Jewish%20thought for Moed Katan 17:24

לא קשיא כאן במצוה שאפשר לעשותה ע"י אחרים

Solomon recited [a prayer of] four and twenty [expressions of] intercession<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In I Kings, VIII, 22-53, the expressions for intercession (in their nominal and verbal forms) amount to twenty-four, namely:Five in v. 28; two in 29; two in 30; two in 33; one in 35; two in 38; one in 42; one in 44; two in 45; one in 47; one in 48; two in 49; two in 52, total, twenty-four.');">³⁴</span> but had no response. He began [anew] and said: lift up your heads, O ye gates<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XXIV, 7ff.');">³⁵</span> and again he had no response. As soon as [however] he said: [Now therefore arise, O Lord God. Thou and the Ark of Thy strength.] O Lord, turn not away the face of Thine anointed, remember the good deeds of David Thy servant,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Chron. VI, 41-42.');">³⁶</span> he was answered forthwith.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The gates yielded an entry.');">³⁷</span> At that moment the faces of David's foes turned [livid] like the [blackened] sides of a pot and all became aware that the Holy One, blessed be He, had pardoned David that misdeed.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Against Uriah the Hittite and his wife Bath-sheba, II Sam. XI.');">³⁸</span> R'Jonathan B''Asmai<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Many texts have b. Akmai. The theme here on taking leave from a master is in continuation of Solomon's farewell to the people.');">³⁹</span> and R'Judah son of proselyte parents were studying the section of 'Vows'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., they were pursuing the method of Midrashic exposition of Num. XXX, on the law of vows ultimately formulated in the MISHNAH:');">⁴⁰</span> at the school of R'Simeon B'Yohai. They had taken leave from him in the evening, but in the morning they came and again took leave from him. Said he to them: But did you not take leave of me yesternight? Said they to him: Our Master, You taught us, a disciple who had taken leave from his Master and remained overnight in the city must needs take leave from him once again, for it is said: 'On the eighth day<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The eighth day was the twenty-second of Tishri, when they bade the King farewell.');">⁴¹</span> he [King Solomon] sent the people away and they blessed the King,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Kings VIII, 66.');">⁴²</span> and [then] it is written: 'And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Chron. VII, 10. Which apparently contradicts the former verse.');">⁴³</span> Hence we learn from here that a disciple who had taken leave from his Master and remained overnight in the city must needs take leave from him once again. Said he to his son, 'These are men of countenance,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Men of importance.');">⁴⁴</span> go along with them, that they may bless you'. He went and found them comparing text with text: It is written: Balance the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. IV, 26, i.e., carefully pick and choose your actions and duties.');">⁴⁵</span> and it is written: Lest thou shouldst balance the path of life?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. V, 5, i.e., do not pick and choose.');">⁴⁶</span> It is not difficult [to explain the former text applies where an obligation can be discharged through another person:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Should duty's calls come from several directions some of which may be discharged through some other trusty person, choose the more important and responsible tasks for yourself.');">⁴⁷</span>

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