David on Trial – Guilty or not?
Noam Zion : David on Trial – Guilty or not?
Torah Study Group - Scholar in Residence 2/23/08
This amazing speaker brings subjects to light and captivates us as his students! Thank You Noam Zion…
First the description of how Jerusalem became the center. It isn’t a port, there is no major water source, it isn’t particularly defensible… then why was Jerusalem the place where David founded the site of the Temple and the center of his kingdom?
He was born in Bethlehem – not Jerusalem – (this could be why the Christian Bible puts Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem – to connect him to David) – David was the underdog, the young boy who slew Goliath, the one we loved because he was an ‘outsider’, short, ruddy complexion, a musician. “If anyone says negative things about King David then they must be against all the people.” (may still be true today).
The story of Batsheva is compared to the loss of Camelot, the looking away from the indiscretions of our heroes such as JFK and even Bill Clinton.
The description of the image from The Surrealistic Bible, 1976 Diedre Luzwick
Batsheva on his left and the sheep from the parable of Nathan on his right. Many mythological images such as the woman statue in the upper left corner the sex goddess, the image n the mirror holding the lantern as Diogenes. (or Nathan judging David) David washes his feet as a symbol of his sexual behavior. The harp and the tiger below are also symbols of David’s character as a young man and his music.
Yes, David was guilty on many counts – but it is amazing that this is accounted for in the Bible and shows the great flaws of this great man and king.
David is guilty –
• he stays behind while he sends his army off to war – he sends the ark along with the army as well.
• Voyeurism – as David watches Batsheva.
• Crimes against women a – as he uses his power to take Batsheva
• Adultery .
• Coveting.
• Betrayal of his comrade and friend Uriah
• Impurity = Rape.
• Coercing Uriah and trying to get him to sin.
• The cover-up and manipulation of Uriah’s certain death.
(At this point Samuel might be saying ‘ I told you so ‘ about kings and power. )
Should he be IMPEACHED?
The Defense –
Noam Zion reviewed 6 possible defense strategies for the case…
1. he was predestined to transgress in this way so he could teach teshuvah.
2. It was a test - the Hubris strategy
3. David spent the rest of his life in repentance and remorse.
4. Deny that the incident really happened.
5. Loophole that changes the order of things to make the connection to Bathseva legitimate.
6. Batsheva was the seductress who convinced David to commit these sins.
What ever the reason, Nathan was there to reprove David of this event and the incident is reviewed each time it is read. Our loyalty to King David as well as to our faith is to a process that involves sin, criticism and allows for teshuvah and correction of our actions.
Source: The King David Report by Stefan Heym
http://dannyreviews.com/h/The_King_David_Report.html
You can contact Noam Zion at his email: zionsacs@netvision.net.il
Torah Study Group - Scholar in Residence 2/23/08
This amazing speaker brings subjects to light and captivates us as his students! Thank You Noam Zion…
First the description of how Jerusalem became the center. It isn’t a port, there is no major water source, it isn’t particularly defensible… then why was Jerusalem the place where David founded the site of the Temple and the center of his kingdom?
He was born in Bethlehem – not Jerusalem – (this could be why the Christian Bible puts Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem – to connect him to David) – David was the underdog, the young boy who slew Goliath, the one we loved because he was an ‘outsider’, short, ruddy complexion, a musician. “If anyone says negative things about King David then they must be against all the people.” (may still be true today).
The story of Batsheva is compared to the loss of Camelot, the looking away from the indiscretions of our heroes such as JFK and even Bill Clinton.
The description of the image from The Surrealistic Bible, 1976 Diedre Luzwick
Batsheva on his left and the sheep from the parable of Nathan on his right. Many mythological images such as the woman statue in the upper left corner the sex goddess, the image n the mirror holding the lantern as Diogenes. (or Nathan judging David) David washes his feet as a symbol of his sexual behavior. The harp and the tiger below are also symbols of David’s character as a young man and his music.
Yes, David was guilty on many counts – but it is amazing that this is accounted for in the Bible and shows the great flaws of this great man and king.
David is guilty –
• he stays behind while he sends his army off to war – he sends the ark along with the army as well.
• Voyeurism – as David watches Batsheva.
• Crimes against women a – as he uses his power to take Batsheva
• Adultery .
• Coveting.
• Betrayal of his comrade and friend Uriah
• Impurity = Rape.
• Coercing Uriah and trying to get him to sin.
• The cover-up and manipulation of Uriah’s certain death.
(At this point Samuel might be saying ‘ I told you so ‘ about kings and power. )
Should he be IMPEACHED?
The Defense –
Noam Zion reviewed 6 possible defense strategies for the case…
1. he was predestined to transgress in this way so he could teach teshuvah.
2. It was a test - the Hubris strategy
3. David spent the rest of his life in repentance and remorse.
4. Deny that the incident really happened.
5. Loophole that changes the order of things to make the connection to Bathseva legitimate.
6. Batsheva was the seductress who convinced David to commit these sins.
What ever the reason, Nathan was there to reprove David of this event and the incident is reviewed each time it is read. Our loyalty to King David as well as to our faith is to a process that involves sin, criticism and allows for teshuvah and correction of our actions.
Source: The King David Report by Stefan Heym
http://dannyreviews.com/h/The_King_David_Report.html
You can contact Noam Zion at his email: zionsacs@netvision.net.il
posted by Chavarah @ 5:47 AM
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