With today’s daf TB Sotah 42 we finished the seventh chapter and begin the eighth chapter of our massekhet. The first Mishna of the seventh chapter, daf 32a, gave a list of speeches that had to be said out loud in Hebrew and speeches that could be spoken in any language. We have finished discussing the laws of the Sotah and have moved on to learn about all the other speeches enumerated in the first Mishna of chapter 7.
Chapter 8 discusses the laws of war. The chief kohain chaplain of the Israelite forces
would speak to the Army in Hebrew. “With regard to the priest who was anointed for
war, at the time that he would speak to the nation, he would speak
to them in the sacred tongue, Hebrew, as it is stated: “And it shall
be, when you draw near to the battle, that the priest shall approach and
speak to the people” (Deuteronomy 20:2). This priest identified in the
verse is the priest anointed for war, the priest who is inaugurated
specifically to serve this function. “And speak to the people”; he
addresses them in the sacred tongue, Hebrew.”
(Sefaria.org translation) He gave two speeches to the troops, one at the border
and one at the front line. At the border he explains who is exempt from serving
in the Army. At the front line, he exhorts and encourages the troops before
they go to battle. Hopefully, the troops understand Hebrew. Otherwise, these
speeches would not have their desired effects. I’ll have to ask some of my
friends how the IDF trains its volunteers from the Diaspora who are not fluent
Hebrew speakers.
The anointed
kohain gives historical examples to
inspire the troops to trust in the Lord. One example is the famous battle
between David and Goliath. “The priest explains why the soldiers need not be
terrified. “For the Lord your God is He that goes with you, to fight for
you against your enemies, to save you” (Deuteronomy 20:4). Remember that they
come to war championed by flesh and blood, and you are coming championed
by the Omnipresent. The Philistines came championed by Goliath. What was his
end? In the end, he fell by the sword, and they fell with him (see
I Samuel, chapter 17).” (Sefaria.org translation)
Of course,
the midrash paints Goliath and his ancestry in the worst possible light in
order to make David’s victory even more spectacular.
“The mishna
recorded the particulars of the priest’s address: The Philistines came
championed by Goliath. The Gemara describes the battle between David and
Goliath. What is implied by the name Goliath? Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The
verse indicates that he stood before the Holy One, Blessed be He, with
brazenness [gilui panim], as it is stated: “Choose yourselves a man [ish],
and let him come down to me” (I Samuel 17:8), and man [ish]
is referring to none other than the Holy One, Blessed be He, as it is
stated: “The Lord is a man [ish] of war” (Exodus 15:3). The Holy
One, Blessed be He, said: I will hereby fell him by the son of a man [ben
ish], as it is stated: “Now David was the son of that man [ben ish]
of Ephrath” (I Samuel 17:12).
“Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Meir: In three instances, his own mouth ensnared that wicked one and unwittingly foretold his own downfall. One time he said: “Choose yourselves a man, and let him come down to me,” describing himself at the bottom. And another time, he said: “If he is able to fight with me and kill me then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us” (I Samuel 17:9). There, he supposed that his opponent would defeat him, before supposing that he, Goliath, would be victorious. Finally, the other time was when he said to David (I Samuel 17:43): “Am I a dog, that you come to me with staves?” The Gemara asks: But didn’t David also speak in this manner? David also said to him: “You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin” (I Samuel 17:45). The Gemara answers: David then said to him, immediately afterward: “But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted” (I Samuel 17:45).
“The verse says: “And the Philistine drew near morning and evening” (I Samuel 17:16). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: He did this specifically in order to prevent them from completing the recitation of Shema in the required times of morning and evening. “And Goliath presented himself forty days” (I Samuel 17:16). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: These days correspond to the forty days over which the Torah was given, as he wanted to do away with it.
The verse introduces Goliath: “And a champion [ish habeinayim] went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath” (I Samuel 17:4). The Gemara asks: What is indicated by the term beinayim? Rav said: The word is related to the root beit, nun, heh, meaning build, and means that he is built [muvneh] perfectly and free of any blemish. And Shmuel said: The word is related to the word bein, meaning between, and means that he was the middle [beinoni] among his brothers. A Sage from the school of Rabbi Sheila said: The word is related to the root beit, nun, heh, meaning build, and means that he was made strong as a building [binyan].” (Sefaria.org translation) The Gemara goes on to disparage his mother's sinful sexual behavior.
Even so, David bested him using five smooth stones and a slingshot. This example taught the Israelite army that if God could provide victory for David, then the Israelites should have no fear as they enter the battle against their enemies.
For a humorous take on the battle between David and Goliath, I offer you the Israeli band Kaveret (Poogy)’s song Goliath. For those who understand Hebrew and the story of David and Goliath, will get a big kick out of the song. If you don’t understand Hebrew, just enjoy the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0xWYu3zasE&list=RDEMVOzRAKeXzRLDGOaruAKsXA&index=2
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