The Suffering Servant in Yeshayahu 53/2/en

The Suffering Servant in Yeshayahu 53

Exegetical Approaches

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The Nation of Israel

Sources:Bemidbar Rabbah13:2About Bemidbar Rabbah, RashiYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki,¹ R. Yosef KaraYeshayahu 52:13Yeshayahu 53:1-12About R. Yosef Kara, Kuzari2:34-38About R. Yehuda HaLevi, Ibn EzraYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RadakYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. David Kimchi, R. Yosef ibn KaspiYeshayahu 52:13-15About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, R. Eliezer AshkenaziMa'asei Hashem, Ma'asei Torah 40About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem),² Abarbanel #1,³ ShadalYeshayahu 42:1Yeshayahu 49:1,3,7Yeshayahu 52:13-15Yeshayahu 53About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, Hoil MosheYeshayahu 42Yeshayahu 49:1Yeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi, Biur,

Identity of the servant – According to this approach, the servant is the nation of Israel, or at least the righteous among them.⁴  This reading matches the larger context, as both the preceding and following prophecies speak of Israel.⁵  In addition, throughout Yeshayahu, the term "עַבְדִּי" often refers to the nation. See, for instance, "‎וְאַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדִּי" ‎(41:8), "אַל תִּירָא עַבְדִּי יַעֲקֹב" ‎(44:2), and "עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל" ‎(49:3).⁶

The onlookers – These are members of foreign nations who looked down upon Israel in exile and witnessed her suffering.

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When was the servant degraded? The various descriptions of humiliation and anguish refer to the nation's experiences in exile where they suffered extensively at the hands of their oppressors, both physically⁷ and emotionally.⁸ While most of these sources assume that the prophet is speaking of the present exile, Ibn Kaspi⁹ maintains that he speaks of the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles.¹⁰

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When will the servant be exalted? These sources suggest one of two possibilities regarding this question (in line with their positions above):

• Messianic times – Most of the sources suggest that all the verses which speak of the servant's improved status¹¹ refer to the End of Days.¹² It is then that Israel will take vengeance on her enemies ("כֵּן יַזֶּה גּוֹיִם רַבִּים")¹³ and be blessed with long life ("יִרְאֶה זֶרַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים").¹⁴ This will lead the foreign nations to recognize both the errors of their own beliefs and actions ("כֻּלָּנוּ כַּצֹּאן תָּעִינוּ") and the righteousness of Israel.¹⁵ An advantage of this reading is that these motifs are common in many of the surrounding prophecies  which similarly speak of foreign recognition of both Israel and Hashem in the End of Days.¹⁶
• Second Temple Period – Ibn Kaspi, in contrast, asserts that the verses refer to the Second Temple Period when the nation returned to Israel.

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – These sources differ regarding whether or not this (and similar verses) implies vicarious punishment, and whether Israel really suffered "עַל לֹא חָמָס עָשָׂה":

• No vicarious punishment – Most of these sources suggest that the words "חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" (and similar phrases throughout the chapter) do not connote that there was vicarious punishment.¹⁷ 
• Mistaken assumption – According to most of these commentators,¹⁸ the various phrases represent the perspective of the other nations, but are not a description of fact.¹⁹ Israel really suffered only for her own sins.  However, when the nations will finally recognize their wickedness and Israel's righteousness, and try to reconcile this with their prosperity and Israel's afflictions, they will erroneously conclude that Israel's suffering must have been vicarious punishment for their own sins.
• Admission of guilt – Ibn Ezra suggests, instead, that the words constitute an admission of guilt by the enemy nations. They confess to having inflicted suffering on Israel,²⁰ referring to  Israel's afflictions as "our sickness" only because they were the ones who caused them. Similarly, when they claim that Israel is "מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ", they are saying that it was their sins, i.e. their oppression, which crushed Israel.²¹
• Vicarious punishment – In contrast to the other sources, the Kuzari appears to take the verses at face value and to assume that sometimes the righteous do suffer for the sins of others, even on the national level. All of humanity is one body, and Israel is its heart.  As such, it both provides vitality to the rest of the body and finds itself under constant pressure and distress from the surrounding limbs (who meanwhile sit at rest).  This position takes vicarious punishment to the extreme, claiming that it occurs not just within a family (פקד עון אבות) or even among members of the same nation, but that it can cross national borders.²²

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים" – Rashi, Radak, and Ibn Kaspi claim that this verse speaks not of death, but of exile. The nation was cut off from the land of Israel, an "אֶרֶץ חַיִּים".

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ" – According to all these sources this verse speaks of the servant's actual death.²³ This, however, creates no difficulty with his later receiving rewards in this world since the servant is identified with the nation rather than an individual.  Though many individuals throughout history died by enemy hands, the nation as a whole will survive, bear fruit, and be esteemed by others.

Polemics

Other occurrences – Though this position could theoretically identify all the chapters as referring to Israel, not all commentators do,²⁴ as certain verses in each of the chapters are difficult for such a position:

• Chapter 42: 
• Chapter 49:  At first glance the image of a servant who is being called by Hashem from birth ("מִבֶּטֶן קְרָאָנִי‎") would seem to refer to the appointment of a prophet.  Hoil Moshe counters this by suggesting that it speaks of the early formation of the nation.  Similarly, "וַיָּשֶׂם פִּי כְּחֶרֶב חַדָּה‎" seem to be a hint to the prophet's mouth which is uttering words of rebuke, though R. Eliezer of Beaugency rereads it that Israel will be strong against its enemies.  In addition, Shadal points out that the presence of the phrase "וַיֹּאמֶר לִי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל‎" suggests that the prophecy as a whole refers to the Children of Israel.

Leader of Israel

Yirmeyahu

Sources:Opinion cited in R. Yehuda ibn BalaamYeshayahu 53:12About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam, R. SaadiaCommentary Yeshayahu 52:13-53:12About R. Saadia Gaon cited in Ibn EzraYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Eliezer of BeaugencyYeshayahu 52:13Yeshayahu 53:4-11About R. Eliezer of Beaugency,

Identity of the servant – Both R. Saadia and R"E of Beaugency suggest that the description of the servant might apply to almost any prophet. However, R. Saadia concludes that it most likely refers to Yirmeyahu, pointing to the many parallels to his life in particular:

• "וַיַּעַל כַּיּוֹנֵק לְפָנָיו" – Yirmeyahu began prophesying as a youngster, as he says of himself, "כִּי נַעַר אָנֹכִי" (Yirmeyahu 1:6).‎ 
• "וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – Throughout his life, Yirmeyahu was an outsider, distanced from other people, both by command²⁵ and by circumstance,²⁶  as he says, "מִפְּנֵי יָדְךָ בָּדָד יָשַׁבְתִּי" (Yirmeyahu 15:17). 
• "נִבְזֶה וְלֹא חֲשַׁבְנֻהוּ"– When Yirmeyahu did interact with others, he was met with scorn, as evidenced by his complaint: "דַּע שְׂאֵתִי עָלֶיךָ חֶרְפָּה" (Yirmeyahu 15:15).
• "אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת" – Yirmeyahu cries to Hashem, "לָמָּה הָיָה כְאֵבִי נֶצַח" (Yirmeyahu 15:18)
• "מֵעֹצֶר וּמִמִּשְׁפָּט לֻקָּח" – Yirmeyahu is imprisoned for his prophecies, as described in Yirmeyahu 32-33, 37-39: "בִּהְיֹתוֹ עָצוּר בַּחֲצַר הַמַּטָּרָה".
• "נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים" – Yirmeyahu's opponents attempted to kill him on several occasions, saying "וְנִכְרְתֶנּוּ מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים" (Yirmeyahu 11:19)
• "כַּשֶּׂה לַטֶּבַח יוּבָל" – Yirmeyahu says of himself, "וַאֲנִי כְּכֶבֶשׂ אַלּוּף יוּבַל לִטְבוֹחַ" (Yirmeyahu 11:19).

Identity of the onlookers – The onlookers are members of the Children of Israel who afflicted Yirmeyahu throughout his life.

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When was the servant degraded? As seen above, throughout his tenure as prophet, Yirmeyahu was demeaned, afflicted, imprisoned, and even had his life threatened.

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When will the servant be exalted? Abarbanel questions how the servant might be identified with Yirmeyahu considering that there is no evidence that he was ever exalted or received any of the rewards described in the chapter.  This leads R. Saadia to reinterpret many of the seemingly problematic verses:

• "הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – R. Saadia understands " יַשְׂכִּיל" to mean attainment of wisdom rather than success, and assumes that the phrase refers to a past rather than future event. Hashem gave wisdom to Yirmeyahu when he first started to prophesy since he was such a youth.
• "יָרוּם וְנִשָּׂא וְגָבַהּ מְאֹד" – These words do not imply that Yirmeyahu was to be respected at the end of his life, but that Hashem gave him the strength to withstand and overcome his enemies,²⁷ as He promises, "נְתַתִּיךָ הַיּוֹם לְעִיר מִבְצָר וּלְעַמּוּד בַּרְזֶל וּלְחֹמוֹת נְחֹשֶׁת עַל כׇּל הָאָרֶץ... וְנִלְחֲמוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְלֹא יוּכְלוּ לָךְ".
• "כֵּן יַזֶּה גּוֹיִם רַבִּים" – R. Saadia translates "יַזֶּה" as "to disperse" and suggests that the phrase speaks of Yirmeyahu's prophecies of exile to the foreign nations.
• "עָלָיו יִקְפְּצוּ מְלָכִים פִּיהֶם" – This refers to Nebuchadnezzar's sparing of Yirmeyahu.
• "מִי הֶאֱמִין לִשְׁמֻעָתֵנוּ וּזְרוֹעַ י"י עַל מִי נִגְלָתָה" – This, too, does not refer to a reaction to a future event and reward, but the fact that people were surprised that Hashem had given prophecy to such a young child.
• "יִרְאֶה זֶרַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים וְחֵפֶץ י"י בְּיָדוֹ יִצְלָח" – According to R. Saadia this is a blessing that is to come on Israel (and not Yirmeyahu).  Due to Yirmeyahu's chastisements, the nation will merit long life in Hashem's land.
• "לָכֵן אֲחַלֶּק לוֹ בָרַבִּים וְאֶת עֲצוּמִים יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל" – This refers to the reward Yirmeyahu is to receive in the World  to Come, when he will be resurrected together with the other righteous leaders and share with them Hashem's "booty"; i.e. everlasting life.²⁸

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

• No vicarious punishment – According to R. Eliezer of Beaugency²⁹ the chapter does not imply that Yirmeyahu vicariously suffered for others' sins.  Rather, he made himself sick thinking about the tragedies that were to come to the nation due to their evil deeds.³⁰
• Yes vicarious punishment – R. Saadia also raises the possibility that Hashem did truly afflict Yirmeyahu so that he would earn merit to pray for Israel and attain atonement for their sins.³¹  This is not unjust, as Yirmeyahu would be compensated for any suffering in the Next World.  [See Theodicy – צדיק ורע לו, where R. Saadia uses similar reasoning to explain why sometimes the righteous suffer while the evil prosper.]

"מוּסַר שְׁלוֹמֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ" – R"E of Beaugency suggests that the people were saying that while Yirmeyahu was distressed at the sinful state of the nation, they carried on as if nothing was amiss, saying "שלום יהיה לנו".  Due to the encouraging messages of the false prophets, they thought they were "cured" and healthy, with nothing to fear.³²

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים" – As there is no evidence of Yirmeyahu dying at the hands of his opponents, R. Saadia understands the verse to refer to attempted takes on his life.³³

Context of the prophecy – Ibn Ezra questions why Yeshayahu would be speaking of Yirmeyahu's travails in the midst of a series of chapters which are filled with prophecies of consolation to the nation as a whole.³⁴

Polemics

Chizkiyahu

Sources:Bavli SotahSotah 14aAbout the Bavli, Ibn Chiquitilla cited in R. Yehuda ibn BalaamYeshayahu 53:12About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam, R. Saadia Ibn Danan,³⁵ opinion cited by R. Eliezer Ashkenazi, R. Joseph Passani

Chizkiyahu as an "עבד ה'" – According to R. Passani, Chizkiyahu is called a servant of Hashem since he brought the nation back to His worship.  In Divrei HaYamim II 32:16, he is explicitly referred to as such, "וְעַל יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ עַבְדּוֹ".

"מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ" – Ibn Balaam questions this approach, noting that from Sefer Melakhim one does not get the impression that Chizkiyahu suffered unduly, or that he was despised and degraded.

• Suffered from Achaz and Sancheriv – R. Saadia Ibn Danan responds that Chikiyahu's visage was marred (מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ) by the fact that his father Achaz had passed him through fire. He was despised and mocked (נִבְזֶה וְלֹא חֲשַׁבְנֻהוּ) not by his brethren but by Sancheriv and Ravshakeh,³⁶ and he was pained and sickly (אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת וִידוּעַ חֹלִי) due to his distress and worry over both the siege and the people's sins.³⁷  He endured Ravshakeh's mocking in silence (וְלֹא יִפְתַּח פִּיו)³⁸ and prepared himself for death (כַּשֶּׂה לַטֶּבַח יוּבָל) at their hands.³⁹
• Suffered from illness – R. Passani adds that some of the verses describing the servant's sickness and imminent death might refer to the illness endured by Chizkiyahu, described in Melakhim II 20.⁴⁰

"יָרוּם וְנִשָּׂא וְגָבַהּ מְאֹד" – When? These sources suggest that the verses describing the servant's exaltation, taking vengeance on his enemies, sharing of booty and astonishing of onlookers all refer to the defeat of Sancheriv.  In the wake of the battle, Chizkiyahu was lauded by all: " וַיִּנַּשֵּׂא לְעֵינֵי כׇל הַגּוֹיִם מֵאַחֲרֵי כֵן" (Divrei haYamaim II 32:23). The blessing of long life at the end of the chapter might refer to the fifteen extra years Chizkiyahu was granted after his illness.⁴¹

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Ibn Danan suggests that Chizkiyahu bore the sickness of the nation, in the sense that he spared them distress over the Assyrian invasion.  Despite his own worries, Chizkiyahu encouraged the people and boosted their morale so that they did not fear, thus bearing their stress and sickness himself.

"וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ... וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ"

• No vicarious punishment – Ibn Danan asserts that Chizkiyahu was not punished for the nation's sins but rather that he was sickened and distraught by them.  The people were cured by "associating with him" (בַחֲבֻרָתוֹ),⁴² i.e. by his reformation and bringing them back to Hashem.⁴³ The phrase "וַי"י הִפְגִּיעַ בּוֹ אֵת עֲוֺן כֻּלָּנוּ", also does not imply that Chizkiyahu suffered vicariously, but rather that Hashem accepted (הִפְגִּיעַ)⁴⁴ Chizkiyahu's prayers to condone the iniquities of the people.
• Vicarious punishment – R. Passani, in contrast, appears to take the verses more literally to mean that Chizkiyahu was in fact afflicted so as to achieve atonement for the nation's sins.

Did the servant die? As Chizkiyahu did not die from either his sickness or his enemies, these sources reinterpret the phrases which might imply otherwise:

• "וְאֶת דּוֹרוֹ מִי יְשׂוֹחֵחַ כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים" – Ibn Danan explains this phrase to mean: had Chizkiyahu been cut off from the land of the living (due to his illness), who would have taught his generation righteousness?
• "וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ" – According to Ibn Danan, this verse refers to the danger from Assyria and to Chizkiyahu's fears lest he burned among his wicked enemies.

Context of the prophecy – Both Ibn Danan and R. Passani point out that numerous prophecies in the Book of Yeshayahu refer to Chizkiyahu and the defeat of Sancheriv, so it is not surprising that this chapter, too, might speak of them.

Polemics – R. Passani explicitly rejects the Midrashic interpretation that the text refers to the Mashich due to polemical concerns, saying, "ואנחנו נדע נאמנה כי אין מקרא יוצא מידי פשוטו לעולם ואין זה הדרך להשיב לאפיקורס... ואינו מספיק להפיס דעתנו, כל שכן דעת המכחישים שעשו הפסוקים האלה יסוד אמונתם".  It is likely that his desire to distance himself from such an explanation, motivated him to look for an alternative figure to identify with the servant.

Yoshiyahu

Sources:Abarbanel #2

Who is the servant?

• Ibn Chiquitilla explains the servant to be Chizkiyahu.  However, Ibn Balaam notes that we don't know anything about Chizkiyahu suffering, and that the description of "לֹא תֹאַר לוֹ וְלֹא הָדָר" does not match him.⁴⁵
• Abarbanel reads the chapter as referring to Yoshiyahu, one of the few historical figures of the period who suffered without sinning himself.  Yoshiyahu did not suffer throughout his life rather only in his early death when he was killed in battle with Paroh Necho.

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When? In contrast to other commentators who assert that "יַשְׂכִּיל" is referring to future prosperity that will come upon the servant, Abarbanel understands it to refer to the success and perfection of Yoshiyahu in the beginning of his reign before he suffered.  He understands "יַשְׂכִּיל" in the meaning of understanding, that Yoshiyahu learned to walk in Hashem's path and worshiped Him with all his heart.

"מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ" – The descriptions of the person being despicable are referring to Paroh Necho who fought against Yoshiyahu.  The prophet is speaking in the name of the nation who are surprised how such a righteous man was killed by such a shamed enemy.  This reading is a little surprising that the verses suddenly switch their subject from Yoshiyahu to Paroh Necho.

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When?

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים"

"וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ"

Context of prophecy

Mashiach

Sources:Targum YonatanYeshayahu 52:13-15Yeshayahu 53About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan,⁴⁶ Bavli SanhedrinSanhedrin 98aSanhedrin 98bAbout the Bavli, TanchumaToledot 14About the Tanchuma, Pesikta, Yefet b. Eli the Karaite, RambanYeshayahu 52:13-14Yeshayahu 53Sefer HaVikuach 25-28About R. Moshe b. Nachman explaining the Midrash,⁴⁷ Yalkut ShimoniNakh 620About Yalkut Shimoni, R"S Astruc

Mashiach as "עבד" – Yefet suggests that the Mashiach is referred to as a "servant" of Hashem since his ancestor, David, merited the same title, "מָ֭צָאתִי דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֑י בְּשֶׁ֖מֶן קׇדְשִׁ֣י מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו" (Tehillim 89:21).

Identity of the onlookers

"נִבְזֶה וַחֲדַל אִישִׁים" – When will the Mashiach be degraded? Abarbanel questions this approach, asking how it is possible to describe the Mashiach as despised and stricken with suffering, if the Mashiach is to be exalted and successful?  These sources respond in a variety of ways:

• Yefet disagrees with Abarbanel's basic assumption, claiming that the Mashiach will only rise to kingship after long trials in exile in which he is to suffer sickness, humiliation, and afflictions. It is these that are described in the various verses. 
• Ramban suggests that the descriptions of degradation refer to the moment of the Mashiach's arrival, for when he comes he will be impoverished: "עָנִי וְרֹכֵב עַל חֲמוֹר", inviting scorn and doubt that he is really the anointed one. The depictions of his suffering and sickness (" אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת וִידוּעַ חֹלִי"), on the other hand, relate to his distress over the sins of Israel.
• Shemuel Lanyado claims that the verses describing the Mashiach's anguish refer to "Mashiach b. Yosef" who is  to arrive before "Mashiach b. David" and who is to die at the hand of his enemies⁴⁸ (Bavli Sukkah 52a). He was sickly and full of wounds (Bavli Sanhedrin 98a),‎⁴⁹ matching the depiction here: אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת וִידוּעַ חֹלִי.  [As this figure will die ad not witness his exaltation, Lanyado explains that the verses which describe the servant's rise and rewards refer to Mashiach b. David.]⁵⁰

"הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" – When will he be exalted? After the Mashiach ascends his throne and is recognized by all, he we will be exalted ("יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי יָרוּם וְנִשָּׂא וְגָבַהּ מְאֹד"),⁵¹ take vengeance on enemies ("יַזֶּה גּוֹיִם רַבִּים"), and frighten kings into silence ("עָלָיו יִקְפְּצוּ מְלָכִים פִּיהֶם").  He will recognize the righteous to redeem them ("בְּדַעְתּוֹ יַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק") and rule over all the nations, who will become his portion ("לָכֵן אֲחַלֶּק לוֹ בָרַבִּים"). He will be rewarded to reap the booty from the wars of Gog and Magog ("אֶת עֲצוּמִים יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל") .

"חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" – Vicarious punishment?

• Vicarious punishment – Yefet claims that sometimes, when the nation deserves great punishment which they will not be able to bear, Hashem afflicts a prophet or servant in their stead to carry their sins and lighten their punishment.⁵²
• No vicarious punishment – Though Ramban agrees that the nation was to be forgiven for the sake of the Mashiach, he does not assume that the Mashiach was punished in their place.  Rather the Mashiach's distress over the nation's sins merited them salvation. [According to him "חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא" means that the Mashich, rather than the sinners, was upset by their deeds.]

"כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים" – These sources dispute whether that this verse implies that the Mashiach died:

• Did not die – According to Ramban, these verses mean only that the Mashiach was willing to die to fulfill his task.⁵³  He assumes that to effect the ingathering of exiles, the Mashiach is to face each foreign ruler and, like Moshe, demand that they free the nation. This will endanger his life, but he will be prepared to die among the wicked if needed (ויתן את רשעים קברו ). [Since the Mashiach never died, there is no difficulty in his being exalted by onlookers later.]
• Died – According to R. Lanyado, in contrast, the Mashiach did actually die at the hands of his opponents.  He himself is not the recipient of the accolades and rewards described in the chapter; those relate only to his successor, Mashiach b. David.

Larger context – Many of the surrounding prophecies have been explained to refer to Messianic times, supporting the idea that this chapter, too, speaks of the Mashiach.

Polemics

¹ Rashi maintains that the servant refers specifically to the righteous among the nation.

² R"E Ashkenazi offers a variation of this approach, suggesting that the chapter speaks specifically of Iyyov, but that his life was meant to serve as a symbol of the life of the nation as a whole. He points to numerous parallels between the two figures:

• Both the servant and Iyyov suffer despite not having sinned. Yeshayahu says of the servant "עַל לֹא חָמָס עָשָׂה". Iyyov echoes: "עַל לֹא חָמָס בְּכַפָּי".
• Onlookers are astonished by the sight of the servant ("שָׁמְמוּ עָלֶיךָ רַבִּים"), just as Iyyov says to others, "פְּנוּ אֵלַי וְהָשַׁמּוּ" (Iyyov 21:5)
• The servant is described as "אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת". About Iyyov it is similarly said: "כִּי גָדַל הַכְּאֵב מְאֹד" (Iyyov 2:13).
• Just as the servant is said to be "מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ", Iyyov's maladies made him unrecognizable to others: "וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם מֵרָחוֹק וְלֹא הִכִּירֻהוּ" (Iyyov 2:12).
• אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת
• The onlookers say that the servant was "מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ", while Iyyov says of himself, "וְיֹאֵל אֱלוֹהַּ וִידַכְּאֵנִי" (Iyyov 6:9).
• The servant's life is endangered ("וַיִּתֵּן אֶת רְשָׁעִים קִבְרוֹ").  Iyyov, too, prepares to die: "נִזְעָכוּ קְבָרִים לִי". 
• The phrase "אָכֵן חֳלָיֵנוּ הוּא נָשָׂא וּמַכְאֹבֵינוּ סְבָלָם" sums up Iyyov's life; all was a metaphor for the suffering of the nation.
• Finally, just as the servant is promised "יִרְאֶה זֶרַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים",  Iyyov is blessed with ten children and long life.

³ Abarbanel reads the entire chapter in two ways, first identifying the servant with Israel, and then identifying him as Yoshiyahu specifically.

⁴ One might question how the servant can be Israel if "עַבְדִּי" is a singular form. One could respond that the verse speaks of the nation as a whole which is a singular entity. Ibn Ezra, instead, suggests that the verse is aimed at every individual worshiper of Hashem.

⁵ See Ibn Ezra who makes this point.

⁶  See also Yeshayahu 44:21, 45:4 and 48:20.

⁷ See the descriptions, "אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת וִידוּעַ חֹלִי", "נִגַּשׂ וְהוּא נַעֲנֶה", and "וַי"י חָפֵץ דַּכְּאוֹ הֶחֱלִי".

⁸ Thus, Ibn Ezra explains that the phrase "כֵּן מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ וְתֹאֲרוֹ מִבְּנֵי אָדָם" suggests that the nation was viewed as subhuman, pointing out that even in his own day Gentiles assume that Jews have a different form than other people.  Ibn Kaspi and Shadal add that others would hide their face from Israel when they passed since they were so despised ("וּכְמַסְתֵּר פָּנִים מִמֶּנּוּ נִבְזֶה וְלֹא חֲשַׁבְנֻהוּ").

⁹ See also Hoil Moshe who brings both possibilities.

¹⁰ Shadal questions Ibn Kaspi's reading, pointing out that the description of Israel's degradation and the contempt felt towards it by foreign nations does not accurately capture the mood during the era of the Babylonian exile. At that time, there were numerous nations under the dominion of Babylonia, and Israel's situation was not significantly different than that of others.

¹¹ They understand the phrase "הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" specifically to mean "he will be successful", as per the usage of the word "מַשְׂכִּיל " in Shemuel I 1 18:14 ("וַיְהִי דָוִד לְכׇל דְּרָכָו מַשְׂכִּיל וַי"י עִמּוֹ").

¹² See Hoil Moshe on verse 12 who writes that some of the promises have already been fulfilled.

¹³ See, for example, the description of Hashem's vengeance on Israel's enemies in Yeshayahu 63 and the description of their splattered blood staining His clothes: "וְיֵז נִצְחָם עַל בְּגָדַי".

¹⁴ Radak points to similar blessings regarding the End of Days in Yeshayahu 65:22 ("כִּי כִימֵי הָעֵץ יְמֵי עַמִּי") and Zecharyah 8:4 ("עֹד יֵשְׁבוּ זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת בִּרְחֹבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָ‍ִם וְאִישׁ מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ בְּיָדוֹ מֵרֹב יָמִים").

¹⁵ See Ibn Ezra who reads the phrase, "בְּדַעְתּוֹ יַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק עַבְדִּי לָרַבִּים" to mean that in Messianic times Israel will teach the Gentiles Torah.

¹⁶ See

¹⁷ This might stem from a general discomfort with the notion of collective punishment.  Radak, for instance, opens his comments with the question, "הנה כתב יחזקאל הנביא בן לא ישא בעון האב ואב לא ישא בעון הבן כל שכן איש אחד באיש אחר וכל שכן אומה באומה אחרת". In addition, it is hard to say that Israel was innocent in exile (עַל לֹא חָמָס עָשָׂה), and did not deserve punishment at all. Alternatively, the commentators are motivated by polemical concerns and a desire to distance themselves from the Christian understanding of the servant as a prefiguration of Jesus who they believe died to atone for the sins of others. See below that both Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel explicitly address and combat the Christian understanding of the chapter.

¹⁸ See

¹⁹ This works well with verses 4-7, which can easily be read as the words of the foreign nations.  However, the singular formulation "כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים מִפֶּשַׁע עַמִּי" in verse 8 is somewhat difficult, leading R"Y Kara, Radak and others to explain that these are the words of "every individual nation". More difficult is verse 11, "בְּדַעְתּוֹ יַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק עַבְדִּי לָרַבִּים וַעֲוֺנֹתָם הוּא יִסְבֹּל" as these appears to be the words of Hashem Himself. Radak suggests that Hashem is saying that in the future, Israel's righteousness will act as a panacea for others sins since it will bring world peace. [In other words, the verse speaks of vicarious reward, not vicarious suffering.]

²⁰ See, too, how he explains "וּכְמַסְתֵּר פָּנִים מִמֶּנּוּ" to mean that the foreign nations purposefully averted their eyes so as not to aid Israel when she was in distress.

²¹ This reading, however, is difficult to apply to phrases such as "וּבַחֲבֻרָתוֹ נִרְפָּא לָנוּ" which assumes that the enemy nations were somehow healed by the suffering of Israel.

²² The Kuzari need not assume that Israel was totally innocent and did not deserve punishment all, but rather that the extent of her suffering far outweighed the severity of her iniquities, leading to the conclusion that much of her suffering was for the sins of others.

²³ Rashi maintains that the verse refers to all the people who were willing to die at the hands of the wicked rather than transgress a commandment. R"Y Kara and Radak, on the other hand, suggests it refers to the phenomena of Jews in exile being sentenced to death as if wicked when they were in fact innocent. Shadal more simply holds that it speaks of ignoble burials, like those given to sinners.

²⁴ Rashi asserts that the servant in Chapter 42 is Israel, but the servant in Chapter 49 is the prophet Yeshayahu himself. R. Yosef Kara asserts that the servant in Chapter 42 is Koresh, and the servant in Chapter 49:1-2 is Yeshayahu like Rashi, but in verse 3 which mentions Israel explicitly the identity of the servant switches to the nation.
However, see Shadal and Hoil Moshe who read them all about Israel.

²⁵ Hashem prohibits him from marrying  and from attending both a house of mourning and a house of feasting (Yirmeyahu 16).

²⁶ His prophecies were met with resistance, leading even his family to turn on him, "גַם אַחֶיךָ וּבֵית אָבִיךָ גַּם הֵמָּה בָּגְדוּ בָךְ".

²⁷ This, though, does not seem to be the simple meaning of these words.

²⁸ He points to the verse, "וְהָיְתָה לּוֹ נַפְשׁוֹ לְשָׁלָל" (Yirmeyahu 21:9) as evidence that life might be referred to as "שָׁלָל".  Ibn Ezra, however, cites R. Saadia as saying that "וְאֶת עֲצוּמִים יְחַלֵּק שָׁלָל" refers to the presents that Yirmeyahu received form the Babylonian captain after the exile (Yirmeyahu 40:5). [Since the extant commentary of R. Saadia on the chapter is fragmented, it is possible that this interpretation is brought as a second understanding of the verse in one of the missing sections.]

²⁹ See also the third possibility brought by R. Saadia.

³⁰ See his lament, "עַל שֶׁבֶר בַּת עַמִּי הׇשְׁבָּרְתִּי" (Yirmeyahu 8:21).

³¹ He raises a third possibioity as well, similar to Ibn Ezra above, that the bearing of sins, refers to bearing the afflictions inflicted upon him by Israel.

³² See Yirmeyahu's speech about false prophets in Yirmeyahu 8:11, "וַיְרַפּוּ אֶת שֶׁבֶר בַּת עַמִּי עַל נְקַלָּה לֵאמֹר שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם וְאֵין שָׁלוֹם".

³³ Regardless, though, according to R. Saadia there would not have been a problem with Yirmeyahu dying and then later receiving rewards and approbation by others since he understands all such verses to refer either to events early in Yirmeyahu's career or to rewards in the Next World.

³⁴ It should be noted that he nonetheless complements R. Saadia's explanation, as he writes, "והגאון רב סעדיה ז״ל פירש כל הפרשה על ירמיה ויפה פירש".

³⁵ Though Ibn Danan explains the entire unit to refer to Chizkiyahu, he adds that it nonetheless contains covert allusions to the Mashiach.

³⁶ He also raises the possibility that this refers to the people's doubting whether he would merit a miracle to save them from Assyria.

³⁷ He is further referred to as "חֲדַל אִישִׁים" because he refused to seek man's help, turning instead to Hashem.

³⁸ See Melakhim II 18:36: וְהֶחֱרִישׁוּ הָעָם וְלֹא עָנוּ אֹתוֹ דָּבָר כִּי מִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ הִיא לֵאמֹר לֹא תַעֲנֻהוּ.

³⁹ Ibn Danan points to Bavli Sanhedrin 26a which has Shevna betray Chizkiyahu to the Assyrians, claiming that he rebelled against them and is deserving of death. Even without the midrash, however, Sancheriv's life was in jeopardy from the Assyrian threat.

⁴⁰ He, in fact, understands much of the chapter to relate to this illness. Thus, he undersatdns verse 3 to mean that the wicked people of Chhizkiyahu's era viewed his sickness as a punishment for his turning away from their gods.. They thought that the gods must have hidden their faces from him (וּכְמַסְתֵּר פָּנִים מִמֶּנּוּ), leading to his sickness.

⁴¹ Ibn Danan suggests that the opening phrase "הִנֵּה יַשְׂכִּיל עַבְדִּי" should be rendered "my servant was filled with prudence and understanding" and refers not to the battle but to Chizkiyahu's reformation a returning of the nation to Hashem.

⁴² This translation differs from the more common: "his bruises".

⁴³ He explains both "יַצְדִּיק צַדִּיק.. וַעֲוֺנֹתָם הוּא יִסְבֹּל" and "וְהוּא חֵטְא רַבִּים נָשָׂא" similarly to mean that he bore the nation's sins by teaching them righteousness, and through his merits brought upon them salvation.

⁴⁴ He understands the word to mean "intercede" or "pray" rather than "afflict".  For similar usages, see Yirmeyahu 7:16, 27:18, Iyyov 21:15 and later in our chapter, vs. 12.

⁴⁵ We are told in Melakhim (and Yeshayahu) that Chizkiyahu was sick in leprosy, however one does not get the sense that he suffered for long or that he was despised.

⁴⁶ The Targum explains the first verse in this manner, but then has the following verses refer to Israel as a whole.

⁴⁷ Ramban himself identifies the suffering servant as Israel, as he argued in the disputation with Pablo Christiani.  In his commentary, he speaks from the perspective of the Midrash.

⁴⁸ This accords with tyhe description in the chapter that the servant was killed: "כִּי נִגְזַר מֵאֶרֶץ חַיִּים".

⁴⁹ The Bavli does not identify the character as Mashich b. Yosef specifically, snf from context might even be speaking of Mashiach b. David. Regardless, though, the Bavli provides evidence of a suffering Mashiach..

⁵⁰ Abarbanel argues that it is not logical that the verses would simultaneously identify the servant as both Mashiach b. Yosef and Mashiach b. David. Lanyado responds that to differentiate between the two, the text switches from second person (כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמְמוּ עָלֶיךָ רַבִּים כֵּן מִשְׁחַת מֵאִישׁ מַרְאֵהוּ ) to third person ("כֵּן יַזֶּה גּוֹיִם רַבִּים").

⁵¹ This is how Yefet understands these phrases.  Ramban, however,

⁵² As another example, he points to Yechezkel's sleeping on his side for numerous days so as to "carry the sins of Israel" ("וְנָשָׂאתָ עֲוֺן בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל"), thus alleviating their suffering.

⁵³ Yefet, too, explains that the Mashich did not actually die.  The verse simply means that his life was endangered when he suffered in exile.