The Rock of Israel in Megillat Haatzmaut
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ByTzvi Pittinsky

David Ben-Gurion (First Prime Minister of Israel) publicly pronouncing the Declaration of the State of Israel, May 14 1948, Tel Aviv, Israel, beneath a large portrait of Theodor Herzl, founder of modern political Zionism, in the old Tel Aviv Museum of Art building on Rothshild St. The exhibit hall and the scroll, which was not yet finished, were prepared by Otte Wallish.

שמואל ב כ״ג:ג׳

(ג) אָמַר֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִ֥י דִבֶּ֖ר צ֣וּר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מוֹשֵׁל֙ בָּאָדָ֔ם צַדִּ֕יק מוֹשֵׁ֖ל יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃

II Samuel 23:3

(3) The God of Israel has spoken, The Rock of Israel said concerning me: “He who rules men justly, He who rules in awe of God

רש"י על שמואל ב כ״ג:ג׳:א׳
(א) לי דבר צור ישראל. אלי דבר וצוה צור ישראל, שאהיה מושל באדם, בישראל שנקראו אדם, שנאמר (יחזקאל לד לא): אדם אתם (יבמות סא א), ואהיה צדיק מושל וירא אלהים. ורבותינו (מועד קטן טז ב) פירשוהו בלשון אחר: אמר דוד: אלהי ישראל לי דבר, אלי דבר צור ישראל, מושל באדם אני, ומי מושל בי, צדיק, שאני גוזר גזירה והוא מבטלה. אבל לפי ישוב המקראות, הראשון הוא פשוטו של מקרא:
Rashi on II Samuel 23:3:1
(1) The Rock of Yisroel spoke to me. The Rock of Yisroel spoke to and commanded me that I should be a ruler over men, over Yisroel who are called "men" as it is written, "You are men." [He also told me] that I will be a righteous person, a ruler and a God fearing person. Our Rabbis interpreted [this verse] with a different explanation:6Moed Koton 16b. Dovid said [as follows:] "The God of Yisroel spoke to me, the Rock of Yisroel spoke to me, I am ruler over men. And who rules over me? The righteous man, because I [may] issue a decree and he [can] annul it." But according to the flow of these verses it is the first explanation that is the simple interpretation of these verses.
ישעיהו ל׳:כ״ט

(כט) הַשִּׁיר֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כְּלֵ֖יל הִתְקַדֶּשׁ־חָ֑ג וְשִׂמְחַ֣ת לֵבָ֗ב כַּֽהוֹלֵךְ֙ בֶּֽחָלִ֔יל לָב֥וֹא בְהַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־צ֥וּר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Isaiah 30:29

(29) For you, there shall be singing as on a night when a festival is hallowed; There shall be rejoicing as when they march with flute, with timbrels, and with lyres To the Rock of Israel on the Mount of the LORD.

Israel Declaration of Independence