Close To Torah

Some of the most prominent days for the Jewish Nation took place under the reign of King Solomon. It is fascinating to note the greatness achieved by the Jewish nation under his leadership in that he was able to establish world peace and eradicate poverty and starvation throughout the nation. Rabbeinu Bechaya (Bereishis 38:30) states that just as the moon wanes and then waxes and reaches its fullest manifestation in the middle of the month (the 15^th) so too the maximum achievement of the Kingdom of Yehuda was accomplished by David and Shlomo. David is called, “the katan, humble/small one” (Samuel I, 17:14) and the moon was called, “the small luminary (Bereishis1:16).” David was the 14^th decedent coming from Avraham and through Yehuda (Avraham, Yitzchok, Yaakov, Yehuda, Peretz, Chetzron, Rum, Aminadav, Nachshon, Salmon, Boaz, Oved, Yishia, David, Shlomo) and Shlomo was the 15^th generation. The numerical value of David (Daled-Vav-Daled) is 14, representing the 14^th of the month, a day in which the moon is 2^nd most manifest. The numerical value of Shlomo is 375, which combines to a mispar katan of 15 (3+7+5=15), the day of the month which is the pinnacle of the moon’s brightness. Incidentally, it is fascinating to note that the 29^th king was Tzidkiyahu whose reigns represented the close of the 29 day lunar month and in which the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed (Bachya ibid.).

I would suggest that the way that Shlomo rose to power and greatness was on account of his illustrious father’s prayers and cries to Hashem to allow him and his descendants to remain the conduits for bringing out Kavod Shamayim. Chazal also tell us that it was in the merit of his righteous mother BasSheva’s rebuke and prayers. She prayed to Hashem from the depth of her heart to have a son who would be a true servant of Hashem and thus a most fitting king. She demanded of Shlomo that he put forth his full effort to develop into a noble and honorable person. Shlomo paid tribute to her in the Aishes Chayil song which was sung about her (Mishlei Chapter 31).

The Midrash (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:6) lists the similarities between David and Shlomo’s lives. “Both were Kings, Wise Men, Tzaddikim and respected. What is written about one is found about the other as well. Both ruled  for 40 years (David from age 30 to 70; Shlomo from 12 to 52), both were king over Yehuda and Yisrael (unlike after them when the kingdom split between the two), both built parts of the Beis HaMikdash, Dovid made the foundation and Shlomo made the structure, both were authors, both built altars and made sacrifices to Hashem.” The contrast is fascinating and illuminating. David built the internal part of the Mikdash and Shlomo built the external grandeur. David’s prayers were the internal essence of the Mikdash and Shlomo had the privilege of continuing his father’s work and putting up the physical building, one of external beauty and one that inspired awe for Hashem. Tehillim is the inner prayers of David, the internal sanctuary which we build as Jews.

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