וַיָּ֣עַד יְהוָ֡ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וּבִיהוּדָ֡ה בְּיַד֩ כָּל־נביאו [נְבִיאֵ֨י] כָל־חֹזֶ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר שֻׁ֝֠בוּ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֤ם הָֽרָעִים֙ וְשִׁמְרוּ֙ מִצְוֺתַ֣י חֻקּוֹתַ֔י כְּכָ֨ל־הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶת־אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ שָׁלַ֣חְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד עֲבָדַ֥י הַנְּבִיאִֽים׃
Gayunman, binalaan ng Walang-Hanggan ang Israel at ang Juda sa pamamagitan ng bawat propeta at ng bawat tagakita, na sinasabi, “Talikuran ninyo ang inyong masasamang lakad, at ingatan ninyo ang Aking mga utos at ang Aking mga alituntunin, ayon sa buong Torah na iniutos Ko sa inyong mga ninuno, at ipinadala Ko sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng Aking mga lingkod na mga propeta.”
Eikhah Rabbah
“What shall I attest to you, to what shall I liken you, daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equate you, and comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For your breach is as vast as the sea; who can heal you?” (Lamentations 2:13).
“What shall I attest to you [a’idekh], to what shall I liken you?” How many prophets have I sent to warn [he’adti] you! Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and Rabbi Natan, Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: One prophet in the morning and one prophet at dusk. That is what is written: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah by means of every prophet and every seer” (II Kings 17:13). Rabbi Natan said: Two prophets in the morning and two prophets in the evening. That is what is written: “I sent to you all My servants the prophets daily, time and again” (Jeremiah 7:25); “time,” in the morning, “and again,” in the evening.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many plunders have I given you? The plunder of Egypt, the plunder at the sea, the plunder of Siḥon and Og, the plunder of the thirty-one kings. In Arabia they call plunder adita.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many communions [viudin] have I communed with you: the Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, Shilo, Nov, Givon, and the two Temples.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: With how many ornaments have I adorned you! Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with the Holy One blessed be He at Sinai, and there was a crown in the hand of each and every one of them, to crown each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand descended; one adorned [an Israelite], and one placed a crown on him. Rabbi Huna of Tzippori said: A weapon belt, just as it says: “He removes the restraints of kings and binds a belt on their waists” (Job 12:18).
“To what shall I liken you?” To what nation did I liken you? Which nation did I redeem with a mighty arm and bring upon its enemies ten plagues? For what nation did I split the sea, rain manna, swarm quails, and raise a well of water? Which nation did I envelop with the clouds of glory, bring near Mount Sinai, and give them My Torah? “Daughter of Jerusalem [Yerushalayim], the daughter who fears [yere’a] and is complete [umushlemet] for Me.
“To what shall I equate you, and comfort you?” Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: When I will equate them to you, I will comfort you. When the day of which it is written: “The Lord will be exalted” (Isaiah 2:11) arrives, then I will comfort you.
“Virgin daughter of Zion [tziyon],” children who are distinguished [metzuyanim] through circumcision, through haircuts, and through ritual fringes.
“For your breach is as vast as the sea; [who can heal you?]” Rabbi Ḥolfai said: He who is destined to heal the breach in the sea, He will heal you. Rabbi Avin said: He, before whom you recited song at the sea: “This is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), He will heal you. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: He will heal your prophets for you.115He will cause the prophets to give real prophecies, rather than the false prophecies that led Israel astray, as indicated in the upcoming section. Alternatively, the meaning is: Who should heal you? Your prophets (see Etz Yosef).
“What shall I attest to you [a’idekh], to what shall I liken you?” How many prophets have I sent to warn [he’adti] you! Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and Rabbi Natan, Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: One prophet in the morning and one prophet at dusk. That is what is written: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah by means of every prophet and every seer” (II Kings 17:13). Rabbi Natan said: Two prophets in the morning and two prophets in the evening. That is what is written: “I sent to you all My servants the prophets daily, time and again” (Jeremiah 7:25); “time,” in the morning, “and again,” in the evening.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many plunders have I given you? The plunder of Egypt, the plunder at the sea, the plunder of Siḥon and Og, the plunder of the thirty-one kings. In Arabia they call plunder adita.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” How many communions [viudin] have I communed with you: the Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, Shilo, Nov, Givon, and the two Temples.
Another matter, “what shall I attest to you [a’idekh]?” Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: With how many ornaments have I adorned you! Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Six hundred thousand ministering angels descended with the Holy One blessed be He at Sinai, and there was a crown in the hand of each and every one of them, to crown each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: One million two hundred thousand descended; one adorned [an Israelite], and one placed a crown on him. Rabbi Huna of Tzippori said: A weapon belt, just as it says: “He removes the restraints of kings and binds a belt on their waists” (Job 12:18).
“To what shall I liken you?” To what nation did I liken you? Which nation did I redeem with a mighty arm and bring upon its enemies ten plagues? For what nation did I split the sea, rain manna, swarm quails, and raise a well of water? Which nation did I envelop with the clouds of glory, bring near Mount Sinai, and give them My Torah? “Daughter of Jerusalem [Yerushalayim], the daughter who fears [yere’a] and is complete [umushlemet] for Me.
“To what shall I equate you, and comfort you?” Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Ḥanan said: When I will equate them to you, I will comfort you. When the day of which it is written: “The Lord will be exalted” (Isaiah 2:11) arrives, then I will comfort you.
“Virgin daughter of Zion [tziyon],” children who are distinguished [metzuyanim] through circumcision, through haircuts, and through ritual fringes.
“For your breach is as vast as the sea; [who can heal you?]” Rabbi Ḥolfai said: He who is destined to heal the breach in the sea, He will heal you. Rabbi Avin said: He, before whom you recited song at the sea: “This is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), He will heal you. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: He will heal your prophets for you.115He will cause the prophets to give real prophecies, rather than the false prophecies that led Israel astray, as indicated in the upcoming section. Alternatively, the meaning is: Who should heal you? Your prophets (see Etz Yosef).
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: If the wife of any man will stray and commit a trespass against him” (Numbers 5:12).
Another matter: “If [the wife of any man] will stray [tiste]…” – the Rabbis interpret the verse regarding the act of the calf. “Man” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, who is called man, as it is stated: “The Lord is a Man of war” (Exodus 15:3). “If the wife [of any man] will stray” – this is Israel, who strayed from following Him, just as it says: “They have quickly strayed [saru]” (Exodus 32:8), and it is translated: “They have quickly strayed [satu].” And they are called His wife, as it is stated: “It shall be on that day, the utterance of the Lord, that you will call Me my spouse [ishi]” (Hosea 2:18). Likewise it says: “You shall sanctify them [vekidashtam] today and tomorrow” (Exodus 19:10); “you shall be holy [kedoshim]” (Leviticus 19:2).170Both verses are expounded as an allusion to betrothal [kiddushin].
“And commit a trespass against him” – this is the trespass of idol worship, just as it says: “To commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor” (Numbers 31:16).
“And a man had lain with her carnally, and it was hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she was secluded and she was defiled, and there is no witness against her, and she was not coerced” (Numbers 5:13).
“And a man had lain” – this is Aaron, who crafted the calf for them. “Carnally [shikhvat zera]” – as that was the way of its worship; they would pass their offspring [zaram] before it in the fire, just as it says: “And you shall not give from your offspring [umizarakha] to pass to Molekh” (Leviticus 18:21). “And it was hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she was secluded” – Heaven forfend, they thought to themselves as though the supernal eye does not see, just as it is written: “They said: The Lord will not see” (Psalms 94:7), and it says: “Clouds obscure for Him, and He does not see” (Job 22:14). “And she was secluded [venistera]” – just as it says: “Woe to those who go to the depths from the Lord to conceal [lastir] a scheme […and they say: Who sees us and who knows of us]” (Isaiah 29:15). “And she was defiled” – just as it says: “Like the impurity of the menstruant their way was before Me” (Ezekiel 36:17). “And there is no witness [ve’ed] against her” – there was no prophet in their midst who could warn [sheya’id] them; just as it says: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah by means of every prophet of every vision” (II Kings 17:13), as they had already killed Ḥur because he was rebuking them. “And she was not coerced” – they performed it of their own volition, and that is why they were punished.
“A spirit of jealousy overcame him, and he warned his wife, and she was defiled, or a spirit of jealousy overcame him, and he warned his wife, and she was not defiled” (Numbers 5:14).
“A spirit of jealousy [kina] overcame him” – “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous [kana] God” (Exodus 20:5). “And he warned his wife” – just as it says: “Go, descend, because your people has become corrupted…” (Exodus 32:7). “And she was defiled” – just as it says: “They prostrated themselves to it and they sacrificed to it” (Exodus 32:8). “Or a spirit of jealousy overcame him, and he warned his wife, and she was not defiled” – as there were many upright people in their midst but the Holy One blessed be He was jealous regarding all of them. He sought to eliminate the good with the wicked, as it is stated: “Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will eliminate them” (Exodus 32:10).
“The man shall bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring her offering on her behalf, one-tenth of an ephah of barley flour; he shall not pour oil upon it, and he shall not place frankincense upon it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of remembrance, a reminder of iniquity” (Numbers 5:15).
“The man shall bring” – this is the Holy One blessed be He. “His wife” – this is Israel. “To the priest” – this is Moses, who was a priest all seven days of the inauguration. And it says: “Moses and Aaron were among His priests” (Psalms 99:6). What is the bringing? He brought their sentence to Moses, as He said to him: “Go, descend, because your people has become corrupted” (Exodus 32:7). “And he shall bring her offering on her behalf” – as He gave to Moses at that time two Tablets of Testimony, as it is stated: “When He finished…He gave Moses [the two Tablets of Testimony]” (Exodus 31:18). “One-tenth of an ephah” – as the Ten Commandments were written upon them. “Barley flour” – due to the iniquity of idol worship, Israel became like flour, just as it says: “Take a millstone and grind flour” (Isaiah 47:2).171See Shir HaShirim Rabba 3:4, where the phrase is interpreted as referring to Israel. And the Holy One blessed be He dispersed them among the nations, just as it says: “I dispersed them among all nations” (Zechariah 7:14), as in the commandment: “You shall not have [other gods]” (Exodus 20:3) – He alluded to the four kingdoms.172In that commandment it says: “Who reckons the iniquity of the fathers against the children, against the third generation and against the fourth generation to My enemies” (Exodus 20:5). The four generations are an allusion to the four kingdoms to which Israel was exiled. “He shall not pour oil upon it” – as the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Now, let Me be…” (Exodus 32:10); “and he shall not place frankincense upon it” – just as it says: “Let Me alone…” (Deuteronomy 9:14), saying that he should mention neither the merit of the patriarchs nor the merit of the matriarchs. “For it is a meal offering of jealousy” – just as it says: “I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked people” (Deuteronomy 9:13). “A meal offering of remembrance” – as in the commandment: “You shall not have [other gods]”; Israel will be remembered positively for those who recognize the futility of idol worship, as it is stated: “Who shows kindness for thousands […for those who love Me]” (Exodus 20:6). “A reminder of iniquity” – for those who stray after it, as it is stated: “Who reckons the iniquity of the fathers [against the children]” (Exodus 20:5).
“The priest shall bring her near and have her stand before the Lord” (Numbers 5:16).
“The priest shall bring her near” – as he prayed on their behalf, just as it says: “Moses implored the Lord…” (Exodus 32:11). “And have her stand before the Lord” – as the Holy One blessed be He forgave and said that He would not eliminate them all, just as it says: “The Lord reconsidered the evil” (Exodus 32:14).
Another matter: “If [the wife of any man] will stray [tiste]…” – the Rabbis interpret the verse regarding the act of the calf. “Man” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, who is called man, as it is stated: “The Lord is a Man of war” (Exodus 15:3). “If the wife [of any man] will stray” – this is Israel, who strayed from following Him, just as it says: “They have quickly strayed [saru]” (Exodus 32:8), and it is translated: “They have quickly strayed [satu].” And they are called His wife, as it is stated: “It shall be on that day, the utterance of the Lord, that you will call Me my spouse [ishi]” (Hosea 2:18). Likewise it says: “You shall sanctify them [vekidashtam] today and tomorrow” (Exodus 19:10); “you shall be holy [kedoshim]” (Leviticus 19:2).170Both verses are expounded as an allusion to betrothal [kiddushin].
“And commit a trespass against him” – this is the trespass of idol worship, just as it says: “To commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor” (Numbers 31:16).
“And a man had lain with her carnally, and it was hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she was secluded and she was defiled, and there is no witness against her, and she was not coerced” (Numbers 5:13).
“And a man had lain” – this is Aaron, who crafted the calf for them. “Carnally [shikhvat zera]” – as that was the way of its worship; they would pass their offspring [zaram] before it in the fire, just as it says: “And you shall not give from your offspring [umizarakha] to pass to Molekh” (Leviticus 18:21). “And it was hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she was secluded” – Heaven forfend, they thought to themselves as though the supernal eye does not see, just as it is written: “They said: The Lord will not see” (Psalms 94:7), and it says: “Clouds obscure for Him, and He does not see” (Job 22:14). “And she was secluded [venistera]” – just as it says: “Woe to those who go to the depths from the Lord to conceal [lastir] a scheme […and they say: Who sees us and who knows of us]” (Isaiah 29:15). “And she was defiled” – just as it says: “Like the impurity of the menstruant their way was before Me” (Ezekiel 36:17). “And there is no witness [ve’ed] against her” – there was no prophet in their midst who could warn [sheya’id] them; just as it says: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah by means of every prophet of every vision” (II Kings 17:13), as they had already killed Ḥur because he was rebuking them. “And she was not coerced” – they performed it of their own volition, and that is why they were punished.
“A spirit of jealousy overcame him, and he warned his wife, and she was defiled, or a spirit of jealousy overcame him, and he warned his wife, and she was not defiled” (Numbers 5:14).
“A spirit of jealousy [kina] overcame him” – “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous [kana] God” (Exodus 20:5). “And he warned his wife” – just as it says: “Go, descend, because your people has become corrupted…” (Exodus 32:7). “And she was defiled” – just as it says: “They prostrated themselves to it and they sacrificed to it” (Exodus 32:8). “Or a spirit of jealousy overcame him, and he warned his wife, and she was not defiled” – as there were many upright people in their midst but the Holy One blessed be He was jealous regarding all of them. He sought to eliminate the good with the wicked, as it is stated: “Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will eliminate them” (Exodus 32:10).
“The man shall bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring her offering on her behalf, one-tenth of an ephah of barley flour; he shall not pour oil upon it, and he shall not place frankincense upon it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of remembrance, a reminder of iniquity” (Numbers 5:15).
“The man shall bring” – this is the Holy One blessed be He. “His wife” – this is Israel. “To the priest” – this is Moses, who was a priest all seven days of the inauguration. And it says: “Moses and Aaron were among His priests” (Psalms 99:6). What is the bringing? He brought their sentence to Moses, as He said to him: “Go, descend, because your people has become corrupted” (Exodus 32:7). “And he shall bring her offering on her behalf” – as He gave to Moses at that time two Tablets of Testimony, as it is stated: “When He finished…He gave Moses [the two Tablets of Testimony]” (Exodus 31:18). “One-tenth of an ephah” – as the Ten Commandments were written upon them. “Barley flour” – due to the iniquity of idol worship, Israel became like flour, just as it says: “Take a millstone and grind flour” (Isaiah 47:2).171See Shir HaShirim Rabba 3:4, where the phrase is interpreted as referring to Israel. And the Holy One blessed be He dispersed them among the nations, just as it says: “I dispersed them among all nations” (Zechariah 7:14), as in the commandment: “You shall not have [other gods]” (Exodus 20:3) – He alluded to the four kingdoms.172In that commandment it says: “Who reckons the iniquity of the fathers against the children, against the third generation and against the fourth generation to My enemies” (Exodus 20:5). The four generations are an allusion to the four kingdoms to which Israel was exiled. “He shall not pour oil upon it” – as the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Now, let Me be…” (Exodus 32:10); “and he shall not place frankincense upon it” – just as it says: “Let Me alone…” (Deuteronomy 9:14), saying that he should mention neither the merit of the patriarchs nor the merit of the matriarchs. “For it is a meal offering of jealousy” – just as it says: “I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked people” (Deuteronomy 9:13). “A meal offering of remembrance” – as in the commandment: “You shall not have [other gods]”; Israel will be remembered positively for those who recognize the futility of idol worship, as it is stated: “Who shows kindness for thousands […for those who love Me]” (Exodus 20:6). “A reminder of iniquity” – for those who stray after it, as it is stated: “Who reckons the iniquity of the fathers [against the children]” (Exodus 20:5).
“The priest shall bring her near and have her stand before the Lord” (Numbers 5:16).
“The priest shall bring her near” – as he prayed on their behalf, just as it says: “Moses implored the Lord…” (Exodus 32:11). “And have her stand before the Lord” – as the Holy One blessed be He forgave and said that He would not eliminate them all, just as it says: “The Lord reconsidered the evil” (Exodus 32:14).
Pesikta DeRav Kahana
"What shall I testify to you, and to what shall I compare you?" (Lam. 2:13.) "What shall I testify to you": With how many prophets have I testified? Rebbi says, one prophet in the morning, and one prophet in the evening. That is what is written, "God testified to Israel and to Judah, through every prophet and every seer." (2 Kings 17:13.) Prophets (nevi'ai (plural)) is written.*However, in our Masoretic tradition, the word is written "nevi'o ("His prophet"), but read nevi'ai ("prophets") Rabbi Natan says, two prophets in the morning and two prophets in the evening, "daily and persistently" (Jer. 7:25) in the morning, and "daily and persistently" in the evening. Another interpretation: "What shall I testify to you": "With how many ornaments have I adorned you?" As Rabbi Yochanan said, on the day that the Holy One Blessed be He descended on Sinai to give the Torah to Israel, sixty myriads (600,000) of ministering angels descended with him, and each and every one of them had a crown in its hand with which to crown Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana in the name of Rabbi Yochanan [says], one hundred twenty myriads, one to adorn [each Israelite] with a crown, and one to gird him with royal armor (zayanim). Rabbi Huna the Great of Sepphoris said [that, rather, the angels girded the Israelites with] belts of magistracy (zunei). It is as if it is stated, "He loosens the bonds of kings, and binds their loins with a girdle." (Job 12:18.) Another interpretation: "What shall I testify to you": "How many appointments did I arrange for you? The Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, and Shiloh, and Nob, and Gibeon, and the two Eternal Houses. And what shall I testify to you? For which people have I [acted] like I have toward you? For which people have I revealed myself with a strong hand, and dealt ten plagues to her enemies? For which people have parted the sea? For which people did I swarm quails? For which people have I brought myself near before Mount Sinai, and given her my Torah? For which people did I encircle with clouds of glory? [For] 'the daughter of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim)' (Lam. 2:13), the daughter who fears (yireah) and is complete (u'mushlemet) for Me."
"And to what shall I equate to you, that I may comfort you (va'anachamech), O virgin daughter of Zion?" (Lam. 2:13*This is the continuation of the verse beginning with "What shall I testify to you, and to what shall I compare you?", which has been treated to this point. The conclusion of the verse, "For your ruin is as vast as the Sea, etc." is treated below..) As Rabbi Yaakov bar Avuna said, [the verse means,] "When I equate it to you, then I will comfort you." "Virgin daughter of Zion," sons who distinguish(metzuyanim) me through circumcision, and with the cutting of hair, and with tzitzit.
"For your breach is as vast as the Sea; who will heal you?" Said Rabbi Cholfai, He who in the future will heal the breach of the Sea, He will heal you as well. Said Rabbi Yehoshua bar Nechemiah, He about whom they said at the Sea, "Who is like You?" (Ex. 15:11), He will heal you. Said Rabbi Avin, "Who will heal you?" "Your prophets foretold to you futility and folly" (Lam. 2:14). And our Rabbis say, "Who will heal you?" Your prophets.
"And to what shall I equate to you, that I may comfort you (va'anachamech), O virgin daughter of Zion?" (Lam. 2:13*This is the continuation of the verse beginning with "What shall I testify to you, and to what shall I compare you?", which has been treated to this point. The conclusion of the verse, "For your ruin is as vast as the Sea, etc." is treated below..) As Rabbi Yaakov bar Avuna said, [the verse means,] "When I equate it to you, then I will comfort you." "Virgin daughter of Zion," sons who distinguish(metzuyanim) me through circumcision, and with the cutting of hair, and with tzitzit.
"For your breach is as vast as the Sea; who will heal you?" Said Rabbi Cholfai, He who in the future will heal the breach of the Sea, He will heal you as well. Said Rabbi Yehoshua bar Nechemiah, He about whom they said at the Sea, "Who is like You?" (Ex. 15:11), He will heal you. Said Rabbi Avin, "Who will heal you?" "Your prophets foretold to you futility and folly" (Lam. 2:14). And our Rabbis say, "Who will heal you?" Your prophets.