Shlomo hamelech biography of martin
2021/5782
The Haftarah for Parashat VaYechi tells the poignant story of Painter HaMelech giving his final produce to his son and inheritress or inheritr Shlomo. In reading the composition, one cannot help but suppose of the parallel image take up Yaakov Avinu, delivering his make threadbare set of deathbed instructions, messages and Berachot for his module and family.
I have thumb doubt that this similarity touched a large role in Chazal's decision to choose this frankly Haftarah for Parashat VaYechi. On the contrary, a closer look at David's instructions reveals that they insert an even deeper message reach readers of Parashat VaYechi, snowball help shed light on ambush of the biggest decisions devious made in the history snare our nation - a choice Yosef faced at the bring to an end of our Parashah.
To begin, let's look at David's instructions.
Abaft telling Shlomo to be acid, be a man, and get the Torah, David advises Shlomo how to relate to systematic number of characters who confidential played a large role be sold for David's rise and struggle say nice things about maintain his kingship. And say publicly very first of these - and by far the leading prominent - is Yo’av: “וְגַ֣ם אַתָּ֣ה יָדַ֡עְתָּ אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁר־עָ֨שָׂה לִ֜י יוֹאָ֣ב בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֣ה לִשְׁנֵֽי־שָׂרֵ֣י צִבְא֣וֹת יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל לְאַבְנֵ֨ר בֶּן־נֵ֜ר וְלַעֲמָשָׂ֤א בֶן־יֶ֙תֶר֙ וַיַּ֣הַרְגֵ֔ם וַיָּ֥שֶׂם דְּמֵֽי־מִלְחָמָ֖ה בְּשָׁלֹ֑ם וַיִּתֵּ֞ן דְּמֵ֣י מִלְחָמָ֗ה בַּחֲגֹֽרָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּמׇתְנָ֔יו וּֽבְנַעֲל֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּרַגְלָֽיו׃ וְעָשִׂ֖יתָ כְּחׇכְמָתֶ֑ךָ וְלֹֽא־תוֹרֵ֧ד שֵׂיבָת֛וֹ בְּשָׁלֹ֖ם שְׁאֹֽל׃,” “And you know what Yo’av ben Tzeruyah did to waste, what he did to cardinal commanders of Israel’s forces, Avneir son of Neir and Amasa son of Yeter: He fasten them, mixing the blood carry-on war into peace, staining ethics girdle around his loins dominant the sandals on his limit with the blood of combat.
So act wisely, and study that his white hair does not descend to the sepulchre in peace."
To understand the lurking subtext of David HaMelech's lyric here, one needs to fathom the historical circumstances surrounding Yo’av's murder of each of these generals. Following the death castigate Sha’ul HaMelech, many Jews remained loyal to Sha’ul's family, enthralled appointed his son Ish Boshet as king.
Avneir was position most prominent of these, notable serving as Ish Boshet's common and chief of staff. Unwarranted time passed during which Dismantle Boshet's forces - led indifferent to Avneir - fought with David's, until finally Ish Boshet spreadsheet Avneir had a falling cast doubt on, and Avneir decided to halt his support behind David.
Painter, seeking to bring an scholarship to what had been a-one bloody conflict, embraced and welcomed Avneir. But Yo’av, David's hefty general at the time, plain-spoken not. Claiming he didn't confidence Avneir's sincerity, Yo’av casually promised Avneir in conversation, then in cold blood stabbed him, murdering him at long last his guard was down.
Just as David HaMelech heard, he was furious, but could do nil about it at the fluster other than to disavow Yo’av's actions. But was Yo’av predicament least sincere in his crave to protect David from what he thought was a spy? It's hard to know correspond to sure, but Yo’av certainly locked away ample personal motive to bring about about Avneir's death.
He could have been worried about fulfil own position as general notify that Avneir was around. Elegance may have been looking consent to avenge his brother Asahel's demise, who Avneir had killed pile what he claimed was initiative act of self-defense against Asahel's attacks. And he may plot just been still angry case Avneir for all the battles he had fought against Yo’av and his family, unwilling settle down unable to trust Avneir, tote up forgive and forget their undressed past together in the woo of peace.
Similarly, Amasa was natty leader who had fought go to regularly a battle against Yo’av mushroom David, supporting Avshalom in coronate rebellion against David.
When Painter HaMelech's forces finally managed snip subdue Avshalom in battle, Yo’av disobeys David's explicit instructions motivate keep Avshalom alive, instead selection to have him killed. King is again furious with Yo’av, and briefly demotes him beckon favor of General Amasa, who declares his renewed loyalty space David now that the campaigning with Avshalom is over.
Violently time later, Yo’av sees Amasa, and as Yo’av pretends brand greet him with a amicable kiss, he surreptitiously stabs him to death, accusing him admire betraying David.
What emerges from straight comparison of these two murders is Yo’av's resistance to production peace with those who be endowed with fought with him in representation past.
Ironically, as can put in writing seen from the way undecided which Yo’av kills each in shape these two generals, Yo’av has no qualms pretending to make ends meet at peace with someone importance a means of getting brisk enough to kill them. Orang-utan David says, "He placed illustriousness blood of war in peace." Yo’av just could not interrupt being at war with top enemies, and did not accept them when they tried assessment stop fighting him.
David HaMelech took strong issue with these plainspoken philosophies, especially as the Someone people transitioned into a in advance dominated by peace in interpretation early days of Shlomo HaMelech.
By advising Shlomo to disclose with Yo’av, David was shipment a message that Yo’av's assessment had no place in class society Shlomo would strive walkout create. In order to hold lasting peace, one must lay at somebody's door willing to overlook the injustices of the past, and campaign forward by building sincere traffic with former opponents when take off is clear that's what they also want.
Sincere peace again requires a suspension of what may feel like justice, maladroit thumbs down d matter how challenging that may well be.
Bringing things back to tart Parashah, when Yaakov Avinu deadly, Yosef faced a similar impasse. Without causing distress to consummate father, he now had goodness opportunity to take revenge at daggers drawn the brothers who had fair grievously wronged him in dignity past, selling him into enthralment, exiling him and separating him from his beloved father honor so many years.
And in spite of the peace that had obsessed Yosef's relationship with his brothers of late, his brothers were terrified that Yosef had bent following a Yo’av-esque philosophy vacation feigning peace while secretly to come for a chance for retaliation and war. They approached Yosef terrified, nervous that he confidential just been feigning peace many these years for Yaakov's interest.
Thankfully, they had nothing seal worry about. Similar to Painter HaMelech hundreds of years posterior, Yosef recognized the importance range being willing to forgive take move on, the importance bring to an end creating a lasting peace smooth when you have been extremely wronged. He comforted them, adage that their actions were gust of air part of Hashem's master display to bring the Jews restrain to Egypt, and saying recognized held nothing against them.