Haftarah of Shmini

Shmuel II 6:1-7:17

Decades before the events described in this Haftarah, the Ark that contained the tablets of the Covenant at Sinai was captured in a battle with the Plishtim. They attempted to display it as a trophy, but it brought plague and destruction to all the towns that agreed to accept it. The Plishtim got rid of it by placing it on a cart and letting the oxen go where they would. The first Jewish town that took it in also experienced a plague, until finally it was placed in the care of Avinadav from Kiryat Yearim, known also as Ba'alah, where it brought blessing to the household.

Now, David is king in Jerusalem, and he believes that the Ark should be there, in the capital city of Israel. He arranges for the Ark to be brought to Ir David, Jerusalem, with a festive march celebrating its journey. The descendants of Avinadav, in whose care the Ark has been all this time, place it upon a cart and walk near it.

1) David again gathered all the chosen men in Israel, thirty thousand.	(א) וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד דָּוִד אֶת כָּל בָּחוּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁלֹשִׁים אָלֶף:
2) He arose and went, David and all the people with him, from Baalei in Yehudah, to bring up from there the Ark of G-d which was called by the name, "Name of Hashem Tzva-ot Dwelling upon the Cherubim."	(ב) וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ מִבַּעֲלֵי יְהוּדָה לְהַעֲלוֹת מִשָּׁם אֵת אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שֵׁם שֵׁם ה' צְבָאוֹת יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים עָלָיו:
3) They placed the Ark of G-d upon a new cart; they pulled it from the house of Avinadav on the hill; and Uzah and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav were driving the new cart.	(ג) וַיַּרְכִּבוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים אֶל עֲגָלָה חֲדָשָׁה וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ מִבֵּית אֲבִינָדָב אֲשֶׁר בַּגִּבְעָה וְעֻזָּא וְאַחְיוֹ בְּנֵי אֲבִינָדָב נֹהֲגִים אֶת הָעֲגָלָה חֲדָשָׁה:
4) They pulled it from the house of Avinadav on the hill with the Ark of G-d, while Achyo walked before the Ark.	(ד) וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ מִבֵּית אֲבִינָדָב אֲשֶׁר בַּגִּבְעָה עִם אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים וְאַחְיוֹ הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן:
5) And David and all the house of Israel were dancing before Hashem, with musical instruments made of cyprus, harps and lyres and drums and tambourines and cymbals.	(ה) וְדָוִד וְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשַׂחֲקִים לִפְנֵי ה' בְּכֹל עֲצֵי בְרוֹשִׁים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת וּבִנְבָלִים וּבְתֻפִּים וּבִמְנַעַנְעִים וּבְצֶלְצֶלִים:

At a certain point in the journey, the oxen slipped, and the Ark looked like it might fall. Uzah, one of Avinadav's sons, attempted to grab the Ark to keep it from falling. As we all know, you cannot just manhandle the Ark of the Covenant, and he dropped dead right there.

6) They came to Goren Nachon; Uzah reached for the Ark of G-d and grabbed it, because the oxen had slipped.	(ו) וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד גֹּרֶן נָכוֹן וַיִּשְׁלַח עֻזָּא אֶל אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים וַיֹּאחֶז בּוֹ כִּי שָׁמְטוּ הַבָּקָר:
7) Hashem's anger was kindled at Uzah, G-d smote him due to the error. He died there, with the Ark of G-d.	(ז) וַיִּחַר אַף ה' בְּעֻזָּה וַיַּכֵּהוּ שָׁם הָאֱ-לֹהִים עַל הַשַּׁל וַיָּמָת שָׁם עִם אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים:

Not only did this ruin the entire celebration, but it made David question his decision of bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. Perhaps it would cause a plague as it had in the past? He sent it to the household of a nearby family of Leviim as a temporary measure. When he heard that the Ark was not in fact a danger, but rather a source of blessing, he was reassured that he could safely bring it to Jerusalem, and arranged a new festive occasion to do so.

8) David was very upset about Hashem's lashing out against Uzah; he named that place "Peretz Uzah", to this day.	(ח) וַיִּחַר לְדָוִד עַל אֲשֶׁר פָּרַץ ה' פֶּרֶץ בְּעֻזָּה וַיִּקְרָא לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא פֶּרֶץ עֻזָּה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה:
9) David feared Hashem on that day; he said, "How can the Ark of Hashem come to me?"	(ט) וַיִּרָא דָוִד אֶת ה' בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵיךְ יָבוֹא אֵלַי אֲרוֹן ה':
10) And David did not wish to move the Ark of Hashem to him to the City of David. David diverted it to the house of Oved-Edom of Gat.	(י) וְלֹא אָבָה דָוִד לְהָסִיר אֵלָיו אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' עַל עִיר דָּוִד וַיַּטֵּהוּ דָוִד בֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם הַגִּתִּי:
11) The Ark of Hashem stayed at the house of Oved-Edom of Gat for three months. Hashem blessed Oved-Edom and his entire household.	(יא) וַיֵּשֶׁב אֲרוֹן ה' בֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם הַגִּתִּי שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אֶת עֹבֵד אֱדֹם וְאֶת כָּל בֵּיתוֹ:
12) King David was told, saying, "Hashem has blessed the house of Oved-Edom and all that is his, due to the Ark of G-d." David went; he brought up the Ark of G-d from the house of Oved-Edom to the City of David, with joy.	(יב) וַיֻּגַּד לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד לֵאמֹר בֵּרַךְ ה' אֶת בֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ בַּעֲבוּר אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיַּעַל אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים מִבֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם עִיר דָּוִד בְּשִׂמְחָה:

This time, the Ark was born by hand, and the festivities proceeded without a hitch, with music and dancing, and free food.

13) It was, as the bearers of the Ark of Hashem would march six steps, they would sacrifice an ox and a fat sheep.	(יג) וַיְהִי כִּי צָעֲדוּ נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן ה' שִׁשָּׁה צְעָדִים וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר וּמְרִיא:
14) And David was prancing with all his might before Hashem; David was belted with a linen garment.	(יד) וְדָוִד מְכַרְכֵּר בְּכָל עֹז לִפְנֵי ה' וְדָוִד חָגוּר אֵפוֹד בָּד:
15) David and the entire House of Israel were bringing up the Ark of Hashem, with trumpeting and the sound of the Shofar.	(טו) וְדָוִד וְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלִים אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' בִּתְרוּעָה וּבְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר:
16) While the Ark of Hashem was coming to the City of David, Michal, Shaul's daughter, was watching from the window. She saw King David hopping and prancing before Hashem, and she despised him in her heart.	(טז) וְהָיָה אֲרוֹן ה' בָּא עִיר דָּוִד וּמִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל נִשְׁקְפָה בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן וַתֵּרֶא אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד מְפַזֵּז וּמְכַרְכֵּר לִפְנֵי ה' וַתִּבֶז לוֹ בְּלִבָּהּ:
17) They brought the Ark of Hashem, and displayed it in its place, in the tent which David had pitched for it. David brought sacrifices before Hashem, and offerings.	(יז) וַיָּבִאוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' וַיַּצִּגוּ אֹתוֹ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל אֲשֶׁר נָטָה לוֹ דָּוִד וַיַּעַל דָּוִד עֹלוֹת לִפְנֵי ה' וּשְׁלָמִים:
18) David completed bringing the sacrifices and the offerings. He blessed the people in the name of Hashem Tzva-ot.	(יח) וַיְכַל דָּוִד מֵהַעֲלוֹת הָעוֹלָה וְהַשְּׁלָמִים וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת הָעָם בְּשֵׁם ה' צְבָא-וֹת:
19) He distributed to all the people, to all the multitudes of Israel, men and women, one bread roll each, one pan-cake, and one sweet cake. All the people went home.	(יט) וַיְחַלֵּק לְכָל הָעָם לְכָל הֲמוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמֵאִישׁ וְעַד אִשָּׁה לְאִישׁ חַלַּת לֶחֶם אַחַת וְאֶשְׁפָּר אֶחָד וַאֲשִׁישָׁה אֶחָת וַיֵּלֶךְ כָּל הָעָם אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ:

The queen Michal, who, as the daughter of King Shaul, was the first princess of the Jewish People, had seen David dancing in public. When he came home, she greeted him with sarcastic comments about how his behavior was unbecoming to a king. David responded by pointing out that Shaul might have behaved in a kingly manner, but it was he, David, whom G-d had chosen to be king, and he does not need to put on airs when he serves G-d.

Michal and David never had children; this was truly unfortunate, as it would have united forever the lines of Rachel (through Binyamin) and Leah (through Yehudah), and prevented the eventual split between the kingdoms.

20) David returned to bless his household. Michal, Shaul's daughter, came out toward David. She said, "How dignified is the king of Israel today, in displaying himself to the maids of his servants, like a worthless person would display himself."	(כ) וַיָּשָׁב דָּוִד לְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּיתוֹ וַתֵּצֵא מִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל לִקְרַאת דָּוִד וַתֹּאמֶר מַה נִּכְבַּד הַיּוֹם מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה הַיּוֹם לְעֵינֵי אַמְהוֹת עֲבָדָיו כְּהִגָּלוֹת נִגְלוֹת אַחַד הָרֵקִים:
21) David said to Michal, "It was before Hashem, Who chose me over your father and his entire house, to appoint me the leader of the people of Hashem, of Israel, and I danced before Hashem.	(כא) וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל מִיכַל לִפְנֵי ה' אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בִּי מֵאָבִיךְ וּמִכָּל בֵּיתוֹ לְצַוֹּת אֹתִי נָגִיד עַל עַם ה' עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשִׂחַקְתִּי לִפְנֵי ה':
22) And I would abase myself further, and be lowly in my eyes, and those maids about whom you spoke, with them, I will find honor."	(כב) וּנְקַלֹּתִי עוֹד מִזֹּאת וְהָיִיתִי שָׁפָל בְּעֵינָי וְעִם הָאֲמָהוֹת אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתְּ עִמָּם אִכָּבֵדָה:
23) And Michal the daughter of Shaul did not have a child until the day she died.	(כג) וּלְמִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל לֹא הָיָה לָהּ יָלֶד עַד יוֹם מוֹתָהּ: פ

The Haftarah continues into the next chapter. Now that the Ark is in Jerusalem, David feels bad that he lives in a palace but the Ark is kept in a simple tent. When he mentions this to the prophet Natan, Natan thinks that it would be a great idea to build a house for the Ark.

7:1) It was when the king was dwelling in his house, and Hashem had given him rest from all his enemies all around.	(א) וַיְהִי כִּי יָשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ וַה' הֵנִיחַ לוֹ מִסָּבִיב מִכָּל אֹיְבָיו:
2) The king said to Natan the Prophet, "See, I dwell in a house of cedar, and the Ark of G-d dwells inside a tent curtain."	(ב) וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל נָתָן הַנָּבִיא רְאֵה נָא אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית אֲרָזִים וַאֲרוֹן הָאֱ-לֹהִים יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ הַיְרִיעָה:
3) Natan said to the king, "Whatever is in your heart, go do, For Hashem is with you."	(ג) וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בִּלְבָבְךָ לֵךְ עֲשֵׂה כִּי ה' עִמָּךְ: ס

That very night, Natan receives a prophecy. Apparently, G-d does not share their enthusiasm for the project. G-d says, "If I had wanted a house, I would have asked for one."

4) It was that night, there was the word of Hashem to Natan, saying:	(ד) וַיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא וַיְהִי דְּבַר ה' אֶל נָתָן לֵאמֹר:
5) Go and say to My servant, to David, so says Hashem: Are you going to build Me a house to live in?	(ה) לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ אֶל עַבְדִּי אֶל דָּוִד כֹּה אָמַר ה' הַאַתָּה תִּבְנֶה לִּי בַיִת לְשִׁבְתִּי:
6) For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought the children of Israel from Egypt until this day, and I have been walking about in a tent or a tabernacle.	(ו) כִּי לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי בְּבַיִת לְמִיּוֹם הַעֲלֹתִי אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וָאֶהְיֶה מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּאֹהֶל וּבְמִשְׁכָּן:
7) In all that I have walked among all of the children of Israel, have I ever said to one of the tribes of Israel, which I had appointed to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why haven't you built Me a house of cedar?"	(ז) בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בְּכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲדָבָר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֶת אַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי לִרְעוֹת אֶת עַמִּי אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר לָמָּה לֹא בְנִיתֶם לִי בֵּית אֲרָזִים:

But, says G-d, let's talk about who's building whom a house. I took you from the back of nowhere, and I have turned you into a king and given the Jewish People peace. I will make you a "house" - the House of David, a dynasty. And when your son, the first descendant of that dynasty, wants to build me a "house", we'll talk then.

8) Now, this is what you should say to My servant, to David: Thus said Hashem Tzva-ot: I took you from the pasture, from behind the sheep, to be a leader to My people, to Israel.	(ח) וְעַתָּה כֹּה תֹאמַר לְעַבְדִּי לְדָוִד כֹּה אָמַר ה' צְבָ-אוֹת אֲנִי לְקַחְתִּיךָ מִן הַנָּוֶה מֵאַחַר הַצֹּאן לִהְיוֹת נָגִיד עַל עַמִּי עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל:
9) And I was with you in all that you have walked, and I cut down all your enemies before you, and I made for you a great name, like the greatest in the world.	(ט) וָאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ וָאַכְרִתָה אֶת כָּל אֹיְבֶיךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ וְעָשִׂתִי לְךָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל כְּשֵׁם הַגְּדֹלִים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ:
10) And I have made a place for My people, for Israel, and I planted them there, and they dwell there, and will not be distressed again, and the villains will no longer terrorize them as they had in the past.	(י) וְשַׂמְתִּי מָקוֹם לְעַמִּי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּנְטַעְתִּיו וְשָׁכַן תַּחְתָּיו וְלֹא יִרְגַּז עוֹד וְלֹא יֹסִיפוּ בְנֵי עַוְלָה לְעַנּוֹתוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה:
11) As from the day on which I appointed judges over My people Israel. To you, I have given relief from all your enemies. Hashem told you that Hashem will make you a house.	(יא) וּלְמִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי שֹׁפְטִים עַל עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲנִיחֹתִי לְךָ מִכָּל אֹיְבֶיךָ וְהִגִּיד לְךָ ה' כִּי בַיִת יַעֲשֶׂה לְּךָ ה':
12) When your days are complete and you will sleep with your ancestors, I will establish a descendant after you that will come from your own body, and I will confirm his reign.	(יב) כִּי יִמְלְאוּ יָמֶיךָ וְשָׁכַבְתָּ אֶת אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ וַהֲכִינֹתִי אֶת מַמְלַכְתּוֹ:
13) He will build a house to My name, and I will make firm the throne of his kingdom forever.	(יג) הוּא יִבְנֶה בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי וְכֹנַנְתִּי אֶת כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ עַד עוֹלָם:
14) I will be to him as a father, and he will be to me a son, so that when he does wrong, I will rebuke him with the staff of men and the punishments of human beings.	(יד) אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לּוֹ לְאָב וְהוּא יִהְיֶה לִּי לְבֵן אֲשֶׁר בְּהַעֲוֹתוֹ וְהֹכַחְתִּיו בְּשֵׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים וּבְנִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם:
15) My commitment will not be removed from him as it was removed from Shaul whom I removed from before you.	(טו) וְחַסְדִּי לֹא יָסוּר מִמֶּנּוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הֲסִרֹתִי מֵעִם שָׁאוּל אֲשֶׁר הֲסִרֹתִי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ:
16) You house and your kingdom will be true forever before you, your throne will be firm forever."	(טז) וְנֶאְמַן בֵּיתְךָ וּמַמְלַכְתְּךָ עַד עוֹלָם לְפָנֶיךָ כִּסְאֲךָ יִהְיֶה נָכוֹן עַד עוֹלָם:
17) According to these words and according to this vision, so spoke Natan to David.	(יז) כְּכֹל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וּכְכֹל הַחִזָּיוֹן הַזֶּה כֵּן דִּבֶּר נָתָן אֶל דָּוִד: ס

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

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