{"id":60983,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-285\/"},"modified":"2023-03-09T17:20:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T15:20:23","slug":"wall-285","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-285\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-II Samuel-22"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"285","date":"20261001","book":"II Samuel","chapter":"22","chapter_main_number":"285","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"60459","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - II Samuel Chapter 22 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - II Samuel Chapter 22","slug":"jps-audio-bible-ii-samuel-chapter-22","old_id":"60459","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"285","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"II Samuel 22","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_II_Samuel_Chapter_22","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Samuel","chapter":"22","chapter_main_number":"285","date":"20261001","wall_id":"285"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"113312","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Saddle Up The Cherub! ","post_title":"Saddle Up The Cherub!","slug":"saddle-up-the-cherub","old_id":"113312","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"285","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But don\u2019t think baby-faced angel. Rather: terrifying celestial winged animals","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter, II Samuel 22, a magnificent poem, is preserved in two very similar versions, here and in<\/span> Psalms 18<\/span><\/a>. There the poem begins with a similar superscription:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the leader. Of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord after the Lord had saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the clutches of Saul\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first part of this Davidic psalm praises God, as revealed in the storm. Among the remarkable images of God, we find<\/span> \u201c<\/span>He mounted a cherub and flew. He was seen on the wings of the wind<\/span><\/a>\u201d (II Samuel 22:11,<\/span> Psalms 18:11<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The biblical \u201ccherub\u201d has only a little to do with the popular depiction of the \u201ccherubim\u201d as chubby, baby-faced angels. Rather, the Biblical \u201ccherubim\u201d are terrifying, celestial winged beings, mentioned 90 times in the Hebrew Bible. Their antecedent seems to be the mythical beast, known in Assyrian as<\/span> Lamassu<\/span><\/a>, a composite of ox, lion, eagle and human. It is however possible that the baby-faced depiction of the \u201ccherub\u201d is already reflected in the<\/span> Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 5b<\/span><\/a>, which asks: \u201cWhat is the form of the face of a \u201ccherub\u201d [<\/span>keruv<\/span><\/i>]? Rabbi Abbahu said: Like that of a child [<\/span>ke-ravya<\/span><\/i>], as in Babylonia one calls a child <\/span>ravya<\/span><\/i>\u201d. Rashi, on this passage, agrees that the <\/span>cherubim<\/span><\/i> have child-like faces.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The early Tannaitic Midrash,<\/span> Mekhilta de-Rabbi Yishmael<\/span><\/a> on<\/span> Exodus 15:3<\/span><\/a>, depicts God as riding on a \u201ccherub\u201d at the crossing of the Red Sea. This depiction is beautifully elaborated in<\/span> Tanhuma<\/span><\/a> on<\/span> Deuteronomy 20:1<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots\u2014forces larger than yours\u2014have no fear of them, for your God, the Lord, who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Everything that Pharaoh was doing, the Holy One, blessed be He would also do. Pharaoh came out like a warrior; and the Holy One, blessed be He, came out like a warrior, as Scripture says: \"The Lord goes forth like a warrior, like a man of war\u201d (<\/span>Isaiah 42:13<\/span><\/a>). Pharaoh rode a horse; and God rode a \u201ccherub\u201d, as it says: \"He rode on a \u2018cherub\u2019 and flew\" (<\/span>II Samuel 22:11<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Psalms 18:11<\/span><\/a>). <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that Pharaoh did not want to enter the sea, He rode upon a light cloud, which He transformed into a mare. And He stood in front of the horses of Pharaoh\u2019s troops who ran after the mare. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, descended into the sea with Pharaoh\u2019s horses chasing after the mare. God\u2019s ministering angels told Him that the fastest creature is the \u201ccherub\u201d, for it comes from the<\/span> Merkavah<\/span><\/a> <\/em>, the Chariot of God. So, the Holy One, blessed be He, riding upon the \u201ccherub\u201d, defeated the horse of Pharaoh and all of his troops, as it says: \"For the horse of Pharaoh, with his chariots and horsemen, went into the sea\" (<\/span>Exodus 15:19<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75449,"alt":"","title":"ez41-cherubim etc","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","width":1280,"height":328,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-300x77.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":77,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-768x197.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":197,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-1024x262.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":262,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":328,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":328,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-1200x308.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":308,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","home_baner-width":1280,"home_baner-height":328}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Saddle Up The Cherub!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But don\u2019t think baby-faced angel. Rather: terrifying celestial winged animals","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75449,"alt":"","title":"ez41-cherubim etc","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","width":1280,"height":328,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-300x77.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":77,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-768x197.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":197,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-1024x262.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":262,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":328,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":328,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc-1200x308.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":308,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-cherubim-etc.jpg","home_baner-width":1280,"home_baner-height":328}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Samuel","chapter":"22","chapter_main_number":"285","date":"20261001","wall_id":"285"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"669","name":"Cherub","old_id":"1069"},{"term_id":"909","name":"Psalms","old_id":"1309"}]},{"order":3,"id":"113315","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"A Psalm Very Much Of David ","post_title":"A Psalm Very Much Of David","slug":"a-psalm-very-much-of-david","old_id":"113315","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"285","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Different versions of the same text emphasize personal vs. historical framings\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 22 and chapter 18 of Psalms are almost identical chapters. David wrote most of the psalms included in the book of Psalms, but obviously most do not appear in the books of Samuel or Chronicles. Chapter 22 (paralleling Psalms 18) is an exception. The introductions to each of the chapters demonstrate the difference between the two books.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

David addressed the words of this song to the LORD, after the LORD had saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hands of Saul (II Samuel 22:1)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the leader. Of David, the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD after the LORD had saved him from the hands of all his enemies and from the clutches of Saul\u201d (Psalms 18:1)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The verse from our chapter places David as the active person. David spoke these words to God after he was saved from all of his enemies including Saul.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The verse in Psalms begins with the musical instruction: \u201cfor the leader.\u201d This lets the reader know the chapter is for the leader of the choir to lead. The next part matches the thematic context of the chapter. In II Samuel, it simply sets the context. Because the chapter appears here, some commentators explain that \u201cSaul\u201d in \u201csaved him from the hands of all of his enemies and Saul\u201d is really a general catch all for all those within Israel who tried to harm David.\u00a0 At this point in David's life, Saul is long gone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If one reads the verse in chapter 18 of Psalms alone, one would assume that this psalm was written by David much earlier on in his life, around the time that God first saved him from Saul. When one opens the books of Psalms and looks for a psalm that best matches the message they are trying to convey, this introductory verse is important. If the reader wants to thank God after they had an enemy vanquished (or perhaps as a prayer to help vanquish enemies), then this introduction would point to this chapter as the most relevant. The context in Psalms, therefore, is not to place it in chronological sequence, but to signal to the reader when this psalm would be relevant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79913,"alt":"","title":"ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","width":800,"height":999,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-768x959.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":959,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":999,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":999,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":999,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":999,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Psalm Very Much Of David","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Different versions of the same text emphasize personal vs. historical framings","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79913,"alt":"","title":"ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","width":800,"height":999,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-768x959.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":959,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":999,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":999,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":999,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":999,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps1-van_Honthorst_-_King_David_Playing_the_Harp-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Samuel","chapter":"22","chapter_main_number":"285","date":"20261001","wall_id":"285"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"431","name":"Personal\/memoir","old_id":"831"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"909","name":"Psalms","old_id":"1309"}]},{"order":4,"id":"61082","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Art Obscures Truth? ","post_title":"Art Obscures Truth?","slug":"art-obscures-truth","old_id":"61082","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":60052,"post_title":"Alon Meltzer","slug":"alon-meltzer","old_id":"60052","first_name":"Alon ","last_name":"Meltzer ","description":"Rabbi Alon Meltzer is the Rabbi of Or Chadash and Director of Programs at Shalom in hte Sydney, Australia Jewish Community. Alon holds ordination from Yeshiva University\u2019s RIETS, a Masters in Medieval Jewish History from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and a Masters in Sociology from the University of Auckland. ","short_description":"Rabbi Alon Meltzer is the Rabbi of Or Chadash and Director of Programs at Shalom in hte Sydney, Australia Jewish Community. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":60053,"alt":"","title":"alon meltzer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer.jpg","width":1383,"height":1583,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-262x300.jpg","medium-width":262,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-768x879.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":879,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-895x1024.jpg","large-width":895,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer.jpg","1536x1536-width":1342,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer.jpg","2048x2048-width":1383,"2048x2048-height":1583,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-1048x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1048,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/alon-meltzer-367x420.jpg","home_baner-width":367,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"285","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"If we only focus on the negative, we run the risk of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, whereas focusing on the positive can help us make dreams a reality.","post_main_content_content":"

While the book of Samuel II delves into the depths of King David\u2019s life; the good the bad and the ugly, the thing that he is still most well known for, is his incredible ability to engage in emotion filled song and poetry.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet Amos states \"Who improvise the sound of the stringed instrument; who, like David, invented for them instruments for singing\u201d (6:5), In Proverbs, his son Solomon writes of when David earned the right to play the harp for King Saul.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is therefore telling that one of David\u2019s final monologues is his thanksgiving song in chapter 22. It is an eloquent display of affection towards God, but also seems to whitewash the trials and tribulations David experienced. Both those that happened against him, and those he brought on himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Art often obscures the truth. Not in a malicious way, whereby the deliberate restriction of knowledge controls the masses. No, art often obscures the truth, because sometimes when we paint a picture, we purposefully want to highlight the best parts because when we focus on the best parts, we can make the dream a reality. King David chooses to compose a song that highlights the very best of his life; the true power of God, his relationship with God, and his desire to see the people of Israel glorified amongst the nations. He is handing over a desired legacy to his son Solomon in the hope that this will indeed become the reality.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In a world of terrible atrocities; of pain, suffering, poverty and death, we could spend time to focus on all the negative, and of course we should focus on bad things. But if we only focus on the negative, we run the risk of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whereas if we appreciate the very good things that we have, we have the power to take the positivity and transform it from dream to reality.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61083,"alt":"","title":"2sam22-man 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Obscures Truth?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"If we only focus on the negative, we run the risk of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, whereas focusing on the positive can help us make dreams a reality","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61083,"alt":"","title":"2sam22-man 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Samuel","chapter":"22","chapter_main_number":"285","date":"20261001","wall_id":"285"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"439","name":"Dreams","old_id":"839"},{"term_id":"463","name":"Truth","old_id":"863"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"690","name":"Art","old_id":"1090"}]},{"order":5,"id":"61074","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"David\u2019s Valedictory: A Poetic Analysis ","post_title":"David\u2019s Valedictory: A Poetic Analysis","slug":"davids-valedictory-a-poetic-analysis","old_id":"61074","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"285","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Key, rich Hebrew terms deepen our understanding of the stark imagery employed","post_main_content_content":"

Here, we have, in classic biblical poetic form, David\u2019s own retrospective on his forty-year reign, composed, as the opening verse indicates, \u201con the day that God had delivered him from the hands of Saul and all his [other] enemies.\u201d From a textual perspective, we should note that the poem repeats itself, essentially, in the form of Psalm 18. Indeed, well-known to many is the appearance of the final verse\u2014#51 in both texts\u2014in the Grace after Meals, wherein the alternation between two versions of M-G-D-L (<\/span>magdil<\/span>\/<\/span>migdol<\/span><\/em>) is assigned to weekdays versus Sabbaths and festivals.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In previous texts (specifically Exodus 14-15, Judges 4-5), we have seen narrative accounts alongside poems and acknowledged that comparisons between the two would be productive. In the present case, however, a comparison would be constrained by the sheer size of the narrative that would have to be contrasted: the entire book we call 2 Samuel and a goodly portion of its predecessor, too, all of which fits the aforementioned qualification of deliverance from both Saul and other enemies. That said, we can still focus on particular aspects of it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I would like to look at verses 5-6, following the old (1916) Jewish Publication Society translation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the waves of Death compassed me. The floods of Belial assailed me.
\r\n<\/span>The cords of Sheol surrounded me. The snares of Death confronted me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In condensed paraphrase, David was saying: \u201cI was in mortal danger,\u201d comparing the threats to his life, first, to being engulfed by water and, second, to being ensnared in a trap. Reading it somewhat more closely, however, makes several finer distinctions possible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n