Tehillim 19 — How David HaMelech Defeated His Enemies with His Index Finger

Tehillim 19 — How David HaMelech Defeated His Enemies with His Index Finger

David HaMelech said in Tehillim (144:1): -  “hamelamed yadai lakrav, etzbe'otai lamilchamah” — (teaching my hands to wage war, my fingers to fight). Many ask: Why does David mention both hands and fingers in this psalm? After all, it is obvious that one fights with one's hands. The Mekubalim reveal that David HaMelech composed this psalm in such a way that in the three pesukim of Tehillim 19 (verses 8 through 10), the four-letter Name of Ha-Shem is repeated six times, and in each verse it appears in the second position. If each of these pesukim is divided into five words corresponding to the five fingers of the hands, and the fingers are extended [beginning with the thumb], the Name of Ha-Shem will always fall on the second finger—the index finger—“etzba”. Tehillim 19 (8–10)   “Torat Ado-nai temimah, meshivat nafesh, Edut Ado-nai ne'emanah, machkimat peti. Pikudei Ado-nai yesharim, mesamchei lev, Mitzvat Ado-nai barah, me'irat einayim. Yirat Ado-nai tehorah, omedet laad, Mishpetei Ado-nai emet, tzadku yachdav”. When read in this manner, the index finger is sanctified six times by the Name of Ha-Shem. Before battles, David HaMelech would recite this psalm in precisely this manner, extending his fingers. Each time, he sanctified his index finger with the Name of Ha-Shem; he would then point it at his enemies and immediately prevail over them.   Why Is the Wedding Ring Placed on the Index Finger? It is precisely because of the special nature of the index finger that, during Kiddushin (the betrothal of the bride), the ring is placed specifically on that finger. Through the mitzvah of Kiddushin, the Name of the Holy One is unified: the ring corresponds to the letter “yud” — י the groom’s hand holding the ring with its five fingers corresponds to the letter “hei” — ה the bride’s index finger corresponds to the letter “vav” — ו and the hand that she opens to accept the betrothal corresponds to the final letter “hei” — ה Since the Name הוי׳׳ה is unified through the betrothal of the bride, the ring is placed on the index finger, which corresponds to this Name.   Segulot: Based on this psalm, the Sages recommend reciting Psalm 19 according to David HaMelech’s method as a segulah: 1) for refuah shlemah—to point at the afflicted organ with one’s finger; 2) for success in Torah—to point at difficult pesukim with one’s finger; 3) for victory over enemies—to point at oppressors and adversaries, and so forth.