Difference between revisions of "Prophecy to Achaz – Calamity or Consolation/2"
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<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
<mekorot>A. Chakham<fn>A. Chakham, Da'at Mikra Commentary to Sefer Yeshayahu (Jerusalem, 1984): 83-87. A. Chakham brings two readings for the unit, one in which he reads all the verses as being consolation, and one in which he reads them as rebuke.</fn></mekorot> | <mekorot>A. Chakham<fn>A. Chakham, Da'at Mikra Commentary to Sefer Yeshayahu (Jerusalem, 1984): 83-87. A. Chakham brings two readings for the unit, one in which he reads all the verses as being consolation, and one in which he reads them as rebuke.</fn></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>Single message</b> – One of the advantages of this approach is that it presents Yeshayahu as speaking about | + | <point><b>Single message</b> – One of the advantages of this approach is that it presents Yeshayahu as speaking about only one issue, with one unified message, throughout the chapter.  Everything the prophet says relates to the downfall of Aram and Israel.</point> |
<point><b>Anger regarding the sign</b> – According to this approach, despite Yeshayahu's anger at Achaz for refusing a Divine sign, the prophet continues to promise Hashem's aid and encourage the king that he has nothing to fear from his enemies.</point> | <point><b>Anger regarding the sign</b> – According to this approach, despite Yeshayahu's anger at Achaz for refusing a Divine sign, the prophet continues to promise Hashem's aid and encourage the king that he has nothing to fear from his enemies.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>"יָבִיא י"י עָלֶיךָ... יָמִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא בָאוּ לְמִיּוֹם סוּר אֶפְרַיִם מֵעַל יְהוּדָה"</b> – The words "יָבִיא י"י | + | <point><b>"יָבִיא י"י עָלֶיךָ... יָמִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא בָאוּ לְמִיּוֹם סוּר אֶפְרַיִם מֵעַל יְהוּדָה"</b> – The words "יָבִיא י"י עָלֶיךָ" need not connote that calamity is to befall Yehuda; the term might also relate to good tidings.<fn>See, for insatnce, Rather, Yeshayahu shares that tumultuous events are to occur which Yehuda will be both witness to and affected by, but for good. Assyria is to decimate and exile Ephraim, an event which will be similar in gravity to the split of the kingdom.</fn> If so, Yeshayahu might be prophesying that with the fall of Israel,<fn>Even though the Northern Kingdom is ot totally exiled in this period, it is the beginning of the end.</fn> the state of the nation will revert to what it had been before the split of the kingdom<fn>If so, the phrase, "לְמִיּוֹם סוּר אֶפְרַיִם מֵעַל יְהוּדָה" means: from the days [before] Ephraim separated from Yehuda.</fn> when there was just one monarch, who ruled over the entire country.</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>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> – 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), rather than a hired hand.</point> | <point><b>"תַעַר הַשְּׂכִירָה"</b> – 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), rather than a hired hand.</point> |
Version as of 07:15, 2 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.
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 well: As Divrei HaYamim shares, "וַיָּבֹא עָלָיו תִּלְּגַת פִּלְנְאֶסֶר מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר וַיָּצַר לוֹ וְלֹא חֲזָקוֹ".6
- Sancheriv's campaign
- 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. Yeshayahu reacts in anger, warning Chizkiyahu, "הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים וְנִשָּׂא כׇּל אֲשֶׁר בְּבֵיתֶךָ וַאֲשֶׁר אָצְרוּ אֲבֹתֶיךָ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה בָּבֶלָה".7
- In Second Temple Times