Pemikiran Yahudi Amos 7:9: Yesod Mora VeSod HaTorah & Guide for the Perplexed

How honorable is the wisdom of expression, and its beginning is the understanding of the five words. For there is a higher general principle that encompasses lower principles and details. And the lower general principle is called "the close one" to the higher general principle, and the close one to the details is called "the low one." And behold, the higher general principle, like a comprehensive body, includes stones, stars, metals, plants, and living beings. And the living beings, as a lower general principle, include birds, animals, humans, and fish. And humans, as a lower level, include Reuben and Simeon. And we find the mention of the number of birds in Parashat Shemini, which is twenty, and in Parashat Re'eh, it is mentioned as "one and twenty." And our ancient sages said that "Re'eh" means "see," and likewise, "Eiyeh" means "where is she?" And Rabbi Marinus posed a question: If "Eiyeh" means "where is she?" What is the reason for the repetition of the word? And our sages answered that the Scripture mentioned it in two languages to prevent criticism. If so, it would mention the names of all birds in every language. But the name was given only in a language that the people understand, and this is the truth. And the answer to this question is explained by the wisdom of expression, for "Eiyeh" is a higher general principle that includes "Diyah" and "Da'ah," as it is written: "And the bird did not return" (Genesis 8:10), which includes the turtle-dove and the young pigeon. Or the Scripture could say: "And they shall die in the graves" (Amos 7:9), or in another place: "And they shall be destroyed in Beth-Aven" (Hosea 10:8). Furthermore, two letters are taken from "Da'ah." Therefore, in all wisdom and arts, a person does not seek to know the details because a person does not have the capacity to know their entirety and how many they are, for they are never fixed on one form forever, as they constantly change, while the general principles remain forever.

Generally a person who resolves to set about a matter, accompanies his resolve by rising, hence the verb is employed to express “to resolve” to do a certain thing; as, “That my son hath stirred up my servant against me” (1 Sam. 22:8). The word is figuratively used to signify the execution of a divine decree against a people sentenced to extermination, as “And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam” (Amos 7:9); “but he will arise against the house of the evildoers” (Isa. 31:2). Possibly in Psalm 12:6 the verb has this latter sense, as also in Psalm 102:13, namely: Thou wilt rise up against her enemies.