Tehilim Perek 80

Welcome to NachDaily, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, and today we’ll be discussing Tehilim, Chapter 80.

Asaph had understood that even though the Jewish nation is like Hashem’s vineyard, there will be time periods when God will “breach His fence,” causing harm to His precious grapes. Asaph offers this as a prayer for all generations to ask for Hashem to take pity on His nation by restoring them to their original greatness.

The Ramad Walli explains the reason why this perek opens with the words, “Laminatseach el shoshanim, adus l’Asaph – A prayer on shoshanim, a testimony of Asaph.”

Shoshanim means roses and adus means testimony, or to give witness. This a prayer for Mashiach to reveal himself by being witness and coming to collect the roses amongst the thorns, to lift Am Yisrael out of exile by bringing the final redemption.

Asaph begins by calling to the “Shepherd of Israel” to lead His flock. Asaph specifically singles out the tribes of Binyamin, Ephrayim, and Menashe.

Asaph relates that Israel has suffered greatly in exile. How long will it last? The Jewish nation has been the object of derision and strife. God, please return us!

Asaph compares Am Yisrael to a vineyard harvested in Egypt. God went through many steps to save the vineyard. He planted it, shaded it, and allowed it to grow. Why then do You let it be eaten and destroyed by wild animals?

He continues to ask God to return us now! Look down from heaven and see our pain. Please be mindful of Your vineyard, and replant us on firm soil, never to be uprooted again. Please don’t pour Your anger out on us!

The prayer ends with Asaph asking God to bring us back, to shine His amazing light upon us so that we can be saved.

Perek 14 says:

יְכַרְסְמֶ֣נָּֽה חֲזִ֣יר מִיָּ֑עַר וְזִ֖יז שָׂדַ֣י יִרְעֶֽנָּה׃

Wild pigs gnawed at it, and the beasts of the field fed on it.

The pigs eating the vineyard is an allegory refering to the fact that Am Yisrael was brought to a lower state by the nations of the world.

Why the reference to the pig? Will the pig ever become kosher?

First, the Medrash states that the pig will become kosher during the messianic era. It is called a chazir, from the word chozer. This means that the pig will be chozer, return and become kosher.

Second, the Chasam Sofer explains that the actual physiology of the pig will change. The pig will chew its cud and be considered kosher.

Third, the Radvaz maintains that the reference to the pig is allegorical. It just means that in the future, the availability of delicious food will be so great that it will be as if the pig is kosher.

We can see this now — you can get any type of food that is also kosher.

Fourth, the Rabbenu Bachaye explains that the nation of Edom, which is represented by a pig, will become our friend. This is what is meant by the pig will be “kosher.”

Again, perhaps we can see this happening now, as America is considered Edom, which is seemingly a friend to the state of Israel.

Let us merit that our service of God should not resemble a pig that presents itself as kosher with split hooves on the outside, but internally is traif because it doesn’t chew its cud. Let us serve Hashem thoroughly, both on the inside and on the outside as kosher Yidden.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.