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In the days of Yehoshua bin Nun, Adoni Tzedek, the King of Yerushalayim, was the head of the treaty of the kings of the south of Eretz C’na’an. He tried to stop Yehoshua’s conquests after he took Yericho and Ay and after he made a treaty with the cities of the Givonim. Yehoshua killed Adoni Tzedek and his friends (see Yehoshua, ch. 10); however, it does not say what happened to the city of Yerushalayim.
It is explicit in the beginning of Sefer Shoftim (1:1-8) that after the death of Yehoshua, the Tribe of Yehuda conquered the city and set it afire. It is clear from the context of these sources that the inhabitants of the city were C’na’anite/Emorite. However, in Yehoshua 15:63, it says that Bnei Yehuda were unable to remove the Yevusi inhabitants of Yerushalayim and that they remained there "until this day." From the list of the cities of Binyamin, we see that Yerushalayim was on the border of that tribe (see ibid. 18:28). This tribe, as well, did not remove the Yevusi from the city (Shoftim 1:21). So Judeans and Binyaminites did not enter the city, and while the C’na’anites/Emorites fled when their king was killed, the Yevusis remained.
We also see from the tragic story of pilegesh b’Giva that Jews did not live in that city in the time of the Shoftim. The Levite was travelling northward with his concubine when night was starting to fall. The idea of sleeping in Yerushalayim/Yevus arose, but he said that he did not want to sleep in a non-Jewish city, and therefore they went on to Giva, where atrocity occurred (Shoftim 19:10-12).
The city is not mentioned again until the time of Shaul. After David killed Goliat, we see from the p’sukim, which mention Goliat’s head being brought there (Shmuel I, 17:54), that it was clear to David that the city had a place in the era of national renewal that was arising from the throwing off of the yoke of Plishti domination. Even when the navi describes bringing the ark from Chevron to Yerushalayim, the Yevusi inhabitants of the city are mentioned (see Shmuel II, 6).
At the end of the historical process, Aravna had become a ger toshav (see Avoda Zara 24b), a full ger (Ralbag), an officer (Rashi), or a monarch under David’s tutelage (Radak). According to the Radak, Aravna’s little kingdom was up there on the mount, as David, who did not yet realize the significance of the place, allowed him to remain there peacefully, until he had fuller understanding.
Next week, we will see how David learned the importance of the place. Hopefully soon we will see it fully rebuilt.
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
