Midrash su Isaia 33:12

Rabbi Huna interpreted the verse regarding the kingdoms.²⁷The kingdoms within which the Jewish people are scattered in exile. Just as a lily, when it is situated among the thorns, a north wind emerges, tilts it northward, and the thorn pierces it, but, nevertheless, its stalk is directed upward; so, too, Israel, even though taxes and levies are collected from them, their heart is directed toward their Father in Heaven, as it is stated: “My eyes are always toward God” (Psalms 25:15).
Rabbi Aivu interpreted the verse regarding the future redemption.²⁸Literally, tomorrow’s redemption. Just as this lily, when it is situated among the thorns, it is difficult for its owner to pluck it; what does he do? He brings fire and burns [the thorns] around it and then plucks it. So too, “The Lord has commanded concerning Jacob that those that surround him should be his adversaries” (Lamentations 1:17), like Ḥalamish to Naveh, Jericho to No’aron, Susitan to Tiberias, Kastra to Haifa, Lod to Ono.²⁹All of these were gentile cities that were adjacent to Jewish cities. That is what is written: “This is Jerusalem, in the midst of the nations I have situated it” (Ezekiel 5:5). In the future, when the end of days will arrive, what will the Holy One blessed be He do? He will bring fire and burn around it. That is what is written: “Peoples will be burnings of lime, [cut thorns ignited with fire]” (Isaiah 33:12). What is written there? “The Lord alone will lead him [and there is no foreign god with Him]” (Deuteronomy 32:12).³⁰There will no longer be peoples who engage in idol worship (Onkelos).

(Deut. 12:29:) WHEN THE LORD GOD HAS CUT OFF THE GENTILES. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who planted a vineyard within his field, but within <that field> were great cedars and thorns.⁵Tanh., Deut. 4:9. The king went and cut down the cedars and left the thorns. His servants said to him: Our Lord King, the thorns, which catch our clothes, you have left <standing>; but you have cut down the cedars! He said to them: If I had left the cedars and cut down the thornbushes, how should I have {decreed} [fenced in] my vineyard. So also Israel is the vineyard of the Holy One, as stated (in Is. 5:7): FOR THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS IS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. He brought Israel into the land and cut down the cedars that were in it, as stated (in Amos 2:9): YET I DESTROYED THE AMORITES [BEFORE YOU, WHOSE STATURE WAS LIKE THE CEDARS IN HEIGHT]; but he left their children and their children's children so that Israel would observe the Torah, as stated (in Jud. 3:1): NOW THESE ARE THE NATIONS WHICH THE LORD LEFT TO TEST ISRAEL. So when the vineyard stands in its place in the service of the Torah, THEN (according to Is. 33:12) THE PEOPLES SHALL BECOME BURNINGS OF LIME, THORNS CUT DOWN <THAT ARE BURNED IN THE FIRE>. It is also written (in Is. 40:17): ALL THE NATIONS ARE AS NOTHING BEFORE HIM. Look at how many hosts⁶Gk.: ochloi. Pharaoh sent out after Israel! When Israel saw them, they were terrified before them and said: Who can stand against these? The Holy One said to them: By your lives, all these are as unimportant before me as <if they were> [only] a single horse, as stated (in Exod. 15:19): WHEN THE HORSE (in the singular) OF PHARAOH CAME; they all died in a single breath (rt.: NShP), as stated (in Exod. 15:10): YOU BLEW (rt.: NShP) WITH YOUR WIND, <AND THE SEA COVERED THEM>. Similarly Gog and Magog are going to come against Israel, but the Holy One will carry out judgments against them (literally: against him), as stated (in Ezek. 38:22): I WILL ENTER INTO JUDGMENT AGAINST HIM WITH PESTILENCE AND WITH BLOOD…. At that time (according to Ezek. 38:23): SO I WILL BE MAGNIFIED, BE SANCTIFIED, AND BE MADE KNOWN BEFORE THE EYES OF MANY {PEOPLES} [NATIONS]; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.

Our Rabbis were taught: How did the Israelites write the Torah? R. Juda said: "Upon stones did they describe it as it is said (Deut. 27, 8) And thou shalt write upon the stone all the words of the Torah, and afterwards it was covered with plaster." R. Simon then said to him: "According to your opinion how were then the nations able to study the Torah from the stones?" Whereupon he replied: "The Holy One, praised be He, gave the nations exceptional wisdom so that they sent their representatives who removed the plaster from the stones and copied the Torah from it. In that moment, the nation's decree was issued in punishment for their not having studied the Torah." R. Simon said: "The Torah was written upon plaster, and below it is inscribed (Ib. 20, 18) hi order that they may not teach you to do in accordance with all their abominations. From this it may be inferred that if the nations will repent, they are to be accepted." Raba b. R. Shila said: "What is the reason of R. Simon's theory [that it was written upon plaster]? Because it is written (Is. 33, 12) And the people shall be burnt as lime; i.e., on account of the Torah which was written on lime." But R. Juda will explain that this means, just as there is no remedy for lime, except fire, so also will there be no salvation [with those nations who do not adhere to the Torah], except burning. In accordance with whom will the following Baraitha agree? (Deut. 49, 10) And thou takest captives of them. This includes also the Canaanites residing outside the land of Israel, who if desirous to return in repentance that they should be accepted. (Fol. 36) The above Baraitha is in accordance with the opinion of R. Simon.

(Deut. 12:29:) When the Lord God has cut off the nations.” A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who planted a vineyard within his field, but within [that field] were great cedars and thorns. The king went and cut down the cedars and left the thorns. His servants said to him, “Our lord king, the thorns which catch our clothes you have left [standing]; but you have cut down the cedars?” He said to them, “If I had left the cedars and cut down the thornbushes, how should I have fenced in my vineyard. So also Israel is the vineyard of the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Is. 5:7), “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the House of Israel.” He brought Israel into the land and cut down the cedars that were in it, as stated (in Amos 2:9), “Yet I destroyed the Amorites before you, whose stature was like the cedars in height.” But he left their children and their children's children so that Israel would observe the Torah, as stated (in Jud. 3:1), “Now these are the nations which the Lord left to test Israel,” “whether they are keeping the commandments of the Lord” (Jud. 2:22). So when the vineyard stands in its place in the service of the Torah, then (according to Is. 33:12) “The peoples shall become burnings of lime, thorns cut down that are burned in the fire].” It is also written (in Is. 40:17), “All the nations are as nothing before Him….” And so do you find when Israel left Egypt. Look at what Pharaoh did. “He took six hundred choice chariots…” (Exod. 14:6). Thirty men went out against each and every one of Israel. See how many multitudes³Gk.: ochloi. went out with Pharaoh! When Israel saw them, they were terrified before them. What is written (in Exod. 14:19)? “And the angel of God traveled.” And Israel was saying, “Who can stand against these?” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “By your lives, all these are as unimportant before Me as [if they were only] a single man or a single chariot, as stated (in Exod. 15:19), “When the horse (in the singular) of Pharaoh came….” And [so] they all died in a single breath (rt.: nshp), as stated (in Exod. 15:10), “You blew (rt.: nshp) with Your wind, and the sea covered them.” Similarly Gog and Magog are going to come against Israel in the future, and all of them will also all be burnt with one burning, as stated (in Ezek. 38:22), “I will enter into judgment against him with pestilence and with blood […].” At that time (according to Ezek. 38:23), “And I will be magnified, be sanctified, and be made known before the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

(Numb. 3:40:) “Enroll every first-born male.” This text is related (to Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jacob, “Jacob, you are exceedingly precious in My eyes.⁹⁷Numb. R. 4:1. Why? Because I, as it were, have installed your image⁹⁸Gk.: eikonion. on My glorious throne, and in your name the angels praise Me and say (in Ps. 41:14), “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,⁹⁹Israel here is the patriarch Jacob, not the people. from everlasting to everlastings.” Ergo (in Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored.” Another interpretation (of Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Jacob, you are precious in my eyes because I and my angels were, as it were, standing over you when you set out for Paddan-Aram and when you came back.” It is so stated (in Gen. 28:10-13), “And Jacob set out…. When he came across a certain place…. Then he dreamed that there was a ladder [placed on earth with its top reaching to the heavens; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.] And behold, the Lord stood over him….” R. Hosha'ya said, “Blessed is the one born of woman who has seen the King and his household¹⁰⁰Lat.: familia. standing over him and ministering to him.” But where is it shown in reference to his coming back? Where it is stated (in Gen. 32:2), “So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” So much for the angels, but where is it shown for the Divine Presence? (Gen. 35:9), “Now God appeared unto Jacob again….” It is therefore stated (in Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in My eyes.” Another interpretation (of Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in My eyes, you are honored.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “You are precious in my eyes, because to all the nations I gave no numbering (minyan), but to you I did give a numbering.” To what is this comparable? It is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who had a lot of granaries, but all of them were dirty and full of darnel; so he was not meticulous about their numbering. [There was,] however, this granary [which had] beautiful wheat. He said to his household, “Those granaries that are dirty and full of darnel; I will not be meticulous about their numbering. But this granary has beautiful wheat. I therefore want to be meticulous in numbering how many kor¹⁰¹One kor is equivalent to somewhat under 400 liters. there are, how many sacks there are in it, [and] how many measures there are in it.” Similarly this king is the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He; and this granary (goren) is Israel, since it is stated (in Is. 21:10), “My threshing, and the product (literally: the child) of My threshing floor (goren).” It also says (in Jer. 2:3), “Israel is the Lord's sanctuary, the beginning of His harvest.” The child of His house is Moses, as stated (in Numb. 12:7), “he is trusted in all My house.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, The nations are [comparable to thorns], as stated (in Is. 33:12), “And the peoples shall become burnings of lime, thorns cut down that are burned in the fire.” Therefore, you shall not be meticulous about numbering them, but Israel is righteous, chosen wheat, as stated (in Is. 60:21), “And all of your people are righteous.” It also says (in Cant. 4:7), “You are beautiful all over, My beloved, and there is no blemish in you.” Therefore, be meticulous in counting Israel. Moses did so. He numbered them [to determine] how many kor there were, as stated (in Numb. 1:2), “Take a census…”; how many sacks there were, as stated (in Numb. 2:4), “Its host and those of them enrolled”; and how many measures there were, as stated (in Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.”

So our father Abraham was still afraid when he had killed the kings.⁹¹Cf. Gen. R. 44:4. He was bewildered and said: Perhaps I have neglected the commandments of the Holy One, which he commanded the children of Noah. (Gen. 9:6:) WHOEVER SHEDS HUMAN BLOOD, < BY A HUMAN WILL HIS BLOOD BE SHED >. Now I have killed all those multitudes.⁹²Gk.: ochlos. The Holy One said to him (in Gen. 15:1): FEAR NOT, ABRAM. Rather I must give you a great reward because you have uprooted thorns. It is so stated (in Is. 33:12): AND THE PEOPLE SHALL BECOME BURNINGS OF LIME; THORNS CUT DOWN THAT ARE BURNED IN THE FIRE. It is therefore stated: FEAR NOT, ABRAM. The Holy One said to Israel: In this world you are anxious over sins, but in the world to come, in which there is no evil drive (yetser hara), you will be anxious over the good that I have ordained for you. Thus it is stated (in Hos. 3:5): {AND} AFTERWARD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL RETURN AND {SERVE} [SEEK] THE LORD THEIR GOD AND DAVID THEIR KING, AND THEY SHALL BE ANXIOUS FOR THE LORD AND FOR HIS GOODNESS (TWV). What is the meaning of HIS GOODNESS? This refers to the Holy Temple, as < the term > is used (in Deut. 3:15): THIS GOOD (TWV) HILL AND LEBANON. Salvation is from Zion, as stated (in Ps. 14:7): OH THAT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL WOULD COME OUT OF ZION! The blessing is from Zion, as stated (in Ps. 133:3): LIKE THE DEW OF HERMON WHICH COMES DOWN UPON THE HILLS OF ZION, < FOR THERE THE LORD HAS COMMANDED THE BLESSING >…. Help is from Zion, as stated (in Ps. 20:3 [2]): MAY HE SEND YOUR HELP FROM THE SANCTUARY AND SUSTAIN YOU FROM ZION. The Holy One said: In the world to come also I will bless Israel from Zion, for so David has said (in Ps. 134:3): THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU FROM ZION.

..."Do not fear him" - this is [the meaning of] that which Scripture stated (Proverbs 28:14), "Happy is the man who always fears." And this is the trait of the righteous: even though the Holy One, blessed be He, reassures them, they do not relinquish fear. And so [was it] with Jacob - "and Jacob feared" (Genesis 32:8). Why did he fear? He said, "Maybe I have been tarnished by something [when I was] with Laban... so the Holy One, blessed be He, abandoned me." And so too did Moses take hold of fear corresponding to his [fore] father. And why did he fear? He said, "Maybe Israel misappropriated [some goods] in the war with Sichon or became tarnished with a sin." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "Do not fear"...

[Another interpretation (of Is. 43:4): BECAUSE YOU ARE PRECIOUS IN MY EYES, YOU ARE HONORED.] The Holy One said: You are precious in my eyes, because to all the those nations I gave no numbering (minyan), but to you I did give a numbering. It is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who had a lot of granaries, but all of them were dirty and full of darnel; so he was not meticulous about numbering. <There was,> however, this granary <which had> beautiful wheat. I therefore want to be meticulous in numbering how many kors¹²³One kor is equivalent to somewhat under 400 liters. there are, how many sacks there are in it, <and> how many measures there are in it. Similarly this king is the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One; and this granary (goren) is Israel, since it is stated (in Is. 21:10): MY THRESHING, AND THE PRODUCT (literally: THE CHILD) OF MY THRESHING FLOOR (goren). It also says (in Jer. 2:3): ISRAEL IS THE LORD'S SANCTUARY, [THE BEGINNING OF HIS HARVEST]. The child of his house is Moses, as stated (in Numb. 12:7): NOT SO WITH MY SERVANT MOSES; [HE IS TRUSTED IN ALL MY HOUSE]. The Holy One said to him: The nations are comparable to thorns, as stated (in Is. 33:12): AND THE PEOPLES SHALL BECOME BURNINGS OF LIME, THORNS CUT DOWN <THAT ARE BURNED IN THE FIRE>. Therefore, you shall not be meticulous about numbering them, but Israel is righteous, as stated (in Is. 60:21): AND ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE ARE RIGHTEOUS. It also says (in Cant. 4:7): YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL ALL OVER, MY BELOVED, [AND THERE IS NO BLEMISH IN YOU]. Therefore, be meticulous in counting Israel. Moses did so. He numbered them <to determine> how many kors there were, as stated (in Numb. 1:2): TAKE A CENSUS….; how many sacks there were, as stated (in Numb. 2:4): HIS HOST AND THOSE OF THEM ENROLLED; and how many measures there were, as stated (in Numb. 3:40): ENROLL EVERY FIRST-BORN MALE.

(Numb. 21:34:) “But the Lord God said unto Moses, ‘Do not fear him.’” This text is related (to Prov. 28:14), “Fortunate is the one who is always afraid […].” Such is the nature of the righteous. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, assures them, they do not cast off fear. And so it is written about Jacob (in Gen. 32:8]), “And Jacob was [greatly] afraid.” Why was he afraid? He said, “Perhaps I was tainted by something at Laban's,” since it is written (in Deut. 23:15), “so [the Lord] is not to see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.” Thus the Holy One, blessed be He, may have forsaken me. Moses also acquired fear in the manner of his ancestor. Why was he afraid? He said, “Perhaps Israel sinned in the war with Sihon or became tainted by a transgression.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him (in Numb. 34:21), “’Do not fear,’ as they all fulfilled [their actions] with justice. ‘Do not fear him,’ [even though] a warrior more formidable than himself has never arisen in the world [since his time].” Thus it is stated (in Deut. 3:11), “For only Og King of Bashan was left over from the remaining Rephaim.”¹⁵⁵According to Deut. 2:11, 20-21, together with Numb. 13:33, the Rephaim were a race of giants. Now he had been left from the warriors whom Amraphel and his colleagues (Gen. 14:1, 9) had slain, as stated (in Gen. 14:5), “and they smote the Rephaim […].” But this [man] was their refuse, like olive pits that come out as survivors from the bottom of the oil press. It is so stated (in Gen. 14:13), “Then the survivor came and told Abram (about Lot's capture).” This was Og. And here [Scripture] made him into leftovers, as stated (in Josh. 13:12), “he was left over from the remaining Rephaim.” It was his intention that Abraham would go out [to war] and be killed. The Holy One, blessed be He, gave him a reward for [what] his feet had earned [for the good that ended up resulting]; in that he lived all those years until he fell at the hand of [Abraham's] children. When Moses came to wage war with him, he was afraid of him. He said, “I am a hundred and twenty years old, while he is five hundred years old.” If he did not have merit, he would not have lived all these years. The Holy One, blessed be He, said (in Numb. 21:34 = Deut. 3:2:) “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand,’ you with your hand shall kill him, (Numb. 21:34 = Deut. 3:2, cont.) ‘and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon….’” (Deut. 3:6:) “And we shall utterly destroy it […].” But is it not written (in Deut. 3:7), “But all the cattle and the booty of the towns we took as booty for ourselves?” It is simply that they utterly destroyed their bodies, so as not to benefit from any of them at all. (Numb. 21:35:) “So they smote him, his sons [and all his people].” The written text (ketiv) [reads] “his son,”¹⁵⁶Cf. a similar verse about Sihon, Deut. 2:33, where HIS SON is the undoubted reading. because he had a son more formidable than himself. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “In this world you destroy the nations little by little, but in the world to come, I will remove them from the world at a single stroke. It is so stated (in Is. 33:12), “And the people shall become burnings of lime, thorns cut down that are burned in the fire.” Amen, may it be His will!

Why did He show unto Moses the fire in the midst of the thorn-bush? || But the fire refers to Israel, who are compared to fire, as it is said, "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire" (Obad. 18). The thorn-bush refers to the nations of the world, who are compared to thorns and thistles. He said to him: Likewise shall Israel be in the midst of the nations. The fire of Israel shall not consume the nations, who are compared to thorns and thistles; but the nations of the world shall extinguish the flames of Israel—(these flames) are the words of the Torah. But in the future that is to come the fire of Israel will consume all the nations, who are compared to thorns and thistles, as it is said, "And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime" (Isa. 33:12).

(Numb. 21:35:) SO THEY SMOTE HIM, HIS CHILDREN <AND ALL HIS PEOPLE>. The written text (ketiv) <reads> HIS SON,²¹⁴Cf. a similar verse about Sihon, Deut. 2:33, where HIS SON is the undoubted reading. because he had a son more formidable than himself. The Holy One said to Israel: In this world you destroy the nations little by little, but in the world to come, I will remove them from the world at a single stroke. It is so stated (in Is. 33:12): AND THE PEOPLE SHALL BECOME BURNINGS OF LIME, THORNS CUT DOWN THAT ARE BURNED IN THE FIRE.