Shimshon (Samson) and King David By Rabbi Shai Finkelstein

okay hello everyone so uh the sh will be uh hban who just passed away from from last week um who also a great nephew of by Lindo so we are is that okay okay good so we are on page uh on page if I'm not mistaken one second yeah page eight we are on page eight uh just for the people who were not here last week um we spoke a lot about Shimon for a few weeks already about his different encounters with theot and about his mission and what he was supposed to do in terms of a chaet we had obviously issues with him in terms of being a very strange chaet uh because it's not exactly our role model of someone who is getting married with uh women from not from exactly our tribe and uh doing things that are not exactly what we will call uh kosher yeah and uh and obviously he's a judge in tanak we are not judges in tanak and he's there so we try to understand also the idea of what is really the lessons from from the story so last week we ended with thebug who try to give uh if I'm not mistaken 30 lessons that you can learn from the story and we spoke about the fact that if you give almost like 30 lessons it means what that not even one is really good I mean because if you have one that is good or two you're not going to give 30 of them but he understood also that there are different uh aspects to this story so we are now on page eight and you see uh udav which is the 16th you see the last paragraph on page eight okay you have it page eight last paragraph It's to basically to teach you meaning God's Vision to what should be last paragraph page eight two four six lines from the end which meansem basically the mission that shim received was what to initiate the Redemption only the beginning he's not going to fully redeem the Jewish people he's not going to be like other judges that basically redeem the Jewish people from their from The Other Nation there's no such a thing we know that theim ruled over the Jewish people for another 20 years or even more until David was basically finished him but until David will still have some time between Shimon and David therefore the r says that was the Y Yash was why that Shimon will begin the Redemption was he successful the answer is yes why because until then the Jewish people basically submitted themselves toim how do we know we have a good proof for that when Shimon did what he did and he went to the territory of the Chev Yehuda chuda extradite Shimon toim which is a betrayal you take a Jew and you give him to theim and not only that theud said like why did you do that why do you get them upset which means you understand there's no Jewish Pride there's no nothing basically we need to submit oursel to and Shimon is the first one to what to fight something like that so therefore this is the which means that's the destiny the Shimon had and the story is that when God wants you to do something you will do it how there are many ways to do it give me another tanak story that there is God's D Destiny and someone did not want to do it and then he did it y obviously Y is a prime example for Hashem decided something for you you will do it even if you're going to what to run away from it okay Moshe that's also true Y is like the prime example M it's also true very good and then he says it's not that God planned for him to do what to be with those and also the basically the tanak explains to you that what that if Shimon will not tella about the secret he will still be alive not laugh today but he will still doing God's job in terms of finding other ways to what to annoy and to continue the Redemption of the Jewish people so the 18 benefit or lesson okay so he says the next lesson is it's never good to get married with those even if they convert now we already said that not according to allim all those women converted and not only that it seems to be that it might be they probably did not convert to Judaism at all but but let's say even if they did don't get married with them why because it's very easy for them to do what to go back to what they were before this is amazing and I'm going to dwell a little bit on that lesson God's Destiny for Shimon was what he will begin they he will initiate what their Redemption from theim very good did he tell him how to do it no he gave him a hint that he's going to be a ail and you should probably obviously behave in a very proper manner right sh instead Shimon instead of behaving in a proper manner did what improper manner even though they Destiny God's Destiny was fulfilled through that but was that the only way to fulfill God's Mission the answer is no the rbak said something incredible he say Shimon could have accomplished it by doing what by Leading the people of Israel like the other judges talk to them say what it's about time to Rebel must speak enough submitting oursel to the pish we need to what we need to rebel and go against theim now why do you think Shimon didn't do it he thought they were going to do it very good listen to he did not think he's capable of doing that why not because they you just said that they that they yeah they extradite him right but that was after why in the beginning he should come and say look there is a prophet there is a Mal who revealed himself to my mom and to my dad that was the first first story right and he says I should be a Nair I guess I'm a little special you know what and I'm also pretty strong look what I did with this lion let's start a reevolution let's write a revolution why didn't he do that he was never encouraged by whom by his by God and by his parents okay the other judges were encouraged was encouraged to be a judge no did not have any either not at the beginning for sure he didn't all of them all the judges I mean a real judge that we know is Shu okay he inspired the people whatever but give me five more judges that led the people definitely have they hated him really I mean how would you describe putting someone in a pit wanted to kill him I guess I didn't like him so so the idea what with and could she what help she helped with the army so she had some kind of respect this is by the way very interesting example juding right very interesting example um so that's one give me for more no Barak didn't do it on his own it was pushing himing she couldn't convince right so the idea is is that so what is the expectation here that shimun will do something that will be through the right channels rather than taking so why didn't he do it so I would like to give now a little bit of a psychological analysis to Shimon he came from whatev Dan what do we know about Dan CL except and there is a reason the only thing we know that they took an idol to yamu they were not EX L the most religious tribe we have zero thing from them besides one person Shimon okay and that itself it's under debate what can we really learn from him one second one second let me just finish the idea so that's the first thing the second thing is his family we spoke about that for in the first year his mom somewhat special woman even though we don't know her name his father less special less special very good special um he's uh not the most sophisticated person even his wife does not tell him all the Revelation because she's afraid that he's going to want to tell it to someone and then the baby will be in danger and we also know that the parents has zero influence on Shimon why because he then gets married with the first p and he says that's what I like and they say I don't know what they said they said and they move on so there is nothing then the third thing is that even let's say after the first time that shim with dis pished it and he burned their house you remember all that story you would think that some of the people of am Israel will go to him and say hey you did something that was not done for 50 years we're going to join you you are an incredible leader Clum nothing Clum which is very interesting so it seems to that the r criticized Shimon for not being a leader and using different channels in order to fulfill God's Mission but at the same time there's also what criticism on the fact that he did it meaning mission is accomplished but there are different ways to accomplish that mission and I think that's what the r is trying to basically convey to us it's not the Jewish way to go out and be strong Jewish way is D oh no no no he's not doing he's not talking about he's not talking about that is talking about the fact that he criticized Shimon for using improper CH channels withot rather then to try to inspire the Jewish people what you are talking about is how do we view Shimon in the time of kazal after the Bara Revolt not now yeah because after the Bara Revolt obviously being a hero took a little bit of a different term okay now then yeah Michelle um the only that I just wanted to say that people have to be ready for he's doing everything like through the back door got you okay so Michelle is basically you are suggesting there are two two different things here hey you know maybe he was not that of an inspiring leader but also maybe they were not worthy to have a leader yet but there is only way to know try try he did not even try that was the problem and especially when they extradite him which I think it's like the model story think about it you have you that you know that when you're going to hand him he's going to be killed and he just saved you he just took revenge of your enemies and you are willingly go to him and say what we're not going to hurt you but we're just going to what to deliver you to your enemies instead of saying wow you inspired us you can do it let's do it they don't do it I'm just wondering how much inspiration did he have as a child in other words he got the nizzy root but but the parents weren't it wasn't like Han Hana or you know that kind of thing where it's all God inspired right no we don't know much but we know for sure that definitely he didn't get it from his father something tell right I think I think that the narrative will say something but there is nothing really nothing good 19th says needs to make sure that his people are safe not only himself meaning did not need a gun he could kill people with his own hands will'll translate in a minute I'm going to translate don't worry and I'm going to take a to take Aima okay so the thing is like that this story of the fact that theud extradite Yuda so extradite Shimon we criticize it obviously but there is something very interesting there he basically says that a leader a Jewish leader needs to know that he not he needs to protect himself but not only to protect himself but also to protect his people which is will be even more important than protecting himself then he says one of the lessons that you can take from the idea the story of Shimon is how you take care of your people even if you disagree with them what do I mean by that Shimon could fight with everyone he likes right he's pretty strong right he killed Pim with his own bare hands he killed the lion with his own hands so when chud came along and says to Shimon you know you ran to our territory we're going to extradite you he could tell them what forget it if you want to extradite me fight me right try and uh and then what will happen they're going to get killed they will get killed so he was willing to sacrifice himself to the people for the people that's one thing that he did the second thing he did he told them don't hurt me just tie me and then deliver me to the hands of of theim so theim would think that what that you don't cooperate with me you basically disagree with what I did so they will never endanger endanger you or attack you which means he again took upon himself a tremendous responsibility now when I saw this rbag it connected to what RB said before now and Michelle I would tell you when the Shuda saw such a sacrifice from him what should have done what should have they done change their mind and say no we're not going to extradite you we're going to join you to fight ptim but they didn't do that resist so they were not inspired by his sacrifice a or maybe they were not worthy or maybe they were not ready whatever you would like to say but basically what Shimon did for them it's something that every leader need to make sure that he can do which is to sacrifice your life for your people who else did it now it's the time if you don't forgive them erase my name from the Torah oh yeah okay you see very good so basically remove me from your Torah if you don't listen to me there is no point in being a leader If my people suffer um everyone they can take his own relevant lessons from me but but the idea is the idea is is what is that the leader must know that he is not a leader for himself he's a leader for the people so then and B was a good example too who on the ship that's also true one more thing he will not Vanquish ah he's protecting them also from very good interesting basically the idea is that even if they would follow him he knows that it's only the beginning which means he will not bring it into fruition he will not bring it to the end which means they will continue to die so he says you know what let me die and not them interesting uh H the 20th lesson is which means the next lesson from Shimon is that if hasem wants you to be successful in in battle you don't need a tank you don't need a missile you don't need an RPG you don't need a gun you can kill it with your own hands this is another lesson which if hasem wants you to be successful you can what you can do it you there is another another case for example um pinhas for example okay when pinhas saw what Z and K doing and it was in the middle of the tribe of shim of Shimon so he took a a a spear went into the tent and according to the midashim they wanted to kill him and somehow hasem helped him to do what was needed to be done so again the idea of there is no one can stop God if he wants you to what to succeed 20 which means measure against measure we spoke about it last time Shimon followed his eyes he saw those and says oh I like ha so they took one of his eyes the 22nd so it's to tell you about God's revenge in the Pim because they thought that they were able to capture Shimon because of their gods but wanted to show them it's not about their gods it's because of weakness which means the is saying that the last lesson is or one of the last lessons is that basically what Shimon says shim asked God to do what why why shim didn't ask God to do what let me basically collapse this building on them and somehow I shall live and continue on to do what I do because Shimon understood was that he is going to be punished and he deserve punishment he says only this time one time one more time that's it so I'll teach them a lesson and why am I asking you got to listen to me because it's also for you if you remember last week we spoke about the fact that they brought him to where to Theon they brought him to their house of worship where they Idol where worship idols and they basically brought all the ministers and they brought K not sacrifices to their gods basically saying our Gods won the Jewish god so basically shim says to this is the time that you're going to show them that what that it's not about their Gods it's about my god when my God decid that I'm done I'm done so this is the last lesson that the learns from this entire story of Shimon now to tell you that I am fully convinced that you need to bring that story of Shimon with all its complexity just in order to learn those lessons that I can learn those lessons with from other stories not true that I can can I tell you that all those lessons are condensed in one little story that's for sure but still I think we have a little bit of a problem with the story of Shimon with all its complexities so take a look at abarbanel umel you know what this is more of a of a summary um you know let's skip it let's go to the you have the new one okay okay do you see the title okay the title is uh something of a mystery and I don't know if you will finish it this week but we will see basically the title is Shimon golat David So Shimon the connection between Shimon golat David and the house of royalty the house of Kingdom The House of the kings of David so take a look at what's going on here so now until now for I don't know how many weeks we are dealing with chimon eight weeks I don't know whatever it is we read The Narrative we analyze the Paran and that's how we buil the different ways to look at the narrative right now we are going to do something little different we are going to see a little bit um but mostly why everyone who knows me know that I'm not exactly there right I'm more into the analysis when you have such a figure a Biblical figure like Shimon with all with all its complexity you must ask yourself the question that we asked before and the rbag asks what's the purpose of that story everything the r gave me I can learn from a different story in tanak I don't need shim story in t how am I going to explain it to kids in or in elementary school that a judge part of our judges our line of Judges was what was married toot that he didn't have any Jewish friends that that's what I'm going to tell you know and then he failed because of a woman that's what I'm going to tell him that he ate from this honey that after he killed the lion from a that's what I'm going to tell them so there is probably something mystical and that's obviously intrigued the and so we will try the best we can and try to understand what's going on here you remember that part of the punishment for shim was that what gr that he was grinding but we said that there are two different interpretation to the word to one is grinding and the other one was AB right that every pishy brought his wife to Shimon to get her pregnant because what because they thought that the DNA that Shimon has I don't know if they knew about DNA but they thought that he will give strength to their kids okay so that's says is the beginning of the third Century he passed away when he was old he was 92 the interpretation of the word is not grinding it's it's a language of transgression crazy okay so you can imagine that shim is in bet you have a line of women with their husbands okay and each one of them give out to Shimon and then she's pregnant and then he thinks that his child will be another shim okay says theam when yov gave a blessing to shevan it ended with what to your salvation I hope jakov saw in his prophetic Vision that Shimon will come Froman until here it's fine how come Yakov that Chan will help establishing the House of David how how because at the downfall of Shimon they took him to to the to prison and not to grind goat's father is Shimon that sounds like what like a good drama right that's a good one by the way with with the years it makes sense it matches which means one of those women who came to be with Shimon shim didn't want it but he was with her his son was and we know that what because yeah go ahead no are you saying that was the I don't say anything that's what was the I'm not saying I'm not saying I'm I'm just trying to explain first before I'm trying to explain I'm trying to understand for myself theam okay so theam is saying something that I know he has no where's his facts Pro he has no GPT I don't know I don't know there's no I don't see a source yet but let's see let's see it's going to be developed I know I knew I'm not sure if we're going to finish it this week or not but this is something amazing think about it knowing that what that Chan is going to prepare the establishment of House Of Kings to David how by Shimon at his downfall he is going to what to start the first building Stone founding stone for what for the so then he says what if you remember that when he gave a blessing to um toan it says that is like a snake that he basically he bites you and then he bites the horse and the rider falls down on his back where he he says what is NE that the house collapsed what kind of house collapsed so now we have options I can speak about the house collapse on the that's one option second option is something else he says what does that mean the downfall of Shimon was the beginning of David's R David's rise however the symbolism of shimon's downfall when they bite harav it's also the symbolism of what of mikdash and theban the destruction of the House of David until when until which said what and after that you remember the story from the end of Mak saw this fox going coming out from the and we have the hope that it will be rebuilt and that what already said to wow which is an incredible idea that connects Shimon to golad and to okay now it's also interesting when you think about this is not theam that's I'm telling you so you don't need to accept it you don't need to accept theam either if you don't want but when you understand how the Jewish people encamped and how they journeyed in the desert who was the first one Yehuda sh Yuda was the first one who was the last one Dan was the so now when they surrounded the mishan so who was together and CH meet ah because end to the end beginning end so now we have another interesting connection between chevan and CH Yuda okay so let's keep that in mind maybe we'll get back to it okay now take a look in David so David ran so that's was he tookes he took um sword and he took it out from the what do you call it which means he helped him die then he chopped his head off all the that is dead like really dead Okay so they ran away says the Mal which means he finished him now we know it the is to kill him so what it it started with SH it started with Shimon Shimon just began but when was the end of the P te when they saw that their hero is dead they ran away and that was the time that they were destroyed which means David completed what completed what shim began now I know there is sha and but basically was the one to really to finish up the job that shim be so here we have yet another connection between shim goat and David and then you also see the word Moto many times that's what we called mil what is MIL a word mil what is man guiding like to guide like a guiding word which if you have a word that it's being repeated more than twice you know that this is a word that you need to pay attention to so if you look at so let me with so what is the five times we got it after the second time I think which means his death but not the death of yet the death of comes when when okay now in you come to me with a sword and and a spear I come to you with the name of God that you disgraced and you come to me with what with a spear and a sword and all of that right I just come like that that reminds us of whom Shimon Shimon did not take any spear sword rifle or anything it was with his own hands or with this uh donkey uh ch right that he killed a few people so the idea is that also DAV comes with with this same Mission okay now in so that's what says to so will be like a snake so he bites the horse like at the back leg and then the rider goes and falls down on his back in we have is not impressed with someone is riding a horse okay have that all in mind we will put all of it together let's go to root in root per it says you remember that story right they came to her mother their mother-in-law and they said to her we would like to go with you and she said no no no or left and root attached herself and glued herself to Nomi says the Ora had four children and all four of them fell in the hands of David Min who are they what are their names Amar saf mad I will not recommend to those names to your children grandchildren or great grandchildren okay not saf not mad not and not what his name and they all fell all those four giants fell in the hands of David now we don't know about the other three but we know the T says that some Giants fell in David's hands I once gave a she about it who are Ora Ora gave a kiss to Nomi and said goodbye and Nomi and root Dava what is D Kaba glued herself really glued herself to Nomi so therefore the children of the Nuka the children of the woman who gave a kiss to Nami will fell in the hands of the of the of of David who was a descendant of whom of someone who attached herself to Nami soim is a was the bto's grandson he said the following which means he says AEM hasem fought against the MIT with his name he didn't use any you know missiles or anything else he just used his name says based on that you can explain something in the Z okay which is what now take a look at itom he wanted to say that when says to it doesn't mean just I represent God but I am going to say dma and I'm going to kill you who says that that what he claims that David says according to the that's what the Z says that that's what David said to gol now excuse me who's go gol gol you remember that took the five Stones it's the same and he put them in one little poet so he took the five and he put all these five in in it one and he basically made God one that's what the Z says now that sounds like a zar thing to say right I mean this is like above my pay grade okay and I think it's above everyone's pay grade unless someone here isar or whatever but he's trying to explain it now take a look at what he says I will try to make as much sense out of it okay for also talks about how exactly Moshe killed the Egyptian and this is a midash not only Z that says that he killed him with the name of God and he wants to claim that that's by saying why because it says the numerical of Cafe is 25 how many words do you think there is in sh Isel let's see shma don't skip the stages we all know it's going to be 25 Susie but let's just get it right let's see that if is correct okay so shma is three how many words we have in isra letters letters letters not words letters six so 3 plus six is nine so it's four we have already 13 five so 13 + 5 is 18 18 that's another four that's 22 is 25 yay we got the 25 he basically used now then he continues and he looked here and there so he said and he saw that there is no we explain it this is how look at things and this is how we look at things we look at things like he looked here and there there was no one there so he strike the Egyptian this is the simple thing to say the Z says no MOS Renu knew he needs to kill this Egyptian but not only to kill him physically to kill him spiritually to take the from him therefore what does he do he say the but what isma shma is is to make one God one and in order to do it you need to what to remove any physical obstacles from you from yourself this is also why when you say sh is you need to be willing to give your life for God so how can you give your life for God by saying everything else is not important says this is the meaning of V which means he saw that he mosu was able to what to remove every sense of physicality from himself so he can recite the shma in a way that will kill the Egyptian which means that when David killed gol gol was all about what this world it's all about the physicality soav he has zero chances to kill the guy I mean when the when the Goliath saw David he says what what do you think I'm a dog that you come with stones to kill me I'm going to to smash you and David says you can come with a sword with a spear I will will come with five Stones which by the way the zor has a point because me with my mind whenever I saw this story I said why five Stones why not three why not seven now I know there is a winery it's called five stones and on the back they write why it's five Stones because it is the land where David and Goliath had their fight and this is why yeah look at the back look at the back look at the back of the wine of these five Stones okay so but why five why not three why not two and half why not four I thought four the name of God no five has this idea of hasem and you put it in one which is which is the and now you understand that also Moshe did it with the Egyptian goat who was a descendant of this ptim that was part of shimon's issue Shimon was not able to remove what the is all those layers but DAV finished up the job by using God's name so that's the says thought they P him like they fight meaning on their Arena which is physical strength I killed a thousand of you with a like one I don't know and I killed you with your physical ability at the end they all died the same way so he knew that he's using the same method that they use the but he knew that the source or the origin of his power it comes from a Divine so he asked and then if you remember where it says before he says sh reach out to God and he says Elohim where else do we say Elohim is and is which means Shimon says look all my life I fought the P him only with my physicality but now this time I need to do it in order to show that God is one so again the same idea okay said that at the end when he brought down the building so he says at least one time one time I'm going to make sure that everyone understand that you are God you are the one okay yes yeah I went everywhere I went everywhere you see what I do for you one of those Zelda you come and dancing no okay so what kind of a blessing is that yov gives to Dan just imagine you go to your son you say you will be like a snake I'm sure your your son will really love it right I mean what kind of a blessing is that so he says like that which means um the is really in in's eyes is the source of what of all evil and the temp temptation of nature okay it's the imagination of nature all the pleasures of nature it's in the Nash and then at the end of the day and that was the punishment for the Nash that he will not enjoy anything from this world but the idea of the nahash was it's all about the physicality when he goes to says to just imagine what kind of Wonders of Pleasures you're going to have if you're going to eat from that therefore he says that golat is the symbol of what and theim is the symbol of what of the and the temptation of nature was you call not only but is totally denying God meaning when came out he wanted to show everything is by nature and look at me I control Nature by Nature you can't fight me and that's why he put on his legs because the legs are I mean in in Rabin midic tradition is theot the reasons when says to blessed you what does it mean to my legs to my feet what does that mean because because of you so basically says the following and this is how I'm going to hopefully bring it together so we'll have time for M golat and theim are the representatives of what of everything nature there is no God is not involved Shimon played along until the last time the last minute of his life then he brings God together and he says hem and Elohim are the same one David fights with golat at the beginning sha looks at him and the entire arm Israel is terrified from golat because they know that by Nature there is no way they're going to what to fight him therefore what does he do when David volunteer they take him and they put on him what all the Armory and David says I can't do that but they look at him and says are you crazy even with the Armory you what you have a 0.9 chance right without the Armory he's going to eat you up a life and theid says I'm not going to fight him at the same field I'm going to fight him B so basically the war between David and golat is not about the little David and golat it's about nature against spirituality between versus theim and therefore at the end of that story take five Stones which is is according to that and he shut it where he shut it in between his eyes which means basically to crack this idea of nature yes there is nature we are obviously not denying nature and miracles cannot happen every day but there are moments of time that if you have Thea you're going to what to overcome nature so now if I'm asking you what's the story of Shimon so the r gave you 24 different lessons based on andala you have a totally different story totally different story in a way Shimon is somewhat of a b cha who immersed himself in aish culture which is alla and was able at least at the end to what to pull himself up and to become a is so that's for today