תהלים, פרק ע״ח, פסוק ס״ה

After a prolonged period of silence and hidden presence, a sudden and dramatic shift takes place. The period of Divine waiting reaches its limit, and judgment bursts forth with the sudden intensity of a mighty warrior shaking off a deep slumber. For a time, God appeared to ignore human actions. The primary approach among commentators is that this state of sleep serves as a metaphor for the withdrawal of God's direct involvement. It represents an era when God remained silent, holding back punishment for the sins of the Israelites. However, as their wrongdoings multiplied, God roused Himself from this apparent slumber to deliver justice.

Taking a different perspective, other commentators relate this period of silence to the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. God allowed the enemy to believe they had triumphed and claimed the ultimate prize. Yet, this illusion was temporary, as God soon awoke with fierce protection for the honor of the Ark, striking down His enemies. To ensure that human frailties are not mistakenly attributed to the Divine, the traditional reading of the text includes a deliberate pause, carefully separating the concept of sleep from God Himself [מנחת שי].

This sudden awakening is further compared to a powerful warrior shaking off the effects of wine. A person waking from drunkenness often lets out a shout or a cry to gather their senses and summon their strength [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. Just as a warrior's true strength never disappears but merely lies dormant under the influence of wine, God's power is always present, ready to be unleashed with full force [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this context, the wine symbolizes God's immense patience, representing the long delay before addressing the sins of that generation [מאירי].

While this paints a picture of a powerful return to action, there are subtle variations in how this awakening is understood. Some suggest that rousing from wine implies the reaction was not absolute, indicating a less complete effort of vengeance than if He had awakened from a state of pure joy [אלשיך]. Offering a completely different reading, a contrary opinion argues that the imagery describes a drunkard falling heavily into a deep slumber, rather than waking up from one [אבן עזרא].