The Song of Faith and the Siege of Sancherev
Pesach
This week, on the 11th of Nissan we will be celebrating the 117th anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe and the beginning of the 118th year. There is a custom each day for a person to recite the chapter of Tehillim corresponding to their current year of life. It is Minhag Chassidim to recite the Rebbe’s Kapitel as well.
On Yud Alef Nissan we will begin reciting Kapitel 118, beginning הודו לה‘ כי טוב. This Tehillim is one of the chapters of Hallel.
The Gemara connects the obligation to recite Hallel on the Yomim Tovim to the Posuk in Yishayahu (30:29) השיר יהיה לכם כליל התקדש חג “for you there shall be singing like the night when a festival is sanctified”. The verse is describing the joyous song that the Jewish people will sing at the time of their redemption from Exile.
Whilst this limmud is for all Yomim Tovim, there is a special connection to Pesach. The Posuk refers to singing at the night when a festival is sanctified. The only Yomtov on which Hallel is recited at night is on the first day(s) of Pesach.
The refers to the Hallel that was recited at the time to Korban Pesach would be eaten on the night of Pesach. The joyous song of the future redemption is likened specifically to this Hallel.
In Tehillim Kapitel 118 the Posuk says קול רנה וישועה באהלי צדיקים “the voice of joyous song and salvation will be in the tents of the righteous”.
The Malbim in his commentary on this Posuk refers us to his comments on the Posuk השיר יהיה לכם כליל התקדש חג which is connected to the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people from the army of Sancherev the king of Assyria.
Sancherev, having conquered and exiled the 10 northern tribes, led his massive army to lay siege against the inhabitants of Yerushalayim during the reign of king Chizkiyahu. Miraculously, an angel of Hashem came and slew 185,000 of Sancherev’s generals in one night. On seeing this, the rest of the army fled in disarray and the city of Yerushalayim were miraculously saved.
This miracle took place on the first night of Pesach. Most commentaries explain that the song “on the night that the festival was sanctified” refers to the song of salvation that the Jewish people sang after their miraculous salvation. was the song.
However the Malbim explains that the song refers to the Hallel that the Jewish people were singing when eating their Korban Pesach on that night. It was at that moment that the great miracle took place. The more they sang, with increased joy, the greater the confusion grew in the camp of the Assyrians as Hashem waged war on their behalf.
This is the meaning of the Posuk in Kapitel 118 קול רנה וישועה באהלי צדיקים “the voice of joyous song and salvation will be in the tents of the righteous”. When the voice of song begins, the voice of salvation follows.
Unfazed by the seemingly inevitable threat of absolute destruction that waited beyond the walls, the people of Yerushlayim sang praises to Hashem, thanking Him for the miracles of the Exodus. This powerful expression of Emunah and Simcha brought about the miracles of their own redemption on that same night.
The Hallel that we say on Seder night is divided into two parts. The first part said before Shulchan Orech is connected to Geulas Mitzrayim. The second half, of which this Kapitel is a part, is connected to the final redemption.
At the time of the Exodus from Egypt Hashem took us out from Mitzrayim ביד חזקה ובזרוע נטויה. The strong hand and out-stretched arm refer (so to speak) to the right and left ‘hand’ of Hashem. Kabbalistically, the right hand refers to Chessed (loving kindness) and the left hand refers to Dinim and Gevuros (severities).
In this chapter of Tehillim ימין ה‘ רוממה ימין ה‘ עושה חיל “the right hand of Hashem is exalted the right hand of Hashem is triumphant”. Since this verse refers to the future redemption, there is no mention of the left hand. At that time there will be only a revelation of Chessed and Hashem’s ‘left hand’ (attribute of Gevurah) will be transformed into right, and hence the two right hands mentioned in this Kapitel.
When we sing the song of redemption, permeated with joy and Emunah in the Geulah, unfazed by the darkness of Golus, we too will experience miracles. The darkness of Golus will flee like the army of Sancherev and then we will sing the song of salvation על גאולתנו ועל פדות נפשנו
On Yud Alef Nissan we will begin reciting Kapitel 118, beginning הודו לה‘ כי טוב. This Tehillim is one of the chapters of Hallel.
The Gemara connects the obligation to recite Hallel on the Yomim Tovim to the Posuk in Yishayahu (30:29) השיר יהיה לכם כליל התקדש חג “for you there shall be singing like the night when a festival is sanctified”. The verse is describing the joyous song that the Jewish people will sing at the time of their redemption from Exile.
Whilst this limmud is for all Yomim Tovim, there is a special connection to Pesach. The Posuk refers to singing at the night when a festival is sanctified. The only Yomtov on which Hallel is recited at night is on the first day(s) of Pesach.
The refers to the Hallel that was recited at the time to Korban Pesach would be eaten on the night of Pesach. The joyous song of the future redemption is likened specifically to this Hallel.
In Tehillim Kapitel 118 the Posuk says קול רנה וישועה באהלי צדיקים “the voice of joyous song and salvation will be in the tents of the righteous”.
The Malbim in his commentary on this Posuk refers us to his comments on the Posuk השיר יהיה לכם כליל התקדש חג which is connected to the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people from the army of Sancherev the king of Assyria.
Sancherev, having conquered and exiled the 10 northern tribes, led his massive army to lay siege against the inhabitants of Yerushalayim during the reign of king Chizkiyahu. Miraculously, an angel of Hashem came and slew 185,000 of Sancherev’s generals in one night. On seeing this, the rest of the army fled in disarray and the city of Yerushalayim were miraculously saved.
This miracle took place on the first night of Pesach. Most commentaries explain that the song “on the night that the festival was sanctified” refers to the song of salvation that the Jewish people sang after their miraculous salvation. was the song.
However the Malbim explains that the song refers to the Hallel that the Jewish people were singing when eating their Korban Pesach on that night. It was at that moment that the great miracle took place. The more they sang, with increased joy, the greater the confusion grew in the camp of the Assyrians as Hashem waged war on their behalf.
This is the meaning of the Posuk in Kapitel 118 קול רנה וישועה באהלי צדיקים “the voice of joyous song and salvation will be in the tents of the righteous”. When the voice of song begins, the voice of salvation follows.
Unfazed by the seemingly inevitable threat of absolute destruction that waited beyond the walls, the people of Yerushlayim sang praises to Hashem, thanking Him for the miracles of the Exodus. This powerful expression of Emunah and Simcha brought about the miracles of their own redemption on that same night.
The Hallel that we say on Seder night is divided into two parts. The first part said before Shulchan Orech is connected to Geulas Mitzrayim. The second half, of which this Kapitel is a part, is connected to the final redemption.
At the time of the Exodus from Egypt Hashem took us out from Mitzrayim ביד חזקה ובזרוע נטויה. The strong hand and out-stretched arm refer (so to speak) to the right and left ‘hand’ of Hashem. Kabbalistically, the right hand refers to Chessed (loving kindness) and the left hand refers to Dinim and Gevuros (severities).
In this chapter of Tehillim ימין ה‘ רוממה ימין ה‘ עושה חיל “the right hand of Hashem is exalted the right hand of Hashem is triumphant”. Since this verse refers to the future redemption, there is no mention of the left hand. At that time there will be only a revelation of Chessed and Hashem’s ‘left hand’ (attribute of Gevurah) will be transformed into right, and hence the two right hands mentioned in this Kapitel.
When we sing the song of redemption, permeated with joy and Emunah in the Geulah, unfazed by the darkness of Golus, we too will experience miracles. The darkness of Golus will flee like the army of Sancherev and then we will sing the song of salvation על גאולתנו ועל פדות נפשנו