"מְהָרְסַיִךְ וּמַחֲרִיבַיִךְ מִמֵּךְ יֵצֵאוּ"/2
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review
"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 read this truncated phrase as if it ends: "לשוב אלייך". 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").1
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.12 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.3
