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Nach YomiIsaiah ยท ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื•Chapter 41

Isaiah 41

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ืžืดื

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืื—ืจื•ื ื™ื | Book: Isaiah | Chapter: 41 of 66 | Day: 188 of 742

Date: August 18, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Isaiah 41 stages the first great courtroom scene (ืจื™ื‘) of the consolation prophecies. Having proclaimed in chapter 40 that the nations are as a drop from a bucket before God, the prophet now summons them to prove otherwise: โ€œStand silent before Me, coastlandsโ€ฆ let us come forward together for argumentโ€ (ืœืžืฉืคื˜ ื ืงืจื‘ื”, v. 1). Radak defines the charge precisely: the nations diminish Godโ€™s power, insisting that He cannot rescue Israel from their hands, while they serve idols in which there is nothing at all. The entire chapter unfolds as the proceedings of this trial โ€” evidence, cross-examination, and verdict โ€” and its structure alternates between address to the nations (vv. 1-7, 21-29) and consolation of Israel (vv. 8-20), so that the polemic against idolatry and the comfort of the exiles emerge as a single argument.

Godโ€™s opening evidence is the question of verse 2: โ€œWho has roused a victor from the East?โ€ Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak identify this figure as Abraham, stirred from Aram in the east, calling men to righteousness (ืฆื“ืง) wherever his feet carried him, and delivering the four kings and their armies into his hand though he led only three hundred and eighteen men. Radak adds a principle that turns history into standing proof: the verbs are future in form because what God did for Abraham He does in every generation for every righteous one who loves Him. The nationsโ€™ response is the chapterโ€™s bitterest irony. They saw and trembled (v. 5) โ€” but instead of drawing Abrahamโ€™s conclusion, they encouraged one another, โ€˜chazak,โ€™ in the manufacture of new gods (vv. 6-7): the carpenter cheers the smith, the solder is pronounced good, and the finished deity is fastened with nails so that it cannot topple. A god that must be nailed down is the prophetโ€™s silent answer to the God who calls the generations from the beginning (v. 4).

At verse 8 the tone turns with one of the most cherished sentences of the consolation corpus: โ€œBut you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, seed of Abraham My friendโ€ (ื–ืจืข ืื‘ืจื”ื ืื•ื”ื‘ื™). Rashi hears in the title an obligation โ€” โ€œI am obliged to help youโ€ โ€” and explains that Abraham is called Godโ€™s lover because he found his Creator not through a fatherโ€™s teaching but out of love. There follows the threefold refrain of โ€œfear notโ€ (vv. 10, 13, 14), addressed to โ€œworm Jacobโ€ (ืชื•ืœืขืช ื™ืขืงื‘) โ€” in the midrash cited by Radak, the creature whose only strength is its mouth, for Israelโ€™s whole power in exile lies in prayer, which fells empires as the worm fells cedars. The imagery then reverses: the worm becomes a new threshing sledge with many sharp mouths (ื‘ืขืœ ืคื™ืคื™ื•ืช), grinding the mountains โ€” for Rashi, kings and princes โ€” into chaff for the wind to scatter. The consolation culminates in the transformation of the wilderness (vv. 17-20): rivers on bare heights, springs in the valleys, seven species of tree shading the desert road. Radak reads these as literal provision and a lasting sign for the returning exiles; Rashi allegorizes them as Torah and prophecy flowing where there had been none. The purpose clause of verse 20 gathers everything together: that all may see and know that the hand of the Lord has done this.

The trial then resumes for its decisive test: โ€œSubmit your case, says the King of Jacobโ€ (v. 21). The idols are invited to do the one thing deity requires โ€” declare the former things or announce what is to come, โ€œthat we may know that you are godsโ€ (v. 23), a challenge Metzudat David reads as open mockery (ื“ืจืš ืœืขื’ ื•ื”ืชื•ืœ). Against their silence God sets His own prediction: โ€œI have roused one from the northโ€ฆ from the sunrise, one who invokes My nameโ€ (v. 25) โ€” for Rashi, Cyrus, who would trample Babylonโ€™s rulers like a potter treading clay and send Israel home in Godโ€™s name; for Radak, following his father Rabbi Yosef Kimchi, the ultimate redeemer at the end of days. The verdict of verses 24 and 29 frames the whole disputation: โ€œyou are less than nothingโ€ฆ their molten images are wind and chaosโ€ (ืจื•ื— ื•ืชื”ื•) โ€” the tohu of the world before creation, fitting for gods who never created anything. This argument from prophecy fulfilled becomes the signature of chapters 40-48, and the chapterโ€™s closing complaint, โ€œI look and there is no oneโ€ (v. 28), prepares the answer that opens chapter 42: โ€œBehold My servant, whom I uphold.โ€

ืคืจืง ืžืดื ยท Chapter 41

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื”ึทื—ึฒืจึดึคื™ืฉืื•ึผ ืึตืœึทื™ึ™ ืึดื™ึผึดึ”ื™ื ื•ึผืœึฐืึปืžึผึดึ–ื™ื ื™ึทื—ึฒืœึดึฃื™ืคื•ึผ ื›ึนึ‘ื—ึท ื™ึดื’ึผึฐืฉืื•ึผึ™ ืึธึฃื– ื™ึฐื“ึทื‘ึผึตึ”ืจื•ึผ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ–ื• ืœึทืžึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธึฅื˜ ื ึดืงึฐืจึธึฝื‘ึธื”ืƒ

English:

Stand silent before Me, coastlands,And let nations renew their strength.arenew their strength Connection of Heb. uncertain. Let them approach to state their case;Let us come forward together for argument.

God summons the coastlands (ืื™ื™ื) to stand in silence and then present their case: 'Let us come forward together for argument' (ืœืžืฉืคื˜ ื ืงืจื‘ื”). This opens the courtroom scene that frames the whole chapter. Radak explains the charge under dispute: the nations deny God's power, claiming He cannot rescue Israel from their hands.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื—ืจื™ืฉื• ืืœื™. ื›ื“ื™ ืœืฉืžื•ืข ื“ื‘ืจ: ืื™ื™ื. ืื•ืžื•ืช ืฉืœ ืขื›ื•"ื: ื™ื—ืœื™ืคื• ื›ื—. ื™ืชืงืฉื˜ื• ื•ื™ืชื—ื–ืงื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื’ื‘ื•ืจืชื ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืขืžื“ื• ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ื‘ื›ื—: ื™ื’ืฉื•. ื”ืœื•ื ื•ืื– ืžืฉื™ื’ืฉื• ื™ื“ื‘ืจื•: ืœืžืฉืคื˜ ื ืงืจื‘ื”. ืœื”ื•ื›ื™ื—' ืขืœ ืคื ื™ื”ื:
Be silent to Me in order to hear My words. islands Heathens ([mss. Kli Paz:] nations). shall renew [their] strength They shall adorn themselves and strengthen themselves with all their might perhaps they will succeed in their judgment by force. they shall approach here, and then, when they approach, they shall speak. to judgment let us draw near to reprove them to their faces.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ืžึดึคื™ ื”ึตืขึดื™ืจึ™ ืžึดืžึผึดื–ึฐืจึธึ”ื— ืฆึถึ–ื“ึถืง ื™ึดืงึฐืจึธืึตึฃื”ื•ึผ ืœึฐืจึทื’ึฐืœึ‘ื•ึน ื™ึดืชึผึตึจืŸ ืœึฐืคึธื ึธึคื™ื• ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดืึ™ ื•ึผืžึฐืœึธื›ึดึฃื™ื ื™ึทึ”ืจึฐื“ึผึฐ ื™ึดืชึผึตึคืŸ ื›ึผึถึฝืขึธืคึธืจึ™ ื—ึทืจึฐื‘ึผึ”ื•ึน ื›ึผึฐืงึทึฅืฉื ื ึดื“ึผึธึ–ืฃ ืงึทืฉืึฐืชึผึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

Who has roused a victorbvictor Lit. โ€œvictory.โ€ from the East,Summoned him to Godโ€™s service?Has delivered up nations to him,And trodden sovereigns down?Has rendered theirctheir Heb. โ€œhis.โ€ swords like dust,Theirdtheir Heb. โ€œhis.โ€ bows like wind-blown straw?

The famous question 'Who roused a victor from the East?' is answered by Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak with one voice: Abraham, whom God stirred from Aram, righteousness (ืฆื“ืง) meeting his every footstep, and before whom the four kings and their armies fell. Radak adds that the verbs are future in form because what God did for Abraham He will do in every generation for every righteous person who loves Him.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื™ ื”ืขื™ืจ ืžืžื–ืจื—. ืื•ืชื• ืฉืฆื“ืง ื™ืงืจืื”ื• ืœืจื’ืœื• ืžื™ ื”ืขื™ืจ ืืช ืื‘ืจื”' ืœื”ื‘ื™ืื• ืžืืจื ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืžื–ืจื— ื•ืฆื“ืง ืฉื”ื™ื” ืขื•ืฉื” ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืœืงืจืืช ืจื’ืœื™ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ืœืš: ื™ืชืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื’ื•ื™ื. ืžื™ ืฉื”ืขื™ืจื• ืžืžืงื•ืžื• ืœื”ืกื™ืข ื”ื•ื ื ืชืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื• ืืจื‘ืขื” ืžืœื›ื™ื ื•ื—ื™ื™ืœื•ืชื™ื”ื: ื™ืจื“. ื™ืจื“ื”: ื™ืชืŸ ื›ืขืคืจ ื—ืจื‘ื•. ืจืžื ื›ืขืคืจื ืงื˜ื•ืœื™ืŸ ืงื“ื ื—ืจื‘ื™ื”, ื ืชืŸ ืืช ื—ืจื‘ื• ื•ืขื•ืฉื” ื—ืœืœื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ื›ืขืคืจ ื•ืืช ืงืฉืชื• ื ืชืŸ ืžืจื‘ื” ื”ืจื•ื’ื™ื ื•ื ื•ืคืœื™ื ื›ืงืฉ ื ื“ืฃ:
Who aroused from the East one whom righteousness accompanied? Who aroused Abraham to bring him from Aram which is in the East and the righteousness that he would perform that was opposite his feet wherever he went. He placed nations before him He, Who aroused him to leave his place to cause him to move, He placed before him four kings and their hosts. He gave him dominion Heb. ื™ึทืจึฐื“ึผึฐ, like ื™ึทืจึธื“ึผึถื”. He made his sword like dust [Jonathan paraphrases:] He cast slain ones before his sword like dust. He suffered his sword to take its toll of casualties as [numerous as] grains of dust, and his bow He suffered to take its toll of casualties who would fall like wind blown stubble.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื™ึดืจึฐื“ึผึฐืคึตึ–ื ื™ึทืขึฒื‘ึฃื•ึนืจ ืฉืึธืœึ‘ื•ึนื ืึนึฅืจึทื— ื‘ึผึฐืจึทื’ึฐืœึธึ–ื™ื• ืœึนึฅื ื™ึธื‘ึฝื•ึนืืƒ

English:

He pursues them, he goes on unscathed;No shackleeshackle สผrแธฅ has this meaning in Old Aramaic. is placed on his feet.

Abraham pursued the kings and returned in peace along a road his feet had never traveled. Rashi notes that he never stumbled in the chase, and Radak observes that not one of his men fell in the battle; Radak also records the view that the passage speaks of Cyrus marching on Babylon, but prefers the Abraham reading of Targum Yonatan.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื™ืจื“ืคื ื™ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืœื•ื. ื”ืœืš ืขืœ ืžืขื‘ืจื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ืฉืœื•ื ืœื ื ื›ืฉืœ ื‘ืจื“ืคื• ืื•ืชื: ืื•ืจื— ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื• ืœื ื™ื‘ื. ื“ืจืš ืืฉืจ ืœื ื‘ื ืงื•ื“ื ืœื›ืŸ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•, ืœื ื™ื‘ื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืจื’ื™ืœ ืœื‘ื:
He pursued them and passed on safely He traversed all his fords safely; he did not stumble when he pursued them. a path upon which he had not come with his feet A road upon which he had not come previously with his feet. [The future tense of] ื™ึธื‘ื•ึนื means that he was not accustomed to come.

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ืžึดึฝื™ึพืคึธืขึทึฃืœ ื•ึฐืขึธืฉื‚ึธึ”ื” ืงึนืจึตึฅื ื”ึทื“ึผึนืจึ–ื•ึนืช ืžึตืจึนึ‘ืืฉื ืึฒื ึดึคื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ืจึดืืฉืึ”ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพืึทื—ึฒืจึนื ึดึ–ื™ื ืึฒื ึดื™ึพื”ึฝื•ึผืืƒ

English:

Who has wrought and achieved this?The One who announced the generations from the startโ€”I, GOD, who was firstAnd will be with the last as well.

God answers His own question: the One who calls the generations from the beginning did all this. Rashi reads the close of the verse as a promise reaching across history โ€” 'I, the Lord, am first' to perform wonders, 'and with the last ones I am He': with you, the latter-day children, I will be, and I will help you.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื™ ืคืขืœ ื•ืขืฉื”. ืœื• ืืช ื–ืืช ืžื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืงื•ืจื ื”ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ืžืจืืฉ ืœืื“ื ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืขืฉื” ืœืื‘ืจื”ื ื’ื ืืช ื–ืืช: ืื ื™ ื”' ืจืืฉื•ืŸ. ืœื”ืคืœื™ื ืคืœื ื•ืœืขื–ื•ืจ: ื•ืืช ืื—ืจื•ื ื™ื ืื ื™ ื”ื•ื. ืืฃ ืขืžื›ื ื‘ื ื™ื ืื—ืจื•ื ื™ื ืื”ื™ื” ื•ืืขื–ื•ืจ ืืชื›ื:
Who worked and did for him all this? He Who called the generations from the beginning, to Adam, He did this also for Abraham. I, the Lord, am first to perform wonders and to aid. and with the last ones I am He Also with you, the last sons, I will be, and I will aid you.

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ืจึธืึคื•ึผ ืึดื™ึผึดื™ืึ™ ื•ึฐื™ึดืจึธึ”ืื•ึผ ืงึฐืฆึฅื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึธึ–ืจึถืฅ ื™ึถื—ึฑืจึธึ‘ื“ื•ึผ ืงึธืจึฐื‘ึ–ื•ึผ ื•ึทื™ึผึถืึฑืชึธื™ึฝื•ึผืŸืƒ

English:

The coastlands look on in fear,The ends of earth tremble.The craftsmenfThe craftsmen Heb. โ€œThey.โ€ draw near and come;

The nations witness these wonders, tremble, and draw together. Radak dwells on the tragedy of the scene: instead of asking how one man with three hundred and eighteen servants defeated four conquering kings and concluding that Abraham's faith was true, they resolved only to tighten their grip on their idols.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืจืื• ืื™ื™ื. ืขื•ื‘ื“ื™ ืขื›ื•"ื ื”ื’ื‘ื•ืจื•ืช ืฉืืขืฉื” ื•ื™ื™ืจืื•: ืงืจื‘ื• ื•ื™ืืชื™ื•ืŸ. ื–ื” ืืฆืœ ื–ื” ื ืืกืคื™ื ืœื”ืœื—ื ื›ืฉื™ืจืื• ื”ื’ืื•ืœื”:
The islands shall see [lit. saw.] The heathens shall see the mighty deeds that I will perform, and they shall fear. they have approached and come One to another they will gather to war when they see the redemption.

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ืึดึฅื™ืฉื ืึถืชึพืจึตืขึตึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื™ึทืขึฐื–ึนึ‘ืจื•ึผ ื•ึผืœึฐืึธื—ึดึ–ื™ื• ื™ึนืืžึทึฅืจ ื—ึฒื–ึธึฝืงืƒ

English:

Each one helps the other,Saying to his fellow, โ€œTake courage!โ€

Each one urges his fellow with the word 'chazak' โ€” take courage. Rashi explains the encouragement as preparation for war, in the hope that their gods will stand up for them, while Metzudat David reads it as mutual encouragement in the making of new idols despite the wonders they had just seen.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืื™ืฉ ืืช ืจืขื”ื• ื•ื’ื•'. ื™ืืžืจ ื—ื–ืง ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืขืžื“ื• ืœื”ื ืืœื”ื™ื”ื:
Each one...his fellow etc. He shall say, "Strengthen yourself" for war, perhaps their gods will protect them [lit. stand up for them].

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื—ึทื–ึผึตึคืง ื—ึธืจึธืฉืึ™ ืึถืชึพืฆึนืจึตึ”ืฃ ืžึทื—ึฒืœึดึฅื™ืง ืคึผึทื˜ึผึดึ–ื™ืฉื ืึถืชึพื”ึฃื•ึนืœึถื ืคึผึธึ‘ืขึทื ืึนืžึตึคืจ ืœึทื“ึผึถึ™ื‘ึถืงึ™ ื˜ึฃื•ึนื‘ ื”ึ”ื•ึผื ื•ึทื™ึฐื—ึทื–ึผึฐืงึตึฅื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืžึทืกึฐืžึฐืจึดึ–ื™ื ืœึนึฅื ื™ึดืžึผึฝื•ึนื˜ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

The woodworker encourages the smith;He who flattens with the hammer[Encourages] him who pounds the anvil.He says of the riveting, โ€œIt is good!โ€And he fixes it with nails,That it may not topple.

A satirical production line: the carpenter encourages the smith, the finishing hammer encourages the one pounding the anvil, the solder is pronounced good, and the finished god is fixed with nails so it cannot topple. Rashi and Radak trace each craft in the process โ€” an idol that must be nailed down lest it fall is the prophet's devastating answer to the God of verse 4 who steers all of history.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ื—ืจืฉ. ื ื•ืกืš ื”ืคืกืœ: ืืช ืฆื•ืจืฃ. ื”ืžืจืงืขื• ื‘ื–ื”ื‘: ืžื—ืœื™ืง ืคื˜ื™ืฉ. ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื›ื” ื‘ื ื—ืช ืœื”ื—ืœื™ืง ืืช ื”ืžืœืื›ื”: ืืช ื”ื•ืœื ืคืขื. ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืชื—ื™ืœ ื‘ื” ื›ืฉื”ื™ื ืขืฉืช ื•ืžื›ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ื›ื—ื•: ืื•ืžืจ ืœื“ื‘ืง ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ื•ื. ืขืœ ืื•ืชืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžื—ื–ื™ืจื™ืŸ ืื—ืจ ืงืจืงืข ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืœื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื” ืขืฉืฉื™ื•ืช ื‘ืจื–ืœ: ื“ื‘ืง. ืฉื•ืœื“ื•ืจ"ื: ื•ื™ื—ื–ืงื”ื•. ืœืฆืœื: ื‘ืžืกืžืจื™ื ืœื ื™ืžื•ื˜. ื›ื•ืœื ื™ื—ื–ืงื• ื–ื” ืืช ื–ื”:
And the craftsman strengthened [i.e.,] the one who molds the idol. the smith who plates it with gold. the one who smoothes with the hammer The final stage, when he taps lightly to flatten out the work. the one who wields the sledge hammer He is the one who commences on it when it is a block, and beats it with all his might. he says of the cement, "It is good," Heb. ื“ึผึถื‘ึถืง. He alludes to those who seek suitable ground upon which to adhere iron plates. ื“ึผึถื‘ึถืง is soudure in French, weld. and he strengthened it The idol. with nails that it should not move All of them will strengthen each other.

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึธื”ึ™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึฃืœ ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึดึ”ื™ ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนึ–ื‘ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื‘ึผึฐื—ึทืจึฐืชึผึดึ‘ื™ืšึธ ื–ึถึ–ืจึทืข ืึทื‘ึฐืจึธื”ึธึฅื ืึนื”ึฒื‘ึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

But you, Israel, My servant,Jacob, whom I have chosen,Seed of Abraham My friendโ€”

The trial speech pivots from the nations to Israel: 'But you, Israel, My servant... seed of Abraham My friend' (ื–ืจืข ืื‘ืจื”ื ืื•ื”ื‘ื™). Rashi hears in the title an obligation โ€” 'I am obliged to help you' โ€” and explains that Abraham is called God's lover because he came to know Him not from a father's teaching but out of love.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืืชื” ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™. ื•ืขืœื™ ื™ืฉ ืœืขื–ื•ืจ ืœืš ืกื•ืฃ ื”ืžืงืจื ืืœ ืชื™ืจื ื›ื™ ืืชืš ืื ื™ ื›ืš ื ืจืื” ืœื™ ื—ื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ืœืคื™ ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ื•ืž"ื ื‘ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ื“ื•ืจืฉ ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื‘ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง ื•ืื‘ืจื”' (ื”) ืจืื• ืื™ื™ื. ืื•ืชื” ืžืœื—ืž' ื•ื™ื™ืจืื• ืฉื ื ืชื™ื™ืจื ืžืื‘ืจื”ื ืคืŸ ื™ืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ืขืžื“ืช ืจืฉืขื™ื ืืœื• ื‘ืขื•ืœื ื•ืื‘ืจื”ื ื ืชื™ื™ืจื ืžืฉื ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ืจื’ ืืช ื‘ื ื™ ืขื™ืœื ืฉื”ื ืžืฉื: ืื™ื™ื. ื›ืฉื ืฉืื™ื™ ื”ื™ื ืžืกื•ื™ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื‘ืขื•ืœื ื›ืš ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ืฉื ื”ื™ื• ืžืกื•ื™ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื‘ืขื•ืœื: ืื™ืฉ ืืช ืจืขื”ื• ื™ืขื–ื•ืจื•. ื–ื” ืขื•ื–ืจ ืืช ื–ื” ื‘ื‘ืจื›ื•' ื‘ืจื•ืš ืื‘ืจื (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืดื“:ื›ืณ) ื•ื–ื” ืขื•ื–ืจ ืืช ื–ื” ื‘ืžืชื ื•ืช (ืฉื) ื•ื™ืชืŸ ืœื• ืžืขืฉืจ ืžื›ืœ: ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ื—ืจืฉ. ื–ื” ืฉื ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ืคื— ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืžืกืžืจื•ืช ื•ื‘ืจื™ื—ื™ื ืœืชื‘ื”: ืืช ืฆื•ืจืฃ. ื–ื” ืื‘ืจื”ื ืฉื”ื•ื ืฆื•ืจืฃ ืืช ื”ื‘ืจื™ื•ืช ืœืงืจื‘ืŸ ืืœ ื”ืฉื›ื™ื ื”: ืืช ื”ื•ืœื ืคืขื. ื–ื” ืื‘ืจื”ื ืฉื”ืœื ื›ืœ ื”ืžืœื›ื™ื ื”ืืœื” ืคืขื ืื—ืช: ืื•ืžืจ ืœื“ื‘ืง ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ื•ื. ื˜ื•ื‘ ืœื™ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ืืœื•ื” ืฉืœ ื–ื”: ื•ื™ื—ื–ืงื”ื•. ืฉื ืœืื‘ืจื”' ืœื”ื™ื•' ื“ื‘ืง ื‘ื”ืงื‘"ื” ื•ืœื ื™ืžื•ื˜: ื•ืืชื” ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™. ืื‘ืจื”ื ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžื–ืจืข ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืœื• ื›ืœ ื–ืืช ื•ืืชื” ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขื‘ื“ื™. ื”ืงื ื•ื™ ืœื™ ืžืฉื ื™ ืื‘ื•ืช: ื–ืจืข ืื‘ืจื”ื ืื•ื”ื‘ื™. ืฉืœื ื”ื›ื™ืจื ื™ ืžืชื•ืš ืชื•ื›ื—ื” ื•ืœื™ืžื•ื“ ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื• ืืœื ืžืชื•ืš ืื”ื‘ื”:
But you, Israel My servant and I am obliged to help you. The end of this sentence is (infra 10): "Do not fear." This appears to me to be the sequence of the section according to its simple meaning. But the Midrash Aggadah in Gen. Rabbah 44:7 expounds the entire section as alluding to Malchizedek and Abraham. [5] Islands saw the war and feared. Shem [Malchizedek] feared Abraham, lest he say to him, You begot these wicked men in the world. And Abraham feared Shem, since he slew his sons, the people of Elam, who was descended from Shem. islands Just as the islands of the sea are distinguished and recognized in the sea, so were Abraham and Shem distinguished in the world. [6] Each one aided his fellow This one [Shem] aided this one [Abraham] with blessings, "Blessed be Abram" (Gen. 14:19), and this one [Abraham] aided this one [Shem] with gifts, "And he gave him tithe from everything" (ibid. verse 20). [7] And the craftsman strengthened This is Shem, who was a blacksmith, to make nails and bars for the ark. the smith This is Abraham, who purified (ืฆื•ึนืจึตืฃ) the people, to bring them near to God [lit. to Heaven]. the sledge hammer This is Abraham, who smote (ื”ึธืœึทื) all these kings at one time. He says of the cement Heb. ื“ึผึถื‘ึถืง. The nations said, It is good to cleave to this one's God [rather than to Nimrod's idols]. And he strengthened him Shem strengthened Abraham to cleave to the Holy One, blessed be He, and not to move. [8] And you, Israel My servant Abraham, who was not descended from righteous menโ€”I did all this for him, and you, Israel My servant, who belong to Me by dint of two forefathers. the seed of Abraham, who loved Me who did not recognize Me because of the admonition and the teaching of his fathers, but out of love.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ืึฒืฉืึถึคืจ ื”ึถื—ึฑื–ึทืงึฐืชึผึดึ™ื™ืšึธึ™ ืžึดืงึฐืฆึฃื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึธึ”ืจึถืฅ ื•ึผืžึตืึฒืฆึดื™ืœึถึ–ื™ื”ึธ ืงึฐืจึธืืชึดึ‘ื™ืšึธ ื•ึธืึนึคืžึทืจ ืœึฐืšึธึ™ ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึดื™ึพืึทึ”ืชึผึธื” ื‘ึผึฐื—ึทืจึฐืชึผึดึ–ื™ืšึธ ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ืžึฐืึทืกึฐืชึผึดึฝื™ืšึธืƒ

English:

You whom I drew from the ends of the earthAnd called from its far corners,To whom I said: You are My servant;I chose you, I have not rejected youโ€”

God recalls grasping Israel from the ends of the earth and from its nobles. Metzudat David and Radak read the past tense as prophetic: God will yet seize Israel from the rulers of the earth, who will lack the power to hold them back โ€” and 'I have not rejected you,' Radak adds, despite the length of the exile.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืฉืจ ื”ื—ื–ืงืชื™ืš. ืœืงื—ืชื™ืš ืœื—ืœืงื™ ื›ืžื• (ืฉืžื•ืช ื“ืณ:ื“ืณ) ื•ื™ืฉืœื— ื™ื“ื• ื•ื™ื—ื–ืง ื‘ื•: ืžืงืฆื•ืช ื”ืืจืฅ. ืžืฉืืจ ื”ืขื›ื•"ื: ื•ืžืืฆื™ืœื™ื”. ืžืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ืฉื‘ื”ืŸ: ืงืจืืชื™ืš. ื‘ืฉื ืœื—ืœืงื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื›ื•ืจื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ: ื•ืœื ืžืืกืชื™ืš. ื›ื–ื” ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ื• (ืžืœืื›ื™ ื) ืฉื ืืชื™:
whom I grasped Heb. ื”ึถื—ึฑื–ึทืงึฐืชึผึดื™ืšึธ. I took you for My share. Comp. (Ex. 4:4) "And he stretched out his hand and grasped (ื•ึทื™ึผึฐื—ึฒื–ึตืง) it." from the ends of the earth from the other nations. and from its nobles from the greatest of them. I called you by name for My share, "My firstborn son, Israel" (ibid. v. 22). and I did not despise you like Esau, as it is said (Malachi 1:3), "And Esau I hated."

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืณ ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ืึทืœึพืชึผึดื™ืจึธืึ™ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืขึดืžึผึฐืšึธึพืึธึ”ื ึดื™ ืึทืœึพืชึผึดืฉืึฐืชึผึธึ–ืข ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืึฒื ึดึฃื™ ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ืึดืžึผึทืฆึฐืชึผึดึ™ื™ืšึธึ™ ืึทืฃึพืขึฒื–ึทืจึฐืชึผึดึ”ื™ืšึธ ืึทืฃึพืชึผึฐืžึทื›ึฐืชึผึดึ–ื™ืšึธ ื‘ึผึดื™ืžึดึฅื™ืŸ ืฆึดื“ึฐืงึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

Fear not, for I am with you,Be not frightened, for I am your God;I strengthen you and I help you,I uphold you with My victorious right hand.

The refrain of consolation begins: 'Fear not, for I am with you.' Radak cites the teaching of Chazal on the rare word al tishta โ€” do not melt like wax (ืฉืขื•ื”) before the fire โ€” while Rashi builds from the same word a grammatical rule about reflexive forms of roots beginning with shin.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืœ ืชืฉืชืข. ืืœ ื™ืžืก ืœื‘ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ืฉืขื•ื” ื–ื• ื•ื–ื” ื”ื›ืœืœ ื›ืœ ืชื™ื‘ื” ืฉืชื—ืœ' ื™ืกื•ื“ื” ืฉื™"ืŸ ื›ืฉื‘ื ืœื“ื‘ืจ ื‘ืœ' ืžืชืคืขืœ ื”ืชืคืขืœ ืื• ื™ืชืคืขืœ ื”ืชื™"ื• ื—ื•ืœืงืช ื•ื ื›ื ืกืช ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉืชื™ ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืฉืจืฉื™ ื”ืชื™ื‘ื” ื›ืžื• (ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ื›ื˜) ื•ื™ืฉืชื•ืžื (ืžื™ื›ื” ื–) ื•ื™ืฉืชืžืจ ื—ื•ืงื•ืช ืขืžืจื™ (ืฉ"ื ื) ืชืฉืชื›ืจื™ืŸ (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœ) ืชืฉืชืคืš ื ืคืฉื™:
be not discouraged Heb. ืึทืœ ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืชึผึธืข. Let your heart not melt like wax (ืฉืึทืขึฒื•ึธื”). This is the rule: Every word whose first radical is 'shin,' when it is used in the reflexive present, past, or future, the 'tav' separates it and enters between the first two radicals. Comp. (infra 49:16) "And He was astounded (ื•ึทื™ึผึทืฉืึฐืชึผื•ึนืžึตื)"; (Micah 6:16) "For the statutes of Omri shall be observed (ื•ึฐื™ึดืฉืึฐืชึผึทืžึผึตืจ)"; (I Sam. 1: 14) "will you be drunk (ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืชึผึทื›ึผึธืจึดื™ืŸ)?"; (Job 30:16) "My soul is poured out (ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืชึผึทืคึผึตืšึฐ)."

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื”ึตึค๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ ื™ึตื‘ึนึ™ืฉืื•ึผึ™ ื•ึฐื™ึดื›ึผึธึฃืœึฐืžึ”ื•ึผ ื›ึผึนึ–ืœ ื”ึทื ึผึถื—ึฑืจึดึฃื™ื ื‘ึผึธึ‘ืšึฐ ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึฅื•ึผ ื›ึฐืึทึ›ื™ึดืŸ ื•ึฐื™ึนืื‘ึฐื“ึ–ื•ึผ ืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึฅื™ ืจึดื™ื‘ึถึฝืšึธืƒ

English:

Shamed and chagrined shall beAll who contend with you;They who strive with youShall become as naught and shall perish.

All who rage against Israel will be shamed and perish. Radak explains their disgrace: the scheme they were certain of โ€” that Israel would never leave their control โ€” will simply fail to come to pass.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ืชึผึฐื‘ึทืงึฐืฉืึตืึ™ ื•ึฐืœึนึฃื ืชึดืžึฐืฆึธืึตึ”ื ืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึ–ื™ ืžึทืฆึผึปืชึถึ‘ืšึธ ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ึฅื•ึผ ื›ึฐืึทึ›ื™ึดืŸ ื•ึผื›ึฐืึถึ–ืคึถืก ืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึฅื™ ืžึดืœึฐื—ึทืžึฐืชึผึถึฝืšึธืƒ

English:

You may seek, but shall not findThose who struggle with you;Less than nothing shall beThe men who battle against you.

The enemies vanish so completely that they cannot be found even when sought. Metzudat David notes that the repeated phrases โ€” as naught, as nothing โ€” measure the totality of their destruction.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึดึ—ื™ ืึฒื ึดึ›ื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฅื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ืžึทื—ึฒื–ึดึฃื™ืง ื™ึฐืžึดื™ื ึถึ‘ืšึธ ื”ึธืึนืžึตึฅืจ ืœึฐืšึธึ› ืึทืœึพืชึผึดื™ืจึธึ–ื ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ืขึฒื–ึทืจึฐืชึผึดึฝื™ืšึธืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

For I the ETERNAL One am your God,Who grasped your right hand,Who say to you: Have no fear;I will be your help.

The promise is grounded in God Himself: 'I the Lord your God grasp your right hand,' holding Israel so it cannot fall. Radak draws the conclusion: since it is God who says 'fear not,' Israel may rest assured, for He is not a man that He should lie.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ืึทืœึพืชึผึดึฝื™ืจึฐืึดื™ึ™ ืชึผื•ึนืœึทึฃืขึทืช ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนึ”ื‘ ืžึฐืชึตึ–ื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ‘ืœ ืึฒื ึดึคื™ ืขึฒื–ึทืจึฐืชึผึดื™ืšึฐึ™ ื ึฐืึปืึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐื’ึนืึฒืœึตึ–ืšึฐ ืงึฐื“ึฅื•ึนืฉื ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

Fear not, O worm Jacob,O men ofgmen of Emendation yields โ€œmaggot.โ€ Israel: I will help youโ€”declares GODโ€” I your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Israel in exile is 'worm Jacob' (ืชื•ืœืขืช ื™ืขืงื‘) โ€” weak, Rashi explains, as a worm whose only strength is its mouth. Radak cites the midrash: as the worm fells mighty cedars with its mouth alone, so Israel's whole power lies in prayer, which brings down the cedar-like empires of the world.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืชื•ืœืขืช ื™ืขืงื‘. ืžืฉืคื—ืช ื™ืขืงื‘ ื”ื—ืœืฉื” ื›ืชื•ืœืขืช ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœื” ื’ื‘ื•ืจื” ืืœื ื‘ืคื™ื”, ืชื•ืœืขืช ื•ื™ืจืžื•ื "ื ื‘ืœืข"ื–: ืžืชื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ืžืกืคืจ ื™ืฉืจืืœ:
O worm of Jacob Heb. ืชึผื•ึนืœึทืขึทืช. The family of Jacob, which is weak like a worm, which has no strength except in its mouth. ืชึผื•ึนืœึทืขึทืช is vermener in O.F., [vermisseau in Modern French, a worm]. the number of Israel Heb. ืžึฐืชึตื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ, the number of Israel.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื”ึดื ึผึตึฃื” ืฉื‚ึทืžึฐืชึผึดึ—ื™ืšึฐ ืœึฐืžื•ึนืจึทื’ึ™ ื—ึธืจึฃื•ึผืฅ ื—ึธื“ึธึ”ืฉื ื‘ึผึทึ–ืขึทืœ ืคึผึดื™ืคึดื™ึผึ‘ื•ึนืช ืชึผึธื“ึคื•ึผืฉื ื”ึธืจึดื™ืึ™ ื•ึฐืชึธื“ึนึ”ืง ื•ึผื’ึฐื‘ึธืขึ–ื•ึนืช ื›ึผึทืžึผึนึฅืฅ ืชึผึธืฉื‚ึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

I will make of you a threshing board,A new thresher, with many spikes;You shall thresh mountains to dust,And make hills like chaff.

The worm is transformed into a new threshing sledge with many sharp edges (ื‘ืขืœ ืคื™ืคื™ื•ืช), grinding mountains to dust. Rashi decodes the image: the mountains and hills are kings and princes โ€” the powers that once crushed Israel โ€” and a new sledge, he notes, cuts sharpest of all.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœืžื•ืจื’ ื—ืจื•ืฅ. ื›ืœื™ ื”ื•ื ืฉืœ ืขืฅ ื•ื›ื‘ื“ ื•ืขืฉื•ื™ ื—ืจื™ืฆื™ื ื—ืจื™ืฆื™ื ื›ืขื™ืŸ ื›ืœื™ ื ืคื—ื™ื ืฉืœ ื‘ืจื–ืœ ืฉืงื•ืจื™ืŸ ืœื™ืž"ื ื‘ืœืข"ื– ื•ื’ื•ืจืจื™ืŸ ืขืœ ื”ืงืฉื™ืŸ ืฉืœ ืฉื‘ืœื™ืŸ ื•ืžื—ืชื›ืŸ ืขื“ ืฉื ืขืฉื• ืชื‘ืŸ ื“ืง: ื—ื“ืฉ. ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ื—ื“ืฉ ืขื“ ืฉืœื ื”ื•ื—ืœืงื• ืคื™ื•ืช ื—ืจื™ืฆื™ื• ื”ื•ื ื—ื•ืชืš ื”ืจื‘ื” ืื‘ืœ ืžืฉื ืชื™ืฉืŸ ื”ื•ื—ืœืงื• ืคื™ื•ืช ื—ืจื™ืฆื™ื•: ื‘ืขืœ ืคื™ืคื™ื•ืช. ื”ื ื—ื™ื“ื•ื“ื™ ื”ื—ืจื™ืฆื™ืŸ: ืชื“ื•ืฉ ื”ืจื™ื. ืžืœื›ื™ื ื•ืฉืจื™ื:
a...grooved threshing sledge It is a heavy wooden implement made with many grooves, similar to the ironsmiths' tool known as 'lime' in French, a file, and they drag it over the straw of the ears of grain and it cuts them until they become fine straw. new When it is new, before the points of its grooves are smoothed off, it cuts very much, but when it becomes old, the points of the grooves are smoothed off. with sharp points Heb. ืคึผึดื™ืคึดื™ื•ึนืช. Those are the points of the grooves. you shall thresh the mountains kings and princes.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ืชึผึดื–ึฐืจึตืึ™ ื•ึฐืจึฃื•ึผื—ึท ืชึผึดืฉื‚ึผึธืึตึ”ื ื•ึผืกึฐืขึธืจึธึ–ื” ืชึผึธืคึดึฃื™ืฅ ืื•ึนืชึธึ‘ื ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึธื”ึ™ ืชึผึธื’ึดึฃื™ืœ ื‘ึผึทึฝื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื‘ึผึดืงึฐื“ึฅื•ึนืฉื ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืชึผึดืชึฐื”ึทืœึผึธึฝืœืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

You shall winnow themAnd the wind shall carry them off;The whirlwind shall scatter them.But you shall rejoice in GOD,And glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Israel winnows the crushed powers and the wind scatters them like chaff after threshing, as Radak explains the agricultural image. The violence resolves into worship: 'you shall rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel' โ€” glorying, Metzudat David explains, in having placed one's trust in Him.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืชื–ืจื. ืชื–ืจื” ืื•ืชื ื›ื‘ืžื–ืจื” ืœืจื•ื—: ื•ืจื•ื— ืชืฉืื. ืžืืœื™ื”ื ืœื’ื™ื”ื ื:
You shall winnow them You shall scatter them, as with a pitchfork, to the wind. and a wind shall carry them off by themselves to Gehinnom.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื”ึธืขึฒื ึดื™ึผึดึจื™ื ื•ึฐื”ึธืึถื‘ึฐื™ื•ึนื ึดึœื™ื ืžึฐื‘ึทืงึฐืฉืึดึฅื™ื ืžึทึ™ื™ึดืึ™ ื•ึธืึทึ”ื™ึดืŸ ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนื ึธึ–ื ื‘ึผึทืฆึผึธืžึธึฃื ื ึธืฉืึธึ‘ืชึผึธื” ืึฒื ึดึคื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ืึถืขึฑื ึตึ”ื ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึฅื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืœึนึฅื ืึถืขึถื–ึฐื‘ึตึฝืืƒ

English:

The poor and the needySeek water,hSeek water On the homeward march through the desert. and there is none;Their tongue is parched with thirst.I GOD will respond to them.I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

The poor and needy seeking water are, for Metzudat David and Radak, the returning exiles crossing the desert on the homeward march, whose cry God promises to answer. Rashi reads the thirst spiritually, as the hunger 'to hear the words of the Lord' foretold by the prophet Amos, which God will finally satisfy.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื‘ืงืฉื™ื ืžื™ื. ื ืชื ื‘ื ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ืขืœ ืื—ืจื™ืช ื”ื™ืžื™ื (ืขืžื•ืก ื—ืณ:ื™ืดื) ืœื ืจืขื‘ ืœืœื—ื ื•ืœื ืฆืžื ืœืžื™ื ื›ื™ ืื ืœืฉืžื•ืข ืืช ื“ื‘ืจ ื”' ื™ืฉื•ื˜ื˜ื• ืœื‘ืงืฉ ืืช ื“ื‘ืจ ื”' ื•ืœื ื™ืžืฆืื• ื•ื›ืฉื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืืคื• ื™ื›ื™ืŸ ืœื”ื ืœื—ื ื•ืžื™ื ื•ื™ืฉื›ื•ืŸ ืฉื›ื™ื ืชื• ื•ืจื•ื— ื‘ืคื™ ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื”ื: ื ืฉืชื”. ืœ' ื•ื ืฉืชื• ืžื™ื ืžื”ื™ื (ืœืขื™ืœ ื™ื˜) ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืฉืืช ื•ื”ืฉื‘ืจ (ืื™ื›ื” ื’ืณ:ืžืดื–) ื•ื›ื•ืœืŸ ืœ' ื—ื•ืจื‘ื” ื•ื™ื•ื‘ืฉ ื•ืœื›ืš ื”ืชื™"ื• ืžื•ื“ื’ืฉืช ืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ืื” ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืฉืชื™ื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืฉืืช ื‘ืœื ืชื™"ื• ื•ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืœื•ืžืจ ืœื ืงื‘ื” ื ืฉืชืชื” ืฉื”ืจื™ ืœื–ื›ืจ ื™ื—ื™ื“ ื™ืืžืจ ื ืฉืชื” ื•ืœืจื‘ื™' ื•ื ืฉืชื•:
seek water The prophet prophesied concerning the end of days (Amos 8:11), "Not a famine for bread nor a thirst for water, but to hear the words of the Lord...They shall wander to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it." And when His wrath subsides, He shall prepare for them bread and water and cause His Shechinah and His spirit to rest in the mouth of their prophets. is parched Heb. ื ึธืฉืึธืชึผึธื”. An expression similar to (supra 19:5) "And water from the sea shall dry up (ื•ึฐื ึดืฉึผืึฐืชึผื•ึผ)." An expression similar to (Lam. 3:45) "The destruction (ื”ึทืฉึผืึตืืช) and the breach." And all of them are an expression of destruction and dryness. Therefore, a 'dagesh' appears in the 'tav,' since it comes instead of two, for there is no ืฉืึตืืช without a 'tav,' and he should have said for the feminine ื•ึฐื ึธืฉืึธืชึฐืชึธื”, since for the masculine singular he says ื ืฉืชื” and for the plural ื•ื ืฉืชื•.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ืึถืคึฐืชึผึทึคื— ืขึทืœึพืฉืึฐืคึธื™ึดื™ืึ™ ื ึฐื”ึธืจึ”ื•ึนืช ื•ึผื‘ึฐืชึฅื•ึนืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐืงึธืขึ–ื•ึนืช ืžึทืขึฐื™ึธื ึ‘ื•ึนืช ืึธืฉื‚ึดึคื™ื ืžึดื“ึฐื‘ึผึธืจึ™ ืœึทืึฒื’ึทืึพืžึทึ”ื™ึดื ื•ึฐืึถึฅืจึถืฅ ืฆึดื™ึผึธึ–ื” ืœึฐืžื•ึนืฆึธึฅืึตื™ ืžึธึฝื™ึดืืƒ

English:

I will open up streams on the bare hillsAnd fountains amid the valleys;I will turn the desert into ponds,The arid land into springs of water.

God will open rivers on the bare heights and springs in the valleys โ€” a deliberate reversal of nature, as Radak stresses, water appearing miraculously where neither mountain nor valley has any. Rashi allegorizes the rivers as an understanding heart for Torah and prophecy flowing where there had been none.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื ื”ืจื•ืช. ืœื‘ ืžื‘ื™ืŸ ืœืชื•ืจื” ื•ืœื ื‘ื•ืื”: ืžื“ื‘ืจ. ืžืงื•ื ืฉืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืชื•ืจื”:
rivers an understanding heart for Torah and prophecy. a desert A place where there was no Torah wisdom.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ืึถืชึผึตึคืŸ ื‘ึผึทืžึผึดื“ึฐื‘ึผึธืจึ™ ืึถึฃืจึถื– ืฉืึดื˜ึผึธึ”ื” ื•ึทื”ึฒื“ึทึ–ืก ื•ึฐืขึตึฃืฅ ืฉืึธึ‘ืžึถืŸ ืึธืฉื‚ึดึฃื™ื ื‘ึผึธืขึฒืจึธื‘ึธึ—ื” ื‘ึผึฐืจึ›ื•ึนืฉื ืชึผึดื“ึฐื”ึธึฅืจ ื•ึผืชึฐืึทืฉืึผึ–ื•ึผืจ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึฝื•ืƒ

English:

I will plant cedars in the wilderness,Acacias and myrtles and oleasters;I will set cypresses in the desert,Box trees and elms as wellโ€”

Seven species of tree will spring up in the wilderness. Radak asks what returning exiles need with forests and answers: shade against the burning sun, and a standing wonder โ€” permanent water and trees in the desert, so that all who pass will acknowledge what God did for the honor of Israel and praise His name forever.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืชืŸ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืืจื– ืฉื˜ื”. ื›ืœ ืžื™ื ื™ ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืืฃ ื‘ื ืืชืŸ ื›ืœ ืžื™ื ื™ ื—ื›ืžื” ื•ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื•ืฉืœื•ื: ืชื“ื”ืจ ื•ืชืืฉื•ืจ. ืฉืžื•ืช ืื™ืœื ื™ ืกืจืง ื”ืขืฉื•ื™ื™ืŸ ืœื‘ื ื™ืŸ:
I will give in the desert cedars, acacia trees all kinds of civilization. Even in them will I give all kinds of wisdom, goodness, and peace. firs and cypresses Names of trees that do not produce fruit, used for building.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ืœึฐืžึทึงืขึทืŸ ื™ึดืจึฐืึฃื•ึผ ื•ึฐื™ึตื“ึฐืขึ—ื•ึผ ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉื‚ึดึคื™ืžื•ึผ ื•ึฐื™ึทืฉื‚ึฐื›ึผึดึ™ื™ืœื•ึผึ™ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ”ื• ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ื™ึทื“ึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืขึธึฃืฉื‚ึฐืชึธื” ื–ึผึนึ‘ืืช ื•ึผืงึฐื“ึฅื•ึนืฉื ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึฐืจึธืึธึฝื”ึผืƒย {ืค}

English:

That all may see and know,Consider and comprehendThat GODโ€™s hand has done this,That the Holy One of Israel has wrought it.

The purpose clause of the whole wonder: that all may see, know, consider, and comprehend that God's hand has done this. Radak notes the closing verb 'created' (ื‘ืจืื”) โ€” a miracle is a genuine novelty in the world, so Scripture reaches for the language of creation itself.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ืงึธืจึฐื‘ึฅื•ึผ ืจึดึฝื™ื‘ึฐื›ึถึ–ื ื™ึนืืžึทึฃืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื” ื”๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝื’ึผึดึ™ื™ืฉืื•ึผึ™ ืขึฒืฆึปืžึฃื•ึนืชึตื™ื›ึถึ”ื ื™ึนืืžึทึ–ืจ ืžึถึฅืœึถืšึฐ ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนึฝื‘ืƒ

English:

Submit your case, says GOD;Offer your pleas, says the KingiKing I.e., the One who settles disputes between subjects. of Jacob.

The courtroom reconvenes: 'Submit your case... offer your pleas, says the King of Jacob.' Rashi explains atzumoteichem as your sturdiest and strongest arguments, connecting the word to the Mishnaic term for litigants contending in court (ืžืชืขืฆืžื™ืŸ).
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืงืจื‘ื• ืจื™ื‘ื›ื. ื›ืœ ื”ืขื›ื•"ื ื‘ื•ืื• ื•ืจื™ื‘ื• ื•ื”ืชื•ื›ื—ื• ืขื ื‘ื ื™: ืขืฆื•ืžื•ืชื™ื›ื. ื˜ืขื ื•ืช ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื•ื—ื–ืงื•ืช ืฉืœื›ื ื•ืœ' ืจื™ื‘ ื”ื•ื ื–ื” ื‘ืœ' ืžืฉื ื” ืฉื ื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžืชืขืฆืžื™ืŸ ื‘ื“ื™ืŸ ื‘ืžืกื›ืช ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ:
Present your plea All the heathens ([mss. K'li Paz:] nations), come and contend and debate with My children. your strong points Heb. ืขึทืฆึผึปืžื•ึนืชึตื™ื›ึถื, Your sturdy and strong arguments. This is an expression of a dispute in Mishnaic Hebrew: "Two who were engaged in a legal dispute (ืžึดืชึฐืขึทืฆึผึฐืžึดื™ืŸ)," in Tractate Sanhedrin (31b).

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื™ึทื’ึผึดึ™ื™ืฉืื•ึผึ™ ื•ึฐื™ึทื’ึผึดึฃื™ื“ื•ึผ ืœึธึ”ื ื•ึผ ืึตึ–ืช ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืชึผึดืงึฐืจึถึ‘ื™ื ึธื” ื”ึธืจึดืืฉืึนื ึฃื•ึนืชโ€‰ื€ ืžึธึฃื” ื”ึตึ—ื ึผึธื” ื”ึทื’ึผึดึœื™ื“ื•ึผ ื•ึฐื ึธืฉื‚ึดึคื™ืžึธื” ืœึดื‘ึผึตึ™ื ื•ึผึ™ ื•ึฐื ึตื“ึฐืขึธึฃื” ืึทื—ึฒืจึดื™ืชึธึ”ืŸ ืึฅื•ึน ื”ึทื‘ึผึธืึ–ื•ึนืช ื”ึทืฉืึฐืžึดื™ืขึปึฝื ื•ึผืƒ

English:

Let them approachjapproach Taking yaggishu intransitively; cf. hiqriv in Exod. 14.10. and tell us what will happen.Tell us what has occurred,koccurred I.e., former prophecies by your gods that have been fulfilled. And we will take note of it;Or announce to us what will occur,That we may know the outcome.

The test of deity is stated: let the idols recount the former things or announce what is to come, so their claims can be verified. Radak pictures the prophet addressing the idols directly, as though they could answer for themselves โ€” a pointed setup, since he speaks for Israel, who serve God alone.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื™ื’ื™ืฉื•. ื”ืขื›ื•"ื ืืช ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื”ื ื•ืงื•ืกืžื™ื”ื: ื•ื™ื’ื™ื“ื• ืœื ื•. ืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืงืจื™ื ื” ืœืขืชื™ื“: ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื•ืช. ืฉื”ื™ื• ืงื•ื“ื ื‘ืจื™ืืช ืขื•ืœื ื•ืขืœ ืžื” ื ื‘ืจื ืžื” ื”ื ื” (ืก"ื ืžืื•ืจืขื•ืช ืฉื”ืชื—ื™ืœื• ื›ื‘ืจ ืžื” ื™ื”ื ื‘ืกื•ืคืŸ): ืื• ื”ื‘ืื•ืช. ืœืขืชื™ื“ ื™ืฉืžื™ืขื ื• ื•ื ืจืื” ืื ื™ืฉ ื‘ื”ื ืžืžืฉ ืฉื™ืชืงื™ื™ืžื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื:
Let them present Let those who deny the Torah ([mss., K'li Paz:] the nations) present their prophets and their soothsayers. and tell us what will happen in the future. the first things that were before the Creation of the world, and concerning what was created and what they are. (Other editions: The incidents that have already begun, what will be their end.) or the coming events in the future, let us hear, and we will see if there is any substance to them, that their words will come true.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื”ึทื’ึผึดึ™ื™ื“ื•ึผึ™ ื”ึธืึนืชึดื™ึผึฃื•ึนืช ืœึฐืึธื—ึ”ื•ึนืจ ื•ึฐื ึตึฃื“ึฐืขึธึ”ื” ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ–ื™ื ืึทืชึผึถึ‘ื ืึทืฃึพืชึผึตื™ื˜ึดึฃื™ื‘ื•ึผ ื•ึฐืชึธืจึตึ”ืขื•ึผ ื•ึฐื ึดืฉืึฐืชึผึธึ–ืขึธื” (ื•ื ืจื) [ื•ึฐื ึดืจึฐืึถึฅื”] ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึฝื•ืƒ

English:

Foretell what is yet to happen,That we may know that you are gods!Do anything, good or bad,That we may be awed and see.lsee Change of vocalization yields โ€œfearโ€; cf. v. 10.

The challenge sharpens: foretell what is yet to come 'that we may know that you are gods' โ€” or do anything at all, good or bad, to prove some power. Metzudat David observes that the entire invitation is spoken in mockery and derision (ื“ืจืš ืœืขื’ ื•ื”ืชื•ืœ).
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื’ื™ื“ื• ื”ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืœืื—ื•ืจ. ื”ืžื•ืคืชื™ื ื”ื‘ืื™ื ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื”: ื•ื ืฉืชืขื”. ื•ื ืกืคืจ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”' ื•ื™ืกืคืจ ืžืชืจื’ืžื™ื ืŸ ื•ืื™ืฉืชืขื™:
Tell the signs coming later Heb. ื”ึธืื•ึนืชึดื™ื•ึนืช ืœึฐืึธื—ื•ึนืจ, the wonders coming at the end. let us talk Heb. ื•ึฐื ึดืฉืึฐืชึผึธืขึธื”. Let us tell your words. (Gen. 24:66) "And he told (ื•ึทื™ึผึฐืกึทืคึผึตืจ)," the Targum renders ื•ึฐืึดืฉืึฐืชึผึธืขึตื™.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื“ ยท Verse 24

Hebrew:

ื”ึตืŸึพืึทืชึผึถึฃื ืžึตืึทึ”ื™ึดืŸ ื•ึผืคื‡ืขื‡ืœึฐื›ึถึ–ื ืžึตืึธึ‘ืคึทืข ืชึผื•ึนืขึตื‘ึธึ–ื” ื™ึดื‘ึฐื—ึทึฅืจ ื‘ึผึธื›ึถึฝืืƒย {ืค}

English:

Why, you are less than nothing,Your effect is less than nullity;One who chooses you is an abomination.

The verdict on the idols: you are less than nothing, your work less than nullity. Rashi renders the sting of the last clause โ€” it is the abominable who choose you, not the Holy One or His servants โ€” while Radak reads me'afa as me'efes, sheer nothingness, the letters samekh and ayin interchanging.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืŸ ืืชื ืžืื™ืŸ. ื•ื“ื‘ืจื™ื›ื ืื™ืš ื™ืชืงื™ื™ืžื•: ื•ืคืขืœื›ื ืžืืคืข. ืื™ื ื›ื ืืœื ืคื•ืขื™ื ื•ืžืจื™ืžื™ื ืงื•ืœ ืœื”ื˜ืขื•' ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื›ื–ื‘: ืชื•ืขื‘ื”. ื”ื ืชืขื‘ื™ื ื”ื ื™ื‘ื—ืจื• ื‘ื›ื ื•ืœื ื”ืงื‘"ื” ื•ืœื ืขื‘ื“ื™ื• ื•ืœื ืžืฉืจืชื™ื•:
Behold you are of naught and how will your words be fulfilled. and your deed is one of shouting Heb. ืžึตืึธืคึทืข. You shout and raise your voice only to mislead the people with lies. the abominable one Heb. ืชึผื•ึนืขึตื‘ึธื” [lit. an abomination.] The abominable ones select you, and not the Holy One, blessed be He, or His servants or His ministers.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื” ยท Verse 25

Hebrew:

ื”ึทืขึดื™ืจึคื•ึนืชึดื™ ืžึดืฆึผึธืคื•ึนืŸึ™ ื•ึทื™ึผึทึ”ืืช ืžึดืžึผึดื–ึฐืจึทื—ึพืฉืึถึ–ืžึถืฉื ื™ึดืงึฐืจึธึฃื ื‘ึดืฉืึฐืžึดึ‘ื™ ื•ึฐื™ึธื‘ึนึคื ืกึฐื’ึธื ึดื™ืึ™ ื›ึผึฐืžื•ึนึพื—ึนึ”ืžึถืจ ื•ึผื›ึฐืžึฅื•ึน ื™ื•ึนืฆึตึ–ืจ ื™ึดืจึฐืžื‡ืกึพื˜ึดึฝื™ื˜ืƒ

English:

I have roused him from the north, and he has come,From the sunrise, one who invokes My name;And he has trampled rulers like mud,Like a potter treading clay.

God now proves His claim by announcing the future: 'I have roused one from the north... from the sunrise, one who invokes My name.' Rashi identifies him as Cyrus, who would trample Babylon's rulers like a potter treading clay and proclaim God's name in his edict; Radak records his father's view โ€” which he endorses โ€” that the passage looks further ahead, to the final redeemer.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืขื™ืจื•ืชื™ ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืืช. ืื ื™ ืžื’ื™ื“ ื”ืขืชื™ื“ื•ืช ื”ื ื ื™ ืžืขื™ืจ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื—ืจื‘ื•ืช ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื ืืช ื›ื•ืจืฉ ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืืช ืืช ื‘ื‘ืœ ืœื”ื—ืจื™ื‘ื”: ืžืžื–ืจื— ืฉืžืฉ, ื™ืงืจื ื‘ืฉืžื™. ื›ืœ ืžืžืœื›ื•ืช ื”ืืจืฅ ื ืชืŸ ืœื™ ื”' ืืœื”ื™ ื”ืฉืžื™ื (ืขื–ืจื ืืณ:ื‘ืณ) ื•ื ืจืื” ืฉืืจืฅ ืคืจืก ื‘ืžื–ืจื—ื™ืช ืฆืคื•ื ื™ืช ื”ื™ื ืœืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื“"ื ื”ืขื™ืจื•ืชื™ ืžืฆืคื•ืŸ ืืช ื ื‘ื•ื›ื“ื ืฆืจ ืœื”ื—ืจื™ื‘ ืืช ืขื™ืจื™ ื•ื™ืืช, ื•ื›ื•ืจืฉ ื”ืขื™ืจื•ืชื™ ืžืžื–ืจื— ืฉื™ืงืจื ื‘ืฉืžื™ ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ืืช ืขื™ืจื™ ืฉืžืœื›ื•ืช ืคืจืก ืžืžื–ืจื— ืืจืฅ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ื™ื ืฉื ื' ืจืื™ืชื™ ืืช ื”ืื™ืœ ื•ื’ื•' ื•ื™"ืช ืื™ื™ืชื™ืชื™ ื‘ื’ืœืื™ ืžืœืš ื“ืชืงื•ืฃ ืžืจื•ื— ืฆืคื•ื ื ื•ื™ื™ืชื™ ื›ืžืคืง ืฉืžืฉื ื‘ื’ื‘ื•ืจืชื™ื” ืžืžื“ื™ื ืชื ืื’ื‘ืจื™ื ื™' ื‘ืฉืžื™: ื•ื™ื‘ื ืกื’ื ื™ื. ื•ื™ื‘ื ืขืœ ืžืœืš ื‘ื‘ืœ ื•ืขืœ ืฉืจื™ื• ื›ืืฉืจ ื‘ื ืœืจืžื•ืก ืขืœ ื—ื•ืžืจ ื•ื›ืžื• ื™ื•ืฆืจ ื—ืจืฉื™ื ื™ืจืžื•ืก ื˜ื™ื˜ ืœื›ืœื™ ื—ืจืก ื›ืŸ ื™ืจืžื•ืก ื”ื•ื ืกื’ื ื™ื:
I have aroused from the north and he came I tell the future events. Behold I arouse Cyrus from the north to build the ruins of Jerusalem, and he came upon Babylon to destroy it. from the rising of the sun he shall call in My name (Ezra 1:2) "All the kingdoms of the earth has the Lord God of the heavens given me." And it appears that Persia is northeast of Eretz Israel. Another explanation is: I aroused Nebuchadnezzar from the north to destroy My city, and he came, and I aroused Cyrus from the east, that he call in My name to build My city, for the kingdom of Persia is east of Eretz Israel, as it is stated (Dan. 8:4): "I saw the ram butting etc." [This verse in Daniel proves it. "I saw the ram butting to the west and to the north and to the south." We deduce that he came from the east.] Jonathan paraphrases: I brought speedily a king, strong as the north wind, and he will come as the sun comes out with its might from the east; I will strengthen him with My name. and he shall come [upon] princes And he shall come upon the king of Babylon and upon his princes as he would come to trample upon mire, and as a potter tramples clay for earthenware vessels, so will he trample the princes.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื• ยท Verse 26

Hebrew:

ืžึดึฝื™ึพื”ึดื’ึผึดึคื™ื“ ืžึตืจึนืืฉืึ™ ื•ึฐื ึตื“ึธึ”ืขึธื” ื•ึผืžึดืœึผึฐืคึธื ึด๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝื™ื ื•ึฐื ึนืืžึทึฃืจ ืฆึทื“ึผึดึ‘ื™ืง ืึทึฃืฃ ืึตื™ืŸึพืžึทื’ึผึดึ—ื™ื“ ืึทึšืฃ ืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืžึทืฉืึฐืžึดึ”ื™ืขึท ืึทึฅืฃ ืึตื™ืŸึพืฉืึนืžึตึ–ืขึท ืึดืžึฐืจึตื™ื›ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

Who foretold this from the start, that we may note it;From aforetime, that we might say, โ€œYou aremYou are Heb. โ€œHe is.โ€ rightโ€?Not one foretold, not one announced;No one has heard your utterance!

None of the idols foretold any of this: no one announced it, no one heard a word from them. Rashi spells out the courtroom logic โ€” had a pagan prophet predicted the future, witnesses could testify when it came true and declare him right; but no such witness exists.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื™. ืžื ื‘ื™ืื™ ื”ื‘ืขืœ ื”ื’ื™ื“ ื›ืžื•ื ื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืขืชื™ื“ ืœื‘ื•ื, ื•ืžื™ ืžืœืคื ื™ื ื”ื’ื™ื“ื” ื•ืœื›ืฉืชื‘ื ื ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื™ื ืฆื“ื™ืง ืฉื ื‘ื•ืืชื• ืฆื“ืง: ืืฃ ืื™ืŸ ืžื’ื™ื“. ืื‘ืœ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื›ื ืฉื™ื’ื™ื“ ืขืชื™ื“ื•ืช ื•ืชืชืงื™ื™ื: ืืฃ ืื™ืŸ ืฉื•ืžืข ืืžืจื™ื›ื. ืฉื™ืขื™ื“ ื‘ื‘ื ืขืชื™ื“ื” ืคืœื•ื ื™ ื ื‘ื™ื ื”ื‘ืขืœ ื ื‘ื ืื•ืชื” ืžืœืคื ื™ื:
Who of the prophets of Baal told, like me, a thing destined to come, and who told it from before, that when it comes we will say that he is just, that his prophecy is just? Not one told But there is none among you who will foretell the future and that it will come true. not one hears your statements Who will testify when the future comes, that so and so the prophet of the Baal prophesied this from before.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื– ยท Verse 27

Hebrew:

ืจึดืืฉืึฅื•ึนืŸ ืœึฐืฆึดื™ึผึ–ื•ึนืŸ ื”ึดื ึผึตึฃื” ื”ึดื ึผึธึ‘ื ื•ึฐืœึดื™ืจื•ึผืฉืึธืœึทึ–อึดื ืžึฐื‘ึทืฉื‚ึผึตึฅืจ ืึถืชึผึตึฝืŸืƒ

English:

The things once predicted to Zionโ€”Behold, here they are!nThe things โ€ฆ here they are Meaning of Heb. uncertain. And again I send a herald to Jerusalem.

Against the idols' silence, God was 'first to Zion.' Rashi reads this of Cyrus, the first king to stir himself for Zion and begin the return, with Haggai and Zechariah as the promised heralds to Jerusalem; Radak hears the first returnee from the exile announcing to Zion, 'behold, here are your children.'
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืœืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื ื” ื”ื ื. ืžืœืš ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืชืŸ ืœื‘ ืœืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื ื” ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืฉืืžืจืชื™ ื•ืืข"ืค ืฉืœื ืชื’ืžืจ ื”ื’ืื•ืœื” ืขืœ ื™ื“ื• ื”ื•ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžืชื—ื™ืœ ืžื™ ื‘ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืขืžื• (ืขื–ืจื ืืณ:ื’ืณ): ื”ื ื. ื–ืงื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื™ื”ื™ื• ื ื›ื•ื ื™ื ืขืœ ืคื™ ื“ื‘ืจื• ืœืขืœื•ืช ืžืŸ ื”ื’ื•ืœื” ื•ืœื”ืชื—ื™ืœ: ื•ืœื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ืžื‘ืฉืจ ืืชืŸ. ื‘ืื•ืชืŸ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื—ื’ื™ ื–ื›ืจื™ื” ืืฉืจ ื™ื–ืจื–ื•ื ืœื‘ื ื•ืช ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื“ืจื™ื•ืฉ ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ืœืคืจืก:
The first to Zion, behold, behold them The first king who will give heart to Zion, behold he is the one I mentio ned, and even though the redemption will not be completed through him, he will be the one to initiate it. (Ezra 1:3) "Whoever of you from all His people..." behold them The elders of Israel will be ready, according to his statement, to go up from the exile and to begin. and for Jerusalem I will give a herald in those days, [viz.] Haggai and Zechariah, who will encourage them to build it in the days of Darius III of Persia.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื— ยท Verse 28

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืึตึ™ืจึถืึ™ ื•ึฐืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืึดึ”ื™ืฉื ื•ึผืžึตืึตึ–ืœึผึถื” ื•ึฐืึตึฃื™ืŸ ื™ื•ึนืขึตึ‘ืฅ ื•ึฐืึถืฉืึฐืึธืœึตึ–ื ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉืึดึฅื™ื‘ื•ึผ ื“ึธื‘ึธึฝืจืƒ

English:

But I look and there is no one;othere is no one Participating in the proposed legal contest; see v. 21. Not one of them can predictOr can respond when I question them.

God surveys the whole field and finds no one โ€” not a single counselor among the idols, none who can answer when questioned. Metzudat David notes that the single word ein (there is none) does double duty in the verse, negating both the asking and the answering.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืืจื ื•ืื™ืŸ ืื™ืฉ. ืชืžื™ื“ ืื ื™ ืžื‘ื™ื˜ ื‘ื ื‘ื™ืื™ ื”ื‘ืขืœ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืื™ืฉ ืžื’ื™ื“ ื“ื‘ืจ ืขืชื™ื“: ื•ืžืืœื”. ืžื›ืœ ืืœื” ื”ืขืชื™ื“ื•ืช ืœื‘ื ื•ืื™ืŸ ืžื”ื ื™ื•ืขืฅ ืฉืขืžื“ ื‘ืกื•ืฃ ื”' ื•ื™ื“ืข ืื•ืชื: ื•ืืฉืืœื ื•ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื• ื“ื‘ืจ. ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉื™ื‘ื• ื“ื‘ืจ ืื ืืฉืืœื:
And I look and there is no man [lit. and I will see, in the future tense.] I always look at the prophets of Baal, and there is no man who tells of a future event. and of these of all these destined to come, and none of them is a counselor who stood in God's counsel and will know them. and I ask them that they reply with a word That they should reply with a word if I should ask them.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื˜ ยท Verse 29

Hebrew:

ื”ึตึฃืŸ ื›ึผึปืœึผึธึ”ื ืึธึฅื•ึถืŸ ืึถึ–ืคึถืก ืžึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึตื™ื”ึถึ‘ื ืจึฅื•ึผื—ึท ื•ึธืชึนึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื ึดืกึฐื›ึผึตื™ื”ึถึฝืืƒย {ืค}

English:

See, they are all nothingness,Their works are nullity,Their statues are naught and nil.

The trial ends in a verdict: they are all delusion (ืื•ืŸ), their works nothing, their molten images 'wind and chaos' (ืจื•ื— ื•ืชื”ื•). Rashi closes by showing that the chapter's language matches Isaiah's explicit prophecies about Cyrus later in the book โ€” the case is proven, and the stage is set for the true servant of chapter 42.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืŸ ื›ื•ืœื ืื•ืŸ. ื™ืฉ ืœื›ื ืœื“ืขืช ืฉื›ืœ ื ื‘ื™ืื™ ืžื›ื—ื™ืฉื™ ืชื•ืจื” ืื•ืŸ ื•ืืคืก ื›ืœ ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื ื ืกื›ื™ื”ื. ื“ืžื•ืช ืžืกื›ื•ืชื. ื›ืžื• ื”ืคืกืœ ื ืกืš ื—ืจืฉ ื•ื™"ืช ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื—ืจ. ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืœืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื’ื•'. ืคืชื’ืžื™ ื ื—ืžืชื ื“ืืชื ื‘ื™ืื• ื ื‘ื™ื™ื ืžืœืงื“ืžื™ืŸ ืขืœ ืฆื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื ืืชื• ื•ืœืคื™ ื”ืชืจื’ื•ื ื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื™ื™ืŸ ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืžืžืœืš ื”ืžืฉื™ื— ื•ื‘ื’ืื•ืœื” ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ืื‘ืœ ืื ื™ ืจื•ืื” ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืฉื ืชื ื‘ื ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ืขืœ ื›ื•ืจืฉ ื›ื•ืœื ื‘ืœ' ื”ืกื™ื’ื ื•ืŸ ืฉืœ ืคืจืฉื” ื–ื• ืื ื™ ื”' ื”ืขื™ืจื•ืชื™ื”ื• ื‘ืฆื“ืง ืงื•ืจื ืžืžื–ืจื— ืขื™ื˜ ื”ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืฉืืœื•ื ื™ ืžื’ื™ื“ ืžืจืืฉื™ืช ืื—ืจื™ืช ื›ื•ืœื” ื ื•ื˜ื” ืื—ืจ ืขื ื™ืŸ ืคืจืฉื” ื–ื•:
Behold them all,...naught You should know that, as for the prophets of those who deny the Torah ([mss.:] pagan prophets;) ([other mss.:] prophets of Baal), all their deeds are naught and of no substance. their molten images Heb. ื ึดืกึฐื›ึผึตื™ื”ึถื. Comp. (supra 40:19) "The graven image the craftsman melted (ื ึธืกึทืšึฐ)." Jonathan renders this section differently: [27] The first one to Zion etc. The words of consolation that the prophets prophesied concerning Zion, from before, behold they have come. And according to the Targum, the entire section speaks of the King Messiah and of the last redemption, but I see that the prophecy that Isaiah prophesied concerning Cyrus is all in the same language as this section. Comp. (infra 45:13) "I aroused him with righteousness"; (Infra 46:11) "Calling from the east a bird of prey"; (infra 45:11) "The signs ask Me;" (infra 46:10) "Who tells from the beginning the end." All of this resembles the topic of this section.

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