Haftarat Vayechi
1 Kings 2:1-12
From his deathbed, David charges his son Solomon to keep the Torah and take care of some unfinished matters. He tells him to put Joab to death for the murders of Abner and Amasa. David tells Solomon to reward Barzillai’s sons for the kindness their father showed him. He tells Solomon to put Shimei to death for cursing the LORD’s anointed. David dies, is buried in the City of David, and Solomon secures the kingdom.
This week’s Torah portion tells the story of the death of Jacob and his last charge to his sons. It begins the narrative with the words, “When the time for Israel to die drew near…” (Genesis 47:20). The phrase translates literally as “And when the days of Israel drew near to die.” An identical Hebrew construction begins this week’s haftarah portion. “As David’s time to die drew near” (1 Kings 2:1). The symmetry explains why the sages chose 1 Kings 1:1-12 for the haftarah to Vayechi.
In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob gives his sons a final charge. He charges them to bury him in Canaan. This week’s haftarah, David prepares for his death by delivering a final charge to his son Solomon.
From FFOZ Unrolling the Scroll
Ffoz.org