Ézéchiel 36:37 Commentaire : Tze'enah Ure'enah & Rashi

“Thus says the Lord” [36:37]. Thus says God. I will do My good for Israel to make them as numerous as the sheep, like the numerous sheep that are brought for the many sacrifices for the festival, three times a year, so numerous should also be Israel. The cities that were desolate will be full of people, and they will know that I am God.

“Thus says the Lord” [36:37]. Thus says the Lord. I will respond to Israel, to make them as numerous as the sheep.

“People like sheep” [36:37]. The Tanhuma writes that he compares Israel to a sheep. How is a sheep or a goat and breaks a good tree in the garden and the master of the sheep does nothing to the sheep. Similarly, the Holy One does nothing to Israel when they commit sins. He compares them again in the verse to a person. That is to say, when Israel are pious and fulfill commandments, He pays them with a good reward that is appropriate for a person. That is to say, He compares them for good. That is, once to a sheep that has no sense. Therefore, He does not punish them when they commit sins. Just like later, they are like a person who has sense, expecting to pay them a good reward for their fulfilled commandments.⁵Tanhuma, (ed. Buber), Beshallah, 15.

I will...be inquired of by the house of Israel I will be persuaded by them with their prayer when they entreat Me concerning this.

I will multiply them the men like sheep, they will be so many.