בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵ֠לָיו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
Pada masa itu Hizkia jatuh sakit hingga hampir mati. Lalu Nabi Yesaya bin Amos datang kepadanya dan berkata kepadanya, “Beginilah firman Yang Mahakekal: Berilah pesan kepada seisi rumahmu, sebab engkau akan mati dan tidak akan hidup.”
Vayikra Rabbah
Rabbi Simon said: Be’eri23The father of the prophet Hosea (see Hosea 1:1). prophesied only two verses, and they were not enough to constitute a book, and they were appended to Isaiah. These are they: “When they say to you” (Isaiah 8:19) and its counterpart.24Isaiah 8:20. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Every prophet whose name is mentioned and the name of his father is mentioned, he is a prophet, son of a prophet. Every prophet whose name is mentioned and the name of his father is not mentioned, he is a prophet and his father is not a prophet. Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra cites it from here: “Zechariah son of Ido, prophets…prophesied” (Ezra 5:1) – [the plural term is used] because he was a prophet, son of a prophet. The Rabbis said: Whether his name is mentioned or whether it is not mentioned he is a prophet, son of a prophet, as Amos said to Amatzya: “I am not a prophet, and not the son of a prophet” (Amos 7:14). Just as he was a prophet and he said “I am not a prophet,” so too, his father was a prophet and he said: “I am not the son of a prophet,” One verse says: “Isaiah son of Amotz the prophet” (II Kings 20:1), and one verse says: “Isaiah the prophet, son of Amotz” (II Kings 19:2) as he was a prophet, son of a prophet.
“Should a people not seek its own God?” (Isaiah 8:19) – each nation and language will worship its god. “Hametzaftzefim” (Isaiah 8:19) – these are those who chirp. “Vehamagim” (Isaiah 8:19) – these are those who roar. “Should a people not seek its own God?” – each nation and language will remember its god. “On behalf of the living to the dead” (Isaiah 8:19) – Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to one who lost his son and went to seek him among the graves. A clever person who saw him said to him: ‘Your son whom you lost, is he alive or dead?’ He said to him: ‘Alive.’ He said to him: ‘You fool! It is the way of the dead to be inquired about among the living, but are the living inquired about among the dead? Everywhere, the living perform the needs of the dead. Do the dead, perhaps, perform the needs of the living?’ So too, our God lives and endures, as it is stated: “The Lord God is truth” (Jeremiah 10:10).
What is “truth”? Rabbi Avin said: That He is the living God and King of the universe. But the gods of the idolaters are dead, as it is stated: “They have mouths, but cannot speak. They have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear” (Psalms 115:5–6). They are dead, but we forsake one who lives eternally and prostrate ourselves to the dead.
“By the Torah and by the testimony” (Isaiah 8:20) – the Torah warns us: “Surely, they will talk of this matter that has no dawn” (Isaiah 8:20). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, say to the idolaters that [idolatry] has no dawn, like this object that does not illuminate for you.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Say to the idolaters that it has no dawn; if it does not illuminate for itself, how will it illuminate for others?’
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Darkness and thick darkness prevailed in the land of Egypt for three days, as it is stated: “There was darkness, a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt [for three days]” (Exodus 10:22). Emptiness and disorder have not prevailed in this world. Where are they destined to prevail? In the great city of Rome, as it is stated: “He shall stretch over it a line of emptiness and plumb bobs of disorder” (Isaiah 34:11). The Rabbis say: The nations of the world who did not receive the Torah that was given from the midst of the darkness, in their regard it says: “For, behold, the darkness will cover…” (Isaiah 60:2). But Israel, who received the Torah that was given from the midst of the darkness, as it is written: “[It was] when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness” (Deuteronomy 5:20), in their regard it says: “But upon you the Lord will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2).
“Should a people not seek its own God?” (Isaiah 8:19) – each nation and language will worship its god. “Hametzaftzefim” (Isaiah 8:19) – these are those who chirp. “Vehamagim” (Isaiah 8:19) – these are those who roar. “Should a people not seek its own God?” – each nation and language will remember its god. “On behalf of the living to the dead” (Isaiah 8:19) – Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to one who lost his son and went to seek him among the graves. A clever person who saw him said to him: ‘Your son whom you lost, is he alive or dead?’ He said to him: ‘Alive.’ He said to him: ‘You fool! It is the way of the dead to be inquired about among the living, but are the living inquired about among the dead? Everywhere, the living perform the needs of the dead. Do the dead, perhaps, perform the needs of the living?’ So too, our God lives and endures, as it is stated: “The Lord God is truth” (Jeremiah 10:10).
What is “truth”? Rabbi Avin said: That He is the living God and King of the universe. But the gods of the idolaters are dead, as it is stated: “They have mouths, but cannot speak. They have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear” (Psalms 115:5–6). They are dead, but we forsake one who lives eternally and prostrate ourselves to the dead.
“By the Torah and by the testimony” (Isaiah 8:20) – the Torah warns us: “Surely, they will talk of this matter that has no dawn” (Isaiah 8:20). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, say to the idolaters that [idolatry] has no dawn, like this object that does not illuminate for you.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Say to the idolaters that it has no dawn; if it does not illuminate for itself, how will it illuminate for others?’
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Darkness and thick darkness prevailed in the land of Egypt for three days, as it is stated: “There was darkness, a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt [for three days]” (Exodus 10:22). Emptiness and disorder have not prevailed in this world. Where are they destined to prevail? In the great city of Rome, as it is stated: “He shall stretch over it a line of emptiness and plumb bobs of disorder” (Isaiah 34:11). The Rabbis say: The nations of the world who did not receive the Torah that was given from the midst of the darkness, in their regard it says: “For, behold, the darkness will cover…” (Isaiah 60:2). But Israel, who received the Torah that was given from the midst of the darkness, as it is written: “[It was] when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness” (Deuteronomy 5:20), in their regard it says: “But upon you the Lord will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2).
Devarim Rabbah
Halakha: A person of Israel who did not pray the morning prayer, the additional prayer, or the afternoon prayer, as many times he was too occupied to pray, because he was relieving himself, or he was walking on the way and forgot to pray – until what hour is it permitted for him to pray and fulfill his obligation? How must he act? So taught the Sages: The morning prayer is until noon. the afternoon prayer is until the evening.
the evening prayer has no fixed time, but the additional prayer is all day. Rabbi Elazar said: If one forgot and did not pray the additional prayer, and comes to pray the afternoon prayer, he prays the afternoon prayer and then the additional prayer. Why? It is because everything is recited at its time. The evening prayer has no fixed time, until dawn. Why?1Why is it important to know until when one can pray? It is as it is written: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). And anyone who prays and focuses his heart in prayer, it is a positive indicator that his prayer was accepted, as it is stated: “Lord, You hear the desire of the humble” (Psalms 10:17).
Great is prayer before the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Elazar said: Is your wish to know the power of prayer? If it does not accomplish all of it, it accomplishes half of it. Cain stood against his brother Abel and killed him. An edict was issued: “Restless and itinerant you shall be on the earth” (Genesis 4:12). Immediately, he stood and confessed before the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “My iniquity is too great to bear” (Genesis 4:13). He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, You bear the entire world, but you cannot bear me? You wrote: “Bearing iniquity and overlooking transgression” (Micah 7:18) – pardon my iniquity, which is great.’ Immediately, he found mercy before the Holy One blessed be He, and the “itinerant” half of the edict was withheld from him, as so it is written: “He resided in the land of Nod” (Genesis 4:16). From here you learn that prayer is great before the Holy One blessed be He. Likewise Hezekiah, when the prophet said to him: “Instruct your household, as you are dying” (Isaiah 38:1). Immediately, “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall [and he prayed to the Lord]” (Isaiah 38:2). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “I have heard your prayer… behold, I am adding fifteen years to your days” (Isaiah 38:5), as it is written: “He grants the wishes of those who fear Him, and He hears their cry and saves them” (Psalms 145:19).
the evening prayer has no fixed time, but the additional prayer is all day. Rabbi Elazar said: If one forgot and did not pray the additional prayer, and comes to pray the afternoon prayer, he prays the afternoon prayer and then the additional prayer. Why? It is because everything is recited at its time. The evening prayer has no fixed time, until dawn. Why?1Why is it important to know until when one can pray? It is as it is written: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). And anyone who prays and focuses his heart in prayer, it is a positive indicator that his prayer was accepted, as it is stated: “Lord, You hear the desire of the humble” (Psalms 10:17).
Great is prayer before the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Elazar said: Is your wish to know the power of prayer? If it does not accomplish all of it, it accomplishes half of it. Cain stood against his brother Abel and killed him. An edict was issued: “Restless and itinerant you shall be on the earth” (Genesis 4:12). Immediately, he stood and confessed before the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “My iniquity is too great to bear” (Genesis 4:13). He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, You bear the entire world, but you cannot bear me? You wrote: “Bearing iniquity and overlooking transgression” (Micah 7:18) – pardon my iniquity, which is great.’ Immediately, he found mercy before the Holy One blessed be He, and the “itinerant” half of the edict was withheld from him, as so it is written: “He resided in the land of Nod” (Genesis 4:16). From here you learn that prayer is great before the Holy One blessed be He. Likewise Hezekiah, when the prophet said to him: “Instruct your household, as you are dying” (Isaiah 38:1). Immediately, “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall [and he prayed to the Lord]” (Isaiah 38:2). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “I have heard your prayer… behold, I am adding fifteen years to your days” (Isaiah 38:5), as it is written: “He grants the wishes of those who fear Him, and He hears their cry and saves them” (Psalms 145:19).
Midrash Tanchuma
It is essential that a man rise early to pray, for there is nothing more powerful than prayer. A proof of this is that though at first it was decreed that Moses was not to enter or even see the Holy Land, yet because he prayed for a long time, it is written concerning him: The Lord showed him all the Land (Deut. 34:1). Similarly, because Hezekiah prayed, the decree against him was abrogated.9Hezekiah averted a decree of death for his failure to marry and beget children by reciting prayers (see II Kings 20:1–7, Isa. 38:1–8). And Jacob also prayed for his sons when he sent them to Egypt, as it is said:; And God Almighty give you mercy (Gen. 43:14).