, and I will firm his rule. 13He shall build a house for My name. And I will establish his throne of rule till eternity. 14I will be father to him and he shall be son to Me. When he strays I will correct him with a man’s rod, with human bruises. 15But my love shall never turn from him the way I turned it away from the one who came before you. 16Your house and your rule shall be affirmed before me till eternity. Your throne established forever.’”
17With such words as these and with such a vision, so spoke Natan to Davíd.
© Rabbi Davíd L. Kline http://good-to-be-a-jew.blogspot.com/
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