Commento su Isaia 24:16

From the end of the earth Jonathan paraphrases: From the Temple, which is at the edge of the land of Israel in the east, as we learned: (Maaser Sheni 5:2) [According to Lev. 19:23 25, the produce of the vineyards produced during the first three years of its growth may neither be eaten nor may any benefit be derived therefrom. The produce of the fourth year must be taken to Jerusalem and eaten there. If this is inconvenient, the owner may redeem the produce and take the redemption money to Jerusalem, where he must buy food to eat with the sanctity of כֶּרֶם רְבָעִי, the fourth year vineyard. The Rabbis decreed, however, that within a day’s journey from Jerusalem, all produce must be brought to Jerusalem, and the owner has no option to redeem it. The following Mishnah delineates the boundaries of this area.] Lod from the west, and the Jordan from the east. It is found that from Jerusalem to the Jordan is a day’s journey. But I say according to the simple meaning, that we heard from behind the heavenly Curtain that they are destined to raise their voices in song from the edge of the earth. Now what are the songs? “The righteous shall be upraised.” There shall be a position and an upraising for the righteous.

מכנף From the uttermost part. The word כנף corner, is used here to signify a great distance, because the earth is round.²⁵One is rather inclined to think that, because the earth is round, the expression כנף הארץ the comer of the earth should not be used. Perhaps he means to say, that the corner of the earth is used instead of far off, because we can never reach it.

And I said, I have my secret; I have my secret; woe is to me! Woe is to me that these two secrets have been revealed to me, the secret of retribution and the secret of salvation, for the salvation will be far off until enemies come, plunderers after plunderers, and marauders after marauders (San. 94a). Five instances of treachery are stated here, corresponding to Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, and Edom, who will enslave Israel before their redemption, and after these plunderings.

צבי Glory. The word is derived from a Chaldaic root.²⁶צבה to desire; from this I. E. derives צבי desirable, beauty, glory. And I said. Each nation will say so. Have we heard, etc. The same.

רז׳ Leanness. Comp. רזון leanness (Ps. 106:15). The repetition indicates that these words are said every moment.

בגדים בגדו וגו׳ Treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, etc. For all people deal treacherously again and again.²⁷The root בגד is here repeated five times; this, according to I. E., indicates the repetition of the same action by the same person, as well as its contagious spreading amongst all classes of people.