כִּ֠י לֹֽא־יִטֹּ֤שׁ יְהוָה֙ אֶת־עַמּ֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר שְׁמ֣וֹ הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֚י הוֹאִ֣יל יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֶתְכֶ֛ם ל֖וֹ לְעָֽם׃
Sapagkat hindi pababayaan ng Walang-Hanggan ang Kanyang bayan alang-alang sa Kanyang dakilang pangalan, sapagkat sumumpa ang Walang-Hanggan na gagawin Niya kayong Kanyang bayan.
Ruth Rabbah
“She and her daughters-in-law arose, and she returned from the fields of Moav; as she had heard in the fields of Moav that the Lord had remembered His people to give them bread” (Ruth 1:6).
“She and her daughters-in-law arose, and she returned from the fields of Moav; as she had heard in the fields of Moav.” She heard from the peddlers who were circulating in the towns. What did she hear? “That the Lord had remembered His people to give them bread.” One verse says: “For the Lord will not forsake His people, and will not abandon His inheritance” (Psalms 94:14), and one verse says: “For the Lord will not forsake His people for the sake of His great name” (I Samuel 12:22). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: At times, He does so for the sake of His people and His inheritance, and at times He does so for the sake of His great name. Rabbi Aivu said: When Israel merit it, it is for the sake of His people and His inheritance; when Israel does not merit it, it is for the sake of His great name. The Rabbis say: In the Land of Israel, it is for the sake of His people and His inheritance; outside the Land of Israel, it is for the sake of His great name, as it is stated: “For My sake, for My sake, I will do” (Isaiah 48:11).
“She and her daughters-in-law arose, and she returned from the fields of Moav; as she had heard in the fields of Moav.” She heard from the peddlers who were circulating in the towns. What did she hear? “That the Lord had remembered His people to give them bread.” One verse says: “For the Lord will not forsake His people, and will not abandon His inheritance” (Psalms 94:14), and one verse says: “For the Lord will not forsake His people for the sake of His great name” (I Samuel 12:22). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: At times, He does so for the sake of His people and His inheritance, and at times He does so for the sake of His great name. Rabbi Aivu said: When Israel merit it, it is for the sake of His people and His inheritance; when Israel does not merit it, it is for the sake of His great name. The Rabbis say: In the Land of Israel, it is for the sake of His people and His inheritance; outside the Land of Israel, it is for the sake of His great name, as it is stated: “For My sake, for My sake, I will do” (Isaiah 48:11).
Esther Rabbah
“Haman said to King Aḥashverosh: There is one people that is scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from every people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws; it is not worthwhile for the king to tolerate them” (Esther 3:8).
“Haman said to King Aḥashverosh: There is [yeshno] one people” – the one of whom it is stated: “The Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4); He is asleep [yashen] for His people. The Holy One blessed be He said to him [Haman]: ‘There is no sleep before Me; that is what is written: “Behold, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4), and you say that there is sleep before Me? By your life, I will awaken from sleep against that man and eliminate him from the world;’ that is what is written: “Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep…He drove his foes into retreat” (Psalms 78:65–66).
Another matter: “There is one people” – he [Haman] said: ‘Their teeth are big, as they eat and drink and say: Delight in Shabbat, delight in the festivals. They cause a decrease in the assets of the world; once every seven days – Shabbat, once every thirty days – the New Moon, in Nisan – Passover, in Sivan – Shavuot, in Tishrei – Rosh Hashana and the great fast [Yom Kippur], and the festival of Sukkot.’ Aḥashverosh said to him: ‘So they are commanded in their Torah.’ Haman said to him: ‘Had they observed their holidays and our holidays, they would have done well, but they treat your holidays with contempt. “And they do not follow the king’s laws” – as they observe neither calends nor Saturnalia.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Wicked one, you are casting aspersions on their festivals, I will bring you down before them and they will add another festival over your downfall.’ These are the days of Purim; that is what is written: “A fool’s mouth is ruin for him” (Proverbs 18:7).
“It is not worthwhile for the king to tolerate them.” For everything that Haman denounced Israel below, [the angel] Michael would advocate for them above. He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe! Your children are being denounced not because they engaged in idol worship, and not for engaging in licentiousness, and not for bloodshed; rather they are being denounced for observing your laws.’ He said to him: ‘I have not, and I will not forsake them.’ That is what is written: “For the Lord will not forsake His people for the sake of His great name” (I Samuel 12:22). Whether they are guilty or innocent, in any case it is impossible to forsake them, because the world cannot exist without Israel.
“If a man were to give all the wealth of his house…” (Song of Songs 8:7) – that is Haman the wicked, who gave ten thousand silver talents to obliterate Israel, “…he would be scorned” (Ibid.).
“Haman said to King Aḥashverosh: There is [yeshno] one people” – the one of whom it is stated: “The Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4); He is asleep [yashen] for His people. The Holy One blessed be He said to him [Haman]: ‘There is no sleep before Me; that is what is written: “Behold, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4), and you say that there is sleep before Me? By your life, I will awaken from sleep against that man and eliminate him from the world;’ that is what is written: “Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep…He drove his foes into retreat” (Psalms 78:65–66).
Another matter: “There is one people” – he [Haman] said: ‘Their teeth are big, as they eat and drink and say: Delight in Shabbat, delight in the festivals. They cause a decrease in the assets of the world; once every seven days – Shabbat, once every thirty days – the New Moon, in Nisan – Passover, in Sivan – Shavuot, in Tishrei – Rosh Hashana and the great fast [Yom Kippur], and the festival of Sukkot.’ Aḥashverosh said to him: ‘So they are commanded in their Torah.’ Haman said to him: ‘Had they observed their holidays and our holidays, they would have done well, but they treat your holidays with contempt. “And they do not follow the king’s laws” – as they observe neither calends nor Saturnalia.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Wicked one, you are casting aspersions on their festivals, I will bring you down before them and they will add another festival over your downfall.’ These are the days of Purim; that is what is written: “A fool’s mouth is ruin for him” (Proverbs 18:7).
“It is not worthwhile for the king to tolerate them.” For everything that Haman denounced Israel below, [the angel] Michael would advocate for them above. He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe! Your children are being denounced not because they engaged in idol worship, and not for engaging in licentiousness, and not for bloodshed; rather they are being denounced for observing your laws.’ He said to him: ‘I have not, and I will not forsake them.’ That is what is written: “For the Lord will not forsake His people for the sake of His great name” (I Samuel 12:22). Whether they are guilty or innocent, in any case it is impossible to forsake them, because the world cannot exist without Israel.
“If a man were to give all the wealth of his house…” (Song of Songs 8:7) – that is Haman the wicked, who gave ten thousand silver talents to obliterate Israel, “…he would be scorned” (Ibid.).
Midrash Tehillim
God of Hosts, please turn your gaze from heaven and see, and tend to this vine and protect the one you have planted with your right hand. Rabbi Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Yaakov Dexarin: the same phrase that was said to Abraham (Genesis 18:10), "I will surely return to you." May your hand be upon the man you have chosen (Psalm 80:18), "Look down from heaven and see." And tend to (Genesis 21:1), "The Lord visited Sarah." Burned by fire like thorns. Rabbi Shila and the rabbis disputed it; one said that "burned like thorns," and the others said, "it doesn't say 'thorns,' but rather 'like a thornbush,' and anything that is compressed is interchangeable." And protect the one you have chosen with your right hand. May your hand be a shield for the man at your right hand (Psalm 80:18). Rabbi Yitzchak said, "May your hand be available to punish the wicked deed, the oath that you swore to him with your right hand (Genesis 26:39), 'Your dwelling shall be away from the fatness of the earth.' May the son of Amittai not be forsaken by you, as it says (1 Samuel 12:22), 'The Lord will not cast off his people.' God of Hosts, restore us; let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. Rabbi Yochanan said, "We have nothing but the radiance of your face to save us."