David's Ten Enemies and the God of David Blessing

Midrash Shmuel 26:3

"And I was with you wherever you went, etc." (II Samuel 7:9). And elsewhere it says, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your birthplace" (Genesis 31:3), and afterward, "and I will be with you." [Rather, to David, because he sustains Israel, He would say, "And I was with you wherever you went"; but to Jacob, because he sustains his household, He would say, "Return to the land of your fathers" and "I will be with you."] "And I will cut off all your enemies from before you" (II Samuel 7:9). David had ten enemies, five in Israel and five among the nations of the world. Five in Israel: Doeg, and Ahithophel, and Saul, and Shimei son of Gera, and Sheba son of Bichri. Five among the nations of the world: Goliath and his three brothers, and Shovach. One verse says "Shovach" (II Samuel 10:16), and one verse says (I Chronicles 19:16) "Shofach." "Shovach" because he resembled a dovecote (shovach); "Shofach" because his blood was poured out (nishpach) upon the ground. "And I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones, etc." (II Samuel 7:9). From here the Sages established "the God of David and Builder of Jerusalem," corresponding to "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." And on the Sabbath, even though the one who passes before the ark does not mention it, the one who recites the haftarah from the Prophet mentions it: "the God of David, who causes salvation to sprout for His people Israel."

Themes

Biblical References