King David and the Cistern That Fills From a Nearby Spring

"And who is like Your people Israel, [a nation whom God went]" (2 Samuel 7:23). Rabbi Berekhiah said in the name of Rabbi Abba bar Kahana: One verse says "whom He went" (1 Chronicles 17:21), and another verse says "whom they went" (1 Chronicles 17:23). "Whom He went" — this is the Holy One, blessed be He; "whom they went" — these are Moses and Aaron. "And You established for Yourself Your people Israel, etc.," "And now, be willing and bless, etc." (1 Chronicles 17:22, 24, 27). Rabbi Yochanan said: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to David: "David, the cistern is not filled from its own digging unless you draw a channel to it from a nearby place. You too, stretch out your hand against the nations of the world, and you will be blessed." This is what is written: "And it came to pass afterward that David struck the Philistines, etc." (2 Samuel 8:1).