Commentaire de citation sur Isaïe 43:3

He shall plague peoples in our stead Heb. ידבר עמים תחתינו, He shall afflict the peoples with a plague (דבר) instead of our soul(s) so that His wrath will subside through them, and we will be saved, as the matter that is stated (Isa. 43:3): “I have given Egypt as your ransom, etc.” Menachem, however, associated it with an expression of leading (p. 61).

ובני כוש סבא וחוילה, each one of these sons became a nation in its own right. This was in addition to those of his sons who continued to bear their founding father’s name. (compare Isaiah 43,3)

CHASHAK’ (HE TOOK DELIGHT). The meaning thereof is that He had “bound” Himself with you with a mighty bond that He will never be separated from you, similar in expression to ‘vachashukeihem’ (and their fillets — silver threads encircling the pillars of the Tabernacle) shall be of silver.³³⁶Exodus 27:10. And He has chosen you from among all peoples that you be His treasure and inheritance, for “being chosen” always implies selection from others. And he stated the reason, But because the Eternal loved you³³⁷Verse 8. He chose you, meaning, He saw you to be worthier than all peoples to be loved by Him and to be chosen for love. He mentioned for this no [other] reason except that you were chosen [because of His love for you], for he who is chosen to be loved, is known to be ready to suffer whatever comes upon him from his lover, and the Israelites are more qualified for that than any other people. As the Rabbis have said:³³⁸Beitzah 25 b. “Three [creatures] are of strong character, Israel among the nations etc.,” for Israel has stood by Him in all trials. [When challenged by the nations, Israel has stubbornly declared,] “Either [we remain loyal] Jews or [we will be] nailed to the stake.”³³⁹Shemoth Rabbah 42:9. And the purport of the word you [and He chose ‘you’] is “because of your fathers,” who became so worthy that He swore to them³⁴⁰Verse 8. in order that no sin should cause [His] promise [to them] to be nullified. Therefore He brought you out from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand. And He redeemed you³³⁷Verse 8. — this is an allusion that He smote them in your stead, similar to what is said, I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.³⁴¹Isaiah 43:3.

instead of me Heb. תחתי, in my place and in my stead, as the matter is stated (in Isa. 43:4): “and I give men in your stead (תחתיך), (verse 3), “I have given Egypt as your ransom. [Cush and Seba in your stead (תחתיך)].”