Commento su Salmi 21:16

may the king rejoice with Your strength Our Rabbis (Mid. Ps. 21:1) interpreted it as referring to the King Messiah, but the matter may correctly be interpreted further as referring to David himself, in order to refute the sectarians, who became bold because of it.

and the speech of Heb. וארשת, an expression of speech, which has no similar word. Menachem (p. 167), however, brought a [word] similar to it (Ezra 3:7): “by the authorization (ברשיון) of Cyrus, king of Persia.”

For You have preceded him with the blessings of the good man Before I asked You, You preceded me with Your blessing through Nathan the prophet (in II Sam. 7:12f.): “then I will raise up your seed...and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

You have placed a gold crown on his head (As in II Sam. 12:30): “And he took the crown of Malkam...and it was [set] upon David’s head.”

He asked You for life As I fled outside the Holy Land from before Saul, I would pray, “May I walk before the Lord in the lands of the living” (below 116:9).

You gave it to him For You restored me to the land of Israel.

length of days to his kingdom, for You said, “and I will establish the throne of your (sic) kingdom forever” (II Sam. 7:13).

You place Heb. תשוה Menachem (p. 171) interpreted: תשוה, תשים, and תשית have the same meaning.

You shall make him happy Heb. תחדהו, an expression of חדוה, joy.

before You in Paradise. Our Rabbis, who interpreted it as referring to the King Messiah, brought proof on that matter (from Dan. 7: 13): “and came to the Ancient of days and brought him near before Him.” Scripture also states (in Jer. 30:21): “and I will bring him near, and he shall approach Me.”

that he should not falter And he trusts in the loving-kindness of the Most High that he should not falter.

Your hand shall suffice for all Your enemies All the smiting of Your hand that You have to bring, bring upon Your enemies.

at the time of Your anger Heb. פניך, at the time of Your fury.

destroy them with His wrath This is a prayer.

You shall destroy their fruit from the earth He prays to the Holy One, blessed be He, that He destroy the descendants of the wicked Esau.

For they have directed evil against You [This was said] regarding the wicked Titus, who said that he had killed Him.

that they cannot execute.

For You shall place them as a portion For You shall place them as a portion, that Israel will divide their money, as it is stated (in Isa. 23:18): “And her commerce and her hire shall be...”

with Your bowstrings You shall set toward their faces With the strings of Your bows, You shall aim Your arrows at their faces.

Exalt Yourself, O Lord, with Your strength over those who rise up [against You], and let us sing and chant.