이사야 40:4의 인용 해설

And proof for our words is what is expounded about them in Rabbati (22:8) on the verse For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert of mountains (Psalms 75:7). It is not from a person traveling from setting out [east] to west and laboring in business that one becomes rich, nor from the desert of mountains. Every instance of “mountains” in Scripture refers to literal mountains except for this one, which is an expression of elevation, meaning that a person does not become elevated through these things. What does the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He takes possessions from one and gives to another, as it is said, For God is the judge: He puts down one, and lifts up another (Psalms 75:8). Since the midrash connects this verse to the sons of Gad and Reuben, it implies that it found in them a trace of pride and arrogance. Therefore, it expounds this verse about them to say that one does not become elevated through these things. And where is it hinted in the verse that they took for themselves more prominence than was appropriate? Rather, certainly because it found written, the sons of Gad [first]. Since they had very substantial livestock, more than the sons of Reuben, therefore their hearts became exceedingly haughty, and they jumped to speak before the sons of Reuben, the firstborn. Therefore, the verse says that one does not become elevated through these things, and it brings proof of this that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not want a person to become elevated because of his wealth, because God is the judge: He puts down one, and lifts up another — with the anger that He brings upon one, He elevates another; He takes from one and gives to another. Is God’s hand too short to give to this one from His own without needing to take from that one? Rather, certainly God did this so that people would fear Him and their hearts would not become haughty due to their great wealth, by looking at the source of their wealth that was taken from another because that person had become elevated through his wealth. For presumably the Holy One, blessed be He, only humbles the proud, as it is written, And every mountain and hill shall be made low (Isaiah 40:4). And therefore He gave to this one the wealth and elevation of that one, so that he would learn a lesson and his heart would not become haughty, lest what happened to his fellow from whom this wealth was taken happen to him as well.

They loved you sincerely. A strong love, a straightforward love, without deceit or intrigue, (in accordance with the expression of the verse, “and the crooked will become straight and heights will become a valley”¹⁷Yeshayahu 40:4. ) that my ancestors and I loved you in those days. This is its simple meaning according to its context. According to its allegorical meaning: They mention before Him the loving kindness of [their] youth, the love of [their] nuptials, their following Him in the wilderness, a land of drought and darkness, and they did not even prepare provisions for themselves, but they believed in Him and in His messenger. And they did not say, “How can we go out into the wilderness, which is neither a land of seed nor food?”¹⁸See Yirmiyahu 2:2. But they followed Him, and He brought them into the midst of the chambers of the envelopment of His clouds. With this, they are still joyful today and happy with Him despite their afflictions and distress; and they delight in the Torah, and there they recall His love more than wine, and the sincerity of their love for Him.¹⁹Their love for You is much higher than the love of wine from which pleasure is derived. (Sforno)

The whole earth shall be changed The whole earth shall be changed to be like a plain. The mountains will be lowered, and the whole world will be a plain; and Jerusalem will be a mountain, so that it should appear higher than everything [else in the world].

וירכסו — This is an expression for joining. Similar in meaning is, (Psalms 31:21) “[Thou hidest them] from the רֻכְסַי of men”, i. e. from the union of companies of wicked people. Similar is, (Isaiah 40:4) “And the רכסים shall become a plain” — i. e. the mountains which are close (almost joined) to one another so that it is not possible to descend into the valley between them except with great difficulty, since, in consequence of their closeness to each other, the valley is precipitous and deep — these רכסים, connected mountains, shall become a level plain and easy to travel upon.