ציטירנדיקער פּירוש אויף יחזקאל 5:7

And the explanation of the matter is, that they were always afflicted in the aspect that was the cause of the sin. For in what they sinned concerning God, the sin progressed from the eye to the heart, as the eye sees and afterward the heart desires. And we have already stated that because of the abundance of gold that God bestowed upon them, they chose the image of an ox, for that is the source of gold, as explained above in the verse This they shall give, everyone who passes among the counted… Therefore it is said, For these our eyes have grown dim, because the eye caused them this sin. However, in what they sinned concerning Moses, the sin progressed from the heart to the eye, because they were always contemplating in their hearts and envying his stature and suspecting him. Thus they became blind even in their sense of sight and denied things they had seen with their own eyes, for this is the nature of jealousy, that through it they became blind to do the opposite of what their senses testified to. Therefore it is said, For this our heart has become anguished, because the heart was the cause for them to act against what their sense of sight indicated, as alluded to by this. From here, they saw fit to say that all the anguish and despising that come upon Israel are all due to the sin of speaking harsh words against the leaders of each and every generation. And leprosy comes because of the sin of idolatry, which stems from the desire for wealth. And the darkening of the eye is measure for measure, because human eyes are never satisfied, thus they are punished in the eye. And according to our approach, we can say that the darkening of the eye refers to leprosy, which darkens a person’s eye, as is known from natural science. And these two evil traits are not so common among the nations, as it concludes (in Sanhedrin 39b): It is written And you have done according to the customs of the nations (Ezekiel 11:12), and it is written, And you have not done according to the customs of the nations (Ezekiel 5:7). How so? You have acted like the corrupt ones among them, but you have not acted like the virtuous ones among them. For we find that they are virtuous in these two matters: Both in matters of divinity, as it is said Has a nation changed its gods, though they are not gods? But My people has changed its glory for that which does not benefit (Jeremiah 2:11). And in matters of leadership, for they do not rebel against their leaders, as we find with the people of Nineveh, who listened even to the prophets of Israel.