Shmuel Alef 25

0:00Hello and welcome to Tori Mecha, Nachyomi with the OU Women's Initiative. My name is Alana Glatt and today we will be studying Sefer Shmuel Alef Parakchafheh, Chapter 25. In our learning of Parakchaf Dallad yesterday, we found David and his men hiding in the wilderness of Hengedi. The beautiful nature reserve made up of rocky terrains, beautiful waterfalls, caves, and wild eyebecks. We saw that while in a cave, not far off from the main road, David was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to harm Shatul Hamelach. When Shatul happened to enter alone into the very same cave that David and his men were already in. But instead of giving in to surmount and pressure from his men, David chose to act with remarkable restraint, refusing to touch Shatul Hamelach, Hashem's anointed one, and he even regretted slightly cutting the Heng's cloak, which unbeknownst to him, was the very sign for a told by Shmuel Hanavi that Shatul's kingship would indeed pass on to David. We also saw that upon stepping out of the cave, David revealed the truth of what had

1:00just occurred, with humility and dignity, moving Shatul to tears into a rare moment of clarity, openly acknowledging David's righteousness and future kingship. Yet our learning ended off with David, ever perceptive, returning to hiding, knowing the incredibly moving moment, unfortunately, would not last. In today's jam-packed Parakchaf Hey, we will now join along as the Navi tells us of a side story, which occurs alongside one of David and his men's many escapades. And we will be introduced to some intriguing new characters for today. Namely Navell, a difficult fellow from the tribe of Ihuda, and his righteous wife, Avigayal, who was actually recorded as one of the seven Aviyot, one of the seven female prophetesses of all time. Alongside Sarah Imenu, Miriam Dvorah, Hanna, the mother of Shmuel Hanavi, Holda, and Esther Amalka. But first, before our story begins for today, and our parakchulean folds, Pasakhalov shares with us the sad news of the passing of the great and holy Shmuel Hanavi at the age of 52.

2:01Vyamachmoa, Vyakapsu, Koyastral, Vyespuzulo, Vyapuruhu, Bhabitobarama, Vyakhan David, Vyiradal, Midbar Paran. The holy and righteous prophet Shmuel passed away, and all of the venestral gathered and eulogized him. And they buried him at his home in Rama, and David then arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. Shmuel, the righteous prophet, for whom are entire safer as named after, the prophet who served the Jewish people loyally for his entire life, and himself was anointed, had anointed both Shatul and David. His passing is recorded here, precisely following the conclusion of yesterday's parak, because one Shatul conceded to David and acknowledged that he would indeed be the next king of Israel. Shmuel's prophecy was completed. His true purpose had been fulfilled. And out of deep respect for their incredible beloved and holy prophet and leader, Shmuel, all of the venestral gathered together to eulogize and pay their final covo to him. And although it was a true risk to David's own life, as David knew Shatul himself would

3:02likely attend the holy Shmuel's funeral, David's deep sense of appreciation and Hikara had told for Shmuel, ran far deeper, and he chose to attend even a great personal risk. It's interesting, Ravelyahu Yadid and his beautiful work, Sheva Hanavi Oat, actually points out that this parak opens up by telling us about David's attending Shmuel's funeral out of a deep sense of Hikara had told. Because it draws for us a strong contrast to the story we're about to learn about in Pusokpet, where Neva takes the opposite approach and refuses to both attend Shmuel's funeral or express Hikara's atoll to David and his own men. And following the uplifting Leviya for the beloved leader, the Pusok goes out of its way to emphasize that David and his men then switch their hiding spot to a new location in the wilderness of Paran. The Matsuda-Stavid points out that although David risked himself to attend the Leviya and to show the Prophet Kavod Ahron to his great Rebian leader, as soon as he left, he made sure to move to a new hiding place in order to take the proper precautions, in case he or his secret hiding spots had been seen by Passerby on the way to the Leviya.

4:06And so David and his men ended up in the wilderness of Paran. And Pusokpet now introduces us to our newest characters for today. The Ishbe Ma'on Umasaihuba Carmel, by Ishka Zome'on, followed so on Shloshar al-Fim, the al-Fizim, by Hibig Zouz at Zonoba Carmel. And there was a man in Ma'on whose business was in Carmel, and this man was very, very wealthy. He owns 3,000 sheep and a thousand goats, and at this juncture in time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The Barbanal notes that while the entire rest of Amisrael was in the middle of morning, the loss of the great shulhanavi himself, this man was busy with his private business matters, focusing on the shearing of his sheep, and planning a festive meal which he would have in that honor, truly distancing himself from the clal, and indication of his deep character. Reviya did also continue as an offer from his sefer, Sheva Hanaviyot. A lot of interesting additional insights about how Weathernaval, as a member of a prestigious family from the tribe of Yudha, was perhaps personally slighted in not having been chosen

5:08as the next king. And that was why he purposely did a mourn for Shmuel, who anointed David, a lot more to impact for another time. Already the psookim are priming us here, as the how we're meant to view this personality we're about to properly be introduced to in Pasagymal. Pasagymal, Vesheem Haish Neval, Vesheem Ishto Avigayal, Vah Isha, Tova Sechal, Vifatoar, Vah Isha, Kasevira, Mahala Limhu, Behu Kilavi, Vuhu Kilavi, he was from Kali. The man's name was Neval, and his wife's name was Avigayal. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man was difficult and an evil doer. He was a descendant of Kali. The very name Neval, which many Mifarsham say, was actually a nickname given to him. Canots both a rotten person, the same root as the word Nevela, a trough animal, and also an ingrate, like the psookim Parshatazinu says, do thus require the Lord O people who are Nevel, engrateful, and unwise.

6:09Despite coming from the lofty family of Kali, from the Chai Babi Huda, Nevel himself was a very difficult person. Yet in strong contrast, as bad as Nevel was, his wife Avigayal was righteous. She's described as an extremely intelligent woman. We will soon see her quick thinking and her wise words come into save David from overstepping his rights in a terrible way. And also as an extremely beautiful woman. Our Rabbi's Lister is one of the four most beautiful women to ever live, along with Sarah Rakhavanester. Positolid, David was in the wilderness when he heard that Nevel was shearing his sheep. As a group of people, constantly on the run, and wandering from place to place, aside from concerns of physical safety, David's most pressing and constant concern was how to properly acquire and provide food for himself and his men during this time. First so careful to only take things that rightfully belong to him, the stress of providing for his men was a real one. And so hearing that the wealthy Nevel, who was a relative of his from the Chai Babi Huda, was in the midst of preparing a big festive meal in honor of the shearing of his sheep,

7:11and as well soon seen the psookim, David and his men had actually protected Nevel and his shepherds for free during much of their time in that area. David figured this might be a great opportunity to go and ask him for some food. The Mauban further notes that he thought that this time of prosperity and happiness for Nevel might elicit him to do good for David and his men, even if generally he was not the most generous. Similar to an idea I once learned on the pericop to Hillin is more cheerly on a shabis, peric 92. When we say the words tov lehodot la Hashem, it is good to praise Hashem. Another reading of the words is tov, Hashem gives us the good, the blessings in the first place, why, in order that we'll be able to praise him and do further good in this world. When you have good, do good. So psookim hei through tattelas that David sent out ten of his attendants and David said to them, go off to Carmel, an approach Nevel, inquiring about his welfare and greeting him in my name, which was a sign of honor to Nevel. And say to him as follows, such success for life.

8:13According to Rashi, may the success you're experiencing right now always continue forever more, may peace be upon you and your entire household and all that is yours. I hear now that you are in the midst of shearing your sheep. I wanted to let you know that your shepherds have actually been with us for much of their time out in the pastures. We personally helped guard your sheep while we were in the area. Who knows how many of them would have been gone, missing or been harmed, had it not been for mine and my shepherds help. And we helped them with anything they needed while they were with us. We included them in whatever ways we could. You can ask your servants yourself and they will tell you, so please kindly let my attendants find favor in your eyes and please give whatever you can to your servants and to your son to David. So David's attendants came and told over to Nevel all that Nevel had asked of them. But I'm sucking you through your alif. Nevel responds back to David's men with insolence and disrespect. And he says, who is Nevel and who is the son of Yishai? These days the rebellious servants have increased, each against their masters.

9:13And I take from my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, leaving Hashem completely out of the picture. And give to men whose origins I do not even know. Nevel was undermining David here, implying he's merely a descendant of Moav. He's not worthy of anything. If there's anyone here worthy of being the next king, it's really I who have more pristine lineage than he does. And anyways, he's merely a runaway servant rebelling against his master's shadow. Why would I, in any way, need to give him any of my hard-earned meal? And on a deeper level, Nevel was truly cuffway buttove. He denied the good that was done for him. He was not open to hearing or admitting that David or his men had helped him in any way. And where was he open to repaying them for that at all? Now, taken it back, David's attendants turned back on their way. And in person, your bet reported to David in accordance with all these words. Upon a hearing of this directive front is covered. He's discreasing the next Messiah Hashem, the next up anointed king of Hashem.

10:13David was a guest. He truly felt that this was in a front to the honor of his upcoming kingship. And that Nevel and his entire household deserve to die for this insolence. And so in Pasoqid Gimmel, David commanded his men. Each man girded his sword. So each girded his sword. And David too girded his sword. About 400 of them went up after David, while 200 others stayed behind with the belongings. At this point, most people knew that David had indeed been anointed and was chosen as the next king of Israel, something which the Mifarsha knew, Shmuel had not wanted disclosed during his lifetime. But now that he passed away in the beginning of the peric, word was becoming and beginning to spread. And this is a front when not set a good precedent for David and his upcoming kingship. So he decided with his men that Nevel was there for deserving of the punishment for his front to the future king. But in Pasoqid Ryoddallad, through Yudzion, one of the young attendants of Avigayl, Nevel's

11:18righteous wife, rushed over to Avigayl to tell her what was happening. Avigayl had not been around during this interaction, and there was completely, therefore she was completely unaware of the entire exchange that had been going on. He told her of the good that David and his shepherds had done for them in their flock, and of the miserly and disheartening responses her husband responded back to them. And of the impending doom that was now looming over her entire household. So Pasoqid Khan, Batima Heravigayl, Batikach, Matayim, Lachem, Ushnaim, Nevelayayin, Vachamech, Zon, Asuyot, Vachamech, Zeyim, Kali, Umeyak, Zimukim, Matayim, Zeylim, Batasem, Al-Hachamurim. Avigayl quickly and graciously got together two hundred cloves of bread, two containers of wine, five cooked sheep, five sayaz of toasted grain, one hundred raisin clusters, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and she put them on the donkeys. Although five cooked sheep was definitely not enough for David and all of his men, Avigayl chose to offer what she had quickly on hand, and not to lay this mission, in order to spare her family's life, and also in order not to invoke any suspicion on her husband's behalf,

12:22as if he were to see her or notice her, he would become upset. And Yotet, she told her young men to go ahead of her on their horses, bearing plentiful gifts for David and his men, and that she'd follow behind them, but she did not tell anything of this plan to her husband, Nevel. An absukim khuf through Lamar alif, now tell over in great detail the interaction between David and Avigayl, in her attempt to pacify him and protect herself and her entire household, Pasekrov Kimob Gins, Ahayahi Rohevet al-Hachamur, the Oreda-Pissator Ha'ar, for he made David van Ashab your deem the Kretav atif Koshotam, then it happened as she was riding on the donkey clandestinely, descending the mountain, that behold, David and his men were descending the other mountain towards her, and she met them. In a class I learned back in college, with Professor Smadairoz and Swag, she taught us in intriguing Amaran Megila Yadalid Amid alif, on this very words, which tells that when Avigayl descended, the saints are Ha'ar, clandestinely in the mountain.

13:23She was actually coming toward forward to show David Amara, a blood-stained cloth from the hidden parts, the realm of the body. She brought forth Amara to him for him to examine, and he said to her, but his blood shown at night, one does not examine Maro at night time, to which she replied to David, and our cases of capital law tried at night, since capital cases are not decided at night either, you cannot condemn novel to death at night either. But then continued, that noveler has been as a rebel against the throne, as David had already been anointed king by Shmoil, but Avigayl responded back, that Shattwa was still the acting king, and as such, David had no authorization yet to try someone for a belling against his monarchy. According to the Gamara, David accepted her words, and he blessed her for preventing him of coming upon bloodshed on this very day. But to try to watch this unfold through some of the psookins. Khafalif through Lamad alif, now detailed, the back and forth exchange between David and Avigayl, and further length. David repeats the grievances of novels and interactions with his men, and Avigayl, and

14:26great humility, comes off her horse and bows before her master David, and then she takes the blame for her husband's actions, asking him not to pay a necessary attention to her husband. Ishablyal haza al-Naval, ki kishmo kenhu, naval shmo univala imo, baaniyama techa lora itiyat naari adoni asher shalakhta. Please my lord, pay no attention to this paceman, to Naval, for he is just what his name implies, an expression which is actually used here in Israel when someone's nice actions match their positive actions. They say kishma kenhi. Naval is his name, and revulsion is his trait. An agar maidservants and not see the young men who you sent. She continues further besieging him, expressing that she knows her husband may have acted wrongly. But now why take vengeance on an entire household, while this set a good precedent for others in the future, while this healthier future kingship in any way, and she presents him with a donkey-laden gifts, that she had presented, and prepared for David and his men, again besieging David to part in her and her household, and blesses David that assumption grants him

15:30an enduring house for he is righteously fighting Hashem's battles, and again she implores him. You have done nothing wrong henceforth, please don't stumble here on a necessarily shed blood here. Hashem will surely appoint you as the next king of Israel. Don't let this be a blemish on you and your entire future kingship, and in Pusiklam and Alev she notes that when Hashem does make my master David succeed, don't forget your maid servant. Now hearing Avigaya's poignant words, David takes her words to heart, and he says in Pusiklam and Beth, Baruch Hashem al-Okaisa al-Asher Shalakhir Hayom Hazalikrati, praise be Hashem, the god of Israel who sent you the state to meet me, and Lamad Giml, Ubaruch Ta'amir Ubrucha at Asher Kilitini, Hayom Hazamibovid Amim, Boshaya Yadili, and bless this your advice and bless our you. You have restrained me from coming to bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hands. Lamad Dalid, had you now come quickly to greet me here? Not a single one of Novel's line would have been left by daybreak.

16:32You truly saved your entire family, and you have saved me as well. And Lamad Hay, so David then accepts it what she had brought for him, and he said to her, Alilish al-Om nabitech, re-e-shamati bikolech, wa-sapanaikh, go up and peace to your house. See, I have heated your advice, and I shall show you grace. And now Pusiklam ad-wav, through Lamad Khet, Avigaya now travelled back to her home to her husband Novel. While he was in the middle of his sheep shearing feast, a feast that was truly fit for a king. And Novel was in a merry mood, completely drunk, so she did not tell him anything that had occurred until the next morning. But when Novel awoke the next morning, after having slept off the wine, Avigaya then told him everything that had occurred the day before, the night before. But instead of being grateful to Avigaya for her wisdom and quick thinking and saving them, the Pusik tells us by a madly bobe cubo, uhuhaya la evan. That his heart seems to have died within him, and he became almost coma-tos. The Mifarsim understand that his heart gave way from hearing, all that Avigaya had given

17:33away to David and his men. Even though in reality he had so much, this didn't even make a dent. Nonetheless, he died inside from the shack of the news. And the Pusik then tells us, and it was ten days later, that Hashem struck Novel and he died. According to one opinion of Rashi, Hashem delayed Novel's death, so we would not overlap with the National Morning Period for the holy and great Shmuel who passed away in the beginning of our story today. A second opinion tells us that these were actually the Asarasi Mechuvah. Hashem was perhaps giving him some semblance of a chance to correct his ways, but when those days were not utilized for their true purpose and he remains unchanged, he then died on Yonkipra itself. And now Pusik lamens the head. When David heard the news, the Novel had died, he said, Baruch Hashem, Asharavat, Rif, Kharpati, Miyana, Navel, Veta, Do, Khashach, Mirah, Veta, Raat, Navel, Navel, Heshiv, Hashem, Roshou. Blessed as Hashem was taken up the cause of my disgrace from the hands of Novel, and has prevented his servant from wrongdoing, and Hashem has truly turned Novel's evil upon his head.

18:39David was so thankful that Novel got his just punishment without him having had to be the one to spill the blood. And then the Pusik continues, that David sent messengers to go and take Avigayel, the wise and righteous Avigayel who had saved him here, for a wife. And Pusikim mammeth through mammeth tell us that upon hearing this request, Avigayel bowed her head down again in humility, and she happily accompanied the servants to become David's wife. And Pusikmem Gimmel, David also went on to take another righteous wife for himself by the name of Ahli Nawam. And so the two of them became his new wives, in addition to his wife Mechal, as is noted by the Mabim. And our closing Pusik for today actually opens up an entire ordeal, one which we will just briefly address, but there is most certainly more time back here. Pusikmem Dahlid closes off our parake by telling us that Sha'ul took his daughter Mechal, to have his wife, and he gave her to Paltib and Leish from Galim instead as a wife. The Mfarsim are truly boggled by this action of Sha'ul here, and explained that perhaps he thought

19:43that a law in their marriage had actually not been valid, and as such she was able to be married to someone else. Or if it was in response to the affront he felt on behalf of his daughter, the daughter of a king. For David having taken more wives without her permission, there's a lot more to unpack here. But ultimately, Sha'ul took Mechal and he married her off to another man. But to Paltib and Leish is great credit, a rabbi's teach that he struck a sword in between the beds, and never once lay a finger upon Mechal, all the days that she remains in his home. Again, reminding us of the great strength that lies in the challenging media of restraint, the ability to hold off from that which is in ours, and to withhold actions when they're not truly proper in the given context. Keeping our eyes set steadily on the long-term prize a life governed solely by Hashem, and what he wants most from us. And with that we conclude our study of this extremely complex and deep haric for today, and tomorrow we will jump back in to following David and his men and some more of their complex

20:45journeys running away from Sha'ul and his men. Thank you so much for learning together. Today's parac is dedicated to the safety and peace of Amisrael and Eratisrael. May the words of Nakh uplift us and give us strength during these challenging times.