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Nach YomiIsaiah ยท ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื•Chapter 45

Isaiah 45

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ืžืดื”

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืื—ืจื•ื ื™ื | Book: Isaiah | Chapter: 45 of 66 | Day: 192 of 742

Date: August 22, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Isaiah 45 opens with one of the most arresting gestures in all of prophetic literature: God addresses a foreign, pagan king by name and calls him โ€œHis anointedโ€ (ืœืžืฉื™ื—ื• ืœื›ื•ืจืฉ). Koresh (Cyrus), founder of the Persian empire, is grasped by the right hand, nations are flattened before him, the loins of kings are ungirded, and the bronze doors of Babylon swing open at his approach (verses 1-2). Rashi softens the shock of the title by noting that every appointment to greatness is called โ€œanointing,โ€ citing Bamidbar 18:8, while also recording the Sagesโ€™ reading in Megillah 12a that frames the verse as a divine complaint to the Mashiach about Cyrus. Radak similarly explains that meshichi here means โ€œMy appointed oneโ€ โ€” just as God earlier called him โ€œMy shepherdโ€ (44:28), the anointing language denotes commission, not sanctity. The theological point is deliberate: the God of a small exiled people claims the greatest political actor of the age as His unwitting instrument, โ€œthough you have not known Meโ€ (ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื ื™), repeated in verses 4 and 5. Rashi on verse 3 sharpens the miracle of prediction โ€” โ€œyou are not yet born, and I call you by the name Cyrusโ€ โ€” for the prophecy names the liberator generations before his birth.

The chapter is structured around a drumbeat refrain: โ€œI am the LORD and there is none elseโ€ (ืื ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขื•ื“), sounding in verses 5, 6, 18, 21, and 22, with echoes in 14 and 21. This is the most concentrated statement of absolute monotheism in Tanakh โ€” not merely that Israel must worship one God, but that no other divine power exists at all, anywhere, for anyone. The Cyrus commission (verses 1-8) exists precisely โ€œso that they may know, from east to west, that there is none but Meโ€ (verse 6); Radak observes that east and west are chosen because they span the whole inhabited world. Verses 4 and 13 supply the hidden purpose beneath Persian imperial history: โ€œfor the sake of My servant Jacob,โ€ Cyrus will rebuild Godโ€™s city and release His exiles โ€œwithout price and without payment.โ€ Rashi characteristically adds a critical note โ€” Cyrus fell short of his calling, granting permission to ascend but shrugging the burden of rebuilding off his own neck.

Verse 7 carries the chapterโ€™s boldest theological claim: โ€œI form light and create darkness, I make peace and create evilโ€ (ื™ื•ืฆืจ ืื•ืจ ื•ื‘ื•ืจื ื—ื•ืฉืš ืขื•ืฉื” ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื‘ื•ืจื ืจืข). Rashi reads the pairs historically โ€” light and peace for the righteous and for Israel, darkness and evil for Babylon โ€” while Radak preserves a philosophical tradition, citing Rav Saadia Gaon that the verse is aimed at those who believe in two deities, one good and one evil: against every dualism, a single God stands behind the whole of reality. Chazal adapted this verse into the opening blessing of Birkhot Keriat Shema recited every morning, substituting โ€œand creates allโ€ (ื•ื‘ื•ืจื ืืช ื”ื›ืœ) for โ€œand creates evilโ€ as a reverent euphemism โ€” so that this daily liturgical affirmation of Godโ€™s sovereignty over light and darkness descends directly from Isaiahโ€™s polemic. Verse 8, the lyrical โ€œPour down, O skies, from aboveโ€ (ื”ืจืขื™ืคื• ืฉืžื™ื ืžืžืขืœ), turns the doctrine into prayer; Radak notes that Targum Yonatan applies it to the resurrection of the dead.

Verses 9-13 answer an unspoken objection โ€” how can God use a pagan king, and who are we to question His methods? โ€” with the famous image of the clay challenging the potter: โ€œShall the clay say to its maker, โ€˜What are you doing?โ€™โ€ Rashi reads the rebuke as aimed at the prophet Chavakuk, destined to protest the length of Nevuchadnetzarโ€™s success, while Metzudat David and Radak apply it to Belshatzarโ€™s arrogance with the Temple vessels; either way, the creature has no standing to audit the Creator, who made earth, humanity, and the outstretched heavens (verse 12). Verses 14-17 then stage the nationsโ€™ own confession: the wealth of Egypt, Kush, and Seva passes to Jerusalem โ€” Rashi, following Seder Olam, locates this in Sancherivโ€™s downfall in Chizkiyahuโ€™s days โ€” and the nations acknowledge, โ€œOnly among you is God.โ€ Their cry โ€œIndeed, You are a God who hides Himselfโ€ (ืื›ืŸ ืืชื” ืืœ ืžืกืชืชืจ, verse 15) draws from Rashi the Mechiltaโ€™s profound reading: God conceals His saving power while judgment runs its course, and when His mercy stirs He is revealed as โ€œthe God of Israel, the Savior.โ€ Idol makers depart in disgrace (verse 16), but Israel is saved โ€œwith an everlasting salvationโ€ (ืชืฉื•ืขืช ืขื•ืœืžื™ื, verse 17).

The final movement (verses 18-25) widens to the whole earth. God did not create the world to be waste but โ€œformed it for habitationโ€ (ืœื ืชื”ื• ื‘ืจืื” ืœืฉื‘ืช ื™ืฆืจื”) โ€” a verse Chazal made foundational to the value of settlement and family life โ€” and He did not speak in secret: Radak refers this to the public thunder of Sinai, which no hidden oracle could counterfeit. The surviving remnant of the nations is summoned to court and shown that only God announced these events in advance (verses 20-21), and then, astonishingly, invited rather than condemned: โ€œTurn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earthโ€ (verse 22). The chapter closes with an irrevocable oath โ€” โ€œTo Me every knee shall bend, every tongue shall swearโ€ (verse 23) โ€” which Rashi and Radak both connect to Tzefaniah 3:9, when all peoples will call upon the Name of the LORD, and which the liturgy enshrined in the closing lines of Aleinu. Within the consolation section of chapters 40-66, this chapter is the hinge where comfort for Israel becomes a claim upon all humanity: Israelโ€™s redemption through Cyrus is the demonstration, before the watching world, that โ€œin the LORD all the seed of Israel shall be vindicated and shall gloryโ€ (verse 25).

ืคืจืง ืžืดื” ยท Chapter 45

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึนื”ึพืึธืžึทึฃืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึฎ ืœึดืžึฐืฉืึดื™ื—ื•ึนึฎ ืœึฐื›ึฃื•ึนืจึถืฉื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื”ึถื—ึฑื–ึทึฃืงึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึดื™ืžึดื™ื ึ—ื•ึน ืœึฐืจึทื“ึพืœึฐืคึธื ึธื™ื•ึ™ ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึ”ื ื•ึผืžื‡ืชึฐื ึตึฅื™ ืžึฐืœึธื›ึดึ–ื™ื ืึฒืคึทืชึผึตึ‘ื—ึท ืœึดืคึฐืชึผึนึคื—ึท ืœึฐืคึธื ึธื™ื•ึ™ ื“ึผึฐืœึธืชึทึ”ื™ึดื ื•ึผืฉืึฐืขึธืจึดึ–ื™ื ืœึนึฅื ื™ึดืกึผึธื’ึตึฝืจื•ึผืƒ

English:

Thus said GOD to Cyrus, the anointed oneโ€”HavingaHaving Heb. โ€œI have.โ€ grasped his right hand,bgrasped hisโ€ฆhand Cf. note at 8.11. Treading down nations before him,Ungirding the loins of kings,cUngirding the loins of kings I.e., I made them helpless; one who wished to move freely belted his garment around the waist; cf. โ€œengird,โ€ v. 5. Opening doors before himAnd letting no gate stay shut:

God addresses Koresh (Cyrus) as 'His anointed,' promising to subdue nations before him and keep Babylon's gates open. Rashi explains that every title of greatness is called anointing, and records the Sages' teaching in Megillah 12a that reads the verse as God's dialogue with the King Messiah; Radak adds that God appointed Cyrus specifically to destroy Babylon.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœืžืฉื™ื—ื•. ื›ืœ ืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืงืจื•ื™ื” ืžืฉื™ื—ื” ื›ืžื• ืœืš ื ืชืชื™ื” ืœืžืฉื—ื” (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ืดื—:ื—ืณ) ื•ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ืืžืจื• ืœืžืœืš ื”ืžืฉื™ื— ืื•ืžืจ ื”ืงื‘"ื” ืงื•ื‘ืœ ืื ื™ ืœืš ืขืœ ื›ื•ืจืฉ ื›ื“ืื™ืชื ื‘ืžืกื›ืช ืžื’ื™ืœื”: ืœืจื“ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื’ื•ื™ื. ืœื”ืจืงื™ืข ื•ืœืจื“ื“ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื’ื•ื™ื, ืœืจื“ ืœืฉื˜ื•ื—: ื•ืžืชื ื™ ืžืœื›ื™ื ืืคืชื—. ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื—ืœืฉื•ืช ื”ื•ื ื–ื” ื•ืฉื‘ืจ ื›ื— ื›ื™ ื—ื’ื•ืจืช ืžืชื ื™ื ื”ื•ื ื–ื™ืจื•ื– ื›ื— ื›ืžื• ืื–ืจ ื ื ื›ื’ื‘ืจ ื—ืœืฆื™ืš (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืžืณ:ื–ืณ) ื•ืืชื” ืชืื–ืจ ืžืชื ื™ืš (ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ืืณ:ื™ืดื–) ื•ืžื–ื™ื— ืืคื™ืงื™ื ืจื™ืคื” (ืื™ื•ื‘ ื™ืดื‘:ื›ืดื) ืœ' ืฉื‘ืจื•ืŸ ื›ื—: ืœืคืชื•ื— ืœืคื ื™ื•. ื“ืœืชื™ ืฉืขืจื™ ื‘ื‘ืœ, ืฉืขืจื™ื ื”ื•ื ื—ืœืœ ืคืชื— ื”ืฉืขืจ, ื“ืœืชื™ื ื”ื ื”ืคื•ืชื—ื™ื ื•ื ื•ืขืœื™ืŸ ื‘ื”ืŸ ืืช ื”ืฉืขืจ:
to His anointed one Every title of greatness is called anointing. Comp. (Num. 18:8) "To you I have given them for greatness (ืœึฐืžึธืฉืึฐื—ึธื”)." Our Sages, however, said: To the King Messiah, the Holy One, blessed be He, says, "I complain to you about Cyrus," as it is stated in Tractate Megillah 12a. to flatten nations before him Heb. ืœึฐืจึทื“, to spread out and to flatten nations before him. ืœึฐืจึทื“ is equivalent to ืœึฐืจึทื“ึผึตื“, to spread out. and the loins of kings I will loosen This is an expression of weakness and breaking strength, for girding the loins constitutes arming with strength. Comp. (Job 38:3) "Gird up your loins like a mighty man"; (Jer. 1:17) "And you gird up your loins"; (Job 12:21) "And the belt of the mighty He loosens"; an expression of breaking strength. to open...before him the portals of the gates of Babylon. Gates are the space of the opening of the gate; portals are those with which they open and lock the gate.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ืึฒื ึดื™ึ™ ืœึฐืคึธื ึถึฃื™ืšึธ ืึตืœึตึ”ืšึฐ ื•ึทื”ึฒื“ื•ึผืจึดึ–ื™ื (ืื•ืฉืจ) [ืึฒื™ึทืฉืึผึตึ‘ืจ] ื“ึผึทืœึฐืชึคื•ึนืช ื ึฐื—ื•ึผืฉืึธื”ึ™ ืึฒืฉืึทื‘ึผึตึ”ืจ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืจึดื™ื—ึตึฅื™ ื‘ึทืจึฐื–ึถึ–ืœ ืึฒื’ึทื“ึผึตึฝืขึทืƒ

English:

I will march before youAnd level the hills that loom up;dthe hills that loom up Meaning of Heb. uncertain. I will shatter doors of bronzeAnd cut down iron bars.

God promises to march before Cyrus, level every obstacle, and shatter Babylon's bronze doors and iron bars. Rashi cites Targum Yonatan that 'hadurim' means the walls God will flatten, or alternatively the crooked paths He will straighten before the conqueror.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ื”ื“ื•ืจื™ื ืื™ืฉืจ. ืช"ื™ ื•ืฉื•ืจื™ื™ื ืื›ื‘ืฉ ื›ืžื• ื”ื“ืจ ื”ื“ืจื ื” ืขืœ ืฉื ืฉืกื•ื‘ื‘ืช ื”ื—ื•ืžื” ืืช ื”ืขื™ืจ ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ื”ื“ื•ืจื™ื ืื•ืจื—ื•ืช ืžืงืœืงืœื•ืช ืื™ื™ืฉืจ ืœืคื ื™ื•:
and I will straighten out crooked paths Heb. ื•ึทื”ึฒื“ื•ึผืจึดื™ื ืึฒื™ึทืฉึผืึตืจ. Jonathan renders: I will level the walls. Comp. (Shab. 77b) "the surrounding area (ื”ื“ืจ ื”ื“ืจื ื)," since the wall surrounds the city. The word may also be explained as: I will straighten out crooked paths before him.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื ึธืชึทืชึผึดึคื™ ืœึฐืšึธึ™ ืื•ึนืฆึฐืจึฃื•ึนืช ื—ึนึ”ืฉืึถืšึฐ ื•ึผืžึทื˜ึฐืžึปื ึตึ–ื™ ืžึดืกึฐืชึผึธืจึดึ‘ื™ื ืœึฐืžึทึฃืขึทืŸ ืชึผึตื“ึทึ—ืข ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืึฒื ึดึงื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ื”ึทืงึผื•ึนืจึตึฅื ื‘ึฐืฉืึดืžึฐืšึธึ– ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึฅื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

I will give you treasures concealed in the darkAnd secret hoardsโ€”So that you may know that it is I the ETERNAL One,The God of Israel, who call you by name.

Cyrus will receive Babylon's hidden treasures โ€” hoards buried, as Metzudat David notes, in dark and secret places โ€” so that he will recognize that the God of Israel called him by name. Rashi captures the wonder of the prophecy: 'You are not yet born, and I call you by the name Cyrus.'
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืงื•ืจื ื‘ืฉืžืš. ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ืœื ื ื•ืœื“ืช ื•ืื ื™ ืงื•ืจื ืœืš ืฉื ื›ื•ืจืฉ:
Who calls [you] by your name You are not yet born, and I call you by the name Cyrus.

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ืœึฐืžึทึ™ืขึทืŸึ™ ืขึทื‘ึฐื“ึผึดึฃื™ ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนึ”ื‘ ื•ึฐื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึฐื—ึดื™ืจึดึ‘ื™ ื•ึธืึถืงึฐืจึธึคื ืœึฐืšึธึ™ ื‘ึผึดืฉืึฐืžึถึ”ืšึธ ืึฒื›ึทื ึผึฐืšึธึ– ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ื™ึฐื“ึทืขึฐืชึผึธึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

For the sake of My servant Jacob,Israel My chosen one,I call you by name,I hail you by title, though you have not known Me.

The hidden purpose of Cyrus's career is revealed: all this is 'for the sake of My servant Yaakov' โ€” Rashi explains, so that Cyrus would release Israel from the Babylonian exile โ€” and not for Cyrus's own merit, for 'you have not known Me.' Rashi adds a critique: Cyrus was meant to rebuild God's city himself, but merely gave permission to ascend and cast the burden off his own neck.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœืžืขืŸ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื™ืขืงื‘. ืฉืชื•ืฆื™ืื”ื• ืžื’ืœื•ืช ื‘ื‘ืœ: ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขืชื ื™. ืœื ืขืฉื™ืช ืจืฆื•ื ื™ ื›ื™ ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ื”ื•ื ื™ื‘ื ื” ืขื™ืจื™ ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ืฉืขืžื“ ืืžืจ ืžื™ ื‘ื›ื ืžื›ืœ ืขืžื• ืจืฉื•ืช ื ืชืŸ ืœื”ื ืœื™ืœืš ื•ื›ืœ ื”ื˜ื•ืจื— ืคื•ืจืง ืžืขืœ ืฆื•ืืจื•:
For the sake of My servant Jacob that you take him out of Babylonian exile. yet you have not known Me You did not do My will, for I said, (infra v. 13) "He shall build My city," but he when he assumed the throne said, "Whoever among you is from all His people, may ascend." He gave them permission to go, but he cast off all the trouble from upon his neck.

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ืึฒื ึดึคื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ื•ึฐืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืขึ”ื•ึนื“ ื–ื•ึผืœึธืชึดึ–ื™ ืึตึฃื™ืŸ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ‘ื™ื ืึฒืึทื–ึผึถืจึฐืšึธึ– ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ื™ึฐื“ึทืขึฐืชึผึธึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

I am GOD and there is none else;Beside Me, there is no god.I engird you, though you have not known Me,

The chapter's great refrain sounds: 'I am the LORD and there is none else; beside Me there is no god.' Radak explains 'I engird you' โ€” God girded Cyrus with strength through prophecies spoken by His servants long before Cyrus ever knew Him.

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ืœึฐืžึทึฃืขึทืŸ ื™ึตื“ึฐืขึ—ื•ึผ ืžึดืžึผึดื–ึฐืจึทื—ึพืฉืึถึ™ืžึถืฉืึ™ ื•ึผืžึดืžึผึทึฃืขึฒืจึธื‘ึธึ”ื”ึฟ ื›ึผึดื™ึพืึถึ–ืคึถืก ื‘ึผึดืœึฐืขึธื“ึธึ‘ื™ ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ื•ึฐืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืขึฝื•ึนื“ืƒ

English:

So that they may know, from east to west,That there is none but Me.I am GOD and there is none else,

Cyrus's divinely foretold victories are designed as a lesson for the whole world: from sunrise to sunset all will know that nothing exists apart from God. Radak notes that east and west are singled out because they span the complete inhabited world.

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื™ื•ึนืฆึตึฅืจ ืื•ึนืจึ™ ื•ึผื‘ื•ึนืจึตึฃื ื—ึนึ”ืฉืึถืšึฐ ืขึนืฉื‚ึถึฅื” ืฉืึธืœึ–ื•ึนื ื•ึผื‘ึฃื•ึนืจึตื ืจึธึ‘ืข ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืขึนืฉื‚ึถึฅื” ื›ื‡ืœึพืึตึฝืœึผึถื”ืƒย {ืค}

English:

I form light and create darkness,I make weal and create woeโ€”I GOD do all these things.

The theological summit of the chapter: God forms light and creates darkness, makes peace and creates evil โ€” one God stands behind all of reality. Rashi reads light and peace as destined for the righteous and darkness and evil for Babylon, while Radak cites Rav Saadia Gaon that the verse refutes those who believe in two powers, one good and one evil. Chazal adapted this verse into the daily morning liturgy of Birkhot Keriat Shema.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื™ื•ืฆืจ ืื•ืจ. ืœืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื: ื•ื‘ื•ืจื ื—ื•ืฉืš. ืœื‘ื‘ืœ ื•ื›ืŸ ืขื•ืฉื” ืฉืœื•ื ื•ื‘ื•ืจื ืจืข:
Who forms light for the righteous. and creates darkness for Babylon, and the same applies to "Who makes peace and creates evil."

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื”ึทืจึฐืขึดึคื™ืคื•ึผ ืฉืึธืžึทึ™ื™ึดืึ™ ืžึดืžึผึทึ”ืขึทืœ ื•ึผืฉืึฐื—ึธืงึดึ–ื™ื ื™ึดื–ึผึฐืœื•ึผึพืฆึถึ‘ื“ึถืง ืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทื—ึพืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ื•ึฐื™ึดืคึฐืจื•ึผึพื™ึถึ—ืฉืึทืข ื•ึผืฆึฐื“ึธืงึธึคื” ืชึทืฆึฐืžึดึ™ื™ื—ึทึ™ ื™ึทึ”ื—ึทื“ ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ื‘ึผึฐืจึธืืชึดึฝื™ื•ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Pour down, O skies, from above!Let the heavens rain down victory!Let the earth open up and triumph sprout,Yes, let vindication spring up:I GOD have created it.

The prophet erupts into lyric: let the heavens rain down righteousness and the earth open so that salvation and vindication sprout together. Rashi explains that the righteousness drips from God Himself to benefit Israel, and Radak notes that Targum Yonatan applies the verse to the resurrection of the dead.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืจืขื™ืคื• ืฉืžื™ื ื•ื’ื•'. ืฆื“ืง ื”ืืžื•ืจ ื‘ืžืงืจื ืžื•ืกื‘ ืขืœ ื”ื ื–ืœ ื•ืขืœ ื”ืจืขื™ืคื” ื”ืจืขื™ืคื• ืฉืžื™ื ืฆื“ืง ื•ืฉื—ืงื™ื ื™ื–ืœื• ืฆื“ืง ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืžืืชื™ ื™ื‘ื ื”ืฆื“ืง ืœื”ื™ื˜ื™ื‘ ืœื”ื ืžืŸ ื”ืฉืžื™ื: ื‘ืจืืชื™ื•. ื‘ืจืืชื™ ืืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ื–ื”:
Cause the heavens to drip Righteousness, mentioned in the verse, is the object of the dripping and the pouring. Make the heavens drip righteousness and the skies shall pour righteousness, i.e., from Me shall come the righteousness to benefit them from the heavens. created it I created this thing.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ื”ึ—ื•ึนื™ ืจึธึšื‘ ืึถืชึพื™ึนึฃืฆึฐืจึ”ื•ึน ื—ึถึ–ืจึถืฉื‚ ืึถืชึพื—ึทืจึฐืฉื‚ึตึฃื™ ืึฒื“ึธืžึธึ‘ื” ื”ึฒื™ึนืืžึทึจืจ ื—ึนึคืžึถืจ ืœึฐื™ึนึฝืฆึฐืจื•ึนึ™ ืžึทึฝื”ึพืชึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึ”ื” ื•ึผืคื‡ืขื‡ืœึฐืšึธึ– ืึตื™ืŸึพื™ึธื“ึทึฅื™ึดื ืœึฝื•ึนืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Shame on anyone who argues with their Maker,Though naught but a potsherd of earth!Shall the clay say to the potter, โ€œWhat are you doing?Your work has no handlesโ€?eYour work has no handles Emendation yields โ€œTo its maker, โ€˜You have no handsโ€™?โ€

Woe to the one who contends with his Maker โ€” shall the clay ask the potter, 'What are you doing?' Rashi reads this as a rebuke of Chavakuk, who would one day protest the length of Nevuchadnetzar's success, while Metzudat David and Radak apply it to Belshatzar, who exalted himself against God and was shattered like a potter's vessel in a single night.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื•ื™ ืจื‘ ืืช ื™ืฆืจื•. ื ืชื ื‘ื ื™ืฉืขื™ื” ืขืœ ื—ื‘ืงื•ืง ืฉืขืชื™ื“ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ื•ืœืงืจื•' ืชื’ืจ ืขืœ ืื•ืจืš ื”ืฆืœื—ืชื• ืฉืœ ื ื‘ื•ื›ื“ื ืฆืจ ืขื“ ืื ื” ื”' ืฉื•ืขืชื™ ื•ื’ื•' ื•ืชืขืฉื” ืื“ื ื›ื“ื’ื™ ื”ื™ื (ื—ื‘ืงื•ืง ืืณ:ื‘ืณ) ื•ื”ืงื‘"ื” ืืžืจ ืœื™ืฉืขื™ื” ืœืžื” ื–ื” ื‘ื ืœืจื™ื‘ ืืชื™ ืกื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื•ื ืฉืื™ื ื™ ืฉื ืขืœ ืœื‘ ืœื”ื•ืฉื™ืข ืืช ืขืžื™ ืœืขืช ืžืœืืช ืืฉืจ ืชืจืฆื” ื”ืืจืฅ ืืช ืฉื‘ืชื•ืชื™ื” (ื•ื™ืงืจื ื›ืดื•:ืœืดื“): ืื™ืŸ ื™ื“ื™ื ืœื•. ืื™ืŸ ืžืงื•ื ืœื•:
Woe to him who contends with his Creator Isaiah prophesied concerning Habakkuk, who was destined to stand and complain about the length of Nebuchadnezzar's success (1:2): "How long, O Lord, have I entreated [You]?..." (v. 14) "And [why] have You made man like the fish of the sea?" And the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Isaiah, Why does this one come to contend with Me? Does he think that I do not give thought to save My people? When the time lapses, "that the land will appease its sabbaths" (Lev. 26:34). has no place [lit. has no hands,] has no place.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืณ ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื”ึ›ื•ึนื™ ืึนืžึตึฅืจ ืœึฐืึธึ–ื‘ ืžึทื”ึพืชึผื•ึนืœึดึ‘ื™ื“ ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึผืœึฐืึดืฉืึผึธึ–ื” ืžึทื”ึพืชึผึฐื—ึดื™ืœึดึฝื™ืŸืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Shame on anyone who asks a father, โ€œWhat are you begetting?โ€Or a woman, โ€œWhat are you bearing?โ€

The image shifts from potter to parent: challenging God is as absurd as asking a father 'What are you begetting?' or a mother 'What are you bearing?' Rashi explains that such a questioner imagines he pities the child more than its own father โ€” a portrait of the arrogance of contending with one's Creator.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื•ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืœืื‘ ืžื” ืชื•ืœื™ื“. ื›ืกื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื•ื ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืžืจื—ื ืขืœ ื”ื‘ืŸ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืื‘ื™ื•, ื“"ื ื”ื•ื™ ื‘ืŸ ื”ืื•ืžืจ ืœืื‘ ืœืžื” ื”ื•ืœื“ืช ื“ื•ืžื” ื”ื•ื ืœื–ื” ืฉื”ื•ื ืจื‘ ืืช ื™ื•ืฆืจื•:
Woe to him who says to a father, "What do you beget?" He thinks that he has more pity on the son than his father. Another explanation is: Woe is the son who says to his father, "Why have you begotten?" He is analogous to the one who contends with his Creator.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึนื”ึพืึธืžึทึงืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ืงึฐื“ึฅื•ึนืฉื ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื•ึฐื™ึนืฆึฐืจึ‘ื•ึน ื”ึธืึนืชึดื™ึผึฃื•ึนืช ืฉืึฐืึธืœึ”ื•ึผื ึดื™ ืขึทืœึพื‘ึผึธื ึทึ›ื™ ื•ึฐืขึทืœึพืคึผึนึฅืขึทืœ ื™ึธื“ึทึ–ื™ ืชึผึฐืฆึทื•ึผึปึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

Thus said GOD,Israelโ€™s Holy One and Maker:Will you question MefWill you question Me Heb. imperative. on the destiny of My children,Will you instruct Me about the work of My hands?

God invites inquiry about the future โ€” Rashi reads it: ask Me about the signs of heaven and earth โ€” but refuses to be commanded concerning 'My children and the work of My hands.' Radak reads the verse as a challenge to the nations: ask Me what will befall Israel, for unlike your gods I know and declare the future.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืฉืืœื•ื ื™ ื•ื’ื•'. ื”"ื ื ืงื•ื“ื” ืงืžืฅ ืœืžื“ืช ืฉืื™ื ื” ืชืžื™ื”ื” ื•ื›ืŸ ืคื™ืจืฉื• ืื ื‘ืืชื ืœืฉืื•ืœ ืœื™ ืืชื ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืฉืืœื•ื ื™ ืขืœ ืื•ืชื•ืช ืฉืžื™' ื•ืžื•ืคืชื™' ืืฉืจ ืืชื ืจื•ืื™ื ื ื•ืœื“ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ืขืœื™ื”ื ื”ื™ื• ืฉื•ืืœื™ื ืื•ืชื™ ืžื” ื”ื ืื‘ืœ ืขืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื•ืขืœ ืคื•ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื™ืฉืจื™ื ืฉื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœื ื™ืฆืจืชื™ ืืช ื”ื›ืœ ืืชื ื‘ืื™ื ืœืฆื•ื•ืชื™ ื•ืœืงืจื•ื ืœืคื ื™ ืชื’ืจ: ืชืฆื•ื ื™. ืชืžื•ื” ื”ื•ื ื•ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ื›ื ืœืฆื•ื•ืช ืขืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื ื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ื‘ืจืืชื™ ืœื”ื ื”ื™ืฉื•ืขื” ื‘ืžื—ืฉื‘ื” ืฉืขืœืชื” ืœืคื ื™ ื›ื™ืฆื“ ืื ื›ื™ ื”ืขื™ืจื•ืชื™ื”ื• ื‘ืฆื“ืง ืขืœ ื›ื•ืจืฉ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ:
Ask Me about the signs etc. Heb. ื”ึธืื•ึนืชึดื™ื•ึนืช. The 'heh' is voweled with a 'kamatz.' This indicates that it is not the interrogative, but this is its explanation: If you have come to ask Me, you and the prophets, ask Me about the signs of the heavens and the wonders that you see coming about on the earth; about them you may ask Me, what they are, but about My children and about the work of My hands, Israel, for whose sake I formed everything, shall you come to command Me and to complain before Me? do you command Me? This is the interrogative. Must you command Me concerning My children? I have already created the salvation for them in the thought that has entered My mind [lit. has come before Me]. How so? I aroused him with righteousness. This is stated regarding Cyrus.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ืึธึฝื ึนื›ึดื™ึ™ ืขึธืฉื‚ึดึฃื™ืชึดื™ ืึถึ”ืจึถืฅ ื•ึฐืึธื“ึธึ–ื ืขึธืœึถึฃื™ื”ึธ ื‘ึธืจึธึ‘ืืชึดื™ ืึฒื ึดึ—ื™ ื™ึธื“ึทื™ึ™ ื ึธื˜ึฃื•ึผ ืฉืึธืžึทึ”ื™ึดื ื•ึฐื›ื‡ืœึพืฆึฐื‘ึธืึธึ–ื ืฆึดื•ึผึตึฝื™ืชึดื™ืƒ

English:

It was I who made the earthAnd created humankind upon it;My own hands stretched out the heavens,And I marshaled all their host.

God grounds His authority in creation itself: He made the earth, created humanity upon it, and stretched out the heavens with His own hands. Radak observes that man is singled out because he is the crown of earthly creation, and that 'I commanded all their host' teaches that creation flowed from divine will alone.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืื ื›ื™ ืขืฉื™ืชื™ ืืจืฅ. ื•ื ืชืชื™ื” ืœืืฉืจ ื™ืฉืจ ื‘ืขื™ื ื™:
I made the earth and gave it to whoever pleased Me [lit. was straight in My eyes].

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ืึธึฝื ึนื›ึดื™ึ™ ื”ึทืขึดื™ืจึนืชึดึฃื”ึฝื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืฆึถึ”ื“ึถืง ื•ึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื“ึผึฐืจึธื›ึธึ–ื™ื• ืึฒื™ึทืฉืึผึตึ‘ืจ ื”ึฝื•ึผืึพื™ึดื‘ึฐื ึถึคื” ืขึดื™ืจึดื™ึ™ ื•ึฐื’ึธืœื•ึผืชึดึฃื™ ื™ึฐืฉืึทืœึผึตึ”ื—ึท ืœึนึคื ื‘ึดืžึฐื—ึดื™ืจึ™ ื•ึฐืœึนึฃื ื‘ึฐืฉืึนึ”ื—ึทื“ ืึธืžึทึ–ืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฅื” ืฆึฐื‘ึธืึฝื•ึนืชืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

It was I who roused himghim I.e., Cyrus. for victoryAnd who level all roads for him.He shall rebuild My cityAnd let My exiled people goWithout price and without paymentโ€”said GOD of Hosts.

God Himself roused Cyrus 'in righteousness': he will rebuild God's city and send out His exiles 'without price and without payment.' Radak notes that Cyrus indeed gave silver and gold for the rebuilding and proclaimed 'Whoever among you of all His people, let him go up,' recognizing that his kingship came from God.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึนึฃื”โ€‰ื€ ืึธืžึทึฃืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ—ื” ื™ึฐื’ึดึจื™ืขึท ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึฅื™ึดื ื•ึผึฝืกึฐื—ึทืจึพื›ึผื•ึผืฉืึฎ ื•ึผืกึฐื‘ึธืึดื™ืึฎ ืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึฃื™ ืžึดื“ึผึธื”ึ’ ืขึธืœึทึคื™ึดืšึฐ ื™ึทืขึฒื‘ึนึ™ืจื•ึผึ™ ื•ึฐืœึธึฃืšึฐ ื™ึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึ”ื•ึผ ืึทื—ึฒืจึทึฃื™ึดืšึฐ ื™ึตืœึตึ”ื›ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึทื–ึผึดืงึผึดึ–ื™ื ื™ึทืขึฒื‘ึนึ‘ืจื•ึผ ื•ึฐืึตืœึทึคื™ึดืšึฐ ื™ึดึฝืฉืึฐืชึผึทื—ึฒื•ื•ึผึ™ ืึตืœึทึฃื™ึดืšึฐ ื™ึดืชึฐืคึผึทืœึผึธึ”ืœื•ึผ ืึทึฃืšึฐ ื‘ึผึธึฅืšึฐ ืึตึ›ืœ ื•ึฐืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืขึ–ื•ึนื“ ืึถึฅืคึถืก ืึฑืœึนื”ึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

Thus said GOD:Egyptโ€™s wealth and Cushโ€™s gainsAnd Sabaites, long of limb,hlong of limb Emendation yields โ€œbearing tribute.โ€ For โ€œtributeโ€ cf. Ezra 4.20; 6.8; Neh. 5.4. Shall pass over to you and be yours,Pass over and follow you in fetters,Bow low to youAnd reverently address you:โ€œOnly among you is God,There is no other god at all!

A second salvation is promised: the wealth of Egypt, Kush, and Seva will pass over to Jerusalem, and their captives will bow and confess, 'Only among you is God โ€” there is no other.' Rashi, following Seder Olam, locates this in Sancheriv's downfall in Chizkiyahu's days, when the spoils of his campaign fell to Jerusalem and the freed captives acknowledged the kingdom of Heaven.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื™ื’ื™ืข ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื’ื•'. ื”ืจื™ ื”ื•ื“ืขืชื™ ืืชื›ื ื‘ืžื” ืื•ืฉื™ืข ืืช ื‘ื ื™ ืžื™ื“ ื‘ื‘ืœ ื›ื™ ื›ื•ืจืฉ ืœื›ืš ื”ืขื™ืจื•ืชื™ื”ื• ื‘ืฆื“ืงื™ ื•ืขื•ื“ ืื ื™ ืžื•ื“ื™ืขื›ื ืชืฉื•ืขืช ืกื ื—ืจื™ื‘ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืฉื•ื‘ (ืœืขื™ืœ ืœื–) ืžืขืœ ืชืจื”ืงื” ืžืœืš ื›ื•ืฉ ื™ื‘ื ืœื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ื•ื—ืžื“ืช ื›ืœ ืื•ืฆืจื•ืช ื›ื•ืฉ ื•ืžืฆืจื™ื ืฉื™ืœื›ื• ืœืขื–ื•ืจ ืืช ื›ื•ืฉ ื‘ื™ื“ื• ื•ื™ื‘ื ืขื ืื•ืชื• ื”ืฉืœืœ ื•ื™ืคื•ืœ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื ื•ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื•ืขืžื• ื™ื‘ื–ื• ืืช ื”ื›ืœ ื›ืŸ ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ื‘ืกื“ืจ ืขื•ืœื ืฉืขืœ ืกื ื—ืจื™ื‘ ื ืืžืจ: ืื ืฉื™ ืžื“ื”. ื’ื•ื‘ื”ื™ ืงื•ืžื” ืขืœื™ืš ื™ืจื•ืฉืœื™ื: ื‘ื–ืงื™ื ื™ืขื‘ื•ืจื•. ืฉื”ื‘ื™ืื ืฉื ืกื ื—ืจื™ื‘ ืฉืœื•ืœื™ื ื‘ืงื•ืœืจื™ื ื•ืœืื—ืจ ืžืคืœืชื• ืขืžื“ ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื•ืคื˜ืจ ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืฉื‘ื•ื™ื ื•ื ืชื’ื™ื™ืจื• ื•ื”ื›ื™ืจื• ืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฉืžื™ื: ืืš ื‘ืš ืืœ. ื™ื”ื• ืžื•ื“ื™ื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืืœื•ื” ืืœื ื”' ืœื‘ื“ื•:
The toil of Egypt etc. I have informed how I will save My children from the hand of Babylon, for I have aroused Cyrus for that purpose with My righteousness. I further inform you of the salvation from Sennacherib that will take place in the days of Hezekiah. When he returns (supra 36:36) from marching upon Tirhaka, king of Cush, he will return to Jerusalem with all the valuable treasures of Cush, and Egypt, who will go to aid Cush, in his possession, and he will come with those spoils and fall in Jerusalem, and Hezekiah and his people will plunder everything. So is it delineated in Seder Olam (ch. 23) that it is stated concerning Sennacherib. men of stature Tall people. over to you Jerusalem. they shall come over in chains For Sennacherib brought them there, with neck-irons fastened to them, and after his defeat, Hezekiah stood and released all those captives, who became converted to Judaism and recognized the kingdom of Heaven. Only in you is God They will acknowledge that there is no God but the Lord alone. ([Mss. and K'li Paz read:] but to Israel.)

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ืึธื›ึตึ•ืŸ ืึทืชึผึธึ–ื” ืึตึฃืœ ืžึดืกึฐืชึผึทืชึผึตึ‘ืจ ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึฅื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืžื•ึนืฉืึดึฝื™ืขึทืƒ

English:

You are indeed a God who hides in concealment,O God of Israel, who brings victory!

The confession deepens: 'Indeed, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.' Rashi cites the Mechilta โ€” God conceals His power while judgment runs its course, and when His mercy is stirred He is revealed as Savior; Radak brings Ibn Ezra's reading that God hides from the nations while showing His strength through Israel's deliverance.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืื›ืŸ ืืชื” ืืœ ืžืกืชืชืจ. ื•ื›ืŸ ื™ืืžืจื• ืœื”ืงื‘"ื” ืื›ืŸ ื”ื‘ื ืชื ื• ื›ื™ ืœื’ื‘ื•ืช ื—ื•ื‘ื•ืชื™ื”ืŸ ืฉืœ ืขืžืš ืืชื” ืžืกืชืชืจ ืžืœื”ืจืื•ืช ื ืฆื—ื•ื ืš ื›ื‘ื™ื›ื•ืœ ืื™ืŸ ื‘ืš ื™ื›ื•ืœืช ื•ื‘ื”ืชืขื•ืจืจ ืจื—ืžื™ืš ืืชื” ืืœื”ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืžื•ืฉื™ืข ื›ืš ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ื‘ืžื›ื™ืœืชื:
Indeed, You are a God Who conceals Himself And so they shall say to the Holy One, blessed be He, "Indeed, You have given us to understand (we understand [Mss. and K'li Paz]) that to collect the debts of Your people, You conceal yourself from showing Your victory. So to speak, You have not the ability, and when Your mercy is aroused, You are the God of Israel, the Savior." So it is explained in Mechilta (Ex. 14:4).

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื‘ึผึฅื•ึนืฉืื•ึผ ื•ึฐื’ึทึฝืึพื ึดื›ึฐืœึฐืžึ–ื•ึผ ื›ึผึปืœึผึธึ‘ื ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธื•ึ™ ื”ึธืœึฐื›ึฃื•ึผ ื‘ึทื›ึผึฐืœึดืžึผึธึ”ื” ื—ึธืจึธืฉืึตึ–ื™ ืฆึดื™ืจึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

Those who fabricate idolsโ€”All are shamed and disgraced;They slink away in disgrace together.

The makers of idols are shamed and disgraced together โ€” Radak notes that disgrace (kelimah) is even greater than shame โ€” for the images they crafted could not save them in their hour of need.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื—ืจืฉื™ ืฆื™ืจื™ื. ืื•ืžื ื™ ืฆื™ื•ืจื™ื ืฉืœ ืคืกื™ืœื™ื ืฉืœ ืขื›ื•"ื ื•ืžื–ืœื•ืช:
master painters Heb. ื—ึธืจึธืฉืึตื™ ืฆึดื™ืจึดื™ื, the master painters of the idols, from among the pagans.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœึ™ ื ื•ึนืฉืึทึฃืข ื‘ึผึทึฝื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืชึผึฐืฉืื•ึผืขึทึ–ืช ืขื•ึนืœึธืžึดึ‘ื™ื ืœึนืึพืชึตื‘ึนึฅืฉืื•ึผ ื•ึฐืœึนืึพืชึดื›ึผึธืœึฐืžึ–ื•ึผ ืขึทื“ึพืขึฅื•ึนืœึฐืžึตื™ ืขึทึฝื“ืƒย {ืค}

English:

But Israel has won through GOD Triumph everlasting.You shall not be shamed or disgracedIn all the ages to come!โ€

In pointed contrast to the shamed idol makers, Israel is saved by the LORD with 'an everlasting salvation' (teshuat olamim). Radak explains that Israel will never be shamed or disgraced for all the days of the world, for their deliverance endures.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ื›ึนึฃื” ืึธึฝืžึทืจึพื™ึฐึ ื”ึนื•ึธึ ื” ื‘ึผื•ึนืจึตึจื ื”ึทืฉืึผึธืžึทึœื™ึดื ื”ึฃื•ึผื ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ—ื™ื ื™ึนืฆึตึจืจ ื”ึธืึธึคืจึถืฅ ื•ึฐืขึนืฉื‚ึธื”ึผึ™ ื”ึฃื•ึผื ื›ึฝื•ึนื ึฐื ึธึ”ื”ึผ ืœึนืึพืชึนึฅื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึฐืจึธืึธึ–ื”ึผ ืœึธืฉืึถึฃื‘ึถืช ื™ึฐืฆึธืจึธึ‘ื”ึผ ืึฒื ึดึฅื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ื•ึฐืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืขึฝื•ึนื“ืƒ

English:

For thus said GOD,The Creator of heaven who alone is God,Who formed the earth and made it,Who alone established itโ€”Who did not create it a waste,But formed it for habitation:I am GOD, and there is none else.

God did not create the world to be waste (tohu) but 'formed it for habitation' โ€” Radak expands that creation is designed for settlement and increase, and depopulation comes only through human sin. The refrain seals the point: 'I am the LORD and there is none else.'
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœื ืชื•ื”ื• ื‘ืจืื”. ื›ื™ ืœืฉื‘ืช ื™ืฆืจื”:
He did not create it for a waste but He formed it to be inhabited.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ืœึนึงื ื‘ึทืกึผึตึฃืชึถืจ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึทึ—ืจึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึดืžึฐืงื•ึนืึ™ ืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ื—ึนึ”ืฉืึถืšึฐ ืœึนึฅื ืึธืžึทึ›ืจึฐืชึผึดื™ ืœึฐื–ึถึฅืจึทืข ื™ึทืขึฒืงึนึ–ื‘ ืชึผึนึฃื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึทืงึผึฐืฉืึ‘ื•ึผื ึดื™ ืึฒื ึดึคื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ ื“ึผึนื‘ึตึฃืจ ืฆึถึ”ื“ึถืง ืžึทื’ึผึดึ–ื™ื“ ืžึตื™ืฉืึธืจึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

I did not speak in secret,At a site in a land of darkness;I did not say to the stock of Jacob,โ€œSeek Me out in a wastelandโ€โ€”I GOD, who foretell reliably,Who announce what is true.

God's revelation was public, not whispered in secret in a land of darkness: Radak refers this to the open thunder of Sinai, witnessed nearby and reported throughout the world. Rashi adds that God did not tell the seed of Yaakov to seek Him in vain โ€” the command to seek Him carries great reward.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœื ื‘ืกืชืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™. ื›ืฉื ืชืชื™ ืืช ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื•ืœื ืืžืจืชื™ ืขืœ ืชื”ื• ืขืœ ื—ื ื: ืœื–ืจืข ื™ืขืงื‘ ื‘ืงืฉื•ื ื™ ื›ื™ ืื ืœืงื‘ืœ ืฉื›ืจ ื’ื“ื•ืœ: ืื ื™ ื”' ื“ื•ื‘ืจ ืฆื“ืง. ืžืื—ืจ ืฉืคืชื—ืชื™ ืœื”ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ืฆื“ืงื™ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ืžืชืŸ ืฉื›ืจืŸ ืื—ืจ ื›ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ืชื™ ืœื”ื ืžื™ืฉืจื™ื ื—ื•ืงื™ ื•ืชื•ืจืชื™ ืฉืงื•ื“ื ืžืชืŸ ืชื•ืจื” ื ืืžืจ ืœื”ื (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ื) ื•ืขืชื” ืื ืฉืžื•ืข ื•ื’ื•' ื•ื”ื™ื™ืชื ืœื™ ืกื’ื•ืœื” ื•ืžืžืœื›ืช ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื’ื•':
Not in secret did I speak When I gave the Torah, and I did not say for naught and in vain to the seed of Jacob, Seek Me, but to receive great reward. I am the Lord Who speaks righteousness Since I commenced to speak to them concerning My righteousness, to inform them of the giving of their reward, afterwards I told them things that are right, My statutes and My laws, for before the giving of the Torah it was said to them, "And now, if you heed, etc., you shall be for Me a treasure...a kingdom of priests, etc." (Ex. 19:5f.).

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื”ึดืงึผึธื‘ึฐืฆึฅื•ึผ ื•ึธื‘ึนึ›ืื•ึผ ื”ึดึฝืชึฐื ึทื’ึผึฐืฉืึฅื•ึผ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ–ื• ืคึผึฐืœึดื™ื˜ึตึฃื™ ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึ‘ื ืœึนึฃื ื™ึธื“ึฐืขึ—ื•ึผ ื”ึทื ึผึนึฝืฉื‚ึฐืึดื™ืึ™ ืึถืชึพืขึตึฃืฅ ืคึผึดืกึฐืœึธึ”ื ื•ึผืžึดึฝืชึฐืคึผึทืœึฐืœึดึ”ื™ื ืึถืœึพืึตึ–ืœ ืœึนึฅื ื™ื•ึนืฉืึดึฝื™ืขึทืƒ

English:

Come, gather together,Draw nigh, you remnants of the nations!No foreknowledge had they who carry their wooden imagesAnd pray to a god who cannot give success.

The survivors of the nations are summoned to court: those who carry their wooden idols and pray to 'a god who cannot save' lack all understanding. Radak calls the idol bearers the basest of the nations, for even their own wise men know that idol worship is emptiness.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืชื ื’ืฉื•. ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื’ืฉื” ื•ื”ื ื•"ืŸ ื˜ืคื™ืœื” ื‘ื• ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืืžืจ ื”ืชื ื’ืคื•: ืคืœื™ื˜ื™ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื. ืืฉืจ ื ืฉืืจื• ืžื—ืจื‘ื• ืฉืœ ื ื‘ื•ื›ื“ื ืฆืจ: ืœื ื™ื“ืขื• ื”ื ื•ืฉืื™ื ืืช ืขืฅ ืคืกืœื. ืœื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ื“ืขืช:
approach Heb. ื”ึดืชึฐื ึทื’ึผึฐืฉืื•ึผ, an expression of approaching (ื”ึทื’ึผึธืฉืึธื”) and the 'nun' is attached to it, as one says "they were struck (ื”ึดืชึฐื ึทื’ึผึฐืคื•ึผ)"; "they will be struck (ื™ึดืชึฐื ึทื’ึผึฐืคื•ึผ)." you survivors of the nations who survived the sword of Nebuchadnezzar. who carry their graven wooden image...do not know to understand knowledge.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื”ึทื’ึผึดึฃื™ื“ื•ึผ ื•ึฐื”ึทื’ึผึดึ”ื™ืฉืื•ึผ ืึทึฅืฃ ื™ึดึฝื•ึผึธืขึฒืฆึ–ื•ึผ ื™ึทื—ึฐื“ึผึธึ‘ื• ืžึดึฃื™ ื”ึดืฉืึฐืžึดึฉื™ืขึทึฉ ื–ึนึจืืช ืžึดืงึผึถึœื“ึถื ืžึตืึธึฃื– ื”ึดื’ึผึดื™ื“ึธึ—ื”ึผ ื”ึฒืœึจื•ึนื ืึฒื ึดึคื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ื•ึฐืึตึฝื™ืŸึพืขึคื•ึนื“ ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ืึ™ ืžึดื‘ึผึทืœึฐืขึธื“ึทึ”ื™ ืึตืœึพืฆึทื“ึผึดึฃื™ืง ื•ึผืžื•ึนืฉืึดึ”ื™ืขึท ืึทึ–ื™ึดืŸ ื–ื•ึผืœึธืชึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

Speak up, compare testimonyโ€”Let them even take counsel together!Who announced this aforetime,Foretold it of old?Was it not I the ETERNAL One?Then there is no god beside Me,No God exists beside MeWho foretells truly and grants success.

The decisive proof: who announced these events โ€” the fall of Babylon and Assyria โ€” before they came to pass? Only the LORD, who foretold them through His prophets and fulfilled His word: 'a righteous God and Savior, there is none beside Me.' Metzudat David notes the challenge: let the nations take counsel together and try to answer.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ืฉืžื™ืข ื–ืืช ืžืงื“ื. ืžื™ ื‘ืคืกื™ืœื™ื›ื ืืฉืจ ื”ืฉืžื™ืข ืžืงื“ื ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ืืœื”ื™ื›ื ืชืฉื•ืขื” ืื™ืฉ ืื™ืฉ ืœืขื•ื‘ื“ื™ื•: ื”ืœื ืื ื™ ื”' ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขื•ื“. ืฉืื ื™ ืžื•ื“ื™ืข ืžื” ืื ื™ ืขืชื™ื“ ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืœืขืžื™ ื•ืืงื™ื™ื ื“ื‘ืจื™:
who announced this from before Who of your idols is it that announced from before that your God brought salvation, each one to its worshipers? Is it not I, the Lord, and there are no other For I announce what I am destined to do for My people, and I fulfill My words.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ืคึผึฐื ื•ึผึพืึตืœึทึฅื™ ื•ึฐื”ึดื•ึผึธืฉืึฐืขึ–ื•ึผ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืึทืคึฐืกึตื™ึพืึธึ‘ืจึถืฅ ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ืึฒื ึดื™ึพืึตึ–ืœ ื•ึฐืึตึฅื™ืŸ ืขึฝื•ึนื“ืƒ

English:

Turn to Me and gain success,All the ends of earth!For I am God, and there is none else.

The invitation becomes universal: 'Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else.' Rashi reads it: abandon your graven images and thereby be saved; Radak adds โ€” as you have seen Israel saved by turning to God, so may every nation.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืคื ื• ืืœื™. ื•ื”ื ื™ื—ื• ืคืกื™ืœื›ื ื›ืœ ืืคืกื™ ืืจืฅ ื•ื‘ื›ืš ืชื•ืฉืขื•:
Turn to Me and abandon your graven images, all the ends of the earth, and, thereby, you shall be saved.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื‘ึผึดึฃื™ ื ึดืฉืึฐื‘ึผึทึ”ืขึฐืชึผึดื™ ื™ึธืฆึธึจื ืžึดืคึผึดึงื™ ืฆึฐื“ึธืงึธึ›ื” ื“ึผึธื‘ึธึ–ืจ ื•ึฐืœึนึฃื ื™ึธืฉืึ‘ื•ึผื‘ ื›ึผึดื™ึพืœึดื™ึ™ ืชึผึดื›ึฐืจึทึฃืข ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื‘ึผึถึ”ืจึถืšึฐ ืชึผึดืฉืึผึธื‘ึทึ–ืข ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืœึธืฉืึฝื•ึนืŸืƒ

English:

By Myself have I sworn,From My mouth has issued truth,A word that shall not turn back:To Me every knee shall bend,Every tongue swear loyalty.

God swears by Himself an irrevocable oath: 'To Me every knee shall bend, every tongue shall swear.' Rashi and Radak both connect this to Tzefaniah 3:9, when all peoples will be transformed to call upon the Name of the LORD โ€” the vision of universal acknowledgment later enshrined in the Aleinu prayer.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื‘ื™ ื ืฉื‘ืขืชื™. ื•ื™ืฆื ืžืคื™ ืฆื“ืงื” ืœืงื‘ืœ ื›ืœ ื”ืฉื‘ื™ื ืืœื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื“ื‘ืจืชื™ ื•ืœื ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืžื”ื• ื”ืฆื“ืงื” ืืฉืจ ื™ืฆืืช ืžืคื™ ื›ื™ ืœื™ ืชื›ืจืข ื›ืœ ื‘ืจืš ื•ืื ื™ ืืงื‘ืœื ื›ืขื ื™ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ ื›ื™ ืื– ืื”ืคื•ืš ืืœ ืขืžื™ื ื•ื’ื•' (ืฆืคื ื™ื” ื’ืณ:ื˜ืณ):
By Myself I swore and righteousness emanated from My mouth to accept all those who return to Me. I spoke a word, and it will not be retracted. What is the righteousness that emanated from My mouth? That to Me shall every knee kneel, and I will accept them, as the matter is stated (Zeph. 3: 9): "For then will I change for the people a pure language, to call all of them in the name of the Lord..."

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื“ ยท Verse 24

Hebrew:

ืึทึงืšึฐ ื‘ึผึทื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ืœึดึฅื™ ืึธืžึทึ–ืจ ืฆึฐื“ึธืงึฃื•ึนืช ื•ึธืขึนึ‘ื– ืขึธื“ึธื™ื•ึ™ ื™ึธื‘ึฃื•ึนื ื•ึฐื™ึตื‘ึนึ”ืฉืื•ึผ ื›ึผึนึ–ืœ ื”ึทื ึผึถื—ึฑืจึดึฅื™ื ื‘ึผึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

They shall say: โ€œOnly through GOD Can I find victory and might.iThey shall say: โ€œOnly through GOD / Can I find victory and mightโ€ฆโ€ Emendation yields โ€œOnly in GOD / Are there victory and might for mortals.โ€ When people trust injtrust in Lit. โ€œcome toโ€; for this idiom cf. Ps. 65.3; Job 6.20. [God],All their adversaries are put to shame.

The nations will say that only in the LORD are righteousness and strength, and all who raged against Him will come to Him in shame and regret. Rashi reads the inverted verse as Israel's unique promise of righteousness and strength, while Radak connects it to the preceding oath: every tongue will swear by the LORD alone and confess before Him.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืืš ื‘ื”' ืœื™ ืืžืจ. ื”ืžืงืจื ื–ื” ืžืกื•ืจืก ื•ื›ืŸ ืคืชืจื•ื ื• ืืš ืœื™ ื‘ื”' ืืžืจ ืฆื“ืงื•ืช ื•ืขื•ื– ืืข"ืค ืฉื›ืœ ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ื™ืฉืชื—ื•ื• ืœืคื ื™ื• ืืš ืœื™ ืœื‘ื“ื™ ื›ื ืกืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื”' ื”ื•ื‘ื˜ื— ืœื™ ืฆื“ืงื•ืช ื•ืขื•ื– ื•ืœื ื™ื‘ืื• ืžื›ื—ื™ืฉื™ ืชื•ืจื” ืœื—ืœืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™: ืขื“ื™ื• ื™ื‘ื•ื ื•ื™ื‘ืฉื• ื•ื’ื•'. ื›ืœ ื”ื ื—ืจื™ื ื‘ื”ืงื‘"ื” ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืขื“ื™ื• ืœื”ืชื—ืจื˜ ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉืขืฉื• ื‘ื—ื™ื™ื”ื ื•ื™ื‘ื•ืฉื•: ื”ื ื—ืจื™ื. ื”ืžืชื’ืจื™ื:
But to me did He say by the Lord Heb. ืึทืšึฐ ื‘ึทื”' ืœึดื™ ืึธืžึทืจ [lit. but by the Lord to me He said]. This verse is inverted, and thus is its interpretation: But to me did He say by the Lord righteousness and strength. Although all the nations shall prostrate themselves before Him [correct reading according to Warsaw edition, K'li Paz, and mss.], but to me alone, the congregation of Israel, has been promised by the Lord righteousness and strength, and other nations shall not be included in my glory. to Him shall come and be ashamed etc. All who were incensed against the Holy One, blessed be He, shall come to Him to regret what they did in their lifetimes and be ashamed. all who are incensed Heb. ื›ึผึนืœ ื”ึทื ึผึถื—ึฑืจึดื™ื ื‘ึผื•ึน, all who are incensed.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื” ยท Verse 25

Hebrew:

ื‘ึผึทื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ื™ึดืฆึฐื“ึผึฐืงึฅื•ึผ ื•ึฐื™ึดึฝืชึฐื”ึทืœึฐืœึ–ื•ึผ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื–ึถึฅืจึทืข ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

It is through GOD that all the offspring of IsraelHave vindication and glory.โ€

The chapter closes with Israel's vindication: through the LORD all the seed of Israel shall be righteous and shall glory. Radak explains that while the nations are ashamed, Israel โ€” who clung to God even in exile โ€” will be justified in His service and glorified before the eyes of the peoples.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื‘ื”' ื™ืฆื“ืงื• ื•ื™ืชื”ืœืœื•. ื‘ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ืช ืžืฉืขืŸ ืื”ื‘ืชื• ื™ืžืฆืื• ืฆื“ืงื” ื•ื™ืชืคืืจื• ื‘ืžืขื•ื– ื•ื™ืชื”ืœืœื• ืคืจื•ื•ื ื˜ื™"ืจ ื‘ืœืข"ื–:
Through the Lord...find righteousness and boast Through the promise of the support of His love they shall find righteousness and boast of His strength. boast Heb. ื•ึฐื™ึดืชึฐื”ึทืœึฐืœื•ึผ, porvantir in O.F.

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