תהלים, פרק פ׳, פסוק י״ד

A vivid image of wild beasts ravaging an unprotected field serves as a sharp metaphor for the nations of the world attacking Israel. Cruel external forces bring about total destruction, consuming every good part of the land. The primary approach among commentators is that this destruction is an act of severing and cutting down, much like ants methodically consuming a harvest [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם, המאירי]. The field is left completely bare as grazing animals devour its fruits and branches [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The animals in this scene are allegories for the various empires that rise against Israel. A wild boar emerging from the forest represents the largest and most destructive of these nations. Some identify this boar as Amalek. Just as a pig possesses certain outward signs of ritual purity, Amalek holds a degree of ancestral merit that offers it some protection [רש״י, אלשיך]. Others view the boar as a symbol of Esau, who projects an outward appearance of justice and purity, much like the pig displaying its split hooves, while remaining inwardly filled with robbery, murder, and corruption [המאירי]. Another perspective links this wild, untamed beast specifically to the Greek empire, which violently breached Jerusalem and defiled the Temple [אלשיך].

Alongside the boar is another creature, characterized by constant motion [רש״י, מצודת ציון, המאירי]. One approach views this as a reference to creeping insects and desert beasts [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. These represent the smaller, lesser nations that opportunistically take advantage of Israel's vulnerability to strike, such as the descendants of Ishmael [המאירי] or Edom during the final exile [אלשיך]. A contrasting view identifies this creature as a bird of prey [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. According to Midrashic tradition, this is a terrifying, giant bird whose massive wingspan can block out the sun, earning its unique name because its flesh contains a wide variety of flavors [רד״ק, המאירי].

The traditional scribal writing of the word for the forest introduces a profound conditional message. In the biblical scroll, one of the letters in this word is written suspended in the air. When Israel is worthy, the word is read slightly differently, transforming the enemy into a helpless water creature that lacks the power to come onto dry land and cause harm. However, when they are unworthy and disaster is decreed, the word retains its literal meaning, and the enemy springs upon them like a lethal, wild beast of the forest [רש״י, המאירי].