Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Awit 74:19

ותר וגוזל, we are not certain what species of bird is called גוזל by the Torah. Basically, all small birds are known by the collective name of גוזל, as for instances in Deuteronomy 32,11 where the Torah describes the eagle, נשר, as carrying its young on its wings, with the words על גוזליו ירחף. Onkelos explains that what is meant here are young turtle doves. This is one of the few birds that are ritually admissible as sacrifices in Jewish law. It is the kind of bird that, while subject to other predators, does not itself make its livelihood by preying on either birds or beasts. The pigeon, תור, is very similar to it, and both species share the distinction of not mating with another male bird after its first sexual partner has died. The Jewish people, while in exile also considers itself as widowed, separated from its husband, although He is alive and well. It refused to serve other deities (alternate husbands) even though the exile has lasted this long and no immediate redemption is in sight. The female pigeons have this loyalty in common with the Jewish people, not giving up hope that their husbands will return to them. The Jewish people are non-aggressive, though downtrodden by the nations while they are in exile; they have not given up hope that in the fullness of time the messiah, and with him the redemption and return to our own land will finally be realised. (Such fond hopes are expressed by Solomon in his Song of Songs, both in 1,15 and 2,14 in poetical terms. The Jewish people are also compared to the תור in Psalms 74,19 אל תתן לחיות נפש תורך, “do not deliver Your dove to the wild beast.”

A gnat came, entered his nostril, and picked at his brain, etc. This punishment came to him because he blasphemed and cursed [God] with his words, which comes from the faculty of breath which came through the nose to the brain. As it is written (Genesis 2:7), "And He blew into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living being"; and Onkelos translates [this as,] "a speaking being." And the matter of its picking at his brain, etc. and it heard the sound of a hammer and was silent, can be explained [as] a hint from the verse that it brought above (Psalms 74:4), which stated, "Your enemies roar, etc. He was known like one bringing up for stature." Meaning, he was known by the curtain that he brought to his city, that should be for his stature, to be praised for it in his city. Or it means, "like one who brings the Elevated" - as it said, "he thought that he had killed "himself." So it said that his punishment is that "the axes are caught in the tree" (the end of Psalms 74:5): Just like the axe picks at the tree, so too did the gnat pick at his brain. And also according to Abbaye - as its mouth was copper and its claws were iron - it was like this axe. And it stated (Psalms 74:6), "its entrances" - since there was a little consolation and opening, since the idolater and the Jew together, "broke away with the hatchet and with the hammer," to silence it with the sound of the hammer. And it said, "they split open his head, etc." - according to one, like a pigeon - that is a hint to the Congregation of Israel. As it is written about the visions between the pieces, "Bring Me a heifer, etc., a turtledove, and a young pigeon, etc. and he split them in the middle [...] but he did not split the bird" (Genesis 15:9-10): That is a hint that the idolaters will end, but Israel will survive. And that is what it stated in this Psalm (Psalms 74:19), "Do not deliver Your dove to the wild animal, etc." - it is the "turtledove, and [the] young pigeon."

And it said, He said to him, "Their words (commandments) are numerous, and you will not be able, etc.": He denied that the Torah was from the Heavens: For it is impossible that it be from the Heavens, since it is impossible to fulfill all of it; and its words are like words in general. And there is also a hint to this in that [Psalm]. As it stated further (Psalms 74:18), "Remember this, O enemy who blasphemes the Lord, etc." As it states (Psalms 74:19), "Do not deliver [Your dove] to the wild animal" - which is Israel, Your dove, as I have written. For it is impossible to keep it all, since forgetfulness is found among people. So "do not forget forever," the answer that You promised us, "your poor ones" - which are Israel. It is as it is written (Deuteronomy 31:21), "for it shall never be forgotten from the lips of their progeny, etc." And it said, "Anyone who distresses Israel will become, etc." - that is explained in the Aggadot of [the chapter entitled] Chelek.