Sanhedrin 213

אוכל לחמי הגדיל עלי עקב

which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XLI, 10. This is understood to refer to Ahitophel, and 'which did eat my bread', as a metaphor for 'who learnt of my teaching'. ');">¹</span> Rab Judah said in Rab's name: One should never [intentionally] bring himself to the test, since David king of Israel did so, and fell. He said unto Him, 'Sovereign of the Universe! Why do we say [in prayer] "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob," but not the God of David?' He replied, 'They were tried by me, but thou wast not.' Then, replied he, 'Sovereign of the Universe, examine and try me' — as it is written, Examine me, O Lord, and try me.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXVI, 1. ');">²</span>

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב לעולם אל יביא אדם עצמו לידי נסיון שהרי דוד מלך ישראל הביא עצמו לידי נסיון ונכשל אמר לפניו רבש"ע מפני מה אומרים אלהי אברהם אלהי יצחק ואלהי יעקב ואין אומרים אלהי דוד אמר אינהו מינסו לי ואת לא מינסית לי אמר לפניו רבש"ע בחנני ונסני שנאמר (תהלים כו, ב) בחנני ה' ונסני וגו'

He answered 'I will test thee, and yet grant thee a special privilege;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'I will do something for thee.' ');">³</span> for I did not inform them [of the nature of their trial beforehand], yet, I inform thee that I will try thee in a matter of adultery.' Straightway, And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. XI, 2. ');">⁴</span>

אמר מינסנא לך ועבידנא מילתא בהדך דלדידהו לא הודעתינהו ואילו אנא קא מודענא לך דמנסינא לך בדבר ערוה מיד (שמואל ב יא, ב) ויהי לעת הערב ויקם דוד מעל משכבו וגו'

R. Johanan said: He changed his night couch to a day couch,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he cohabited by day instead of night, that he might be free from desire by day. ');">⁵</span> but he forgot the <i>halachah</i>: there is a small organ in man which satisfies him in his hunger but makes him hunger when satisfied.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With regard to human passion, 'the appetite grows by what it feeds on'. ');">⁶</span>

אמר רב יהודה שהפך משכבו של לילה למשכבו של יום ונתעלמה ממנו הלכה אבר קטן יש באדם משביעו רעב ומרעיבו שבע

And he walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. ');">⁷</span> Now Bath Sheba was cleansing her hair behind a screen,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or 'beehive' (Rashi). ');">⁸</span>

(שמואל ב יא, ב) ויתהלך על גג בית המלך וירא אשה רוחצת מעל הגג והאשה טובת מראה מאד בת שבע הוה קא חייפא רישא תותי חלתא אתא שטן אידמי ליה כציפרתא פתק ביה גירא פתקה לחלתא איגליה וחזייה

when Satan came to him, appearing in the shape of a bird. He shot an arrow at him, which broke the screen, thus she stood revealed, and he saw her. Immediately, And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath Sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her, and she came unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanliness: and she returned unto her house.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid, 2f. ');">⁹</span> Thus it is written, Thou host proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou host tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XVII, 3. ');">¹⁰</span>

מיד (שמואל ב יא, ג) וישלח דוד וידרוש לאשה ויאמר הלא זאת בת שבע בת אליעם אשת אוריה החתי וישלח דוד מלאכים ויקחה ותבא אליו וישכב עמה והיא מתקדשת מטומאתה ותשב אל ביתה והיינו דכתיב (תהלים יז, ג) בחנת לבי פקדת לילה צרפתני בל תמצא זמותי בל יעבר פי אמר איכו זממא נפל בפומיה דמאן דסני לי ולא אמר כי הא מילתא

He said thus: 'Would that a bridle had fallen into the mouth of mine enemy [i.e., himself], that I had not spoken thus.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., 'would that I had not asked God to try me'. By a play on words, [H] (E.V. 'I am purposed') is connected with [H] 'a bridle', and the second half of the verse is explanatory of the first: 'Would that my mouth had been bridled, so that I would not have to admit now, " thou="" hast="" proved="" etc."'="" ');"="">¹¹</span> Raba expounded: What is meant by the verse, To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XI, 1. ');">¹²</span>

דרש רבא מאי דכתיב (תהלים יא, א) למנצח לדוד בה' חסיתי איך תאמרו לנפשי נודי הרכם צפור אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע מחול לי על אותו עון שלא יאמרו הר שבכם צפור נדדתו

David pleaded before the Holy One, blessed be He: 'Sovereign of the Universe! Forgive me that sin, that men may not say, "Your mountain [sc. the king] has been put to flight by a bird."'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra. ');">¹³</span> Raba expounded: What is meant by the verse, Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. LI, 6. ');">¹⁴</span>

דרש רבא מאי דכתיב (תהלים נא, ו) לך לבדך חטאתי והרע בעיניך עשיתי למען תצדק בדברך תזכה בשפטך אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה גליא וידיעא קמך דאי בעיא למכפייה ליצרי הוה כייפינא אלא אמינא דלא לימרו עבדא זכי למריה

David pleaded before the Holy One, blessed be He: 'Thou knowest full well that had I wished to suppress my lust, I could have done so, but, thought I, let them [the people] not say, "The servant triumphed against his Master."'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra. Had David not yielded, his plea for the inclusion of 'the God of David' would have been justified. ');">¹⁵</span> Raba expounded: What is meant by the verse, For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXXVIII, 18. ');">¹⁶</span>

דרש רבא מאי דכתיב (תהלים לח, יח) כי אני לצלע נכון ומכאובי נגדי תמיד ראויה היתה בת שבע בת אליעם לדוד מששת ימי בראשית אלא שבאה אליו במכאוב וכן תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל ראויה היתה לדוד בת שבע בת אליעם אלא שאכלה פגה

Bath Sheba, the daughter of Eliam, was predestined for David from the six days of Creation, but that she came to him with sorrow.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Translating [H] (E.V. 'to halt'), 'a rib': 'For I am ready for my rib,' i.e., Bath Sheba, David's rib. ');">¹⁷</span> And the school of R. Ishmael taught likewise: She was worthy [i.e., predestined] for David from the six days of Creation, but that he enjoyed her before she was ripe.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., before she was his legitimate wife. ');">¹⁸</span>

דרש רבא מאי דכתיב (תהלים לה, טו) ובצלעי שמחו ונאספו נאספו עלי נכים [ולא ידעתי] קרעו ולא דמו אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע גלוי וידוע לפניך שאם היו קורעין בשרי לא היה דמי שותת

Raba expounded: What is meant by the verse, <i>But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and 'gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not</i>?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXXV, 15. ');">¹⁹</span> David exclaimed before the Holy One, blessed be He, 'Sovereign of the Universe! Thou knowest full well, that had they torn my flesh, my blood would not have flown.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [By reason of the shame to which he had been put. Cf. B.M. 58b: The red color of the face departs, and the white takes its place.] ');">²⁰</span>

ולא עוד אלא בשעה שהם עוסקין בארבע מיתות ב"ד פוסקין ממשנתן ואומרים לי דוד הבא על אשת איש מיתתו במה אמרתי להם הבא על אשת איש מיתתו בחנק ויש לו חלק לעוה"ב אבל המלבין פני חבירו ברבים אין לו חלק לעולם הבא

Moreover, when they are engaged in studying the four deaths inflicted by <i>Beth din</i> they interrupt their studies and taunt me [saying], "David, what is the death penalty of him who seduces a &nbsp; &nbsp; married woman?" I reply to them, "He who commits adultery with a married woman is executed by strangulation, yet has he a portion in the world to come. But he who publicly puts his neighbour to shame has no portion in the world to come."' Rab Judah said in Rab's name: <font>Even during David's illness he fulfilled the conjugal rights</font><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'eighteen marital duties.' ');">²¹</span>

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב אפילו בשעת חליו של דוד קיים שמנה עשרה עונות שנאמר (תהלים ו, ז) יגעתי באנחתי אשחה בכל לילה מטתי בדמעתי ערשי אמסה ואמר רב יהודה אמר רב בקש דוד לעבוד ע"ז שנאמר (שמואל ב טו, לב) ויהי דוד בא עד הראש אשר ישתחוה שם לאלהים ואין ראש אלא ע"ז שנאמר (דניאל ב, לב) והוא צלמא רישיה די דהב טב

[of his eighteen wives], <font>as it is written, I am weary with my groaning: all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears</font>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. VI, 7. ');">²²</span> Rab Judah also said in Rab's name: David wished to worship idols, as it is written, And it came to pass, that when David was come to the head, where he worshipped God.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. XV, 32. ');">²³</span>

(שמואל ב טו, לב) והנה לקראתו חושי הארכי קרוע כתנתו ואדמה על ראשו אמר לו לדוד יאמרו מלך שכמותך יעבוד ע"ז אמר לו מלך שכמותי יהרגנו בנו מוטב יעבוד ע"ז ואל יתחלל שם שמים בפרהסיא

Now rosh ['head'] can only refer to idols, as it is written, This image's head was of fine gold.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Dan. II, 32. ');">²⁴</span> [But] Behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Sam. Ibid. ');">²⁵</span>

אמר מאי טעמא קנסיבת יפת תואר א"ל יפת תואר רחמנא שרייה א"ל לא דרשת סמוכין דסמיך ליה (דברים כא, יח) כי יהיה לאיש בן סורר ומורה כל הנושא יפת תואר יש לו בן סורר ומורה

He demonstrated with David, 'Shall people say, A king like thee has worshipped idols!' He replied, 'And shall a king like myself be slain by his son! Let me worship idols rather than that the Divine Name be publicly profaned!'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For then it would be said that Absalom had slain him because of his idolatry, which would justify him and his supporters. ');">²⁶</span> He retorted, 'Why then didst thou marry a beautiful woman [captured in battle]?'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Absalom's mother, Maachah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, was, according to tradition, a war captive. ');">²⁷</span>

דרש ר' דוסתאי דמן בירי למה דוד דומה לסוחר כותי אמר דוד לפני הקב"ה רבש"ע (תהלים יט, יג) שגיאות מי יבין [א"ל] שביקי לך ומנסתרות נקני שביקי לך גם מזדים חשוך עבדך שביקי לך אל ימשלו בי אז איתם דלא לישתעו בי רבנן שביקי לך

He replied, 'The Merciful One permitted a beautiful woman. He rejoined, 'Dost thou not interpret the proximity of verses? For in proximity thereto<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the section permitting a beautiful woman captured in battle. ');">²⁸</span> is written, If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXI, 18. ');">²⁹</span>

ונקיתי מפשע רב שלא יכתב סרחוני אמר לו א"א ומה יו"ד שנטלתי משרי עומד וצווח כמה שנים עד שבא יהושע והוספתי לו שנאמר (במדבר יג, טז) ויקרא משה להושע בן נון יהושע כל הפרשה כולה עאכ"ו

[this teaches:] Whoever marries a beautiful woman [taken in battle] will have a stubborn and rebellious son.' R. Dosetai of Beri<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Near Safed, v. Horowitz, I.S., Palestine and the Adjacent Countries. s.v. [H] ');">³⁰</span>

ונקיתי מפשע רב אמר לפניו רבש"ע מחול לי על אותו עון כולו אמר כבר עתיד שלמה בנך לומר בחכמתו (משלי ו, כז) היחתה איש אש בחיקו ובגדיו לא תשרפנה אם יהלך איש על הגחלים ורגליו לא תכוינה כן הבא על אשת רעהו לא ינקה כל הנוגע בה א"ל כל הכי נטרד ההוא גברא א"ל קבל עליך יסורין קבל עליו

expounded: Unto whom may David be likened? Unto a heathen merchant.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who begins by offering small wares; emboldened by his success, he presses more and more upon the purchaser. So David made a small request of God: it being granted, he proceeded to ask for more and more. ');">³¹</span> David said before the Holy One, blessed be He, 'Sovereign of the Universe! [Who can understand his errors?'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XIX, 13; i.e., he asked pardon for sins committed in error. ');">³²</span>

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב ששה חדשים נצטרע דוד ונסתלקה הימנו שכינה ופירשו ממנו סנהדרין נצטרע דכתיב (תהלים נא, ט) תחטאני באזוב ואטהר תכבסני ומשלג אלבין נסתלקה הימנו שכינה דכתיב (תהלים נא, יד) השיבה לי ששון ישעך ורוח נדיבה תסמכני ופרשו ממנו סנהדרין דכתי' (תהלים קיט, עט) ישובו לי יראיך וגו' ששה חדשים מנלן דכתי' (מלכים א ב, יא) והימים אשר מלך דוד על ישראל ארבעים שנה

He replied, 'They are forgiven thee.' 'Cleanse thou me from secret faults,' [he pursued]. 'I grant it thee.' 'Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins!' — 'Tis granted.' 'Let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright: so that scholars may not discuss me.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Holding me up as an example and warning — [H] 'have dominion' is connected with [H]. ');">³³</span> 'Granted.' 'And I shall be innocent from the great transgression: so my sins may not be recorded.' He replied, 'That is impossible. If the [single] yod which I removed from Sarai<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], when her name was changed to Sarah, [H]. ');">³⁴</span> continuously cried out [in protest] for many years until Joshua came and I added it to his name, as it is written, And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XIII, 16; thus turning gauv into gauvh. ');">³⁵</span> how much more so a complete section!' And I shall be innocent from great transgression. He pleaded before Him, 'Sovereign of the Universe! Pardon me that sin completely [as though it had never been committed].' He replied, 'It is already ordained that thy son Solomon should say in his wisdom, Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Prov. VI, 27ff. ');">³⁶</span> He lamented, 'Must I<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that man. ');">³⁷</span> suffer so much!' He replied, 'Accept thy chastisement,' and he accepted it. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: Six months was David smitten with leprosy, the <i>Shechinah</i> deserted him, and the Sanhedrin held aloof from him. 'He was smitten with leprosy' — as it is written, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. LI, 9. Hyssop was required for the purification of a leper; v. Lev. IV, 4. ');">³⁸</span> 'The <i>Shechinah</i> deserted him' — as it is written, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,' and uphold me with thy free spirit.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 14. ');">³⁹</span> 'And the Sanhedrin kept aloof from him' — as it is written, Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CXIX, 79. ');">⁴⁰</span> How do we know that it was for six months? — Because it is written, And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: