The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding the New Year and Yom Kippur; “my light,” (Psalms 27:1) on the New Year, “and my salvation” (Psalms 27:1) on Yom Kippur. Whom shall I fear? [The Lord is the stronghold [maoz] of my life]” (Psalms 27:1) – “The Lord is my strength [ozi] and my song” (Exodus 15:2). “When evildoers approach me” (Psalms 27:2) – these are the guardian angels of the nations of the world.
“To consume my flesh” (Psalms 27:2) – because the guardian angels of the nations of the world come and denounce Israel before the Holy One blessed be He, and say before Him: ‘Master of the universe, these are idol worshippers and those are idol worshippers. These engage in forbidden sexual relations and those engage in forbidden sexual relations. These are shedders of blood and those are shedders of blood.
Why are these descending to Gehenna and those are not descending to Gehenna?’6The point is that they claim the Jews are no better than the gentiles. “My foes and my adversaries are mine” (Psalms 27:2). There are three hundred and sixty-five days in the solar calendar. The numerical value of hasatan is three hundred and sixty-four.
All the days of the year, the accuser [hasatan] denounces, but on Yom Kippur he does not denounce. Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: “If a camp” – of Samael7An angel identified as the heavenly accuser. – “besieges me, my heart will not fear…[in this [bezot] I will put my trust]” (Psalms 27:2) – because you promised me: “With this [bezot] Aaron shall come into the Sanctuary” (Leviticus 16:3).