The Day Dovid Would Pass Away

It is told that Dovid HaMelech asked Hashem to let him know when the day of his departure from this world would come. Hashem refused to tell him. Dovid pleaded. Perhaps, he suggested, Hashem could at least let him know what day of the week it would be.

Hashem gave in, and told Dovid that his passing would occur on a Shabbos. From then on, Dovid spent every Shabbos immersed in Torah study, for he knew that the angel of death cannot descend upon a person while he is learning Torah.

Then, every Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night, after the sun has gone down and Shabbos is no longer in effect), Dovid would celebrate the fact that he was still alive after yet another Shabbos. Ever since, Jews celebrate along with Dovid HaMelech every Motzei Shabbos, with candles, food and music. This mitzvah is called Melave Malka, which literally means escorting the Queen, that is, Shabbos.