David Sits in Rabbinic Judgment
[A prayer] of David [ . . . ] Keep my soul, for I am pious (Psalm 86:1–2). Levi [ben Sisi] and R. Isaac [debated the meaning of this verse].
One said: So said David before the Holy One: “Master of the universe, am I not pious? As all of the kings of the East and the West sleep until the third hour [of the day], but [although I am a king like them,] at midnight I rise to give thanks” (Psalm 119:62).
And the other [said]: David said the following before the Holy One: “Master of the universe, am I not pious? For all of the kings of the East and the West sit in groups [befitting] their honored [status, but] my hands become soiled with [menstrual] blood, and [with] a fetus that miscarried, and [with] placenta in order to render a woman ritually pure [and consequently permitted] to her husband.1 And not only [that], but I consult my teacher, Mephibosheth,2 [with regard to] everything that I do. I say to him, “Mephibosheth, my teacher, did I decide properly? Did I convict properly? Did I acquit properly? Did I rule [ritually] pure properly? Did I rule [ritually] impure properly?3 And I was not embarrassed.”
R. Joshua, son of R. Idi, said: What verse [alludes to this]? And I speak Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed (Psalm 119:46).
It was taught: His name was not Mephibosheth, but rather Ishbosheth was his name. Why was [Ishbosheth] referred to as Mephibosheth? Because he would embarrass David in matters of halakhah.4 Because [David was not embarrassed to admit his errors,] he merited that Chileab would descend from him.5
Notes
[Leviticus 15:19–24 and 12:1–8 discuss the ritual impurity resulting from menstruation and childbirth, respectively. David here assumes the rabbinic role of examining women’s discharge to determine whether it renders them impure.—Ed.]
[The son of King Saul’s son Jonathan (2 Samuel 4:4).—Ed.]
[I.e., Was I correct in my ruling on the ritual purity of this person or object?—Ed.]
[This text derives the name Ishbosheth from the expression boshet panim, “embarrassment.”—Ed.]
[According to rabbinic tradition, David’s son Chileab was very wise.—Ed.]
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
