Halakhah zu Schemuel II 21:34

This is the path of the upright with their steadfast hearts, but the gentiles with their uncircumsized hearts are not so,¹Yebamoth 79a. and their wrath is kept forever. Concerning the Gibeonites, because they have not forgiven and have remained unpacified, Scripture says, they “Were not of the children of Israel” (II Sam. 21:2).²See II Samuel 21:1, in Soncino Books of the Bible, ed. A. Cohen (London: Soncino Press, 1949), 319. He who has sinned against his teacher and seeks his pardon but is not pardoned, returns even a hundred times until he is pardoned.³Yoma 87b.

Indeed, condoning the act may well be an even worse infraction than the deed itself. II Samuel 21 reports that in the time of King David there was a famine which lasted for three consecutive years. David recognized that the famine must be a punishment for some transgression. Accordingly, he approached the urim ve-tumim and inquired of God what the infraction might be. There came the response, "And the Lord said: 'It is for Saul and for [his] house of blood because he put the Gibeonites to death' " (II Samuel 21:1). The Gemara, Yevamot 78b, quite cogently poses the question: Where is it related that Saul killed the Gibeonites? In point of fact, Saul committed no untoward act against the Gibeonites. The Gemara replies that although Saul did not kill the Gibeonites, he did annihilate the priests who were the inhabitants of the city of Nob. The Gemara further indicates that the Gibeonites were servants of the priests and, in return for their labor, they received their sustenance from the priests. Subsequent to the destruction of Nob, the Gibeonites who were dependent upon the priests for food and drink, no longer had a source of sustenance and consequently a number of them perished. Since Saul was, at least indirectly, responsible for their death, Scripture regards him as culpable for the demise of the Gibeonites.

King David was now apprised of the transgression for which his people were punished. He sought to make amends and called the Gibeonites and asked of them, "What shall I do for you and wherewith shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?" (II Samuel 21:2). The Gibeonites declined to accept gold or silver in expiation for Saul's transgression or as compensation for the harm and grief that they had suffered. But Saul was no longer alive and could not be punished. Instead they demanded, "… let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord" (II Samuel 21:6). David's response was immediate and forthright: "and the king said, 'I will deliver them' " (II Samuel 21:6). Scripture then proceeds to describe how David caused the grandchildren of Saul to pass before the urim ve-tumim and how he delivered to the Gibeonites the seven individuals selected by the urim ve-tumim. Assuredly, King David would not have acceded to the demands of the Gibeonites had there not been a clear indication of divine approval. Nevertheless, the Gemara questions the inherent propriety of such a course of action. "Fathers shall not be put to death for children, neither shall children be put to death for fathers" (Deuteronomy 24:16). The Gemara answers, "Rabbi Hiya the son of Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, 'Better that a letter be eradicated from the Torah than that the Divine Name be publicly profaned.' " Rashi, commenting upon the nature of the ḥillul ha-Shem (profanation of the Divine Name) which David sought to avert, explains that failure to exact punishment for the death of the Gibeonites would, in and of itself, constitute profanation of the Divine Name in the eyes of the world. Gentile nations would conclude that the Jewish people had acted unjustly in allowing strangers to be deprived of their livelihood without in any way avenging the evildoers.

King David was now apprised of the transgression for which his people were punished. He sought to make amends and called the Gibeonites and asked of them, "What shall I do for you and wherewith shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?" (II Samuel 21:2). The Gibeonites declined to accept gold or silver in expiation for Saul's transgression or as compensation for the harm and grief that they had suffered. But Saul was no longer alive and could not be punished. Instead they demanded, "… let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord" (II Samuel 21:6). David's response was immediate and forthright: "and the king said, 'I will deliver them' " (II Samuel 21:6). Scripture then proceeds to describe how David caused the grandchildren of Saul to pass before the urim ve-tumim and how he delivered to the Gibeonites the seven individuals selected by the urim ve-tumim. Assuredly, King David would not have acceded to the demands of the Gibeonites had there not been a clear indication of divine approval. Nevertheless, the Gemara questions the inherent propriety of such a course of action. "Fathers shall not be put to death for children, neither shall children be put to death for fathers" (Deuteronomy 24:16). The Gemara answers, "Rabbi Hiya the son of Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, 'Better that a letter be eradicated from the Torah than that the Divine Name be publicly profaned.' " Rashi, commenting upon the nature of the ḥillul ha-Shem (profanation of the Divine Name) which David sought to avert, explains that failure to exact punishment for the death of the Gibeonites would, in and of itself, constitute profanation of the Divine Name in the eyes of the world. Gentile nations would conclude that the Jewish people had acted unjustly in allowing strangers to be deprived of their livelihood without in any way avenging the evildoers.

On the seventh of Pesaḥ, the nights before the holiday, we sanctify it with Kiddush over the wine, and we do not need to say the blessing Sheheḥeyanu over the season. And here ¹ Pesachim 102b:5 is the proof. As it says there: Because Rav did not say that one recites the blessing over the season, learn from that that we are discussing the seventh day of Pesaḥ. Whatever wine he had, he already consumed, and does not have enough for two more cups. And the explanation for this is that the season is included within the pilgrimage. And we pray as on the first two days of Pesaḥ, for the evening and for the morning, but in the Musaf prayer we add to the verses of And you shall present ² Numbers 28:19-24, and we say, And on the seventh day a sacred gathering it will be for you, all laborious work you will not do.³ Numbers 28:25 And its offerings, etc. And we take out two Torah scrolls and read from And it was when he let them go⁴ Exodus 13:17 to For I am the LORD your healer ⁵ Exodus 15:26, since on the seventh day the Israelites of the exodus said the Song at the Sea. And the mafṭir reads from And you shall present to the end of the part⁶ Numbers 28:19-25, and concludes in Samuel, from And there was again fighting in Gath⁷ II Samuel 21:20 to the end of the song of David⁸ II Samuel 22:51, because it is a song, and it has language within it showing similarity to language of the exodus from Egypt, like Smoke went up from His nostrils⁹ II Samuel 22:9 or And he let loose bolts¹⁰ see II Samuel 22:9. And a minor translates it all into the Aramaic translation verse by verse, from And it was when he let them go¹¹ Exodus 13:17 and from the entire song, for this very day Israel crossed the sea, and the section is translated to publicize miracle. And just as it is our custom to translate the Torah into the Aramaic of Onkelos, so too we translate the Prophet into the Aramaic of Jonathan. And we also translate the readings on Atzeret that is to say, Shavuot, but not on the other festivals. On the eighth day we read Every firstborn to the end of the reading¹² Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17, and conclude with Isaiah, at That same day at Nob up to Shout and cheer¹³ Isaiah 10:32-12:6, because the downfall of Sanḥeriv was on Pesaḥ.

Sins committed against your fellow man are not atoned for on Yom Kippur unless you placate him, as it is said, "You will be cleansed of all your sins before God." This means, only sins against God are atoned for on Yom Kippur, but sins committed against your neighbor are not atoned for on Yom Kippur, unless you placate your neighbor. Everyone must, therefore, be very careful, if he has in his possession illegally acquired property, to return it and placate [the rightful owner]. If you are holding property of which you are not certain whether or not it legally belongs to you, you should let your neighbor know that you wish to appear with him, immediately after Yom Kippur, before a Beis Din Rabbinical court to be judged according to the holy Torah; and you should firmly resolve to abide by the verdict pronounced by the Beis Din. If you sinned against your neighbor, even if only with words, you must appease him. It is your duty to go personally to appease him. However, if it is difficult for you to do so, or if you understand that he will be reconciled more easily through an intermediary, you should appease him through an intermediary. The person whose forgiveness is asked should forgive wholeheartedly and should not be ruthless, for this is not a Jewish characteristic, but a trait of Esau of whom it is said, "And he kept his anger forever" (Amos 1:11). It is also said of the Gibeonites, because they did not forgive and would not be appeased, "The Gibeonites were not of the Children of Israel." (II Samuel 21:2) The characteristic of the Children of Israel is to be slow to anger and easy to be appeased. And when the sinner asks for forgiveness you should grant forgiveness wholeheartedly and willingly. Even if he tormented you a great deal you should not take revenge nor bear a grudge. On the contrary, if the offender does not take the initiative to come to you asking for forgiveness, you should present yourself to the offender in order that [the offender] should ask your forgiveness. If a person does not banish hatred [from his heart] on Yom Kippur, his prayers will not be heard, God forbid; but if you are tolerant and forgiving, all your sins will be forgiven.