I am not a bloodthirsty man.
I am not an extremist.
I am a simple Jew who permits traditional Jewish teachings to shape his views, rather than the reverse.
King David shed lots of blood in his career as a warrior and a king, but he was criticized by a prophet only once in his life. Following the episode with the prince of Ammon came the infamous story of Batsheva. David ordered his general to allow a single Jewish soldier to be left in a perilous situation, and, as a result, this man was killed by the enemy. For this the prophet Nathan castigated David (something no truly immoral king would stand for, let alone humbly submit to), and David accepted several harsh decrees upon himself in contrition. All because a single Jew was indirectly killed through his command.
Leaders of Israel and the Jewish people should take particular note. Perhaps when faced with difficult situations they need to reflect and ask themselves, “What would King David do?”
David was never criticized for his violent reprisals against foreign enemies. On the contrary, these acts are recorded as acts of heroism that were never even questioned by those who received messages directly from God. He was a gentle man – but in times of war, and in times that needed to become times of war, he went against his nature, did what had to be done, and didn’t apologize for it. David recognized that degradation of his diplomats could not be taken lightly, let alone more tangible acts of war.
This is the leader we pray for three times a day – and have prayed for continuously for the past 3,000 years. When the day comes that more of us really mean it, perhaps we will merit the fulfillment of this prayer.