Difference between revisions of ""מְהָרְסַיִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַיִךְ מִמֵּךְ יֵצֵאוּ"/2"
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Version as of 11:44, 30 July 2018
"מְהָרְסַיִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַיִךְ מִמֵּךְ יֵצֵאוּ"
Exegetical Approaches
External Foes Ousted
Yeshayahu comforts the nation, promising that when they return to Israel, their foreign enemies will depart from their midst.
Meaning of "יֵצֵאוּ" – This position understands the word "יֵצֵאוּ" in line with its common usage in Tanakh, to mean "depart".
"מִהֲרוּ בָּנָיִךְ" – These sources understand this truncated phrase as if it reads: "ימהרו בניך לשוב אלייך".1 As such, the two halves of the verse speak of two complementary events. Hashem says that the nation will quickly return to Israel, and that, as they do, their enemies will leave.
Relationship to rest of prophecy – The two ideas expressed in the verse are elaborated upon in the rest of the prophecy. Verses 18-22 detail the in-gathering of exiles (matching "מִהֲרוּ בָּנָיִךְ"), while verse 20 speaks of the distancing of Israel's enemies (matching "מְהָרְסַיִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַיִךְ מִמֵּךְ יֵצֵאוּ").2
Historical Backdrop – According to this approach, the chapter might be speaking either of the return from Babylonia, or of the future redemption. There are several possibilities as to the identity of the enemies to be ousted:
- Ibn Kaspi asserts that the verse refers to the Babylonians who had moved into Israel upon its conquest.
- It is possible that the enemies spoken of refer to "צרי יהודה ובנימין" in the time of Ezra and Nechemyah who had tried to prevent the nation from building the city's walls.
- During both exiles, people from neighboring countries had moved into Israel, occupying lands previously belonging to Israel.13 Hashem promises that these will be ousted.
Internal Foes Sprouted
Yeshayahu rebukes the people, telling them that they are the source of their own destruction. Their "destroyers" came from within.
Meaning of "יֵצֵאוּ" – These sources understand "יֵצֵאוּ" to mean sprout, or go forth from, rather than to leave.4
"מִהֲרוּ בָּנָיִךְ" – According to the Rid, the clause should read as if written "and your children hurried to sin". Abarbanel similarly explains: "and your children were quick to forget you".5 The two halves of the verse, thus, express one idea. Israel's sins are what led to her destruction.
Relationship to beginning of the prophecy – According to this approach, Hashem's words of verse 17 are a reaction to the complaint of the nation in verse 14. Tzion blames Hashem for forgetting her: "עֲזָבַנִי י"י וַאדֹנָי שְׁכֵחָנִי". Hashem responds that the nation's destruction was not His fault, but theirs. Had they not sinned, He would not have exiled them.6
Rebuke amidst consolation – The accusatory tone of the verse is somewhat out of place in the prophecy given the consolation in the rest of the chapter. However, given that the accusation is really Hashem's "self-defense," it is not particularly harsh. Moreover, these sources present Hashem as telling the nation that despite their guilt, He is now ready to restore them.7
Historical backdrop – Abarbanel maintains that the prophecy is speaking of the future redemption,8 but this position could just as easily maintain that it refers to the return from Babylonia. Both exiles resulted from the sins of the people and during each the people questioned why Hashem had forsaken them.9
Internal Foes Eliminated
Yeshayahu promises that with the coming of the redemption all the sinners within Israel will perish.
Meaning of "יֵצֵאוּ" – These sources explain the word "יֵצֵאוּ"' to mean "depart". It is used metaphorically to refer to the annihilation of Israel's "destroyers", the sinful Israelites who had caused her ruin. [This position, thus, combines the two approaches above, understanding "יֵצֵאוּ" like the first approach, and "מְהָרְסַיִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַיִךְ" like the second.]
"מִהֲרוּ בָּנָיִךְ" – These sources could read this phrase in of two ways:
- Hashem is promising a speedy return of the nation (ימהרו בנייך לשוב).10 If so, the subjects of the two clauses of the verse ("בָּנָיִךְ" vs. "מְהָרְסַיִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַיִךְ") stand in contrast to one another. The former represent the righteous of Israel who will return, while the latter refer to the sinners of Israel who will perish.
- Hashem refers to those who were quick to sin (מהרו בנייך לחטוא). If so, both clauses refer to Israel's wicked.
Relationship to the rest of the prophecy
Historical backdrop – This approach understands the prophecy to refer to Messianic times, as the promise that Israel's sinners will perish was not fulfilled in the Second Temple Era. The concept that the future redemption will be preceded by judgement against the wicked is a common motif, though the sinners are usually Israel's external enemies. See, however, Malakhi 3:23-24, which suggests that there will be a day of judgement for Israel as well.
