“…Arise, O G-d, may Your enemies be scattered and may those who hate You flee from You…” – Bamidbar 10:35

קוּמָה ה’ וְיָפֻצוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ וְיָנֻסוּ מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ – במדבר י, לה

Rashi explains that Moshe’s entreaty to G-d, “may those who hate you flee from you,” refers to those who hate the Jewish people. “for anyone who hates the Jewish people, hates the One Who spoke and the world came into being.”

Why did Moshe pray that G-d’s enemies be caused to flee, instead of asking directly that G-d cause the enemies of the Jewish people to flee?

In doing so, Moshe prayed that G-d save the Jewish people even if they are deficient in their worship of G-d, and are therefore unworthy of salvation on their own merits. Moshe demanded that even so, G-d should cause the enemies of the Jewish people to flee because they are His enemies as well. For the enemies of the Jewish people are not concerned with the degree to which the Jewish people are devoted to the Torah and mitzvos, and will not attribute the Jewish people’s suffering to their misdeeds. The enemies of the Jews know, however, that the Jewish people are called the children of G-d. Therefore, if they can succeed at harming the Jews and G-d does not save them, Heaven forfend, it is a disgrace to G-d Himself. To avoid this disgrace to Your holy name, said Moshe, protect the Jewish people even if they are not worthy on their own accord. “For anyone who hates the Jewish people, hates the One Who spoke and the world came into being”—it is Your own honor that must be protected.

—Likutei Sichos, vol. 23, p. 79