תהלים, פרק קכ״ט, פסוק ב׳

Throughout history, countless enemies have risen against the Israelites with the intent of wiping them out. Yet, time and again, these forces have failed to achieve their ultimate goal. The primary approach among commentators is that despite the severe hardships and the vast number of adversaries that have emerged over the generations, these enemies have never possessed the actual power to completely annihilate the nation [מצודת ציון]. The survival of the Israelites is tied directly to a Divine promise. God assured His people that He would protect them and preserve their remnant even when they are scattered in exile across hostile lands. This reflects the ancient teaching that while threats of destruction arise constantly, God consistently steps in to save them from their oppressors.

Offering a unique perspective on this ongoing salvation, [אלשיך] traces this pattern back to the Egyptian exile, a period often viewed as the youth of the nation. He explains that the survival of the Israelites in Egypt was not merely a result of the merit held by their ancestors or early leaders. Instead, they were saved for the sake of all the future generations. God showed kindness to those early ancestors specifically because of the descendants who were destined to be born. Had the nation been destroyed in Egypt, those future children would never have come into existence. Therefore, the historical rescue was not just a past event for the founders of the nation, but a direct and personal salvation for every subsequent generation that looks back and reflects on their survival.