Picture this: King David, the ultimate warrior poet, is not just out there fighting physical battles, but also waging an all-out cosmic war on the forces of evil. And he’s not alone—he's calling out all the spiritual baddies, both male and female, in an epic prayer. Yeah, you read that right. David’s got his eyes on the whole crew, and Psalm 18:46 is where he takes it to the next level. Get ready for a deep, mystical journey that mixes ancient wisdom, Kabbalah, and—dare I say—some humor to break down what’s really going on behind this verse.
Before we jump in, let’s give a quick shout-out to Sha'ar HaPesukim, a mind-blowing Kabbalistic work by Rabbi Isaac Luria, the Ari HaKadosh (The Holy Ari), as organized and transcribed by his student, Rabbi Chaim Vital. This book serves as a gateway (sha’ar) to the deeper spiritual meaning behind various verses (pesukim) in the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim. Rabbi Chaim Vital recorded the teachings of his master, the Ari, and in this particular text, the Ari dives into the hidden meanings behind key biblical verses. In true mystical fashion, Sha'ar HaPesukim takes us beyond the surface, revealing the cosmic battles happening in the spiritual realms and how they connect to our everyday lives.
First, let’s talk about Psalm 18:46, where David says, "Bnei Nechar Yibolu, Veyachregu Mimisgerotayhem" ("Foreigners fade away and come trembling out of their strongholds"). What seems like a straightforward line about enemies is actually a cosmic showdown between good and evil, with some mystical backstory that would make any sci-fi movie jealous. And just so you know, this verse has a twin—2 Samuel 22:46—and the fact that these lines show up twice in Tanach already tells us something’s up.
So what’s David really up to? He’s praying for the complete downfall of what we call the klipot—those forces of darkness that can lure us into bad behavior. These klipot (which literally means “shells” or “husks”) are blocking the spiritual light, keeping us from that #HolyGlowUp we all want. And they come in two forms: male (Samael) and female (Lilith). David’s got his sights on both.
Yup, the mystical tradition doesn’t shy away from the whole gender dynamics of good and evil. According to the Zohar, the male forces of evil (Samael) are the ones doing the dirty work—they’re the ones with the metaphorical sword, out for destruction. They are the "rippers," the straight-up terminators of the spiritual world. But the female forces (Lilith)? They're the charmers, the tempters. They're not out to physically harm you, but they’ll sweet-talk you right into making some bad life decisions. Think of them as the con artists of the spiritual realm. They lure you in, and once you’re hooked, the male forces swoop in for the kill. Classic bad-cop, worse-cop situation.
And David, wise as ever, isn’t just about defeating the obvious destroyers (Samael), but also the seductive tempters (Lilith) who lead us astray before the chaos even begins. He’s not just fighting on one front—he’s taking them all down.
So, David’s prayer in Psalm 18:46 is for HaShem to get rid of both sides—the destroyers and the tempters. He uses the term "Bnei Nechar," which traditionally means "foreigners," but here it's a code for the forces of the klipot, both the male and female energy that’s working to block spiritual progress. And get this—when David says "Yibolu" (fade away), he's not just talking about them going poof. He’s asking that these forces rot away, disintegrating into nothing. No one’s sneaking past David’s spiritual bouncer duties.
But it gets even cooler when you compare the verse in 2 Samuel 22:46 with the one in Psalm 18:46. In Shmuel (Samuel), the focus is on the male klipot, while in Tehillim (Psalms), it’s more on the female side. David is making sure no one gets left out of his prayer for destruction—not the warriors, not the tempters. It’s a full cosmic clean-up.
Now here’s where it gets super mystical. The Kabbalists love a good metaphor, and in this case, they liken the female side of these evil forces (Lilith) to a closed-off womb—a mem (the Hebrew letter that’s a closed circle). The whole point of David’s prayer is that any spiritual "offspring" of these evil forces shouldn’t even have the chance to be born. He’s basically saying, “Block their access! Shut it down!” And if any evil energy does manage to slip through, it should just fall out, never sticking around long enough to do any harm.
That’s what the verse means when it says, "Veyachregu Mimisgerotayhem" ("trembling out of their strongholds"). David is asking HaShem to break down any spiritual "wombs" that are trying to birth negativity into the world, expelling those evil energies right back where they came from. He’s out here with full cosmic crowd control.
So what’s the takeaway from all this? King David’s prayer isn’t just about defeating physical enemies. He’s going after the deep, unseen forces that mess with our spiritual lives—the klipot, both male and female. And he’s not letting anything slide.
For us millennial Jewish (and Noahide) spiritual warriors, the lesson is pretty clear. We’ve got to stay vigilant against both the obvious destroyers (the bad habits, the negative behaviors) and the sneaky tempters (those thoughts that whisper, “It’s okay, just this once”). David’s prayer is our reminder to fight both on the battlefield and in the mind, always seeking to uproot negativity at its core.
So, next time you find yourself in a spiritual struggle, remember David HaMelech, the original cosmic warrior. He didn’t just pray for victory over physical enemies—he went after the dark spiritual forces lurking behind the scenes. And with a prayer that deep and powerful, we’re all inspired to take on our own battles, with a little humor and a lot of heart.
Sources:
Psalm 18:46 and 2 Samuel 22:46 for the verse "Bnei Nechar Yibolu, Veyachregu Mimisgerotayhem."
Zohar, Vayetse and Pekudei for the breakdown of the male and female klipot.
Sha'ar HaPesukim by Rabbi Isaac Luria, as transcribed by Rabbi Chaim Vital, for the deeper Kabbalistic analysis of these verses and their spiritual significance.
Kabbalistic interpretation of Lilith and Samael based on mystical teachings of the Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria).
In my book Pick Me Up HaShem, you’ll find many prayers that explore how HaShem is constantly drawing us closer to Him, inviting us into a deeper relationship through prayer and reflection. These prayers are designed to help you connect with the divine presence in a way that transcends mere requests and taps into the true purpose of prayer.
If you’re ready to dive deeper into these spiritual truths, consider studying Kabbalah, the mystical tradition that unlocks the profound secrets of our reality and draws us closer to HaShem’s divine wisdom. Delve into teachings that illuminate the “why” behind the Torah, connecting the layers of Creation in a synergized whole and offering a glimpse of HaShem in a way no other study can. From the timeless wisdom of Rabbi Chaim Vital and the Arizal to the unifying insights of Rabbi Sar-Shalom Sharabi (Rashash), Kabbalah not only transforms your spiritual understanding but also brings peace, protection, and redemption closer to our world. Sponsor my study in this sacred tradition and receive its blessings for sustenance, health, and family, ensuring that the powerful light of Kabbalah shines in your merit.
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