Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this powerful sixth aliyah of Parshas Ha'Azinu, Hashem swears by His own eternal existence that the time for the ultimate geulah and retribution has arrived. The shirah describes how Hashem will, lichoira, whet His flashing sword and take hold of strict judgment to pay back those who hated and persecuted His children throughout the long galus.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

כִּיForאֶשָּׂאI will raiseאֶלtoשָׁמַיִםheavenיָדִיMy handוְאָמַרְתִּיand I sayחַיas livesאָנֹכִיIלְעֹלָם׃forever

רַשִׁ״י

כיForאשאI shall liftאלtoשמיםheavenידי.my handכִּיforבַחֲרוֹןin the wrath ofאַפִּיmy angerאֶשָּׂאI shall liftיָדִיmy handאֶלtoעַצְמִיmyselfבִּשְׁבוּעָה:in an oath

רַשִׁ״י

ואמרתיAnd I saidחיliveאנכי.Iלְשׁוֹןan expression ofשְׁבוּעָהan oathהוּא,it isאֲנִיIנִשְׁבָּעswearחיliveאנכיI:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

אִםIfשַׁנּוֹתִיI whetבְּרַקthe flash ofחַרְבִּיMy swordוְתֹאחֵזand takes holdבְּמִשְׁפָּטof judgmentיָדִיMy handאָשִׁיבI will returnנָקָםvengeanceלְצָרָיto My adversariesוְלִמְשַׂנְאַיand to those who hate Meאֲשַׁלֵּם׃I will repay

רַשִׁ״י

אםIfשנותיI whetברקthe flash ofחרבי.my swordאִםIfאֲשַׁנֵּןI shall whetאֶת—לַהַבthe blade ofחַרְבִּיmy swordלְמַעַןso thatהֱיוֹתthere shall beלָהּto itבָּרָק,a flashשפלנ"דור:splendeur

רַשִׁ״י

ותאחזAnd shall take holdבמשפטon judgmentידי.my handלְהַנִּיחַto relinquishמִדַּתthe attribute ofרַחֲמִיםmercyמֵאוֹיְבַיfrom my enemiesשֶׁהֵרֵעוּwho did evilלָכֶםto you"אֲשֶׁרwhomאֲנִיIקָצַפְתִּיwas angryמְעָטa littleוְהֵמָּהand theyעָזְרוּhelpedלְרָעָה"for evilזכריהZechariahא1טו15,וְתֹאחֵזand shall graspיָדִיmy handאֶת—מִדַּתthe attribute ofהַמִּשְׁפָּטjusticeלְהַחֲזִיקto hold fastבָּהּto itוְלִנְקֹםand to takeנָקָם:vengeance

רַשִׁ״י

אשיבI will returnנקםvengeanceוגו'.etceteraלָמְדוּlearnedרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisבָּאַגָּדָהin the Agadaמִתּוֹךְfrom withinלְשׁוֹןthe wording ofהַמִּקְרָאthe verseשֶׁאָמַרthat it saysותאחזand shall holdבמשפטfast to justiceידיmy hand—לֹאnotכְמִדַּתlike the measure ofבָּשָׂרfleshוָדָםand bloodמִדַּתthe measure ofהַקָּבָּ"ה,the Holy Oneמִדַּתthe measure ofבָּשָׂרfleshוָדָםand bloodזוֹרֵקshootsחֵץan arrowוְאֵינוֹand he is notיָכוֹלableלַהֲשִׁיבוֹ,to return itוְהַקָּבָּ"הbut the Holy OneזוֹרֵקshootsחִצָּיוHis arrowsוְיֵשׁand there isבְּיָדוֹin His handלַהֲשִׁיבָםto return themכְּאִלּוּas ifאוֹחֲזָןHe holds themבְּיָדוֹ,in His handשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdבָרָקlightningהוּאit isחִצּוֹHis arrowשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidכָּאןhereברקlightning ofחרביmy swordותאחזand shall holdבמשפטfast to justiceידיmy hand,וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטand this justiceהַזֶּהthisלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofפֻּרְעָנוּתpunishmentהוּא,it isבְלַעַזin foreign tongueיושטיצ"א:justicia

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

אַשְׁכִּירI will make drunkחִצַּיMy arrowsמִדָּםwith bloodוְחַרְבִּיand My swordתֹּאכַלwill devourבָּשָׂרfleshמִדַּםfrom the blood ofחָלָלthe slainוְשִׁבְיָהand the captiveמֵרֹאשׁfrom the head ofפַּרְעוֹתthe long-hairedאוֹיֵב׃enemy

רַשִׁ״י

אשכירI will make drunkחציmy arrowsמדם.from the bloodהָאוֹיֵב:of the enemy

רַשִׁ״י

וחרביand my swordתאכלshall devourבְּשָׂרָם:their flesh

רַשִׁ״י

מדםFrom the blood ofחללthe slainושביה.and the captiveזֹאתthisתִּהְיֶהwill beלָהֶםto themמֵעֲוֹןfrom the sin ofדַּםthe blood ofחַלְלֵיthe slain ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְשִׁבְיָהand the captivityשֶׁשָּׁבוּthat they capturedמֵהֶם:from them

רַשִׁ״י

מראשFrom the beginningפרעותof the breachesאויב.of the enemyמִפֶּשַׁעfrom the sinתְּחִלַּתof the beginningפִּרְצוֹתof the breachesהָאוֹיֵב,of the enemyכִּיbecauseכְּשֶׁהַקָּבָּ"הwhen the Holy Oneנִפְרָעexacts punishmentמִןfromהָאֻמּוֹתthe nationsפּוֹקֵדHe visitsעֲלֵיהֶםupon themעֲוֹנָםtheir sinוַעֲוֹנוֹתand the sinsאֲבוֹתֵיהֶםof their ancestorsמֵרֵאשִׁיתfrom the beginningפִּרְצָהof the breachשֶׁפָּרְצוּthat they breachedבְיִשְׂרָאֵל:against Yisrael

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

הַרְנִינוּsing praisesגוֹיִםO nationsעַמּוֹof His peopleכִּיforדַםthe blood ofעֲבָדָיוHis servantsיִקּוֹםHe will avengeוְנָקָםand vengeanceיָשִׁיבHe will returnלְצָרָיוto His adversariesוְכִפֶּרand He will appeaseאַדְמָתוֹHis landעַמּוֹ׃His people

רַשִׁ״י

הרנינוPraiseגויםnationsעמו.His peopleלְאוֹתוֹAt thatהַזְּמַןtimeיְשַׁבְּחוּwill praiseהָאֻמּוֹתthe nationsאֶת—יִשְׂרָאֵל,YisraelרְאוּSeeמַהwhatשִּׁבְחָהּis the praiseשֶׁלofאֻמָּהa nationזוֹ,thisשֶׁדָּבְקוּthat cleavedבְּהַקָּבָּ"הto the Holy Oneבְּכָלamidst allהַתְּלָאוֹתthe troublesשֶׁעָבְרוּthat passedעֲלֵיהֶםover themוְלֹאand did notעֲזָבוּהוּ,forsake Himיוֹדְעִיםknowingהָיוּthey wereבְּטוּבוֹof His goodnessוּבְשִׁבְחוֹ:and of His praise

רַשִׁ״י

כיForדםthe blood ofעבדיוHis servantsיקום.He will avengeשְׁפִיכוּתthe shedding ofדְּמֵיהֶם,their bloodכְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:according to its literal meaning

רַשִׁ״י

ונקםAnd vengeanceישיבHe will renderלצריו.to His adversariesעַלforהַגָּזֵלthe robberyוְעַלand forהֶחָמָס,the violenceכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is statedיואלYoelד'4"מִצְרַיִםMitzrayimלִשְׁמָמָהa desolationתִהְיֶהshall beוֶאֱדוֹםand Edomלְמִדְבַּרto a wildernessשְׁמָמָהdesolateתִּהְיֶהshall beמֵחֲמַסfor the violenceבְּנֵיagainst the children ofיְהוּדָה",Yehudahוְאוֹמֵרand it saysעובדיהOvadiahי'10"מֵחֲמַסFor the violence againstאָחִיךָyour brotherיַעֲקֹבYaakovוְגוֹ'"etcעי'seeספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

וכפרAnd He will appeaseאדמתוHis landעמו.His peopleוִיפַיֵּסand He will appeaseאַדְמָתוֹHis landוְעַמּוֹand His peopleעַלforהַצָּרוֹתthe troublesשֶׁעָבְרוּthat passedעֲלֵיהֶםover themוְשֶׁעָשָׂהand that didלָהֶםto themהָאוֹיֵב:the enemy

רַשִׁ״י

וכפר.And he shall atoneלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofרִצּוּיappeasementוּפִיּוּס,and placatingכְּמוֹlikeבראשיתBereishisלב,32כא21"אֲכַפְּרָהI will appeaseפָנָיו"his face—אַנְחִינֵיהּI will quietלְרוּגְזֵיהּ:his anger

רַשִׁ״י

וכפרAnd He will propitiateאדמתוHis landוּמַהand whatהִיאisאַדְמָתוֹ?His landעמו.His peopleכְּשֶׁעַמּוֹwhen His peopleמִתְנַחֲמִיםreceives comfortאַרְצוֹHis landמִתְנַחֶמֶת,receives comfortוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרstates"רָצִיתָYou have been favorableה'Hashemאַרְצֶךָ",to Your landבַּמֶּהwherebyרָצִיתָhave You been favorableאַרְצֶךָ?to Your land"שַׁבְתָּYou have brought backשְׁבִיתthe captivity ofיַעֲקֹב"YaakovתהיליםTehillimפ"ה85.

רַשִׁ״י

בְּפָנִיםIn waysאֲחֵרִיםotherהִיאitנִדְרֶשֶׁתis expoundedבְּסִפְרֵיin Sifreiוְנֶחְלְקוּand they arguedבָהּabout itרַבִּיRabbiיְהוּדָהYehudahוְרַבִּיand Rabbiנְחֶמְיָה,NehemiahרַבִּיRabbiיְהוּדָהYehudahדוֹרֵשׁexpoundsכֻּלָּהּall of itכְּנֶגֶדregardingיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelוְרַבִּיand RabbiנְחֶמְיָהNehemiahדוֹרֵשׁexpoundsאֶת—כֻּלָּהall of itכְּנֶגֶדregardingהָאֻמּוֹת,the nationsרַבִּיRabbiיְהוּדָהYehudahדוֹרְשָׁהּexpounds itכְּלַפֵּיtowardsיִשְׂרָאֵלYisrael—כו26אמרתיI saidאפאיהםI will scatter themכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי,I explainedעַדuntilכז27ולאand notה'Hashemפעלwroughtכלallזאת.thisכח28כיforגויa nationאבדlosingעצותcounselsהמה.are theyאָבְדוּthey lostתוֹרָתִיMy Torahשֶׁהִיאwhich isלָהֶםto themעֵצָהa counselנְכוֹנָה,properואיןand there is noבהםin themתבונהunderstandingלְהִתְבּוֹנֵןto considerל30איכהhowירדףcould pursueאחדoneמִןofהָאֻמּוֹתthe nationsאלףa thousandמֵהֶם,of themאםunlessלא·כי·צורםtheir Rockמכרם.delivered themלא31כיforלאnotכצורנוlike our Rockצורםis their rockהַכֹּלeverythingכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּיI explainedעַדuntilתַּכְלִית.the endוְרַ'and RabbiנְחֶמְיָהNehemiahדוֹרְשָׁהּexpounds itכְּלַפֵּיtowardsהָאֻמּוֹת,the nationsכיforגויa nationאבדlosingעצותcounselsהמהare they,כְּמוֹjust asשֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּיI explainedתְחִלָּהat firstעַדuntilואיבינוand our enemiesפליליםare judges:

רַשִׁ״י

לב32כיForמגפןfrom the vine ofסדםSodomגפנם.is their vineשֶׁלofאֻמּוֹת:the nations

רַשִׁ״י

ומשדמתand of the fields ofעמרהGomorrahוגו'.etc.וְלֹאand notיָשִׂימוּwill they setלִבָּםtheir heartלִתְלוֹתto attributeהַגְּדֻלָּהthe greatnessבִּי:to Me

רַשִׁ״י

ענבמוtheir grapesענביare grapes ofרוש.gallהוּאthis isשֶׁאָמַרwhat it statedלוליwere it notכעסthe anger ofאויבthe enemyאגורis heaped upעַלagainstיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלְהַרְעִילָםto poison themוּלְהַמְרִירָם,and to embitter themלְפִיכָךְthereforeאשכלתclusters ofמררתbitternessלמוare for themלְהַלְעִיטto feedאוֹתָםthemעַלforמַהwhatשֶּׁעָשׂוּthey have doneלְבָנַי:to My children

רַשִׁ״י

לג33חמתpoison ofתנינםserpents isיינם.their wineמוּכָןpreparedלְהַשְׁקוֹתָםto give them to drinkעַלforמַהwhatשֶּׁעוֹשִׂיןthat they doלָהֶם:to them

רַשִׁ״י

לד34כמסlaid upעמדי.with Meאוֹתוֹthatהַכּוֹס,cupשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidתהיליםTehillimע"ה75"כִּיforכוֹסa cupבְּיַדis in the hand ofה'Hashemוְגוֹ'":and so on

רַשִׁ״י

להtoלעתat the timeתמוטshall totterרגלם.their footכָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is said"תִּרְמְסֶנָּהshall tread itרֶגֶל"a footישעיהוYeshayahuכ"ו26:

רַשִׁ״י

לוTo HimכיForידיןwill judgeה'Hashemעמו.His peopleבְּלָשוֹןin expressionזֶהthisמְשַׁמֵּשׁservesכיbecauseידיןHe will judgeבִּלְשוֹןin the senseדְּהָא,of becauseוְאֵיןand notיָדִיןyadinלְשוֹןan expression ofיִסּוּרִיןsufferingsאֶלָּאbutכּמוֹlikeכִּיthatיָרִיבHe will pleadאֶת—רִיבָםtheir causeמִיַּדfrom the hand ofעוֹשְׁקֵיהֶם.their oppressorsכיwhenיראהHe seesכיthatאזלתgone isידpowerוגו'etc:

רַשִׁ״י

לז37ואמרAnd He saysאיwhere isאלהימו.their Godהָאוֹיֵבthe enemyיֹאמַרwill sayאֵיwhere isאֱלֹהֵימוֹtheir Godשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵל?Yisraelכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁאָמַרthat saidטִיטוּסTitusהָרָשָׁעthe wickedכְּשֶׁגִּדֵּרwhen he piercedאֶת—הַפָּרֹכֶתthe curtainגיטיןGittinנ"ו56,כָּעִנְיָןlike the matterשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat is saidמיכהMichahז'7:וְתֵרֶאAnd she shall seeאֹיַבְתִּיmy enemyוּתְכַסֶּהָand shall cover herבוּשָׁהshameהָאוֹמְרָהwho saysאֵלַיto meאַיּוֹwhere isה'Hashemאֱלֹהָיִךְ":your God

רַשִׁ״י

לט39ראוSeeעתהnowכיthatאניIוגו'.etc.אָזThenיְגַלֶּהwill revealהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One Blessed is HeיְשׁוּעָתוֹHis salvationוְיֹאמַרand He will sayראוseeעתהnowכיthatאניIאניIהואam He,מֵאִתִּיfrom Meבָּאתcameעֲלֵיהֶםupon themהָרָעָהthe evilוּמֵאִתִּיand from Meתָבֹאwill comeעֲלֵיהֶםupon themהַטּוֹבָה:the good

רַשִׁ״י

ואיןand there is noneמידיfrom My handמציל.that deliversשֶׁיַּצִּילwho will deliverאֶתְכֶםyouמִןfromהָרָעָהthe evilאֲשֶרthatאָבִיאI will bringעֲלֵיכֶם:upon you

רַשִׁ״י

מFromכיForאשאI lift upאלtoשמיםheavenידי.My handכְּמוֹlikeכִּיbecauseנָשָׂאתִיI have lifted up—תָּמִידalwaysאֲנִיIמַשְׁרֶהcause to dwellמְקוֹםthe place ofשְׁכִינָתִיMy Divine Presenceבַשָּׁמַיִם,in heavenכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,like its Targumאֲפִלּוּevenחַלָּשa weak personלְמַעְלָהaboveוְגִבּוֹרand a strong personלְמַטָּהbelowאֵימַתthe fear ofעֶלְיוֹןthe upper oneעַלis uponהַתַּחְתּוֹןthe lower oneוְכָלand allשֶׁכֵּןthe more soשֶׁגִּבּוֹרwhen a strong oneלְמַעְלָהis aboveוְחַלָּשׁand a weak oneמִלְּמַטָּה:is below

רַשִׁ״י

ידי.My handמְקוֹםthe place ofשְׁכִינָתִי,My Divine Presenceכְּמוֹas in"אִישׁevery manעַלbyיָדוֹ"his placeבמדברNumbersב'chapter 2,וְהָיָהand it wasבְיָדִיin My powerלְהִפָּרַעto exact punishmentמִכֶּם,from youאֲבָלbutאָמַרְתִּיI saidשֶׁחַיthat livesאָנֹכִיI amלְעוֹלָם,foreverאֵינִיI am notמְמַהֵרhasteningלִפָּרַעto exact punishmentלְפִיbecauseשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isלִיto Meשָׁהוּתtimeבַּדָּבָר,in the matterאֲנִיIחַיliveלְעוֹלָםforeverוּבְדוֹרוֹתand in generationsאַחֲרוֹנִיםlaterאֲנִיIנִפְרָעcan exact punishmentמֵהֶםfrom themוְהַיְכֹלֶתand the abilityבְּיָדִיis in My handלִפָּרַעto exact punishmentמִןfromהַמֵּתִיםthe deadוּמִןand fromהַחַיִּים;the livingמֶלֶךְa king ofבָּשָׂרfleshוָדָםand bloodשֶׁהוּאwho isהוֹלֵךְgoingלָמוּתto dieמְמַהֵרhastensנִקְמָתוֹhis vengeanceלְהִפָּרַעto exact punishmentבְּחַיָּיוduring his lifetimeכִּיforשֶׁמָּאperhapsיָמוּתwill dieהוּאheאוֹorאוֹיְבוֹhis enemyוְנִמְצָאand it turns outשֶׁלֹּאthat notרָאָהhe sawנִקְמָתוֹhis vengeanceמִמֶּנּוּfrom himאֲבָלbutאֲנִיIחַיliveלְעוֹלָם,foreverוְאִםand ifיָמוּתוּthey dieהֵםtheyוְאֵינִיand I do notנִפְרָעexact punishmentבְּחַיֵּיהֶם,during their lifetimeאֶפָּרַעI can exact punishmentבְּמוֹתָם:at their death

רַשִׁ״י

מא41אםIfשנותיI whetברקthe lightning ofחרבי.my swordהַרְבֵּהmanyאִםifיֵשׁthere areשֶׁאֵינָםthat are notתְּלוּיִן,conditionalכְּשֶׁאֲשַׁנֵּןwhen I whetברקthe lightning ofחרביmy swordותאחזand shall holdבמשפטon justiceידיmy hand,כֻּלּוֹall of itכְּמוֹasשֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּיI explainedלְמַעְלָה:above

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah continues with a vivid depiction of the absolute destruction of the enemies of Klal Yisrael, where Hashem's arrows and sword will be saturated with the blood of the oppressors and their leaders. Ultimately, the goyim themselves will be forced to praise and acclaim the Jewish people, as Hashem avenges the spilled blood of His servants, brings complete retribution upon His adversaries, and finally cleanses and brings kaparah to the land of His nation.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The pesukim in our aliyah are talking about the ultimate nechamah, where Hashem promises that He will avenge the blood of His servants and cleanse the land of His people. The Torah uses very sharp, intense lashon here, arrows drunk with blood, a flashing sword, and taking vengeance on those who hate Him. Lichoira, we have to ask: why does the Torah describe Hashem's judgment in such a fierce, physical way? The Tanna is telling us a deep yesod here. Hashem is showing us that not a single drop of Jewish pain, not a single tear or sigh from our long galus, is ever lost or forgotten.

When we go through tzaros, the yetzer hara tries to make us feel like we are hefker, chas v'shalom, or that Hashem is indifferent to our suffering. But the Torah is mechadesh here that Hashem keeps a reckoning of every single pain inflicted upon His children. The intense imagery of vengeance is there to show us how precious we are to Him. Mimeila, when we see the world in turmoil and we feel the weight of the galus, we must strengthen our emunah and bitachon that Hashem is holding our pain close to Him, and in the end, He will bring the ultimate yeshuah and comfort.

Your avodah today is to take a moment when you feel overwhelmed by the difficulties of life or the tzaros of Klal Yisrael, and remind yourself: "Hashem cares, He remembers, and He is holding onto every single tear." Use this emunah to push through a hard moment with joy, knowing we are never forgotten.