The Secret Tikkun of King David and Batsheva: The Key to Shidduchim and Sefiras HaMalchus

Lesson No. 190 | Thursday, Parashas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim, 6 Iyar 5759

King David promised Uriah the Hittite a wife in exchange for his help, and was punished for taking the "key of shidduchim (marriage matches)" for himself. This article explains, based on the Zohar, how Batsheva belonged to David from the Six Days of Creation, and how their union completed Sefiras HaMalchus (the Divine emanation of Kingship) and granted David his eternal strength.

King David's Promise and the Heavenly Voice

When King David struck down Goliath, he deeply wanted to cut off his head to finish the job and know the work was complete, but he could not open Goliath's scale armor. At that moment, David turned to Uriah the Hittite, who was Goliath's armor-bearer, and asked for his help: "Baruch Hashem (Thank God), Hashem performed such a miracle and I managed to bring down Goliath. Perhaps you can help me finish him off already?"

Uriah replied that he too was disgusted by the Philistines and wanted to convert to Judaism, but he made a condition: "If you promise me a wife, I am willing to open the scale armor for you so you can cut off his head. But who will take me? I am a Hittite. They barely agreed to accept Ruth the Moabite, so who will agree to marry me?" David saw that he had no choice, and he promised Uriah a wife.

Regarding this, the Midrash says that a Bas Kol (Heavenly Voice) emerged and said to David:

"Can you promise shidduchim? What, do you hold the key to shidduchim? Do you know how to make matches? You promised—so he will take yours!"

This was the punishment David received for promising something that was not in his domain. When a person promises something that is not in his hands, he receives a punishment for it. Since only Hashem makes shidduchim, the terrible confusion was created wherein Batsheva first became the wife of Uriah.

The Holiness of Uriah and the Secret of the Zohar

Even though Batsheva was given to Uriah, the holy Zohar reveals a tremendous secret: Uriah never touched her. He planted a sword between himself and her. Uriah was a holy man, the head of David's mighty warriors, and he lived at the pinnacle of asceticism and self-restraint.

He had an inner feeling, a form of Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration), that this was not his true shidduch. Therefore, even though he took her as a wife, he maintained absolute separation and never knew her intimately at all. Thus, Batsheva returned to King David completely whole and pure, exactly as she was before her marriage to Uriah.

The Completion of Sefiras HaMalchus

The holy Zohar explains that Batsheva was destined for David from the time of the creation of the world. The moment David merited to marry Batsheva, at that very moment he received all of his power, and the true spiritual circuit was closed.

This is similar to the union of Aaron the Kohen and Elisheva. Aaron symbolized Sefiras HaChesed (the Divine emanation of Loving-kindness, specifically the supernal Chesed), and Elisheva completed Sefiras HaMalchus (Kingship) for him. In the merit of this union, Aaron was able to sweeten the severe judgments with loving-kindness, draw down blessings from Sefiras HaKeser (the highest Divine emanation of Crown), and illuminate his face to all of the Jewish people with joy.

Batsheva: The Foundation of the Davidic Dynasty

The same is true regarding King David, who himself embodies the secret of Sefiras HaMalchus. Batsheva's name hints at the fact that she completes the seven lower Sefiros. She is called "Batsheva" (literally "Daughter of Seven") because she completes the Malchus of Malchus (the ultimate manifestation of Divine Kingship).

All of King David's successes, and all of his power to establish an eternal kingdom and fight the enemies of Hashem, were in the merit of Batsheva. Through her, he was able to strengthen himself, deepen his grasp on the kingship, and establish the Davidic dynasty for all eternity.

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