מזמור לדוד הבו לד' בני אלים
Mizmor l’David. Havu l’Hashem bnei eilim.
A song of David. Prepare for Hashem, you sons of the powerful.
Rashi (and others) define havu as “prepare.” Alternatively, the definition is to “give,” which alludes to giving/rendering words of praise and thanksgiving. Bnei eilim is translated as “sons of the powerful.” This implies officers and noblemen, or, as Targum explains, it as a reference to Heavenly angels. Chazal teach that eilim refers to the Avos, Patriarchs, who were powerful in their faith. Eilim also mean rams. Our Patriarchs were prepared to be slaughtered as rams for Hashem’s sake. This refers particularly to Yitzchak Avinu who was prepared to allow himself to be slaughtered by Avraham Avinu. Midrash Socher Tov defines it as ilmim; an ileim is mute. Often the Patriarchs could have spoken up and respectfully refused to obey Hashem’s command. This refers to Avraham who could have said to Hashem, “Yesterday, You told me that I will have descendants from Yitzchak, and today You command me to slaughter him.” This does not mean that the Avos would have refused, but they had logical reasons to point out that the command demanded extraordinary faith and commitment, since it did not coincide with previous assurances.
