Midrasz do Lamentacje Jeremiasza 4:10
יְדֵ֗י נָשִׁים֙ רַחֲמָ֣נִיּ֔וֹת בִּשְּׁל֖וּ יַלְדֵיהֶ֑ן הָי֤וּ לְבָרוֹת֙ לָ֔מוֹ בְּשֶׁ֖בֶר בַּת־עַמִּֽי׃ (ס)
Ręce kobiet tkliwych warzyły same swe dzieci; służyły im na strawę, w chwili pogromu córy ludu mojego.
Eikhah Rabbah
“Let all their wickedness come before You, and do to them as You did to me for all my transgressions, for my sighs are many and my heart is suffering” (Lamentations 1:22).
“Let all their wickedness come before You, and do to them,” bring upon them what You brought upon me. Be exacting with them as You were exacting with me. “And do [veolel] to them,” pluck their infants [olelateihon] as You plucked my infants.
“For my sighs are many and my heart is suffering.” You find that in the matter that Israel sinned, with that they were punished, and with that they were comforted. They sinned with rosh, they were punished with rosh, and they were comforted with rosh. They sinned with rosh, as it is written: “Let us appoint a leader [rosh] and return to Egypt” (Numbers 14:4). They were punished with rosh, as it is written: “Every head [rosh] is ill” (Isaiah 1:5). And they are comforted with rosh, as it is written: “Their king passed before them, and the Lord is at their head [berosham]” (Micah 2:13).
They sinned with the ear, as it is written: “They made their ears hard of hearing” (Zechariah 7:11). They were punished with the ear, as it is written: “That anyone who hears it, both his ears will ring” (I Samuel 3:11). They are comforted with the ear, as it is written: “Your ears will hear a matter from behind you, saying: [This is the way, walk in it, when you go right and when you go left]” (Isaiah 30:21).
They sinned with the eye, as it is written: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and they walk with outstretched necks and painted eyes” (Isaiah 3:16). They were punished with the eye, as it is written: “My eye, my eye sheds water” (Lamentations 1:16). They are comforted with the eye, as it is written: “For with their own eyes they will see the return of the Lord to Zion” (Isaiah 52:8).
They sinned with af, as it is written: “Behold, they extend the branch to their nose [af]” (Ezekiel 8:17). They were punished with af, as it is written: “I, too [af], will walk with them indifferently” (Leviticus 26:41). They are comforted with af, as it is written: “And despite [ve’af gam] this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not have spurned them and will not have rejected them, to destroy them, to violate My covenant with them” (Leviticus 26:44).
They sinned with the mouth, as it is written: “Every mouth speaks depravity” (Isaiah 9:16). They were punished with the mouth, as it is written: “They consumed Israel with every mouth” (Isaiah 9:11). They are comforted with the mouth, as it is written: “Then will our mouths be filled with laughter” (Psalms 126:2).
They sinned with the tongue, as it is written: “They drew their tongues, their bow of falsehood” (Jeremiah 9:2). They were punished with the tongue, as it is written: “The tongue of the suckling cleaved [to the roof of his mouth in thirst]” (Lamentations 4:4). They are comforted with the tongue, as it is written: “And our tongues with song; [then will they say among the nations: The Lord has done great things for them]” (Psalms 126:2).
They sinned with the heart, as it is written: “They made their hearts as adamant, not to hear” (Zechariah 7:12). They were punished with the heart, as it is written: “Every heart is suffering” (Isaiah 1:5). They are comforted with the heart, as it is written: “speak to the heart of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:2).
They sinned with the hand, as it is written: “Your hands are filled with blood” (Isaiah 1:15). They were punished with the hand, as it is written: “The hands of merciful women cooked their children” (Lamentations 4:10). They are comforted with the hand, as it is written: “The Lord will continue setting His hand again, a second time [to recover the remnant of His people…]” (Isaiah 11:11).
They sinned with the foot, as it is written: “For their feet run to evil” (Proverbs 1:16). They were punished with the foot, as it is written: “Before your feet stumble on the mountains of the night (Jeremiah 13:16). They are comforted with the foot, as it is written: “How pleasant are the feet of the herald upon the mountains” (Isaiah 52:7).
They sinned with hu, as it is written: “They denied the Lord and said: He [hu] is not” (Jeremiah 5:12). They were punished with hu, as it is written: “He was transformed into their enemy, He [hu] waged war against them” (Isaiah 63:10). They are comforted with hu, as it is written: “I, it is I, who [hu] am your Comforter” (Isaiah 51:12).
They sinned with zeh, as it is written: “For this [zeh] man Moses” (Exodus 32:1). They were punished with zeh, as it is written: “For this [zeh] [our heart] is suffering” (Lamentations 5:17). They are comforted with zeh, as it is written: “Behold, this [zeh] is our God, we hoped to Him [that He would save us; this is the Lord to whom we hoped, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation]” (Isaiah 25:9).
They sinned with fire, as it is written: “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire...[in order to anger Me]” (Jeremiah 7:18). They were punished with fire, as it is written: “From on high He sent fire into my bones” (Lamentations 1:13). They are comforted with fire, as it is written: “I will be for it,216Jerusalem. the utterance of the Lord, a wall of fire all around” (Zechariah 2:9).
They sinned with yesh, as it is written: “Is [hayesh] the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7). They were punished with yesh, as it is written: “Is there any [yesh] pain like my pain?” (Lamentations 1:12). They are comforted with yesh, as it is written: “To bequeath substance [yesh] to those who love me, and I will fill their storehouses” (Proverbs 8:21).
They sinned doubly, as it is written: “Jerusalem has committed a sin [ḥet ḥata]” (Lamentations 1:8).217The Hebrew verse employs the word sin [ḥet] twice, such that a literal translation would be “Jerusalem has sinned a sin.” They were punished doubly, as it is written: “For it has received from the hand of the Lord double for all its sins” (Isaiah 40:2). They are comforted doubly, as it is written: “Comfort, comfort [naḥamu naḥamu] My people” (Isaiah 40:1).
End of the First Alphabetical Acrostic
“Let all their wickedness come before You, and do to them,” bring upon them what You brought upon me. Be exacting with them as You were exacting with me. “And do [veolel] to them,” pluck their infants [olelateihon] as You plucked my infants.
“For my sighs are many and my heart is suffering.” You find that in the matter that Israel sinned, with that they were punished, and with that they were comforted. They sinned with rosh, they were punished with rosh, and they were comforted with rosh. They sinned with rosh, as it is written: “Let us appoint a leader [rosh] and return to Egypt” (Numbers 14:4). They were punished with rosh, as it is written: “Every head [rosh] is ill” (Isaiah 1:5). And they are comforted with rosh, as it is written: “Their king passed before them, and the Lord is at their head [berosham]” (Micah 2:13).
They sinned with the ear, as it is written: “They made their ears hard of hearing” (Zechariah 7:11). They were punished with the ear, as it is written: “That anyone who hears it, both his ears will ring” (I Samuel 3:11). They are comforted with the ear, as it is written: “Your ears will hear a matter from behind you, saying: [This is the way, walk in it, when you go right and when you go left]” (Isaiah 30:21).
They sinned with the eye, as it is written: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and they walk with outstretched necks and painted eyes” (Isaiah 3:16). They were punished with the eye, as it is written: “My eye, my eye sheds water” (Lamentations 1:16). They are comforted with the eye, as it is written: “For with their own eyes they will see the return of the Lord to Zion” (Isaiah 52:8).
They sinned with af, as it is written: “Behold, they extend the branch to their nose [af]” (Ezekiel 8:17). They were punished with af, as it is written: “I, too [af], will walk with them indifferently” (Leviticus 26:41). They are comforted with af, as it is written: “And despite [ve’af gam] this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not have spurned them and will not have rejected them, to destroy them, to violate My covenant with them” (Leviticus 26:44).
They sinned with the mouth, as it is written: “Every mouth speaks depravity” (Isaiah 9:16). They were punished with the mouth, as it is written: “They consumed Israel with every mouth” (Isaiah 9:11). They are comforted with the mouth, as it is written: “Then will our mouths be filled with laughter” (Psalms 126:2).
They sinned with the tongue, as it is written: “They drew their tongues, their bow of falsehood” (Jeremiah 9:2). They were punished with the tongue, as it is written: “The tongue of the suckling cleaved [to the roof of his mouth in thirst]” (Lamentations 4:4). They are comforted with the tongue, as it is written: “And our tongues with song; [then will they say among the nations: The Lord has done great things for them]” (Psalms 126:2).
They sinned with the heart, as it is written: “They made their hearts as adamant, not to hear” (Zechariah 7:12). They were punished with the heart, as it is written: “Every heart is suffering” (Isaiah 1:5). They are comforted with the heart, as it is written: “speak to the heart of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:2).
They sinned with the hand, as it is written: “Your hands are filled with blood” (Isaiah 1:15). They were punished with the hand, as it is written: “The hands of merciful women cooked their children” (Lamentations 4:10). They are comforted with the hand, as it is written: “The Lord will continue setting His hand again, a second time [to recover the remnant of His people…]” (Isaiah 11:11).
They sinned with the foot, as it is written: “For their feet run to evil” (Proverbs 1:16). They were punished with the foot, as it is written: “Before your feet stumble on the mountains of the night (Jeremiah 13:16). They are comforted with the foot, as it is written: “How pleasant are the feet of the herald upon the mountains” (Isaiah 52:7).
They sinned with hu, as it is written: “They denied the Lord and said: He [hu] is not” (Jeremiah 5:12). They were punished with hu, as it is written: “He was transformed into their enemy, He [hu] waged war against them” (Isaiah 63:10). They are comforted with hu, as it is written: “I, it is I, who [hu] am your Comforter” (Isaiah 51:12).
They sinned with zeh, as it is written: “For this [zeh] man Moses” (Exodus 32:1). They were punished with zeh, as it is written: “For this [zeh] [our heart] is suffering” (Lamentations 5:17). They are comforted with zeh, as it is written: “Behold, this [zeh] is our God, we hoped to Him [that He would save us; this is the Lord to whom we hoped, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation]” (Isaiah 25:9).
They sinned with fire, as it is written: “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire...[in order to anger Me]” (Jeremiah 7:18). They were punished with fire, as it is written: “From on high He sent fire into my bones” (Lamentations 1:13). They are comforted with fire, as it is written: “I will be for it,216Jerusalem. the utterance of the Lord, a wall of fire all around” (Zechariah 2:9).
They sinned with yesh, as it is written: “Is [hayesh] the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7). They were punished with yesh, as it is written: “Is there any [yesh] pain like my pain?” (Lamentations 1:12). They are comforted with yesh, as it is written: “To bequeath substance [yesh] to those who love me, and I will fill their storehouses” (Proverbs 8:21).
They sinned doubly, as it is written: “Jerusalem has committed a sin [ḥet ḥata]” (Lamentations 1:8).217The Hebrew verse employs the word sin [ḥet] twice, such that a literal translation would be “Jerusalem has sinned a sin.” They were punished doubly, as it is written: “For it has received from the hand of the Lord double for all its sins” (Isaiah 40:2). They are comforted doubly, as it is written: “Comfort, comfort [naḥamu naḥamu] My people” (Isaiah 40:1).
End of the First Alphabetical Acrostic
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Eikhah Rabbah
“The iniquity of the daughter of my people exceeded the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands seized it” (Lamentations 4:6).
“The iniquity of the daughter of my people,” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: It is stated regarding the tribes of Judah and Benjamin what is not stated regarding the Sodomites. Regarding the Sodomites, it is written: “And their sin, because it is very [meod] grievous” (Genesis 18:20). But regarding Judah and Benjamin it is stated: “He said to me: The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly [meod meod] great” (Ezekiel 9:9). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: I have another. “The iniquity of the daughter of my people exceeded the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands seized it.” They did not extend their hands to perform mitzvot, but these extended their hands to perform mitzvot.21Despite the fact that the sin of Judah and Benjamin was greater than that of Sodom, Sodom was entirely overthrown with no survivors, which was not the case of Judah and Benjamin. This is because “no hand seized it,” the Sodomites did not perform mitzvot, whereas the tribes of Judah and Benjamin did. That is what is written: “The hands of merciful women cooked their children” (Lamentations 4:10).22See below, section 13, where the midrash interprets this verse allegorically to mean that the Israelites cared for their neighbors and gave charity even under terribly adverse conditions. Why to that extent? It is because “they were food [levarot]23Instead of eating their own bread, they would give it to console their bereaved neighbor as the meal after the burial [seudat havraa]. for them” (Lamentations 4:10).
“The iniquity of the daughter of my people,” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: It is stated regarding the tribes of Judah and Benjamin what is not stated regarding the Sodomites. Regarding the Sodomites, it is written: “And their sin, because it is very [meod] grievous” (Genesis 18:20). But regarding Judah and Benjamin it is stated: “He said to me: The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly [meod meod] great” (Ezekiel 9:9). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: I have another. “The iniquity of the daughter of my people exceeded the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and no hands seized it.” They did not extend their hands to perform mitzvot, but these extended their hands to perform mitzvot.21Despite the fact that the sin of Judah and Benjamin was greater than that of Sodom, Sodom was entirely overthrown with no survivors, which was not the case of Judah and Benjamin. This is because “no hand seized it,” the Sodomites did not perform mitzvot, whereas the tribes of Judah and Benjamin did. That is what is written: “The hands of merciful women cooked their children” (Lamentations 4:10).22See below, section 13, where the midrash interprets this verse allegorically to mean that the Israelites cared for their neighbors and gave charity even under terribly adverse conditions. Why to that extent? It is because “they were food [levarot]23Instead of eating their own bread, they would give it to console their bereaved neighbor as the meal after the burial [seudat havraa]. for them” (Lamentations 4:10).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Eikhah Rabbah
“The hands of merciful women cooked their children; they were food for them in the disaster of the daughter of my people” (Lamentations 4:10).
“The hands of merciful women cooked their children.” Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘They did not allow Me to extend My hand against My world.’27They performed acts of charity that prevented God from punishing Israel fully for its sins. How so? If one of them had one loaf of bread that would have sufficed for her and her husband for one day, when her neighbor’s son died, she would take that loaf and comfort her with it.28The first meal a mourner eats after the burial of a relative is traditionally provided by the mourner’s friends or neighbors. This is known as havraa, similar to the term “for food [levarot]” in the verse. The verse ascribes to them as though they cooked their children as a mitzva.29Some translate this to mean as though they raised their children to perform mitzvot. The word for cooking [bishul] can also mean to ripen (see Midrash HaMevoar). That is what is written: That is what is written: “The hands of merciful women cooked their children.” Why to that extent? It is because “they were food [levarot] for them.”
“The hands of merciful women cooked their children.” Rabbi Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘They did not allow Me to extend My hand against My world.’27They performed acts of charity that prevented God from punishing Israel fully for its sins. How so? If one of them had one loaf of bread that would have sufficed for her and her husband for one day, when her neighbor’s son died, she would take that loaf and comfort her with it.28The first meal a mourner eats after the burial of a relative is traditionally provided by the mourner’s friends or neighbors. This is known as havraa, similar to the term “for food [levarot]” in the verse. The verse ascribes to them as though they cooked their children as a mitzva.29Some translate this to mean as though they raised their children to perform mitzvot. The word for cooking [bishul] can also mean to ripen (see Midrash HaMevoar). That is what is written: That is what is written: “The hands of merciful women cooked their children.” Why to that extent? It is because “they were food [levarot] for them.”
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Lam.) Not for you, ye travellers, behold and see. Rabba said in the name of R. Jochanan: "Here we have a Biblical support that a man in trouble should make it known to friends and appeal to their sympathy." (Ib.) All that pass this way. R. Amram said in the name of Rab: [This said Israel] "They (the nations) have made me the perpetrators of such a crime similar to that of Sodom about whom it is written (Gen. 19, 24) And the Lord rained upon Sodom; and concerning Jerusalem, it is written (Lam.) From on high hath He sent a fire into my bones, and it is also written (Ib. 4, 6) For greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people than the sin of Sodom." Rabba said in the name of R. Jochanan: "Jerusalem was punished much severer than Sodom was, for concerning Sodom, it is written (Ez. 16, 49) Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of food … but the hand of the poor and needy did she not strengthen. And conrerning Jerusalem, it is written (Lam. 4, 10) The hands of merciful women choked their own children." (Ib. 1, 15) The Lord hath trodden under foot all my weighty men in the midst of me, as one says to his neighbor: "This coin is worthless."
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy