Will David’s actions heal the royal house – or break it?

When the clever woman from Tekoa spoke with King David, she set her fictive story in a field – a sadeh.

Other elements of her story – the fight between her sons, and then the fratricide – represent real events within the king’s own family. Her family’s insistence to avenge her murdered son is apropos as well, a representation of David’s unwillingness to forgive Absalom for Amnon’s murder. But the setting of the story has nothing to do with Absalom’s actions or David’s inaction. It draws upon an older tale instead, in fact –one of the oldest tales of all; it brings to mind the very first brothers, and the very first fratricide, which took place when Cain killed Abel “in the field” (Genesis 4:8).

The word for field, ‘sadeh’, plays a peculiar role in the Tanach. At times it denotes an arena for human creativity and Godly blessing. At others it marks a place that lies beyond the normal bounds of social norms. As such, it represents an opportunity for freedom --- and for violation. It can be a place of possibility, and allow an individual to shape his own reality; Isaac, that most restrained of all the patriarchs, can find respite in fields, and meet his future wife. But it can also enable dangerous transgressions, like Cain’s sin, Esau’s pursuits, and the kind of rapes where none can offer aid.

By setting her story in a field, the clever woman from Tekoa infuses her parable with undertones of both these possibilities. It hints at promise – and it speaks of danger. By forgiving a murderer, David will go beyond the norms of justice. Such actions can heal the royal house – or break it. They can prove to be a leap of creativity and blessing – or a violation that will herald doom. The woman can’t promise David where the tale will lead him. If he hopes to grasp the promise, he must first accept the risk.

In this case, the scales will end up on the side of danger. Absalom will burn a field one day, and use his royal pardon to destroy his father’s house.

Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born Boston-based writer and speaker about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. Avraham Norin shared this piece from one of this week's 929 many posts.

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