Difference between revisions of "Yeshayahu's Mission in Chapter 6/1/he"

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<page type="Introduction">
 
<page type="Introduction">
<h1></h1>
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<h1>שליחות ישעיהו בפרק ו'</h1>
<h2>A Unique Vision</h2>
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<h2>התגלות ייחודית</h2>
<p>Descriptions of theophanies are rare in Tanakh, making Yeshayahu's vision of Hashem in&#160;<a href="Yeshayahu6" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 6</a> somewhat unique. Yeshayahu views Hashem sitting on His throne, surrounded by angels who laud Him.&#160; At the sound, the doorposts tremble and the House fills with smoke. The prophet reacts with trepidation, but nonetheless eagerly accepts Hashem's mission:</p>
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<p>Descriptions of theophanies are rare in Tanakh, making Yeshayahu's vision of Hashem ב<a href="Yeshayahu6" data-aht="source">ישעיהו ו'</a> somewhat unique. Yeshayahu views Hashem sitting on His throne, surrounded by angels who laud Him.&#160; At the sound, the doorposts tremble and the House fills with smoke. The prophet reacts with trepidation, but nonetheless eagerly accepts Hashem's mission:</p>
<multilang style="overflow: auto;">
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<q class="" dir="rtl" lang="he">
<q xml:lang="he" dir="rtl">(ה) וָאֹמַר אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי כִּי אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי וּבְתוֹךְ עַם טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב כִּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ י"י צְבָאוֹת רָאוּ עֵינָי. (ו) וַיָּעׇף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׂרָפִים וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה בְּמֶלְקַחַיִם לָקַח מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. (ז) וַיַּגַּע עַל פִּי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נָגַע זֶה עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר. (ח) וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת קוֹל אֲדֹנָי אֹמֵר אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח וּמִי יֵלֶךְ לָנוּ וָאֹמַר הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי.</q>
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<p>(ה) וָאֹמַר אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי כִּי אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי וּבְתוֹךְ עַם טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב כִּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ י"י צְבָאוֹת רָאוּ עֵינָי. (ו) וַיָּעׇף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׂרָפִים וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה בְּמֶלְקַחַיִם לָקַח מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. (ז) וַיַּגַּע עַל פִּי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נָגַע זֶה עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר. (ח) וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת קוֹל אֲדֹנָי אֹמֵר אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח וּמִי יֵלֶךְ לָנוּ וָאֹמַר הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי.</p>
</multilang>
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</q>
<p>What prompts this unique revelation? Most prophecies in Tanakh are not preceded by visions of God, so why is this one?&#160; Does Hashem's question, "Whom shall I send" suggest that it constitutes Yeshayahu's initiation into prophecy? If so, though, why does this chapter not open the book?</p>
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<p>What prompts this unique revelation? Most prophecies in Tanakh are not preceded by visions of God, so why is this one?&#160; האם שאלת ה', "אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח" suggest that it constitutes Yeshayahu's initiation into prophecy? If so, though, why does this chapter not open the book?</p>
  
<h2>Yeshayahu's Reaction</h2>
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<h2>תגובת ישעיהו</h2>
 
The description of Yeshayahu's reaction to seeing Hashem raises several questions:<br/>
 
The description of Yeshayahu's reaction to seeing Hashem raises several questions:<br/>
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li><b>"אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי"</b> – How are we to understand this distraught cry of Yeshayahu?&#160; What does the word "נִדְמֵיתִי" mean?&#160; What aspect of seeing Hashem makes him so concerned?</li>
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<li><b>"אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי"</b> – How are we to understand this distraught cry of Yeshayahu?&#160; מה מובן המלה "נִדְמֵיתִי"?&#160; What aspect of seeing Hashem makes him so concerned?</li>
<li><b>"אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי"</b> – Why does Yeshayahu consider himself a "man of impure lips"?</li>
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<li><b>"אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי"</b> – למה ישעיהו מחשיב את עצמו כ"אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי"?</li>
 
<li><b> "וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה"</b> – What is signified by the placing of a coal on Yeshayahu's lips? When the angel says that his action has removed Yeshayahu's sin ("וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר"), to what sin is he referring?</li>
 
<li><b> "וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה"</b> – What is signified by the placing of a coal on Yeshayahu's lips? When the angel says that his action has removed Yeshayahu's sin ("וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר"), to what sin is he referring?</li>
<li><b>"אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח"</b> – Why does Hashem ask for volunteers for this mission? Does not Hashem usually choose His messengers on His own?&#160; Moreover, why is Yeshayahu so eager to comply?<fn>Other leaders, such as Moshe, Gidon, and Yirmeyahu, hesitate before accepting the mission thrust upon them by Hashem.</fn></li>
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<li><b>"אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח"</b> – Why does Hashem ask for volunteers for this mission? Does not Hashem usually choose His messengers on His own?&#160; Moreover, why is Yeshayahu so eager to comply?<fn>מנהיגים אחרים, כמו משה, גדעון, וירמיהו, היססו לפני שקיבלו על עצמם את המשימה שהטיל עליהם הקב"ה.</fn></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
<h2>The Mission: Hardened Hearts</h2>
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<h2>המשימה: הקשחת לבבות</h2>
As soon as Yeshayahu accepts his mission, Hashem tells him:<multilang style="overflow: auto;">
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As soon as Yeshayahu accepts his mission, Hashem tells him:
<q xml:lang="he" dir="rtl">(ט) ...לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ לָעָם הַזֶּה שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ וְאַל תָּבִינוּ וּרְאוּ רָאוֹ וְאַל תֵּדָעוּ. (י) הַשְׁמֵן לֵב הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאׇזְנָיו הַכְבֵּד וְעֵינָיו הָשַׁע פֶּן יִרְאֶה בְעֵינָיו וּבְאׇזְנָיו יִשְׁמָע וּלְבָבוֹ יָבִין וָשָׁב וְרָפָא לוֹ.</q>
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<q class="" dir="rtl" lang="he">
<q xml:lang="en">(9) And He said: 'Go, and tell this people: Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not. (10) Make the heart of this people fat, And make their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they, seeing with their eyes, And hearing with their ears, And understanding with their heart, Rreturn, and be healed.'</q>
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<p>(ט) ...לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ לָעָם הַזֶּה שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ וְאַל תָּבִינוּ וּרְאוּ רָאוֹ וְאַל תֵּדָעוּ. (י) הַשְׁמֵן לֵב הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאׇזְנָיו הַכְבֵּד וְעֵינָיו הָשַׁע פֶּן יִרְאֶה בְעֵינָיו וּבְאׇזְנָיו יִשְׁמָע וּלְבָבוֹ יָבִין וָשָׁב וְרָפָא לוֹ.</p>
</multilang>With what is Yeshayahu being tasked?&#160; Is Hashem directing him to harden the people's hearts and ears against repenting? Are the people to be actively prevented from understanding Yeshayahu?&#160; If so, what is the point of appointing a prophet to rebuke? Moreover, are not the gates of repentance supposed to always be open?<fn>For a full discussion of this theological difficulty, see <a href="Hardened Hearts" data-aht="page">Hardened Hearts</a>.</fn>
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</q>
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With what is Yeshayahu being tasked?&#160; Is Hashem directing him to harden the people's hearts and ears against repenting? Are the people to be actively prevented from understanding Yeshayahu?&#160; If so, what is the point of appointing a prophet to rebuke? Moreover, are not the gates of repentance supposed to always be open?<fn>לדיון נרחב בקושי תיאולוגי זה, ראו&#160;<a href="Hardened Hearts" data-aht="page">הקשיית לבבות</a>.</fn>
  
<h2>Until When?</h2>
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<h2>"עַד מָתַי"?</h2>
<p>Upon hearing Hashem's words, Yeshayahu imploringly questions "until when?" Hashem responds with a devastating description of destruction:</p>
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<p>Upon hearing Hashem's words, Yeshayahu imploringly questions "עַד מָתַי?" Hashem responds with a devastating description of destruction:</p>
<multilang style="overflow: auto;">
+
<q class="" dir="rtl" lang="he">
<q xml:lang="he" dir="rtl">(יא) וַיֹּאמֶר עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם שָׁאוּ עָרִים מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב וּבָתִּים מֵאֵין אָדָם וְהָאֲדָמָה תִּשָּׁאֶה שְׁמָמָה. (יב) וְרִחַק י"י אֶת הָאָדָם וְרַבָּה הָעֲזוּבָה בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ. (יג) וְעוֹד בָּהּ עֲשִׂרִיָּה וְשָׁבָה וְהָיְתָה לְבָעֵר כָּאֵלָה וְכָאַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁלֶּכֶת מַצֶּבֶת בָּם זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ מַצַּבְתָּהּ.</q>
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<p>(יא) וַיֹּאמֶר עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם שָׁאוּ עָרִים מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב וּבָתִּים מֵאֵין אָדָם וְהָאֲדָמָה תִּשָּׁאֶה שְׁמָמָה. (יב) וְרִחַק י"י אֶת הָאָדָם וְרַבָּה הָעֲזוּבָה בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ. (יג) וְעוֹד בָּהּ עֲשִׂרִיָּה וְשָׁבָה וְהָיְתָה לְבָעֵר כָּאֵלָה וְכָאַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁלֶּכֶת מַצֶּבֶת בָּם זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ מַצַּבְתָּהּ.</p>
<q xml:lang="en">(11) Then said I: 'Lord, how long?' And He answered: 'Until cities be waste without inhabitant, And houses without man, And the land become utterly waste, (12) And the Lord have removed men far away, And the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. (13) And if there be yet a tenth in it, it shall again be eaten up; as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they cast their leaves, so the holy seed shall be the stock thereof.'</q>
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</q>
</multilang>
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<p>To what period do these words refer? האם הביטוי "וְרִחַק י"י אֶת הָאָדָם" imply exile, and if so, is Hashem speaking of the exile of the Ten Tribes or of Yehuda?&#160; מי ה"עֲשִׂרִיָּה" which will remain, and when will it, too, be consumed?&#160; לבסוף, מיהו ה"זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ" שיוותר לאחר ההרס?</p>
<p>To what period do these words refer? Does the phrase "וְרִחַק י"י אֶת הָאָדָם" imply exile, and if so, is Hashem speaking of the exile of the Ten Tribes or of Yehuda?&#160; Who is the "tenth" ("עֲשִׂרִיָּה") which will remain, and when will it, too, be consumed?&#160; Finally, who is the "holy seed" ("זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ") that will be left at the end?</p>
 
  
 
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Version as of 19:50, 10 November 2019

שליחות ישעיהו בפרק ו'

הקדמה

התגלות ייחודית

Descriptions of theophanies are rare in Tanakh, making Yeshayahu's vision of Hashem בישעיהו ו' somewhat unique. Yeshayahu views Hashem sitting on His throne, surrounded by angels who laud Him.  At the sound, the doorposts tremble and the House fills with smoke. The prophet reacts with trepidation, but nonetheless eagerly accepts Hashem's mission:

(ה) וָאֹמַר אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי כִּי אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי וּבְתוֹךְ עַם טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב כִּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ י"י צְבָאוֹת רָאוּ עֵינָי. (ו) וַיָּעׇף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׂרָפִים וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה בְּמֶלְקַחַיִם לָקַח מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. (ז) וַיַּגַּע עַל פִּי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נָגַע זֶה עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר. (ח) וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת קוֹל אֲדֹנָי אֹמֵר אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח וּמִי יֵלֶךְ לָנוּ וָאֹמַר הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי.

What prompts this unique revelation? Most prophecies in Tanakh are not preceded by visions of God, so why is this one?  האם שאלת ה', "אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח" suggest that it constitutes Yeshayahu's initiation into prophecy? If so, though, why does this chapter not open the book?

תגובת ישעיהו

The description of Yeshayahu's reaction to seeing Hashem raises several questions:

  • "אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי" – How are we to understand this distraught cry of Yeshayahu?  מה מובן המלה "נִדְמֵיתִי"?  What aspect of seeing Hashem makes him so concerned?
  • "אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי" – למה ישעיהו מחשיב את עצמו כ"אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי"?
  • "וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה" – What is signified by the placing of a coal on Yeshayahu's lips? When the angel says that his action has removed Yeshayahu's sin ("וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר"), to what sin is he referring?
  • "אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח" – Why does Hashem ask for volunteers for this mission? Does not Hashem usually choose His messengers on His own?  Moreover, why is Yeshayahu so eager to comply?1

המשימה: הקשחת לבבות

As soon as Yeshayahu accepts his mission, Hashem tells him:

(ט) ...לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ לָעָם הַזֶּה שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ וְאַל תָּבִינוּ וּרְאוּ רָאוֹ וְאַל תֵּדָעוּ. (י) הַשְׁמֵן לֵב הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאׇזְנָיו הַכְבֵּד וְעֵינָיו הָשַׁע פֶּן יִרְאֶה בְעֵינָיו וּבְאׇזְנָיו יִשְׁמָע וּלְבָבוֹ יָבִין וָשָׁב וְרָפָא לוֹ.

With what is Yeshayahu being tasked?  Is Hashem directing him to harden the people's hearts and ears against repenting? Are the people to be actively prevented from understanding Yeshayahu?  If so, what is the point of appointing a prophet to rebuke? Moreover, are not the gates of repentance supposed to always be open?2

"עַד מָתַי"?

Upon hearing Hashem's words, Yeshayahu imploringly questions "עַד מָתַי?" Hashem responds with a devastating description of destruction:

(יא) וַיֹּאמֶר עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם שָׁאוּ עָרִים מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב וּבָתִּים מֵאֵין אָדָם וְהָאֲדָמָה תִּשָּׁאֶה שְׁמָמָה. (יב) וְרִחַק י"י אֶת הָאָדָם וְרַבָּה הָעֲזוּבָה בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ. (יג) וְעוֹד בָּהּ עֲשִׂרִיָּה וְשָׁבָה וְהָיְתָה לְבָעֵר כָּאֵלָה וְכָאַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁלֶּכֶת מַצֶּבֶת בָּם זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ מַצַּבְתָּהּ.

To what period do these words refer? האם הביטוי "וְרִחַק י"י אֶת הָאָדָם" imply exile, and if so, is Hashem speaking of the exile of the Ten Tribes or of Yehuda?  מי ה"עֲשִׂרִיָּה" which will remain, and when will it, too, be consumed?  לבסוף, מיהו ה"זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ" שיוותר לאחר ההרס?