Tehilim Perek 110

Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily is Tehilim Chapter 110.

Although this is a short chapter, there are a variety of different opinions about who authored it and to what it refers.

It opens with the words, “L’Dovid Mizmor, A Psalm for Dovid.” The simplest explanation is that Dovid wrote this chapter for the Leviiim to sing in the Beis Hamikdash. When it says the words, “Adon’I, My master,” therefore, it refers to Dovid himself.

The Gemarah in Nedarim 32B explains that Dovid said this perek as praise for Avraham Avinu, whom Hashem had promised success in the war against the 4 kings. Therefore, in verse 4 when it says “Ata Kohen l’olam al divarti malki tzeddek, You’ll be a Kohen and righteous king forever,” it refers to what happened with Malki-Tzeddek, the king of Yerushalyim during Avraham’s time.

The Gemarah in Nedarim goes on to explain that Hashem was going to give the Kehuna to Malki-Tzeddek, also known as Shem, but because Malki-Tzeddek chose to bless Avraham before blessing Hashem, the privilege was removed from his family and given over to Avraham.

The Gemarah in Baba Basra 12B, and the Meri in his introduction to Tehilim, write that this perek was actually written by Malki-Tzeddek himself.

Last, but not least, the Sforno claims that the subject of this chapter is talking about none other than Mashiach himself.

The beginning of this chapter recalls the promise Hashem made to Avraham that he would successfully defeat his enemies. Hashem would allow Avraham to use the kings as his “footstool,” meaning that he would totally conquer them. The chapter also relates the great merit Avraham had for finding God at such a young age. It was in the merit of Avraham’s desire and search for God that he received “extra” Divine protection.

The perek winds down with mentioning the Bris ben Habisarim, the promise that although Am Yisrael would be enslaved, ultimately Hashem will honor His covenant with us and will not let us be destroyed.

If you learn that the subject of this chapter is about Dovid, the perek is about Hashem allowing Dovid to be successful and defeat his enemies.

Verse 1 says:

לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה ׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י שֵׁ֥ב לִֽימִינִ֑י עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃

Of David. A psalm. God said to my master, “Sit at My right hand, while I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Ramad Walli explains this passuk kabbalistcally, about Mashiach in the following manner:

It says the word “Ashis, I will make,” in the feminine form. It really should have said “Asim,” in the masculine form. Why?

If you rearrange the letters of Ashis- Aleph, Shin, Yud, Suf, you get the word ishti, meaning “my wife.” When Mashiach will come, there will be a yuchid, union of all of Hashem’s names, like the union between a man and wife

The perek opens with the words “Nuam Hashem l’Adon’I,” where the placement of the two names of Yud, Key, Vav, Key and Aleph, Daled, Nun, Yud are next to each other to teach us about the union of Hashem’s names that will take place in the times of Mashiach. We will all experience the absolute Oneness of God when Hashem reveals His presence for all mankind to see.

May we merit the revelation of Mashiach Ben Dovid with our very own eyes.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.