Commentaire de citation sur Isaïe 8:16

Sefer Daniel
We may say the same for Sefer Daniel or at least the second half of the Sefer which presents the many visions experienced by Daniel. Daniel 12:4 records the Malach instructing Daniel to hide and seal this revelation until the appointed time. Ibn Ezra (ad. loc.) explains that the Sefer is meant to be hidden until it is “fit to be seen”. Presumably Ibn Ezra means “until it is fit to be seen by the broader public”. Da’at Mikra (ad. loc.) notes the similarity to the instruction given to Yeshayahu (8:16) who is told “Tzor Te’udah, Chatom Torah B’Limudai”. Such instruction is particularly relevant to Yeshayahu who is told approximately two centuries in advance about Koresh permitting us to return to Eretz Yisrael (Yeshayahu Perek 45).

A Midrashic approach (based on Tanchuma Tetzaveh 15): The meaning of the words in that verse of Proverbs, i.e. שמן וקטרת ישמח הלב, that “oil and incense gladden the heart,” is that the anointing oil is used to anoint the High Priest at which time all of Israel rejoice that they have evidence that G’d has forgiven their sins and that the service by the High Priest has been accepted by G’d on behalf of the people. You will find that no one’s offerings have been praised as much as those of the princes. The reason is that the first thing they offered was the incense, as we read in Numbers 7,14: “one spoonful of incense.” Only afterwards does the Torah report that the princes also each offered a bull, etc., etc. This is the reason G’d Himself praised their offerings by mentioning the name of each prince separately together with the details of his offering although all twelve princes brought exactly the same offering and the Torah could have saved itself at least 60 verses in summarizing these offerings.
You will find that King Achaz (father of the famous good King Chizkiyah) was guilty of annulling large parts of the Torah and Temple service as described in Chronicles II 29,7-8. When Ezra describes how Achaz’ son Chiskiyah restored the Temple service, repaired the building, etc., special mention is made of the restoration of the daily incense offering. (Compare Isaiah 8,16: צור תעוד, חתום תורה בלמודי, “Bind up the message, seal the instructions with My disciples.”) The prophet refers to the evil doings of Achaz. He did not only serve idols because he believed in them but only in order to anger the Lord G’d of Israel. Whereas G’d was prepared to forgive him for all his various sins, the unforgivable sin was the cancellation of the incense offering. This is why Ezra had added the words: ”they also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lights; they did not offer incense and did not make burnt-offerings, etc.” This is followed by: “The wrath of the Lord was on Judah and Jerusalem. He made them into an object of horror, amazement, etc.”
Proof of how beloved the incense offering was to G’d is supplied further by the fact that in spite of all the contributions, the building of the Tabernacle, the offerings of animals, the Shechinah did not manifest itself until after the incense had been offered as we know from an allusion in Song of Songs 4,16: “Awake from the north, (location where burnt-offerings were slaughtered) and come from the south (where peace-offerings were slaughtered) ....let their fragrant goodness flow in Jerusalem!”

For it is sealed. They cannot understand it; the same meaning is contained in the words, seal the law (8:16),¹⁷God told the prophet to leave the prophecy for the present unexplained. as I explained.

for the Torah and for the warning This shall be your reply, that you shall observe the Torah, as it is said above, “Bind the warning, seal the Torah, and do not believe their words.”