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Psalms · Chapter 48

תהלים מ"ח

א׳ שִׁ֥יר מִ֝זְמוֹר לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃

1 A song. A psalm of the Korahites.

1 A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.

ב׳ גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃

2 The LORD is great and much acclaimed
in the city of our God,
His holy mountain—

2 Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain,

בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ. לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, כְּשֶׁיִּבְנֶה אֶת עִירוֹ, יִהְיֶה בִּשְׁבִילָהּ גָּדוֹל וּמְהֻלָּל:

in the city of our God In the future, when He builds His city, He will be great and praised because of it.

ג׳ יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃

3 fair-crested, joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, summit of Zaphon,
city of the great king.

3 Fair in situation, the joy of the whole earth; Even mount Zion, the uttermost parts of the north, The city of the great King.

יְפֵה נוֹף. עִיר שֶׁהוּא נוֹף יָפֶה, לְשׁוֹן נוֹף שֶׁל אִילָן. דָּבָר אַחֵר: כַּלַּת שֶׁל יוֹפִי, שֶׁכֵּן קוֹרִין בְּכַרְכֵּי הַיָּם לְכַלָּה נִינְפִי (ראש השנה כו.). וּמְנַחֵם חִבְּרוֹ כְּמוֹ ״שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת״ (יהושע יז:יא), קוֹנְטְרִיאָ״ה בְּלַעַ״ז. אֲבָל דּוֹנָשׁ פָּתַר אוֹתוֹ לְשׁוֹן נוֹף שֶׁל אִילָן, וְנִקְרָא הַר צִיּוֹן, יְפֵה נוֹף כִּי הוּא הַר הַזֵּיתִים (ס״א אינו):

The fairest of branches Heb. יפר נוף, a city that is a fair branch; an expression of the branches (נוף) of a tree. Another explanation: A fair bride, for in the coastal cities they call a bride ninfe (nymphe in Greek) (R. H. 26a). Menachem (p. 124) associated it with (Josh. 17:11) “the three regions (הנפת)” (i. e., there [on Joshua] he explains that it means regions; as Rashi explains there: contree in French, a region. In this manner, Rashi explains in Joshua 11:3,) but Dunash (p. 34) defined it as an expression of a branch of a tree, and Mt. Zion was called “the fairest of branches” because it is (near—Shem Ephraim) the Mount of Olives.

מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ. וּמַה הִיא מְשׂוֹשָׂהּ? יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן, אַנְגְלָ״שׁ בְּלַעַ״ז, ״יֶרֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ צָפוֹנָה״ (ויקרא א:יא) שֶׁשָּׁם שׁוֹחֲטִין חַטָּאוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה עָצֵב עַל עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ מֵבִיא חַטָּאוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת וּמִתְכַּפֵּר לוֹ, וְהוּא יוֹצֵא מִשָּׁם שָׂמֵחַ; וְעַל יְדֵי הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת טוֹבָה בָּאָה:

the joy of the entire earth Now what is its joy? The north side, angles in French, angle, corner. Redak (Shorashim) also defines it as corners, and so in Ezekiel (46:21). The northern side of the altar [was] where sin offerings and guilt offerings were slaughtered, and whoever was grieved because of the sins he had committed would bring a sin offering or a guilt offering, and he would be forgiven. He would then emerge happy, and the sacrifices would benefit the entire world.

ד׳ אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃

4 Through its citadels, God has made Himself known as a haven.

4 God in her palaces Hath made Himself known for a stronghold.

נוֹדַע לְמִשְׂגָּב. כְּשֶׁיִּשְׁכֹּן בָּהּ לֶעָתִיד, יֹאמְרוּ כֵּן:

He is known as a stronghold When He will dwell therein in the future, they will say this [will call Him thus].

ה׳ כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה הַ֭מְּלָכִים נֽוֹעֲד֑וּ עָבְר֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃

5 See, the kings joined forces;
they advanced together.

5 For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They came onward together.

הַמְּלָכִים נוֹעֲדוּ. לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ בְּמִלְחֶמֶת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג (יחזקאל לח:א-ג):

the kings have assembled to wage war against it in the wars of Gog and Magog.

עָבְרוּ יַחְדָּו. לַמִּלְחָמָה:

they have passed together to war.

ו׳ הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃

6 At the mere sight of it they were stunned,
they were terrified, they panicked;

6 They saw, straightway they were amazed; They were affrighted, they hasted away.

הֵמָּה רָאוּ. אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹצֵא וְנִלְחָם בַּגּוֹיִם הָהֵם, כֵּן תָּמָהוּ:

They saw the Holy One, blessed be He, going forth and waging war against those nations, so they wondered.

נֶחְפָּזוּ. פוֹרְנְ״ט אָטוֹרְדִי״ץ בְּלַעַ״ז, כְּמוֹ ״וּבְפַחֲזוּתָם״ (ירמיהו כג:לב):

they were bewildered Feront etourdis in French, were stunned, as (Jer. 23:32): “and their bewilderment (ובפחזותם).”

ז׳ רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃

7 they were seized there with a trembling,
like a woman in the throes of labor,

7 Trembling took hold of them there, Pangs, as of a woman in travail.

ח׳ בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃

8 as the Tarshish fleet was wrecked
in an easterly gale.

8 With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.

בְּרוּחַ קָדִים. הוּא לְשׁוֹן פּוּרְעָנוּת, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִפְרָע בּוֹ מִן הָרְשָׁעִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיּוֹלֶךְ ה׳ אֶת הַיָּם בְּרוּחַ קָדִים וְגוֹ׳״ (שמות יד:כא). וְכֵן בְּצוֹר: ״רוּחַ הַקָּדִים שִׁבְּרֵךְ בְּלֵב יַמִּים״ (יחזקאל כז:כו). ״כְּרוּחַ קָדִים אֲפִיצֵם לִפְנֵי אוֹיֵב״ (ירמיהו יח:יז):

With an east wind That is an expression of retribution, with which the Holy One, blessed be He, recompenses the wicked, as it is stated (Exod. 14:21): “and the Lord led the sea with a strong east wind, etc.” Similarly (Ezek. 16:27, 26): “The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas”; (Jer. 18:17), “Like an east wind, I will scatter you before the enemy.”

אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ. הֵם שְׁכֵינֵי צוֹר, הִיא אַפְרִיקָא, וּמֵאֱדוֹם הִיא:

the ships of Tarshish They are the neighbors of Tyre, which is Africa, and it is of Edom.

ט׳ כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ ׀ כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֗ינוּ בְּעִיר־יְהוָ֣ה צְ֭בָאוֹת בְּעִ֣יר אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹ֘הִ֤ים יְכוֹנְנֶ֖הָ עַד־עוֹלָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃

9 The likes of what we heard we have now witnessed
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
in the city of our God—
may God preserve it forever! Selah.

9 As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God— God establish it for ever. Selah

כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ. הַנֶּחָמוֹת מִפִּי הַנְּבִיאִים כֵּן רָאִינוּ:

As we have heard the consolations from the mouth of the prophets, so have we seen [them].

י׳ דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ׃

10 In Your temple, God,
we meditate upon Your faithful care.

10 We have thought on Thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Thy temple.

דִּמִּינוּ אֱלֹהִים חַסְדֶּךָ. הַנָּבִיא חוֹזֵר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאוֹמֵר: דִּמִּינוּ וְקִוִּינוּ אֶל חַסְדֶּךָ, לִרְאוֹת תְּשׁוּעָתְךָ זוֹ בְּקֶרֶב הֵיכָלֶךָ. וּמְנַחֵם פָּתַר אוֹתוֹ לְשׁוֹן מַחֲשָׁבָה, כְּמוֹ ״אַל תְּדַמִּי בְנַפְשֵׁךְ״ (אסתר ד:יג):

We have hoped, O Lord, for Your kindness The prophet repeatedly prays to the Holy One, blessed be He, and says, “We hoped and waited for Your kindness, to see this Your salvation in the midst of Your Temple. Menachem (p. 65) interpreted it as an expression of thought, as (Esther 4: 13): “Do not think (אל תדמי).”

י"א כְּשִׁמְךָ֤ אֱלֹהִ֗ים כֵּ֣ן תְּ֭הִלָּתְךָ עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ צֶ֝֗דֶק מָלְאָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃

11 The praise of You, God, like Your name,
reaches to the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is filled with beneficence.

11 As is Thy name, O God, So is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.

כְּשִׁמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כֵּן תְּהִלָּתְךָ. כַּאֲשֶׁר שִׁמְךָ גָּדוֹל, כֵּן תְּהִלָּתְךָ גָּדוֹל בְּפִי כֹּל:

As is Your name, O God, so is Your praise Just as Your name is great, so is Your praise great in everyone’s mouth.

י"ב יִשְׂמַ֤ח ׀ הַר־צִיּ֗וֹן תָּ֭גֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ׃

12 Let Mount Zion rejoice!
Let the towns of Judah exult,
because of Your judgments.

12 Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of Thy judgments.

תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנוֹת יְהוּדָה. כָּל שְׁאָר עָרֵי יְהוּדָה הֵם לְצִיּוֹן בָּנוֹת, כְּמוֹ ״וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת קְנָת וְאֶת בְּנֹתֶיהָ״ (במדבר לב:מב):

the daughters of Judah shall exult All the other cities of Judah are as daughters to Zion, as (Num. 32:42): “and he captured Kenath and its daughters.”

לְמַעַן מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ. שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה דִּין בָּאֻמּוֹת:

for the sake of Your judgments That You perform judgment upon the nations.

י"ג סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֭יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֝פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃

13 Walk around Zion,
circle it;
count its towers,

13 Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Count the towers thereof.

סֹבּוּ צִיּוֹן. אַתֶּם, הַבּוֹנִים אוֹתָהּ:

Encompass Zion You who are building it.

סִפְרוּ. לְשׁוֹן מִנְיָן: דְּעוּ כַּמָּה מִגְדָּלִים רְאוּיִים לָהּ:

count Heb. ספרו, an expression of counting. You should know how many towers it requires.

י"ד שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן׃

14 take note of its ramparts;
go through its citadels,
that you may recount it to a future age.

14 Mark ye well her ramparts, Traverse her palaces; That ye may tell it to the generation following. .

לְחֵילָה. לְחוֹמוֹתֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ ״חֵיל וְחוֹמָה״ (איכה ב:ח):

to its walls Heb. לחילה, to its walls, as (Lam. 2:8): “rampart (חיל) and wall.”

פַּסְּגוּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ. הַגְבִּיהוּ בִּירְנִיּוֹתֶיהָ, כְּמוֹ ״אַשְׁדּוֹת הַפִּסְגָּה״ (דברים ג:יז) דִּמְתַרְגְּמִינָן ״רָמָתָא״:

raise its palaces Heb. פסגו, raise its palaces, as (Deut. 3:17): “beneath the rapids of the elevation,” which is translated רָמָתָא, the high place.

לְמַעַן תְּסַפְּרוּ. אֶת גָּבְהָהּ וְאֶת יָפְיָהּ לְדוֹר שֶׁאַחֲרֵיכֶם:

in order that you may tell its height and its beauty to the generation after you.

ט"ו כִּ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֵינוּ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד ה֖וּא יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ עַל־מֽוּת׃

15 For God—He is our God forever;
He will lead us evermore.

15 For such is God, our God, for ever and ever; He will guide us eternally.

עַלְמוּת. כְּאָדָם הַמַּנְהִיג אֶת בְּנוֹ קָטָן לְאַט, וּמְנַחֵם פָּתַר אוֹתוֹ לְשׁוֹן עוֹלָם, וְכֵן פִּתְרוֹנוֹ יְנַהֲגֵנוּ לְעוֹלָמִים:

as in youth Heb. על-מות, as a man who leads his young son slowly. Menachem (p. 133) interpreted it as an expression of eternity, and so is its interpretation: will lead us to eternity.

Psalms · Chapter 48

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