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When David was fleeing from Avshalom, Shimi, a member of Shaul’s (the previous king) family (see Esther 2:5), confronted him with one of the most brutal curses recorded in Tanach. After David survived the rebellion, Shimi asked for mercy, and David swore that he would not kill him. But, on the other hand, David did not want Shimi to escape unscathed from the episode or be able to aid in another rebellion, this time against Shlomo.
Shlomo instructed Shimi to build a house in Yerushalayim and administered an oath to him that he would not "leave there to here or to there, and on the day that you cross the Kidron (a riverbed northeast of Yerushalayim) know that you will die" (Melachim I 2: 37-38). Three years later, Shimi’s servants escaped to Gat (on the western coast). Shimi went to retrieve them, which was the violation that enabled Shlomo to carry out his father’s will. Upon being confronted by Shlomo, Shimi is not quoted as explaining his actions. It is hard to understand how Shimi, a brilliant man, who Chazal refer to as a teacher of Shlomo, the wisest of all men, could have been foolish enough to endanger his life to retrieve two servants.
The key to understanding Shimi’s actions and Shlomo’s cunning in fulfilling his father’s instructions may be through a halachic debate. The mishna (Bava Metzia 102b) discusses a case of a house rental for the price of 12 gold coins for a year, a gold coin per month. What happens if the year is turned into a leap year? Does the renter get an extra month for free, as they agreed on a year for 12 coins, or does he pay another coin for the 13th month, as the price was also quoted as a coin per month? Different solutions are offered. Rav (in the gemara) opinion is that the landlord gets the extra coin, because the final statement is the binding one.
If we go back to Shlomo’s command to Shimi, we will notice that he first told him not to leave Yerushalayim and then told him that if he crossed the Kidron he would be killed. The Kidron had special significance as the boundary between the tribes of Yehuda and Binyamin. If Shimi would be involved in a rebellion of his tribesman, he would cross the Kidron to join them. Yet Shimi went westward, to Gat, without crossing the Kidron. Shimi apparently thought that he would not be held to the first part of the oath, because he felt that the second part limited the limitations on his travels (like Rav’s opinon. Shlomo held him to the entire oath, interpreting his own word’s like the opinions that argue on Rav, and found a way to fulfill his father’s will. The navi concludes the episode, "the kingdom was secure in the hands of Shlomo" (ibid. 46).
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
