Difference between revisions of "Prophecy to Achaz – Calamity or Consolation/2"
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<point><b>Flies of Egypt and bees of Assyria</b> – According to this approach, the mention of the "זְּבוּב אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה יְאֹרֵי מִצְרָיִם" is not intended to connote  that Egypt was to join forces with Assyria; it is simply a metaphor for any vast army. As such, the image of both the flies and the bees refer to the swarms of Assyrian soldiers who were to fall upon Aram and Israel.</point> | <point><b>Flies of Egypt and bees of Assyria</b> – According to this approach, the mention of the "זְּבוּב אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה יְאֹרֵי מִצְרָיִם" is not intended to connote  that Egypt was to join forces with Assyria; it is simply a metaphor for any vast army. As such, the image of both the flies and the bees refer to the swarms of Assyrian soldiers who were to fall upon Aram and Israel.</point> | ||
<point><b>"תַעַר הַשְּׂכִירָה"</b> – According to this position, the words "מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר" serve to identify the "תַעַר הַשְּׂכִירָה".  Assyria is likened to a "razor" as it is about to raze the lands of Aram and Israel until not a hair is left.  This approach might agree with <multilink><a href="RashiYeshayahu7-15-25" data-aht="source">Rashi </a><a href="RashiYeshayahu7-15-25" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 7:15-25</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>that "הַשְּׂכִירָה" refers to an honored or important person (or nation),<fn>In support of such usage he points to <a href="Yirmeyahu46-21" data-aht="source">Yirmeyahu 46:21</a>.</fn> rather than a hired hand.</point> | <point><b>"תַעַר הַשְּׂכִירָה"</b> – According to this position, the words "מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר" serve to identify the "תַעַר הַשְּׂכִירָה".  Assyria is likened to a "razor" as it is about to raze the lands of Aram and Israel until not a hair is left.  This approach might agree with <multilink><a href="RashiYeshayahu7-15-25" data-aht="source">Rashi </a><a href="RashiYeshayahu7-15-25" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 7:15-25</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>that "הַשְּׂכִירָה" refers to an honored or important person (or nation),<fn>In support of such usage he points to <a href="Yirmeyahu46-21" data-aht="source">Yirmeyahu 46:21</a>.</fn> rather than a hired hand.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"Butter and honey"</b><ul> | + | <point><b>"Butter and honey"</b> – This approach could read the two appearances of the image in one of two ways:<br/> |
− | <li>In both verses 15 and 22, the eating of "butter and honey" is | + | <ul> |
+ | <li>In both verses 15 and 22, the eating of "butter and honey" is a metaphor for blessing and abundance.  Yeshayahu declares that after Aram and Israel are defeated, the cattle of the Judeans will give forth so much milk that butter will be made from the leftovers.<fn>The fact that the verse describes those who eat from the milk as "כׇּל הַנּוֹתָר בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ" is somewhat difficult for this approach, since there is no reason to describe the Judeans as "a remnant" if the entire prophecy is one of consolation and reassurance that they are not to be attacked by Aram and Israel.</fn>  This positive understanding of the image might be supported by its similarity to the phrase "אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ", a description which consistently has a positive connotation in Tanakh.</li> | ||
<li>Alternatively, while the image in verse 15 is meant positively, in verse 22 the excessive butter is really a sign of the desolation in Aram and Israel.<fn>An advantage of this option is that the "land" spoken of in verse 22 is identical with that mentioned in verse 24. [According to the first possibility brought, in contrast, one verse speaks of the land of Yehuda and one of the lands of Aram and Israel.]</fn>  Due to the Assyrian invasion, all agricultural produce will be ruined, so that the refugees from war will have only milk to consume.</li> | <li>Alternatively, while the image in verse 15 is meant positively, in verse 22 the excessive butter is really a sign of the desolation in Aram and Israel.<fn>An advantage of this option is that the "land" spoken of in verse 22 is identical with that mentioned in verse 24. [According to the first possibility brought, in contrast, one verse speaks of the land of Yehuda and one of the lands of Aram and Israel.]</fn>  Due to the Assyrian invasion, all agricultural produce will be ruined, so that the refugees from war will have only milk to consume.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> |
Version as of 00:42, 3 September 2018
Prophecy of Calamity or Consolation?
Exegetical Approaches
Consolation
Yeshayahu's words constitute a prophecy of consolation and encouragement. This approach subdivides regarding the event about which Achaz is being comforted:
The Aramean-Israelite Threat
All of Yeshayahu's words relate to the threat posed by the Aramean-Israelite alliance. Yeshayahu tells Achaz that he need not worry since both countries are soon to be destroyed by Assyria.
- In both verses 15 and 22, the eating of "butter and honey" is a metaphor for blessing and abundance. Yeshayahu declares that after Aram and Israel are defeated, the cattle of the Judeans will give forth so much milk that butter will be made from the leftovers.9 This positive understanding of the image might be supported by its similarity to the phrase "אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ", a description which consistently has a positive connotation in Tanakh.
- Alternatively, while the image in verse 15 is meant positively, in verse 22 the excessive butter is really a sign of the desolation in Aram and Israel.10 Due to the Assyrian invasion, all agricultural produce will be ruined, so that the refugees from war will have only milk to consume.
Both the Aramean-Israelite and the Assyrian Threat
Yeshayahu tells Achaz that he has nothing to fear from Aram and Israel, since Assyria is soon to ravage both countries. Though Assyria will invade Yehuda as well, Yehuda will survive and Sancheriv's army will be defeated.
Rebuke
Yeshayahu's words constitute a rebuke to Achaz for not trusting in Hashem's promise that He will aid Yehuda. As punishment for seeking human assistance, Achaz is told that Assyria will smite not only Aram and Israel, but Yehuda as well.
- Tiglat Pilesser's invasion – According to Shadal, Yeshayahu is speaking of Tiglat Pilesser himself, who attacked Yehuda as Divrei HaYamim shares, "וַיָּבֹא עָלָיו תִּלְּגַת פִּלְנְאֶסֶר מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וַיָּצַר לוֹ וְלֹא חֲזָקוֹ".
- Sancheriv's campaign – R"E of Beaugency, in contrast, assumes that Yeshayahu is referring to Sancheriv's campaign against Yehuda in the time of Chizkiyahu.
- In Divrei HaYamim II 16, when Asa seeks Aram's help against Basha, he is rebuked by the prophet Chanani, "בְּהִשָּׁעֶנְךָ עַל מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם וְלֹא נִשְׁעַנְתָּ עַל י"י אֱלֹהֶיךָ עַל כֵּן נִמְלַט חֵיל מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם מִיָּדֶךָ".
- Chizkiyahu's showing of his treasures to Merodakh Baladan of Bavel has been understood as an attempt to join an alliance against Assyria.12 Yeshayahu reacts in anger, warning Chizkiyahu, "הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים וְנִשָּׂא כׇּל אֲשֶׁר בְּבֵיתֶךָ וַאֲשֶׁר אָצְרוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה בָּבֶלָה". 13