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Natan’s approach to advancing Shlomo’s candidacy is perplexing. If he had prophecy that Shlomo was to be the next king, why didn’t he announce it before David and the nation? After all, Natan’s status as the court prophet was not in question. He had the confidence even to stop David’s plans to build the Beit Hamikdash, a project that David looked forward to throughout his life. He confronted the king forcefully in regard to the episode with Bat Sheva and Uriyah. Why here did he resort to a plan that avoided taking on the issue of succession directly?
Apparently, the prophet was not authorized to intervene in the matter of choosing a king against the people’s will. At first glance, the pasuk, "You shall place upon yourselves a king that Hashem will choose" (Devarim 17:15) seems to contradict this thesis. Yet the Ramban derives from the end of the pasuk, which commands the people not to choose a foreigner, that the people decide. The pasuk invokes Hashem’s Name because, in the final analysis, Hashem arranges for all leaders to assume their positions (Bava Batra 91b). However, as far as practical procedure, the people pick the king. The people choose, and it turns out that it was Hashem’s mandate.
Therefore, Natan had to devise a strategy whereby the people would throw their weight behind Shlomo. He knew that a royal ceremony could win over the masses. A ceremony was arranged at the Gichon stream, including anointing of oil and blowing of the shofar. The idea was for it to be a call to the populace to express acquiescence to David’s choice. Indeed it was successful, as the pasuk states: "All of the people said: ‘Life to the king, Shlomo.’ All of the nation came up afterward and the nation was playing flutes and were very happy, and the Land split to their sound" (ibid. 39-40). It is particularly the noise that troubled Yoav, Odinayah’s most prominent supporter. The harbinger, Yonatan ben Evyatar also connected the excitement with the result: "The city was teeming with the noise you heard, and also Shlomo sat on the throne" (ibid. 45-46).
May we merit leaders who are a proper choice of the nation and Hashem.
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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.
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.
