Perashat Shemini, the sons of Aharon get killed by God as a punishment for performing an uncommanded service, Esh zara or strange fire. the lesson is that Monotheistic worship is an exact and detailed science, one that does not take kindly to human and spontaneous additions outside the prescribed system. This seems quite obvious from the text and almost all commentaries accept this, However.................... the Haftara (weekly portion of the prophets read after the Perasha or Sidra which is the Biblical portion) brings the enigmatic story of King David bringing the ark of the covenant to the capital amid a spontaneous and heartfelt celebratory procession, And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all manner of instruments made of cypress-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with sistra, and with cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzzah; and that place was called Perez-uzzah, unto this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said: How shall the ark of the LORD come unto me? 10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his house. 12 And it was told king David, saying: The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. 13 And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn. (Sam 2 ch 6 vs 5-16) Seems like a similar incident. however what is remarkable is how, unlike Aaron who is silent and accepting, king David was displeased with God, interrupts the impromptu procession leaves the ark by someone named Obed Edom the Gittite = servant of EDOM from GATH??? both edom and Gath were Israels enemies Edom being Esau Jacobs brother and Gath being one of the main Philistine strongholds, Im assuming this was one of Davids friends from out of Israel and probably not Jewish. King David seems to say that if he cant have a Temple that he cannot worship in spontaneously and with a popular celebration he leaves the Ark somewhere along the way until God will approve of his way of serving him. This is in the same direction that Hanna, Samuels Mother took when she was found trembling, weeping and silently praying to the Lord in the Tabernacle by Eli the High priest and was accused of drunkenness. Note that Hanna mentions a future anointed one in her prayer He will keep the feet of His holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for not by strength shall man prevail. 10 They that strive with the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them will He thunder in heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed Samuel 1 ch 2, Also note King David is wearing a linen tunic the last time a linen tunic was mentioned is the Tunic that Hanna lovingly wove for her son Samuel before donating him to God and the Tabernacle..................... After God blesses the house of Obed Edom the Gittite, King David continues the procession towards Jerusalem, this time in an orderly procession with no more instruments than the traditional Shofar as well as sacrifices for every six paces. However our great warrior poet mystic King loses all sense of decorum and Royal distance and breaks into an intense dance, leaping and shaking with his servants, priests And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn (Sam 1 ch 6 vs 14-15) i have mentioned previously that King Davids political agenda always was to break down the tribal barriers and create a HOUSE OF ISRAEL as opposed to house of Judah or house of Joseph. Here our great king seemed to have FORCED THE HAND OF GOD somehow and achieved a sanctioned celebration of unity in the worship of God. Maybe it was seeing the tribes united around the ark of the covenant, his deepest political desire fulfilled as well as the oppurtunity to stand before God as a regular person, not as a victorious mythical warrior, or as a successful general, or powerful king but as a man, trembling shaking, dancing, and celebrating before his creator.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:40:40 +0000
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