It's not just about good versus evil. Sometimes it's about who gets to wield power, and where that power truly comes from. Midrash Tehillim, a fascinating collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives headfirst into this very question, specifically in its exploration of Psalm 17.

The verse in question? "Your hand, O Lord, has killed them; they were killed by the sword." It seems straightforward, right? God’s power at work. But the Midrash asks: wait a minute, who exactly are these “mighty ones” being spoken about? And why do they matter?

According to the Midrash, King David himself poses this question to God: "Who are the mighty ones that have taken dominion from under your hand, and you have ruled over them in your world to subjugate them to your children? And who is this Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar?" In other words, who dared to seize power that rightfully belongs to God, and use it to oppress the Jewish people?

The Midrash answers with a potent image of divine justice. "They were killed by the sword because you ruled over the land." This reminds us that God's dominion is absolute, even when earthly rulers seem to hold sway. And the term "Chald," (Kasdim, Chaldea, or Babylonia) is interpreted as referring to the land itself, drawing on Psalm 49:2, "Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together."

And their wealth? It was ill-gotten, plundered from the Temple itself! "Your belly you fill with treasure," the Midrash states, "for they were enriched from the hidden treasures of the Temple," referencing 2 Kings 24:13, "He carried away all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house." Think about the audacity of that – profiting from what was sacred!

But what about the future? What about the next generation? "Their infants will be dashed in pieces," the Midrash declares, citing Jeremiah 27:7, "All nations shall serve him and his son and his son's son." This prophecy speaks of the eventual downfall of even the most powerful dynasties.

Then comes a surprising twist. "And their leftovers to their children," the Midrash continues. It introduces the story of a single orphan who becomes a queen in a foreign land – Vashti, from the Book of Esther (Esther 1:9). Even in destruction, there are remnants, possibilities for the future.

The Midrash circles back to the original question: Who were these mighty ones? "Your hand has killed them," the text repeats, "who were the mighty ones that ruled under your hand. They were killed by the sword because you ruled over the world." God's power remains supreme.

And now for another curveball. "Their infants will be dashed in pieces," but some remained alive. Who were these survivors? The Midrash identifies them as "the Aspianus and his companions," and their leftovers as the legendary orphans, Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome!

The story culminates in a truly bizarre image: "And you appointed for them a she-wolf who suckled them until they grew up and became great kings." A she-wolf! Nursing the founders of a great empire! It’s a reminder that even from the most unlikely and even unsettling circumstances, power can emerge.

So, what's the takeaway? The Midrash Tehillim isn't just telling us a historical story. It's showing us how God's power operates in the world. It's a power that can topple empires, yet also nurture new beginnings in the most unexpected places. It reminds us that even when things seem chaotic and unfair, there's a deeper, divine order at play, shaping history in ways we may never fully comprehend. It's a pretty wild thought, isn't it?