Мидраш к Швии́т 4:13
Eikhah Rabbah
“He is like a bear in ambush to me, a lion in hiding” (Lamentations 3:10).
“He is like a bear in ambush to me” – this is Nebuchadnezzar. “A lion in hiding” – this is Nevuzaradan. Alternatively: “A bear in ambush” – this is Vespasian; “a lion in hiding” – this is Trajan.
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me; He rendered me desolate” (Lamentations 3:11).
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me [vaifashḥeni]” – split me, as we say: A tree that was split [nifshaḥ], one may tie it during the Sabbatical Year.19Mishna Sheviit 4:6.
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” (Lamentations 3:12).
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” – there were two amora’im; one said: Like a shield for arrows,20Although the shield blocks the arrows, the arrows pierce and damage the shield (Maharzu). and one said: Like a beam for arrows that everyone fires at it but it remains standing. Rabbi Yudan said: He fortified me to withstand them all. What do you find written after the ninety-eight rebukes in the book of Deuteronomy? “You are standing today, all of you” (Deuteronomy 29:9), and we translate it: “You exist this day, all of you,” mighty to withstand them all.
“He is like a bear in ambush to me” – this is Nebuchadnezzar. “A lion in hiding” – this is Nevuzaradan. Alternatively: “A bear in ambush” – this is Vespasian; “a lion in hiding” – this is Trajan.
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me; He rendered me desolate” (Lamentations 3:11).
“He has twisted my ways and mauled me [vaifashḥeni]” – split me, as we say: A tree that was split [nifshaḥ], one may tie it during the Sabbatical Year.19Mishna Sheviit 4:6.
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” (Lamentations 3:12).
“He drew His bow, and set me as the target for the arrow” – there were two amora’im; one said: Like a shield for arrows,20Although the shield blocks the arrows, the arrows pierce and damage the shield (Maharzu). and one said: Like a beam for arrows that everyone fires at it but it remains standing. Rabbi Yudan said: He fortified me to withstand them all. What do you find written after the ninety-eight rebukes in the book of Deuteronomy? “You are standing today, all of you” (Deuteronomy 29:9), and we translate it: “You exist this day, all of you,” mighty to withstand them all.
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