Chasidut su Ecclesiaste 8:78
Kedushat Levi
When he examine the Biblical text quoted by the Talmud in B’rachot 12 in order to prove that the translator must speak in lower decibels than the reader more closely, (which at first glance appears to prove the opposite of what is postulated), we have to remember that Moses was considered as the patriarch of all future prophets and Torah scholars. In spite of this, we all know that Moses’ prophetic pronouncements were far easier to understand than those of all the prophets following him. The reason that this was so was that the Shechinah spoke directly out of Moses’ throat (Chavot Daat, 232) whereas the prophets subsequent to him were only relating what they had seen in a vision, so that they had to “describe“ that vision in order to make it intelligible to their listeners. Keeping these facts in mind, the exegesis of the Talmud is absolutely correct, as G’d Himself plays the role of the “Translator.” It remains for us to explain what Nachmanides meant when he wrote that Yitzchok wanted Yaako’s blessing to remain שלא מדעת, unknown to him, something that he was not aware of.
The Ari z’al wrote the following commentary on Kohelet 8,9 עת אשר שלט האדם באדם לרע לו, “there is a time when man rules over another man intending to harm him.” When G’d wishes to place a holy soul on earth He first needs to prepare a ritually unclean spot on earth for him. Were He not to do this, the attribute of Justice, Satan, could succeed in preventing Him from carrying out His design. However, once the attribute of Justice has taken note that this “holy” soul is surrounded by ritual uncleanness, the attribute of Justice, i.e. Satan, does not worry about the holy soul’s chances of being successful in such surroundings. Hence it will not lavish much attention on that soul. Being thus unmolested by Satan for a while, the holy soul can develop roots and prosper, enabling it to pursue its appointed task. This is why Avraham was born to the idol merchant Terach. Once Satan was aware of this, he did not worry about how Avraham would develop until Avraham had already established a powerful presence on earth himself, one that could challenge Satan. This is also why David’s roots were in Lot and his daughter; Satan never suspected that Lot would sire a daughter whose descendant would become the convert from whom David, and eventually the messiah could emerge. Yitzchok’s not wanting to bless Yaakov publicly, was intended to protect him from an assault by Satan. This is also why Avraham was meant to pursue the four Kings and their armies in order to save Lot, so that he could fulfill his destiny in becoming a forbear of David. According to the Ari z’al some people attain tremendous power early on in their career only, imagining that they control the whole of mankind. Sooner or later, their empire falls apart and ends in ruin. Yitzchok held back with blessing Yaakov until after he had blessed Esau in order for the latter to enjoy his blessing, only to decline through his abuse of the powers he enjoyed; at that time Yaakov, his descendants, the Jewish people, would rise to fame never to decline and disappear from the stage of history. Yaakov, in time, would destroy all the forces on earth that personify ritual contamination, טומאה. At that time all of G’d’s blessings not pronounced by Yitzchok would be fulfilled.
The Ari z’al wrote the following commentary on Kohelet 8,9 עת אשר שלט האדם באדם לרע לו, “there is a time when man rules over another man intending to harm him.” When G’d wishes to place a holy soul on earth He first needs to prepare a ritually unclean spot on earth for him. Were He not to do this, the attribute of Justice, Satan, could succeed in preventing Him from carrying out His design. However, once the attribute of Justice has taken note that this “holy” soul is surrounded by ritual uncleanness, the attribute of Justice, i.e. Satan, does not worry about the holy soul’s chances of being successful in such surroundings. Hence it will not lavish much attention on that soul. Being thus unmolested by Satan for a while, the holy soul can develop roots and prosper, enabling it to pursue its appointed task. This is why Avraham was born to the idol merchant Terach. Once Satan was aware of this, he did not worry about how Avraham would develop until Avraham had already established a powerful presence on earth himself, one that could challenge Satan. This is also why David’s roots were in Lot and his daughter; Satan never suspected that Lot would sire a daughter whose descendant would become the convert from whom David, and eventually the messiah could emerge. Yitzchok’s not wanting to bless Yaakov publicly, was intended to protect him from an assault by Satan. This is also why Avraham was meant to pursue the four Kings and their armies in order to save Lot, so that he could fulfill his destiny in becoming a forbear of David. According to the Ari z’al some people attain tremendous power early on in their career only, imagining that they control the whole of mankind. Sooner or later, their empire falls apart and ends in ruin. Yitzchok held back with blessing Yaakov until after he had blessed Esau in order for the latter to enjoy his blessing, only to decline through his abuse of the powers he enjoyed; at that time Yaakov, his descendants, the Jewish people, would rise to fame never to decline and disappear from the stage of history. Yaakov, in time, would destroy all the forces on earth that personify ritual contamination, טומאה. At that time all of G’d’s blessings not pronounced by Yitzchok would be fulfilled.
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