Psalmów 17:13 Midrasz: Midrash Tehillim & Bereshit Rabbah

"God arose, His enemies scattered; His foes fled before Him." (Psalm 68:1-2) Rabbi Pinchas, in the name of Rabbi Oshaya, said that God established five standing positions for David in the Book of Psalms. Four of them correspond to the four kingdoms that he saw in a vision through the Holy Spirit and how they would subjugate Israel, and God stood by each one of them. The fifth position corresponds to the kingdom of Gog, who will come to Israel with strength and say to God, "Arise, Lord, lift up Your hand." David said to God, "My Lord, there is no one to join with her except You." What is meant by "Arise, Lord, lift up Your hand"? It can be compared to a strong man who was crossing a river with his son when he grabbed his hand to help him pass. When they reached the middle of the river, the current became stronger and the rope snapped, causing his son to be carried away by the current. Immediately, the father cried out and said, 'Father, raise your hand and save me from drowning.' So too, the four kingdoms rule over the waters, as it is stated, 'Woe to the multitude of many people' (Isaiah 17:12), and Israel is drowning within it, as it is stated, 'I am sinking in deep mire, and there is no standing' (Psalm 69:3). If not for the Holy One, blessed be He, being with them, they would not have been able to escape, as it is stated, 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you' (Isaiah 43:2). And when David saw that sin causes them to become stronger like a current of a river to wash away Israel, he began to cry out, 'Arise, O Lord, with Your hand, save me from drowning.' Therefore, he says, 'Arise, O Lord, remember Your oath' (Psalm 10:12). He said to him, 'As your soul lives, I raise My hand, as it is stated, "For I lift up My hand to heaven"' (Deuteronomy 32:40), and it is stated, 'Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations' (Isaiah 49:22)."

Another thing, "Arise, O Lord." Remember your oath that the angel swore in your name, as it says (Daniel 12:7), "And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swore by Him that lives forever." And it is written (Isaiah 30:18), "Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious unto you." And all you have is an oath, as it says (1 Samuel 3:14), "Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli." Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of Rabbi Levi, "The Holy One, blessed be He, said, 'I have made an oath to reveal the end and to redeem you. Even if Gog and Magog come, I will fight them,' as it says (Zechariah 14:3), 'Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations.'" Therefore, David said, "Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail," meaning, decide the matter in favor of merit rather than liability. Another interpretation is that the sword destroyed them, as it says (Psalms 20:9), "They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen, and stand upright." "Save my soul from the wicked, with Your sword." This was accomplished through the power of my forefathers and the power of the Torah, which is called a sword, as it says (Isaiah 49:2), "And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword." Another interpretation is that my soul was saved from that which was destined to come upon me through the power of that sword that Isaac said to me (Genesis 27:40), "And by your sword shall you live." Another interpretation is that it is the same sword with which you will descend in the world to come, as it says (Isaiah 10:5), "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger." Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of Rabbi Levi, "My soul was saved from that wicked one whom you will eventually defeat with your sword," as it says (Isaiah 34:5), "For My sword is sated in heaven."...

“Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, to the land of Se’ir, the field of Edom” (Genesis 32:4).
“Jacob sent messengers before him” – Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Reuven began: “Arise, Lord, confront him and subdue him. Rescue me from the wicked with Your sword” (Psalms 17:13) – Rabbi Pinḥas said: Five times in the book of Psalms, David calls for the Holy One blessed be He to arise: “Arise, Lord; save me, my God” (Psalms 3:8); “Arise, Lord, in Your anger” (Psalms 7:7); “Arise, Lord God, raise Your hand. Do not forget” (Psalms 10:12); “Arise, Lord; let man not be arrogant” (Psalms 9:20); “Arise, Lord, confront him” (Psalms 17:13). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘David, my son, even if you call for Me to rise many times, I will not rise. When will I rise? It is when the poor are robbed and the indigent are groaning.’ That is what is written: “Because of the robbery of the poor and the groans of the indigent [now I will arise]” (Psalms 12:6). Rabbi Yona said: “Now I will arise” (Psalms 12:6) – as long as it is wallowing in the ashes, as it were….¹The Holy One blessed be He is, as it were, also wallowing in the ashes. Rather, when [comes] the day in whose regard it is written: “Shake the dust from you, arise and sit, Jerusalem” (Isaiah 52:2), at that moment: “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord” (Zechariah 2:17). Why? “For He is roused from His abode of sanctity” (Zechariah 2:17). Rabbi Aḥa said: Like this rooster that moves itselffrom the ashes.
“Confront him [kadma panav]” (Psalms 17:13) – give the wicked early, before he comes to greet You. ²Give him his reward in this world, and repay him for his evil before he comes before You to repent. “Subdue him [hakhri’ehu]” (Psalms 17:13) – tip the scales to condemn him [hakhriḥehu] and break him, just as it says: “They dropped to their knees [kare’u] and fell…” (Psalms 20:9). “Deliver me from the wicked with Your sword” (Psalms 17:13) – deliver my soul from that wicked one³Esau. who comes by the power of that sword, as it is stated: “By your sword you shall live” (Genesis 27:40). Alternatively, deliver my soul from that wicked one,⁴Rome, descendants of Esau. who is Your sword through whom You subjugate the world.
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Deliver my soul from that wicked one who is destined to fall by your sword. That is what is written: “For My sword is sated in Heaven; [behold, it will descend upon Edom]” (Isaiah 34:5) – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘He was going on his way, and then you are sending to him and saying: “So said your servant, Jacob”’ (Genesis 32:5).⁵Had you not sent to him, Esau would have continued on his way to Edom.