Nachdaily: 5 Minute Perek Of Tanach Covering The Entire Navi. Sefer Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel, Melachim, Yeshaya, Yirmiya, Ye

Tehilim Perek 141 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 141. As in the previous chapter, Dovid wrote this perek while escaping from Shaul. Dovid understood that lashon hara, slander, was what caused Shaul’s outrage, which in return caused unnecessary bloodshed. Dovid asks to be saved from being harmed by others, from speaking slander himself, and not to be influenced by evil ways. Dovid davens for his prayer to be as desirable as korbanos in front of Hashem, asking for true understanding and knowledge of Him, for his lips to be saved from speaking harm and for his enemies not to prevail over him. Dovid expresses the desire not to be influenced by the negativity around him, nor to fall into the trap that was set up to catch him. Verse 2 says: תִּכּ֤וֹן תְּפִלָּתִ֣י קְטֹ֣רֶת לְפָנֶ֑יךָ מַֽשְׂאַ֥ת כַּ֝פַּ֗י מִנְחַת־עָֽרֶב׃ Let my prayer be fixed before You as an incense offering, the raising of my hands as the afternoon prayer. The Gemarah in Yomah 44A says that the In

Tehilim Perek 140 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 140. Dovid said this chapter while hiding from Shaul in the town of Ziph. It specifically refers to Doeg Hadomi, who slandered Dovid to Shaul. The perek expresses Dovid’s loneliness as a fugitive. The situation would have been difficult on its own. The fact Dovid was already the king anointed by Shmuel Hanavi certainly made it much more so. For more information, check out Shmuel Aleph, perakim 22 and 23. All NachDaily archives can be found at the bottom of the email, or you can go to soundcloud.com and search for NachDaily on the podcast. In this chapter, Dovid asks Hashem to save him from Doeg Hadomi who wanted to see him dead. Doeg was constantly encouraging Shaul to harm Dovid. His tongue was as sharp as arrows. Dovid begs God to protect and rescue him from the hands of the evil ones so that they won’t prevail. He ends by affirming his Emunah: despite the way it may seem on the outside, ultimately God will allow th

Tehilim Perek 139 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 139. In this perek, Dovid reminds us that Hashem has complete knowledge of everything on earth, including our location at all times, our thoughts, our laying down and rising up, and every word we think or speak. Obviously, such knowledge is way beyond human comprehension. Hashem’s presence is to be found everywhere. The lowest depths and the highest heavens, even darkness, cannot hide us from God. Dovid goes on to thank Hashem for all the goodness He does for mankind. The Gemarah in Bava Basra 14:B tells us that Adam Harishon, the first man, said that God knew how man was to be created even prior to his formation. Dovid winds down his tefilah by asking Hashem to remove all the people and things which disturb his peace of mind. All wicked and evil should be eradicated from earth. Despite Dovid’s many enemies and detractors, his heart is still shalem, at peace, with God. Verse 8 is an amazing passuk: אִם־אֶסַּ֣ק

Tehilim Perek 138 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 138. This is a very famous chapter. By way of introduction, we all need to live with the awareness that God is with us. Those who call out to Him more often can feel the comfort of their trust in Him. In this chapter, Dovid thanks Hashem from the bottom of his heart, expressing his gratitude that his tefilos were heard. Realizing that his prayers were actually answered, he felt even greater encouragement to keep on davening. Dovid says that God’s sovereignty will be recognized by all the kings on the earth during the times of Mashiach because God sees the lowly and despises the haughty. Dovid ends by relating that despite his troubles, God is with him, always looking after him. Verse 6 says: כִּי־רָ֣ם יְ֭הוָה וְשָׁפָ֣ל יִרְאֶ֑ה וְ֝גָבֹ֗הַּ מִמֶּרְחָ֥ק יְיֵדָֽע׃ For though Hashem is exalted, he notes the lowly one. And the High One makes Himself known from afar. The Gemarah in Sotah 5A brings the followi

Tehilim Perek 137 Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim perek 137, a very famous chapter. The Gemarah in Gittin 57B explains that Hashem gave Dovid Divine insight to foresee the destruction of the first Temple when Am Yisrael was at the rivers of Bavel, and the second, when Edom tried to uproot the earth of the Beis Hamikdash. This chapter is the lament and dirge of the Leviim after they were exiled. The author recalls sitting by the rivers of Babylon, weeping and remembering Tzion. The exiled musicians hid their instruments so that they wouldn’t be taken away by their enemies. They would be spoken to mockingly: “Shiru lanu, m’shir Tzion - Sing us a song from Eretz Yisrael.” This caused us great emotional anguish. How can we sing Hashem’s songs on foreign soil? The author now speaks even more emotionally: “Im eshkachech Yerushalayim, tishkach yemini, If I forget Yerushalayim, let my right hand forget what it’s supposed to do.” The perek ends with an attempt to evoke Hashem’s ki

Tehilim Perek 136 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 13. This is the second chapter of the “Hallel Hagadol.” All of the verses end with “ki l’olam chasdo, His kindness is forever.” The Gemarah in Pessachim 118:a says that the 26 pessukim in this perek correspond to the 26 generations from the creation of the world until the receiving of the Torah. Up until Kabbalas HaTorah, Hashem sustained the world through His chessed. Although only the Jewish nation received the Torah, the whole world exists in the merit of Yisrael. B’reishis stands for “b’shvil Yisrael shenikra reishis, for the sake of Yisrael that is called ‘the first,’ […the whole world was created.]” This perek is called “Hallel Hagadol, the big Hallel,” because verse 25 says that “Hu nossen lechem l’chol basar, Hashem gives bread to all mankind.” That Hashem makes sure there’s enough for everyone on earth to eat is a great kindness. The Ramak says that the 26 pessukim in this perek correspond to Hashe

Tehilim Perek 135 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 135, beginning the last 15 chapters of the Sefer. The Yerushalmi in Pessachim 5:7 tells us that the next two chapters are known as “Hallel Hagadol, the Great Hallel’” They are said at the end of the Pesach Seder after the shorter Hallel known as the “Hallel Hamitzri, Egyptian Hallel,” consisting of perakim 113 through 118. Although the Halachah requires us to only say the next chapter at the end of the Seder, Chazal instituted saying these two perakim together on Shabbos and Yom Tov during the pesukei di’zimra, the daily songs of praise in the morning prayers. The Sforno says that this chapter will be sung during the times of the final Redemption, during the period of the returning of the exiles. At that time, all of Am Yisrael will reunite as one body in our homeland, Eretz Yisrael. At that time God’s full name will be pronounced. Evil will be eradicated from the world, and God’s sovereignty will be complet

Tehilim Perek 134 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 134, the last of the 15 Shir Hama’alos chapters. These chapters were sung on each step as the Kohanim ascended the 15 steps of the women’s section to enter into the Beis Hamkidash. This perek corresponds to the last of the steps. The Kohanim ascended the steps near the end of the night and awaited the “alos hashachar, the first morning rays,” when the sun begins to illuminate the ground. At this moment the Kohanim would begin their avoda, holy work. They and the general populace would raise their hands in Tefila, and bless Hashem. The 3 pessukim in this perek are things that the Kohanim and nation would do at the beginning of the day at the first sight of the alos hashachar. They are: Bar’chu es Hashem - bless God.” The people waiting at night should bless Hashem at the sight of the morning rays. S’oo yedechem Kodesh, lift your hands in the holy Place Yivarechecha Hashem Mitzion – May Hashem ble

Tehilim Perek 133 Hello everybody, today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 132 in the Shir Hama’alos chapters. One of the more well known perakim, it contains only 3 pessukim. Two “brothers” sitting together is compared to fine oil being poured on the beard of Aharon, who is mentioned instead of Dovid because Aharon was anointed at the erecting of the Mishkan many years before Dovid was born. In addition, Aharon was anointed in public while Dovid was anointed privately. The last verse in the perek continues to describe the profound beauty of “brothers” who sit together. It’s like the dew that initially descends on Mount Chermon, then spreads out to the rest of Eretz Yisrael. The perek opens with the famous verse of שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃ A Song of Ascents of David. How good and how pleasant are brothers that dwell in unity. Who are these “brothers”? Different commentaries interpret this in various ways. It’s int

Tehilim Perek 132 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 132 in the Shir Hama’alos chapters. The perek corresponds to what happened with Dovid at the end of Sefer Shmuel. In order to stop a plague, Gad Hanavi instructed Dovid to purchase Har Hamoriyah from a man named Aravna Hayivusi. After the purchase, Dovid built an altar and brought korbonos, sacrifices, to Hashem. The plague stopped, and the people were saved. Although not mentioned at the end of Sefer Shmuel, in Divrei Hayomim Aleph perek 21, it says that on buying the land Dovid explicitly stated that this is the house of God and the Mizbayach, Altar, for the Jewish nation. Up until that very moment the exact spot of the Beis Hamkidash had not been known. Although Dovid didn’t build the Beis Hamikdash, he wanted Hashem to consider his thoughts as if they were his actions The perek opens with Dovid’s intense desire to find a home for God to rest in. While growing up in Ephrat, Dovid had heard from the elde

Tehilim Perek 131 Hello everybody, today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 131 in the Shir Ha’amalos chapters. This is the second to shortest chapter with only 3 pessukim. The previous perek related that Hashem listens to one who is humble and sincere, who calls out from the depths. Here, Dovid reflects upon his own personality. Always humble, he relied on God with great sincerity, like a child who is solely dependent on his mother. Even in adulthood, he relied on God with the innocence of a child. The chapter ends with Dovid affirming his faith in God’s ability to save us, not only in the present moment, but for all of eternity. The perek begins with the words, שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֤ה ׀ לֹא־גָבַ֣הּ לִ֭בִּי וְלֹא־רָמ֣וּ עֵינַ֑י וְלֹֽא־הִלַּ֓כְתִּי ׀ בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹת מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ A Song of Ascents, Of David. God, my heart was not proud nor were my eyes haughty; I didn’t aspire to great things or to what is beyond me; Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch explains that D

Tehilim Perek 130 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll continue in the Shir Hama’alos chapters with Tehilim chapter 130, considered to be among the more famous perakim. These chapters were written to give us hope, to understand that God hasn’t abandoned us despite what we may have done in our lives. He listens to each and every single one of our prayers. Ultimately, God will redeem, and indeed has already begun to redeem, our nation from exile. It is appropriate here to mention the last of the Ani ma’amin declarations. “Ani ma’amin b’emunah shelaima b’viyas haMashiach, v’aph alpi sheyismamei’a, im kol zech achakeh lo, b’chol yom sheyavo. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of Mashiach. Even though it may take so long, every day I await his arrival.” We must never give up hope in the final redemption, but have deep faith in the coming of Mashiach and the redemption process. The author speaks of calling out to God from the depths of his heart, for God to hear his voice and pain. Th

Tehilim Perek 129 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll continue in the Shir Ha’amalos with Tehilim chapter 129. This psalm can be read on both a national level, speaking about Am Yisrael, and on individual level, speaking about our personal pain. As most Meforshim learn that it is referring to Am Yisrael as a whole, we will continue in that vein. The perek relates that God has protected the Jewish people throughout our history. Indeed, the Radak adds that this is a song of thanksgiving for the many times that Hashem has spared us. Not only has He protected us “in our youth,” when we initially became a nation, but continues to do so throughout our long exile. Despite our enemies seeing this, they continue to persecute us. The author asks that they “wither like grass,” and the whole world should recognize the direct connection that God has with the Jewish people. Verse 4 says: יְהוָ֥ה צַדִּ֑יק קִ֝צֵּ֗ץ עֲב֣וֹת רְשָׁעִֽים׃ God is righteous. He cuts the cords of the wicked. This is stil

Tehilim Perek 128 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be continuing the Shir Hama’alos chapters with Tehilim, Chapter 128. The Malbim explains that there are essentially two parts to this chapter. The first speaks about the individual benefits a person with “yiras Shamayim, fear of God,” will receive. The second part is about the national blessings and benefits our nation will receive when we have proper yiras Shamayim. The perek tells us that those with yiras Shamayim are happy, and will enjoy the fruit of their labor. Obviously, the pleasure of earning something on your own is much greater than that of a free hand-out. Other benefits are increased marital harmony and fine children. The benefits which Am Yisrael will receive include returning to Eretz Yisrael and seeing the good fortune of Yerushalayim. Additionally, Am Yisrael will merit raising generations living in Eretz Yisrael, and ultimately our nation will be b’shalom. Verse 2 says: יְגִ֣יעַ כַּ֭פֶּיךָ כִּ֣י תֹאכֵ֑ל אַ֝שְׁרֶ֗

Tehilim Perek 127 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’re discussing Tehilim chapter 127, a short perek in the Shir Ha’amalos. Dovid had a deep desire to build the Beis Hamikdash, but Nosson Hanavi told him that his son, Shlomo, was destined to do it. Although Dovid didn’t build the Beis Hamikdash, he gives advice in this chapter as to how to go about it. The Radak adds that Dovid foresaw that his son would marry the daughter of Paroh on the same day as the inauguration. The perek was also written as a warning to Shlomo. The chapter relates that although we actually physically build the Beis Hamkdash, without Hashem’s help the entire process would be futile The perek ends by relating the joy of having proper children, who are likened to “arrows in the hands of the warrior.” The youthful parent has the energy and strength to guide his children properly, and they will ultimately give him pleasure and pride in their accomplishments. What is the connection between these two parts of the perek?

Tehilim Perek 126 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim Chapter 126, a short chapter with only 6 pessukim. This is the famous psalm said before benching on Shabbos. The theme is about the happiness we’ll feel during the final redemption. When we return to Eretz Yisrael, we will be like dreamers. Our mouths will be filled with laughter. Everyone will be cognizant of the fact that Hashem has done great things for His people, which will add to the feelings of happiness which will be dominant at that time. The perek ends with a prayer for the ingathering of the exiles. Am Yisrael will flow back to Eretz Yisrael like streams in the deserts. Those who kept Hashem’s mitzvos with great difficulty will reap their reward. Obviously, with 6 and a half million Jews back in Eretz Yisrael, we can see that this process is well underway. שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃ A song of ascents. When God returns the captivity of Tzio

Tehilim Perek 125 Hello everybody, in today’s NachDaily we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 123, a short chapter in the Shir Hama’alos with only 5 pessukim. The author equates a person who has Emunah, faith, to Har Tzion. Both Yerushlayim and a person with faith will endure forever. We should not give up on the final redemption, because as Hashem protects a person with Emunah, so too does He protect Har Tzion. Despite the controversy taking place on the Temple Mount, Hashem promises that He won’t let the “rod of the wicked” prevail. At the later stages of the final redemption, Hashem will show the truth to the world. Har Habayis will be universally accepted as belonging to the Jewish people. The author ends with a prayer for peace, for God to provide good for those who serve Him with a sincere heart and distance those who harbor malice. The chapter opens with the words: שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים בַּיהוָ֑ה כְּֽהַר־צִיּ֥וֹן לֹא־יִ֝מּ֗וֹט לְעוֹלָ֥ם יֵשֵֽׁב׃ A song of ascents. Those who

Tehilim Perek 124 Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today we’ll be discussing Tehilim chapter 124, continuing the Shir Hama’alos chapters. This chapter is on time for Chanukah. It’s so nice when what we’re learning lines up with the events of the day. The Shai Lemora says that this perek implies that that we will be saved because we trust that Hashem will save us. And Hashem will actually save us. In other words, we’ll be saved through emes and emunah, truth and faith. Emunah in the final redemption, and the truth of the very fact that we will be saved. On a different note, the Alshich explains that this perek corresponds to the 4th galus. Verse 1 refers to the Babylonian exile and verses 2 through 4 to the Persian exile. Verses 5 through 7 refer to the Greek exile which was during the times of Chanukah, and verse 8 is our present exile of Edom. In this chapter, the author recalls God’s protection throughout our long exile. As the smallest of all the

Tehilim Perek 123 Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim Chapter123 in the Shir Hama’alos. The general theme of this perek deals with Am Yisrael’s humiliation and disgrace in exile. The author compares our relationship with God to that of servant and master. Just as the eyes of the male servants look towards their master, our eyes look towards Hashem. Similarly, as a maidservant looks towards her mistress for mercy, we await Hashem’s mercy. The Alshich asks why it was necessary to give both male and female metaphors for the same idea. He explains that the male servant is an allusion to the body, while the female maidservant alludes to the soul. Both yearn to be redeemed. The passuk uses the singular word, “shifcha, maidservant,” for the soul because on the level of the neshama we’re considered one and united. The author ends the prayer with a plea for God to show chein, mercy, to His nation, which has suffered so mu

Tehilim Perek 122 Hello everybody, I’m Rabbi Shaya Sussman, covering the entire TANACH one perek at a time. Today wel discuss Tehilim chapter 122, continuing with the Shir Hama’alos verses. This chapter is very relevant to today’s times, as we want Hashem to protect Eretz Yisrael and keep us safe. It opens with the words, Shir Hama’alos l’Dovid. The Radak says that it’s possible that only the Shir Hama’alos that say, “L’Dovid” were written by him, while the others weren’t. In this chapter Dovid speaks optimistically by expressing our desire to return to Eretz Yisrael, settle the land, and rebuild the Beis Hamikdash. When Yerushalayim is rebuilt, all the tribes will gather to acknowledge God and the Mashiach. The perek ends by requesting peace for Yerushalayim. All its residents and buildings should be safe and no-one should be harmed in any way. Peace will prevail and all will understand that God is good. The perek opens with the words שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שָׂ֭מַחְתִּי בְּאֹמְרִ֣ים לִ֑י בֵּ֖ית