Pensée juive sur Les Lamentations 2:9

The empire which is next [third], Daniel sees it as a leopard, because this empire corresponds to the third aspect within a Man. For the third aspect is the שכל, as this empire contained wisdom and understanding, as we will explain at length. For the entire essence of this empire was the search for wisdom, as is well known about the Greeks, as we will explain. And therefore their attention was fixed upon the Torah and to nullify it from Yisrael, for they didn't want this wisdom, specifically in that it [the Torah] is a great wisdom and more elevated wisdom than human wisdom which they [the Greeks] had. For it is the Torah, and it is the wisdom of everything. And this wisdom, which is upon everything, is not suitable to the nations, as is explained in the Midrash. So it says in the Midrash (Lamentations Rabbah 2:13): ""Her king and her leaders are in exile, Torah is no more": if a man should say to you: 'There is wisdom among the nations', believe it. See! It is written: "I will make the wise vanish from Edom, understanding from Esau’s mount (Obadiah 1:8)". If a man should say: 'There is Torah among the nations', do not believe it, as it is written: "Her king and her leaders are in exile, Torah is no more"." And thus the empire, which are the Greeks, did not oppose Yisrael except for regarding their Torah, as we will explain this idea.

As for the principle which I laid down, that preparation and perfection of moral and rational faculties are the sine quâ non, our Sages say exactly the same: “The spirit of prophecy only rests upon persons who are wise, strong, and rich.” We have explained these words in our Commentary on the Mishnah, and in our large work. We stated there that the Sons of the Prophets were constantly engaged in preparation. That those who have prepared themselves may still be prevented from being prophets, may be inferred from the history of Baruch, the son of Nerijah; for he followed Jeremiah, who prepared and instructed him; and yet he hoped in vain for prophecy; comp., “I am weary with my sighing, and rest have I not found.” He was then told through Jeremiah, “Thus saith the Lord, Thus shalt thou say to him, Thou seekest for thee great things, do not seek” (Jer. 45:5). It may perhaps be assumed that prophecy is here described as a thing “too great” for Baruch. So also the fact that “her prophets did not find visions from the Lord” (Lam. 2:4), may be considered as the result of the exile of her prophets, as will be explained (chap. xxxvi.). There are, however, numerous passages in Scripture as well as in the writings of our Sages, which support the principle that it depends chiefly on the will of God who is to prophesy, and at what time; and that He only selects the best and the wisest. We hold that fools and ignorant people are unfit for this distinction. It is as impossible for any one of these to prophesy as it is for an ass or a frog; for prophecy is impossible without study and training; when these have created the possibility, then it depends on the will of God whether the possibility is to be turned into reality.

There were also persons who prophesied for a certain time and then left off altogether, something occurring that caused them to discontinue prophesying. The same circumstance, prevalence of sadness and dulness, was undoubtedly the direct cause of the interruption of prophecy during the exile: for can there be any greater misfortune for man than this: to be a slave bought for money in the service of ignorant and voluptuous masters, and powerless against them as they unite in themselves the absence of true knowledge and the force of all animal desires? Such an evil state has been prophesied to us in the words, “They shall run to and fro to seek the word of God, but shall not find it” (Amos 8:12); “Her king and her princes are among the nations, the law is no more, her prophets also find no vision from the Lord” (Lam. 2:9). This is a real fact, and the cause is evident; the pre-requisites [of prophecy] have been lost. In the Messianic period—may it soon commence—prophecy will therefore again be in our midst, as has been promised by God.