Shmuel HaNavi is not just the name of a very busy street in Yerushalayim.
The prophet Shmuel, for whom the street is named, takes center stage in this week’s haftarah. Shmuel establishes Shaul as the first king of the Jewish People and guides the nation as to how to remain close to Hashem while utilizing the position of the king properly (Shmuel Alef 11:14-12:22). How does this story connect to Parshas Korach?
Rav Nosson Scherman writes that Korach’s main argument against Moshe Rabbeinu was that there was no need for Moshe to lead. He argued that since it was the entire nation that stood at Sinai, there was no need to have a king-like authority figure – kol ha’am kedoshim. However, the Torah’s view is that without a king there would be anarchy, and, more importantly, a proper Jewish king inspires the nation, he doesn’t lord over them. The king in the Torah’s world is not an absolute dictator or monarch, he is bound by Torah laws.
Ultimately, it is the Sanhedrin that wields the greatest influence over Klal Yisrael in its role as the decider of halacha and the proper Torah approach regarding any issue. This is what Shmuel explains to the nation in this perek. Chazal (Rashi, Bamidbar 16:7) teach that Shmuel HaNavi was a descendant of Korach, so it is befitting that it is he who clarifies for all time the true position of a Jewish king – explaining how Korach’s argument is invalid. The ideal system of Jewish government has a king at its head, but a benevolent and righteous king who knows that his place is to abide by the dictates of the Torah as transmitted by the Sanhedrin.
The greatest example of what a Jewish king is supposed to be is Dovid HaMelech. We can learn a tremendous amount by analyzing his greatest talents and contributions to Klal Yisrael and to the entity of malchus.
The Stitchiner Rebbe, Rav Motel Zilber, asks a very simple question. We know Dovid HaMelech as the king of Yisrael, the servant of Hashem, and the forbearer of Moshiach. But we also know him as the Ne’im Zemiros Yisrael, the sweet singer of Israel (Shmuel Beis 23:1) and through the words of Tehillim. In fact, as we recite on Hoshana Rabbah, Dovid is described as “Melamed Torah b’kol klei shir,” Dovid taught Torah with all types of musical instruments. How did he teach Torah with music? Apparently, Dovid’s musical Torah teachings were designed to penetrate the soul and the emotions. His focus did not involve intellectual study alone; Dovid, at times, utilized music to touch the senses and the spirit.
Why is it, the Rebbe asks, that the one individual associated with the ultimate level of Jewish kingship, Dovid HaMelech, is also the sweet singer of Yisrael? Kings are known for power, for strength, for heroism, for leadership, and Dovid possessed all of those qualities, but why did he also excel in zemiros and music, something that kings are not known for? It can’t be a coincidence; there must be a connection and relationship between music and malchus, kingship. What is it?
The Rebbe explains that the king’s role is not only to lead but to provide chiyus, life, to the nation. A good leader becomes the spirit and character of the people he leads. As the Rambam writes: “Libo hu lev kol kehal Yisrael – The king’s heart encompasses the heart of the entire community of Jews” (Hilchos Melachim 3:6). That is why the Torah states that rebelling against the king warrants the death penalty. When one revolts against the king, it is not merely a revolt against him, but rather against the entire nation.
Lehavdil elef havdalos, those of us who vividly remember the events of September 11, 2001 will recall the following phenomenon.
When the tragedy occurred, much was said about the remarkable leadership qualities of then-president George W. Bush and then-NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani. Everyone marveled at their ability to remain strong and steadfast amidst the pressures of tragedies not seen on American soil in our lifetimes. When they spoke confidently and reassuringly in their nationally-televised speeches and remarks, the entire nation was comforted and felt confident and reassured facing a difficult and unknown future. They seemed to have embodied the nation.
To look at George W. Bush was to peek into the strength of the American spirit. Even the staunchest of Democrats rallied around the president and Bush had a 90% approval rating that lasted for a relatively long time. Mr. Bush became the heart of the nation he was leading (although his popularity later dipped dramatically due to many other events which occurred during his presidency). Bush had injected the American people with chiyus.
We now understand why Dovid HaMelech is the sweet singer of Klal Yisrael and the author of Tehillim. The perakim that make up Tehillim are the expression of the soul of the Jewish nation. You can open the sefer at any time in your life and find chapters that are intellectually relevant and emotionally fulfilling. It is almost as if Dovid HaMelech studied all of our hearts and minds and understood the challenges that each of us face. This is because Dovid was king and therefore the heart of the people. He understood our joys and pains, our passions and frustrations. Through his role as the collective heart of Yisrael, he understood what flows through the hearts of his people for all generations. This is how the Sfas Emes (Vezos Habracha) interprets the posuk regarding Yehuda’s blessing, “Shema Hashem kol Yehuda, v’el amo tevi’enu – Hashem should hear the voice of Yehuda, and bring him to the nation.” This refers to Sefer Tehillim, the voice of Dovid, descendant of Yehuda, and a sefer brought to the nation to help them survive for all time.
This is why Tehillim is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. And this is why Dovid utilized the powers of song and zemiros specifically in his role as Melech. It is also one of the reasons Dovid was chosen to be the progenitor of Jewish kings and the father of Moshiach.
The Jewish King must be the heart of the nation to lift, motivate, and inspire it.
To schedule a speaking engagement with the educator and author of five books, Rabbi Boruch Leff, contact: [email protected].