Shabbat Parashat Beshalach 5785

Parashat Hashavua: Did the Sinners from Gaza Convert?

Our parasha tells how Bnei Yisrael took a long route to Eretz Yisrael, as opposed to the coastal road, known then as the “path of the Land of Plishtim,” lest the people be deterred because of the warfare they would immediately encounter (Shemot 13:17).

Who were these fearsome Plishtim? They were a tribe that came from the Greek Islands to the southern coastal area of Eretz Yisrael at the time that Bnei Yisrael was an up-and-coming but enslaved nation in Egypt. The secret to their strength was technological, especially in developing the ability to make iron tools of war (see Shmuel I, 13:19, regarding their “monopoly” in this realm). The wars against them were for dominion over Eretz Yisrael and the international routes that passed through it. See harsh prophecies against the people of Azza (the city of Gaza, which was one of the major Phlishti centers, along with Gat, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron) by Amos (1:6-8).

Despite the problematic nature of this hated enemy, we find that David was able to make headway with them … off the battlefield. His special personality was responsible for some of them repenting and joining Bnei Yisrael. The prospect of taking pagans and turning them into G-d fearers is something that we pray for on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (“… all who has a soul … shall say: ‘Hashem, the G-d of Israel, rules, and His Kingdom is all-encompassing’”).

Let us look at what happened in Gat, the city of King Achish. David first arrived there as he was fleeing from King Shaul. The people of the city referred to him as “the king of the land” (Shmuel I, 21:12). One of the great warriors of the city, who was eventually appointed as one of David’s three leading commanders (Shmuel II, 18:2), was Itai of Gat. Maybe one could claim that Itai was a Jew who happened to live in Gat, but he would be mistaken. The gemara (Avoda Zara 44a) says that David was able to use the crown of the conquered king, despite the fact that it had been used for idol worship, because Itai had removed it from idol use (which can be done only by an idol worshipper). We must conclude that Itai’s relationship with David caused him to stop his idolatrous ways. Itai led a group of 600 Gatites who were very loyal to David and joined him with their families (Shmuel II, 15:18-22).

Achish (the king) also was impressed by David and called him “an upright person” and “like an angel” (Shmuel I, 29:6-9). Such compliments only come from one who was deeply convinced of David’s fine character. Furthermore, Achish went as far as to swear in the name of Hashem (ibid. 6). So, we see that the manner in which David sanctified Hashem’s name brought pagans to join, either partially or fully, the fold of believers.  

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