(Devarim 32:41) "When I whet the flash of My sword": When punishment goes forth from before Me, it is light as a flash — in spite of which "My hand takes hold of justice."
"I shall return vengeance to My foes": These are the Cutheans, of whom it is written (Ezra 4:1) "And the foes of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a sanctuary, etc."
"And I shall repay those who hate Me," viz. (Psalms 139:21-22) "Your haters, O L-rd, do I hate, and I strive with those who rise up against You. To the ends of hatred do I hate them; they have become my foes!"
(דברים לב מא) אִם שַׁנּוֹתִי בְּרַק חַרְבִּי, כְּשֶׁפֻּרְעָנוּת יוֹצְאָה מִלְּפָנַי קַלָּה הִיא כַּבָּרָק, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן – וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי.
(Devarim 32:41) "When I whet the flash of My sword": When punishment goes forth from before Me, it is light as a flash — in spite of which "My hand takes hold of justice."
אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי הֲרֵי אֶחָד, וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם הֲרֵי שְׁנַיִם.
דָּבָר אַחֵר אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי אֵלּוּ כּוּתִיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד א): ״וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ צָרֵי יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן״.
"I shall return vengeance to My foes": These are the Cutheans, of whom it is written (Ezra 4:1) "And the foes of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a sanctuary, etc."
וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם, אֵלּוּ הַמִּינִים. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים קלט כא): ״הֲלֹא מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ ה׳ אֶשְׂנָא וּבִתְקוֹמְמֶיךָ אֶתְקוֹטָט״.
"And I shall repay those who hate Me," viz. (Psalms 139:21-22) "Your haters, O L-rd, do I hate, and I strive with those who rise up against You. To the ends of hatred do I hate them; they have become my foes!"