David (Wolpe) on David: Review & Critique

In those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his eyes

Judges 17:6

There are two types of educational books. One can teach you on a foreign topic while the other can inspire you to think. David Wolpe’s David The Divided Heart is one of the latter. It gets you thinking.

To begin with, authoring a book about King David is a daunting task. Rabbi Wolpe stood in front of a legacy of over two thousand years of great minds who have poured over David’s story. Thus, presenting King David’s saga in a new light is no easy endeavor.

Beyond David’s tale being popular source material, the Hebrew Bible’s accounting of the monarch presents textual realities. The scribes authoring the David story were confronted with the notion of protecting the monarch. At the same time, however, the authors brilliantly kept the door open for readers to read between the lines. In essence, there is murkiness as to the tale’s truthiness. One must tread through propaganda.

Due to the subject material’s complexity, I recommend one becoming familiar with the scripture before reading Rabbi Wolpe’s book. Even a superficial reading of the Book of Samuel and early Kings will enhance the read. The original text displays an intensity of both political and theological spin that no dreydel could ever approach. The scriptures authors’ mastery must be read to be appreciated.

David, as Rabbi Wolpe points out, is the Levant’s Godfather. Like Don Corleone of movie fame, David likewise has a connection to olive oil. While Vito Corleone worked in the olive oil business, David is anointed king by olive oil via the Prophet Samuel. Beyond the olive oil, the two legendary figures share legacies of both bloodshed and palace intrigue.

Rabbi Wolpe organizes David’s life into the many chapters of his lives. He points out the many themes in his life and how they overlap which prior biblical narratives. More so often, however, the themes tragically overlap with David’s own life.

David’s past haunts him. Rabbi Wolpe’s analysis brings the reader to the top of the diving board. He invites people to take a leap into a deep pool of thought. The David The Divided Heart suggests that there is much more to carve out how David’s past consumes him as he tries to live in the present.

David’s Realization

On an aside, one must appreciate David’s daunting realization. From the onset, David may have held the belief that he could become part of the House of Saul. He could have aspired to ascend to King via succession.

This is well illustrated in the text. The scriptural attempts to graft him into the family. He is the healer of Saul’s angst with his music. He is the King’s son-in-law via marriage. He is son-like via his relationship with Saul’s son Jonathan.

David’s relationship with Jonathan was described as beyond a mere friendship. The depiction of the relationship could be construed as an attempt to paint David as an actual son. The intensity of his relationship with Jonathan may have been an attempt to inject David into the Saulian blood line.

Over time, however, David realizes that his ascension to Israelite King will be divorced from the original Israelite Monarchy. His attempts to achieve it were met with futility. He appreciates that he will have to bide his time in order to take his rightful place as Saul’s successor.

He further comes to the reality that the House of Saul’s familicide must occur. A telling moment in the scripture occurs when Saul’s daughter castigates her husband David. After that, David then never produces children with her. Was this done in part to prevent the reemergence of a Saulian House? Certainly, any child born from that matrimony would have secured an inside track to ascend to the monarchy.

Back to the Book

In David The Divided Heart, an excellent discussion involves David as a father. The books addresses David’s inaction was his progeny act out. One son rapes a daughter. Another son avenges this sexual violence by murdering his brother. The book poignantly addresses David’s inaction to the palace’s chaos.

This discussion leads the reader to think about what is going on. David has trouble dealing with his sons because they are composites of his life and his family.

It is reported that David’s rapist son suddenly has a loss of interest in his obsession with his now defiled sister. After the sexual assault, he not only rejects her, his failure to commit to her results in her being placed in limbo. His son’s action is similar to David’s retaking possession of his wife, King Saul’s daughter. After her initial marriage to David, she had married someone else after David had fled. David, after retaking her, becomes disinterested with once was the object of his desire. His son’s actions, however, are an amplification of David’s original act.

With his son Absalom who exacts vengeance toward his rapist brother, David also sees himself. He too is a plotter and a person with charisma. He sees his son capable of manipulating others akin to himself. Absalom proves he is a person, like David, who was able to get things done without leaving fingerprints at the crime scene.

David also sees someone else in Absalom. David perhaps sees his older brother. The brother who is described as handsome. Absalom too is one with amazing looks. This is a source of dissonance from David’s childhood. God chose David over his older and handsome brother. Thus, is this why, when Absalom returns to the fold after his period of exile, he cannot look at him? Is David trying to assess whether Absalom is worthy of being a ruler absent his impressive countenance?

As the book goes into symmetry, there is comparison of David with Bathsheba versus Absalom’s taking of David’s ten concubines. Both of these affairs involve rooftops and acts of trechery. Absalom, arguably, is the Uber David. He is cunning of the original David combined with the good looks possessed by his brother. David is all too aware that his heart triumphed over good looks when he was selected by the Lord. Absalom’s behavior was another moment in which the progeny presents an amplification of David’s past behavior.

Rabbi Wolpe’s discussion of David’s behavior towards his children is thought providing. There is the appreciation of the fact that David is no moral authority. He is mentally handcuffed. He is incapable of being placed in that role. Rather, he remains having a heart for God. His loyalty is towards God. As Rabbi Wolpe points out, David, unlike others, never strays into idolatry.

A Man of Pure Faith?

After going through David’s story, Rabbi Wolpe notes that David remains loyal to God. He does not stray into idolatry. He is the figure of faith as much as Moses is the figure of law.

Rabbi Wolpe takes us to the passage from David giving advice to Solomon.

“I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,  and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

In essence, David greatness was arguably his acceptance that he was no moral authority. His deference was one his legacies. Rather than being a King that did what was right in his eyes, he accepted contrition for his failures. David accepted the fact that his God placed limits upon him.

Conclusion

As someone familiar with criticism of David prior to reading, I found David The Divided Heart a thought provoking book and a worthwhile read. Personally, it was a springboard for additional thoughts that are included within this essay. Many of these ideas were derived from Rabbi Wolpe’s direction towards the tale.

Be well!!

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