Divine Defense of Israel
Divine protection · Israel’s enemies · Servitude to God · Spiritual purpose
בפסוק תהרוס קמיך.
“In the verse: ‘You shall destroy those who rise up against You.’”
He begins by citing the verse that speaks of destroying those who rise against God.
דרשו חז"ל מי הם הקמים עליך הקמים נגד ישראל כו'.
“Our sages expounded: Who are those who rise against You? Those who rise against Israel.”
The Sages identify enemies of Israel as enemies of God Himself.
ויש להבין איך אמרו זאת בנ"י בעצמם דהוי כמו יהללוך זר ולא פיך.
“But this needs understanding: how could Israel say this about themselves, since it is like praising oneself, whereas praise should come from another and not from your own mouth?”
He raises the difficulty: Israel appears to be praising their own spiritual stature by declaring that whoever opposes them is opposing God.
אכן האמת היא הנותנת כי באמת בנ"י הי' כל לבם ונפשם לעשות רצון אביהם שבשמים.
“However, the truth itself resolves this, for Israel truly directed their entire heart and soul to fulfill the will of their Father in Heaven.”
The resolution begins: Israel’s intention was wholly devoted to serving God.
ולא שמו לב על כל המעיקים להם בעבור צער גופם רק מה שמעכבין להם עבודת הבורא ית'.
“And they paid no attention to those who oppressed them for bodily suffering, only to that which hindered their service of the Creator, blessed be He.”
Their concern was not physical suffering, but only any obstruction to divine service.
וזאת הי' כל שמחתם שיצאו לחירות מתחת יד פרעה לכנוס בכלל עבדי ה'.
“And this was their entire joy—that they left servitude under Pharaoh to enter the category of the servants of God.”
Their liberation was valued solely because it enabled full devotion to God.
וכיון שכך הי' אצלם לכן המדה בשמים ג"כ כך היא שכל הקמים נגדם הרי הם קמים נגד ה'.
“And since this was their inner state, the attribute in Heaven corresponded: all who rise against them are considered as rising against God.”
Heaven mirrors their self‑definition: opposition to Israel equals opposition to God.
כי אין להם בעצמותם רק מה שהם עבדי ה'.
“For they possess no identity of their own except that they are servants of God.”
Their entire essence is defined by divine service.
ויתכן עוד לרמוז בלשונם ז"ל מי הם הקמים נגדך.
“It may also be hinted in the words of the Sages: ‘Who are those who rise against You?’”
He introduces an additional interpretive layer.
כלומר כי בוודאי לא הי' נמצא כלל בעולם להיות קמים נגד השי"ת.
“Meaning: surely there would not exist in the world anyone who would rise against the Holy One, blessed be He.”
In essence, no creature would dare oppose God directly.
רק הכל מה שנברא העולם באופן הזה הוא בעבור ישראל כענין המשנה להפרע מן הרשעים וליתן שכר טוב לצדיקים.
“Rather, the entire structure of the world was created for Israel, as the Mishnah states: to exact punishment from the wicked and to give good reward to the righteous.”
The world’s moral structure exists for the sake of Israel’s spiritual mission.
כדי שיהיו קמים נגד ישראל והמה יגברו נגדם לזכות לשכר טוב.
“This was so that there would be those who rise against Israel, and Israel would overcome them, thereby meriting good reward.”
Opposition itself is part of the divine plan: it creates opportunities for Israel’s spiritual triumph.
Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that Israel could say that those who rise against them rise against God because Israel’s entire identity was devoted solely to divine service. Heaven mirrors this identity, so opposing Israel means opposing God. Furthermore, the existence of adversaries is part of the divine design, allowing Israel to overcome them and attain spiritual reward.