David as king paradigm

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1. Poetry, Passion and Politics: Who is David HaMelekh?

   Dr. Yael Ziegler

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ג | |

   The biblical story of David is lengthy and multifaceted. While his complex personality sometimes reveals contradictions, the final assessment of David in the book of Kings is that of an unparalleled leader, who is presented as the model for successful kingship. In this shiur, we will examine the nature of David’s leadership. What makes David the ideal king in the Bible, against whom all other kings are measured? We will also explore the general question of biblical leadership: Which qualities are necessary for great leadership and how can we discern them in the biblical portrayal of David?

2. The Image of the Jewish King (Audio)

   Rabbi Elyakim Krumbein | 5 minutes

   The image of the Israelite King as presented in Devarim emphasizes a command for him to write a Torah and study it constantly. Why do the laws upheld by the Sages insist that each king must write his own scroll? The laws pertaining to the king serve to underscore the importance of moral values—the primacy of ethical standards—not just for the king, but for the entire nation.

3. Who Wrote the Book of Shmuel, and Why it makes a Difference

   Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | | Hour and 10 minutes

   If one reads Sefer Shmuel, one may be bothered- how can we sing songs of King David when he did things that are problematic? Why was he chosen for a continued dynasty? And if he is supposed to be a model king, why are there so many negative things about King David in Sefer Shmuel? In this shiur, we hope to answer not only the question of who wrote the book, but the question of what the prophetic purpose of the book is. The prophet can put things in perspective: justifying cases where they king looked guilty but was innocent, criticizing the king for his sins, and highlighting that though flawed, David is a good leader. He admits his sins and repents, is generally humble, has a sensible political domestic and foreign approach and works toward aspirations to elevate the people to be God's nation.
   
    

4. David's Sons: Punishment, Repentance and Redemption

   Dr. Yael Ziegler | Hour and 1 minutes

   This lecture presents the incident of David and Batsheva as the turning point in David’s life, representing a collapse in his career and personal life which had been so successful prior to this event. Through a close examination of the text we learn to appreciate the character and leadership of David, as well as the power of teshuva.

   Click here for a downloadable audio version of this lecture

5. Theory vs. Reality; The Davidic Kingdom from Construction to Destruction

   Structure & Story of Books II-III

   Dr. Beni Gesundheit | 56 minutes

   Why would the mizmorim of Asaf, the sons of Korach and David be presented in separate collections in Books II and III of Tehillim? Wouldn’t it make more sense for psalms by the same author be presented together in one place and not divided between books? Books II and III in Tehillim, comprised of collections of mizmorim attributed to several different authors, are considered to be one unit. Contextual interpretation shows that these books move along three axes; 1) the destruction of the Temple and kingdom of Israel which lead to Exile; 2) in contrast, David is the epitome of the ideal kingdom under God and longing for the Temple and; 3) using this model to breathe life into the vision of the redemption of Israel which includes the rebuilding of the Temple in Zion, ultimately to include all the nations of the world. Unfortunately, this vision does not come to fruition due to the realities of the Exile. The structure changes for the better in Book IV.