There is a perek of ืชืืืืื that discusses Davidโs war in Aram:
ืืื ืฆื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืจื
Thereโs a problem with it, however:
The coherence of this psalm and the meaning of many of its passages are uncertain.
Itโs modern poetry; ืชื ืดื as envisioned by e e cummings. There arenโt sentences, just images. But we can deal with that; itโs an opportunity for more analysis! Another issue is that it talks about ืื ืกืื ื and ืืจ ืืฉื. You could read it as being about ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื, with metaphoric allusions to the Bashan. Or you could read it a about ืืจ ืืฉื, with allusions to Sinai, ืงืจืืขืช ืื ืกืืฃ and ืฉืืจืช ืืืืจื. The Midrash and many commentators take the former approach. We, with Malbim, will take the latter:
ืืืจื ืืืฉืงืคื ืขื ืคืจืื ืืฉืืจ ืืกืืืจื ืืืขืจืืชื, ืืืฉืื ืื ื ืชืืกื ืขื ืืืื ืืืืืืืช ืฉืืื ืื ืขื ืืืื ืืคืืฉืชืื ืืืจื ืฆืืื ืืืจื ืืืฉืง ืืืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืฉืดื (ืืณ), ืืืคื ืืืืืืจ ืืฉืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืฆื ืืจ ืืฉืโฆืืืืืฉ ืืืฉืืจืจ ืืช ืืฉืืจ ืืืืฆืืช ืื ืกื ืงืื, ืขื ืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืฉืืชื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืืืื ืืืื, ืืฆืืืจ ืืืืื ืื ืกืื ืืงืืืืื ืขืืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืืงืืืืช ืืื ืืืกืื ืืณ ืื ืชืื, ืืื ืืืง ืืช ืืฉืืจ ืขื ืืจืืข ืจืืขืื ืืืกืคืจ ืืืืช ืกืื.
Part I
ื ืืงืื ืืืงืื ืืคืืฆื ืืืืืื; ืืื ืืกื ืืฉื ืืื ืืคื ืืื
ื ืืื ืืฃ ืขืฉื ืชื ืืฃ;
ืืืืก ืืื ื ืืคื ื ืืฉ ืืืืื ืจืฉืขืื ืืคื ื ืืืงืืื
ื ืืฆืืืงืื ืืฉืืื ืืขืืฆื ืืคื ื ืืืงืื; ืืืฉืืฉื ืืฉืืืื
ื ืฉืืจื ืืืืงืื ืืืจื ืฉืื;
ืกืื ืืจืื ืืขืจืืืช ืืึพื ืฉืื; ืืขืืื ืืคื ืืื
ื ืืื ืืชืืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืงืื ืืืขืื ืงืืฉืื
ื ืืืงืื ืืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืืชื ืืืฆืื ืืกืืจืื ืืืืฉืจืืช;
ืื ืกืืจืจืื ืฉืื ื ืฆืืืืื
ื ืืืงืื ืืฆืืชื ืืคื ื ืขืื; ืืฆืขืื ืืืฉืืืื ืกืืื
The first pasuk (after the ืืืชืจืช) is an obvious quote:
ื
ืื ืืืื ืื ืกืข ืืืจื ืืืืืจ ืืฉื; ืงืืื ืืณ ืืืคืฆื ืืืืื ืืื ืกื ืืฉื ืืื ืืคื ืืื
ืื ืืื ืื ืืืืจ; ืฉืืื ืืณ ืจืืืืช ืืืคื ืืฉืจืืื
ื
These were Mosheโs prayers as ืื ื ืืฉืจืื went through the desert, and it serves as a book of ืชื ืดื in itself:
ืชืดืจ (ืืืืืจ ื) โืืืื ืื ืกืืข ืืืจืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืโ ืคืจืฉื ืื ืขืฉื ืื ืืงืืดื ืกืืื ืืืช ืืืืขืื ืืืืืโฆืืคื ื ืฉืกืคืจ ืืฉืื ืืื ืืคื ื ืขืฆืื.
One could suggest that โBook IIโ [the ืืืื ืื ืกืข section] serves as more than just a buffer, for its two psukim (10:35-36) describe the fashion in which Bnei Yisrael should have traveled on their journey to inherit the Land. [Compare with Shmot 23:20-27.] Despite its brevity, Book II represents the ideal manner in which Bnei Yisrael were to travelโi.e., what should have happened.
By intentionally delimiting these two psukim with backwards nuns, the Torah accents the tragedy of Sefer Bamidbar. In this manner, Book IโBnei Yisraelโs preparation for their journeyโis followed by two โversionsโ of that journey:
Book II: The ideal journey (two psukim)
Book III: The actual journey (the remainder of the sefer)
To accent the tragedy of Book III, the Torah first presents a glimpse of what โcould have beenโ in Book IIโthe glorious manner in which Bnei Yisrael could have travelled, had they not sinned.
ืื ื ืืฉืจืื went into battle accompanied by the ืืจืื. We will not go into the details of the question of how many arks there were, but will note that the โbattle arkโ was still with the army at the time of David:
ืืืืืจ ืืืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืกืืืช ืืืื ื ืืืื ืืขืืื ืืื ื ืขื ืคื ื ืืฉืื ืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืืฉืชืืช ืืืฉืื ืขื ืืฉืชื; ืืื ืืื ื ืคืฉื ืื ืืขืฉื ืืช ืืืืจ ืืืื
I would understand the text like Tosfot, that there was a simple wood ark with the ืฉืืจื ืืืืืช that went out to war, until the ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ was finally built:
ืืืชื ืื ืืกืคืจื: โืืืจืื ืืจืืช ืืณ ื ืืกืข ืืคื ืืื ืืืืโ ืื ืฉืืืฆื ืขืืื ืืืื ื ืืืื ืืจืื ืขืฅ ืฉืขืฉื ืืฉื ืืขืืืชื ืืกืื ื ืืืืชืื ืืืืืืช ืืืจืื ืืช ืืืฉื ื ืชืืจื โืืขืฉืืช ืื ืืจืื ืขืฅโ ืืชืืื ืฉื ืื ืื ืืืืืช ืืืจืื ืืชโฆืขื ืฉื ืขืฉื ืืจืื ืฉื ืืื ืฉืขืฉื ืืฆืืืโฆืืืืชื ืื ืืื ืจืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืชืื ืืฉืืื โืื ืืฆืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืจืื ืืืืโโฆืืื ืืืจืฉืื ื ืืคืดืง ืืืดื (ืืฃ ืื,ื) โืืื ืืืจืื ืจืง ืืืณโ ืืืื ืฉืืืืืืช ืืฉืืจื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืืื ื ืืจืื ืฉืขืฉื ืืฆืืืโฆืื ืืื ืืืืช ืขืืืืื ืืืฉืืื.
So here David is introducing his ืฉืืจื with the battle cry of Moshe.
The remainder of the first stanza (through ืคืกืืง ื) is a general introduction of how ืืณ acts ืืฆืืชื ืืคื ื ืขืืโ (ืคืกืืง ื). His enemies melt away and our job is only to rejoice in His victory. ืกึนืึผืึผ ืึธืจึนืึตื ืึผึธืขึฒืจึธืืึนืช I would translate as โpave the road for He Who rides in the heavensโืณ our task is to bring ืืณ's ืฉืืื ื down to earth. And fundamentally that โpavingโ isnโt on the military side, itโs on the side of ืฆืืงื ืืืฉืคื.โ ืขึฒืจึธืืึนืช is a particular kind of โHeavenโ:
ืจืืฉ ืืงืืฉ ืืืจ ืฉืืขื [ืจืงืืขืื ืื] ืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืจืงืืข ืฉืืงืื ืืืื ืืขืื ืืืื ืขืจืืืชโฆโืขืจืืืชโ ืฉืื ืฆืืง ืืฉืคื ืืฆืืงื.
ืืื ืกืืื, ืจืณ ืืืืื ืืืจ ืงืืืกื. ืจืณ ื ืืืื ืืืจ ืฉืคืจื ืืคื ืื ืืจืืืื, ืืขื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืฉืขืื ืกื:ื) โืกืืื ืกืืื ืืืกืืโ. ืืจืืื ืืขืจืืืชโฆืืืจ ืจืณ ืืืคืชื ืื ืืขืงื ืืฉื ืจืณ ืืืืื ืืจ ืกืืืื ืจืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืืขืฉืืื ืฉื ืฆืืืงืื, ืืขืจื ืขืืื ืืขืฉืืื.
And we know that ืืณ's destruction of our enemies is intimately tied to ืฆืืง ืืฉืคื ืืฆืืงื:
ืืืจ ืจืณ ืืืื ื ืื ืืงืื ืฉืืชื ืืืฆื ืืืืจืชื ืฉื ืืงืืดื ืืชื ืืืฆื ืขื ืืืชื ืืชืโฆืืืชืืืื ืืืชืื (ืชืืืืื ืกื) ืกืืื ืืจืืื ืืขืจืืืช ืืึพื ืฉืื ืืืชืื ืืชืจืื ืืื ืืชืืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืช.
And this idea goes back to the first battle of ืืณ fighting for ืื ื ืืฉืจืื,โ ืงืจืืขืช ืื ืกืืฃ:
ืืณ ืืืฉ ืืืืื; ืืณ ืฉืืื
ืืณ ืฉืื:โฆืืฃ ืืฉืขื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืื ืืงื ืืืืืืื, ืืืื ืืื ืืืืชื ืืจืื ืขื ืืจืืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืื ืืื ืขืืื, ืืื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืขืืกืง ืืืืืื ืคืื ื ืขืฆืื ืืื ืขืกืงืื, ืืืื ืื ืื ืืขืฉืืช ืื ืืื.
Part II
ื ืืจืฅ ืจืขืฉื ืืฃ ืฉืืื ื ืืคื ืืคื ื ืืืงืื;
ืื ืกืื ื ืืคื ื ืืืงืื ืืืงื ืืฉืจืืื
ื ืืฉื ื ืืืืช ืชื ืืฃ ืืืงืื; ื ืืืชื ืื ืืื ืืชื ืืื ื ืชืื
ืื ืืืชื ืืฉืื ืื; ืชืืื ืืืืืชื ืืขื ื ืืืงืืื
ืื ืึพืื ื ืืชื ืืืจ; ืืืืฉืจืืช ืฆืื ืจืื
ืื ืืืื ืฆืืืืช ืืืืื ืืืืื; ืื ืืช ืืืช ืชืืืง ืฉืืื
ืื ืื ืชืฉืืืื ืืื ืฉืคืชืื;
ืื ืคื ืืื ื ื ืืคื ืืืกืฃ; ืืืืจืืชืื ืืืจืงืจืง ืืจืืฅื
ืื ืืคืจืฉ ืฉืึพื ืืืืื ืื ืชืฉืื ืืฆืืืืื
ืื ืืจ ืืืงืื ืืจ ืืฉื; ืืจ ืืื ื ืื ืืจ ืืฉืื
ืื ืืื ืชืจืฆืืื ืืจืื ืืื ื ืื;
ืืืจ ืืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืืชื; ืืฃ ืืณ ืืฉืื ืื ืฆืื
ืื ืจืื ืืืงืื ืจืืชืื ืืืคื ืฉื ืื; ืืื ื ืื ืกืื ื ืืงืืฉื
ืื ืขืืืช ืืืจืื ืฉืืืช ืฉืื ืืงืืช ืืชื ืืช ืืืื;
ืืืฃ ืกืืจืจืื ืืฉืื ืึพื ืืืงืืื
ื ืืจืื ืึพืื ื ืืื ืืื; ืืขืืก ืื ื ืืื ืืฉืืขืชื ื ืกืืื
The second stanza is the description of the event itself: the earth shook and the heavens dripped, an echo of ืฉืืจืช ืืืืจื which itself invoked ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื:
ื ืืณ ืืฆืืชื
ืืฉืขืืจ ืืฆืขืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืจืฅ
ืจืขืฉื ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืคื; ืื ืขืืื ื ืืคื
ืืืื
ื ืืจืื ื ืืื ืืคื ื ืืณ; ืื
ืกืื ื ืืคื ื ืืณ ืืืงื ืืฉืจืืื
ืึผึถืฉืึถื ื ึฐืึธืืึนืช connects to Devorahโs battle as well:
ื ืื
ืฉืืื ื ืืืื; ืืืืืืื ืืืกืืืชื ื ืืืื ืขื
ืกืืกืจืื
ืื ื ืื ืงืืฉืื ืืจืคื ื ืื
ืงืืืืื ื ืื ืงืืฉืื; ืชืืจืื ื ืคืฉื
ืขืื
ืืืืืจ, ืขื ืืืืืืื ืชืืืฃ ื ืืคื ืืขื ืืืฃ, ืืขื ืืฉืจืื ืชื ืืฃ ืืฉื ื ืืืืช.
So whatever happened here, it was similar to how ืืจ ืชืืืจ โmeltedโ and destroyed Siseraโs army. The details of that battle are not spelled out in ืกืคืจ ืฉืืคืืื, and we donโt know anything about this one, but it resulted in ืืืื ืฆืืืืช ืืืืื ืืืืื, kings were scattered as ืืณ speaks. Even the housewife (ื ึฐืึทืช as the feminine of ื ืื) will collect the spoils. This is clearly not ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื, but a battle that brings it to mind, with the ืืจืฅ ืจืขืฉื. We donโt know what happened but David saw in it the hand of ืืณ.
The next pasuk, ืื ืชืฉืืืื ืืื ืฉืคืชืื; ืื ืคื ืืื ื ื ืืคื ืืืกืฃ; ืืืืจืืชืื ืืืจืงืจืง ืืจืืฅ is probably the the on that most epitomizes โThe coherence of this psalm [is] uncertainโ.
What does it mean, literally?
When ye lie among the sheepfolds,
the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her pinions with the shimmer of gold.
ืฉืคืชืื occurs only one other place in ืชื ืดื, when ืืืืงืื is describing the future ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ and the area where the animals are slaughtered:
ืึฐืึทืฉืึฐืคึทืชึผึทืึดื ืึนืคึทื ืึถืึธื ืืึผืึธื ึดืื ืึผึทืึผึทืึดืช ืกึธืึดืื ืกึธืึดืื; ืึฐืึถื ืึทืฉึผืึปืึฐืึธื ืึนืช ืึผึฐืฉืึทืจ ืึทืงึผึธืจึฐืึธืื
and a similar word, ืึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐืชึทืึดื occurs twice:
ืึธืึผึธื ืึธืฉืึทืึฐืชึผึธ ืึผึตืื ืึทืึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐืชึทืึดื ืึดืฉืึฐืึนืขึท
ืฉืึฐืจึดืงืึนืช ืขึฒืึธืจึดืื; ืึดืคึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืจึฐืืึผืึตื ืึผึฐืืึนืึดืื ืึดืงึฐืจึตื ืึตืื
ืึดืฉึผืึธืฉืึธืจ ืึฒืึนืจ ืึผึธืจึถื ืจึนืึตืฅ ืึผึตืื ืึทืึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐืชึธืึดืื
The root ืฉืคืช means โto place, to secureโ, most commonly used for putting a pot on the fire. So ืฉืคืชืื has to do with animals, maybe โa place to put animalsโ, so โsheepfoldsโ is OK (though the ืืฉืฉืืจ quote indicates it could apply to donkeys as well). But ืืืืงืื says they are only one tefach wide, so I would rather translate as โfeed troughโ, where the food is put.
The unusual word has another historic allusion:
Reading the word ืฉืึฐืคึทืชึผึธืึดื as ืฉืึฐืคึทืช ืึธื, โseashoreโ, Rashbam and Targum refer this verse to the abundance of silver and gold, lost by the drowning Egyptians, with which Israel was covered at the shore of the Sea of [Reeds]
The last phrase ืืจืงืจืง ืืจืืฅ means โgreenish goldโ
ืึฐืึธืึธื ืึทื ึผึถืึทืข ืึฐืจึทืงึฐืจึทืง ืืึน ืึฒืึทืึฐืึผึธื ืึผึทืึผึถืึถื ืืึน ืึธืขืึนืจ ืืึน ืึทืฉึผืึฐืชึดื ืืึน ืึธืขึตืจึถื ืืึน ืึฐืึธื ืึผึฐืึดื ืขืึนืจ ื ึถืึทืข ืฆึธืจึทืขึทืช ืืึผื; ืึฐืึธืจึฐืึธื ืึถืช ืึทืึผึนืึตืื
ืืึนื ืคึผึดืจึฐืึดื ืึตืึธืจืึผืฅ ืึผืึดืคึผึธื; ืึผืชึฐืืึผืึธืชึดื ืึดืึผึถืกึถืฃ ื ึดืึฐืึธืจื
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver, with trace amounts of copper and other metals. Itโฆis often known as green gold.
And electrum comes from Aram, which fits our story:
In the ancient world the chief source was Lydia, in Asia Minor, where the alloy was found in the area of the Pactolus River, a small tributary of the Hermus (modern Gediz Nehri, in Turkey).
So putting it together:
The ืืื ื here is the parallel of the ื ืืช ืืืช of the previous verse; it is a metaphor for ืื ื ืืฉืจืื could simply sit and watch and the spoils would be washed onto the shore for them, just as at ืื ืกืืฃ:
ืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉื ืื ืืขื ืื ืชืืจืื ืืชืืฆืื ืืจืื ืืช ืืฉืืขืช ืืณ ืืฉืจ ืืขืฉื ืืื ืืืื; ืื ืืฉืจ ืจืืืชื ืืช ืืฆืจืื ืืืื ืื ืชืกืคื ืืจืืชื ืขืื ืขื ืขืืืื
ืื ืืณ ืืืื ืืื; ืืืชื ืชืืจืฉืืื
ืืื ืืืชืื (ืชืืืื ืงื:ื) โืืืืจื ืขื ืื ืืื ืกืืฃโ ? ืืืื ืฉืืืจื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืชื ืฉืขื ืืืืจื: ืืฉื ืฉืื ื ืขืืืื ืืฆื ืืืโืื ืืฆืจืืื ืขืืืื ืืฆื ืืืจ. ืืืจ ืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืฉื ืื: ืคืืื ืืืชื ืืืืฉืโฆืืื ืคืื ืืืชื ืืืืฉื, ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืจืื ืืืชื, ืฉื ืืืจ โืืืจื ืืฉืจืื ืืช ืืฆืจืื ืืช ืขื ืฉืคืช ืืืโ.
โืืื ืฆืื ืืช ืืฆืจืืโโฆืืื ืื ืฉืืืืช ืืื ืืืืื ืืื?โฆืืืืืจ โืื ืคื ืืื ื ื ืืคื ืืืกืฃโ (ืชืืืื ืกื) ืืืช ืืฆืืื, โืืืืจืืชืื ืืืจืงืจืง ืืจืืฅโ ืื ืืืช ืืื.
This is all an allusion to ืงืจืืขืช ืื ืกืืฃ, but itโs actually talking about something else, a battle where ืืณโspreads out kingsโ by โืึผึธืึผ ืชึผึทืฉืึฐืึตื ืึผึฐืฆึทืึฐืืึนืโ, by snowing it in, in shadowy darkness. The snow as the weapon of ืืณ is alluded to in ืืืื:
ืื ืึฒืึธืืชึธ ืึถื ืึนืฆึฐืจืึนืช ืฉืึธืึถื; ืึฐืืึนืฆึฐืจืึนืช ืึผึธืจึธื ืชึผึดืจึฐืึถืื
ืื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึธืฉืึทืึฐืชึผึดื ืึฐืขึถืช ืฆึธืจ; ืึฐืืึนื ืงึฐืจึธื ืึผืึดืึฐืึธืึธืื
And familiarly, in ืชืืืืื:
ืื ืึทืฉึผืึนืึตืึท ืึดืึฐืจึธืชืึน ืึธืจึถืฅ; ืขึทื ืึฐืึตืจึธื ืึธืจืึผืฅ ืึผึฐืึธืจืึนื
ืื ืึทื ึผึนืชึตื ืฉืึถืึถื ืึผึทืฆึผึธืึถืจ; ืึผึฐืคืึนืจ ืึผึธืึตืคึถืจ ืึฐืคึทืึผึตืจื
ืื ืึทืฉืึฐืึดืืึฐ ืงึทืจึฐืืึน ืึฐืคึดืชึผึดืื; ืึดืคึฐื ึตื ืงึธืจึธืชืึน ืึดื ืึทืขึฒืึนืื
ืื ืึดืฉืึฐืึทื ืึผึฐืึธืจืึน ืึฐืึทืึฐืกึตื; ืึทืฉึผืึตื ืจืึผืืึน ืึดืึผึฐืืึผ ืึธืึดืื
And this all occurred at ืึทืจ ืึผึธืฉืึธื, which was named for its snow:
ื ืื ืงื ืืขืช ืืืื ืืช ืืืจืฅ ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืฉืจ ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืื ืื ืืจื ื ืขื ืืจ ืืจืืืื
ื ืฆืืื ืื ืืงืจืื ืืืจืืื ืฉืจืื; ืืืืืจื ืืงืจืื ืื ืฉื ืืจื
ืฉื ืืจ: ืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืื ืืฉืื ื [ืฉื ืขืข] ืืืืฉืื ืื ืขื
The mountains of Bashan where all this took place is called ืืจ ืืืงืื, which is a common idiom in ืชื ืดื for โgreatโ:
ืืืงื ืืื ื ืืืื ืื ื ืื ืื ืืืืจ ืืณ; ืื ืื ืื ืืืชื ืขืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืงืื ืืืื ืฉืืฉืช ืืืืื
ืืืืงืื: ืืจื ืืืงืจื ืืฉืจืืฆื ืืืืืื ืืืจ ืืชืืืืช ืกืืืื ืืืืช ืื ืืื ืืจืื ืื (ืชืืืื ืค)
ืื is a โbackโ, or, in the case of mountains, a โridgeโ; hence ืืจ ืืื ื ืื is โa mountain of many ridgesโ.
And the mountains โdancedโ, as we read in Hallel:
ืชืจืฆืืื: ืืื ืชืจืงืืื.
ื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืชื ืืก; ืืืจืื ืชืกื ืืืืืจื
ื ืืืจืื ืชืจืงืื ืืืืืื; ืืืขืืช ืืื ื ืฆืืื
This was a battle fought by the ืจืื ืืืงืื, as ืื ื ืืฉืจืื sat and watched:
ืื ืืืฉืื ืฉืื ืกืืกืื ืืจืื ืืืื ืืื; ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืงืคื ืขื ืืขืืจื
ืื ืืืฉืื ืืฉืจืช ืืืฉ ืืืืืื ืืงืื ืืืฆื ืืื ื ืืื ืกืืื ืืช ืืขืืจ ืืกืืก ืืจืื; ืืืืืจ ื ืขืจื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืื ื ืขืฉืื
ืื ืืืืืจ ืื ืชืืจื; ืื ืจืืื ืืฉืจ ืืชื ื ืืืฉืจ ืืืชืื
ืื ืืืชืคืื ืืืืฉืข ืืืืืจ ืืณ ืคืงื ื ื ืืช ืขืื ืื ืืืจืื; ืืืคืงื ืืณ ืืช ืขืื ื ืื ืขืจ ืืืจื ืืื ื ืืืจ ืืื ืกืืกืื ืืจืื ืืฉ ืกืืืืช ืืืืฉืขื
ืืืคื ืฉื ืื: ืืืืคืื ืืฉืจืื ืฉื ืฉื ืื ืื, ืฉืื ืืืืืืื.
And then the manifestation of ืืณ recedes, ืขืืืช ืืืจืื, leaving behind captives and spoils, and even the nonbelievers (who previously were ืฉืื ื ืฆืืืื) will dwell with ืึพื ืืืงืื.
So in sum, this is a sort of โmodern poetryโ, just a succession of phrases that evoke an image: the ground shaking, the snow coming down, the enemy dispersed and their spoils landing in front of ืื ื ืืฉืจืื as a gift. Whatever happened in ืืจ ืืฉื, it was a manifestation of ืืณ's might on a level with ืกืื ื,โ ืฉืคืช ืื of ืื ืกืืฃand the ืืจืฅ ืจืขืฉื of ืืืืจื.
And the section concludes with a simple prayer of ืืืืื:
โืืจืื ืืณ ืืื ืืืโ, ืืขืดื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืขื ืื ืฉืขืืฉื ืืื ืืื, ืืื ืขื ืื ืฉืขืฉื ืืืื ืงืื ืืื ืขื ืฉืขืฉื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืื, ืื ืืขืืก ืื ื ืืึพื ืืฉืืขืชื ื ืืื ืขืืืก ืื ืืฉื ืืฉืืขืชื ื ืืฉืืืื ื, ืฉืืืฉืืขืืช ืฉืขืฉื ืืืื ืงืื ื ืฉืืจื ืืฆืื ืืืื ื ืืฉื ืืืชื ืขื ืืืจ ืืืจืื ืืขืฉืืชื ืฉื ืืช ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืจ.
โืกืืโ ืกืืื ืืขื ืื
Part III
ืื ืืึพื ืื ื ืึพื ืืืืฉืขืืช; ืืืืณ ืึพืื ื ืืืืช ืชืฆืืืชื
ืื ืื ืืืงืื ืืืืฅ ืจืืฉ ืืืืื; ืงืืงื ืฉืขืจ ืืชืืื ืืืฉืืืื
ืื ืืืจ ืึพืื ื ืืืฉื ืืฉืื; ืืฉืื ืืืฆืืืช ืืื
ืื ืืืขื ืชืืืฅ ืจืืื ืืื; ืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืื
ืื ืจืื ืืืืืืชืื ืืืงืื; ืืืืืืช ืึพืื ืืืื ืืงืืฉื
ืื ืงืืื ืฉืจืื ืืืจ ื ืื ืื; ืืชืื ืขืืืืช ืชืืคืคืืชื
ืื ืืืงืืืืช ืืจืื ืืืงืื; ืึพืื ื ืืืงืืจ ืืฉืจืืื
ืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืฆืขืืจ ืจืื ืฉืจื ืืืืื ืจืืืชื; ืฉืจื ืืืืื ืฉืจื ื ืคืชืืื
ืื ืฆืื ืืืงืื ืขืื; ืขืืื ืืืงืื ืื ืคืขืืช ืื ืื
ื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืฉืื
ืื ืืขืจ ืืืช ืงื ื ืขืืช ืืืืจืื ืืขืืื ืขืืื ืืชืจืคืก ืืจืฆื ืืกืฃ;
ืืืจ ืขืืื ืงืจืืืช ืืืคืฆืื
ืื ืืืชืื ืืฉืื ืื ืื ื ืืฆืจืื; ืืืฉ ืชืจืืฅ ืืืื ืืืืงืืื
ืื ืืืืืืช ืืืจืฅ ืฉืืจื ืืืืงืื; ืืืจื ืึพืื ื ืกืืื
The next section looks to the future. ืืณ has saved us, brought us back from the ืืฉื just as He brought us out of ืืืฆืืืช ืื.
Artscroll translates ืืืืช ืชืฆืืืช as ืืณ โhas many avenues toward deathโ (based on the gemara ืืจืืืช ื,ื), but the context seems to fit Hirsch: โThere are manifold remedies for deathโ: ืืณ 'will save us. ืื, but, He will destroy our enemies, so that we (this gets pretty graphic) can wade through the blood as our dogs take their portion.
So we sing ืฉืืจื as we have done from the beginning of Jewish history: ืืืงืืจ ืืฉืจืื.
The Targum mentions an aggadah about Benjamin, Judah, Zevulon and Naphtali, about a fight at ืื ืกืืฃ:
ืืชืจืืื ืืื ืชื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืื ืขืืจ ืืืื ืืจืืฉ ืื ืฉืืจ ืฉืืืื.
ืฉืจื ืืืืื ืจืืืชื: ืืชืงื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจืงืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืจื ืืืืืื ืื ืคืชืื.
But we have no other record of such a thing. The ืคืฉื is that David is mentioning the leaders of Israel in all their battles: Saul was the first king, from the youngest tribe, and Yehuda has lead ืื ื ืืฉืจืื throughout history.
ืืจืืืชื: ืืื: ืฉืจืื ืืืื ืจืื ืืื.
ืึทืึผึดืฉืึฐืึทื ืึผึตืืชึพืึตื ืฉืึทืจึฐืึถืฆึถืจ ืึฐืจึถืึถื ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึทืึฒื ึธืฉืึธืื ืึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืึถืช ืคึผึฐื ึตื ืืณื
ืฉืจื ืืืืื ืฉืจื ื ืคืชืื is a reference to ืืืืจื:
ืืชืฉืื ืืชืงืจื ืืืจืง ืื ืืืื ืขื ืืงืืฉ ื ืคืชืื; ืืชืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืฆืื ืืณ ืืืงื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืืฉืืช ืืืจ ืชืืืจ ืืืงืืช ืขืื ืขืฉืจืช ืืืคืื ืืืฉ ืืื ื ื ืคืชืื ืืืื ื ืืืืืื
And now, ืืณ, Your glory comes forth out of Jerusalem; the bulls (ืึทืึผึดืืจึดืื) will become calves (ืขึถืึฐืึตื ืขึทืึผึดืื) and even the nobles of Egypt will sing ืฉืืจื to ืืณ.
ืืืจ literally means to scatter, but (1917 JPS translation) โHe hath scattered the peoples that delight in warโ doesnโt seem to fit. The Malbim takes ืืืจ as a noun โspoils (that are distributed)โ:
ืืืจ: ืืฉืื
ืืขืืื ืืฉืจ
ืงืจืืืช ืืืคืฆื, ืืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืกืฃ ืฉืืกืฃ ืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืฉืชืืขืจ ืืืช ืงื ื, ืฉืืื ืขื ืฉืืื ืืช ืืื ืืืจืขืืจ.
ืึฐึผืฉึทืืึฐืึธื ืึผืึฐืึดืฉึฐืืึทื ึตึผื ืึฐืึดืื ึธื ืึธืืึนื ืึฐืขึธืฉึธืื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึนื ืขึธืฉืืึผ ืึฒืึนืชึธืื ืึทืึฒืืึนืช ืึฒืึนืชึธืื ืึดึผืึธึผื ืึฐืฉึธืืึธื ืึผืจึฐืืึผืฉื ืึธืึถื ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ ืึฐืขึทื ืึดืึฐืฆึธืจึดืื ืึฐืึทืฉึตึผืื ืึทืึฐืฉึฐืืึนืชึธืื ืึฐืขึทื ืขึตืช.ื
He will invade the richest of provinces unawares, and will do what his father and forefathers never did, lavishing on them spoil, booty, and wealth; he will have designs upon strongholds, but only for a time.
And all the nations will come to Jerusalem to acknowledge ืืณ, even the greatest power of the dayโEgypt.
Part IV
ืื ืืจืื ืืฉืื ืฉืื ืงืื ืื ืืชื ืืงืืื ืงืื ืขืื
ืื ืชื ื ืขื ืืืืงืื; ืขื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืชื; ืืขืื ืืฉืืงืืื
ืื ื ืืจื ืืืงืื ืืืงืืฉืื;
ืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ื ืชื ืขื ืืชืขืฆืืืช ืืขื;
ืืจืื ืืืงืืื
And the conclusion comes back to the introduction, glorifying ืืณ who is ืจึนืึตื ืึผึดืฉืึฐืึตื ืฉืึฐืึตื ืงึถืึถื, like the ืจึนืึตื ืึผึธืขึฒืจึธืืึนืช above. Thank G-d, Whose glory is in ืึดืงึฐืึผึธืฉืึถืืึธ, in the ืืงืืฉ in Jerusalem.