{"id":57236,"date":"2019-06-11T15:51:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T12:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=57236"},"modified":"2023-01-02T19:00:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-02T17:00:03","slug":"a-liquid-libation-before-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/a-liquid-libation-before-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"A Liquid Libation Before the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The fact that God smote the people of Beit Shemesh after they retrieved the Ark indicates that they regarded its return by the Philistines as somewhat less than an unmitigated blessing, leading to their decision to transfer it to Kiryat Ye\u2019arim. There, it seems to have been accorded greater respect as signified, perhaps, by its placement in the house of Abinadab \u201con the hilltop\u201d and the \u201csanctification\u201d of a special caretaker (1). Hence, the observation that the next twenty years were marked by an ongoing commitment to God (2).<\/span><\/p>\n

And yet the syncretistic form of worship\u2014combining elements of the genuine service of God with local superstitions\u2014that we have taken note of previously (see our comments on Judges 17) persevered and Samuel had to call upon them to repent by ridding themselves of their \u201cforeign deities\u201d and to serve \u201cGod alone\u201d (3). He appears to have succeeded because when the Philistines next challenge Israel, at Mitzpah, he led them in prayer to God, Who heard their plea for His intercession and granted them victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

One detail of their process of repentance is noteworthy. We read that \u201cthey gathered together to Mitzpah, drew water, poured it out before the Lord, fasted on that day, and said there: ‘We have sinned against the Lord\u2019\u201d (6). While fasting is a recognizable feature of the process of seeking atonement, what was the significance of pouring of water?<\/span><\/p>\n

An original answer was provided by R. Yosef Ibn Kaspi (Provence, 1279-1340): \u201cThey poured water over their location, as well as over their faces and hands, to impress upon their souls that they were cleansed of their defilement.\u201d Pointedly, drawing water also serves as a symbol of redemption, as in a well-known verse used in the Havdalah<\/em> ceremony: \u201cDraw water joyfully from the wellsprings of salvation\u201d (Isaiah 12:3).<\/span><\/p>\n

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