Kapłańska 26:19 Komentarz: Rashi, Kitzur Ba'al HaTurim, Kli Yakar & Sforno

ושברתי את גאון עזכם AND I WILL BREAK THE EXCELLENCY OF YOUR STRENGTH — This is a reference to the Temple; for thus does it state, (Ezekiel 24:21) “Behold I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength”.

I will break the pride of your power. The gematriah (numerical value of the letters) of את גאון is זה המקדש (this is the Temple). The gematriah of the phrase את גאון עוזכם isזה ירושלים (this is Jerusalem).

“I will make your skies like iron and your land like copper.” And Moses said the opposite of this, your skies like copper and your land like iron (Deuteronomy 28:23). This is because most commentators agree that this entire rebuke relates to the destruction of the First Temple, while the rebuke in Parashat Ki Tavo relates to the destruction of the Second Temple. It is known that iron is harder than copper, and in the First Temple period, their main sin was against Heaven through worshipping stars and constellations, as it is said, Since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah 44:18). Therefore, the heavens were harsher to them than the earth, as it is said, The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him (Job 20:27). For they also corrupted their ways on earth. But in the Second Temple period, they did not worship idols, and their main evil was on earth through baseless hatred and quarreling among themselves, and the land was corrupted as in the generation of the Flood. Therefore, the earth was harsher to them than the heavens.