Tehilim Perek 7A

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one Perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing the first half of Tehilim Perek Zayin. As this is a longer perek, I split it into 2 shiurim.

The Ramad Walli explains that the previous one perek discussed a national savior. This perek discusses Dovid’s personal savior. Dovid wanted to place his individual suffering adjacent to that of Yisrael’s to teach that Hashem is the savior for both!

Shiggaion of David, which he sang to God, concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.

By focusing on the word “shigayon,” we canl explain the background behind this perek. There are three basic opinions as to what this word refers:

First, Rashi brings in the name of Menachem, who says that the word shigayon, is just the name of a musical instrument that Dovid would play.

The second opinion is brought by both the Metsudos and Rashi: Dovid felt that he was wrong to have e cut off a corner of King Shaul’s clothing

The last opinion is that of the Gemorah in Sanhedrin 95A, which explains that the word comes from the word Shogeg, an Aveirah that someone does by accident.

In Shmue Aleph, perek twenty-two, Hashem gave Dovid an option of two punishments. He could be captured by his enemies, or see the destruction of his offspring. Dovid chose to be in the hands of enemies over seeing his children die.

Sometime later, after being tortured by his enemies, Dovid regretted his decision and wished the punishment would have stayed in the family.

“Kush Ben Yemini” is referring to Shaul Hamelech, who wasdescended from Shevet Binyman. Just as a Kushite is differentiated by his dark skin color and beauty, so too

O LORD, my God, I seek refuge in You; deliver me from all my pursuers and save me.

Hashem, in you alone I trust; don’t leave me to the hands of people

lest, like a lion, they tear me apart, rending in pieces, and no one will save me.

If Hashem doesn’t save me, Shaul Hamelech, who is compared to a lion, the king of the jungle, will devour me.

O LORD, my God, if I have done such things, if my hands bear the guilt of wrongdoing,

At that time people were saying that Dovid initiated the fight with Shaul. Therefore, Dovid says, If I have done such things, I take full responsibility.

This is awesome! Dovid was being chased by his own father in-law and was completely innocent, but he tells Hashem “If I’m all the cause of all this, I’m sorry!”

Do we do take responsibility for what’s happening around us? Or do we just blame our circumstances and the people in our lives?

I like to joke that there are 3 things a person needs in life – food, shelter, and a person to blame!

Here Dovid unequivocally takes full responsibility for the actions of Shaul, who wanted to kill him.

Have I repaid my ally with evil— I who spared the one who torments me without reason?

Dovid had the opportunity to kill Shaul, but didn’t. Instead, he just cut off a piece of Shaul’s clothing. “Did I treat Shaul the way he treated me?” Dovid asks.

Then let the enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground, and lay my body in the dust. Selah.

Be”H, in the next shiur we will pick up where we left off, starting from passuk zayin until the end of the perek.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.