Haftarah of Chayei Sarah

Melachim I 1 1:-31

The story in this Haftarah takes place near the end of of the reign of King David. He is old and ill, and his son Adoniah acts as if he will succeed to the throne, despite David's preference for Shlomo. This is the very first time in the history of the Jewish People that political leadership is passed from father to son. Will the first dynasty of Israel be founded on political machinations, or will King David's legacy of justice and righteousness prevail?

King David is suffering from the effects of old age; in particular, an inability to stay warm. To solve his problem, his servants find him a young girl to keep him warm and take care of him. As befits a king, this girl is beautiful, but at this point in his life, even David is unmoved by that fact. If he needs a full-time caregiver, he is no longer actively running the kingdom. The matter of succession becomes urgent.

1) King David was old, getting on in years. They covered him in garments, but he wasn't warmed.	(א) וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים וַיְכַסֻּהוּ בַּבְּגָדִים וְלֹא יִחַם לוֹ:
2) His servants said to him, “Let them find for my lord king, a virgin girl, who will stand before the king. She will be for him a source of heat, and lie in your arms, so that my lord king will be warm.”	(ב) וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ עֲבָדָיו יְבַקְשׁוּ לַאדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה וְעָמְדָה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּתְהִי לוֹ סֹכֶנֶת וְשָׁכְבָה בְחֵיקֶךָ וְחַם לַאדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ:
3) They looked for a beautiful girl throughout the borders of Israel. They found Avishag the Shunamit, and brought her to the king.	(ג) וַיְבַקְשׁוּ נַעֲרָה יָפָה בְּכֹל גְּבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּמְצְאוּ אֶת אֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית וַיָּבִאוּ אֹתָהּ לַמֶּלֶךְ:
4) The girl was extremely beautiful. She became a source of heat for the king and served him. But the king did not “know” her.	(ד) וְהַנַּעֲרָה יָפָה עַד מְאֹד וַתְּהִי לַמֶּלֶךְ סֹכֶנֶת וַתְּשָׁרְתֵהוּ וְהַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא יְדָעָהּ:

David's eldest surviving son, Adoniah, presumes that he is the successor to the throne. Even though his father is still alive, he begins to take on the outward signs of monarchy. The Haftarah itself find it necessary to explain his chutzpah, and lists the factors that gave him his sense of entitlement: his father's permissiveness, his outward beauty and his relationship with his older brother, Avshalom, who died in a rebellion against his father.

5) Adoniah son of Hagit promoted himself saying “I will rule.” He got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men running before him.	(ה) וַאֲדֹנִיָּה בֶן חַגִּית מִתְנַשֵּׂא לֵאמֹר אֲנִי אֶמְלֹךְ וַיַּעַשׂ לוֹ רֶכֶב וּפָרָשִׁים וַחֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ רָצִים לְפָנָיו:
6) His father had never in his life upset him saying, “Why did you do this?” Also, he was incredibly handsome, and he was born after Avshalom.	(ו) וְלֹא עֲצָבוֹ אָבִיו מִיָּמָיו לֵאמֹר מַדּוּעַ כָּכָה עָשִׂיתָ וְגַם הוּא טוֹב תֹּאַר מְאֹד וְאֹתוֹ יָלְדָה אַחֲרֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם:

Adoniah makes a pre-inaugural feast on the outskirts of Jerusalem; he invites potential and actual supporters among King David's court, including heads of the military and religious establishment. Those who are suspected of siding with Shlomo are conspicuously excluded.

7) He made deals with Yoav ben Tzruya and with Evyatar the Cohen; they supported Adoniah.	(ז) וַיִּהְיוּ דְבָרָיו עִם יוֹאָב בֶּן צְרוּיָה וְעִם אֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וַיַּעְזְרוּ אַחֲרֵי אֲדֹנִיָּה:
8) But Tzadok the Cohen, Benayahu ben Yehoyada, and Natan the Prophet, Shimi and Rei, and David’s warriors were not with Adoniahu.	(ח) וְצָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וּבְנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא וְשִׁמְעִי וְרֵעִי וְהַגִּבּוֹרִים אֲשֶׁר לְדָוִד לֹא הָיוּ עִם אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ:
9) Adoniahu roasted sheep and cattle and veal at Even HaZochelet which is near Ein Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the princes, and all the men of Yehuda, the king’s servants.	(ט) וַיִּזְבַּח אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ צֹאן וּבָקָר וּמְרִיא עִם אֶבֶן הַזֹּחֶלֶת אֲשֶׁר אֵצֶל עֵין רֹגֵל וַיִּקְרָא אֶת כָּל אֶחָיו בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְכָל אַנְשֵׁי יְהוּדָה עַבְדֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ:
10) But Natan the Prophet, and Benayahu, and the warriors and his brother Shlomo he did not invite.	(י) וְאֶת נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וּבְנָיָהוּ וְאֶת הַגִּבּוֹרִים וְאֶת שְׁלֹמֹה אָחִיו לֹא קָרָא:

Natan, David's court prophet, and Bat-sheva, Shlomo's mother, understand that if David does nothing, and Adoniah becomes the next king, Shlomo will be eliminated. They make a plan to persuade the king to crown Shlomo as he had intended, before Adoniah goes too far.

11) Natan spoke to Bat-sheva, Shlomo’s mother, saying: “As you've heard, Adoniahu son of Hagit was crowned; and our lord David did not know.	(יא) וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֶל בַת שֶׁבַע אֵם שְׁלֹמֹה לֵאמֹר הֲלוֹא שָׁמַעַתְ כִּי מָלַךְ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ בֶן חַגִּית וַאֲדֹנֵינוּ דָוִד לֹא יָדָע:
12) Now, let me please give you some advice, and you can save your life, and the life of your son Shlomo.	(יב) וְעַתָּה לְכִי אִיעָצֵךְ נָא עֵצָה וּמַלְּטִי אֶת נַפְשֵׁךְ וְאֶת נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֵךְ שְׁלֹמֹה:
13) Go and gain entrance to King David, and say to him: “Haven’t you, my lord king, sworn to your maid-servant saying ‘Your son Shlomo will rule after me, he will sit on my throne?’ Why was Adoniahu crowned?”	(יג) לְכִי וּבֹאִי אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וְאָמַרְתְּ אֵלָיו הֲלֹא אַתָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲמָתְךָ לֵאמֹר כִּי שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרַי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי וּמַדּוּעַ מָלַךְ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ:
14) While you’re still speaking there with the king, I will come in after you, and I will confirm your words."	(יד) הִנֵּה עוֹדָךְ מְדַבֶּרֶת שָׁם עִם הַמֶּלֶךְ וַאֲנִי אָבוֹא אַחֲרַיִךְ וּמִלֵּאתִי אֶת דְּבָרָיִךְ:

Bat-sheva carries out the plan. She gains entry to the king's quarters, tells him what Adoniah has done, and the repercussions to her, to Shlomo, and to Israel.

15) Bat-sheva entered the king’s room; and the king was very old; Avishag the Shunamit was serving the king.	(טו) וַתָּבֹא בַת שֶׁבַע אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ הַחַדְרָה וְהַמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן מְאֹד וַאֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית מְשָׁרַת אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ:
16) Bat-sheva curtsied and bowed to the king. The king said, “What do you want?”	(טז) וַתִּקֹּד בַּת שֶׁבַע וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ מַה לָּךְ:
17) She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Hashem your G-d to your servant ‘Your son Shlomo will rule after me, and he will sit on my throne.’	(יז) וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ אֲדֹנִי אַתָּה נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ בַּה’ אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ לַאֲמָתֶךָ כִּי שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרָי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי:
18) But now, Adoniahu was crowned, and now, my lord king must not have known this.	(יח) וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה אֲדֹנִיָּה מָלָךְ וְעַתָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא יָדָעְתָּ:
19) He roasted bulls and veal and many sheep, he invited all the princes, and Evyatar the Cohen, and Yoav the general; but your servant Shlomo he did not invite.	(יט) וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר וּמְרִיא וְצֹאן לָרֹב וַיִּקְרָא לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וּלְיֹאָב שַׂר הַצָּבָא וְלִשְׁלֹמֹה עַבְדְּךָ לֹא קָרָא:
20) And you, my lord king, the eyes of all of Israel are upon you, to tell them, who will sit on my lord king’s throne after him.	(כ) וְאַתָּה אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ עֵינֵי כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלֶיךָ לְהַגִּיד לָהֶם מִי יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַחֲרָיו:
21) Or else, when my lord king passes away, I and my son Shlomo will be ruined."	(כא) וְהָיָה כִּשְׁכַב אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ עִם אֲבֹתָיו וְהָיִיתִי אֲנִי וּבְנִי שְׁלֹמֹה חַטָּאִים:

Natan then carries out his part of the plan, gaining an audience while Bat-sheva was still present and the king receiving visitors. He tells King David the same story, with a different political slant, diplomatically suggesting that it is he, Natan, who is out of the loop, rather than the king.

22) Then, while she was still speaking with the king, Natan the Prophet came.	(כב) וְהִנֵּה עוֹדֶנָּה מְדַבֶּרֶת עִם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא בָּא:
23) They announced to the king, saying “Here is Natan the Prophet”. He came before the king, He bowed deeply to the king.	(כג) וַיַּגִּידוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וַיָּבֹא לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ עַל אַפָּיו אָרְצָה:
24) Natan said, “My lord king! Did you say, ‘Adoniahu will rule after me, and he will sit on my throne?’	(כד) וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרָי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי:
25) For he went down today, and roasted bulls, and veal, and many sheep. He invited all the princes, and the generals, and Evyatar the Cohen. There they are eating and drinking before him, saying ‘Long live King Adoniahu!’	(כה) כִּי יָרַד הַיּוֹם וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר וּמְרִיא וְצֹאן לָרֹב וַיִּקְרָא לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְשָׂרֵי הַצָּבָא וּלְאֶבְיָתָר הַכֹּהֵן וְהִנָּם אֹכְלִים וְשֹׁתִים לְפָנָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲדֹנִיָּהוּ:
26) But I, your servant, and Tzadok the Cohen, Benayahu ben Yehoyada, and your servant Shlomo, were not invited.	(כו) וְלִי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ וּלְצָדֹק הַכֹּהֵן וְלִבְנָיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹיָדָע וְלִשְׁלֹמֹה עַבְדְּךָ לֹא קָרָא:
27) Is it from my lord king that all this is coming, and you didn’t tell your servant who will sit on my lord king’s throne after him?	(כז) אִם מֵאֵת אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ נִהְיָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְלֹא הוֹדַעְתָּ אֶת עַבְדְּךָ מִי יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ אַחֲרָיו: ס

King David grasps the seriousness of the situation. Sounding like his vigorous self again, he swears to have Shlomo crowned without delay. Bat-sheva's response is one that has echoed throughout the generations: "David, King of Israel, lives forever!"

28) King David answered, and he said: “Call Bat-sheva to me.” She came before the king, and she stood before the king.	(כח) וַיַּעַן הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיֹּאמֶר קִרְאוּ לִי לְבַת שָׁבַע וַתָּבֹא לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַתַּעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ:
29) The king made an oath; he said: “I swear by Hashem who saved my life from all evil -	(כט) וַיִּשָּׁבַע הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמַר חַי ה’ אֲשֶׁר פָּדָה אֶת נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל צָרָה:
30) That just as I swore to you by Hashem the G-d of Israel saying, ‘Your son Shlomo will rule after me, and he will sit on my throne instead of me,’ so I shall do this very day.”	(ל) כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָךְ בַּה’ אֱ-לֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר כִּי שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרַי וְהוּא יֵשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאִי תַּחְתָּי כִּי כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה:
31) Bat-sheva curtsied deeply, and bowed before the king. She said, “Long live my lord King David, forever!”	(לא) וַתִּקֹּד בַּת שֶׁבַע אַפַּיִם אֶרֶץ וַתִּשְׁתַּחוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ וַתֹּאמֶר יְחִי אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד לְעֹלָם: פ

"Haftarot Unrolled" Copyright © Kira Sirote

In memory of my father, Peter Rozenberg, z"l

לעילוי נשמת אבי מורי פנחס בן נתן נטע ז''ל