Tafsiran yang Mengutip untuk Daniel 11:34

“And you shall spread out westward, eastward, northward, and southward.” The reason it mentions the opposing directions facing each other, rather than listing them in order, is because it is said in the Midrash (see Midrash Tehillim 44:2) that salvation comes to Israel only when they are at their lowest point, as it is said (Psalms 44:26) For our soul is bowed down to the dust, and what is written after it? Arise for our help. The reason for this is that as long as they are not at their lowest point, they do not place their trust in God and instead devise human strategies to escape from snares. Therefore, God distances man from Himself and abandonment increases, because they did not trust in God’s salvation. But when they see that their efforts have failed and there is no helper or supporter, then their eyes are lifted to God to call upon Him in their time of distress, and God listens. At that time, salvation comes through an escape from one extreme to the other — from the depths of lowliness to the heights of elevation. Since naturally it would be unbelievable to tell that they would rise from their low state to the highest heights, therefore Jacob was shown in this vision three levels in succession in terms of impressiveness. First it was said your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth — at that time when their soul will be bowed to the dust, at that time you shall spread out — meaning the one who breaks through will rise before them to elevate them to the height of greatness. And if you would say that even if they rise from lowliness to some height, it’s impossible to jump from one extreme to the other to reach such a great level, rather when they stumble they will receive a little help, as in Daniel’s prophecy (11:34) — therefore it says westward and eastward. These two directions are opposite and contradictory, for in the east the sun always rises and in the west it always sets. And after the time when Israel’s sun will set, as Rashi explained on the verse and in the evening he divides spoil (Genesis 49:27), at that time of setting they will flee to the opposite extreme, to have their throne like the sun before Him. And if you would say this will only happen if they are like the western direction where even though the sun sets there, it still has some rising in that direction — so too Israel when they have a little rising they will ascend to be like the eastern direction, for even there the sun doesn’t always shine as in the winter solstice, so too their authority will not be permanent. Therefore it says northward and southward — for even if they will be like the northern direction where it is cold and dark in its clouds (Isaiah 5:30) and has no light at all, so too Israel will be completely devoid of light — from there they will rise to the opposite extreme to be like the southern [dromi] direction, which is called so because it “dwells high [dar rum]” for the sun always shines there and dwells in its heights. So too will Israel’s sun shine permanently, as it is written (Isaiah 60:20) Your sun shall no longer set, and they will forever dwell in the heights of the world. This is a promise about the final redemption.