Tehillim for Always
1 Samuel 23:14
וַיֵּ֨שֶׁב דָּוִ֤ד בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ בַּמְּצָד֔וֹת וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בָּהָ֖ר בְּמִדְבַּר־זִ֑יף וַיְבַקְשֵׁ֤הוּ שָׁאוּל֙ כׇּל־הַיָּמִ֔ים וְלֹֽא־נְתָנ֥וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
"David was staying in the strongholds of the wilderness [of Judah];-he stayed in the hill country, in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him constantly, but G-d did not deliver him into his hands."
King Saul constantly searched for David to harm him, but David fled into the desert and hid in the caves there and King Saul could not find him. One of those caves is in the immediate vicinity of the ancient Susyah. The caves are so well hidden that if you stand next to them you can hardly see that there is a hole in the ground under which the cave is located. It was in these caves where Dawid wrote several Tehilim. From what I hear, Tehillim 37, among others.
Tehillim 37:17
כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהֹוָֽה׃
"Because the migth and wealth of the wicked will be broken, whereas G-d supports the rigtheous so that the little they have will endure."
Despite all the struggle and fear, David put his trust in HaShem, knowing that HaShem would give him ultimate victory.
Beginning, ending and reviving
It was as it were here, in Susyah, where the Tehilim were born and the place where the recitation of the Tehillim ended. Of course, people still recite Tehillim today, so how do I mean that.
After the Second Temple is destroyed, a group of Levites - and other Judeans - migrate to Susyah. They know of the caves where they can hide well, and they decide to seek refuge there. That the first inhabitants were in all likelihood Levites is shown by the remarkably large numbers of mikvahs - ritual baths - in the city. The synagogue is special because it has features of the Temple if one looks at the entrance to the synagogue and the location of the bimah. The inhabitants of the city lived a life in which they assumed a speedy construction of the Temple.
Those who lived here and continued to recite the Tehilim in the expectation of the Temple's speedy restoration lived a remarkably secure existence here, and despite the city's size, it was not noticed by its enemies. The city probably existed until 1200, and it is a mystery why its inhabitants left then. It could be that they were forced to convert to Islam. And so the sounds of the Tehilim slowly disappeared.
But today the synagogue is again used for special occasions, such as a gathering for Chanukah, a Bar Mitzvah or a Chupah. Today, the Tehillim are back.
Tehilim 126:1-2
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃
A song of ascents. When the L-RD restores the fortunes of Zion we see it as in a dream
אָ֤ז יִמָּלֵ֪א שְׂח֡וֹק פִּינוּ֮ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֢נוּ רִ֫נָּ֥ה אָ֭ז יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם הִגְדִּ֥יל יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם־אֵֽלֶּה׃
our mouths shall be filled with laughter, our tongues, with songs of joy. Then shall they say among the nations, “The L-RD has done great things for them!”
The Nations will sing Tehillim together with Israel
Throughout the ages there have been many nations who have fought Israel, peoples who have overrun the land. The Romans, the Byzantines, the Ottomans, British Empire....all have been there, all have gone again, but Israel has continued to exist. The might of all has been broken and HaShem has supported the righteous nation. The righteous of the nations will recognize this and thank HaShem for His goodness done to His people.
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners and intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
Chabadapp: chumash with Rashi
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