מלכים א, פרק ב׳, פסוק י׳

Immediately following the delivery of his final instructions to his son Solomon, David’s life reaches its conclusion [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. The passing of the king reveals a deep contrast between the journey of his soul and the resting place of his physical body. In the world of souls, he finds true peace, reuniting with his righteous and honest ancestors [רלב״ג, אברבנאל].

However, his physical burial remains separate from his family. While his soul joins his forefathers, his body is laid to rest in the City of David, historically identified as Zion [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, רלב״ג]. Commentators offer different reasons for this physical separation. One approach points to the dramatic shift in his family's legacy. David’s ancestors were shepherds buried in Bethlehem, but as the founder of a royal dynasty, David is buried in Zion, the established seat of his kingdom [אברבנאל]. Another perspective attributes this separation to David’s remarkable humility. Viewing his father as a perfect, sinless man, David felt unworthy of being buried beside him, choosing instead to be placed alone in his own city [אהבת יהונתן].

Beyond the personal significance of the site, an ancient historical tradition links the tomb to long-lost secrets. According to this account, David ordered the construction of a brilliantly designed hidden chamber at his burial site, where an enormous treasure was concealed. Centuries later, during the Second Temple period, funds were extracted from this hidden cache to pay Antiochus, and King Herod later used gold from the tomb for the construction of the Temple. Eventually, the few individuals who knew the architectural secret of the structure died, and access to the remaining treasure was lost to history [אברבנאל].