After lighting the Chanukah candles each night, many people have the custom of reciting a mizmor of Tehilim, perek 91, called יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן Yoshev BeSeter Elyon. The source dates back to the Tashbetz, a Rishon, who says that we recite it (with the last pasuk recited twice) because it comes to 130 words, which is the numerical equivalent of the word Hakohanim, The Kohanim. This refers to the Hashmonaim, the family of kohanim who said this mizmor when they went out to war against the Greeks, and that’s how they won. It was their magical segulah. It’s called Shir Shel Pega’im- שיר של פגעים A song the protects against any bad occurrences. The Gemarah in Masechet Shabbat says that it’s the song that protects us from tragedies. Whenever we say it, it’s for protective purposes. For example, it’s said, lo alenu, at funerals, when they carry the casket, to protect the deceased from any negative judgments. It’s also said each night in Keriat Shema, before we go to sleep, to protect us at night. It’s the song of protection, and it was sung by the Maccabee warriors.
What’s the power of this mizmor? Is it just some kind of magical segullah?
The Rambam, in Morah Nevuchim, explains an important principle, which he calls an “Iyun Niflah Meod-A Wonderous Deep Understanding.” He says that G-d’s protective powers depend on how much a person has G-d on his mind. The more you have G-d on your mind, the more He supervises and protects you. Rambam’s source for this principle is this Mizmor- יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן -Yoshev BeSeter Elyon.
It’s a beautiful mizmor; we will go through it;
יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן, בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן:
(A man is) hidden under the protection of G-d, he’s dwelling in G-d’s shadow,
אֹמַר לַה' מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי, אֱלֹהַי אֶבְטַח־בּוֹ:
He tells G-d, “You’re my refuge (this word refuge, indicates that G-d didn’t promise anything, but we seek refuge anyway- like an Embassy) You’re my protective tower. I rely on G-d,
כִּי הוּא יַצִּילְךָ מִפַּח יָקוּשׁ, מִדֶּבֶר הַוּוֹת:
He will save me from any traps, or any diseases,
בְּאֶבְרָתוֹ יָסֶךְ לָךְ וְתַחַת־כְּנָפָיו תֶּחְסֶה, צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ:
He protects me under his wings,
לֹא־תִירָא מִפַּחַד לָיְלָה, מֵחֵץ יָעוּף יוֹמָם:
You won’t be afraid of any night-fears, or from arrows flying during the day
מִדֶּבֶר בָּאֹפֶל יַהֲלֹךְ, מִקֶּטֶב יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָיִם:
Or from diseases of the night, or demons of the afternoon,
יִפֹּל מִצִּדְּךָ אֶלֶף וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶךָ, אֵלֶיךָ לֹא יִגָּשׁ:
1,000 will fall to one side and 10,000 on the other (you’re in heavy war zone) but they won’t come close to you.
רַק בְּעֵינֶיךָ תַבִּיט, וְשִׁלֻּמַת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה:
You’ll look into the eye of enemy, and watch as G-d seeks vengeance on them.
How does this man get through this war zone?
כִּי־אַתָּה ה' מַחְסִי, עֶלְיוֹן שַׂמְתָּ מְעוֹנֶךָ:
Because You, G-d, are My refuge. G-d is my abode
Therefore,
לֹא־תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה, וְנֶגַע לֹא־יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ:
No evil will occur to you, and no plagues will enter you tent
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ, לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־ דְּרָכֶיךָ:
G-d will send His angels to protect you
עַל־כַּפַּיִם יִשָּׂאוּנְךָ, פֶּן־תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ:
G-d will carry you in His palms, to spare you from stubbing your toe on a rock
עַל־שַׁחַל וָפֶתֶן תִּדְרֹךְ, תִּרְמֹס כְּפִיר וְתַנִּין:
You’ll step on the carcasses of leopards and lions, and trample on serpents and scorpions
*Where did this man get all this power?? G-d says,
כִּי בִי חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ, אֲשַׂגְּבֵהוּ כִּי־יָדַע שְׁמִי:
Because he’s just connected and yearning for Me; therefore, I’ll save him and lift him up, because he knows My name.
יִקְרָאֵנִי וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ, עִמּוֹ־אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה, אֲחַלְּצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ:
He calls out to Me and I answer him. I’m with him when he’s in trouble, I’ll take him out and bring him honor.
And after all he’s been through...
אֹרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ, וְאַרְאֵהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי:
I’ll satiate him with a long life and he’ll see My salvation. (this line is repeated twice)
What a powerful mizmor! Imagine saying this every night of Chanukah with feeling? How powerful!
Have a wonderful day.