Previously, we explored the inner understanding of Perek Beis, in which the raging nations represent the forces within a person that resist rootedness, obligation, and alignment with Hashem.
We now turn to the historical perspective of the mizmor. Here, that same struggle appears not within the soul, but on the battlefield of Dovid HaMelech’s life, as the nations rise against his newly established kingship.
In the next essay, we will turn to the future vision of Gog u’Magog, where this resistance reaches its final form.
To understand the historical context of the perek, it is worth first returning to the events described in Shmuel Beis, perek 5.
The Navi tells us that all the shevatim came to Dovid in Chevron and declared him Melech. This was the third stage of Dovid’s anointing. First, Shmuel anointed him privately. Then Shevet Yehudah accepted him as Melech. Finally, the ziknei Yisrael came to Chevron and accepted him as Melech over all of Klal Yisrael.
From there, Dovid went to capture …
