The Weekly Shtikle - Pekudei

The Weekly Shtikle is dedicated le'iluy nishmas my father, Reuven Pinchas ben Chaim Yaakov, a"h.

This week we will read the haftarah for parshas Pekudei which is somewhat rare, as it is never read in a non-leap year. Nevertheless, it did not crack the top 5 rarest haftaros (see Shaarei Zemanim by Rabbi Dovid Heber.) The connection to the parsha is just about as straight-forward as it gets. While Pekudei details the culmination of the construction of the mishkan, this passage from Melachim I (7:51-8:21) covers the completion of the beis hamikdash constructed by Shelomoh HaMelech.

In the final pesukim of the haftarah, Shelomoh recounts a dialog with HaShem regarding David HaMelech and how he could have been the one to build the beis hamikdash. However, HaShem disqualified David for reasons we will soon discuss (although they are not mentioned here) and Shelomoh was chosen as the one to build it "in his place." With this exposition, Shelomoh is making a declarative statement that this is very much David's building, just as much as it is his. Surely, there is a purpose for this focus.

For a parent, one of the most satisfying and rewarding feelings is experienced when one observes his child performing a good deed or exhibiting a virtuous trait and subsequently realizes that this is directly resulting from the chinuch he provided. Conversely, if a child does something less favourable and displays a bad trait, it is all the more frustrating and upsetting when the parent looks inward and realizes that the child has inherited this trait from him.

In a more detailed exchange, (Shmuel II 7:5-17) HaShem reveals to David through Nasan that he will not be the one to build the temple. In Divrei HaYamim (I 22:8) David explains to Shelomoh that the reason for this is because he has much blood on his hands and has waged many wars. Clearly, David's wars and bloodshed were primarily Divinely ordained and approved. However, this was an absolute fact that disqualified him from using those same hands to build HaShem's ultimate dwelling place.

What remained to be seen was how all of David's experiences would affect his progeny. Did war and bloodshed become part of his very being or was his true essence one of dedication to the Divine word that unfortunately involved some violent means? The emergence of Shelomoh as the worthy builder of the beis hamikdash was a true testament that David was in fact fully focused on carrying out the will of HaShem. Shelomoh therefore dedicates this magnificent edifice to his father who, although he didn't build it, was very much responsible for it being built.

Have a good Shabbos.

Mishenichnas Adar marbim be'simchah!

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:

Dikdukian: Tarshish Shoham

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