{"id":59939,"date":"2019-07-22T18:34:39","date_gmt":"2019-07-22T15:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=59939"},"modified":"2023-02-14T13:33:10","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T11:33:10","slug":"how-long-was-david-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/how-long-was-david-king\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Was David King?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How long did David rule as king? Our chapter tells us that \u201cDavid was thirty years old when he became king and he reigned forty years\u201d (Shamuel II, 5:4). The simple answer then would be: forty years. However, the next verse, which breaks down the total time, leaves an unaccounted six months:: \u201cIn Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty three years\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 107a) devotes a lengthy and moving discussion to the issue: \u201cRav Yehuda says that Rav says: one should never bring himself to undergo an ordeal (trial) as David, King of Israel, brought himself to undergo an ordeal and failed\u201d. David, explains the Gemara, wanted to know why does the opening of the Amida prayer include the three forefathers and not him? \u201cExamine me\u201d, he says (Psalms 26:2), thinking of his dedication and devotion to God. But God tested him and David failed, in the matter of Bathsheba (coming up in chapter 11), because a \u201chalacha\u201d escaped him: \u201cthere is a small limb in a man\u201d, continues the Gemara: \u201cif he starves it, it is satisfied but if he satiates it, it starves\u201d. This is in reference to one\u2019s sexual desire, where accordingly the more one overindulges himself, the more he desires it.<\/span><\/p>\n

David is punished with six months of leprosy, \u201cand the Divine Presence abandons him and the members of the Sanhedrin dissociated themselves from him\u201d. His affliction of leprosy, reminds us of Moses, the first \u201cmetzora\u201d (leper – Exodus 3) when speaking ill of God\u2019s plan for His people. In a way, David too, could not hold back to allow God\u2019s plan. The Talmud continues, telling us that Bathsheba was intended for David since creation but their unity only occurred via suffering. In that way it was both successful, begetting Solomon, but also lacking: Kind David\u2019s kingship was imperfect. The building of the long sought-after Temple was transferred to his son, and the ultimate redemption \u2013 delayed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The forty years, equal to the number of the letter <\/span>mem<\/span><\/i>, the heart of the Hebrew alphabet and letter sounding the core of existence, were cut short, just by a bit. Not enough to take all the glory away; enough to make it deficient.<\/span><\/p>\n

King David was pained twice: by the \u201cact\u201d itself and by its publicity. Yet, by bringing it to the text, it allowed us a king who is human, and participation in the unfinished task.<\/span><\/p>\n

Image: David and Bathsheba, Meissen Castle, The Albrechtsburg (Saxony, 15th C.)<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":59940,"id":59940,"title":"2sam5-david and bathsheba","filename":"2sam5-david-and-bathsheba.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam5-david-and-bathsheba.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/how-long-was-david-king\/2sam5-david-and-bathsheba\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"2sam5-david-and-bathsheba","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":59939,"date":"2019-07-22 15:34:23","modified":"2019-07-22 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