(א) לַמְנַצֵּחַ אַל תַּשְׁחֵת לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי שָׁאוּל בַּמְּעָרָה:
(1) For the musician, [based on the theme,] “Let there be no destruction,” a michtam by David, when he fled from Shaul [and hid] in the cave.
NOTE: For a PDF of this mizmor, please click here. This will enable you to print out the entire text of the article. [Rev 4]
Key Concepts of Mizmor 057 – Glory in a Cave
When David composed Mizmor 057 he was a fugitive, hiding with a small band of loyal warriors in the dark recesses of one of the rocky caves of the Desert of Ein-Gedi. David’s father-in-law King Shaul had gone forth to search for David and, without realizing it, entered the very cave in which David had taken shelter. David was in a precarious situation. His men urged him to take advantage of the opportunity and kill Shaul who was his sworn enemy. But he knew that it was wrong to destroy a man who had been anointed as king of Yisrael. He also knew that his own life would be in great danger from Shaul’s warriors who were waiting outside the cave.
In the mizmor David appeals to Hashem to give him the strength to resist killing Shaul, but also to let him escape with his own life. Although momentarily trapped underground in a cold, damp cave, David drew strength from his vision of the future in which he would make the glory of Hashem known throughout the world.
Historical Background
This mizmor was composed several months after David returned from the land of the Plishtim, having fooled their king by disguising himself as a madman (see Mizmor 034). Despite returning to the Land. David was still unable to find a secure place. At one point his location in the Wilderness of Ziph was betrayed to Shaul by the local people as described in I Shmuel 23. Shaul then set out with three thousand selected men and surrounded David’s small force. Just when it seemed that David’s plight was hopeless, Shaul was diverted by a report that there was a large force of Plishtim in the area and so Hashem’s hidden intervention helped David escape once more.
After Shaul returned from pursuing the Plishtim, he was told that David was now in the Desert of Ein-Gedi, and so Shaul began searching that area. As it happened, Shaul entered a cave to relieve himself, the very cave in which David was hiding.
As described in I Shmuel 24, David resisted the demands of his men who urged him to exploit his temporary advantage and kill Shaul. Instead David contented himself with cutting off a corner from Shaul’s garment in order thus to prove to the king how unjustified he was in his hatred.
Navigating Tehillim (1). The incident which gave rise to this mizmor is recalled in Mizmor 007 (A Song of Errors), where David asks not to be held to account for the disrespect he showed to Shaul by cutting off a corner of his garment.
Navigating Tehillim (2). The prior incident involving David’s betrayal by the Ziphim was very discouraging for him. However, he was subsequently able to renew his bitachon as described in Mizmor 054 (Betrayal and Bitachon).
Navigating Tehillim (3). While hiding out in the cave David had reason to feel like the lowest criminal, fearing to go out in the light of day. This mood is expressed in Mizmor 142 (Tefillah in a Cave), which is filled with depression and brokeness. In contrast Mizmor 057 is filled with courage and an uplifted spirit.
Exploring the Mizmor
PART 1. LET THERE BE NO DESTRUCTION. From deep within the cave, David prays to Hashem to extract him from a precarious situation of great danger. He needs Hashem’s help to resist the urge to kill Shaul, who is temporarily within his power. Even if he succeeds in that, he needs to get away from the area of the cave without being attacked and killed by Shaul’s large force.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּחַ אַל תַּשְׁחֵת לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי שָׁאוּל בַּמְּעָרָה: (ב) חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹקִים חָנֵּנִי כִּי בְךָ חָסָיָה נַפְשִׁי וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת: (ג) אֶקְרָא לֵאלֹקִים עֶלְיוֹן לָאֵ־ל גֹּמֵר עָלָי: (ד) יִשְׁלַח מִשָּׁמַיִם וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי חֵרֵף שֹׁאֲפִי סֶלָה יִשְׁלַח אֱלֹקִים חַסְדּוֹ וַאֲמִתּוֹ: (ה) נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים בְּנֵי אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה:
(1) For the musician, [based on the theme,] “Let there be no destruction,” a michtam by David, when he fled from Shaul [and hid] in the cave. (2) Grant me favor, O G-d [that I not kill]. Grant me favor [that I not be killed]. For my soul takes refuge in You. And I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings until the danger has passed. (3) I call upon G-d, Most High to the Almighty One Who decrees my fate. (4) May G-d dispatch [His angels] from heaven and save me from the defamation of the one who wants to swallow me, Selah. May G-d dispatch His mercy and His truth. (5) My life is in the midst of lions. I am lying with men who are aflame, people whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
PART 2. ANTICIPATED GRATITUDE. David praises Hashem for helping him evade catastrophe in the past. He promises to express his gratitude in song when he is saved.
(ו) רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ: (ז) רֶשֶׁת הֵכִינוּ לִפְעָמַי כָּפַף נַפְשִׁי כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ סֶלָה: (ח) נָכוֹן לִבִּי אֱלֹקִים נָכוֹן לִבִּי אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה:
6) [By showing that] You are higher than the heavens, O G-d. You will reveal Your glory to the entire world. (7) In the past they prepared a snare for my feet, bending down my soul. They dug a pit before me [but] they fell into it, Selah. (8) My heart is steadfast, O G-d, my heart is steadfast. [When You save me] I will sing and I will make music.
PART 3. SONG OF PRAISE. From deep within the dark cave, David anticipates the glory of G-d being revealed to the world. In his song he praises Hashem for His qualities of kindness and truth.
(ט) עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר: (י) אוֹדְךָ בָעַמִּים אֲדֹ־נָי אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּלְאֻמִּים: (יא) כִּי גָדֹל עַד שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ וְעַד שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ: (יב) רוּמָה עַל שָׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ:
(9) “Awake, O my soul, awake! Awake, O lyre and harp! I will waken the dawn.” (10) I will acknowledge my gratitude to You among the tribes, O L-rd. I will sing to You among the nations. (11) For Your kindness extends until the heavens and Your truth until the skies. (12) [You show that] You are higher than the heavens, O G-d. You will reveal Your glory to the entire world.”
Learning the Mizmor
PART 1. LET THERE BE NO DESTRUCTION.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּחַ אַל תַּשְׁחֵת
A song prepared for the musician — לַמְנַצֵּחַ , based on the theme, Let there not be destruction — אַל תַּשְׁחֵת . This theme expresses David’s plea to Hashem that he emerge from the encounter with Shaul without the loss of human life.
לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם
This song is a michtam composed by David — לְדָוִד מִכְתָּם . A “michtam” is a very fine composition, whose name means “adornment of purest gold”.
בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי שָׁאוּל בַּמְּעָרָה:
David composed the song when he fled from Shaul — בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי שָׁאוּל — and was hiding in the cave — בַּמְּעָרָה , which Shaul subsequently entered, unaware that David was already there.
(ב) חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹקִים חָנֵּנִי
כִּי בְךָ חָסָיָה נַפְשִׁי
וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת:
כִּי בְךָ חָסָיָה נַפְשִׁי
וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת:
Grant me Your merciful favor, O G-d — חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹקִים . Give me the strength to resist the impulse to kill Shaul while he is at my mercy. And grant me Your further favor — חָנֵּנִי — to protect me when I leave the cave and Shaul’s men are in a position to harm me. For although I have for the moment taken physical shelter in a cave, my soul takes refuge in You alone — כִּי בְךָ חָסָיָה נַפְשִׁי . And I will continue to take refuge in the shelter of Your wings — וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה — until the danger from Shaul has passed — עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת — and I will continue to do so in any future danger.
(ג) אֶקְרָא לֵאֱלֹקִים עֶלְיוֹן
לָאֵ־ל גֹּמֵר עָלָי:
לָאֵ־ל גֹּמֵר עָלָי:
Even though I am in the depths of the cave, I call upon G-d, Most High — אֶקְרָא לֵאלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן — to help me. I call to the Almighty One Who decrees my fate — לָאֵ־ל גֹּמֵר עָלָי — wherever I am.
(ד) יִשְׁלַח מִשָּׁמַיִם
וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי חֵרֵף שֹׁאֲפִי סֶלָה
וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי חֵרֵף שֹׁאֲפִי סֶלָה
I am in the depths of the cave and weak but may He dispatch His angels from heaven — יִשְׁלַח מִשָּׁמַיִם — and save me from the defamation — וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי חֵרֵף — of the one who wants to swallow me, Selah — שֹׁאֲפִי סֶלָה .
יִשְׁלַח אֱלֹקִים חַסְדּוֹ וַאֲמִתּוֹ:
May G-d dispatch His mercy — יִשְׁלַח אֱלֹקִים חַסְדּוֹ — that He invoked to make me His anointed. And may He dispatch His truth — וַאֲמִתּוֹ — to save me from Shaul and thereby fulfill the promise that He made by choosing me as the king in place of Shaul.
(ה) נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם
אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים
בְּנֵי אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים
וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה:
אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים
בְּנֵי אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים
וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה:
Here in this cave my life is in danger because I am in the midst of Shaul’s warriors who are like man-eating lions — נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם . I am hoping they won’t notice my presence here and so I am lying quietly with men who are aflame — אֶשְׁכְּבָה לֹהֲטִים — with anger and viciousness. They are people whose teeth are spears and arrows — בְּנֵי אָדָם שִׁנֵּיהֶם חֲנִית וְחִצִּים — and whose tongue is a sharp sword — וּלְשׁוֹנָם חֶרֶב חַדָּה — because they use it to spread malicious rumors.
PART 2. ANTICIPATED GRATITUDE.
(ו) רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים
עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ:
עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ:
By saving me from an enemy that is far more powerful than me You will demonstrate that there are no limits to Your power. And so I ask that You show that You are higher than the heavens, O G-d — רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים . Thereby You will reveal Your glory to the entire world — עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ .
(ז) רֶשֶׁת הֵכִינוּ לִפְעָמַי
כָּפַף נַפְשִׁי
כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ סֶלָה:
כָּפַף נַפְשִׁי
כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ סֶלָה:
This is not the first time that they attempted to destroy me. In the past they prepared a snare for my feet — רֶשֶׁת הֵכִינוּ לִפְעָמַי , bending down my soul — כָּפַף נַפְשִׁי , but You helped me escape. They dug a pit before me — כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה — but they themselves fell into it, indeed, Selah — נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ סֶלָה . This is all part of the Divine plan, to allow evil men to exercise their free will but to sabotage its effects.
(ח) נָכוֹן לִבִּי אֱלֹקִים
נָכוֹן לִבִּי אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה:
נָכוֹן לִבִּי אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה:
Even though my enemies have constantly pursued me, my heart is steadfast, O G-d, my heart is steadfast — נָכוֹן לִבִּי אֱלֹקִים נָכוֹן לִבִּי — because I am confident of Your support and so I am resisting the voices among my warriors urging me to exploit my advantage here in the cave and kill Shaul. I do not listen to them because I have no doubt that You will save me from Shaul, and that I will celebrate Your yeshuah; I will sing and I will make music — אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה — to honor Your Name.
PART 3. SONG OF PRAISE.
(ט) עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי
עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר
אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר:
עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר
אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר:
My song will be: Awake, O my soul, awake — עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי — to compose songs of gratitude and praise to Hashem! Awake, O lyre and harp — עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר — to inspire my soul with the spirit of joyful music to Hashem. My song will begin even in the dark night of this cave and I will waken the dawn — אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר — with the intensity of my devotion. The light of truth will then be visible and acknowledged by everyone.
(י) אוֹדְךָ בָעַמִּים אֲדֹ־נָי
אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּלְאֻמִּים:
אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּלְאֻמִּים:
Though I am singing to You now as a fugitive in a cold, dark cave I will acknowledge my gratitude to You publicly among the tribes of Yisrael, O L-rd — אוֹדְךָ בָעַמִּים אֲדֹ־נָי . I will even sing in praise to You among the nations of the world — אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּלְאֻמִּים .
(יא) כִּי גָדֹל עַד שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ
וְעַד שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ:
וְעַד שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ:
For Your kindness is so great that it extends until the very heavens — כִּי גָדֹל עַד שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ . And Your truth is so magnificent that it extends even beyond the heavens, until the upper reaches of the universe — וְעַד שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ . And so there is nothing within the entire universe that can interfere with Your qualities of kindness and truth.
(יב) רוּמָה עַל שָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים
עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ:
עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ:
By saving me from an enemy that is far more powerful than me You will demonstrate that there are no limits to Your power. And so I again ask that You show that You are higher than the heavens, O G-d — רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים . Thereby You will reveal Your glory to the entire world — עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ .
Living the Mizmor
Listed below are some of the lessons that you can draw from this mizmor, as well as some of the thoughts you might have in mind when you say the words of the mizmor as a tefillah, expressing your devotion to Hashem.
Tefillos for Life – Your Relationship with Hashem.
[57:2] SEEKING SHELTER. – וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ אֶחְסֶה עַד יַעֲבֹר הַוּוֹת – “And I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings until the danger has passed.” Turn to Hashem for protection, especially when you are in personal danger.
[57:3] MY FATE. – אֶקְרָא לֵאלֹקִים עֶלְיוֹן לָאֵ־ל גֹּמֵר עָלָי – “I call upon G-d, Most High to the Almighty One Who decrees my fate.” Turn to Hashem in every situation of life for He is always in control.
Tefillos for Life – Your Yeshuah.
[57:4] ANGELS FROM ON HIGH. – יִשְׁלַח מִשָּׁמַיִם וְיוֹשִׁיעֵנִי – “May G-d dispatch [His angels] from heaven and save me.” Ask Hashem to send His angels to save you from the vicious enemy.
Tefillos for Life – Your Anguish.
[57:5] AMID LIONS. – נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֹךְ לְבָאִם – “My life is in the midst of lions.” Turn to Hashem for help because you are surrounded by lions and you are in fear of calling their attention to you.
Tehillos for Life – Contemplation of Hashem.
[57:6] NO LIMITS. – רוּמָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם אֱלֹקִים עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֶךָ – “You are higher than the heavens, O G-d. You will reveal Your glory to the entire world.” Hashem, when You save Yisrael You demonstrate that there are no limits to Your power.
[57:11] – כִּי גָדֹל עַד שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ וְעַד שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ – “For Your kindness extends until the heavens and Your truth until the skies.” You also demonstrate that there is nothing within the entire universe that can interfere with Your qualities of kindness and truth.
[57:7] HISTORY. – כָּרוּ לְפָנַי שִׁיחָה נָפְלוּ בְתוֹכָהּ – “They dug a pit before me [but] they fell into it.” By saving Yisrael in the past Hashem has demonstrated His power.
Tefillos for Life – Your Gratitude.
[57:8] STEADFAST. – נָכוֹן לִבִּי אֱלֹקִים נָכוֹן לִבִּי אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמֵּרָה – “My heart is steadfast, O G-d, my heart is steadfast. [When You save me] I will sing and I will make music.” Yisrael will always be grateful for Hashem’s yeshuah.
[57:9] AWAKEN. – עוּרָה כְבוֹדִי עוּרָה הַנֵּבֶל וְכִנּוֹר אָעִירָה שָּׁחַר – “Awake, O my soul, awake! Awake, O lyre and harp! I will waken the dawn.” We begin our song of thanks even in the pre-dawn darkness when the signs of yeshuah are not yet visible.
Tehillos for Life – Public Acclaim.
[57:10] ANTICIPATED THANKS. – אוֹדְךָ בָעַמִּים אֲדֹ־נָי אֲזַמֶּרְךָ בַּלְאֻמִּים – “I will acknowledge my gratitude to You among the tribes, O L-rd. I will sing to You among the nations.” We look forward to publicly thanking Hashem for His yeshuah.
Sources
The primary sources used in the interpretation of the verses of this mizmor are listed below.
א – רש”י, אבן עזרא, רד”ק, מלבי”ם, דעת סופרים
ב – רש”י, המאירי, אלשיך, מלבי”ם
ג – אבן עזרא, רשר”ה
ד – רש”י, רד”ק, אבן יחייא, מצודות
ה – רד”ק, בן־רמוך
ו – אבן עזרא, רד”ק
ז – רש”י, ספורנו, אלשיך
ח- רד”ק, מלבי”ם
ט – רד”ק, המאירי, מלבי”ם, נר לרגלי
י – אבן עזרא, בן־רמוך, רשר”ה
יא – בן־רמוך
יב – רד”ק