Derech HaShleimut provides a beautiful explanation to the meaning of this Pasuk. Every person has a type of food they love. When you give it to them, they salivate and happily get to work; but if you give them the same food every single day for a whole year, they’ll eventually say, "Enough!" What happened? Do they no longer love that food? They do, but only when it’s once or twice a week; every day is too much! What is the only thing in Creation that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us that we can eat for ninety years and never get tired of? Bread! A person can eat bread for ninety years and never say he’s had enough. Why? Because Hakadosh Baruch Hu created it that way. Bread and water are things that a person always needs, and they’ll never get tired of them! David HaMelech is essentially saying: "Come and see these Bnei Yishmael. They eat up My people just as they eat bread – they never get tired! Another rocket, another bomb... enough already! How much more?! Don't they get tired?!" This is the essence of the Yishmael! They never get tired!
David says (120): “אוֹיָה לִי כִּי גַרְתִּי מֶשֶׁך שָׁכַנְתִּי עִם אָהֳלֵי קֵדָר – I lived near them, I know them well, and I will tell you who they are; רַבַּת שָׁכְנָה לָּהּ נַפְשִׁי עִם שׂוֹנֵא שָׁלוֹם – My soul has long dwelt with those who hate peace; אֲנִי שָׁלוֹם וְכִי אֲדַבֵּר הֵמָּה לַמִּלְחָמָה – I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war." David tells us not to imagine peace with them; there's no chance of making peace with them!
The Rambam, in his letter to the Jews of Yemen (Iggeret Temain 13) written over 850 years ago, writes the same:
The Yishmaelites, who have persecuted us severely, and passed baneful and discriminatory legislation against us, as Scripture has forewarned us, "Our enemies themselves shall judge us." Never did a nation molest, degrade, debase and hate us as much as they. Therefore, when David, of blessed memory, inspired by the holy spirit, envisaged the future tribulations of Israel, he bewailed and lamented their lot only in the Kingdom of Yishmael, and prayed on their behalf, for their deliverance, as is implied in the verse, "Woe is me, that I sojourn with Meschech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar" (Tehillim 120:5). Note the distinction between Kedar and the children of Yishmael, for the madman and imbecile is of the lineage of the children of Kedar as they readily admit... Although we were dishonored by them beyond human endurance, and had to put with their fabrications, yet we behaved like him who is depicted by the inspired writer, "But I am as a deaf man, I hear not, and I am as a dumb man that opens not his mouth" (Tehillim 38:14). Similarly, our sages instructed us to bear the deceptions and preposterousness of Yishmael in silence. They found a cryptic allusion for this attitude in the names of his sons "Mishma, Dumah, and Massa," which was interpreted to mean, "Listen, be silent, and endure." We have acquiesced, both old and young, to inure ourselves to humiliation, as Yeshayahu instructed: "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair." All this notwithstanding, we do not escape this continued maltreatment which nearly crushes us. No matter how much we suffer and elect to remain at peace with them, they stir up strife and sedition, as David predicted, "I am all peace, but when I speak, they are for war."
We want to understand why Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave power to the kingdom of Yishmael, and the nature of this power given to it even before Yishmael was born? The Ramban comments on the Pasuk describing Sarah punishing Hagar before she fled, explaining that in this act of Sarah, she gave Yishmael the power to afflict the descendants of Bnei Yisrael. The Ramban's language is: "Our mother, Sarah, sinned in this act of punishment, and so did Avraham, by allowing it to happen. And Hakadosh Baruch Hu heard her [Hagar] affliction and gave her a son who would be a wild man to punish the descendants of Avraham and Sarah in all kinds of affliction." Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave power to Yishmael because Sarah Imenu afflicted Hagar. The Maharal, in his sefer Ner Mitzvah, explains the power given to the kingdom of Yishmael and what exactly they want from us, and through this we can understand what is meant here:
There are people who ask, where is there a hint to the kingdom of Yishmael, which is a powerful and dominant kingdom? The answer to this question is that the kingdom of Yishmael is not mentioned because the scripture only refers to kingdoms that received holy, elevated authority, inheriting the kingdom of Israel and its power, which includes the four kingdoms. And if the kingdom of Israel had not been nullified, these other kingdoms would not have gained power. But the kingdom of Yishmael did not inherit its strength from the kingdom of Israel; rather, G-d gave it its own strength and power because it descended from Avraham. This is what is meant by the verse, “And as for Yishmael, I have heard you,” for Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave Yishmael power and strength independently.
This is a complex idea that we will try to unpack and understand. In the sefer Mima'amakim, the author hints at certain concepts and explains them with sound reasoning. The kingdoms of Bavel, Edom, Yavan, and Madai all had one goal – to make the Name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu forgotten from the world. From their perspective, they sought to cancel His kingdom. They did not acknowledge מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם – the Kingdom of Heaven, and actively opposed it. And how could they proceed to uproot the Kingdom of Heaven? Through us. Hakadosh Baruch Hu has a nation in this world that represents Him. This nation is called Am Yisrael, and Hakadosh Baruch Hu has sealed His Name upon them. So, in their attempt to fight against Hakadosh Baruch Hu, what do they do? They can’t fight the Ribbono Shel Olam directly, so they fight against Am Yisrael, who represents Hakadosh Baruch Hu in this world. Their true target, however, is not Am Yisrael itself, but rather Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The entire purpose of these nations is to annul מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם.
The Maharal says, Yishmael is different than these other nations. Yishmael operates from a completely different power. What Yishmael desires is to increase the honor of Hakadosh Baruch Hu in the world. Yishmael acts with the power of Hakadosh Baruch Hu to magnify His honor. Look closely! Before every action that the descendants of Yishmael take, the Name of Hashem is on their lips. When they go to kill, they mention the Name of Hashem beforehand! When they build an army, they call it by the Name of Hashem! It is not called the צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׁמָעֵאל – the Defense Army of Yishmael. It is called Hezbollah – the Party of Allah. Everything they do, says the Maharal, they invoke the Name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, because their actions draw from the power of His Name.
Rav Saadia Gaon, in his commentary on Sefer Daniel, explains the meaning of the horn in the dream being "like a man" and its mouth "great". Its mouth is great because they mention the Name of Heaven in everything they say! They do not make any decrees or judgments without invoking the Name of Heaven!
Let us reflect on how strong their faith in the Creator is. In last week's Parsha, we read that Avraham Avinu, on the third day after his Brit Milah, noticed that no guests were coming. He sat at the entrance of his tent, waiting for guests, when suddenly he saw three angels approaching. These angels appeared in the form of desert Arabs. What did Avraham Avinu then say to them? He asked them to take a little bit of water and to wash their feet and rest under the tree. The Gemara (Bava Metzia 46b) asks, why did he tell them to wash their feet? It is because he thought they were Arabs who worship the dust of their feet, and he was careful not to bring idol worship into his house.
The sefer Mima'amakim asks: What kind of madness is it to bow down to dust? Everyone has their own god that they worship, but bowing down to the dust of one’s feet? What kind of insanity is that?
Chazal say, it is not madness at all. It symbolizes a complete belief in the Borei Olam. How so? They believe that even the dust on their feet is there according to the will of the Creator! They believe that not a single step they take happens without the guidance of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Their attachment to Him is so complete that they bow down to the dust, saying, "This dust, too, comes from G-d ; let us bow down to it."
A Jew bows and prostrates, as Moshe instituted three daily Tefillot for Am Yisrael. Why? Because he saw that the practice of offering the Bikurim (First Fruits) had been discontinued, so he established for them three daily prayers, as is written in Tehillim (95:6): ה' עֹשֵׂנוּ בֹּאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנִכְרָעָה נִבְרְכָה לִפְנֵי. Three times a day we bow – morning, afternoon, and evening. But the kingdom of Yishmael does not settle for three bowings a day. For them, every day is Yom Kippur! On Yom Kippur, we daven five Tefillot, so they say: "For us, every day is Yom Kippur," and they pray five prayers every day. And they have no shame in praying! In the middle of Dizengoff, in the middle of Allenby, in the middle of a supermarket or office, they suddenly unroll a mat and there they are, on the ground, praying! They don't care about anyone else!
A Jew, as sunset approaches, thinks to himself, "Where can I go stand, where can I quietly daven? I don’t want anyone to see me or laugh at me, so I’ll just tuck myself in behind the kiosk or stand between the two cars." But the Yishmaeli does not care! Straight to the floor, takes off his shoes, and bam! The Yishmaeli is attached, because that is his essence!
Bilaam says: "אוֹי מִי יִחְיֶה מִשֻּׂמוֹ אֵל – Woe, who will survive from his rising up to G-d?" This is the ability of Yishmael to instill belief in Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Chazal tell us, when Hagar was in distress, what did she do? She prayed. An angel came to her and said: “Hashem has heard your affliction.” From here we learn that the Tefillah of the sick person for himself is more powerful than the Tefillot of others on his behalf. This is from Yishmael: קוֹל הַנַּעַר לֹהִים אֶל-שָׁמַע כִּי.
The power of Yishmael lies in the ability to mention the Name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. They have a great, and loud, mouth to mention His name and implant His name in the world. And when do they grow even stronger? When the power of Am Yisrael weakens; when our belief in Hakadosh Baruch Hu decreases, the strength of Yishmael increases!
Before he died, Moshe Rabbeinu sent a prophecy to Bnei Yisrael, through the song of Ha’azinu, which the Ramban writes is a message for future generations, guiding us on how to accelerate the coming of the Mashiach. He states: “And behold, this song will be with us forever; truth and faithfulness will declare all that befalls us. Hakadosh Baruch Hu says: הֵם קִנְאוּנִי בְלֹא־אֵל כִּעֲסוּנִי בְּהַבְלֵיהֶם וַאֲנִי אַקְנִיאֵם בְּלֹא־עָם בְּגוֹי נָבָל אַכְעִיסֵם׃ They have moved me to jealousy with a no-god; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will arouse their rage with a no people; I will provoke them to anger with a vile nation.
We are being told by Hakadosh Baruch Hu: “There is nothing I am not responsible for. Do not think for a moment that your strength has accomplished this. You don’t trust in Me? You instead trust in yourselves?! Wait and see. I will bring a non-people, a foolish nation of thieves, to make a mockery of you!” HaKadosh Baruch Hu declares that He will not send a great nation to humble Am Yisrael. Instead, He will send small gangs of criminals. Despite Am Yisrael being a great nation, with satellites in the sky and the most sophisticated equipment available on the ground, these small enemies will come with small and crude rockets and turn Israel into a circus, its people unable able to fight them or overcome them.
Why is this? Because we provoke Hakadosh Baruch Hu by taking credit for our own success and protection, and we let His Name slip from our mouths. As a result, we are provoked by a band of criminals who have nothing! Yet, they will shoot at us, and we’ll be unable to prevail!
Chazal write that this foundation of the kingdom of Yishmael serves as a counterbalance to Am Yisrael. The more Am Yisrael strengthen their faith in the Boreh Olam and the more Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s Name is constantly on their lips, the more the power of Yishmael will diminish. That is the recipe. R' Chaim Vital says, the exile of Yishmael is destined to afflict Am Yisrael with great and exceptional troubles, such as we have never seen before, and we will not know what to do. We will have no hope except to trust in Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s great Name, to save us from their hands.
R' Chaim Vital then concludes: “עֶזְרֵנוּ בְּשֵׁם ה' עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ – Our help is in the Name of Hashem, Maker of heaven and earth. If you strengthen your faith in Hakadosh Baruch Hu, it will lead to the kingdom of Yisrael prevailing over the kingdom of Yishmael, and the arrival of Mashiach Tzidkeinu.”
Just as David tells us in Tehillim (118), come and see – Am Yisrael are in Eretz Yisrael, a small land, surrounded by enemies. There is no friendly country around it. Here is Syria, here is Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon... nothing! David teaches us what awaits us: כָּל גּוֹיִם סְבָבוּנִי – all these nations surround the Holy Land and encircle us. How can we overcome them? בְּשֵׁם ה' כִּי אֲמִילַם – by invoking the Name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, they will be crushed! סַבּוּנִי גַם סְבָבוּנִי – not only are these nations surrounding us from the outside, but they are also within, and not sparing us even in our own neighborhoods. How can we overcome them? בְּשֵׁם ה' כִּי אֲמִילַם – their power lies in the Name of Hashem, and when we invoke the Name of Hashem, we will crush them! סַבּוּנִי כִדְבוֹרִים – They surround us like bees. Do you know what bees are? At the beginning of Sefer Devarim, the Torah states that the Emori who dwelled on the mountain came out to meet Bnei Yisrael and chased them כַּאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂינָה הַדְּבוֹרִים – as bees would do. Rashi comments, just as the bee, when it stings a person, immediately dies, so too did they – when they struck Bnei Yisrael, they immediately died. The bee knows it is going to die, yet it stings and dies! So why does it sting? Because it is its nature; it cannot refrain from stinging! סַבּוּנִי כִדְבוֹרִים –they are suicide bombers! Shaheeds! They know they’re going to die, so why do they do it? Because there’s no choice; it’s their very nature, their essence of life.
David HaMelech says, סַבּוּנִי כִדְבוֹרִים – How can you crush them? בְּשֵׁם ה' כִּי אֲמִילַם – Before they detonate an explosive, they cry out “Allahu Akbar!” When was the last time you shouted ה' הוּא הָאֱלֹקִים in a crowded supermarket? People would see you and call the cops! "Have him institutionalized!” Why? Look at Yishmael’s unwavering faith – they’re not ashamed of anything! So why are you embarrassed? Why isn’t the name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu always on your lips?
The Vilna Gaon teaches: אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים – Some rely on chariots and their might – planes, tanks, guided missiles – while others come on horses, launching crude Kassam rockets. What are their Kassams? We supply them with their fuel, without which these rockets can’t fly anywhere. We provide them with their electricity and iron, and they pack it all up with explosives and fire it right back at us! Hakadosh Baruch Hu says בְּגוֹי נָבָל אַכְעִיסֵם – With a vile nation, I will anger them. We give to them and give to them, yet they continue to attack us in vile ways whose energy source we struggle to understand. Hakadosh Baruch Hu says, “They provoked Me with a non-god; they angered Me with their vanities, and I will provoke them with a non-people; with a vile nation, I will anger them." With Yishmael.
Where does Yishmael derive his strength from? Hakadosh Baruch Hu comes to Hagar and tells her: “Know that you will give birth to a son who will be a wild man, a ferocious beast preying on others; a vile predator that will rip the world apart!” How does Hagar respond? She thanks Hakadosh Baruch Hu and says: הֲגַם הֲלֹם רָאִיתִי אַחֲרֵי רֹאִי – Have I actually gone on seeing here after His seeing me?" She is essentially saying, “Thank you! What a gift you’ve given me!”
Hakadosh Baruch Hu is giving her the following message: “Know that I am giving you a force to counterbalance Am Yisrael. Yishmael will serve as their antithesis. They will invoke My Name while Am Yisrael refrains from doing so, and they will prevail over Am Yisrael! But know that if Am Yisrael invokes My Name, Yishmael will then fall!”
Our Parsha concludes with the Pasuk: עַל פְּנֵי כָל אֶחָיו נָפָל – He fell in the presence of all his brothers. Yishmael will fall only when we invoke the Name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu! The Ba’al HaTurim writes: This words עַל פְּנֵי כָל אֶחָיו נָפָל are juxtaposed with וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת יִצְחָק to teach us that when Yishmael falls in the End of Days, then the son of David, who is from the descendants of Yitzchak, will emerge.
When we invoke the Name of Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Yishmael’s power will fall, and when he falls, the strength of Am Yisrael will rise! B’ezrat Hashem, with the rising of Am Yisrael we will see the arrival of Mashiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days, Amen and Amen! ◊
