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M’lochim I 2:1
This week’s
haftorah records the last moments of Dovid Hamelech’s life and the
parting charge which he delivered to his son, the newly anointed King
Solomon. Dovid told his son, “Be strong and in full control of your
emotions and guard all the precepts of the Torah.” (2: 2,3) Dovid assured
Shlomo that if he and his descendants walked wholeheartedly in the path
of Hashem they would be guaranteed the prestigious position of royalty
for eternity.
Dovid then
digressed and reminded Shlomo about two powerful men, Shimi and Yoav, who
could never be forgiven for their unacceptable behavior. Each of them was
guilty of disgracing the king through their shameful public conduct.
Shimi Ben Geira had cursed the king and hurled stones at him while he
fled from his son Avshalom who conspired against his own father. Yoav ben
Tzruya had executed two opposing generals after Dovid Hamelech had warmly
accepted their sincere gestures of peace. Dovid, now on his death bed,
instructed his son Shlomo to be sharp and alert and to secure the
execution of these two powerful figures. Dovid said, “And do as your
wisdom dictates and do not permit him to die an old man.”(2:6) After
completing these harsh instructions, Dovid left this world with these
parting words of revenge on his lips.
This final episode
of Dovid Hamelech’s life is quite puzzling to us. Although we understand
the need for these instructions the timing of these charges is, at the
very least, quite disturbing. Couldn’t the aged Dovid Hamelech choose a
more appropriate time for this discussion? Wouldn’t a more gentle climate
be appropriate for Dovid when parting with his precious son? It almost
seems that the king reserved these words to serve as the impressionable
image by which to be perpetually remembered.
In search for an
understanding of this we direct our attention to a milder request
inserted in the midst of these harsh execution commands. Dovid says, “And
act kindly towards the Barzilai children who should always dine at your
table because they were close to me when I fled from your brother
Avshalom.” (2: 7) Barzilai had been very gracious to Dovid Hamelech in
his grave time of distress. He provided Dovid with food and shelter and
deserved to be perpetually repaid for his kindness. As long as Dovid
lived, Barzilai was repaid and he and his children were hosted at the
king’s table. Now that Dovid was leaving the world it would be Shlomo
Hamelech’s responsibility to perpetuate this kindness. This parting request
of Dovid conveyed to Shlomo the sense of continuity, that he view himself
as an extension of his father Dovid. The king therefore asked Shlomo to
place special concern on this kindness done to his father and to continue
this very same practice of hosting the Barzilai family at his table
throughout his own lifetime.
It seems that this
mild request was intentionally inserted here to place this entire setting
in its proper perspective. Apparently, Dovid Hamelech sought to charge
his son with the responsibility of perpetuating his father’s name and
honor. He sought to instill in Shlomo the sense of perfect continuity, to
follow closely in the path of his revered father. And in this same spirit
Dovid chose these parting moments to command his son about the execution
of Shimi and Yoav. They had caused Dovid much humiliation and indignation
and definitely deserved their execution. However, Dovid had not deemed it
appropriate to respond to their actions during his lifetime and left this
matter an unfinished affair. Now that Dovid was leaving this world it
would become Shlomo’s responsibility to act on his father’s behalf. Dovid
saved this difficult command for his parting words with his son to convey
to him his true role as king. Dovid envisioned Shlomo fashioning his life
according to the perfect ways of his father and therefore chose to part
from him with this powerful image of continuity. He instructed him to
begin his reign by completing what his father couldn’t and to continue
this path throughout his lifetime, always seeking to perpetuate his
father’s honor and accomplishments.
Indeed, Shlomo
accepted his father’s charge and fulfilled it to the best of his ability.
In fact, the Scriptures mention earlier a special blessing of Shlomo’s
mother, which she conveyed upon her husband Dovid HaMelech. She said, “My
master the king should live forever.” (1:31) The Malbim (ad loc) explains
that the concept of “living forever” refers to the perpetuation of
Dovid’s reign through his son Shlomo. The fulfillment of her blessing is
clearly seen in the concluding words of our haftorah. After giving an
account of the forty year span of Dovid Hamelech’s reign, the Scriptures
closes with the following verse, “And Shlomo sat on the throne of his
father Dovid and his kingdom was firmly established.” (2: 12) The Ralbag
and Malbim see this passage as a reference to the glaring phenomena that
Shlomo, like his father, ruled for exactly forty years. He followed so
closely in his father’s footsteps that he merited that the years of his
reign were exactly the same as those of his father. Dovid’s dream was
realized and Shlomo did become the extended image of his perfect father.
This lesson runs
parallel lines with the parting blessing our patriarch Yaakov conveyed
upon his son Yosef. Moments before Yaakov Avinu left this world he
gathered together his children and blessed them, informing each of them
of his individual qualities and future role amongst the Jewish people.
But he showered an abundance of blessing upon one particular son, Yosef.
The extent of this blessing is expressed in the Torah in the following
words. “Your father’s blessings which superseded those of his ancestors’
. . . shall rest upon Yosef’s head, the premier amongst the brothers.”
(B’reishis 49:26) Rashi (ad loc) interprets Yosef’s blessing relative to
his indescribable level of self control and morality. Rashi quotes the
Talmud in Mesichta Sota (36b) which reveals the true source of Yosef’s
inner strength during his most trying moments of life. Rav Yishmael
taught that at the crucial moment of Yosef’s overpowering temptation the
image of Yaakov Avinu appeared before Yosef and reminded him of his
illustrious future.
The upshot of this
is that Yosef always attempted to personify his father Yaakov and to act
as his extension. This perspective served as a constant reminder to Yosef
of the perfect spiritual ways of the patriarchs. Following this formula,
Yosef was capable of drawing the inner strength necessary to resist even
the most powerful temptations of life. The result of this was that Yosef,
like his father Yaakov, reached indescribable levels of sanctity and self
control. Rabbeinu Avrohom Ben HaRambam explains that due to this
outstanding merit of self control and sanctity Yosef earned his special
blessing. Upon reflection we see that Yosef, who constantly viewed
himself as his father’s extension, truly deserved this abundance of
blessing. The time had come for Yaakov to leave this world and during his
last moments he sought to share his very own special portion with one of his
sons. Yaakov had earlier received a special blessing from his father, one
of unlimited wealth and fortune. Now it was time for Yosef, Yaakov’s
perfect extension to receive this very same blessing, unlimited fortune
and success forever.
Text Copyright © 1996
Rabbi Dovid Siegel and Project Genesis, Inc.
The author is Rosh Kollel of Kollel
Toras Chesed of Skokie.
Kollel Toras Chesed
3732 West Dempster
Skokie, Illinois 60076
Phone: 847-674-7959 Fax: 847-674-4023
kollel@arlin.net
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