Комментарий о цитате к Йешайау 29:18

However, [after such stumbling], by virtue of their great understanding the Babylonian sages [following the first Temple] produced great, enlightened legislation. Pertaining to this [period] it is written in Isaiah 29:18, “In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.” This means that only out of darkness and obscurity [such as that in Babylonia] can one gain true intellectual enlightenment, more than those who do not inhabit such darkness.⁹Related to this subject, the Netziv writes in Harhev Davar, to Ex.19:19 that when Israel received the Torah at Sinai, Scripture states (Ex. 19:18–19): “The whole of Mount Sinai was full of smoke… its smoke ascended like the smoke of the lime pit….The sound of the shofar continually grew louder….” Smoke is symbolic of the trials and tribulations that Israel would experience throughout the ages, as one covered in smoke experiences both darkness and the inability to see what is happening. This means that when Israel experiences trying times, the outcome is unknown, and it is a mystery why these bad experiences occur. The shofar is symbolic of God’s word – that is, the Torah. At Mount Sinai the blasts of the shofar grew stronger with time, unlike what would occur in the real world, where the sound would diminish. So it is with the Jewish people: when they are confronted with times of darkness symbolized by the smoke, the power of pilpul becomes stronger – a mystery, the sound of the shofar emanating from the dark smoke.