Kabbalah Library

311. And Orpa kissed her mother-in-law. Orpa, her name was Harafa, so why was her name called Orpa? It is because she turned her Oref [neck] to her mother-in-law and returned to her place, to Sde Moab. She whored, gave herself up to harlotry, and the people of her place did not accept her, and she went to the land of the philistines, and everyone were battering her as within the bulgur [parched crushed wheat], for she gave herself up to harlotry.

312. She bore six sons from prostitution, and they all fell by the hand of David and his people, who was the son of the son of Ruth, as it is written, “And dwelled in Nob, which is in the children of Harafa.” Who placed them in Nob? After all, Nob is near Jerusalem, in the Land of Israel, and he was in the land of the philistines?

313. However, it teaches that he came over the engagements of Nob since David turned the matter of Nob, the city of the priests that Saul killed, and the Creator is meticulous with the righteous even as a hairsbreadth. The Creator said to David, “You caused that much in Nob, the city of the priests, verily, either the judgment will apply to you or to your descendants, that none of them but one will remain.

314. It is written, “And one of the sons of Ahimelech … escaped,” meaning that of all of his father’s house, only Eviatar remained, and for this iniquity, Saul and his sons died, and several tens and myriads [ten thousand] of Israel, and David was sentenced to die.

315. When David went to the land of the Philistines, Harafa saw him. She said to her son, “This is the one who killed your brother.” That time was the time for the quality of judgment to avenge David for the deeds of Nob. He summoned Yishvi to kill him. Promptly, “and dwelled in Nob,” which came for the deeds of Nob. This is what David said, “Lord of the world, let my descendants be upright before You, and I take upon myself the judgment.”

316. What did he do? Yishvi took him and burdened himself on him, and on the bed, placing a stick on it, and placing himself on the bed in order to crush it. David said to him, “It is disrespectful to kill me so, with a stick.”

Yishvi took it and threw him in the air, and placed a sword underneath, so he would fall on the sword and David would be killed by it, as it is written, “who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.” Promptly, Avishai mentioned the explicit name, and it remained standing in the air and did not fall to the ground, and David’s horse slipped away and went to Jerusalem.

317. Avishai went and came to the Sanhedrin and said, “What is to ride a king’s horse at a time of duress?” and they permitted him. He rode the horse, and returned it to David. He found David standing in the air. He said to him, “Go back on your prayer,” meaning that he should stop praying for the well being of his sons.

318. David said to him, “What will I return to the Creator for all that He has awarded me? I have assumed it upon myself from the courthouse of Samuel of Ramah that even if a sharp sword is placed upon one’s throat, he should not deny himself of mercy.” Promptly, he went back on the prayer he was praying for his sons, and accepted the judgment over his descendants, as it is written, “And Avishai son of Tzruiah helped him, and he struck the Philistines,” by advising him to accept the judgment over his sons.

319. Atalia, mother of Ahaziahu, saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.” It is written “destroyed,” and it is written, “exterminated all the royal family,” saying that David’s descendants were destined to perish from the world.

320. “And Yehosheva, daughter of King Yoram, sister of Ahaziah, took Yoash.” This teaches that the Creator sentences to eye for an eye, for as Elimelech had one son left, so did David have one son left. Nevertheless, although that decree was sentenced, and permission was given to the quality of judgment, it is written about it, “Yet today they will halt at Nob,” meaning that the quality of judgment in Nob still stands and accuses before the Creator. And as the Creator is so meticulous with the righteous, with the wicked, much more so.