CHAPTER 83
A prayer regarding the wars against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat, when the nations plotted against Israel.
1. A psalm, a song of Asaph.
2. O God, have no silence, do not be silent and do not be still, O God.
Rashi: have no silence Do not give silence to our wrongs, with which our enemies harm us.
3. For behold, Your enemies stir, and those who hate You raise their heads.
4. Against Your people they plot cunningly, and they take counsel against Your protected ones.
5. They said, “Come, let us destroy them from [being] a nation, and the name of Israel will no longer be remembered.”
6. For they have taken counsel with one accord; against You they form a pact.
Rashi: against You they form a pact This pact is only against You, to cause Your name to be forgotten, for You are called the God of Israel, and since Israel
will not be remembered, even Your great name is not remembered. I found this.
7. The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites.
8. Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
9. Also Assyria joined them; they were the arm of the children of Lot forever.
Rashi: Also Assyria Even Assyria, which until that day was careful of other foolish counsels and would not join evildoers, as it says (Gen. 10: 11): “From that
land Asshur went forth,” that he left the counsel of the generation of dispersion [which built the tower], joined them here and assisted them for evil. (In other
commentaries I found this:) Also Assyria joined them, etc. Also this one, who initially loved good deedsfor he separated from Nimrod’s counsel, as it is said:
“From that land Asshur went forth” he too reverted to wickedness. Therefore, he participated in destroying Your temple. Genesis Rabbah 37:4.
Rashi: they were the arm All these gave strength and aid to Moab and Ammon, our neighbors, to come upon us.
10. Do to them as [to] Midian; as [to] Sisera, as [to] Jabin in the brook Kishon.
Rashi: Do to them as [to] Midian through Gideon.as [to] Sisera through Barak.
11. They were destroyed in En-Dor; they were [as] dung on the ground.
Rashi: They were destroyed in En-Dor I do not know which of the wars took place in En-Dor, that of Gideon or that of Barak.dung Heb. דמן, scattered dung, as translated by Jonathan.
12. Make them, their nobles, as Oreb and as Zeeb, and as Zebah and as Zalmuna all their princes.
13. Who said, “Let us inherit for ourselves the dwellings of God.”
Rashi: Who said These nations mentioned above: Edom, Ishmael, and all their allies. “Let us inherit for ourselves the dwellings of God” The dwelling of the house of God.
14. My God, make them like thistles, like stubble before the wind.
Rashi: My God, make them like thistles, like stubble which are driven away by the wind. Now what is גלגל ? It is the tips of the thorns of the field, which are
called chardons in French, thistles. When winter arrives, they are plucked out and disintegrate, and little by little they fly [away]. The part that is plucked out
of them resembles the wheels of a wagon, and the wind carries them.
15. As a fire that burns in a forest and as a flame that burns mountains.
16. So will You pursue them with Your tempest, and with Your whirlwind You will terrify them.
Rashi: and with Your whirlwind Tourbillon in French, whirlwind.
17. Fill their faces with shame, and they will seek Your countenance, O Lord.
18. Let them be ashamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
19. Let them know that You-Your name alone is the Lord, Most High over all the earth.”
