וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבְּר֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ לֵאמֹ֗ר אָבִ֙יךָ֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶת־עֻלֵּ֔נוּ וְאַתָּ֖ה הָקֵ֣ל מֵעָלֵ֑ינוּ כֹּ֚ה תְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קָֽטָנִּ֥י עָבָ֖ה מִמָּתְנֵ֥י אָבִֽי׃
E i giovani che erano cresciuti con lui gli parlarono, dicendo: «Così dirai a questo popolo che ti ha parlato, dicendo: “Tuo padre ha reso pesante il nostro giogo, e tu alleggeriscilo per noi”; così dirai loro: il mio mignolo è più grosso dei fianchi di mio padre.»
The Third Beit HaMikdash
I said to myself, I will not withhold good from its owners.20Cf. Mishlei 3:27. Nor have I entered beyond my limits and positioned myself among the great,21Cf. Devarim Rabbah 2:7. for I have not taken upon myself to develop new concepts. I have only attempted to explain the words of the commentaries, since their intent was not to obscure, but to explain. My intent was to communicate their interpretation in a manner that is easy to comprehend. Thus no one can protest that I have sought a place to buttress22Cf. Chulin 7a. This expression is often used in Rabbinic works to imply the development of a chidush, a novel insight. beyond my capacity.23The literal meaning of the words is “the finger of one [who could do such a task] is thicker than my loins” (cf. I Melachim 12:10). Everything is clearly open before you. I know that there is no necessity for what I have done here, my handiwork was only for the youth of the Jewish people. No reader should think that I [undertook this project] for my honor or for the honor of my father’s house.24Cf. Taanis 20a. I only undertook this project in response to the sincere requests of the friends who listen25Cf. Shir HaShirim 8:13. to the reader’s voice asking to accept the truth from the one who utters it.26Rambam, Shemoneh Perakim, Commentary on the Mishnah, Introduction to Tractate Avos.