Sleeping Duty

What in fact led to David HaMelech’s success? The first few verses in Tehillim Chapter 132, cited in our Gemara, hold the answer. “Remember, Hashem, for David all his afflictions, how he swore to Hashem . . . If I shall enter under the roof of my house . . . if I shall allow sleep to my eyes, slumber to my eyelids, until I find the place for Hashem . . . Behold we heard of it . . . we found it . . .” Rashi on our Gemara explains that David HaMelech vowed that he would toil non-stop until he found the answer. He would not enter his house or sleep until he found the place for the Beis Hamikdash. That determination and self-sacrifice was rewarded with success.

The Shita Mekubetzes raises the following problem: The Gemara in Nedarim (15a) says that an oath not to sleep for three days is considered to be a shevuas shav, a vain oath. It is not physically possible to stay awake for three days. When he says he won’t sleep, he is really lying. The Gemara rules that if someone did in fact make such an oath, he is liable to be punished with lashes but he may sleep right away. So how was David HaMelech’s open-ended vow that he would not sleep until he found the answer valid? You can sleep on this problem or read on. The Shita Mukebetzes answers that both of David HaMelech’s vows mentioned in the verses are to be considered in tandem. He swore that he would not enter his house to sleep on his bed until he found the answer, but he would sleep in other less comfortable places outside his home in the interim.

The Har Tzvi points out that David HaMelech’s oath could possibly have been fulfilled if he did indeed find the answer within three days. Hence, the oath would certainly be valid. The Gemara in Nedarim is referring to a situation where a person made an unconditional vow that he would not sleep for three days. That cannot be fulfilled in any way and that’s all that mattress. This would still raise the question of how David HaMelech could make such a vow that he would possibly have to break. Unless we conclude that David HaMelech knew bedder. He was so confident in Hashem’s help that he had no reason to expect three days to pass without a resolution.

But all agree that David HaMelech’s determination alone could not have kept him up for 72 consecutive hours. We can’t let the topic rest here. The following recent news item creates bedlam.

Kevin Coon, Victor Lopez, and Farris Hodo beat out 100 other hopefuls to win the 24 Marathon Challenge, a contest to see who could watch continuous episodes of the award-winning television series 24, the longest to set a new Guinness World Records achievement. One hundred contestants entered a Plexiglass cube to watch “back-to-back Jack” until the last 24 fan remained awake and alert. The marathon began officially at 9:30 p.m. PST on Thursday, December 2, and Guinness World Records adjudicator Kimberly Patrick certified that Coon, Lopez, and Hodo set a new Guinness World Record of 86 hours, 6 minutes, and 41 seconds of continuous television watching shortly after 11:30 a.m. PST on Monday, December 6.

During the 24 Marathon Challenge, participants had to stay awake while watching a plasma screen measuring 6 feet high and 14 feet across. Guinness World Records rules allow for a 10-minute break for every two hours of TV viewing completed, during which time they could exit the theater, take restroom breaks, and call friends and family. Some techniques to help them stay awake included dousing themselves in cold water, smoking, and pushups. Could the contestants really have stayed awake for 86 hours? Dream on!

Dr. William Dement, author of the best-selling Promise of Sleep, suggests (in regards to a similar feat) that the feat was possible due to microsleep. Microsleeps are brief, unintended episodes of loss of attention associated with events such as blank stare and head snapping when a person is fatigued but trying to stay awake to perform a monotonous task like driving a car or watching a computer screen.

Microsleep episodes last from a few seconds to several minutes, and often the person is not aware that a microsleep has occurred. In fact, microsleeps often occur when a person’s eyes are open. While in a microsleep, a person fails to respond to outside information. A person will not see a red signal light or notice that the road has taken a curve, which is why this phenomenon is of particular interest to people who study drowsy driving. During a microsleep, a pilot might not be aware of flashing alarm lights in the cockpit.

A University of Iowa study in 2005 confirmed this phenomenon. EEG tests demonstrated that the brain activity that occurs during microsleep is consistent with a sleeping person rather than one who is awake and alert.

These TV watchers were very likely experiencing microsleeps whether or not it was evident to them or onlookers. This enabled them to extend the rigid 72 hour barrier. If you were wagering that they didn’t sleep at all . . . Well, all beds are off. If you hear of anyone else who went more than 72 hours without any going to bed, you’ll know that it’s bunk.

This might offer one more explanation of David HaMelech’s vow. He only forbade himself from engaging in willful sleep until he found the secret location. He did not intend to make a vow forbidding sleep that was beyond his control, such as microsleep. (This is very similar to another answer offered by the Har Tzvi in addition to what I quoted above.)

I hope this article was interesting enough and didn’t put you to sleep. Maybe it was overstimulating and made you restless. Either way, I’d be happy to hear your REMarks.