וידבר [וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ] אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־הַ֠יּוֹם תִּֽהְיֶה־עֶ֜בֶד לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֔ם וַעֲנִיתָ֕ם וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָי֥וּ לְךָ֛ עֲבָדִ֖ים כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃
Sie redeten zu ihm also: Wenn du dich heute als Diener stellst diesem Volke ihnen dienest, sie erhörst und ihnen mit guten Worten zuredest, so werden sie dir für immer dienen.
From David to Destruction
When R. Gamliel ascended to dry land, he sent a messenger to them to tell them to come so that he could appoint them, and they did not come. He again sent a messenger to them, and they came. R. Gamliel said to them: Do you imagine that I am granting you authority, and since you did not want to accept the honor you did not come when I sent for you? I am granting you servitude, as it is stated: “And they spoke to him saying: If today you become a servant to this people” (Melachim I 12:7).
From David to Destruction
We will return later to the theme of the servant leader, regarding the failure of Rechav’am. In that incident, Rechav’am is advised by Shlomo HaMelech’s wise advisors that “Im HaYom Tiheyeh Eved La’Am HaZeh Ve’Avadetam… VeHayu Lecha Avadim Kol HaYamim,” “if today you become a servant to this people and serve them... they will be servants all the days” (Melachim I 12:7). As Bob Davids points out,